A Year of Health

Josh and I have talked and have decided that this year's challenges will all be centered around health. Each month we will pick a realistic goal (not necessarily a challenge) to add to our daily/weekly lives. Each month we will pick a new healthy choice but continue to do what we have done in the months past. Pretty good, huh?

This month we are eating 5 fruits and veggies every day. I must say that we do this most days and it seems like we eat more like 4 servings naturally. But there are days (ahem, weekends) that we could say, "oops, didn't have but one serving today." Do margaritas count? Haha!
Some ideas so far:
5 fruits and veggies
2 days of yoga per week
64 oz of water
daily vitamin regimen (again, done on some days but not all)

Cheers to a very healthy year!

Russell Challenge - 12 Months of Challenges

Well, a year of challenges went by pretty fast. Some were really fun and successful, some were duds. Here's a quick hit of all 12 challenges and links to the posts. I am ready to kick off another year but want some good suggestions. Please send them to joshuarussell25@gmail.com.

Month 1: Helping My Mom with her Art Business

Month 2: Nothin' But Veggies

Month 3: 40-Day Mantra

Month 4: The Power of Gratitude

Month 5: How Am I Perceived?

Month 6: Daily Energy

Month 7: Weight Loss Challenge

Month 8: All is Well

Month 9: Josh Learns the Ukulele

Month 10: No TV

Month 11: 10,000 Steps a Day

Month 12: A Month of "Firsts"

Month 12: A Month of Firsts

Month 12 represented an entire year of challenges. So, I wanted this one to be unique - I don't remember how the idea came up but I thought about focusing the month of July on going outside of my comfort zone - doing things I might not normally do. From physical activities, to ordering something different at a favorite restaurant. It made me focus on thinking differently and trying new things. Like June, I kept a running tab of all of the things I did. It was the perfect month to do it too with a few family vacations planned and platforms for experimentation.

July "firsts"
- first SaberCats game - LOVED it. Would go to a game every year. And, as you can see from the photo above, I definitely enjoyed myself.

- first time doing an on-field contest during a sabercats game - as Jen pointed out, I have done contests before but never during a SaberCats or football game. Definitely fun.

- first house cleansing - this was actually using my knowledge and skills of Reiki to cleanse a house of bad energy for our friend Courtney. It was very cool and I plan to do it again, as long as someone wants me to.

- first time ordering an iced caramel latte at peet's - it was good... but I wouldn't order it again. My friend the mocha was too jealous.

- first time leading a board retreat - great experience/learning opportunity. Nice to have one under my belt.

- first time eating a ????? (in the salad from el patio) - as you can tell, I ate something I've never eaten before and had no idea what it was. I can tell you that it was disgusting and I would never eat it again... on purpose at least.

- first time drinking Rockstar - Yowza... not sure my body is down for too many of these. Helps with staying up for a night on the town though

- Skouras Greek red wine - by the time I drank this, it really didn't matter where it came from. Tasted good from what my hazy memory could conjure up.

- Uzzo shots - I was peer pressured into this black licorice flavored shot. Would not have it again unless I was peer pressured again.

- First time at UC Santa Barbara campus - incredible campus. If I had visited there, would have been among my top choices. Or maybe number 2 after Arizona

- First "Family Vacation Center" vacation - Family vacation at the UCSB campus was really fun. 4 nights was a perfect blend of adult activities and family fun. Great time.

- Surfing for the first time - I summed up my first ever surfing experience in five words, "America's Funniest Home Videos Montage". Total disaster but I'm determined to get up next time.

- Kayaking - Jen and I went ocean kayaking for the first time. Great sport. Good exercise. Beautiful. I even toyed with buying a kayak until Jen reminded me how infrequently I would use it. I'm still not quite convinced.

- First time capsizing on a kayak - When coming back in, waves crashing all around us, they gave us the option of trying to ride the waves to shore or going the safe route and pulling back. We almost had it until the very end but I would ride the waves 10 times out of 10. Super fun.

- Eating kelp - This tasted EXACTLY how I thought it would taste. Would I eat it again... maybe for a dare or $$.

- Getting pantsed during a freshman orientation - I know I have been pantsed before but never by my 3-year old, never in the middle of the dining hall and never during freshman orientation. At least only the full back was viewable.

- First time ordering 3 side salads as my main meal (at Willow Street) - Our waitress told us that she has never seen anybody order 3 side salads for their dinner in her 6 years working as a waitress. Sweet!

