Primal Stride

Hi there,

250 crunches! Please tell me you plan to spread these over the week. (Please, please, please, oh please!) I’m up for it, however it pans out.

I’m actually on day 5 since we’re 1/2 day ahead in Western Australia. It’s going to be hot today – 40C/104F – so getting out at 5:00 was a necessity. Still, I worked up a sweat and felt better for it.

Here’s a photo from my Day 4. It was taken about 5:45 am. http://www.twitpic.com/wm225

Beautiful view you have, Sarah.

5 January 2010 – Day 5. I’m done. And I’ve included a closeup of the volunteer papaya tree.

I’m with Laurie. Great photo!

I’ll try to remember to move your updates to day 5 with Laurie’s.

Kinda cool, this worldwide challenge/community thing we’ve got going on.

I couldn’t be happier or more inspired. I could, however, be thinner. That will come. =)

That end report right there sounded poetic. It made me smile. =)

I used to be like you and internalize everything, I still kinda do since I’m an introvert, but now a days I know when to set my boundaries and when to speak up about things that are causing me stress. In the end, keeping it all inside isn’t worth the trouble, the stress, so I try to keep everything out in the open; this is bothering me because… I’m overworked because… etc. I then try to work towards a resolution. This seems to be working for me right now, we’ll see how it does in the long-term.

Day five already… it’s been tough Seth, specially with the cold I’ve had for the past three days.

I’m looking forward for next week’s challenge although I have to make a research trip to the market to wonder about the green veggies.

Just two more days to go!!

Checking in for day 5 — missed the wakeup 8=( 15 minutes late and an extra 5 to actually get my feet to the floor. Ugh.

Still have the snowshoeing to get to and I’m not sure if it will happen. Maybe the ball hockey from last night was enough to cover 2 days 8=) I do have to bring in 1/4 cord of firewood though. That’s something.

As for stress handling, I’m an internalizer too. I often find myself having imaginary confrontations when I’m driving alone. Exercise is a good outlet and so is writing. Prayer works too, but sadly I don’t always jump to that as my first recourse but I really should.

1.35 miles on the treadmill 10 on the bike. walked up and down a hil for 1.5 more miles.

=D

4:45 am wake up as usual! =D

I hold stuff in and then end up blowing up at something rather small because of all the pent up feelings! Like now – last day of the boyfriend’s fam visiting and they are buying the kids juice, Pop Tarts & shit I don’t really let them eat – frying up chicken and I’m a little pissed. I’ll be even more pissed if I eat any of it. **Sigh**

Challenge day 5 completed: 5K, complete run this time, so stopping. Feeling good too – but then again, I did weights yesterday instead of running.

Stress – I usually internalize it in the moment, largely because exploding about whatever is stressing me would be highly counterproductive. I try to later have a discussion with the other person or people involved. If I can’t (and sometimes even if I can), I blog about it later. I find that being able to blow that steam is almost always enough to get me back to a more rational state.

Today’s check-in. Up at 6 with no problems. Showered, dressed for a job interview, got the kids out, headed downtown on the train. Approx 1 mile to the interview location, then another roughly 4 miles after while taking pics for you guys. I’ll get them uploaded and linked on my Twitter feed later.

I can’t believe it is the final day of the challenge! The 5 days have gone by in a blink! I think I am still going to try and do this… but i’ll bump up the time to 9ish.

I am very excited to participate in the next challenge!

I internalize and externalize stress. I take it in first and then I react externally. My first reaction is that I must eat something. Food to me is like the equivalent of a pacifier to a baby. It calms me down and gives me something else to think about.

However, it’s not healthy. Eating food in this manner is likened to an alcoholic taking a drink whenever stressed. When you’ve been doing it for awhile, both your mind and your body think you need it in order to function. Because you have created your own coping mechanism. Which is why it is so important to make healthy choices and garner healthy habits.

Rock on! )

~Kellie

~Kellie

Kellie, this is a 7-day challenge. You’re not done yet. =)

Give it the two remaining days and 9am might seem dreadfully late!

I guess it did, just a bit! I’m happy to make you smile!

I think it’ll serve you VERY well in the long term! Just stick with it. Internalizing everything sucks.

I’m so sorry to hear that you’ve been sick! Were you making out with strangers during your vacation? Hmmmm? =)

Next week should be a fun one. I’m happy you’ll be around for it. =)

Hi Seth,

You won’t be surprised to hear I eat in stressful situations. You might not be surprised, but I certainly was. I’m not sure why it took me so long to figure out. I definitely resisted going down the path of discovery.

It doesn’t have to be stress, either. It’s any sort of conflict or discomfort. Yesterday my 5-year-old was less than cooperative. After a lengthy battle over picking up toys, I walked into the kitchen looking for “something”. When I realized what I was doing, I grabbed a handful of cherry tomatoes and got out of the kitchen.

I’m just back from my day 6 walk. My husband left for work early so that meant I had no time to dawdle, take photos, smell the flowers or gaze at the beach. It was uncomfortable, sweaty and all over by 5:40 am. I’m glad I did it.

