Coming Clean

One woman’s honest quest to clean up her unhealthy life for herself and her family.

Recently in Getting Fit Category

90-Day Challenge: The Home Stretch

By Courtney Opdahl (@clewisopdahl) / May 1, 2013

This is our final week in Life Time’s 90-Day Challenge (for this round — another challenge starts soon!), and I’ve been reflecting on my progress thus far. Our final weigh-in days are May 9 to 11.

I’m a little bummed that I won’t make my weight-loss goal of 25 pounds, but I might have been a bit ambitious: My weight loss has varied, sometimes 2 pounds a week, sometimes more and sometimes less, in the three years that I’ve been losing weight and changing my lifestyle. I’m looking at the upside, though: I did lose some weight — depending on the final day, around 10 pounds, but I’ll take it! And even bigger than that, participating in the challenge encouraged me to take a few new classes and mix up my workout routine.

Barbell Strength: I was, well, pumped to take this class, given my love of weight lifting. When I arrived to class, I claimed a station — not realizing I had to set up my own. A kind woman behind me offered to help, and when she asked how much weight I could handle, I boldly said “plenty!” Sure, that may be true in Boot Camp, where we do lots of heavy deadlifts, Olympic lifts and kettlebell swings in shorter work periods, but this class had me removing weight plates after the first 10 minutes. Tip: Don’t be timid about using a bit lighter weight than you’d use in weight lifting since you’ll be doing more reps at a faster pace with less rest. But don’t go too light or you won’t see the strength gains you’re after. The energy of instructor Todd was great, and it’s definitely one I’d revisit.
Cycling: I’ve tried Life Time’s Cycling class before with my coworker, Christy, and really enjoyed it. Yet, I haven’t been making time in my schedule for Rachel’s noon Wednesday class. So for the challenge, I participated in Giorgio’s Thursday class and found a good match. Besides the fact that he immediately charmed me with his ’90s musical selections of Sade for the warm-up and a main set that included Janet Jackson’s Velvet Rope album (curiously, this was the essential soundtrack for me and my girlfriends during college), his messages about taking care of our bodies were really uplifting. “This is your time, here in the dark. You’re alone and yet surrounded. What do you want to conquer tonight?” Finding another option for a Cycling class will be useful for times when my workdays are full.
Zumba, and the love of dancing: I attended a Zumba class with one of my Boot Camp buddies, and I was impressed by how quickly she was picking up the steps. I had hoped the same would happen for me, but alas, I was a bit heavy-footed. Several athletes in class were regular students, so I figure, with more attendance, I’ll just improve. I do love dancing, and have enjoyed Zumba in the past, so I’m interested to try a few different classes and instructors, and find a class time that works for me. This class also prompted me to return to my living room bust-a-move sessions, where I put in my earbuds and freestyle dance to “Bust A Move” (among other favorite tunes) while our dog Chloe looks on with confusion/fear/horror. Only now I’ll add in some Zumba moves so I can be ready for the next class.

Have you changed up your workout routine lately? What’s been working (or not)?

90-Day Challenge: Faster Fitness

By Courtney Opdahl (@clewisopdahl) / March 8, 2013

Like any American, I can be a bit impatient and find myself regularly short of “free time,” whatever that means. So the idea of going to the gym and spending an hour or more on the treadmill or puttering around without a plan completely turns me off. In fact, it usually convinces me to skip my workout altogether.

When I’ve worked with a trainer these past few years, I’ve loved having the guidance — especially because I’ve been resistant to working out most of my life. It also why I love group classes at Life Time Fitness: I just have to show up and follow along.

As I got stronger, I decided to try T.E.A.M. Boot Camp, which was awesome in the most challenging way. It’s circuit-style training, with some workouts similar to HIIT or metabolic resistance training: work hard and fast and/or lift heavy, rest, and repeat. (Of course, each instructor is different, but you can find examples of exercises on the Boot Camp by Life Time Facebook page or their website here.)

In honor of this week’s Try-It Tuesday events, either a T.E.A.M. Fitness or Ultimate Workout class, I challenged myself in Boot Camp on the clean and press and managed to hit a new PR (personal record): 55 pounds! Up until this week, my muscles could only handle 35 pounds — that’s a 20-pound difference in a matter of 3 to 4 weeks! Go Courtney’s muscles!

