It was Isaac Newton that said, "What goes up, must come down." To this I add, "Unless, of course, you are talking about my weight."
I can't say that I've lost much, if any, weight, and that would probably frustrate most people by this point of Project Purpose. But how much weight I hold on to or lose is not one of the measures of my success in this journey.
As friends have learned about P2 and what it's about, the most frequently talked about subject is 'The Scale' and the importance of ignoring it or even tossing it out with the trash.
One pal shared that before I'd met her, she'd lost a significant amount of weight. It was her experience that those around her commented more on her lack of progress with comments such as 'you could really stand to lose a few more pounds' rather than celebrating her impressive accomplishment. Over time, the lack of enthusiasm and a sense of defeat led to a loss of the better habits she'd followed and... we all know how that story goes. It's one that I'm familiar with, especially during the college years (Freshman 15 anyone?).
Other friends with similarly chaotic schedules and complex demands both at work and home seem to share the conclusion I've come to - that the reading on the scale is far less important than the benefits of eating right and exercising; a good night's sleep, the energy needed to deal with the standard day-to-day demands, and a greater ability to gracefully accommodate the crisis of the unexpected.
I would not be as secure as I am in my relationship with 'The Scale' if I didn't have my House of Chaos partner by my side on this journey and in life. His faith, love, and genuine acceptance of who I am allows me the comfort and ability to take the reading of the scale in stride. This week we celebrate our 21st wedding anniversary, and this project is one way in which our relationship continues to grow and inspire me.
I'll admit that I weigh myself each morning, as it is one of the measures that the app we are using to track our progress, 'My Fitness Pal', uses to gauge how we are doing. On those days when the scale says that I've lost a bit I'll admit that my step is a little lighter... But it's not by weight alone that our success is determined. Getting up in the morning ready to face the day with vigor is.
I feel better now than I have in a long time and I genuinely enjoy going to the gym and watching the minutes pass and the miles of 'pavement' pounded grow. That to me is a greater definition of success than anything the 'The Scale' can share.
Friday, August 15, 2014
Saturday, August 9, 2014
First Week by Karl Olson
What an exciting and busy first official week for Project Purpose. Now that the initial meetings, emails, photos, and paperwork have been completed, the actual hard work has begun, and with it the realization that this is actually happening.
Earlier this week we had our kick-off party where we enjoyed getting together with all the incredible people behind this journey. The guest speaker at the party was Jaron Tate from Biggest Loser 3 who spoke about his experiences on the show including some fascinating behind-the-scenes details, but more importantly for me, his advice to the teams and to anyone else looking for change. It was good to hear his message of consistency in diet and exercise, about making physical activity a prioritized and regular part of your life, his own personal and familiar struggles, and his unique opportunity to see first-hand the unrealistic expectations and results depicted on "reality" TV.
We also had a chance this week to meet with the nutritionist. Not surprisingly we will be using MyFitnessPal to track our daily nutrition. Since I began using MyFitnessPal back in January I have been impressed with how powerful, easy, and widespread this tool is. For me, tracking food is no longer the laborious process from the pre-smart-phone years and gives me (and the nutritionist) an enormous amount of useful, real-time data.
Our personal trainer for this journey, Michelle, met with both of us this week for our first training sessions. For my session, we spent the half hour using nothing but two gym towels on the slick gym floor where we did various lunges, inchworms, and mountain-climbers. It was a clear demonstration of how to get an effective workout without even a single piece of equipment.
I capped off the week running the Human Race in Old Town, my second 10k this year. It is hard to believe that just six months ago, when I started changing my diet and lifestyle, I was barely able to run more than a few minutes on the treadmill. I'm excited to see what the next six months, under the umbrella of Project Purpose, will bring, not just for me, but for Amy too.
- Karl
Earlier this week we had our kick-off party where we enjoyed getting together with all the incredible people behind this journey. The guest speaker at the party was Jaron Tate from Biggest Loser 3 who spoke about his experiences on the show including some fascinating behind-the-scenes details, but more importantly for me, his advice to the teams and to anyone else looking for change. It was good to hear his message of consistency in diet and exercise, about making physical activity a prioritized and regular part of your life, his own personal and familiar struggles, and his unique opportunity to see first-hand the unrealistic expectations and results depicted on "reality" TV.
We also had a chance this week to meet with the nutritionist. Not surprisingly we will be using MyFitnessPal to track our daily nutrition. Since I began using MyFitnessPal back in January I have been impressed with how powerful, easy, and widespread this tool is. For me, tracking food is no longer the laborious process from the pre-smart-phone years and gives me (and the nutritionist) an enormous amount of useful, real-time data.
Our personal trainer for this journey, Michelle, met with both of us this week for our first training sessions. For my session, we spent the half hour using nothing but two gym towels on the slick gym floor where we did various lunges, inchworms, and mountain-climbers. It was a clear demonstration of how to get an effective workout without even a single piece of equipment.
I capped off the week running the Human Race in Old Town, my second 10k this year. It is hard to believe that just six months ago, when I started changing my diet and lifestyle, I was barely able to run more than a few minutes on the treadmill. I'm excited to see what the next six months, under the umbrella of Project Purpose, will bring, not just for me, but for Amy too.
