Fitness Friday: Rachel R.

What is your favorite fitness day/activity? 

I could hike all day every day! I’m fortunate to live within
an hour of the Rockies, so I try to get out a couple times a month for hiking
in the spring, summer, fall and cross country skiing or snow shoeing in the
winter. If I’m not in the mountains I like to practice yoga (Bikram and Hatha)
and take my dog Rocky Barkboa on run/walks.

  

What is your favorite fitness routine?  

Burpees runs actually. I like to go to the track and run a
half a lap, then stop for 10 burpees, and repeat 10 times. It works my whole
body and my abs are sore the next day. 

I also like doing stair runs on the outdoors
stairs in the coulees around Lethbridge.

  

Why do you choose to stay fit? 

I always say I’m training to survive the zombie apocalypse.
Ha ha!  

But being serious, I stay fit because I love
feeling like I can do anything. I can be up for anything and not feel like I’m
limited because of my body. Hike 10 miles? Hell yes! Bike 20 miles, sounds
good. Oh, you want to go swim across the lake to the other side? I’m in.

  

Aside from physical exercise, what other ways
do you incorporate healthy choices into your life? 

Healthy eating is huge! A lot of it is habit, but some of it
is forced. I have been aware of healthy eating habits since I was a kid. My dad
was very health conscious and raised us to view fruit as a sweet treat and pop
was almost forbidden except special occasions like birthday parties. 

A few years ago I was diagnosed with a lactose
and gluten intolerance so I’ve had to do a complete shift in my eating (and
planning). I can no longer enjoy my three favorite indulgences, pizza, ice
cream and cheeseburgers. But making that change to almost 100% clean eating
with fruit, meat and vegetables has made me feel great! 

I also lobbied hard at work for more than a year
for a stand up desk. I hated spending most of my day sitting and since I’ve
stood up, a lot of my back pain has been alleviated and I feel less jittery at
the end of the work day.

How have you dealt with any setbacks that have prevented you from working out, staying in
shape, or eating healthily? 

Last year I really struggled with Seasonal Affective Disorder
(SAD). Canadian winters are dark and extremely cold and make it almost
impossible to get outside (frostbite warnings). I spent most of the winter
trying to feel better by guzzling red wine in my sweats while lying on the
couch, but of course it just made me feel lousy. 

It wasn’t until a friend dragged me to Bikram
yoga that I felt good for the first time in months! Going just once a week
lifted me out of my funk and got me back in the habit of regular workouts.

  

What advice do you have for someone just
beginning their journey into healthy living and/or exercising?

  

People do ask me a lot for advice on eating healthier and
getting in shape and I always say the same thing- just find something you like.
So many people think they have to eat strict and hit the gym for running and
weights to be in shape and they don’t stick with it because they’re not
enjoying themselves! Find any sort of activity that you enjoy and make it your
fitness regime. Ice skating, tennis, Zumba, yoga. Find something that’s fun for
you and do it 3-4 times a week.