First, let me say that June’s sweet-free challenge was, for the most part, a little easier than I anticipated. I got cravings now and then and occasionally drooled longingly at a friend’s chocolate bar, but it wasn’t too bad. I didn’t feel physically different having removed sweets from my diet. To me, this signals that even though I indulge, I don’t do so excessively. Second, let me say that this fresh, warm maple donut is so fucking delicious I can’t even begin to describe it.
The fitness challenge got a bit derailed mid-month by an exhausting chest cold that made the jumping jacks portion of the workout nearly impossible. I did keep up on squats and crunches though. It feels pretty great to knock out a hundred squats in a few minutes and I plan to keep it up, adding to the difficulty as needed. I won’t ever have buns of steel, but at least when I’m 80 (fingers crossed) I’ll be able to lift myself off the toilet. Aim high, I say. Aim high.
My next challenge is going to be a tough one, not only for myself, but for my relationship with my beau. We are turning off the television for the month of July. And by that, I mean no plopping down on the sofa after a long day and going brain dead in front of the local and national news. No browsing endlessly through Netflix for a show to watch or putting something on as “background noise” while doing something else. No nights spent together lounging with our legs entwined, cat on lap, binge-watching Veep or finding comfort in old episodes of Peep Show. And while those nights are fun and easy, certainly Portland in July has other entertainments to offer us. Certainly our own creative projects could use a little more of our attention. I can’t wait to see what happens.
Tracy Burkholder 
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