Veterans Day Parade

Yesterday was Day 5 of the 30 day fitness challenge and the active challenge was to walk an extra 10 minutes.  Easy.  Enter the Veterans Day parade in St. Louis at the Soldiers Memorial.  Stacy and I made the trip into the city and I was glad we did.

We had a great spot in the intersection of 14th and Chestnut looking right down Chestnut toward the Arch.  When the parade started there wasn't to many people so we had a nice unobstructed view.

They even had a Bald Eagle in the parade.  I wish I knew the organization that is pictured in this picture.  I bet they have some other cool animals.

The 932nd Airlift Wing - United States Air Force Reserve Airmen were there carrying this huge American flag.

I'm not sure who this guy was or what war he was in, but he was awesome.  He looked old as dirt but he was walking the whole parade talking to folks along the way and could probably still kick my ass.  Don't know him but I'd interested to hear his stories.  I bet he has a lot.

At first I thought this was a Corvette club, but quickly realized it wasn't. 

Each car had a golden star on the front window and in each vehicle the passengers were holding a picture of a fallen military member (I'm assuming family) riding in remembrance.  Enough said.

I couldn't post this without adding my service of choice.  United States Air Force - AIRPOWER!  They looked good out there marching.  Made me proud.

I love old trucks and cars and this parade didn't disappoint.  I was very happy to see the restored Impala since my dad used to have a white one like it.

The Army showed up with their up in the up armored humvees.

At the very end there were motorcycles.  Lots and lots of motorcycles.  So many that my skills as a photographer don't even begin to do justice.  The sounds was deafening the motorcycles stretched for miles and it was just a visceral awesome sight to see.

Two hours after we arrived I had over 200 pictures on my camera and my face hurt from smiling and the parade was over.  It was a great time and I think the city of St. Louis put on a great display.

30 DFC - Day 3

30 DFC - Day 3

I woke up this morning to rain.  I love rain and I get the best sleep when it rains.  Unfortunately my happiness about the weather didn't last long though when I saw my active challenge for Day 3.  Today it was "park in the furthest parking space from the door".  Uh...losing!  Do you have any idea how far you can park away from a door at a college?  Good thing there are lots of doors to park far away from! It never said "which" door. Uh...winning!  Ok so maybe I didn't pass that challenge.  Full disclosure.  I didn't pass my my nutrition challenge either.  I was supposed to eat a meal without distractions - no TV, reading, driving, conversation.  Nothing.  Since I check my computer like.....well like someone who checks their computer a lot I couldn't do that.  Otherwise I met all my challenge requirements.  3 outta 5 ain't bad.

Overall Day 3 was a good day.  I am a little sore from yesterdays weights workout.  I've said it once and I'll say it again.  It has been a looooong time since I've picked up a barbell and my muscles are pissed.  Showing off on the bench press is so high school.  Note to self I shouldn't do that again; lesson learned.

In talking with my family they seem to be getting along well with the challenge.  In fact my mom, bless her heart, recruited a co-worker!  Her challenge sheet was out on her desk and her co-worker asked what it was.  I thought that was pretty awesome.  

Alright my brain is shutting down, better throttle back before I start to.."ramble on, and now's the time, the time is now, to sing my song."

Time for bed!

30 DFC - Day 2

source

Well Day 2 has come and gone without incident.  I'm still here and my family is still here after starting our challenge; good news I'd say.   Day 2 provided a nice entrance into the program with some easy changes to keep in mind throughout the day.  Eating veggies with every meal, walking an extra 15 minutes throughout the day (i.e. taking stairs instead of the elevator), suggestions for cardio, stretching, etc. 

I did have a random thought though when I was thinking of what to write for today.  It's something that I struggle with when planning goals or really anything for that matter.  I often want instant gratification for doing whatever it is I'm doing.  Many things take time and very often I don't want to wait.  I want to do it, check it off my list, and move on.  This leads to me missing out on the journey and I have to remind myself to look around and enjoy the experience and path I'm on.  Anyway you get the picture.  See below for more on the topic.

It's funny how when you start something new or different from the norm.  There's always that feeling of doubt.  Doubt about not finishing, doubt about not doing it right, doubt about what others will say, doubt about your motivations, doubt from people who think you can't do it just because they can't do it.  A lot of times the best of intentions can be shadowed with doubt, but I think it's important we not get into our own heads too much (another weakness of mine).  Sometimes the right prescription for change is to not think about it and just do it.  Just be you and be the best at it.  If you start out realistically knowing that there's going to be growing pains and bumps along the road and naysayers along the way you will be prepared to meet those challenges and blow right through them.  

