Fitness? No silly, let’s talk movement

Often this is the part of the year where we become self deprecating about unsung New Years Resolutions that have not come to fruition.  Ironically, it is also the time that we can  start getting outside again in Colorado.  The nicer temperatures are coming, sure to be dotted by snow and rain.  What does that mean for you?

This quarter we are going to have a DOPC Movement focus.  This isn’t to challenge you to one up your peers or become the most fit person in our practice.  The challenge is for you and only you.  Here’s how it works:

1. Think of your own movement journey.  How does exercise or fitness fit into the values that you were raised with? As a child was movement emphasized or avoided?  Did you grow up with guilt, shame or pride around fitness?  How did that change as you became an adult?  How have you shared the value of movement with your current family or partner? 
2. Think about where you are now with movement.  Are you where you want to be?  Take honest stock of what you are doing well and where you have work to do.  What are the barriers to getting movement into your life regularly right now?  We know the story, time time time.  Work and life juggling, this is often the culprit for squeezing out our own self care.  Some people are on the opposite side and need to back off a bit and schedule rest.  
3. Next set a movement goal.  Make it realistic.  Don’t climb Everest (unless that is your thing).  Understand where you want to be with your own fitness level and when you want to get there.  Then write 2-3 discrete steps that will help you implement your plan.  Be sure to think about what barriers you are up against.  Brainstorm creative ways to work within the structure of your life so that your goal can be achievable.  For example, if you are not a morning person, don’t plan to get up earlier to work out.  That might work for a few weeks but your night owl nature will take over eventually.  Instead, find a doable work out that can be done at night from home, fit in a walk over lunch or capture an hour between work and home to do a new exercise class.  
4. Send us your reflections on Elation.  Only if you want to.  This “publicizing” helps you to be accountable.  Sharing helps to put your weight behind your goals.  We are happy to support you on your health journey.  If you are feeling extroverted, tag us in social media with something movement related, a good idea to share, your favorite app or fitness class suggestion.  Tag it with #DOPCMovement so we can follow along. 

Each of our team members that wants to will share with you over the coming quarter.  
Here is mine: 

1. I grew up in Lake Tahoe.  Nature was our playground.  My dad taught me about skiing, hiking, camping and being outside.  My mom didn’t “exercise” much at that time. (She is an avid biker now, she caught that fire in her 60s and has more miles under her belt weekly than I do, ironically).  I started with organized sports outside of school in 8th grade.  I was an “athlete” in high school and college, primarily with track and soccer.  In college and med school I played a little club soccer and ran but that is when my movement journey started to take a back seat to my academics.  
2. As an adult my favorite activities are skiing, climbing and doing yoga.  Running seems to hurt my knees but I like it on the rare occasion that I do it.  I can’t seem to be regular with it.  I recently found barre and like it a lot.  I struggle with fitting in classes.  As a working mom I fall regularly into the “weekend warrior” routine and get at best 1 day of movement in during the week, both weekend days.  My husband being very typical “Colorado outdoorsy guy” gets us out most weekends and my kids love getting outside with us and climbing, camping, hiking or skiing.  
3. My goal since having kids has been to feel like I am “in the best shape of my life” by 40.  I am 40 next January.  I want to get back to a place where my cardiovascular fitness is strong.  There is a time in your life when you want to exercise and a time in your life that you have to exercise for your health.  Beyond 40 our bodies demand it from us.  My short term goal is to consistently get in 4 days a week and slowly work up to 5.  I think that if I can get in those movement reps, the sense of “fitness” will follow.  Here’s what I am doing: engaging friends to go to classes with me (our DOPC team is going to try a group Orange Theory class this month). I invited friends to a yoga class this weekend.  I am biking to and from work on days where the stars are aligned to so do.  I am looking to add other options that can help me get in a work out at home when the kids are in bed so I can work around my barrier of not having time that isn’t doctoring or mothering related.

I want to hear from you!  We are looking to share ideas so that people who need a tailored fitness routine can find a new one that works.  We are looking for suggestions on apps, online classes, favorite classes to attend in person, etc.   Email suggestions for our next newsletter or message them to us on Elation.  

​Cheers to #DOPCMovement!