- First time developing and facilitating a grants panel - This was a professional first for me and a great experience. I love the panel process and it was really fun to make up the rules. I think we ended up with a really good outcome as well.

- First time ordering a turkey/pastrami sandwich at freshly baked - I usually get turkey or cheese but given the challenge, I went with a sandwich I had never had before. Here's what I learned... you cannot go wrong. Every sandwich is off the hook. Would definitely order this one again though.

- Bulgogi from Fuji sushi (marinated beef) - Went with my gut... super good. I have ordered it again since but it did not live up to the first time. Still, now it is part of my rotation.

- Seviche - Never had seviche before. Would eat it every day if I could. Incredible!

- Weaverville/ Trinity - Went to a part of California I had never been to before - Weaverville and Trinity. 75 miles east (I think) of Redding. Beautiful part of the world. Amazing that it's in California. Had a great time, would rather go to Tahoe.

- Bed and breakfast/ plantation - At the wedding in Weaverville, we stayed at a bed and breakfast that used to be a plantation. It was my first ever bed and breakfast. I loved it. Very comfortable. Great way to stay - much cozier than a hotel.

- Cake pop - Apparently this is a new trend. I tried one, it was so sweet I almost couldn't finish it.

- Goat meat - Never had goat meat before. It was better than I thought but I'm ok not to have it again. Craziest part was that our friend Mikey roasted a whole goat so there was a big pile of meat and a roasted goat head in front of it.

- Crab cake sandwich - Have had crab cakes but never a crab cake sandwich. Definitely my first and last crab cake sandwich.

- Blood orange iced tea at new place Santori Tea Garden - Walked into a new store in Downtown San Jose and chose a flavor of tea I had never had before from over 400 options. Funny thing is that the blood orange was the first one I smelled. It was pretty awesome!

- Alligator tail - Alligator tail at La Fondue = great idea, poor execution

- Elk rib eye - Eld Rib Eye at La Fondue = good idea, good execution

- Chocolate fondue milk choc w/ toffee - As you can tell, we tried some new things at La Fondue - one of our favorite restaurants. The chocolate fondue was incredible. New family favorite for sure.

Month 11: 10,000 Steps A Day

My sister told me that they were doing a 10,000 steps a day challenge at Adobe and I read up on it and loved the idea. I was looking to do something health related and focusing on walking was perfect. So, Jen and I bought pedometers and we were off.

I park about 3/4 of a mile from my office so I knew that I already had some good walking built in. But, I learned that on an average day, I was probably doing about 6,500 steps, which is good, but pretty far from 10,000. But bottom line, I still work in an office and sit a good chunk of the day so I had work to do.

This challenge forced me to walk everywhere - to take the stairs, to eat lunch farther away from my office, to walk around the block after dinner. It was a great focused reminder on how important it is to be mobile.

And, with a goal of 10,000 steps a day on average, I was focused. I tracked my steps every day and tallied them up at the very end. And, here comes the heartbreaking part... for the month of June, I averaged a total of... 9,994. ARE YOU KIDDING ME!! But, I am still proud of that number and for the entire month, took a total of 258,536 steps.

Here's the breakdown - steps per day:

June 1 - 9017
June 2 - 8655
June 3 - 8672
June 4 - 5755
June 5 - 3521
June 6 - 11,913
June 7 - 16,000
June 8 - 5950
June 9 - 7189
June 10 - 10,031
June 11 - 12,192
June 12 - 6418
June 13 - 8336
June 14 - 9730 (average = 8812)
June 15 - 9665
June 16 - 11835
June 17 - 13,338
June 18 - 19,187
June 19 - 6751
June 20 - 9547
June 21 - 8820
June 22 - 8144
June 23-26 = N/A
June 27 - 10,915 (9633)
June 28 - 9803
June 29 - 11,862
June 30 - 15,290

Month 10: No TV

No tv for one month - at first it felt like a punishment.

When we decided on no television for the entire month of May, the first thing I did was check the calendar to make sure I wasn't missing any major sporting events. Basketball... check; Football... check; Baseball... check. All clear.

Oops, forgot about the Sharks in the playoffs. Unfortunately and fortunately, I did miss the Sharks. But I think I am a saner person as a result.

But, Jen and I decided that we have gotten into a routine of putting the kids to bed, heading downstairs and turning on the TV and subsequently 'vegging out' for the night. This was a great opportunity to re-connect with each other, and try to be more productive.

I have to say this was another challenge that was easier than I thought. Thanks to DVR and the internet, I really didn't miss anything other than the Sharks. And, there were a couple of times we happened to be at dinner while a game was on so if my eyeballs strayed, I couldn't help it.

