Winter Arc... What's yours going to be?

The last few days have been pretty cold here in the Ohio Valley. Yesterday the wind chill was about 14 degrees. It's not supposed to last but it's a good reminder of what is coming.

In 12 weeks the sunset will be back to 6pm.

It's not about where you are now. It's about where you could be if you started today.

12 weeks is enough time to train for a 10K.

12 weeks is enough time to lose 12-24 lbs sustainably.

12 weeks is enough time to master the Boomerang, a Pilates move that befuddles my coordination that I am determined to master (there may be a Tiktok series coming about my adventures in learning some of these moves... but only if you guys promise to laugh with me, not at me....)

What are you going to do with the darkest time of year? I know what a lot of people are doing. They're getting ready for Stuff-fest 2025 and getting rid of workout equipment. I just picked up a walking pad for $60 that has barely been used.

It's shocking to see how many people are preparing for the holidays by getting rid of things that could make the winter objectively better. Gym equipment, outdoor equipment, outdoor apparel. Motion is lotion and getting moving just makes you feel better. Now is the time to be stocking up on this equipment, and getting a game plan together for the next few months.

One of my favorite wins since starting on healthy lifestyle journey in September of 2024 has been my knees. I've suffered from chronic inflammtion and pain in my knees since I was a child. One of my favorite outside spring and summer activities is hiking. This year walking and hiking have have become something that I don't have to recover from. I had kinda accepted that if I was gonna spend the afternoon exploring, hiking, that I would spend the next day or two having to Biofreeze my knees and be in a mild to moderate amount of pain. This year no pain, I go out and hike, and get to spend the next day just going about my business. It's amazing what cutting sugar out of your diet can do.

Next year I want to plan some longer hikes, maybe even some overnight adventures so I'm putting together a plan, including using a walking pad, getting out the ankle weights and maybe getting a rucksack to start upleveling my stamina.

Thanksgiving is just around the corner! I'm looking to sign up for the Wheeling Turkey Trot (because there's nothing more sterotypical of a health coach than running a 5K Thanksgiving morning, and frankly, I'm a basic bitch and I know it). Thanksgiving is easily my favorite holiday, I love spending the day cooking with my loved ones and a long weekend to spend relaxing before the high stress holidays come.

If you are looking for a low-stress strategy to get through December and set yourself up for a successful Winter Arc, you can sign up HERE for my journaling challenge, it's an Advent calender for adults sent directly to your inbox.

I'm also offering online Yoga Classes and Pilates classes, because it's cold and we don't all want to be leaving our houses. The heading on the homepage that says virtual yoga will take you to my scheduling page, you can sign up for any and all of the things from there.

Be your own best friend.