Ten Tunes Tuesday (On the road again... also known as, Becky's never home anymore)

"The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco." -- unknown

Hello, friends! As you can probably already guess, yes... I am on the road once again! I'm back in the San Francisco Bay Area attending a leadership class for work. While I've missed my morning mile already once (more on those in a later blog post), I am happy to report that I kept up my evening strength training and cardio workout. I even managed to get a 3 mile walk in this evening! Woohoo!

I contemplated challenging myself to do a run this evening... I wanted to see if I had improved at all, and figured that the weather this evening was perfect for it. As soon as I laced up my sneakers, however, I decided to take it easy instead. I wanted to actually take my time and get to know my temporary neighborhood in San Ramon. My work commitments have been very stressful over the last 24 hours, so I really just wanted to take it slow, calm down, and relax a bit.

I've taken a number of these "chill out" walks in my adult life, and have found that having soothing accompaning music usually helps prevent me from speed walking and enjoying the feel of the earth under my feet. Tonight's music is just the sort of music I would normally have on my playlist for a walk like today... or any time I just want to slow down, calm down, and relax.

1. John Mayer - "3X5"
2. Al Green - "Take Your Time"
3. Sade - "Mermaid"
4. Ray LaMontagne - "Let It Be Me"
5. Sam Smith - "Lay Me Down"
6. Colbie Caillat - "Droplets"
7. Smokey Robinson - "Tracks of My Tears"
8. James Bay - "Let It Go"
9. Justin Nozuka - "Sweet Lover"
10. John Legend - "Show Me"

Exercising is great. It can make you feel powerful and strong, challenging you to become a better you. It's also a great tool for days like today... when you need to take a step back, relax, reflect, and frankly... just breathe. This music isn't likely to rev your engine, but I hope you find it (or the idea of it) helpful. While it's great that we try to push ourselves daily in our workout routines, it doesn't hurt to take a day off now and then to just regroup too. Remember... even a slow walk is still better than lounging on the couch too!


Anyway, I'm already up too late and have a long day ahead of me tomorrow. Hopefully I'll get my morning mile in before class! Wish me luck :)


Cheers!


Becky

Expect Success!!!

I recently wrote this on my mirror at home using an old eyeliner pencil.  I pretty much live my life in various states of stress and duress whether there is a reason or not.  During one of my more recent trips to the negative town I started wondering why I was thinking so negatively to begin with.  Why was I sitting around waiting for the next disappointment?  Why hadn't it occurred to me that a more positive outcome was possible and, frankly, more probable?

Today, I am choosing to be a glass half full kind of girl.  What I've realized is that all of the time that I spend around being annoyed, aggravated, frustrated, depressed, and bored could be better spent putting myself in a position to get the results that I'm looking for.

I forced them to exercise with me by promising them Sweet Frog!

Anyhow, I'm still not in any better shape than I was at the time of my last post (physically anyway). Nevertheless, I am going to continue to ignore my husband's mocking of my motivational mirror messages until I reach my goal.  Stay tuned for news of my upcoming fitness adventure.  If you are too curious, you can visit www.oxygenmag.com/90daychallenge.

Ten Tunes Tuesday (or... how freaking old are you, Becky?)

"People of the world today

Are we looking for a better way of life?

We are a part of the rhythm nation." -- Janet Jackson

(That's super fashionable Becky at age 8 or 9 on the left; my niece's mother/my sister on the right)

My oldest niece has been staying with me for the last week or so. She's 15, and has stayed with me at some point nearly every summer since she was just 9 years old. I love her to pieces, and can't believe this mature, smart young lady is nearly an adult already! Why do I mention her visit? Because, like most teenagers, she has a tendency to make me feel old. I mean, REALLY old. When the BET Awards were on last week, she couldn't understand why I was so excited to see Smokey Robinson sing. Who the heck was Puff Daddy? And why should she care about Janet Jackson? O-M-G!!!

I quickly schooled her on all things Bad Boy Entertainment (seriously... she didn't even know Biggie?), and made her listen to six songs in a row from the honorable Janet... Miss Jackson if you're nasty. It simply never occurred to me that this 15 year old child had never been introduced to these musicians. She likes Michael Jackson - how could she not know he had a famous sister? It was then that I remembered what year she was born. This child was born in a completely different millennia than me - how could I expect her to know the music of my teenage years? Omg... I'm totally sounding like my mother... 

Anyway, this discussion of Janet Jackson, Bad Boy Entertainment, and the other hip hop and R&B music of my junior high and high school years (yes, I'm freaking old... I thought we established that?) led me to come up with a throwback playlist for this week's Ten Tunes list. So, let's go back... way back... back into time...

1. Janet Jackson - "If"
2. The Notorious B.I.G. - "Mo Money Mo Problems"
3. Will Smith - "Gettin' Jiggy Wit It"
4. DMX - "Ruff Ryders' Anthem"
5. Beastie Boys - "Intergalactic"
6. Salt-N-Pepa - "None of Your Business"
7. Puff Daddy - "All About the Benjamins" (Rock Remix)
8. OutKast - "Rosa Parks"
9. Aaliyah - "Try Again"
10. Jay-Z - "Can I Get A..."

There are so many other songs I wanted to include on this list. Maybe I'll do another throwback list sometime in the near future? Are there songs from 1993ish - 1998ish that you though I should have included? I'm quickly adding these to my gym playlist for July (although I have to admit Salt-N-Peppa, Janet Jackson, and OutKast are already there). We'll see you next Tuesday as I share more of my favorite gym tunes with you! Hope you have a fun, fit week! 

Cheers!

