How you ask? HOW am I ready to appease this sense of joy and adventure? Shut up and I'll tell you. I've already ordered my Advocare 24 day challenge. LINK HERE I sell advocare. But I'm not a salesperson so really I just get the discount. Feel free to order from that link and we can do this together! If you have questions about Advocare and why I choose it over the various and sundry choices in the world, I'd be happy to talk about it. SOOO, I'm using the 24 day challenge to clean up my eating, power up my body, and cleanse out the muck. My body has had a hard time with digestion and nutrient absorption, and I realllllyyyy need this to get me back on track. I'm ready for more energy.
As far as food goes, I'm going to do my damnedest to stick to a Forks over Knives lifestyle. After years of research and experience eating all the different ways, I find truth in this particular method. So there you go. If you want to know more about Forks over Knives, click HERE. I'll answer any questions you have about why I'm choosing plant based food. (It has to do with longevity and more than that, feeling my best in whatever time I have left on this planet.)
So with the advocare challenge you must 1) Take the supplements. Check. 2) Eat healthy. Check. And 3) Exercise! What shall I be doing, you ask? Shush and I'll tell you. If you know me you know that I not only LOVE yoga, but am certified to teach Ashtanga (primary series only). SOOOO, my plan is to do the series 4-5 times a week. If you want to know more about Ashtanga, click THIS LINK. I'd also love to talk with you about why I've latched on to this exact form of yoga. Just ask away. Another thing I'll be doing to get my exercise in is a 30 day walking challenge. Here is the link to the page where I signed up for it. On Facebook, I follow a lovely lady who goes by Mama Lion Strong and that is how I heard of this. Since hiking is something I really want to become engulfed in, I thought that 30 days of walking would be the perfect way to start! If you want to join me on the walking challenge, please do! I'd love to see photos of your walks and hear what you learned in your daily walking meditation!
Ok. So that is my new journey! I mentioned hiking a second ago. I want to digress, if you will, for a paragraph or two. As the winter gross got me down, I had a LOT of time to think. A LOT. OF TIME. STUCK IN MY HEAD. Which is a dangerous place to be stuck, lemme tell ya. I say all kinds of horrible shit to myself. I have generalized anxiety disorder, so the more time I spend stagnant in bed (sick), the more time I have to believe I'm going to die of cancer. Probably tomorrow. Or that I'm going to die of cancer. Oh wait, I already said that. Well, let's just stick to my bad thoughts enveloping an imminent death by cancer. Since my dad died of cancer, I consider it a true and real and around the corner threat. Obviously. SOOO, as I sat in my bed convincing myself I had cancer and then telling myself I'm fine (lather, rinse, repeat...), one day I just got motivated, I guess. I'm damned tired of feeling sick. I'm beyond exhausted (mentally) from all the rampant anxiety. And I know from experience that (besides my meds, which do help me maintain a far more "normal" life) diet and what I feed myself is the quickest way for me to feel amazing. I've felt amazing before. Because I got rid of ALL sugar from my diet for 3 weeks. Now, I'm not going that exact route this time, but I think the route I'm going this time will be far more sustainable for a lifetime. Also this go round, I'm not going to be so harsh on myself when I have some lax weekends, etc. My mindset is healthier now, and that makes all the difference.
Oh my gawd. I digressed from my digression! I do that sometimes. So I was stuck in bed dreaming of cancer, and one day POOF I wanted that to be over, or something like that. Well, that day I got to thinking about what really makes me happy. And let's just assume kids, husbands, mom, family, etc, that's a GIVEN. They make me happy. But sometimes you just need, dare I say it?? More. Sometimes you need more. I need more. I thought about what that more might entail. What MAKES MEL HAPPY? And then I had memories pop into my mind. Memories of hiking the last 90 miles of the Camino de Santiago when I was 19 on a missions trip. That made me happy. AND I learned so much and loved the entire experience. So I started watching hiking documentaries and movies. And something inside of me came to life. It was vibrant and freeing and nigh on emotional (in a good way). I thought about my dad. We used to hike together. On those hikes, we had the best talks. I MISS those talks. I MISS those hikes. I WANT to hike again. I want to be a small speck on a mountain trail! I want to trek to the top of a mountain and feel humbled and awed. I just knew. I have to hike again. I have to get back to nature.
Now, I'm in my mid thirties and with that comes a much appreciated sense of "when it happens, it happens". I am pushing it to an extent. But I want to do things in a smart, organized, thought out manner. I am spontaneous at heart. (shhh...don't tell, but I REALLY love that about myself) But, it felt right to put my mind at a slower pace with this. I want to, in the good and right time.
What better to do than plan a fun trip as a goal for all of this mental work. I have a plan! AND I'M SO EXCITED! I'm going on a 3 day womens outdoor retreat of sorts. The Outessa Summit is sponsored by many outdoor companies, including REI and Big Agnes. There are two coming up, and I signed up for the Powder Mountain, Utah summit. I'll get to camp outdoors, have farm to table food, hike, do yoga, take photos, connect with other women, and learn how to be independent and safe while camping and hiking. I am thrilled!!
My eyes are getting very tired of this computer screen, and I've said all I want to say! I really would love if anyone wants to join me on this health and wellness adventure I'm taking. I'll start May 1st with the walking challenge, mid May with the Advocare 24 day Challenge, and May 1st with my yoga and eating. Wish me luck! Happy journeys to you. I hope you join me on mine!
NAMASTE