I’ve written about my love of group fitness before, and if you are short on time like me and want a specific plan with super-effect results, I think you’ll be happy with one of the T.E.A.M. classes, either Weight Loss, Fitness, Boot Camp, or the Ultimate Workout. And there’s always group-fitness classes to try as part of your membership.

If you enjoy working out alone, keep it up! Whatever works best for you. But if you’re curious about working with a partner or group, give it a shot. (Read more about the benefits of exercising with friends in “Group Effort,” from the May 2011 issue of Experience Life.) Like me, you might find yourself more motivated to work out.

Have you tried one of the T.E.A.M. classes or group workouts?

For those of you looking for more info on metabolic resistance-training programs, check out our video below. And read more about how lifting weights can boost your weight-loss progress in our September 2012 article, “Lift to Lose Weight.”

Playing in the Snow

By Courtney Opdahl (@clewisopdahl) / February 19, 2013

Recently, we spent some time in the north woods with Chloe, our black lab. Kyle wanted to ice fish, his favorite winter hobby, but Chloe and I were wanting to play in the fresh coating of snow, which was more than a foot deep.

We borrowed some snowshoes and headed for a field near a frozen lake. Watching her delight from the activity was wonderful — her big, pink tongue hanging out past her super-white teeth, as if she was a little girl laughing with her mouth wide open — and made me want to go faster. I was thinking I would only walk in the snow, but soon, we were running and jumping and bounding around.

This is the second time she’s encouraged me to push a bit more (she’s a good sprinting buddy). And enjoying a winter day outside was the best way to beat any late-winter blahs, get some vitamin D and bond with my canine friend.

Have you tried snowshoeing? If you don’t own a pair, many places rent them: at REI, for example, and in the Twin Cities, we rented at Hyland Park in Bloomington before (read about my first experience snowshoeing here). It’s really an accessible sport, especially if you don’t feel like the “sporty” type, and low cost. Give it a try this weekend and let me know what you think!

Adjusting My Routine

By Courtney Opdahl (@clewisopdahl) / February 6, 2013

I had high hopes for January. With all the excitement around Commitment Day and New Year’s Resolutions, I was ready to tackle some new goals — and lose more weight to get closer to my goal range (depending on much muscle I put on/retain, that’s another 36 to 46 pounds to lose).

It’s definitely doable, and now that I feel like I understand how my body works, I think it’ll come a bit easier. On January 1, I set a goal to reach my healthy-weight range by June 1.

But January was a stressful month: I ended up getting sick with a bad cold, I was completing some big projects at work, and we put our house on the market. Between keeping up with work and life demands, I felt frazzled. I was getting in my workouts, but, after being sick, it took me a while to feel like I was really challenging myself. (My acupuncturist told me to listen to my body, and respect my energy levels after my illness, so I did, but maybe was overly cautious for longer than what was needed.)

My trainer’s schedule also changed, so now we’re doing Monday and Wednesday workouts (we were doing Boot Camp classes three to four times a week). This opens a new door for me: I can mix in a few classes like Zumba and yoga and spinning on the days opposite of Boot Camp. And with Boot Camp only twice a week, I don’t think I’ll feel like I’m overdoing it, which was my excuse in the past.

The key is, I actually need to go to these classes and get in my workouts. Where I used to rely on trainer Shane so heavily before, now it’s time for me to step up and create a well-rounded program that works for me.

I thought I’d start by polling you all: What classes have you tried and loved at Life Time Fitness? I’ll add in a bit of cardio and DIY Boot Camp on my own, too, but I do best with assigned times and with the camaraderie of others, so I think a Group Fitness class or two would serve me well. Let me know in the comments below, or Tweet me: @clewisopdahl.

New Year, New Tradition

By Courtney Opdahl (@clewisopdahl) / January 2, 2013

I’ve only been in one other 5K, on Mother’s Day, in 2006, I believe. I walked the entire thing with my cousin, Tanya, and we chatted so much that it was over before we knew it. But that was in Minnesota on a beautiful May morning. A 5K outside in Minnesota on New Year’s Day, well, that’s a weather gamble. And the odds are usually in favor of frigid temperatures.