Becky

Don't Vacation With Me (Hiking in Muir Woods)

"The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience." -- Eleanor Roosevelt

My friend Emily and I have been on a mission lately to fulfill her California bucket-list before she heads back to Texas in August. She has been in California on a temporary assignment for the last 10 months, and has seen more of this beautiful state than people who have lived here their entire lives! While both of us have been to the San Francisco bay area before, we both agreed that a weekend up there would be a nice break from the heat. Not one to actually relax on vacation like a normal person, I made it my mission to make the weekend as active as possible, including a great deal of walking around and a trip to Muir Woods, which neither of us had ever visited before. 

Muir Woods is a National Monument dedicated to protect an old growth, coastal redwood forest. Once at risk for deforestation, it was saved by a Congressman (William Kent) and later dedicated to the United States for inclusion and dedication as a National Monument by President Theodore Roosevelt (uncle to First Lady Eleanor, quoted above). I've wanted to visit this park since a friend visited it in college, but it somehow never made it to my itinerary on previous trips to the bay.

There are several trails located within and near the National Monument. The majority of visitors stick to the main trails (Hillside, Cathedral Loop, and Ben Johnson), and we originally planned to do the same... until... I saw a path veering off the main trail called "Ocean View Trail," indicated above in yellow. It didn't appear to be terribly steep, and it looked like we could loop back down to the main trail. I had previously mentioned to Emily, however, that I definitely wanted to see the Cathedral Grove, so she smartly recommended we push ahead on the main trail to see that before we got too adventurous. 

The Cathedral Grove was beautiful! The trees are overpowering, and I can see why so many visit here in search of peace and personal reflection. Just past the Cathedral Grove, we came across another trailhead called the Fern Creek Trail, which appeared to loop back to the main trail via the Ocean View Trail. Success! We decided we had time to make a go of it, so off we went!

Initially, Fern Creek Trail looked much more reasonable than the Ocean View Trail we had encountered before. I mean, Ocean View Trail had a few stairs leading to it, but look how relatively flat this Fern Creek Trail is (above)!

As we went along, the trail eventually began to climb. Mind you, both Emily and I were not dressed for hiking. We had just left a champagne brunch cruise and a stroll along the bay near Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco. We did not intend to go hiking. But... even with a bit of an incline, this didn't seem too bad... right? I mean, at least now we'd only have to take the stairs we encountered at the Ocean View trailhead going down... right?

The higher we climbed, the more evident that this was not a casual stroll in the woods. The climb grew steeper and steeper, and the trails became narrower and more interesting. Just past this bridge, we encountered a couple asking how much further to the end. The girl looked exhausted, and said she couldn't wait to go down. "So... many... stairs," she explained. I figured she was just talking about the ones we had passed at the other end...

Oh... these must be the stairs... This is not what I had planned on. Oh well... it looks like you just have to climb up them for this particularly steep part of the hike. No big deal. I'm sure that they'll end just around the corner...

NOPE! Ugh. How many freaking stairs are there? This was a terrible idea. I'm a terrible friend. I always get these crazy ideas when I am on vacation with my friends - why do my friends tolerate me? Why do I tolerate me? Ugh. Please let it end. Maybe we should just turn back. I don't think I can do this...

It was around this time that we encountered a family of four heading downhill. They had lost their father/husband, but didn't seem overly concerned with it. Everyone in this family seemed completely unfazed by this treacherous hike. WTH?? God, I'm out of shape. Maybe Emily won't make too much fun of me if I just give up now? I can blame my asthma, right? Ugh.

Roughly 250-260 stairs total... that's what other bloggers have said about this part of the hike. Who the heck makes a trail with 250-260 stairs on it? Would it have been that much worse to just hike the stupid slope? (... Probably) This is the face of a girl who is completely over it at this point. I totally didn't want to continue, but that ever-elusive ocean view would be worth it... right?

I have been wronged. The trail lies!!! The Ocean View Trail doesn't have an ocean view at all! See this? Just trees! Fellow hikers warned us that this was the case along the way, but I didn't want to believe it. Near the "peak" another couple told us that to see the ocean we would have to venture off this trail onto the Panoramic Loop. WHAT! I feel so deceived. I'm so sorry, Emily. 

It was around this time that we encountered another hiker that warned us the second leg of the trail was worse than the first. They told us to go back the way we came (don't horror movies start this way?!?!). Still... I found that hard to believe. We would be heading down... how hard could it be?

Well... I'm certainly glad we took the steeper route up. It may have been steep and narrow, but at least it wasn't an obstacle course. This is our trail. There were areas where it was even worse, with many of the trails covered with shallow roots and fallen trees. It was a little easier though, so I was grateful for that.

About an hour later, we finally made it back to the much flatter main trail. Night was quickly approaching - we timed it perfectly. Actually, we could have timed it a little better... our parking spot was locked when we arrived, with signs warning that both gates would be closed at 8pm (it was just after 8 when we arrived). Luckily, they left the back gate open. Whew!

Verdict? This is an absolutely beautiful hike! Emily pointed out that the trailhead signs warned that the Ocean View/Fern Creek/Lost Trail loop was "strenuous," but I must have missed it. Reading about it later, the National Park Service calls it "steep" and warns of protruding roots and uneven trails, but again... Becky never plans well enough to read such warnings. One day I will learn. All this being said, there are worse ways to burn a thousand plus calories. If you have 2.5-3 hours to kill, and don't mind hiking approximately 3 miles in very humid conditions, this is an excellent place to get your steps in! I would totally do it again. You can read about all of the Muir Woods trails here. 

My friends may never want to vacation with me again after reading these blog posts. This hiking habit is probably costing me a few traveling buddies. I'll never forget the look on my friend Dawn's face when I told her to pack tennis shoes for a spa vacation we were taking to Scottsdale, AZ (For hiking, of course! She was not amused...). Other friends often ask if we're actually going to vacation on vacation, or if this will be another "Becky" vacation (meaning that we'll walk until we have blisters on our feet). Let this serve as a public service announcement to all of you: If you thought I was bad before, I'm only getting worse as I start running and walking more as part of my fitness routine. If you want to vacation with me, bring along a comfy pair of shoes! Hahahaha! Well, I better hit the hay. I have a very busy week ahead. 

