Just Breathe…

Just Breathe… prAna, life, asthma and clothing style

Breathing… something we generally take for granted or don’t even think about.

I had the hardest run of my life today. No, it wasn’t fast. No, I was not running hills. No, I was not racing. I was just fighting to be able to breathe. Literally. I was not able to take a breath, my lungs shut down and I was struggling a lot. To say I was scared is not a fair statement. I was terrified.

Even though I have been into Bikram Yoga and Kundalini Yoga during most of my life, and even though I know the importance of inhaling and exhaling in your day to day life, I have to confess I have taken for granted what a precious gift it is to be able to breathe.

When my daughter was born I would make special emphasis into teaching her how to inhale and exhale whenever something was upsetting her. She got it quite right. I remember one time when we were outside of Rainforest Cafe and there was a giant fake snake hanging from a tree she started to panic. Immediately, all by herself (she was two at the time), she closed her eyes and started to inhale and exhale until she calmed down. I was so proud of her! (and giving myself a pat in the back for being such a cool, progressive mom… you know, the ego hits from time to time J )

Fast forward to my present moment. I am a long distance runner with huge goals in mind. Last year I had a little setback with some injuries but nothing that can take me down. While I couldn’t run I went back to my first love: swimming. Yes, I couldn’t put weight on my right leg but I could still swim. And I could still practice Yoga. I went to my beloved Bikram Yoga North Scottsdale Studio and that helped a lot to heal from the inside out. Finally after almost a year of not running/racing I was able to start training again this past November. Everything is going well (notice I say IS despite the hard week I am having). I have the support of my fantastic team (Sonoran Distance Project), the best doctors at Arizona Pain Specialists, and the best way to get y nutrition down to Perfect Bars.

I am not the kind of gal that likes to complain or to see the glass half empty. I wake up every morning thanking life for being so good and kind to me. Seriously, every morning I am just happy that I get to live one more day. It doesn’t matter how the day will be (we pretty much create them) I get a chance to live when there are many people that don’t. Then I start with this new ritual I have: I repeat over and over again “something amazingly awesome is happening to me today”.

Well, about two weeks ago my amazingly awesome thing was that a wonderful clothing company called prAna sent me some clothes. I LOVE prAna from long time ago. This is a company that has the same values I do. They want to give more than they want to take. They want to inspire, integrate and socialize a more caring and proactive approach to the world around us. No, they weren’t offering me a sponsorship or expecting me to blog about them, they just knew I love Perfect Bars, the companies know each other and they gifted me with some amazing clothes (they have casual clothes, running tanks, yoga clothes… it’s just perfect for someone active like me!).

I know. You may be thinking, What does clothes have to do with your hardest run? Well, prAna means  “breath” and I have been thinking how life works in certain ways. I get a gift from a fantastic company (seriously, the fabrics they use are amazing) called “breath” (prAna) and I am struggling for air.

I have always had allergies. Got into two anaphylactic shocks in the past but I thought I was over them. I also have asthma but it had never been a big problem. This year the pollen index has been particularly high and it hit me bad.  Today my lungs shut down while I was running and I was struggling to breathe. Ironic that someone who is wearing prAna (“breath”) clothes is gasping for air, Isn’t it? Well, after several puffs to my inhaler and being on the nebulizer when I got home, I started wondering What for? Why now?. I don’t ask Why me? Because it’s clear to me things don’t happen to you, they happen FOR you…