During the month, I did do some household chores that I had been stalling on, probably read more too. In addition, I got addicted to Words with Friends on my iPhone and used that to replace some TV time. The tough thing is that after a long day of work and spending time with the kids, we actually needed some time to veg out.

Long term, we are trying to institute at least one night a week where we do not turn the tv on. With the sports scene ramping up, it's a little bit harder, but of course I'll live!

Month 9 - Josh Learns the Ukulele

For the month of April, my challenge was to learn how to play one song on the ukulele and then perform it - no matter how far along in my learning curve - and upload it to YouTube. Below is the video. This was really fun as I have been wanting to play for a long time and just looking for the incentive. This was my incentive. I definitely want to keep playing. I might even look into taking lessons.

You can watch the video below or click on this link to see it on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPN08jI_Jxs

Month 8 - "All is Well"

For the month of March, Jen and I thought it would be neat to spend the month being inspired by other people's stories. A month or two prior, we both bought a book called "All is Well", which includes 29 stories of different people, all connected to the Center for Spiritual Living in San Jose, who have overcome different life obstacles.

We thought it would be inspiring to hear of other's challenges. And, with 29 stories, we figured, "perfect - we'll read one story a night." We did and while I can't speak for Jen I can say that the idea was good.

The stories themselves, for whatever reason, did not really resonate with me. People overcoming the death of their loved ones, overcoming eating disorders, falling in love with their soul mates (while being married to someone else), bankrupt, etc. Many of the stories were powerful and I was more struck by the notion that everybody has gone through different life challenges, no matter who you are. Everyone has a story - most people don't take the time to listen to what they are.

That was my lesson in month 8. It was not the stories themselves but the ideas of the stories that resonated with me. It also confirmed that for me and my life, all is truly well.

Month 7 (February) Weight Loss Challenge

I have done lots of weight loss challenges in the past. Lose 5 pounds this month. Do Weight Watchers this month, etc. These work for me, because it forces me to be disciplined, which I am usually not very good at.

But when we looked at Challenge #7, we liked the idea of a weight loss challenge but wanted to add some meaning to it - some significance. So, Jen and I decided that we would pledge $5 for every pound lost in the month of February, collect the total and donate it to a charity. That way, the weight loss meant something bigger than ourselves (no pun intended). So, we opted to donate it to the Walnut Avenue Women's Shelter, where Cita, our sister-in-law works.

And, to stir the pot a little, we put it out there to our friends and family that we were embarking upon 28 days of weight loss for a purpose and invited any and all to participate. This was the first time that I did any sort of weight loss challenge where bragging rights or an actual prize was not the goal.

And, I tried to instill smaller changes that could be more life sustainable. Such as making good choices every day... side salad instead of fries, lots of water, breakfast every morning, say no to treats and sweets, etc.

The result personally was not overwhelming... 6 pounds lost was ok but I know I could have dropped more if I took different measures. I was ok with this but the real overwhelming part was that we had 18 people participate and we raised over $350 for the Walnut Ave. Women's Shelter.

That was the best part. We had a variety of people participate, all knowing it was for a good cause. And, another great part was that our sister-in-law was really touched. In fact she cried when she heard we were doing this. And, she shared this with her boss and staff.

I can also honestly say that I have not done a good job maintaining the weight I lost in February. So, my goal of making sustainable choices hasn't quite panned out... yet.

Oops - Forgot to Mention Month 6

Month 6 was one of those where the idea/challenge sounded like a good idea at the time but Jen and I both realized that we were basically 'settling' to do something together. Moving forward, if neither of us are completely on board with the monthly challenge, then we are going to do separate challenges.

That being said, we agreed on the idea of the sixth month being all about energy. Giving or receiving every day. Concept is good. I did reiki on Jen 2-3 times and the rest of the month was giving reiki to Ryan and Haley or meditating. I guess there is nothing wrong with it, it just didn't really feel like a challenge and didn't feel like something Jen and I were on board with from day 1.

If I were to do this challenge again, I would probably set a goal for myself of doing energy on 10-15 people and receiving it from other folks as well, or just doing a daily meditation and sending energy to people other than myself. Something like that. Still good to focus on giving energy to other people, it just could have been better strategized.

February Challenge- JOIN US!

We are doing our first challenge that invites your participation. February is fitness and health month. We are inviting anyone to join us. Make a goal, make a pledge, and all donations will go to the Walnut Avenue Women's shelter in Santa Cruz.
What's your goal? Lose weight? Work out more? Eat healthier? Whatever it is you decide how you want to pledge. Some ideas are:
1. certain amount per pound lost
2. $1 for every mile run for the month
3. an amount for every day you stay within a certain number of calories.