The weather yesterday was particularly bitter, a frosty 4 below, when participants started making their way to our race location in downtown Minneapolis. Still, a few people were spotting wearing shorts. I was bundled up with the rest of the Experience Life team. In fact, it wasn’t the distance that I was worried about; I was planning on walking the course and felt comfortable doing so. What I was most concerned with was proper dress: how many pairs of socks? Mittens or gloves? Snow boots or running shoes?

I opted to go with running shoes. My Boot Camp buddy, Jennifer, joined me and the EL team for Commitment Day, and knowing that she’s run other 5Ks, as well as half-marathons, I wanted to be prepared in case she compelled me to run (we jogged a bit, but mostly to catch up with the group when I stopped to take photos). I completed my cold-weather gear with: two pairs of SmartWool socks, a base layer pant and shirt, a fleece-lined yoga pant, a windbreaker pant, my Commitment Day T-shirt, a long-sleeved hoodie, a fleece, a parka, gloves, a scarf, and a hat. Whew! I was almost too warm. (And the gloves were a miss. Even though they were meant for cold weather, mittens would’ve kept my fingers toastier.)

Besides the chill, the weather was otherwise fair. A bit windy by the river, but no snow or sleet. The route itself was nice, and peppered throughout volunteers cheered on the sidelines. As we walked under a bridge, the drumline River City Rhythm played us on to our next mile marker.

But the best part, for me, was the crowd. Seeing some 5,000 people get up early on a holiday to show their commitment to a healthy way of life was really moving. People in costumes, people dancing while carrying boomboxes, people in tutus. Even one woman with MS who crossed the finish line with the aid of a walker. Friends, partners, and parents and their kids (Craig Cox shared a nice recount of his experience running with his son on his blog yesterday).

For a while, Jennifer and I walked near a mom and her son, who looked to be about 11 or 12. As they walked, the boy complained to her, “This is soooooo hard. Why is this so hard?!” She responded: “It’s only hard today. It’s going to get easier the more we do it. We just have to keep working at it. Remember, this is why we are doing this today. We want it to get better and better. Just keep trying.” Hearing her embrace the message of Commitment Day reminded me that while it was fun, it was also serious for many people. We were united in our goal to get better and better, just like that mom said.

At the finish line, an announcer’s voice noted the time was narrowing in on 1 hour, so Jennifer and I sprinted to the end, just squeaking by. Although I hadn’t planned on keeping time, I did think that I’d be able to try another 5K and run more often next time, or even the whole time. So I’ve already started thinking about the next 5K I want to sign up for.

That’s the thing about healthy behaviors: When they are rewarding, they are deeply rewarding and tend to perpetuate those healthy habits.

This wasn’t the usual New Year’s for us. In years past, I’ve had one-too-many cocktails, maybe indulged in too many treats, and stayed up till 2 or 3 o’clock in the morning, only to sleep off a hangover the next day. Kyle and I have still continued to stay up late even if we don’t go out, but with the race the next morning this year, we made early dinner plans and ended up asleep after the 10 p.m. news. I was rested for the 5K, and we both felt great all day. I even had enough energy to make it to Boot Camp that evening.

Just as we’ve changed our holiday tradition, I’ve changed my behaviors. It’s been one of the biggest hurdles in getting healthy — breaking the “this is just how I am” mindset. The more I surprise myself, though, the more I feel free and capable of accomplishing anything.

Notes from November

By Courtney Opdahl (@clewisopdahl) / November 30, 2012

In October, I feared the dreaded weight-loss plateau, as I only managed to lose a pound for the entire month. That said, I had a few challenges, so in November, I stepped up my training and cut back on grains in an effort to break through my stalled weight loss.

And this month, the scale finally budged and I lost 3 pounds!

But let’s be real, the scale isn’t always the best measure of weight loss. And really, we don’t talk about it much here at Experience Life. We put fitness and good food first. Many of our experts credit real, health-improving (and sustainable) weight loss to a foundation of eating whole, nutritious foods that heal inflammation, exercising regularly, and adjusting one’s lifestyle to lower stress and obtain adequate sleep. Those who have lost weight before know there are other routes to make the numbers drop, although you may feel hungry or moody or tired while doing so.

