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Monday Project Link-Up: Doing Something Different

[ 44 ] 02/05/2010 |

Rethink Your Shrink, The Monday Project

Good morning sisters (and brothers!)

This week was an interesting one, right? We got to step a little bit more outside our comfort zones, physically, and do something different. At least I hope we did! Did we? It’s a little scary isn’t it? How do you feel today? Fearless??

So often I find myself on the outside of the glass looking in and I feel like I can’t quite get the guts up to ask questions or join in. It has been baby steps. I’ve spent a lot of time on the outside of the glass. Until one day I opened the door and walked in. Then the next time I did it, it was easier. And the next time, even easier.

It’s still not easy. But at least now I’ll take the first step.

Yes! It’s scary! But each time you step outside your comfort zone and figure out that it is indeed, okay, and no, you did not die either physically or of sheer embarrassment alone, you gain confidence.

Each time you gain confidence, you venture a little further. And then a little further. And a little further.I really hope you took this challenge this week and if you haven’t, I really encourage you to take the plunge sometime before this challenge is over.

I went to a women’s retreat with my mother over the weekend. It was a very, very spiritual and motivating retreat. And one of the speakers said this: (and I am paraphrasing here) Yes, you have fear. Yes you are scared. Everyone is!  When you try new things, when there is something you have to do, it’s ok to be scared. But you know what? DO IT ANYWAY. Do it scared.

Do.It.Scared.

Those three words left such an impression on me. Doing it scared means at the very least, you’re doing it. And when you’re done, you’re done! Then, you’re probably happy you did it. And you probably realized about halfway through that you didn’t have anything to be scared of, anyway! This brilliant lady also broke the word “FEAR” down for us. And that’s a big one. Because I’m a big baby. I’m scared a lot. And I end up doing most things scared.

FEAR:

F: False
E: Evidence
A: Appearing
R: Real

How true is that? How true is it that we “manufacture craziness” in our minds and make what we’re afraid of so much bigger than it is? How often do we become complacent in our own bodies and our own minds because of fear? How often does fear paralyze us?

It happens to me all the time. So often, my fear is more real than the task at hand. *Big huge hint for the next Monday project!*

Anyway, go ahead, link it up! Tell us what you did different this week and how you ventured outside your comfort zone! And if you didn’t, DO IT! Just know, there are other sisters here among you also doing it scared. Including me.

Oh yes, there are two prizes up for grabs for random commenters!  A BPA-free water bottle, I love this guy (I have one myself). It has little messages all over it like “Dream” “Hope” “Love”, and I’m all about messages.

waterbottle

And a pack of eco-friendly shopping bags, wrapped up in its own bag, labeled “Hottie”. Because you know you are.

hottiebag
You are hot and you like to save the environment. That’s how great you are. Winners announced on Monday and I won’t be late this time.

Have a wonderful weekend!! And go ahead, be a SWOF! (SISTER WITHOUT FEAR!)

* * *

Speaking of late: I know I’m late with this one, but last week’s winners of the LA FITNESS workout bags are:  lafitness
BROOKE AND NANCY (BACARDI MAMA!) woohoo! E-Mail me (christieo@shrinkingjeans.net)

Have a wonderful weekend ya’ll!

Category: Challenges, Christie O., Fitness, LOSE IT, The Monday Project

About christieo: Christie O. is a 30-something freelance writer and mommy to two little boys. She loves training for random races to lose weight and who went literally from couch to 5k to half-ironman to marathon, losing 55 pounds along the way. Christie O. also blogs at www.averagemomswearcapes.com. View author profile.

  • BrookeF

    ahem
    *steps up to the mike*

    today I will step out of my comfort zone…

    and tell you that I respectfully decline today's homework. my week is too hectic and it just isn't possible.

    i'm a pleaser so it sucks saying “thanks but no thanks”. this is not “something different” that i enjoy.

    (but because I am so much of a rule follower that someone once told me I'd make up new rules just so i could follow them too – i'm scheduling a trail run later in the month with a friend and will blog about it. i've never tried trail running before.)

    now if i could just learn to channel my “thanks but no thanks” to the proper people…then we'd be in business!