Cheers!

Becky

B@%&h, I'm Natasha!!!

Nice title right?  It was either that or "It's Natasha bitch!"  That one may only work for Britney.  Anyway, I'm trying to get back on track with this whole blogging situation.  I can't believe that it's been several months since I've posted anything.  Frankly, I don't feel like I've been doing anything.  After the half marathon, winter refused to go away.  Being stuck inside because of the snow (and now the heat) gave way to recreational eating and couch potatoing.  I don't know what it is, but I've lost that loving feeling where exercise is concerned. 

I will always run, just for the love of it.  I just feel that there should be some signs of progress and there haven't been any.  My weight has been holding steady for almost one and a half years and those abs are ever-elusive.  Maybe it's time to try something new.  What do you do for tangible (visible) results?  I did my first track workout of the year this morning and also tried my first Pi-Yo class (ouch).   I'm sure that those things will be beneficial, but I just don't know how to get that excited feeling back. 

Where do we go from here?

Natasha

Ten Tunes Tuesday (Overtime can suck it)

"Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen." -- Michael Jordan

I feel like all I do is work and workout lately. I know, I know... it could be worse! Still, this new routine has me torn between enjoying my new, fitter lifestyle and mourning the lifestyle that I used to have. I honestly didn't love my old routine, but sometimes it's nice to just come home, make dinner, and go to bed. I'm hoping that my workload lessens once our new team member arrives... maybe then I'll regain some semblance of work/life balance, and can enjoy my evenings again. This 13-hour workday business gets old really fast, especially when you're forcing yourself to work out another hour to hour and a half afterwards.

Speaking of my workouts... Running is getting easier day by day, and I think my new strength training routine is helping that a lot. Since rejoining the gym last December, I had largely relied on the same strength training routine that I had known and used since college. And why not? It had proven results (once upon a time), and I was comfortable doing it. But... it's always dangerous to get too comfortable, especially when you have big dreams. To quote the great Jon Bon Jovi, "Don't get too comfortable with who you are at any given time - you may miss the opportunity to become who you want to be." Incredibly wise words, especially when you're trying to fight for a dream. 

Because I love this quote so much, I thought it would be fun for this week's Ten Tunes to be centered around the music genre that made Bon Jovi a household name. So here it is - a hair band / 80s rock band tribute playlist to help you rock out while you work out!

1. Bon Jovi - "Livin' On a Prayer"
2. Joan Jett - "Bad Reputation" 
3. Guns N' Roses - "Welcome to the Jungle"
4. Sammy Hagar - "I Can't Drive 55"
5. Motley Crue - "Dr Feelgood"
6. Twisted Sister - "I Wanna Rock"
7. Metallica - "Enter Sandman"
8. Pat Benatar - "Heartbreaker"
9. Poison - "Nothin' But a Good Time"
10. Aerosmith/Run DMC - "Walk This Way" <-- You didn't think I could have a whole list without a little hip-hop, did you? Haha.

My niece is visiting for the next couple of weeks, so it'll be interesting to see how well I hold up my fitness commitments while she's here. We're off to a good start - she woke up Monday morning at 6am to run a morning mile with me! It's so good having her here... 

Well, keep on rockin' this week, friends! Don't let the upcoming holiday derail your fitness goals. Incorporate your fitness commitments into your plans, and stick to it! I believe in you!

Cheers!

Becky

Ten Tunes Tuesday (I think I can, I think I can...)

"The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a person's determination." -- Tommy Lasorda

See that face? That is the face of a girl who worked too late and, as a result, is late posting her Ten Tunes Tuesday blog... again! Ugh! I'm so sorry for that, friends. I had a busy and fit weekend, which I'll blog about later. For now, here's the ten tunes that kept me pumped during my workouts yesterday and today! 

1. Dami Im - "Super Love"
2. New Politics - "Girl Crush"
3. Bonnie Anderson - "Blackout"
4. Major Lazer and DJ Snake - "Lean On"
5. Passion Pit - "Lifted Up"
6. Imagine Dragons - "I Bet My Life"
7. Fergie - "Glamorous"
8. Outkast - "Hey Ya!"
9. Red Hot Chilli Peppers - "Can't Stop"
10. Iggy Azalea - "Fancy"

In other news, my recent half-marathon registration has definitely motivated me to go at the gym harder and longer lately.  I'm exceeding every goal I set for myself in June. I need to work on the diet part, but the workouts are going great. Let's keep this momentum up! What are you doing to challenge yourself this week?

I have a couple of ideas for upcoming blogs, so hopefully I'll find time this week to get to them. In the meantime, have a happy, healthy, safe, and fit week friends!

Cheers!

Becky

This Girl Can Too!

"It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop." -- Confucius

I love the above video. Although I had watched it a while ago, a friend's recent post of the same this week reminded me to share it with you here. "This Girl Can" is a terrific campaign out of the UK that strives to help people overcome their insecurities so they can work out without fear. They have some great role models on their website and in their videos to help this campaign - I highly recommend you checking it out.

Friends have sometimes asked me how I overcame the fear of judgement by the meatheads at the gym when I started hitting the weight rack hard last winter. For me, this was easy... I honestly just don't care what people think, especially when I am working out in the gym. But I get it... It's easy for me to say that because I have worked out before. I know how to workout, and am not afraid of messing up when it comes to the gym. For many of you, however, I know it has to be hard to go to the gym when you're new to the gym scene. There's a fear of looking "stupid." There's the fear of looking fat. And lord knows that those of us with ample tops are concerned with bounce! Just keep in mind that everyone has to start somewhere. Even Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson had a day one at some point.

