The Organic Climber – Vegetarian running, cycling, swimming, rock climbing and raw foods.

Every year around this time, I sit down with my journal and reflect on the previous year and journal my new years resolutions. They are always legit though, they are never cheesy, unattainable or campy. But, this year I thought I would go a step further and set some health related resolutions, or goals if you will. It’s hard to say how they will shape up for me since I’m in a crazy chapter of my life right now, but by far the best chapter to date. So, without further or do, here are my healthy goals for 2011.

Start Running Again
2010 delivered a hard hit, drastically diminishing my climbing, running and cycling time. On, October 1st I was hit by a car on my bike and have been suffering from bone contusions, torn meniscus, and a bulging disc ever since. I still haven’t fully recovered from those injuries. I actually wasn’t even missing running that much until I went on a few walks around Town Lake recently and saw runners all around. I longed to ignore the doctors advice and run my heart out. So, it is my hope that the Occupational Therapist will place me into physical therapy so I can get over these nagging injuries. A follow up visit should be in my near future.

Climb More

Since getting engaged in July, and married in November, life has been hectic. Even though I live in Austin, close to great rock climbing-  right in town; I haven’t had much time to climb. Life has been filled with wedding planning, visiting families, attending other weddings, and holiday traveling. Hopefully things will calm down in the new year, and I will be able to work climbing back into my schedule. It’s also hard because I can’t boulder due to the torn meniscus in my knee (the repeated falling would not be good for it), which means, no easy trips to the gym without a partner for an evening of enjoyment. The bright side of this is, I will be forced to climb outside more and meet people in the climbing community here in Austin.

Drink Less Coffee
I hate to admit it, it’s a pride thing. But, from August 2010 until now I have drank more coffee in that time than I have in 2009-July 2010 combined. How did this happen? Well, It started off as one cup a week, gradually increased to three, and then became five or more cups per week when I moved to Austin and began working in coffee shops daily on my startup business Adventure Naturals. But, in 2011 I hope to curb the “addiction,” which at this point is only mental. Too much caffeine, in addition to the added sweetener I pour into the cup is not exactly good for me. Additionally it’s dehydrating, and I can truly tell. After drinking 12-16 ounces I am left extremely dehydrated and feel a dry sensation all throughout my body. It isn’t exactly pleasant.

Launching Adventure Naturals
If you aren’t tired of hearing about this yet, you eventually will be! Actually, I hope you are not. I hope my excitement for creating 100% organic, mostly raw, energy bars and snacks becomes contagious. There is nothing better than fueling the body an all natural, raw, and organic foods. We are still raising our startup funds on Kickstarter and are working on refining our business plan while we get ready to start production in early March, but it will only happen if our project meets the goal.

I have had a huge passion for raw foods ever since I started including them into my diet back in August of 2008. Ever since then I have seen a HUGE increase in my overall health and fitness level. Raw foods really have changed my life, and I want to help them transform your life too.

Establish a good work-life balance
I spent seven years of my life working in jobs I hated. I was never truly passionate about any of them, so maintaining a work-life balance was not very difficult. I was always out the door at 5pm. Now, things have changed. I love what I am doing and am extremely passionate about it. I’m always anxious to start my work day and feel like I can work well into the night. So, far overworking has not been difficult, but I fear that as Adventure Naturals becomes a success it may not be as easy. So, my hope is that I will not let work rule my life, but I make sure I spend time with family, fiends, and exercising.

Stricter standards on my diet

Since moving to Austin, I sort of let myself go in terms of what I eat. I allowed myself to truly enjoy the wonderful eateries here in Austin after first moving here, and I certainly enjoyed my share of sweets during the holidays. But in 2011 I hope to start fresh and make sure I am only eating whole, nutritious food.

My wife has recently been reading the book, Crazy Makers, and through listening to her tell me about it I have been reminded just how much crap is in the food out there; I really has a huge effect on us and our children. I also reflect back on how I felt when my raw food intake as much higher and realize how much of a difference healthy eating can make in your life. If I was able to be strict about it before, I certainly can do it again. But at the same time, I feel “strict” is the wrong word. I think appropriate and good may be a better way to describe it. There is certainly a time and place for indulgence.

Healthy Reading
In 2011 I also hope to read more books about healthy eating as well as natural remedies. I’m already having a hard enough time being on prescription medication for a neurological disorder. I truly believe that we can prevent a lot of sickness through eating a healthier diet and we can also cure our general sickness with natural remedies, instead of using prescription drugs that fill our bodies with unnatural substances and have an acidifying effect on the body, thus reducing our immune systems in the long run. I find that reading about healthy eating also helps remind me why it is so important. I also learn through continued education. If I’m not continually learning about a certain topic I quickly forget about it.

20011 is definitely going to be an exciting year for me. I’ve never been more excited about a new year. What are some of your goals for the new year?

Climbing, Cross Training, Cycling, Health & Fitness by OrganicClimber

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