20 minutes late isn’t so bad! Chock it up to needed rest. =)

Firewood and a shorter walk perhaps? Just enough so you can say you didn’t miss a day? Up to you!

“pray without ceasing” eh? I need to try writing more as an outlet. Might be fun.

Checking your site now to see if the videos are up. Have a great day!

“wake up as usual”

::jealous face::

I want your early morning joy! =)

Ahh, grandparents enjoying the luxury of being able to leave the kiddos, eh? That doesn’t sound like much fun. Fried chicken is nasty if you will it to be so! =)

Stress aside, you ROCKED the challenge today. Amazingly done! =)

Another day, another 5K! This challenge has been great in so many ways. I recently receivved info on a local 5k race and this challenge has motivated me so much that I signed up! My goal is to be able to run the entire 5K. My husband signed up to, and we are going to train together.

This is a big deal for me. I have been very out of shape for a very long time. So I was truly amazed when I found I could walk 5K and still have energy to spare. So over the next months before the race, I’m going to work on building up to jogging and hopefully will be able to complete my first 5K race and not be the last to finish!

So thanks, Seth, for putting this challenge together!

Hmm. Sounds like I need to have an “angry” blog! =)

Way to rock the challenge today! That you were able to get up early, get everything done, do an interview, THEN walk another FOUR miles… amazing. Just amazing!

I look forward to seeing the photos you took!

Isn’t it amazing how we can link so many emotions to food? I’m still sorting through all that. I like the results I’ve seen so far though. =)

“I’m glad I did it”

I’m glad you did it, too! The only thing that feels better than running is having the run over and done with. =)

Only one more day! Wow!

Thank you for that video Seth! It was just what I needed. Today happened to be a quite stressful day. I deal with stress by internally freaking out and letting it build, then taking a step back, a deep breath, a break from whatever the issue is, maybe having a laugh or baking something then dealing with it. Usually, the problem is much smaller upon returning to it. If not, that refocusing time lets me really know what I want to do or at least a general direction.

Exercise-wise today I walked to and from school, and just have a little more to do to reach my 3 k. I’m not sure if it will be outside though – there’s lots of snow and its pretty cold out =D.

A few years ago, my family experienced a tragedy that tested everything we knew about handling stress. The family girls – Mom, sister, sister-in-law, and I – spent several weeks together doing the only thing we could think of: cooking. As we were picking at one meal, we planned the next. Some days we cooked and took the food straight to the refrigerator without eating any, then started the next meal. It wasn’t about eating; it was about being together and staying busy. It could have been a dangerous way to handle our stress, but in hindsight, it worked for us.

I’m glad to report that last Friday, when I got twice as angry as I should have over something, I went for a walk. It was cold enough that the air bit my face and took my breath away at first. It felt wonderful. I walked much farther than I had planned, and by the time I was finished, I was proud of my effort and energized, and my problem seemed much smaller. Ever noticed how hard it is to feel bad toward someone else when you’re feeling really good about yourself?

I’m happy to! This has been as much a challenge for me as for most of you. If it weren’t we wouldn’t be able to stick it out together and that’s just not as much fun. =)

I’m glad your husband is joining you in training for the race. Way to set yourself up for success by establishing support nearby!

I look forward to the photo with your beaming smile after running your first 5k!

I hope you can cope with the stress of finding out the challenge is two days longer! :-p

Great attitude!

“5 at 5″ may have misdirected Kellie. Perhaps “5 at 5 for 7″ 8=)

You go Kellie! Rock it the last 2 days!

Well, I got part 2 of the challenge in with a 2 parter. Bringing in a rack full of firewood involves 15 or 16 trips (I lost count) which are about 30-35m each. That adds up to .9km at least.

Then, I spent the hour while LoneCub1 was at karate walking around Huntsville downtown and taking pictures. LC1 was kickin’ butt and I was takin’ pics! Look for a ‘photo walk’ around downtown Huntsville soon. Google maps reports the distance to be 1.0km each way.

Still workin on the Day 3 vid.

And Seth, you may never have a career in music, but you’re not that bad! I enjoyed it and the choice of song — watch out for the copyright police though 8=)

A beautiful scene. If that manicured grass in the foreground is a golf course then I’m insanely jealous 8=)

Speaking of green veggies, is jello a vegetable?

I loved reading everyone’s comments. I eat my stress, too. It’s been that way for years. I was on a first date when I was about 20 (and 127 #) and was so stressed about the date that I ate the entire pizza(less 1 pc). My date was amazed. Now, why can’t I be one of those people that doesn’t eat when they are nervous or stressed out?

Today’s report: got the 5K in! I took pics, too, but haven’t uploaded them, yet.

Here’s my b-day blog: http://fitby41maybe42.blogspot.com/

Good job Seth!
Keep it up.
Up and out early to knock off the challenge.

Ooooohhhh you’re so mean… my head is exploding, all my body is in pain and you make me laugh!!

I would have loved to make out with strangers because that would mean a huge change in attitude from my usual cautious and well behaved self but this was a family vacation and I spent my time either meditating, taking pictures and doing exercise or taking care of my nephews so… no, I guess the cold has more to do with the weather and returning to work!