I was laying in bed last night thinking (doubting myself) what have I gotten myself into?  What have I gotten my family into regarding this challenge?  If I'm feeling this way what are they feeling?  Are they playing into my strange fantasy of wanting to help people?  Is nursing school corrupting me into some "do-gooder-touchy-feely" health fitness freak?  I should really go hunt something to reclaim my man card, on second thought it's late.  Tomorrow. 

It seems like the days prepping for this challenge was fast paced and a flurry of work when combined with other life responsibilities.  Getting everything set up so that emails go out on time, making sure everyone has access to the group collaboration page, ironing out any questions or concerns, and thinking of how to keep people involved, and how to remotely motivate people was part of the fun and excitement for me.  It's something I've never dealt with before and thankfully my first time is with family who is understanding.  Still as I lay there in bed, my mind running 90 mph, I couldn't help but feel...anticlimactic?  I'm not sure what I had envisioned the start of the challenge would be.  Maybe in my head I envisioned it like a race, a 5k lets say, and you prepare for a PR because the course is flat and fast.  Walking to the start you're giddy with nerves and excitement because in your mind you know that you're ready and your plan is to go balls out.  The gun fires - BOOM - you try to run but you can't.  It's like that bad dream where you're being chased and you try - with every part of your being - to haul ass and run but you're stuck in slow motion.  Finally you realize that it's not a 5k you're running it's a 100k; this is going to take some time. Well I just realized that I'm running a 100k.  No matter what 30 days is 720 hours or 43,200 minutes or 25,920,000 seconds.  Time is time and nothing I do, no matter how excited I am to sprint ahead, is going to change that, nor should I want to change it.  I just need to settle in, find the pace, enjoy the scenery, and the experience of choosing to be a healthier family.

30 DFC - Day 1

So I was trying to find something for my family and I to do that would start the Holiday season out on the right foot.  I'm a fan of proactive prevention approaches and what better way to fend off the Holiday sluggishness than a 30 Day Fitness Challenge!  There are tons of fitness challenges out there, but if your family is like mine there is a varying degree of time available, fitness level, access to equipment, and so on.  That meant I had to find something easy, flexible, and tailorable.  After all committing to something for 30 days can be tough enough even when it's not related to fitness.  That's when I found this 30 Day Fitness Challenge from the exercise section at About.com.  Using a little creative freedom I decided that every challenge didn't have to be completed everyday, but if someone was up for it the option was there.  This way people didn't feel as pressured.  

I also set up a document that everyone participating can access and make notes, comments, ask questions, or browse to see how others are doing.  My thought here was along the line that misery loves company and what better company than your own family.  We love each other I swear.  This also works well because my family (participating family) is spread throughout three states and let's face it we all have lives so a central meeting spot (document) makes it easier for everyone to keep up.  Also since I'm the focal point for all this it makes my life easier.  People just have to deal with me constantly "family spamming" their email with updates, changes, and anything else I come up with.  To say it was a rough start is an understatement.  It's obvious that I'm a "jump-before-I-look" kinda guy.  I think in psychology circles they call it failing to completely unpack the task.  What can I say I'm a work in progress.

So Day 1 is today as if you couldn't tell from the title of this post.  Basically it's a day to get your stuff in a sock and prep yourself for the next 29 days.  My first impressions of the program are that it offers a good variety and it's great for a beginner who wants to learn or get started living a healthier life.  On that same note I feel it can also be overwhelming for beginners who have no experience and have to wade through everything.  Seeing an active challenge, exercise challenge, flexibility challenge, nutrition challenge, and finally a mind/body challenge for 30 days can appear like a mountain if you're starting out.  That's why - like I wrote earlier - I have scaled it down and rather than saying you have to complete all the challenges.  We are saying start with one challenge and progress onto more when you're ready.  I believe that just making one healthy change a day can have a compound effect.  Eventually that one change will be habit and open the door to another and then another.  That's why we're going to crawl, then walk, and finally run.

Check back for updates and thoughts as we make our way through this month.  Also has anybody else tried to do a family challenge; fitness or otherwise?