  • AmericanTribal

    Don't judge me or knock it until you try it :P… http://americantribal.blogspot.com/2010/02/lets

  • http://www.theskinnyfight.com/ skinnyfighter

    Great challenge. I've always hesitated by dance DVDs in fear that they would suck and when you're on a budget every purchase counts. I finally took the plunge and bought my first one. Cardio Dance Express.

    http://www.theskinnyfight.com/2010/02/cardio-da

  • http://www.theskinnyfight.com/ skinnyfighter

    a trail run sounds like fun. I've been wanting to go to the park and WALK lol (not ready to run). But I'm the only health nut in my group so that means going alone and I'm not going to be a news story by walking in the woods by myself.

    have fun.

  • http://www.theskinnyfight.com/ skinnyfighter

    brilliant! had to tweet it. lol.

  • AmericanTribal

    That is awesome, thank you! :)

  • footdr69

    I am so tickled by Americal Tribals post!!!! I need to step my game up!! LOL!!! Here's my latest post (I went back to the gym!!) http://www.footdr69.wordpress.com Still working on something new!! YOU LADIES…and GENTS ROCK!!!
    Dr. Mo

  • knitsalotjenn

    I think I fail at this challenge…I tried nothing new this week :( but I'm running out of things that are new to me…I have a short attention span (oohh…shiny thing…), so I've done pretty much all that this city has to offer: Pilates, yoga, hot yoga, P90X, walking, running, swimming, aquafitness, spin, sculpt, step, latin groove, salsa, hula dancing, strippercize, pole dancing, belly dancing (just to name a few of the classes I've done), and a collection of exercise videos that puts the Amazon catalog to shame! I think I'll follow the links on AmericanTrival's blog and try something new tonight ;)

  • AmericanTribal

    Thanks! :)
    Your gym is freaking GORGEOUS! I'm so jealous!

  • AmericanTribal

    I'm kind of surprised I never thought of the idea before… it makes sense. You get sweaty (when it's good you do LOL), heart rate increases, you use a lot of abdominals, etc. etc. and so on and so forth :P.

  • babyboy3

    I have to agree your gym looks fabulous. I am interested to see what you do that is new to you. Happy Shrinking!

  • babyboy3

    Trail running sounds cool. Have fun.

  • babyboy3

    You have done an amazing amount of classes. Wow. I think a lot of people are going to try AmericanTribals link. Good luck.=)

  • Bari_F

    Good for you, Brooke! Sometimes saying “no, thank you” is one of the hardest things a person can do. And bravo for wanting to try a trail run. That is something I've always thought would be really fun to do, but my clutziness wins out on that one.

  • Bari_F

    Awesome! I may have to try this one :)

  • Bari_F

    I'd probably work out more if my gym looked like that!

  • BrookeF

    I've got a wild life refuge right next door from the farmhouse, so if all goes well on the trail run i'll be doing a lot of it in the future. how awesome would it be to have my own personal playground within walking distance?

  • BrookeF

    you and me both. i'd post pictures of the locker room at my gym, but you all would beg me to quit going or at least get all my shots.

  • babyboy3

    Well I tried to do something new this morning. I have a Pilates DVD that I have had for probably 5 years that I have never done so I put it in this morning and got about 20 minutes into it and froze up and wouldn't move past that point even when I started over and tried to pick the next chapter it wouldn't move. So I kind of did something new. Also

    I did the Tworkout for the first time this week which was new for me.

    I am walking my first 5K tomorrow, which is new to me. I mean I have obviously walked before but not in a official 5K.
    So I did really try to go outside by comfort zone. I would really love to try some of the classes you all have talked about at your gyms. But right now we don't have anything like that nearby so I'll have to look into it.

  • BrookeF

    your first 5K – how exciting!!!! :) you'll have to be sure to blog about it and let us know how it goes

  • http://www.littleladybugthatcould.blogspot.com ladybugs714

    My new thing I tried this week was a belly dancing workout. Yes, you heard me right belly dancing. now if you recall I have mentioned before about my inability to bust a move. I just am not that coordinated, I think I used to be…or maybe I just didn't care as much as I do now. But it was awful….my hips just aren't meant to shake like Shakira. Seriously, I look like I'm dislocating it or something.