But thanks for making me laugh!

Only two more days of torture to go!!

Are we going to start the challenge on Monday or on the 8th?

Please… answer to Lonewolf’s question saying that jello is indeed a vegetable… pleaseeeeeee.

Beautiful. Well done! And, I want rogue tropical trees! =)

I just published the lead article and sign-up for next week’s challenge. There’s a special note in the rules for you. =)

Challenge starts on the 8th. It’s not a terribly tough one though. At least, it doesn’t involve getting up early. =)

I know you have a wild side! It’s there somewhere! =P

Jello is not a vegetable. This in no way makes let less delicious and I encourage you to eat nothing but jello in addition to your green vegetable of the day or particularly excellent new vegetable dish!

=)

Good thing is that I love to cook so it will be a fun challenge on the culinary side as well!

Oh yes, I’m sure as well that there’s a wild side… still looking for it tough! ;o)

Wishful thinking, I say. Kellie is amazing. I’m betting she’ll finish and write a scathing post about how I didn’t pick a hard enough challenge. =)

I’m happy to be of any use I can!

You’re a baker, too? I have a sister who bakes chocolate chip cookies whenever she’s stressed. She’ll just keep baking and baking until she feels better. It’s amazing how we all have very different approaches to solving personal struggles. I love it. =)

You and your mom already marked the distance inside, yeah? Throw on some headphones and knock it out.

I’m so glad you’re doing this. You’re wonderful!

Good job yourself! Excellent job, in fact! =)

I’m going to do a nice hard run tomorrow. Need to work some kinks out.

It’s been great to have you along!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

I want to date a girl who can eat an entire pizza! =)

Great job on the challenge! Heading over to your blog to check it out now.

One thing I don’t miss about my childhood is all the firewood. 15 cords each year were cut and split to heat multiple buildings. It was a LOT of work, as you well know. I still love the smell of fresh-cut wood though.

I don’t plan on a career in music. Good thing, eh? Thanks for the kind words. I’ll try not to sing again. =)

Lauren mentioned baking when she feels stressed. I’m noticing a trend. =)

“it’s about staying together and staying busy.”

That’s an easily forgotten truth of most relationships. I’d do well to remember it well, I think.

Yes! I know exactly what you mean! I’m always glad I didn’t blow up at him/her once I’ve calmed down, too. =)

Finished up the 5k tonight 1 min 44 seconds faster than Friday. I’m quite surprised by that change; challenges and accountability do work!

Also bought an apple tonight, because I’ll be eating a new type of fruit each day (yes, I’ve never eaten a whole raw apple). Figured an apple will keep until Friday.

Sherry, your last phrase simply took my breath away.

I can also relate to your first paragraph. Tomorrow we celebrate in Mexico the “Día de Reyes” or “Three wise men day” or Epiphany or however people like to call it in english. And the food to eat is a yeast cake called “Rosca de Reyes”. It is a tradition in my family since my great grandmother to prepare it from scratch rather than buying it and then having a large group of family and friends over for dinner.

After my great grandmother, my grandmother prepared them, then, I asked her to teach me and for the last maybe 10 years it’s been prepared at my parents’ so tomorrow I will spend the day with my mother, one of my sisters that this year is in Mexico and a cousin or aunt may drop by to help with the preparation. It is really a ceremony that lets us bond.

I’m sure that whatever you and your family went through, it was less difficult to overcome because you were together.

Move to a tropical country.

That’s truly impressive. Isn’t it amazing how we, having never met face to face, can encourage each other to make real positive changes? This sort of thing fascinates me and provides a nice respite from the plastic posturing of the professional social media community.

Did your parents dislike fruit or is your avoidance of apples just a matter of uncrossed paths? I hope you like it!

Interesting question Seth. I was explaining to my wife that my parents were much more vegetable than fruit eaters, so it really did shape my food preferences. I could eat an entire tray of raw veggies w/o a second thought, but eating fruit is a real event : )

=)

This is a really great idea, Mike! My parents were much more fruit than veggie eaters. I think I’ll follow your lead and try a different vegetable each day. This will be interesting. Thank you for the idea.

Ati, you’ll like next week’s challenge then. A different green vegetable each day and 250 crunches.

Mike is eating fruit because he already eats a lot of vegetables.

Modifying is where it’s at. =)

Just finished my Day 5 account… my body is feeling a wee bit better. We’ll see how I’m doin’ next week after those crunches, eh?

http://meatymatron.wordpress.com/2010/01/05/post005/

Patricia, that sounds like a lovely tradition, especially that you learn it from one another and do it together. That’s exactly the kind of thing my family loves.

Day 5 – http://lxxiii.blogspot.com/2010/01/primal-stride-challenge-1-day-5.html

Still on track & thinking of everyone, did not get the chance to check in … yesterday was no super early but after kids went to school I did 2 miles & my bells….this morn’ was 5am and 3 miles…still need to do my bells…

Just having all of you in the back of my mind added w/ texting a couple of friends for accountability has really helped keep me focused…there is a ton of stressful issues I’m dealing with, 3 biggies but I am determined to keep myself a priority through all this…

Keep Pressin’!