So even though the scale shifted, I noticed a difference in my mood and energy.

Food, Energy and Strength
My appetite decreased significantly, which would seem good for weight loss but made my workouts more difficult. I found myself getting light-headed frequently and didn’t feel as strong in lifting weights.

I was also much more tired than usual. Instead of my typical end-of-day energy that propels me through my after-work training session, I felt like I was dragging myself to class and counting the minutes until it was over. (Disclaimer: I’ve done that occasionally before, even with loads of energy, but usually because the workout is so challenging.)

Was my body just adjusting to not eating as many grains? Hmmm. That didn’t seem right. People who follow a Paleo diet report feeling great. Or was it because I didn’t add in more veggies in place of the grains, and just ate less altogether. Or! Was it a need for more protein, as my trainer suggested?

After eating all that turkey on Thanksgiving and the days following, along with green beans and salad, I was feeling better and had my appetite back. So maybe I’m not getting enough food, and enough protein. In December, I’m going to keep my usual food journals, but for a week, keep track of portion size and macronutrients.

For me, “eat less to weigh less” has been one of the hardest weight-loss myths to extinguish. To lose weight before, I would eat less food overall, and maybe drop a few pounds, but eventually gain it back. However, I wasn’t eating “food,” meaning real food that’s grown or raised, not processed and packaged. (Read more in “Weight-Loss Rules to Rethink.”)

Depending on where you’re at in your weight loss, you may need to cut back on your caloric intake overall. (Both my trainer and a RD consultation with Life Time Fitness provided great insights.) But I’ve found that switching to whole foods, and adding in more leafy greens and healthy fats, has helped me naturally feel fuller. I may eat less overall, but the food I eat is full of vitamins and antioxidants so it’s doing good work in my gut, helping heal inflammation (more in our upcoming January feature story, “True Blood”) and improving my metabolic functions.

TV Time: My Winter “Activity”
In my recent post on promises, I mentioned that I keep track of the number of hours I spend watching TV, and send it in a report to life coach Lauren each night. Why? Because I love love love watching TV and movies. Kyle and I recently got into Homeland on Showtime. I watch Dexter every Sunday night. And I never miss Parks and Recreation on NBC. (And with our DVR, I don’t have to.)

My TV has gotten me into trouble in the past, when I’d watch it over studying in high school and college (I still managed to pass my classes and do quite well, in my opinion). Or last winter, when I was feeling nostalgic and decided to watch Felicity on Netflix, staying up till the wee hours watching the love-triangle drama (she still picked Ben). Sleep? Oh right.

I had made a new rule for the fall that I would only watch “quality” programming, which, of course, is totally subjective. And I would save TV viewing time for the end of the day, after I finished my workouts, making dinner, and completing any chores. I’d limit my schedule to 10 hours a week, which would give me enough time to watch all my shows. (Note: As the magazine’s multimedia editor, I also watch videos online during the day, but this rule applies only to my leisure time.)

During Thanksgiving week, I somehow managed to watch 13 hours of TV. How’d that happen?! Was it Homeland? Football on Thanksgiving? Both, most likely.

Now, 10 hours seemed like a good number to me. To some it may be too much; to others, too little. Perhaps it needs to be less, or more, for the winter months, when frigid days convince me to stay inside. If it’s less, then maybe I can take up a hobby. Or start listening to the radio or records in the evening. Or read a book on my looooong to-read list.

The point is, my TV time is a habit, and I’m looking to examine, reevaluate, and break habits during this lifestyle change. I enjoy watching TV for entertainment as a leisure activity, and I think there’s a place for it in my life. How much — and when — is still something with which I grapple.

Row and Weep

By Courtney Opdahl (@clewisopdahl) / October 31, 2012

You know those workouts that are so challenging you feel like crying? And maybe you do start weeping, either because you are relieved or proud or exhausted? That was my workout last night.