Don't let the fear of other's opinions keep you from your goals. This is easier said than done - I totally get that - but fear is keeping all of us from living the best lives that we are totally capable of achieving. Women have curves... and curves jiggle. And that's ok! Move your body anyway. Be glad that you have a body capable of moving!

In other news, I signed up for a half marathon today! Hurray! I will be running (or walking... whatever) the Star Wars Half at Disneyland in January. This will be my first long haul race since college. I'm both nervous and excited! My main goal is to finish at the required pace - I'm currently running a 11-12 minute mile, and average a 14-15 minute/mile walking, so I think I'll be ok. That said, I haven't been able to maintain that pace so far much further than 3-5 miles, so endurance training will be key for me in the coming months. If I can finish the race at a 12 minute mile, I'll be happy. If I finish faster, I'll be overjoyed! Either way, I'm just glad that I have the will to try in the first place. If you'll be there too, let me know! I'd love to see you and maybe run or walk with you for a bit while we are there.

That's about it for me tonight, folks. Hope y'all have a pleasant weekend! Keep up the good work!

Cheers!

Becky

Ten Tunes Tuesday

"Impossible is not a declaration. It's a dare." - Muhammad Ali

Hello my fit and not-so-fit friends! I can't believe it's already Tuesday... am I the only one experiencing a week that is just flying by? I also can't believe we're already well into the month of June. I declared 2015 my year back in February, but in doing so I didn't mean that I wanted to rush through it! Geez!

I spent the weekend at home this weekend, giving me lots of free time to check out new and exciting music to share for this week's Ten Tunes Tuesday post. I spent most of my weekend doing cardio - a huge departure for me lately, as I tend to be more of a gym rat lately. Give me a cold steel weight in my hand over a treadmill any day! Alas, I noticed that my energy levels in the last couple of weeks have considerably dropped, so I figured a few good pumps of the heart could be the ticket to renewed energy in the week ahead. So here it is - this week's top ten for the runner/spinner/sprinter in all of us:

1. Holychild - "Running Behind"
2. Jason Derulo - "Want to Want Me"
3. Hilary Duff - "Sparks"
4. Fall Out Boy - "Immortals"
5. Tove Lo - "Talking Body"
6. American Authors - "Best Day of My Life"
7. Calvin Harris - "Outside"
8. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - "Thrift Shop"
9. Fitz and The Tantrums - "The Walker"
10. Beyonce - "Run the World (Girls)" <-- Dedicated to Natasha (see below)

In case you were wondering, yes... I am a 15 year old girl trapped in a chubby, thirty-something body. Ha! Whatever... this music motivates me when I do my cardio!!!

Anyway, I just have to brag about my co-blogger before I close this post. I have been giving her grief about giving up on this little blog of ours, and she responded that she would write more but she just hasn't been very "fit" lately. I never believe her - this is the same girl who came to California on vacation, running a good 3-4 miles each day and saying that she was out of shape. Pft. Anyway, the day following her rant about her latest fitness disappointments, Natasha uploaded the below photo to Facebook, explaining "This is what you look like when crossing the finish line after a 4-miler in 90+ degree weather." SMH - this girl... 

So proud of you anyway, Tash! If a 4-miler in 90 degree weather is your idea of being lazy, I have a lot of catching up to do! Thanks for pushing me to do better :) (And to think I was proud of my little 3-4 mile power walks this weekend. Oy...) Until next time, my friends.

Cheers!

Becky

Weekending at Home

Hello, my friends! As many of you know, it's a rare weekend when I spend the entire weekend at home. I don't know why I am wired like this - I just hate sitting at home. But then again... California is an amazing place to live! There's just so much to do! I am not married, and I don't have kids, so I try to take advantage of that and get out to see new places as often as I can. This weekend, however, I ended up staying home. I wasn't looking forward to it at first - I really wanted to go hiking, or possibly go to the beach. In the end, I stayed home this weekend (my body needs a break), but I decided to use that opportunity to discover new neighborhood walks to fit in to my routine!

My first three mile walk was really just a power walk through my neighborhood. I'm a very lucky girl - my neighborhood (pictured above) is pretty great. Even before trying to get back into whole workout thing again in December, I regularly walked my dog through our neighborhood, and I have often commented on how beautiful it is. I have been doing all of my cardio at the gym lately - what the heck have I been thinking? 

Oh wait... NOW I remember! That sun is hot, y'all! It's fairly nice in the morning and the late evening, but my morning walk was interrupted by a few neighbors. It was enjoyable chit-chat, but man-oh-man did I burn! Check out my super red selfie that I took in my backyard. OUCH! Yet... the sun wasn't my only worry. I used to also be concerned that I couldn't go with as much intensity, or for as long, when the weather turned hot in the summer. If my Polar FT4 is correct, however, my 3 mile run/walk burned just over 600 calories! Woohoo!

Knowing that today was supposed to be even hotter than yesterday, I decided to wake up earlier today and walk along the river. I've walked this area with my dog before, but forgot that the bike trail itself was too busy to stay on it the entire time. Using the Map My Walk app, I mapped out a new four mile route using a combination of the bike trail and the sidewalk paths within the parks on either side of the highway. 

The bike path here is paved and well-maintained. North of where I started, it widens to allow for both foot and bike traffic on the trail. It's fairly well shaded by the trees that line the path, so this helped with the heat as the sun continued to rise too. 

The route I planned with Map My Walk eventually passes by a series of lakes and streams in an area park. If you've been following the news, you know that California is experiencing a terrible drought. When I've taken my dog to this park lately, the  lakes have been nearly dry and the fauna burnt and browning from the California heat. We experienced a couple of decent rainfalls last week, however, and it apparently replenished this park's lakes! It was such a pleasant surprise to walk by this morning.

