July 18th Coaching Tip: Early Dinner, then Walk.
As we wrapped up the week, we decided to do our early Friday evening dinner. Eating earlier in the evenings and enjoying lighter foods helps us both 1) feel better, 2) sleep more soundly, and 3) spend less money. When we arrived back home, it was only 6:00pm. I headed out on a walk and grabbed my phone to give a call to my mom to check up on her. Why walk after a meal? It’s a new routine/habit that I have implemented after wearing my glucose monitor this past Spring and also learning about ways to help reduce glucose spikes after eating. A stroll of three to five to up to 15 minutes helps me bring the spike back into the normal range. And since I grabbed my phone, I got two things done.
Wellness is more than going to the gym. It’s connecting with those that matter; it’s taking a stroll after eating; it’s winding down with friends on a sunset cruise. My tip for today is eat earlier and eat less, then go on a walk. You never know, you might even begin to notice that you see your neighbors outside more, too.
July 19th Coaching Tip: Laugh Daily.
We all have “stuff” that hits us daily or weekly, at the very least. We make it a point to laugh daily, especially as we are getting older and been together for eight years now. We don’t want to become the crusty, grouchy old people. We want to embrace life and what comes at us, but we also are making the choice to laugh a lot every single day. For example, a couple nights ago, we stayed up until 11pm recapping the day, hysterically laughing about all the stuff that happened. We could have chosen to whine, be upset or even angry, and quietly go to bed. Today, I’ve laughed multiple times watching a funny video that was set up by the Philadelphia Phillies baseball team. Their two mascots went in to the crowd, acted like they were a couple, and then ducked when the “Kiss Cam” got them on camera. It’s now a national meme that the nation is laughing about, as a married CEO was embracing his company’s HR leader at a Coldplay concert in Boston; once they noticed they were on the “kiss cam” they both ducked and turned around. Oops! They got caught which is serious business. But the meme and set up for the Phillies’ mascot was downright hilarious. A must see for your daily laugh!
July 20th Coaching Tip: Two Weeks To Go.
In two weeks, we pack up the car and head to Des Moines, Iowa, for my first-time competing in five events at the National Senior Games. Yes, I’m a bit nervous because I’m doing my research on what it will take to advance in the 100m, 200m and 400m sprints. I’m also realizing that I will need to hit 23/25, 24/25 or possibly 25/25 free throws and more than 9/15 in the 3-point shooting to place in the top three or potentially win the basketball shooting contests.
What am I doing to reduce my nervousness? Prep, just like in my coaching. I’m practicing with more intention and higher demands of myself. I was shooting around 21/25 in my FT’s recently, but the last two days, I hit 23/25. That’s what it will take to medal, and I want to medal. In my running, I’m working on my start, relaxing my face and hands more as I’m “sprinting”, and I’m trying to run faster at the end of the sprint.
I’m not sure how this will all turn out, but in two weeks, I’ll have the results. I’ve put in the work for more than 18 months, and I hope to reward myself for all this practice and prep. Two weeks to go…is not the time to stop. Now is the time to make it ALL count.