I’ve been working with trainer Shane for two years now, one-on-one since the fall of 2010 and in a group setting with Boot Camp since October 2011. Throughout all those fun/difficult/sometimes grueling workouts, I’ve kept a smile on my face. I would visualize myself in top form, completing each circuit with ease and super strength. And, over time, my visions have come closer to reality. But last night, I just couldn’t keep the happy, fit Courtney in my mind’s eye.

And it was all because of the rowing machine.

For an office worker like myself, the rowing machine is a great tool, and one of the few Shane incorporates into our workouts (he focuses on multijoint/compound exercises that recruit several muscles, usually in the form of body-weight exercises, kettlebell swings, and free weights).

Rowing in proper form requires one to pull their shoulders back, but it also utilizes the legs: rowers use more than 20 different muscles with each stroke, including the hamstrings, pecs, lats, traps and glutes. It burns tons of calories, more than any other cardio-style workout, according to rowing expert Frederick Hagerman, PhD, emeritus professor of physiology at Ohio University. For those wanting sprinting-style interval training that’ll be nice on your joints, rowing fits the bill.

Occasionally, Shane will forget his watch so he’s without a timer (on purpose?), so he’ll keep track with one exercise. In the past, this responsibility has fallen on one station where a person has to run five flights of stairs or around the block away from their teammates, while the other group members complete the exercise at their station of the circuit, be it burpees or renegade rows. But with the row machine, I must face my poor group members as I struggle to make it to 500 meters.

The pressure was so intense last night that I had to step outside both to cool off and hold back the tears. Why is this so terribly difficult? I could breathe just fine, but the longer strokes I took (thereby increasing how quickly I’d get to 500 meters), the more I felt the swelling of emotions build up in my chest. When I ruled out vomit, I knew the tears were coming.

By the third and last circuit, I was spent: on the other stations, my vertical jumps were tiny hops, my burpees sad and slow. We had switched places with another group member each round, and this last go had me at the rowing machine for my final exercise. I pushed and pulled, but as soon as Shane yelled “halfway!” panic set in.

Everyone is counting on you, Courtney. You have to finish this, and do it quickly! People are waiting! Hear them struggling with their station? The longer it takes you, the more they struggle! Hurry!

And then the negative self-talk started:

If you were stronger or taller or more athletic, this would be easier. You should be fitter and thinner by now. You should be at your goal weight. If you didn’t have this extra fat on you, you’d be a champion rower! You need to work harder and lose more weight. This group is fit, they shouldn’t have to wait for you anymore. Pull as hard as you might, you’re just not fast enough.

The nasty voice, the one that tries to defeat me. She bullies me into complacency, into indifference. She attempts to prevent change. She’s quite wretched.

But she comes from a place of fear, because the voice in my head that sees me improving and watches me step outside my comfort zone knows my expectations will also change. The fitter I get, the more I’ll want to work out. The healthier I am, the more energy I’ll have to do the activities I’ve been wanting to try all these years. I’ll feel more confident and may start socializing more. What if I attention and admiration I don’t know how to respond to, like from the guy who called me a supermodel this weekend? Will I accept the compliment graciously and move on, or will I get stuck in my head? What if I make new friends only to be hurt later?

I do my best to quiet the voice, but she still lurks in the dark corner of my mind, waiting for moments of weakness to speak up, like last night on the rowing machine.

But then, something better happens: my teammates cheer me on. Trainer Shane says “Nice work!” And cooler still, he tells me my time improved each round, with my personal best at 2:11. The fastest group member, Joe, rowed 500 meters at 1:40, and gee whiz, that doesn’t feel too far off. As the tears trickle down and my face starts contorting, the cheerleader voice in my head says, “Hooray! Look around you. Your teammates are proud! This was a challenging workout for everyone, but we made it through together.”

And the nasty voice? She sulks off as her powers grow faint.

For more on the scientific research behind emotionally charged workouts, see “Laugh, Cry, Lift” here.

September Summary

By Courtney Opdahl (@clewisopdahl) / September 30, 2012

In July, I had a thought to post my monthly health reports on the last day of said month, a kind of wins and challenges list. It was item No. 3 of my goals: using monthly check-ins to review what worked and what didn’t.

