February 2007

Happy February everyone! This is a big month for me: I'm moving to Sacramento!

It's been hard to say goodbye to my loyal and hard-working clients in the Bay area, but I'm excited to launch my business in Sacramento and meet some new and interesting people. I'm offering discounts this month on package purchases to any new Sacramento client! Send me an email at peachfriedman@earthlink.net for details.

And don't forget gift certificates! Give the gift of health to your loved one this Valentine's Day. OR, sign up for couples training and receive a discount.

Your health and happiness are in my heart this month!

Sunny California's Snow and Ice!

I went ice skating for the first time recently in Yosemite National Park. It was freezing cold, and I had on six layers of sweaters and jackets! I loved the experience, though: the invigorating cold, the sharp sound of my skates hitting the ice, the music playing from the speakers in the rink, the breathtaking view of Half Dome, and all the other people, young and old, whooshing (and crashing!) around me.

Growing up in Virginia, where snow was only occassional and winter weather sports not particularly popular, I didn't have many opportunities to enjoy cold weather activities outdoors. Sure, we built snowmen and had snowball fights about once a year when we got a big storm, but I only went skiing a handful of times.

One of the hugest draws to California is the variety of climate and landscape. Not only have I had my first ever surfing experience since living out here, but I've learned to ski in the Sierras, I've climbed an ice-and-snow-covered Mt. Shasta (twice!) in the southern Cascades, I've pitched a tent and camped on snow, and now I've ice-skated! Which is certainly the least arduous of my cold-weather adventures, but fun nonetheless.



That's me, gaining on the summit of Shasta this past August.

We're planning a trip back to Shasta in the next couple of weeks to take some avalanche preparedness classes, and intend to bring skis along this time so we can play around on the mountain. I've never skied outside of a resort before, and am excited (and a little nervous!) for the challenge.

January 2007

Happy New Year!

I hope everyone has enjoyed the holidays! I spent most of mine skiing in Tahoe with good friends, eating delicious home-cooked meals, and enjoying some time off.

Now that 2007 is officially here, I'm fielding lots of questions about New Year's Resolutions. While obviously the intention of making positive change in the New Year is well-founded, I personally believe in making change when it's time to make change, regardless of the time of year. I occassionally make resolutions in my life: recently to tame my potty mouth (embarrassing, but true!), to make more time for friends and family, to make smarter financial choices, etc., but I aim to resolve these various things when I need to resolve them. In other words, I don't wait for January 1 to decide to take better care of myself and direct my life in a positive way. Rather, I do my best to make change as soon as I see that a particular change might better my life.

I have seen smokers inhale their last few cigarettes of the year before the clock strikes midnight on December 31st, vowing to not pick up a pack again--starting on January 1st. We've all heard our friends complain about their weight gain but put off making healthy dietary changes until the New Year. It's true that the holidays become hectic, festive, and chaotic--sometimes our schedules go out of whack and it makes sense to 'let go' a bit until January. But what I believe is a more successful approach to making positive change in one's life is seeking a bit of balance: that is, rather than lazing around the house until you start your fitness program in January, and rather than letting all your bills collect until your new, organized self takes hold in the New Year (which almost always creates a binge/purge cycle, rather we're talking food, cigarettes, spending, or whatever), I encourage setting realistic goals that you can see through regardless of the season. An overzealous New Year's exerciser might swear to sweat an hour in the gym every day after work, but come mid-February, burnout can set in, setting you up for failure and the long decline toward ultimately waiting until the next year to try again.

While I've said I don't believe in the arbitrary date of January 1 as a time for making change, I don't see it as all bad. If the guise of a 'fresh start' can kick-start a new, healthier habit, then I'm all for it. So long as you can see your life in the long-term and give your goals some room to breathe. Rather than saying, "I'm going to exercise every day this year," try saying, "I'd like to learn to incorporate more movement into my life--for the rest of my life." The key to true fitness is consistency: if you work out every day for two months and then hardly at all for ten months, you're not doing much to improve your overall fitness. But if you work out three times a week for the rest of your life, you can bet your body, mind, and sense of self will be changed.

In an internet culture where quick-fixes are sought after, it's sometimes difficult for my clients to immediately appreciate the patience required in true, lasting change. Likewise, there is no immediate remedy in "January 1." Your life is in your own hands, and you can make it beautiful, fresh, healthy, and 'new,' any time of the year! January doesn't hold the power: you do!