30-Day Fitness Challenge

I'm part of a fun Facebook group, which is about fitness and fun. This month we have a lovely challenge to share some stories. Day 1 is a little long, so I've decided to blog about it. I may even decide to blog the whole month. We shall see.....

Day 1 - Your Fitness Story
So this is a long one.

I was always a skinny child. But I don't think I was ever overly active. I preferred to be inside with my book. As a child, this wasn't a big deal. As a teen, I was still skinny. And even as an adult, I was thin. Then one day, I noticed I was not.

Over the years, I've been to the gym, gotten myself a collection of DVD's and gotten trainers.

My last trainer was the best. I miss her. She knew how to motivate me, show faith in me, get me eating right, scold me when I messed up, but never made me feel like a looser. She moved last summer to Dubai and I was sure that was the end of it. Without her, how could I go on? I'm one of those people that need to be help accountable. Having a personal trainer kept me accountable. If I missed a session, she knew, and she was on top of it.

Then a Facebook friend introduced me to Beachbody. She had lost a lot of weight, and while I
 didn't ask her her secret, I did comment on how inspired she made me. She reached out and we chatted a bit. She got me to try 21-Day Fix. I loved it! It fit me perfectly. It was 30 minutes. Seven different workouts, so everyday it was something new. I loved it.

Since then I've tried a few other Beachbody programs. I'm hooked. I love them. I look better and I feel better.

And everyday, I text my trainer in Dubai. She still holds me accountable.

Day 2 - Your Fitness Goals This Month
I'm on vacation. I always have grandiose plans to workout everyday. But I'll be honest, it's not that easy. You're sightseeing, or visiting friends/relatives, or taking E to camp or traveling to Ottawa or Boston or something or another. I know it sounds like excuses, but I know me. So the solution I have is to keep active.

I bought myself a FitBit, and can I say I love it. My goal this month, really, is to keep active. Get my steps in. The days that are quieter, I don't want to spend the whole day with my coffee and book. Just half the day. The other half, I need to be out and about. Enjoying the weather. Enjoying the neighbourhood. Getting myself moving.

Thanks Nicole for this month's challenge. #hustleandheartchallenge  

Bucket Bath

When Ethan was little,

our nanny would fill a bucket with water,

put it out on the deck,

plop Ethan in it,

and this was his bath.

He loved it!

In Zambia,

we got rid of the bucket

and introduced Ethan to bathing in the bathtub.

Our return to Dar,

meant Ethan graduated from the bathtub

to the shower.

And he hasn't looked back.

Until now.

Currently, 

in school,

Ethan is learning about water.

Besides the water cycle,

he's learning how we use water,

and our responsibility.

This week,

Ethan was asked to take a bucket bath for homework.

Part of his inquiry has been

learning about the world's supply of clean water.

Ethan has learnt that there are many people

who do not have access to clean water.

Everyday, 

they must fill a bucket of water

and carry it home.

This water is used to bathe in.

So, 

this was Ethan's challenge. 

Ethan fills his bucket from the garden hose

He tries to lift it, but it was too heavy

Ethan uses a smaller container to get himself wet.

Brrrr.....it's cold

Ethan had a lot of fun.

However,

it's amazing what he learnt.

He had to think of a way to heat the water

without using a lot of energy.

He realized how heavy a bucket of water is

and gained a lot of empathy and admiration

for those who need to do this several times a day

everyday.