- Karl
Friday, August 8, 2014
Panic
My heart had been jumping about in my chest all day. My desk, covered with a laundry list of tasks that needed to be completed by weeks end and the bickering, whining, begging for food, and the doing-what-I-can-to-irritate-the-sibling-itis of two bored kids brought me to the edge of frustration and tears. Our first meeting with the Project Purpose Wellness Coach was only a few hours away and I hadn't even begun to look at the introductory paperwork we received at the P2 Kickoff.
Ahhh, the perfect storm of stress - one that I juggle nearly each day, and one that many parents are all too familiar with. Riding the wave of chaos is a tenuous skill, and the mere IDEA of one more obligation or commitment can be the difference between the organized chaos of a smooth running schedule and a massive panic attack and a household train wreck.
With the minutes loudly ticking by and a constant stream of micro-interruptions by one child or the other (even the dogs seemed to be joining in) my anxiety grew. Anxiety about meeting Kim, anxiety about when I was going to go to the gym, my increasingly long list of To Do and the steady stream of texts, phone calls and e-mail that clamored for attention.
Summer is nearly over and unlike the kids; I've not yet had a chance to develop my own boredom.
I love this Project, I love that I am now going to the gym almost 5 days a week and I feel better than I have in years. I love that on days I meet my work out calorie burn I sleep better than I have in years. I love the adrenaline high that I haven't experienced in years, and the renewed energy I'm feeling (I've even had to start cutting my coffee with decaf!).
But (and you knew there would be a but!) I am still looking to the future and wondering how, once classes begin and I add the demands of In-Class Transcribing to the other obligations in my schedule, I'm going to find a balance. That's where Kim, the final member of our team, comes into play. She is an experienced, inspiring, genuine, and passionate individual who has the unique skill of being able to help you to identify your goals, why they are or are not being met, and then problem solving with you to get back on track or re-define what it is that you are really trying to accomplish.
Time management, I've discovered, is not my challenge. Being overcommitted is though. Ironically, it is my success in time management that has resulted in being overcommitted. I've been able to incorporate 'one more thing' so often that I've left myself little room in my schedule for the time I need to exercise. With Kim's help, I'm working on prioritizing more of the activities that I enjoy and to slow my pace a bit so that the idea of going to the gym is one of 'I get to go to the gym' rather than 'I have to go to the gym'.
Project Purpose is now fully underway. We've met all the members of our team, developed a 'rough' workout routine that incorporates strength and cardio as well as training sessions with Michelle. I'm attempting to incorporate breakfasts into my daily habit as Brooke recommended (and that is still "gonna" need some work!).
With Kim as our Wellness Coach, Karl and I are discovering more about ourselves and each other - even after 21 years of marriage and friendship there is still so much yet to learn about one another. I'm excited to see what the remainder of 2014 holds for us, and I hope that you will join us on this incredible journey.
Ahhh, the perfect storm of stress - one that I juggle nearly each day, and one that many parents are all too familiar with. Riding the wave of chaos is a tenuous skill, and the mere IDEA of one more obligation or commitment can be the difference between the organized chaos of a smooth running schedule and a massive panic attack and a household train wreck.
With the minutes loudly ticking by and a constant stream of micro-interruptions by one child or the other (even the dogs seemed to be joining in) my anxiety grew. Anxiety about meeting Kim, anxiety about when I was going to go to the gym, my increasingly long list of To Do and the steady stream of texts, phone calls and e-mail that clamored for attention.
Summer is nearly over and unlike the kids; I've not yet had a chance to develop my own boredom.
I love this Project, I love that I am now going to the gym almost 5 days a week and I feel better than I have in years. I love that on days I meet my work out calorie burn I sleep better than I have in years. I love the adrenaline high that I haven't experienced in years, and the renewed energy I'm feeling (I've even had to start cutting my coffee with decaf!).
But (and you knew there would be a but!) I am still looking to the future and wondering how, once classes begin and I add the demands of In-Class Transcribing to the other obligations in my schedule, I'm going to find a balance. That's where Kim, the final member of our team, comes into play. She is an experienced, inspiring, genuine, and passionate individual who has the unique skill of being able to help you to identify your goals, why they are or are not being met, and then problem solving with you to get back on track or re-define what it is that you are really trying to accomplish.
Time management, I've discovered, is not my challenge. Being overcommitted is though. Ironically, it is my success in time management that has resulted in being overcommitted. I've been able to incorporate 'one more thing' so often that I've left myself little room in my schedule for the time I need to exercise. With Kim's help, I'm working on prioritizing more of the activities that I enjoy and to slow my pace a bit so that the idea of going to the gym is one of 'I get to go to the gym' rather than 'I have to go to the gym'.
Project Purpose is now fully underway. We've met all the members of our team, developed a 'rough' workout routine that incorporates strength and cardio as well as training sessions with Michelle. I'm attempting to incorporate breakfasts into my daily habit as Brooke recommended (and that is still "gonna" need some work!).
With Kim as our Wellness Coach, Karl and I are discovering more about ourselves and each other - even after 21 years of marriage and friendship there is still so much yet to learn about one another. I'm excited to see what the remainder of 2014 holds for us, and I hope that you will join us on this incredible journey.
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