Useful sites

First of all, I knew they made "stunt straps":

You can also see a video here:

http://www.yipesonline.com/page.php/products/Products.html?no=8705

These are basically just yoga straps (see below) with a loop so they can mark it up a couple 

dollars and sell it specifically to cheerleaders (~$10)...

Yoga straps (~$6-8) are helpful for some poses where your hands are supposed 

to meet but can't, or you can't grab your foot or the ground, etc...

BUT I didn't realize there were so many other types of stretching equipment available.  For instance, who wants to pay $17 for this contraption?

Or better yet, $280--no, i didn't forget a decimal--for this found at karatedepot.com?

Instead, I think I'll use some other techniques that don't involve me losing money.  One of these ways is yoga.

http://www.yogajournal.com/

I like this site b/c it has a lot of information on different types of yoga, a bunch of poses, recipes, spirituality, etc.

This site has some tips on increasing flexibility and also a 'cheer workout' alternating for 5 days between strengthening/power and endurance/aerobics.  I like finding new workout routines because it gives me a set plan and keeps me from getting bored.

http://www.lawrencepopwarner.com/fitness__flexibility.htm

This one has good info on different types of stretching like dynamic training that is suggested to improve flexibility and also discusses benefits of flexibility and factors that can limit it (room temperature).

http://www.cmcrossroads.com/bradapp/docs/rec/stretching/stretching_3.html

Barriers to change

So I think by now we've all realized that change is tough.  The most frustrating barriers are those that you do not have much control over.  My number 1 barrier right now is an injured tailbone.  It's just a bruised bone...I think.  As far as I know, I injured it over winter break (snowboarding) and I guess it never completely healed because it started flaring up again the last week or so.  I can still workout, I just have to be careful not to overdo it and hopefully I won't fall/re-injure myself before then.  Grrrr. 

This brings me to my next barrier: PATIENCE.  I've never been a really patient person so it's really hard to restrain myself and make sure I get better.  It's also really difficult to take my time stretching because I want to see results now! I've definitely pulled muscles in the past by pushing myself too far so I have to constantly remind myself that I'll see results over time.  **progress report: The splits are getting better, just not as easy as they were before.  I can do a scorpion on the left leg, but not comfortably yet and the right leg scorpion still needs some more work.**

The third barrier I discovered this weekend and relates to my new nutrition goal.  Traveling or even just not eating at home makes it much more difficult to stay "on track" when all kinds of other bad-for-you goodies are looking you in the face.  I bring this up because I went to see my family in Fresno and found it much harder to continue good eating habits since, obviously, I don't have any control over what they keep in the house.  It's not like I'm going to go spend money on my own food when I can eat their food for free right?  Dinners were good and it was definitely nice to have Daddy grill some steaks and veggies.  The hard part, though, was avoiding all the snack foods! My sister has a crazy sweet tooth so there were all kinds of treats. 

Back in my apartment, however, I have replaced flour tortillas with whole wheat, whole wheat bread with double fiber whole wheat bread, and bought an assortment of veggies for the week. :)

Support

I haven't really discussed my goal/plan with people outside of class much but I feel I am very supported by my classmates.  I don't think I even have had very many conversations about this, other than the class discussions, but just knowing we are all working toward a goal is support enough.  

That being said, I have also been inspired to add another component to my goal.  While I have been fairly successful in getting at least 3 days of workouts/stretching so far, I think my eating habits could definitely improve.  If I can feel pretty good after working out, why shouldn't I work towards feeling really good by working out AND eating healthier.  It's not that I eat horribly...I could just eat better.  By better, I would like to decrease the amount of sugar and increase the amount of vegetables and fiber and most importantly, water I consume.  I'm going to keep track for the next couple days how much of each I am eating now, so I can measure changes...and decide by how much I want to change.  Thanks guys!

Inspiration

I'm not sure that I have any one source of inspiration for this goal though I did mention my siblings last week as being a factor in all of this.  But another huge inspiration comes from one of my best friends from home (Fresno, if you're wondering).  He has been really dedicated to his gym-going schedule, especially in the past couple of months.  Even when he's tired after a long day of work he'll make sure he goes; even when he doesn't have much time he'll try to get in a few reps or a short run; if he knows he'll be busy after work he'll get up early and go before work; sometimes he goes twice just b/c he feels like it or has extra energy/time.  I think I should/could be more like that and stop thinking of these exercises as an option or additional thing to do "if I have time" and start having the mindset that this is a responsibility to myself.  Thanks M.A.D.! :)