so I was sitting in the couch (let’s say after an acute asthma attack you can’t do much, not even talk!) and decided to catch up with my emails. I also remembered I hadn’t sent a proper thank you to my new friends at prAna and decided to go to their website to look for the right email addresses (and look for some other clothes 🙂 ). I ran into a page that says “About Us” and it hit me why me and why now: I have been looking for a long time for an answer to “Am I making a difference in this world?”, “How can I help other people when I am just a simple person?”, “Do I need to do huge things and achieve all my goals so other people listen to what I want to tell them and to inspire them?”, “Do I need to stop thinking about my goals –let’s face it, athletic goals are selfish- and focus on only helping other people?”… while I was driving I was asking the Universe for guidance about how to inspire other people to go beyond what they think are their limits. And then I read “prAna  is Sanskrit for breath, life and vitality of the Spirit… we started simply, rooted in idealism and a timeless belief that companies like ours should give much more than they take from the world… this is who we are, we believe that any form of moving meditation can help you breathe deeply through a tough day or laugh in the face of a traffic jam… as a company, prAna avoids process that can cause harm to people or the environment… we want to keep doing well while doing good”… See I got my answer right there! And that’s why it was meant to be for me to receive a fantastic gift from a clothing company: not the clothes (which I am happy I got!) but the answer to the life challenges I am going through in their “About Us” page. Life works in strange ways. You will get the message you need where you least expect it if you are willing to be open and listen to what the universe has to tell you. So, yes, it’s okay to be an idealist and have a timeless belief that I can give back much more than what I am taking from the world. It’s ok to have a timeless belief that I can achieve my huge goals as well (and so can you). So no, I don’t need to give up my running goals (running makes me so happy) in order to help or inspire other people be the best version of themselves, I just have to do what makes me happy because it makes me happy and in that way I am creating and bringing positive energy everywhere I go; no, I don’t need to achieve my goals, I  just have to do my 100% effort while trying to get them (results don’t depend on us, effort does) and, more important, I just need to remember to never take anything for granted, especially not breathing… I just need to remember to breathe.

And you, Are you aware that you are breathing right now?

Thanks so much for reading. Remember you can subscribe to this blog to get it directly on your email and remember to follow me on twitter (@terezacher) and instagram (terezacher) for daily mental tune ups.

Want to lose weight?

I have never talked about this topic in any of my blogs, however is one of those subjects that are constantly in conversations, media, and pretty much everywhere you turn your head towards.

I had an eating disorder when I was 19 years old. I was lucky enough to discover swimming and realize food is fuel for my body and a tool to achieve what I wanted to achieve instead of the enemy. For a long time I didn’t think about food and didn’t have those nightmares that used to haunt me (“What do you mean we are eating outside? What am I going to do? Will there be anything I could it that won’t make me fat? Do I have to eat in front of people?”). When I swam I just ate what I needed to eat (sometimes more than I wanted to) in order to endure my training and achieve my goals.

Then I became a runner. And, let’s face it, a runner’s body is much different (and smaller) than a swimmer’s body. I started losing weight because running changes your body, I started getting a lot of attention about how I was losing weight… and I liked it. I kept telling people that were concerned that  it was all good because it was about performance (less weight to carry for 26.2 miles) but the truth is that I started eating less and less. I never stopped eating but I was clearly not eating enough. I am 5’8″ and I came down to 113 pounds. I loved how I looked even though my friends kept asking me if I was sick or if anything was going on. I was still running well and fast so I didn’t care much. And then I broke. Turns out your body needs the fuel in order to function and more when you are putting it under a lot of stress (from training or any other kind of stress).

I started eating well again and my training was better. Under my eyes I was heavy because I keep comparing my body to the body of other runners. That’s totally unfair. My body is unique and it has characteristics that no one else does. My arms are a little bigger because I built muscle from all those swimming years. They are not big, they are strong. My rib cage is a certain size (that’s how my bones are) and there is nothing I can do to have my bones being smaller (and if there is it’s called osteoporosis and that’s not good). And, as my coach John Reich said “you are running well, fast and healthy. If your shorts don’t fit just buy bigger shorts”. He is right. I run really well when I am in between 121-123 pounds. That’s my sweet spot. And I have been told I look healthy. The best part is that I feel great when I am in that weight range.

Last year for the first time I did what I have never done. I let go. It was great at the beginning but then I got injured, traveled to France all  summer and eventually I realized I was now on the other side of things. Not that I was “fat” but I was definitely bigger than 122 pounds. It was not really obvious to most people since it was only 8 more pounds, but to me it was way too obvious and I didn’t like it. Worst part is that I was injured and couldn’t really do anything exercise related about it. So, What do you do when your mind is not completely healthy when it comes to this matter?

I started going to Bikram Yoga North Scottsdale again, and I added a Kundalini yoga class. Bikram helps a lot to release the toxins of your body and help with any injury you may have. They say you burn calories as well but that’s no why I go there. It gives me mental peace and allows me to see I am not my body, I am much more than that. But, let’s face it, I still wanted to go down to “my sweet spot” so when i came back to training I didn’t have to carry the real extra weight. I am sure many of you have heard of all those diets that claim you will lose a ton of weight in a week. I have never been able to like a diet and I know better than that. The best weight to lose weight (besides exercising) is watching what you eat and eating about 500 calories less per day. That will take you to lose about one pound per week. Of course if you want to eat the same number of calories you are eating right now you just have to exercise more so you burn around 500 calories more per day (or a combo or burning 250 calories more and eating 250 calories less).