Without the distraction of friendly neighbors, I was able to get a much more rigorous walk this morning. Granted, the calorie burn was less but that's only because the time it took me to finish my route was shorter too! I hear from friends and family every day that they "wish" they had access to a gym so they could work out like I do. What a terrible excuse! My sister, Rachel, has lost one hundred pounds, and she did it 100% at home. And at my most fit in college, I was doing almost everything outside. The lesson? You don't need a fancy gym or fancy workout equipment to keep your body in shape. Use what you have! Walk or run or bike outside. Do bodyweight exercises from the comfort of your living room. Keep your body moving. You only need to get your heart going for 30 minutes each day to make a difference. So tell me... what's your excuse now? :)

Cheers!

Becky

Hello Hollywood! (Hiking to the Hollywood Sign)

"Welcome to Hollywood! What's your dream? 

Everybody comes here - this is Hollywood, the land of dreams!

Some dreams come true; some don't - but keep on dreaming'! 

This is HOLLYWOOD!

Always time to dream, so keep on dreaming'" 

--- Pretty Woman

I have been completely fascinated with the Hollywood sign and Griffith Park since moving out here to California over three years ago. Although I had visited Los Angeles dozens of times before, I had never actually seen the Hollywood sign up close and knew nothing about its origins. I have never had a desire to be famous - I don't want my picture taken, and I don't care to be an actress, model, or singer. All this being said... Hollywood (especially old Hollywood) has always fascinated me! When I learned that you could get this close to the Hollywood sign from a fellow blogger, I was super excited and quickly headed out to visit the location with my dog, Diego! We met some fun people while we were there, including one guy that told me how cool it was to hike up to the sign. Yes, YOU CAN HIKE TO THE SIGN! I figured all of that was private property, so it never occurred to me that you could hike to it. Since that fateful encounter, I have been a bit obsessed with hiking Mount Lee, eager to get my own close-up view of the infamous landmark.

There are three unofficial hikes to the Hollywood sign that I'm aware of: a relatively easy hike up from Beechwood Canyon, a more challenging, moderate hike from Canyon Blvd near Camp Hollywoodland and the Bronson Caves, and the challenging Wonder View Dr hike over Cahuenga Peak (you can read about these hikes on the Hollywood Sign website here).  I knew I wasn't quite ready to tackle the Cahuenga Peak trail, and didn't feel like dealing with the NIMBYs in Beechwood Canyon, so I elected to hike the Canyon Blvd Trail. I was able to get my friend Emily and her friend Ryan to join me without too much prodding, so off we went to hike the trail last Saturday! Note that while this trail is fairly wide and maintained, it is still in fairly rugged terrain. Wear appropriate footwear (flip-flops will do nothing to protect you from snakes like the one I snapped on our hike above), bring plenty of water, and wear your sunscreen!

The 6.5 mile trail (roundtrip) is deceptively difficult. Long, winding curves and a relatively flat and wide appearing trail make you forget how quickly you are gaining altitude. The first mile or so is probably the most difficult, with hikers climbing close to 60% of the total altitude within that span. You get some pretty interesting views of the Hollywood Sign as you climb, and you encounter a lot of fellow hikers and their dogs.

You level out quite considerably for the next mile or so. It's such a welcome reprieve! There's a nice bench overlooking the canyon at this point, and you'll notice that quite a few people use the opportunity to take pictures and stretch their legs out a bit. Emily and I took the opportunity to do just that :)

You continue west on this much flatter, albeit winding, dirt trail for about a mile until you encounter the paved service road for the antennas on top of the peak. Both the Hollywood Sign and the antenna seem huge from here! At this point, you have a choice: you can stay to the left on the paved road, and get an amazing view of the sign from directly below it, OR you can bear to the right and begin your ascent to the top of Mount Lee - getting an amazing view of the city from behind the Hollywood Sign. This was a no-brainer for me, and so my friends and I turned to the right to make our way to the top!

As you near the finish line, your trail meets up with the more challenging and newer Cahuenga Peak trail. (You'll watch in awe at the hikers climbing this path, and you'll be immediately thankful that your occasionally fit behind decided to take the moderate route). The above plaque commemorates this location, thanking the generous sponsors who donated the money to save this part of Griffith Park from luxury real estate development. It's amazing to think that the Cahuenga Peak area was barely added to the park in 2010 - before that, it was private land. So glad so many people in California cared enough to keep this area public. (It's funny to read this plaque, with donors including Steven Speilberg, Hugh Heffner, several film studios, and Tiffany & Co! Sooooo Hollywood!)

Immediately around the corner from the Cahuenga Peak plaque, you'll encounter the large fence that surrounds the Hollywood Sign. I wish I could explain how much larger these letters are than I imagined they were. I thought there were probably 20 feet or so high, but later discovered that they're actually 45 feet tall! It's very, very difficult to get a good picture of the sign from this viewpoint, so you must continue up to the peak itself.

Tad-a!!! This is the view you just worked so hard for, hiking a little over 3 miles and over 1,000 feet up in two hours time.  Everyone at the peak was happy and friendly. I overheard so many conversations from others about their journey to this viewpoint, and shared with my friends how long I had dreamed of this myself. The view is spectacular, and I'm saying this even though we visited during June gloom. I can only imagine how much better it could be on a clear day. You can easily see Griffith Observatory and Lake Hollywood from here, along with hazy views of downtown Los Angeles and Hollywood. A fellow hiker's phone started playing Drake's "Started From the Bottom," which garnered a quick laugh. I am so happy to have made it here!