I am pledging $5 for every pound loss. What are you going to do? By joining us you are getting healthier and helping out a great organization!

Jen's Thoughts

It's Jen and I realize I have not contributed to the blog. I have gone through and added my comments in certain months and will add my thoughts from this challenge on. So far this process has been enlightening. I look forward to the 2nd half of the year. Feel free to visit old posts to read my thoughts on some of our past challenges.
Happy reading!

Month 5: How Am I Perceived?

Month 5 was an interesting adventure as much for the process as the outcome. Given that it was December and I was already going through a 360 review at work, I thought "why not do this all the way and see how friends, family and colleagues view me." So, I used a free online system called 360 Reach which creates categories for feedback including my Brand Attributes, Brand Skills, Strengths, Weaknesses, Comments, and of course - if I were a car, what would I be and if I were a brand of cereal what would I be.

I put out an email ahead of time to the 50-60 people that I was asking to fill out the anonymous survey - letting them know that my challenge for the month of December was this: in order to improve myself, I need to know how I am viewed so I know what to work on. It seemed easy, but it was FAR more challenging than I thought.

Think about this - no matter how 'open' you think you are to hearing what other people think, the fact is - it's nerve wracking. I wondered to myself if I really wanted to know. I deliberately tried to select a wide-ish range of people from family to work acquaintances. How do I come across? Does it align with how I think I come across?

After about 30 responses, I learned some interesting things. First, I think my perception is pretty well aligned with the reality. That's a big deal to learn. Here are snapshots of some of the results:

The top 4 brand attributes about me:

1. Likable (13 responses)

2. Creative (10 responses)

3. Funny (10 responses)

4. Outgoing (10 responses)

The top 4 brand skills associated with me are:

1. Developing ideas (12 responses)

2. Relating to others/ building relationships (9)

3. Communicating (listening/speaking) (9)

4. Growing professionally (9)

Strengths were all over the board but many of the strengths were aligned with my personality and the brand attributes listed above.

Weaknesses were all over the map too. Some of the funnier ones were "love of Weird Al" and "cooking". But, some of the weaknesses that resonated with me had to do with moving too quickly, being a little too ambitious with goals and follow-through, overextending, too easy going and not assertive enough. All I actually agree with.

In terms of what car I would be, my favorite responses were:

- A toyota FJ cruiser because he's like a concept car turned production suv... a bit luxury, while sporty, quirky and fun

- Convertible BMW b/c relaxed, sporty and fun

- Prius - innovative with a purpose, good for the earth and even better once you look inside

- Back to the Future - creative and determined

- SUV because a little bit masculine but not overpowering

For cereals, the best responses were:

- Captain Crunch because he is sweet and makes you feel like you have a sugar high after talking to him

- fruit loops - open minded, willing to try new things

- honey nut cheerios - good for you but a little bit sweet

- Lucky Charms - while the taste can be overwhelming at times, it offers excitement and variety

Additional comments and suggestions had to do with me continuing to step into my own and leverage my life experience to gain more confidence.

Again, the questions lent themselves more to positive responses but it was still a great learning experience and opened myself up to whatever people had to say. I feel now more confident in who I am as a 'brand' and would strongly recommend an exercise like this for anyone open to hearing what people think.

JEN'S THOUGHTS:

I know I am doing this a little late, but I am adding my thoughts and my experiences through these challenges. Josh and I have done all of these challenges together and have experienced different things. This one was very interesting as Josh said. I did mine a bit differently. Used Survey Monkey and designed two separate surveys, one for personal and one for professional. I found it funny that everyone thought I would know exactly who they were when reading the responses. The only one I knew for sure was Torrey as he answered the statement, "I wish Jen would..." with, "come out and visit us in Japan." Dead give away. This is what was clear to me.

In my professional life: My intention matches my perception. I am seen the way I want to be as an educator and as a staff member. Many answers about what I can improve on included me stepping up to the plate and "using my powers for good." I need to put my cell phone away at meetings. oops!

In my personal life: My sense of humor is valued. People know that family and friends are the most important things to me. I was surprised to learn that some of my words come out sharper than I intend. This is so good to know as I do believe in being honest but THINK that I am always sensitive. This was good for me to think about.

People were fascinated with this month's challenge. Many said that it must have been tough to really put yourself out there. It was risky, but very insightful.