The September Challenge
The challenge this month was a “thinker”. I intended it to be easy but it turns out that self-reflection sometimes takes more time and energy than simply “doing” something for 5 or 10 minutes.
The challenge this month was to spend a little time reflecting on your fitness and health goals.
The questions I posed were: If time or energy was not an issue, what would a fitness routine look like for you? What kind of meals would you cook for yourself and would you consider making healthy treats and food for your dog? If you could change or improve one thing, what would it be? What IS your definition of heath and fitness?
I invited people to share their answer in the comments section of the September Challenge post.
The result
Some people said they were going to think about the questions and come back to post their answer on the wrap-up post (this one). Some people left their thoughts right away. Here are some of the comments:
“I know that I am trying to establish a healthier diet and exercise routine now that I am home. I know it will include more hiking and less drinking of pop, I’m also hoping I can start to cook healthier meals for the family”
“More time to walk and hike”
“I sure wish time and energy weren’t a factor. (I think, as long as I’m dreaming, I’d have a personal chef and a personal trainer as well.) Ideally, our fitness would involve a variety of indoor and outdoor activities, group activities as well as walking, hiking and running, so that fitness would always be fun and interesting instead of the same boring old thing”
“Our main goal is to just maintain our fitness level and occasionally try new things”
So what is my answer?
I wish time and energy weren’t an issue either. I always feel like my health and fitness goals are the first to get squeezed out when I am busy or stressed. This exercise was fun for me though because I got to dream as if I had all the time in the world.
On the fitness front, I would walk at least an hour every day with the dogs. We would be able to get out in the mountains to hike 2 – 3 days a week. On the days that we don’t hike, I would like to get out for an addition 30 – 60 minutes to go running with Gretel.
Food-wise there isn’t so much to do. Chester and Gretel eat a half to full raw diet, depending on the month. They have always been and continue to be healthy and fit. I can’t say the same for me, unfortunately. I don’t make the best food choices. They aren’t the worst either though. If I was to make some changes I would eat at home more (eating out all of the time is bad for the waistline AND the pocket book), only eat candy or ice cream 1 – 2 days a week and drink more water. I eat out partially because I am not a huge fan of cooking. If I had my way, I would have a personal chef to plan my menu and cook for me.
If you haven’t already, please leave a comment below sharing what a life of health and fitness would look like to you.
What Is Keeping Up With K9 Kamp?
K9 Kamp, a fitness challenge aimed at fighting pet obesity, happens a couple of times year. It is hosted by us, Kol’s Notes, Peggy’s Pet Place and us, YouDidWhatWithYourWiener.com.
The next K9Kamp is next month, October, so be looking our for the announcement soon.
Keeping Up With K9 Kamp is a series of mini-challenges that take place each month that K9 Kamp is not in session. The mini-challenges will help you keep the goal of canine fitness fresh in your mind. I announce a mini-challenge on the fist Friday of each month and write a wrap-up post on the last Friday of each month.
Roxy the traveling dog says
I would love to have a personal chef, I am not a fan of cooking either. And more walking and hiking would always be great.
Jessica Rhae says
You would need a chef who specializes in cooking on small RV stoves and ovens 🙂
Dolly the Doxie says
Mom doesn’t like vegetables, she wishes she would eat more of them, otherwise we eat very healthy. She wished she could do more types of activity other than swimming or walking but we at least do that! Love Dolly
Jessica Rhae says
More vegetables is always a huge challenge for me. I don’t really like them either. Mostly, I have learned to tolerate some and eat them because I know I should. I will go through stages where I am motivated and eat a lot of vegetables. Then I get sick of them and only eat a little bit each day (emphasis on little bit).
Kelly says
I am fortunate to have the time now that my kids are grown and gone. In May I rescued two tween long hair dachshunds (3 year old litter-mates) and that was the moment I decided that my health was as important as theirs. And so began my our fitness routine. We walk 4 – 7 miles a day, split into two or three walks. We have a 30 minute playtime each day. And we are trying to eat well <– they eat more healthy than me since I despise cooking and am a grab and go kind of girl. However, I did give up my snacks and cut back to one soda a day. In the month of September I had a higher calorie burn than calorie intake, as did the dogs (they got a wee bit chubby once they found their forever home). So we made progress. Next up for us is to begin hiking. We walk trails with inclines, but have not yet tried a true hike. Willow, Gigi and I have been inspired by Gretal, Chester and you and we want to say thank you! Keep blogging because you are making a big difference in the lives of pets and pet owners everywhere. Wags from our home to yours 🙂 PS. add me to the want a personal chef group!
Jessica Rhae says
That’s great Kelly! You are doing awesome. I would say that is a pretty healthy lifestyle. I am a grab-and–go-food kind of girl. I try to stop by a store and get deli salads with veggies instead of grabbing a burger…although I LOVE me a good burger.
Thanks so much for saying we inspire you. We love hiking because it really is “easy”. It is easy in that you don’t need a lot of fancy equipment. It’s just like walking but it makes you sweat more 🙂 I think most everyone can hike, it is just a matter of going slower or faster and taking lots of breaks or not. Don’t be too intimidated. Just pick somewhere, give yourself a time frame (a turnaround time to get back to the car before it is dark) and go as far as you can that day. I don’t look at stopping short of the destination, or end of trail, as a failure. I look at it as a great reason to come back again 🙂
Kolchak, Felix & Jodi says
We reflected and found that neither time, nor energy were really our stumbling blocks! It’s motivation and weather that seem to hold us back. We *definitely* can worth on that!
Jessica Rhae says
Wow…time is not an issue for you?? You guys are super lucky. Motivation is a hard one for me to. I can wake up raring to go with the best of intentions but end up spending the whole day in the house 🙂
Kolchak, Felix & Jodi says
LOL, sometimes I end up just staying in the house…’cause it’s raining and cold.
emma says
Oh goodness, we totally forgot to come back and comment on keeping up with K9 Kamp, sorry. When my little sister arrived on the beginning of the month, everything was turned to a bit of chaos, then Mom quit her job, so there have been lots of adjustments. We are proud to say, that despite it all, we never missed our walks or exercise times, that is one thing that we never let slide. Now little Bailie is a few weeks older and can go with us on some big dog walks which is nice. I guess rather than adding anything new or trying anything new, we are happy to just be maintaining for September. Now for K9 Kamp in October we are going to try some new things.
Jessica Rhae says
Hey, thanks for taking the time to come back by. We all get slammed sometimes so I understand.
I am trying to fit in blogging as a newbie grad student…and walks 🙂
BoingyDog says
Can’t wait for the October challenge! Kayo and I will definitely be in on the challenge!
Jodi says
The dogs are on a great diet, and we exercise every day, so I would just ask for more time and options. For instance, if I had time and money I’d like a place for the dogs to swim so they weren’t always walking and putting stress on their joints. Or beach walking I love beach walking with my dogs but we rarely get the opportunity to do it.