The 3 mile hike down the hill goes by much quicker - we completed the roundtrip hike in a little over 3 hours, which is what several websites warn that this hike will take you. This hike is much more challenging than I expected it to be - although I attempted to do the same last year, I honestly am not sure I could have in the condition I was at this time last year. I'm so grateful for the renewed energy I have had to improve my health and fitness in these last several months, and I cannot wait to do this hike again. The only things I will change next time? I definitely need to stretch before and after this hike - my legs were sore for days afterwards! And I need to bring more water - a liter isn't enough! My friend Emily would likely want me to remind everyone of the importance of sunscreen, even on one of those June gloomy-ish days. Poor thing burnt to a crisp on our hike, and I probably should have reapplied myself at the midpoint. 

Hopefully the weather will cooperate next time Natasha visits, and we can attempt this hike again someday! I can't wait to challenge other friends to this and other hikes in California. Hiking is something I missed the most for the six years I lived in Houston and New Orleans, so I want to make sure I take advantage of living where I can hike again now that I live here. Well, I'm off to bed my friends. Until next time...

Cheers!

Becky

Ten Tunes Tuesday

"I ain't worried; doing me tonight

A little sweat never hurt nobody" -- Beyonce

Howdy, y'all! Can you believe it's already week 3 of our Ten Tunes Tuesday series? I'm impressed with my own consistency at this point! Ha! The above picture has nothing to do with music, but I loved it and wanted to share with my Fit buddies a little slice of one of my favorite new things in LA. For those curious, I'm standing in front of Projection LA. Originally intended to only last two weeks after its unveiling in late April, I'm happy to report that it's still there on the corner of Bates Ave and Sunset Blvd in Silver Lake. You can learn more about it by clicking the hyperlink above. So many fun photo opportunities - I only wish I was dressed more colorfully when I was there! (I was headed to a Dodger game - you know I had to represent my boys in blue!)

Saturday was a very fit day for me and two of my friends, but I'll write about that in a later blog. Today's blog post is dedicated to my love of music! My friend Shika thinks it's hilarious how much I love rap/hip-hop, so today's post is a little hip-hop centric. I have several playlists featuring some of my favorites, so I decided to highlight a few of these today (punctuated with a little pop/R&B for good measure). It probably goes without saying, but these songs tend to have explicit language, so proceed with caution. Anyway, here's today's Tuesday Ten:

1. Beyonce - "Get Me Bodied"
2. Eminem - "Till I Collapse"
3. Iggy Azalea - "Beg For It"
4. 2Pac - "California Love" <--- Heard this at the Dodger game, and it's been in my head ever since. Still love it!
5. Missy Elliott - "Lose Control"
6. Childish Gambino - "3005"
7. Drake - "Started From The Bottom" <--- At the top of Mount Lee this weekend, a fellow hiker's phone started ringing to this tune. SO very appropriate. 
8. Nelly - "Batter Up"
9. Flo Rida - "GDFR"
10. LL Cool J - "Mama Said Knock You Out" (Hat-tip, Chris F)

I know friends disagree with me on how motivating this music playlist can be when working out, but I absolutely love it. What types of music do you incorporate into your workout playlists? Do you change it up depending on what type of workout you do? Or do you pick a genre and stick with it? Let me know some of your favorite jams! Curious to see what everyone else's workout style is :)

Cheers!

Becky

Ten Tunes Tuesday

"If we could buy time, I spend my last money

Now I'm spending time, you in a bind

This little light of mine, I'ma let it shine..." - Kanye West

Hello friends! It's Tuesday... or rather, it WAS Tuesday when I originally wrote this post. But as I was about to turn in at midnight, I noticed that this never posted. Why? Because I never hit publish on my stupid laptop. D'oh! Anyway, here is this week's Ten Tunes Tuesday (now Wednesday) post for the week. This mix of jams of today and yesterday has been in my head non-stop since the weekend. I'm only so-happy to pass it along to you! Ha ha. :)

1. Kanye West - "All of the Lights"
2. Janelle Monáe - "Yoga"
3. Mark Ronson - "Uptown Funk"
4. Elle King - "Ex's and Oh's"
5. Banks - "Beggin for Thread"
6. Fifth Harmony - "Worth It"
7. Walk the Moon - "Shut Up and Dance"
8. M.I.A. - "Bad Girls" 
9. Eminem - "Lose Yourself"
10. David Guetta - "Hey Mama"

Again, a huge thank you and shout out to my friends at GymJams.club for helping me learn about new music this week. I don't know how you have the time to find all this music, Jay, but I really dig it! 

As always, keep up the good work my fitter than me pals! I may not be perfect, but I do a little better every day. It's thanks to awesome friends like you that I keep at it. I hope sharing this music helps motivate you too! Have a great week!

Cheers!

Becky

My Aching Feet! (Oh, yeah... I went to Spain!)

"I don't know what my path is yet... I'm just walking on it." -- Olivia Newton-John

Hello, my friends! As I mentioned in a blog post a while back, I just went on vacation... to Europe! Not only was it my first trip to Spain and France, but it was my first trip overseas altogether. I was so excited! I was also determined. Though never one to sit around and lounge on vacation, I was very determined to keep up my workout routine (or something like it) while I was on vacation. I was also determined to make it around in two foreign countries where I don't speak the language via public transportation (see the stairs I hiked below from the subway for an example - what was I thinking?!?!)

Spain was a marvelous (albeit quick) adventure. We spent our first day in Spain in the beautiful coastal city of Barcelona! Much to my dismay, we spent the majority of our time on buses and airplanes, so I didn't get nearly as much exercise in the city as I had hoped. Of course, I did walk enough to get terrible blisters on my feet - so bad, in fact, that I had to buy new shoes while we were there! Ouch! When we made it back to Madrid that night, we racked up additional miles walking to/from my new hotel and dinner, so I finished the day with a respectable 22,000 step count :) Not bad, but oh how my calves and feet hate me.

