Rachel Pearl: Fit For Life

December 30, 2013

Rachel Pearl Loves To MoveBy Rachel Pearl, Director of Production

Time is still traveling at an alarming rate. I can’t believe it has been one year since the 30 Before 30 Challenge last December! I’m thrilled to say that I’ve kept the weight off and I’m still dancing! I look at myself now and say, Rachel, you could be more toned. And since time is traveling so fast these days, I know that if I blink, I could have Michelle Obama arms tomorrow! I just have to do push ups every day and lift weights three times a week FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE. Hear me out you guys because I really get it now. Maintaining a healthy weight, being generally happy and stress free, takes a 100% commitment. Within the last few weeks (thanks a lot Thanksgiving) my weight has fluctuated and I am forced to remember that unless I want to battle the bulge again (I do not) it’s finally time to put this lifestyle change in my schedule, permanently. I mean, I got up early to saute kale and garlic for lunch today. I’ve had to go a little crazy and I feel more sane than ever!

We get in our own way a lot. There is always a case for taking a nap instead. You just have to ask yourself – what do you want to look like in a year from now? How do you want to feel a year from now? Then BLINK and it’ll be next summer! You will want to be better by then and it starts with TODAY.

Every New Year’s we’re inviting a new habit, but we say it in the opposite way. We say, I want to lose 30 pounds, I want to quit smoking. When we put it like that, it’s like we’re going into battle. Then your super strong fight or flight mechanisms start thumping and the diet starts tomorrow. I’ll go to dance class tomorrow. We need to change our language! Try inviting a positive habit into your life this New Year’s. Maybe this year commit to a few things you will do every day, not things you won’t do every day. Changing your internal messaging to be more positive is probably the number two thing that helped me to stay on track. Number one is counting those pesky calories.

Here’s my resolution list for 2014 (holy cow it’s the future already):

  • I will MOVE every day (I have a standing desk, I’ll go to dance class once a week, or go out dancing, or dance in my living room, or I’ll spontaneously do a sun salutation…..)
  • I will eat nutrient dense foods every day
  • I will do 20 push-ups every day
  • I will meditate for five minutes every day
  • I will speak in a calm, slow tone, every day

Your turn.

Looking to stay active in the New Year? Check out one of our MOVE Program drop-in dance and fitness classes.