    Thank goodness my hubby goes upstairs and leaves me to myself when I am exercising, because I am sure he would have been HORRIFIED with how I was contorting my body during that workout. I didn't even log it as a workout, because I only burned like 74 calories for the 30 minute routine…a sure sign I wasn't doing it right. But at least I tried it!

  • AmericanTribal

    Shake your money maker!

    Seriously though, bellydancing is hard. I've been doing it (professionally: I teach and perform) for about 11 years and when I first started I felt like I was going to break something. It is tough, but if you love it and want to stick with it you should… it's very rewarding :).

    Good for you for trying something new!

  • BrookeF

    lol! not making fun though, i'm sure i would have had similar luck. was it a dvd? or are you one of the sisters that has FitTV on demand. i remember someone talking about it and was thinking maybe it was you.

    the guys here at work like to watch the “shimmy” workout. only not for fitness related reasons.

  • babyboy3

    Good for you. I think I probably would have had the same luck as you. I am not very coordinated and I don't know if I could do it well either.

  • beckyjomama

    I did try something new … well, as new as you can get with the flu all week.

    http://beckyjomama.blogspot.com/2010/02/i-blame

  • http://thesassymama.blogspot.com Heather

    Woo hoo on your first 5K! Can't wait to hear how it goes!

  • Bari_F

    You've got to see it to believe it. Here's me, steppin' way outside my comfort zone.

    http://diaryofashrinkingchick.blogspot.com/2010

  • weightlossmama

    Blogged about the Monday Project here http://misplacingmyfat.blogspot.com/

  • anng

    http://ann-shesgonnablow.blogspot.com/2010/02/m

    This was actually FUN!! Thanks Christie

  • Nancy

    I actually tried two new things this week. I did the tworkout on Tuesday and I really enjoyed it. I'll be doing that again next week. I also tried the Debbie Siebert Slim in Six tape. It was a pretty good workout. So, nothing daring or totally new and adventurous, but still new to me.

  • anng

    You TRIED something new..it's not your fault it froze up! Good job for attempting something outside your comfort zone! 5K is awesome — can't wait to hear more about it!

  • anng

    Good job for TRYING!! My husband has been trying to get me to try belly dancing for years and I keep telling him NO WAY!! keep busting a move and you may be dancing soon!

  • http://www.babytealeaves.blogspot.com Christie O.

    Just so you all know, I didn't flake on my own challenge! I didn't get to finish my post but I tackled my nemesis and I will post it on Sunday when I get back from my weekend sans kids with the husband. woohoo! LOVE!!

  • Bari_F

    Sounds beautiful. Hopefully all the snow and ice will be gone in time for your trail run and you'll be able to enjoy it.

  • Bari_F

    Sounds like you feel the same way about belly dancing that I do about Zumba…lol…but at least you tried it. Good for you!

  • bwJen

    I was too weak from being sick to try anything new this week….but for the first time in forever, I actually listened to my body and let it heal (does this count?!?!) Good thing cause when I went to the doctor I had a bit of a respiratory and ear infection….and I just thought I was tired and out of breath from the stairs at school.

    I will try pilates this week for sure.

  • babyboy3

    Hope you feel better soon. Ear infections stink.

  • bwJen

    thanks!! I feel so off balance – well,more so than usual! LOL

  • kay6672

    Whew, I feel like I'm rushing into the classroom just as the final bell is ringing! Just made it! http://www.ohlssons.be/karena/?p=626

  • Bari_F

    Congrats on trying that new DVD, not to mention all of your weight loss success so far-way to go!

  • babyboy3

    good for you on trying something new. It is nice to switch it up and try something new.

  • http://cutiebootycakes.com/ Renee

    I am late to the party but here is my post: http://cutiebootycakes.blogspot.com/2010/02/pil

  • http://cutiebootycakes.com/ Renee

    I am late to the party but here is my post: http://cutiebootycakes.blogspot.com/2010/02/pil

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