Our second day was by far our most active. Knowing that we would be walking a lot as we explored our base city of Madrid, I made sure to wear my trusty Gel Nimbus Asics - fashion be damned! I also took the time to do some stretching exercises and yoga before I met up with my friends at their hotel, and I'm oh-so-glad that I did! We racked up an impressive 14.5 miles of walking, which included hundreds of stairs and many hills. In the past, such a busy day would have led to a night full of Charlie Horse cramps and epsom salt soaks, but I held up surprisingly well!

During our last day in Madrid, my friend and I decided to split our time between Toledo and Madrid. Remembering the lessons from the day before, I started my day again with some dynamic stretches and a bit of yoga. After meeting with my friend at our hotel, we headed off to the beautiful city of Toledo! It was such an impressive and charming city. We enjoyed wandering the historic narrow streets, taking tons of pictures and enjoying a traditional Spanish lunch of seafood tapas and Sangria. We also walked a lot, racking up another 25,000 steps as we explored. Although I did my dynamic stretches that morning, however, I made the poor choice to wear cute shoes instead of comfortable ones, and my body definitely noticed the difference. 

I returned to my hotel that night to pack for Paris, a little worse for the wear. My feet hurt, my legs were cramping, and I felt like someone had punched me in the nose (thanks allergies). Ugh! So, in an effort to spare you the pain of such end of day torture, I offer you the following suggestions should you take an adventure of your own:

• Footwear: You should always wear shoes appropriate for the activity. Yes, my Converse All-Star Chucks are cute, but they're also heavy! And for a girl with Barbie arched feet, they don't provide nearly enough support to walk 10+ miles a day. Fashion can take a holiday... wear shoes that support your feet!
• Stretch: If you think you're going to do a great deal of walking, especially if said walking includes a lot of stairs and/or hills, STRETCH! Just because you're not doing a true workout does not mean that your muscles won't be working the same. Start your day with a dynamic stretch. I do this most mornings anyway as its a great way to wake up your muscles before you start your day. And at the end of your day? Stretch again! Cooling down your day with a static stretch is a great way to lengthen and stretch those sore muscles before you climb into bed. I wish I would have taken my own advice and done this my 3rd day in Spain. Oh, how my legs hurt in Paris!
• Hydrate: Traveling will dehydrate you. Don't get excited on your long-haul flight with all the free alcohol they offer you. Make sure you drink water and juice too! And while you're walking and sightseeing around the country? Drink water! Yes, Sangria is delicious and that cafe con leche is divine, but nothing will hydrate you as well as a glass (or several) of water. My friend laughed because I was drinking water like a camel... but trust me... those cramps hurt worse if you're dehydrated!

All in all, this was one of the best vacations I have ever had! I felt good and never suffered from the jet lag or the plane cramps that I feared that I would endure. Although there are several lessons learned (footwear, allergy meds, etc), I prepared for this adventure far better than I would have a year ago! And next time, I'll be even better prepared! I can't wait to take my next adventure!

Back to my regular fitness and health routine, folks. Reality waits for no (wo)man! This vacation has reinvigorated my passion for life, and I can't wait to spend it happier and healthier than before. 

Cheers!

Becky

Ten Tunes Tuesday

Music is literally the soundtrack to my life. I wake up with songs in my head. I sing in the shower. I annoy my coworkers with my frequent (and random) song bursts at my desk at work. I point out good songs on the speaker system in loud restaurants. There are very few times when I don't have music in my head, in my ears, or coming out of my mouth. Saying all that, it should come as no surprise to any of you that music is a big part of my workout routine.

When I kicked off this workout regimen back in December, a couple of really terrific friends made me a few workout playlists for me to use when I worked out. These were fantastic!!! I was completely honored by the gifts of these friends, and listened to those workout playlists continually for several months. As with all good things, they got a little stale over time so I have since mixed the songs from these playlists into other playlists that I now I have on rotation while I workout at the gym. 

While working out yesterday, I started thinking about my workout playlists - what these songs mean to me and how they motivate me to achieve more when I am at the gym. My song choices are very deliberate, and my workout playlist of the day is usually directly related to my mood right before I hit the gym. It got me thinking... do others use their playlists this way? What songs motivate them? Inspire them? Light a fire beneath their feet? Help calm them down after a rough day?

I decided to start posting a "Ten Tunes Tuesday" to share some of my favorite gym songs with you. If you have a song worth sharing, let me know and I'll include it here in a future post. I'm always looking for new gym music (and new music in general), so this should be a fun way to both share my favorite songs while learning about new ones! (Note: These aren't necessarily playlists, nor are these songs listed in the order in which they appear on any of my current playlists). Without further adieu, here is my first Ten Tunes Tuesday list - enjoy!

1. Rita Ora - "Poison"
2. DJ Khaled - "All I Do is Win"
3. Beyonce - "7/11"
4. Avicii - "Waiting for Love"
5. Swedish House Mafia - "Don't You Worry Child"
6. Zendaya - "Replay (Cahill Radio Edit)"
7. Ke$ha - "Sleazy"
8. T.I. - "Motivation"
9. Dami Im - "Super Love"
10. Fall Out Boy - "Centuries"

My friend Jay has a website called GymJams.club, a site dedicated to helping you find music for your playlist that will take your workout to the next level. This site has everything, from high energy beats to make you want to run faster to songs with a mellow, chill vibe that will help you concentrate during yoga. I've discovered quite a few of my new gym songs here, and think it's worth checking it out. (I get no benefit from saying this - I just genuinely think it's useful!). Feel free to peruse his site and check it out! In the meantime, tell me... do you use music to help you get through your daily workout routine? If so, what jams are motivating you? I'd love to hear from you!

Cheers!