There are many tools online that help you rack your calories. I am not sure this will be good for everybody bu it helps me a lot to make conscious choices of what I eat every day, and also it keeps me honest about eating exactly what I need, no more and no less. I use LoseIt.com because it’s really easy, free, and you can have it on your phone. I was craving something sweet before I started writing (craving, I was not hungry and that’s good to know as well). I went to log what I wanted to it (a piece of cinnamon raisin bread) and I realized I could have an apple and an orange instead and still consume a little bit less calories. It was a no brainer for me since an apple and an orange have better nutrients than the piece of cinnamon raisin bread. I am not saying I will never eat the bread, there are days that i do make that choice, but it’s a conscious choice.

So, I am not trying to educate anyone about weight loss. I am just sharing a little bit of my story here. If you have an eating disorder, go talk to someone. Send me an email. I know the hell it is and I also know there is light at the end of the tunnel. If you are trying to lose weight, do it he smart way. Make good choices. If you are training for any kind of sport remember that the amount and quality of food you put in your body will have an impact on your training and your performance. Be smart. Be safe. And, overall, remember that the body is not who you really are, that’s just the suit you use while you are on this planet. The suit can change but who you are will remain so try to focus on nourishing your soul, on becoming a better version of yourself, on working on the things that are setting you back, on using more positive words, positive thoughts and leave behind anything that has negative energy; on loving more and accepting more while judging less and less.

I hope you have a great day!. Remember you can subscribe to this blog so you get it directly on your email and remember to follow me on twitter (@terezacher) for daily mental tune ups

Do I make a difference?

Do I make a difference?.

JANUARY 26, 2015 TERE ZACHER LEAVE A COMMENT EDIT

This is a question that pops in my mind more often than not.

When I was a swimmer, all I wanted to do was to be the best I could be pretty much for the fun of it, to show myself what I was capable of and to prove everyone who didn’t believe a 24 year old could start swimming and be good at it wrong (I also wanted to rub it in the face of the coach that told me I had no potential). I trained hard and it was a fun ride.

Fast forward to the present moment and I find myself running for better reasons. I love the sport (I loved swimming too of course, I couldn’t picture my life without a pool back then!), I love the community, but what has changed is that I want to make a difference in this world and I have found that from time to time I think I could achieve this through my running… How? you may ask. Well, I want to run as fast as I can, to qualify for US Olympic Trials, to represent my birth country(Mexico) in international competitions, but, unlike when I swam, not to get a medal or to prove anyone wrong, I want to do it because I would love to inspire other people to follow their dreams, to believe they can achieve whatever they set their mind into if they are willing to work for it. It;s not about being a super fast 40 something (43 next February 22!), it’s about knowing that if I was able to do it, you can do it as well.

One of the things I learned from swimming, more specifically from the coach who told me I had no talent, I was old (24 when I started swimming) and that he was not going to waste his time with me was that NO ONE, absolutely no one CAN TELL YOU WHAT YOU CAN OR CAN NOT DO. You are the only one who determines what your limits are. And if you have a dream, you should go for it. It may happen, or it may not, but at least you will know you tried and you will be closer to it. My favorite phrase says “if you reach for the stars all you get are the stars, but if you reach for the heavens you get the stars thrown in”. So go ahead and reach as high as your mind can go. It may happen like it did for me (I became a world champion two years after I was rejected by that coach and lucky enough to find someone who believed we could try it).

But, going back to my first question “Do I make a difference?”, I had an A-ha! moment yesterday. I am a member of Sonoran Distance Project (if you don’t know about our awesome team please check our webpage http://www.sonorandistanceproject.com). We are 16 fast women with the same goal: to qualify for Olympic Trials, to be the best we can be, and to help and inspire others. This month we got a huge sponsor in Procter and Gamble. I knew P&G was a good company and I love their tv commercials (Who doesn’t remember the one from London 2012 thanking moms for their support?). I use a lot of their products and I really like them (tide, secret, pantene…). but yesterday I learned something else. My teammate CB was presenting us what P&G is and what they believe in. Every one of the people that work there believe they are improving people’s lives with what they are doing. So they don’t think “Great, I am making detergent, big deal”. They are able to see the big picture and believe that by making a detergent that will smell good and will leave your clothes soft they are helping someone to look great, to feel better about themselves, to nail that job interview they have by looking clean. See? They believe they are making a difference. They are able to see the big picture.