I haven’t yet shared, so here’s what I’ve learned in July, August and September:

What’s working right now:

Workouts: Boot Camp three times a week — bonus points for the fourth day! — and Pilates once a week. Last week I had a make-up class, so I attended Pilates two days in a row. And we used an ab wheel during our Boot Camp circuit on Thursday, so my abs were sore all weekend. As if I had been in a boxing ring and taken several hits to the stomach. In a good way, of course. I haven’t made it to yoga or dance classes, so I’m shelving those goals for now.
Healthy Eating: Nightly emails to life coach Lauren have kept my focus on mostly yummy, good-for-me foods, but some sweet treats at my birthday celebration and skimpy meals during the week has my diet a bit imbalanced. This past week, I worked to eliminate coffee in preparation to follow Dr. Mark Hyman’s UltraSimple plan with two of my coworkers starting tomorrow. I’m hoping it’ll help me get back to scheduled, healthy meals.
Relationships: The vacation to Colorado a few weeks back was great for Kyle and me to break our usual routine and have quality time to relax and talk. No rushing, no “checking in” between errands, work and appointments. Just time to take in the beauty of nature and dream about the future. And with my birthday on the 12th, I was touched by sweet messages from friends and family. My mom and I visited with my younger cousins and aunt and uncle today, and had dinner with my grandparents. It was nice to connect and gain some wisdom from the three generations.

What’s not working:

Stress: I’m still seeking the perfect harmony for work and life, but I’ve come to realize that much of my work will seep into my life because my job is all about living better. Brainstorming story ideas on the weekends or updating my blog in the evenings is bound to happen — and that’s OK. If I’m skipping leisure time or workouts in favor of working later (as I’ve done before), then I need to reassess and reschedule projects. I have to remind myself that working out can only help me be a better, more productive employee, as we share in this month’s issue of the magazine (see “Work Out, Work Better”). Right now, I can use daily meditation and journaling to manage stress, even if I’m only checking in for five minutes a day. I’ve also been missing my weekly acupuncture sessions, so I’ll add those back in for October.
Overly ambitious scheduling: I have three calendars, one for work, one for projects and one for all other appointments and events pertaining to my life (this one also includes some work meetings). The latter calendar features an “ideal day” calendar, where I:

Rise early to practice yoga and meditate every morning before walking the dog;
Arrive to work before morning meetings to blog;
Break at lunch for spinning or yoga or a walk;
End the daytime hours with a strength-training workout before heading home to…
Make a healthy meal, watch a little TV and…
Read a book and take a bath, before…
Going to bed “early,” which would be 10 pm for me.

I’ll expand more on this above ideal day in another post, but so far, I’ve only been able to complete item 4. Sad. This month I’m going to take active steps to get closer to this vision, but it’s worth reviewing the barriers, perceived or not, in me reaching this dream. More to come on this subject.

While travel was great during the summer and September, it was also a bit dizzying. That’s one of my favorite things about fall: a bit slower pace and time to reflect. I can make some adjustments to my goals and figure out what I’m willing to do — and what I actually can do. Students go back to school, and the rest of us, students of life, can obtain a new education, skill or practice.

Tell me about a goal you’ve had to rework — and how you finally made it happen — in the comments section below, or find me on Twitter: @clewisopdahl.

Becoming a Sports Fan

By Courtney Opdahl (@clewisopdahl) / September 11, 2012

Autumn Sundays in my house growing up were filled with the sounds of John Madden, cheering crowds and whistles blowing. My dad is an unusually quiet fan — I don’t remember him yelling at the TV — and multiple upsets by his team generally meant he’d throw up his hands and head outside to rake leaves.

I “watched” the game with him, in the sense that I’d lay on the couch, cheer occasionally, then inevitably drift off to sleep for an afternoon nap. We rarely talked about the plays, so I wasn’t completely sure of the calls until I saw my dad’s reaction (which was typically subdued). I learned more about football over the years, watching with dad, listening to the commentary, or through an education from friends and boyfriends. The rules of baseball seemed to make more sense to me, but again, if I were a player on the field, I’d no doubt make a bad move because I wasn’t sure if I should run or stay on the base.