Becky

Mo Motivation Monday

"... But I'm glad 'cause they feed me the fuel that I need for the fire

to burn and it's burning and I have return..." - Eminem

Motivation is a funny thing. It can be powerful... and it can be fleeting. Sustaining your momentum can be difficult when you are pursuing any goal, whether it be a fitness journey, a career goal, or picking up a new hobby. Why is sustaining it so hard? Are we adding too much fuel to the fire? Why do we so quickly burn out? And how do we keep the fire going?

On December 7th, 2014, after spending 16 hours at Disneyland the day before, I went to the gym. It's not the first time I had ever been to the gym. I went to the gym once or twice a week for several months before this gym visit, and had been known to be a gym junkie from time to time throughout my adult life. So why was this particular gym visit so notable? Well, on that particular chilly Sunday, I decided to hit the gym... HARD. For the first time in years, I ran. I ran until my legs wouldn't let me run any further. And when I couldn't continue running? I climbed. I hiked that incline up to the max and I power walked for another 15 minutes. When I finally hopped off that treadmill, I headed to the free weights. With the familiar cold steel in my hands, my body remembered what to do. My arms shook; my legs ached... but my body remembered. Why had I neglected the weight rack for so long? Oh, my sweet, steel friends... why did I leave you?

I called a couple of my best friends over the next few days and told them about my experience. I confided to them how current life frustrations had motivated the workout, and told them about my personal fitness challenge. They encouraged me, some even betting me to see if it would help motivate me to continue. I didn't need a financial reward - the frustration, the ANGER, was all the fuel that I needed.  This was my motivation! I kept it up for nearly 30 days straight, stopping only after a doctor confirmed that I had the flu. Stupid flu. All of this motivation... all of this incredible fuel that had ignited my fitness fire... was gone. Just like that! It was gone! I was so disappointed. Until...

Remember that post I did on gym selfies? And how they're not so vain or stupid after all? I have been posting these gym selfies on Instagram. It wasn't a conscious decision... I just sort of posted one on a whim one day, and was surprised to find that a bunch of other people do the same thing! Eventually, I even made fitness buddies on Instagram. A community of strangers applauding each other, and inspiring each other to push on and continue. It's awesome! One of these friends noticed I hadn't published these selfies as regularly as before, and asked what was up. I explained to her my original motivations for kicking off this adventure, and how that motivation had waned... She applauded my honesty and encouraged me to continue. She described her own struggles with her fitness journey, and how she got past them. Her encouragement, along with countless friends, family members, and colleagues, has really helped me continue. THIS has become my new motivation. I'm not just doing this for myself anymore... I'm not doing this because I'm angry... I'm doing this for them now!

Despite this newfound motivation, I sometimes fear that this, too, shall pass. I fear that failure, injury, or illness may demotivate me once again, and I'll fall back on those old habits I've worked so hard to overcome. In addition to planning for an upcoming vacation, I've spent a lot of time this weekend reading about motivation and inspiration... what drives people to continue towards and past their goals. I've met a lot of amazing people in the last year or so that have really transformed what motivation and inspiration look like to me. I've learned a lot from these people, and combined what I learned from them and what I've learned reading this weekend, to come up with the below. I hope it helps you too!

• Visualize the Finish Line. You need to know what the finish line looks like before you can visualize yourself crossing it. Can that finish line change? Sure. Can it move? Absolutely. But you've got to know what it looks like if you're ever going to reach it. See yourself at the goal line... do you like what you see? How do you feel? What does it smell like? Is it exactly what you wanted? Good. Now, let's get there!
• Mapping the Trail. It does us no good to have a finish line unless we know how to get there. Being inspired to create a goal is great. Being motivated to reach the goal is even better! But where are we going? Do we even know how to get there? Sure, you can cheat... but how often do cheaters really win? Map out your goals. Give yourself realistic timelines. Remember that persistence is key! Persistence... and good, old-fashioned hard work.
• Planning for Failure. No, I'm not saying to expect to lose the race. I'm not wanting you to quit before you start! That would just be silly! What I'm asking you to do is to understand that this won't be easy! You'll face plenty of opposition to reaching the finish line. There will be competition. There will be setbacks. These don't have to be roadblocks, however, unless you let them. So... how are you going to get around it? Detours are ok! Plan for this now, so you don't have to act under duress later on. Trust me... had I thought to do this when I caught the flu earlier this year, I would have been back at it so much sooner! Always be prepared to adapt when faced with obstacles and obstructions.
• Build Your Billboards. While you're running on this track towards the finish line, you may forget why you're running. Build your billboards to stay connected to your goal. What are you doing? Why are you doing it? How are you getting there? It's easy to get caught up in our day to day lives. We have work stress... family stress... financial stress... And all of these stressors can easily detract us from our goals. Remind yourself why you're doing what you're doing. WRITE IT DOWN! Repeat it to yourself as often as you can. Share it with others. Trust me... it's very easy to think that the finish line is too far. "You've gone far enough," you'll say. You owe it to yourself to finish if you start. Keep reminding yourself that!
• Reaching the Finish Line. I'm a big believer that the race doesn't end at the finish line. Rather, a new map is made and a new race is ran. When you meet your first goal, start planning for the next one. In fitness, a lot of people complain about the plateau... I've experienced the same, but I can honestly say that when I've done that, it's usually because I've been unwilling to push myself past my comfort zone. This plateau may just be the end of my first finish line... it's time to start mapping to finish line number 2! Every successful person I know always has a new goal in mind. Never, ever get complacent. 

So friends... tell me. What is it that motivates you? How do you sustain your motivation? And when you've felt your motivation begin to wane.... how did you rescue it? I'd love to hear from you! In the meantime, I'm going to take my own advice... As soon as I return from Europe, I'm going to draw my map. I'm going to build my billboards. I'm going to strive for that finish line. I hope you'll join me : ) 

Cheers!

Becky