"Up North is a State of Mind"

Fifty-plus years ago Terry’s grandparents purchased land on a beautiful lake “up north”. Over the years they built a little cabin (no electricity, no plumbing) that their children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and now great-great grandchildren enjoy each summer.  You would think that after decades of visiting the same place “up north” it would get routine, mundane or evening boring.  Not true!  Every time we travel “up north” the anticipation of a week in the Northwoods is almost more than we can handle and the let down we feel when we leave has never declined over the years. 

This week was an “up north” week.  Things have changed a bit in 50 years – we now have our own cabin with electricity and plumbing, but the “little cabin” is still there, across the lake, begging for us to visit – even in the winter.  So, part of the routine for our visits always includes a visit to the “little cabin”.  In the summer we row across the lake - and in the winter we walk (trudge) on the frozen water.  

This year our “Mary-thon” workout took us trudging across the frozen lake in the snow and I’d like to take you on a virtual tour of our outdoor fitness center.  Keep in mind that in years past our “up north” visits were only during the warm summer months.  A winter with no heat, no electricity and no water – in other words “extreme camping” – was never on our “to do” list so we limited our visits to June, July and August.  Experiencing the snowy and icy Northwoods is relatively new to us - but fun and exciting, nonetheless.  So – here’s how we fufilled our “Mary-thon” commitment this week:

Standing on the lake, ready to start hiking across.  Much of the snow melted or blew off...leaving a 29 acre ice skating rink!

It was a little "blustery" so the hood came up as the jogging began.  That didn't last long...it got hot real quick once I got moving!

I LOVE THIS PLACE!!!

The raft is floating in 12 feet of water...ready for a swim?  

This is the "bath rock" where we left our towels and toiletries and the lake was our bath tub.  I never really got into "lake bathing"...so Terry built me a portable tent-outdoor shower instead!  Loved it!

The Lake is called "Cherry Lake".  This is the "Cherry Pit".  For 30 years we've been passing the time holding our noses and reading the quote inside the door that says:  "A Royal Flush" is better than a "Full House"!  

Cabin Sweet Cabin!  How do you like Terry's hat?  A true Northwoodsman!

Looks like I'm carrying wood to fuel the fire.  I'm not...just pretending!

Time for some strength training - jogging up and down the hill from the lake to the little cabin.  It was snow and ice packed - which made it a bit of a challenge. Still a great way to work out!

Yep - we pumped water.  If that wasn't hard enough - carrying two buckets of water up the hill and back to the cabin was quite a workout as well.  Fortunately - as soon as our kids were old enough to pump and haul water - they did the pumping and the hauling!  

In the summer - we paddle.  In the winter - we sit and snuggle.  

No fresh fish this time...too hard to crack the ice...too cold to fish.                                       (Personally I'd rather sew than fish anyway.)

Time to finish up my workout and jog back to the "big cabin". 

Catching a few "rays" on the raft before going inside.  

As we leave the Northwoods, I find that when I go for an outside run, or workout in front of a window, or even just hold on to an image or two of the trees and the lake and the sky and the cabin and especially the natural beauty of the outdoors...I can be back "up north" - because "Up North is a State of Mind" - and I LOVE being there!

Hope you find your "up north" as you exercise this week.  

Keep Moving Forward!

Mary

Nothing Motivates Like Success!!!

“In order to succeed, your desire for success should be greater than your fear of failure.” Bill Cosby

 

What is success?  Success is the achievement of an objective or goal.  

What is a desire for success? The desire for success is an eager wish to obtain or enjoy the achievement of the set objective or goal.

 

So – what does this have to do with the Moving Forward Mary-thon? Everything! :-)

As of today, you, along with 156 others have committed to be a mary-thoner.  You have set a fitness goal for yourself and are in the process of completing that goal within a 26 week period.  In other words, you have an eager wish to obtain the goal of completing the Mary-thon...and that eager wish is much stronger than any fear of failure you may once have had before you began the race.  CONGRATULATIONS!!!

 

Here's a bit of interesting news:  I have discovered that there are some “Closet Mary-thoners” who have not officially registered to join with us, but still have been inspired to exercise…because of your example!   If your friends would like to join us...please tell them to contact me.  Some may feel they don't need any kind of acknowledgement for their efforts...but really...THEY CAN EARN A MEDAL!!!!  :-)  Thank you for spreading the word!    