Why am I confessing my sports illiteracy? Just so we’re clear where I’m coming from: I may work at a health and fitness magazine, but I don’t consider myself an athlete. I didn’t really consider myself “active” until recently. And healthy? Come on! I lived off boxed meals and frozen foods and Chinese takeout up until three years ago.

On Saturdays during Boot Camp, we play games in the park. Sometimes trainer Shane changes up the rules, but we usually mimic football with either a tennis ball, or, more recently, a standard football. Since my recollection of the rules of football are a bit foggy, I’ve had to do some homework and study up with Kyle. I also planned a one-on-one training session with Shane where we could practice T-cone sprints, cuts, and running drills.

Yet, there seemed to be a question lurking in my mind: If I watched sporting events regularly, would the amazing athleticism encourage me to train harder? If I felt some connection to the game, would it inspire me to compete? Really, would becoming a sports fan make me want to be an athlete?

We’re just wrapping up a story on the life lessons behind sports, and I felt myself nodding my head as I read the piece. Playing a sport offers so many important messages outside the game itself — I remember having a lot of confidence during the brief stint I played volleyball in high school. I always wonder what would have happened if I stayed with volleyball: Would I have become a star player? Would I have taken better care of my body over the years?

When you’re training for a specific goal or event, or always need to in the best health to compete, it would make sense that you’d need to eat right, stay fit, and get enough sleep. (Oddly, it never occurred to me that being in my best health still mattered even if my job was sitting in front of a computer instead of running around on a field. Sure, one’s level of fitness can be significantly less when sitting at a desk — it’s the illness that accompanies poor health that’ll get ya.)

So I’m testing this theory this fall, and seeing if watching sports subconsciously pushes me harder in my workouts. What do you think? Does watching athletes perform at their best motivate you during your workouts?

Me and my ticket to the Colorado Rockies game in Denver. The guy watching me in the background seems to know I’m not a sports buff.

Back in the Saddle

By Courtney Opdahl (@clewisopdahl) / September 10, 2012

The last time I rode a horse was in fifth or sixth grade. We’d go horseback riding near our cabin in Hayward, Wis., and I always enjoyed it — usually because my brother got the gassy horse, and, being the child I was, would suggest the horse’s flatulence was somehow my brother’s fault. Ah, kids.

Horses are such beautiful creatures, and I’ve since learned their important role in therapy and rehabilitation (see We Can Ride for a great program in the Twin Cities). When I watched Temple Grandin with Claire Danes, I was further amazed and moved. Yes, horses are awesome. And the horse-human connection cooler still.

Kyle and I had talked about horseback riding on past vacations, but frankly, I felt a little uncomfortable at my old weight. I knew the horse could handle it, but I worried about my own control. Would I be comfortable? What if the horse decided to run — could I hang on?

I still had some concern about the horse taking off, as one did on my mom when she was in seventh grade. (She fell off and broke her ankle, but didn’t fear a repeat accident as she mounted a horse again to take her kids riding.) With all things there are risks, but I’m a pretty trusting person, particularly with animals.

We arrived at Sombrero Ranch in Estes Park, Colo., and met our guide Becky. She was a no-nonsense woman in a large white cowboy hat and designer sunglasses. As I mounted my horse, she reminded me to be firm with him and hold tight to the reins in one hand. “He’s a kicker, so you’ll be at the back of the line,” she told me.

My horse was aptly named Cheech, as he was a bit slow to keep up with the group and stopped several times to munch on grass. He also seemed a bit distracted. Once we climbed a trail to heights of 8,000 feet, I heard some rustling in the woods behind us — and Cheech heard it, too.

Off in the distance was a huge wild turkey, bopping his head and waddling around. He was far enough away, but the sight of him startled Cheech and he started to break from the group. I did my best to stay calm, as I had read animals can sense your fear, and gave him a calming “Whoa, boy!” with a few pets on his mane. He jumped a bit and pulled away from the group, ready to run, but I shortened the reins as Becky instructed and directed him back in line. She trotted over to help him (and me) relax.

What did I learn from Cheech? Stay calm, don’t get distracted by non-threats, and keep in line with your path.

Me and Cheech the horse, pre–Turkey incident.

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