Cutting my sugar intake is so much harder than I originally anticipated. For the first few days the American Heart Association’s 33g recommendation felt impossible. I cut out the packaged cookies and the snacking on sweets throughout the day, and still I was going over. I switched to only the smallest amount of honey in my tea and refused candy when it was offered to me, and most days I still couldn’t make it.

Image courtesy of Olsonnd

When I first heard the American Heart Association’srecommendation for women was 33 grams or less of added sugar per day, it seemed reasonable. But after quickly calculating that 33 grams is 6 and ½ teaspoons, the realization hit me — I have been eating way too much sugar. By the time I finished my soy yogurt with granola in the morning I was already at 27 grams. That didn’t leave much room for the cookie or two I liked to eat after lunch or the soy ice cream to top off my dinner.

I meant to only run 3 miles to take it easy on my shin, but I felt great and I was desperate to do my favorite run to the ballpark.

One of the best parts of setting a goal is being able to celebrate when you meet it. My goal wall is a constant reminder of what I’m working for, and every time I mark something off I’m encouraged to get the next one. When I meet my goal I add the event or success to my wall in some way. It commemorates the experience and reminds me of the success I have had in the past.

“Ouch. Ouch. Bad. Ouch.”

I am worrier who is quick to fear. In the past I stayed well inside my comfort zone because everything else was just too plain scary. There have been a lot of things I almost didn’t try that I am thankful I did, most notably rock climbing, yoga, running, and CrossFit.

I started yoga in high school as part of an elective class. It took me a while to go to an actual studio, but once I got over not knowing anyone, and the teacher, I enjoyed it quite a bit. Now four years later I work at a yoga magazine and I do yoga on my own and in a class multiple times a week.

I used to stand on an eight food ladder and feel like I was way too far off the ground. After watching hundreds of other people climb at my gym, I decided it was time to stop being afraid and do something fun. For the first few weeks I would make it about 3/4 of the way up the wall before I wouldn’t be able to go any higher. Now I climb the highest walls at the gym, and I don’t let climbing next to a ledge or on overhangs stop me. I even look down every now and then. Next up, climbing outside.

But more than anything else, CrossFit has pushed every one of my limits. I nearly didn’t take the fundamentals class because I was afraid of not knowing how to do anything (isn’t that the point of a beginner’s class?) and not knowing anyone who would be there. I had lifted weights a bit as training for sports, but even the lingo used in CrossFit seemed confusing and impossible to me. It actually took me three months to finally sign up. I am so happy I did I cannot put it into words. I’ve never had so much confidence in myself or felt as great as I do now. I have met so many amazing people at the two gyms I train at, CrossFit Sunnyvale and CrossFit San Mateo.

Every day at CrossFit I have to get over a fear. I’ve learned to not count how much weight is on my bar and instead just try it (besides, I’m terrible at math, so it’s best if I count it all at once). The first time I ever did a lift at body weight I could not believe it. Never did I think I could move so much weight. I’m learning to not let a number scare me or stop me from trying. Even if I can’t move the bar, at least I tried and it becomes my project until I can. But there is nothing like the feeling of lifting a heavy weight or making it through a brutal workout. It makes me feel like I can do anything.

Things still scare me. Putting that extra five pounds on the bar, trying a new arm balance where the chance of failure or face-plant is high, just about every new climbing route, and running further, longer, or faster. But every time I let myself be afraid and then push past it I end up with a new experience and an irreplaceable feeling of satisfaction.

I would love to say that my quest to meditate once daily is going perfectly. The reality is that I only managed to meditate for five minutes once last week. With that admittance comes a feeling of guilt, of letting myself down, of not trying hard enough to meet my goals, but also a sort of “it is what it is” attitude.

This week I am going to try adding “meditate” to my daily to do list. I also hope to make some sort of a habit or a consistent time that I meditate, that way it begins to become automatic instead of something I wake up in the night remembering I forgot.