 

You may have already established your fitness program, but the following are some tips for exercise success that may help if your routine becomes just that...routine: 

• If you've been sedentary for a long time, are overweight, have a high risk of coronary heart disease or some other chronic health problem, see your doctor for a medical evaluation before beginning a physical activity program.
• Choose activities that are fun, not exhausting.  Add variety.  Develop a repertoire of several activities that you can enjoy.  That way, exercise will never seem boring or routine.
• Wear comfortable, properly fitted footwear and comfortable, loose-fitting clothing appropriate for the weather and the activity.
• Find a convenient time and place to do activities.  Try to make it a habit, but be flexible. If you miss an exercise opportunity, work activity into your day another way.
• Use music to keep you entertained.
• Surround yourself with supportive people.  Decide what kind of support you need.  Do you want them to remind you to exercise?  Ask about your progress?  Participate with you regularly or occasionally?  Allow you time to exercise by yourself?  Go with you to a special event, such as a 10K walk/run?  Be understanding when you get up early to exercise? Spend time with the children while you exercise? Try not to ask you to change your exercise routine?  Share your activity time with others.  Make a date with a family member, friend or co-worker.  Be an active role model for your children.
• Don't overdo it.  Do low- to moderate-level activities, especially at first.  You can slowly increase the duration and intensity of your activities as you become more fit.  Over time, work up to exercising on most days of the week for 30-60 minutes.
• Keep a record of your activities.  Reward yourself at special milestones.  
• Nothing motivates like success!

If you began your Mary-thon the first week of January – you are currently 1/4^th of the way through!  Applause!  Applause!  Applause!  

No matter where you are on the course – you are moving in the right direction and I applaud you for that!  Don’t forget to e-mail me with your mailing address when you complete 65 days of exercise (at the end of 13 weeks).  I have a special  “Half-Mary-thon” surprise for you and hopefully it will inspire you to continue the 2^nd half of the race.

Keep Moving Forward!

Mary

As We Courageously Continue...Personal Best is Best!

“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” –Winston Churchill

All too often our good intentions in and of themselves produce such a euphoric feeling of well-being that we never allow them to develop into anything more than simple ”impulsive wishes”.   A thought floats into our head and all of a sudden we become overwhelmed with ideas, possibilities, goals and even dreams of where we may end up as a result.  And then, something unforeseen happens…something takes us out of our creative bliss and back to what we recognize as “real life”.  In the process – we totally give up on our initial thought and that which followed.  We abandon the very idea that convinced us that the “impulsive wish” could indeed be a reality.  We often find ourselves taken from the exhuberance of our potential to the melancholic realization that it’s just not EVER going to happen.

 

Pre-week #1 of the Mary-thon brought about 150 different levels of “yes” in response to the fitness challenge.  

Do you recognize your initial response to my invitation to join me?

“Sign me up!”  “I’m in!”  “I can’t wait to get started.”  “Thanks for the encouragement!”  “I really need to do this.”  “I hate to exercise but this sounds like something I can do.”  “I will do it!  I promise!”  “I’ve never completed a fitness goal but I WILL finish the Mary-thon.”  “I already exercise but I’m going to take my work-out to the next level.”  “I’m going to train for a 5K or a 10K or a half-marathon – thanks for the encouragement.” 

Of course there were many, many other replies…all positive...all ready and willing to begin.  And do you know what?  I believe every word.  I believe you when you tell me what you are going to do, how often you are going to do it, and especially that you are going to “Meet me at the finish line.”   

So - Where are you now - 1 month later?  Are you still excited?  Are you still working hard?  Are you tracking your progress on your chart?  Do you still feel the positive excitement you felt on Day #1?  Or...are you struggling.  In other words - have you "hit the wall"? Often times the realization that our goals were simply unrealistic can drain us of our enthusiasm allowing the "f" word (failure) to creep into our minds.  What's the next step?  How do we "push through the wall"?    

If you have set a realistic Mary-thon goal and have been successful, so far – BRAVO!!!  Keep up the great work!  If you have set a goal that’s totally unrealistic – and have dropped out of the Mary-thon – reevaluate yourself and reset your goals to something that you CAN do – and start again.  If you feel that you are not challenging yourself and could do more…pick up the pace and do more!  It’s that easy.

 

We DON’T need to make excuses as to why we can’t finish or why we're destined to fail.  We DO need to continue to pat ourselves on the back EACH day that we get closer to our 130 day (over 26 weeks) goal.

 

I know that 26 weeks (130 days of exercise) can seem like an eternity at times…but 13 weeks (65 days of exercise) is much closer.  What a sense of accomplishment you will feel when you hit that "half-way through" milestone.  I want to personally applaud you when you reach the half-way point.  When you have completed HALF of the Mary-thon (65 days of exercise) – send me your mailing address and I will send you something to applaud your efforts and hopefully motivate you to continue on.

 

Congratulations to each of you and Keep Moving Forward!

Mary