I am not trying to tell you to go and buy all P&G products right now (although they rock), I am not trying to sound like I am trying to advertise them, I just want to share how I had this A-ha moment because they are able to see beyond, the whole enchilada, and sometimes we forget to do it… What if today you are running and you say hi and smile to someone you encounter instead of being self-involved in your pace or thoughts? Do you know that perhaps your smile can change that person’s life? What if instead of thinking that you don’t really have a big impact in the world you realize that every single thing you do affect others in different ways?

I want to invite you to be more aware of what you do and the impact it may have on other people. You may think “I am not even a fast runner, How will that inspire others?” but remember that there are people that are just starting and may look up at you because you wake up, put your tennis shoes and go for a run every day.

So, Do I make a difference? I will probably never know, but I like to try and give the best of me and put the best effort in everything I do in order to make a difference in this world… or in somebody’s world.

Have a great week! Remember you can follow his blog to get it on  your email and remember to follow me on twitter for daily mental tune-ups (@terezacher @SonoranDistProj)

Life lessons learned from running

I love running. It’s hard to explain how it make me feel but I am sure that any of you that  are involved in any sort of physical activity (or any kind of activity… piano, acting, anything!) can understand the feeling.

I remember when I was in between sports (I used to be a hard core swimmer, fortunate enough to be a world champion in 1998) and I went to spend New Year’s Eve with Cris and Juan Carlos (my best friends) in Puerto Vallarta. This was the first time I was not training during the holidays and I was not sure whether I would continue swimming at a high level or not. We stayed up all night (well, Cris and I because Juan Carlos decided to get some sleep) and at about 6am we were sitting by the beach and we saw some people running to start not only their day but their year. Fast forward to 2015 and I was lucky enough to be one of those people who not only run but have running as a way of life.

The best part of taking up running is not the many friends I have made or the fact that, unlike swimming, I can do it anywhere, anytime. What I love the most are the life lessons I have learned from training for distance running and that I believe can be applied to any area of life.

Here’s what training for a marathon has taught me about life:

1. When You are Moving, Progress is Inevitable

When I started out, my short runs seemed pointless. I kept thinking, “How will running 4 miles help me run 26.2 miles?” What I didn’t realize was that by getting myself moving, I was slowly training my body to handle the longer distances. It’s easy to feel like you’re not making any progress when you work on the little things. But you will be surprised by how far your ongoing actions get you. As they say, big goals start with small steps in the right direction.

2. It’s the Little Things that Matter

When I first started training, I completely underestimated the importance of the tiny details. I learned this when I was swimming as well. I tried to swim fast by moving my arms and legs like a maniac without realizing it’s all about the detail,the technique, the taking care of the little parts that make the whole stroke, As a runner I learned that the more prepared I was for my run, the more enjoyable it was. It is the little things that made all the difference: double knotting my shoelaces, leaving my water bottle ready, eating a certain amount of carbs before my long run, rolling and stretching every day. There may be small things that you can do for yourself to make your goals easier to accomplish. It’s the minute details that really add up. What tiny things would make a difference for you?

3. You’re All in it Together

I knew from my swimming that training with other people is a huge benefit, so I  figured I would connect with a few people who were working towards the same goal I had. Little did I know just how much of a gift it would be to run with a group, week after week. When we meet up for our runs, everyone adds something, no matter their age, experience level or pace. I love that when we run it doesn’t matter if you are an eminence in your field or unemployed, if you are older or just coming out of your teen years, we all have something to say, we are  all giving the same effort, and we all want to achieve our goal and we push each other towards that. There is a huge benefit to having a support system around you when you are working towards goals. There is an irreplaceable sense of comradery that grows when you connect with like-minded people. After making progress, a high-five from a friend can really make your day and give you the energy you need to keep pushing forward.

4. You’ve Got to Trust the Process

I have learned that there is always a reward (consequence) to the effort you put while training. Bu you have to trust the process. It’s not an immediate consequence, it takes time and sometimes we can grow impatient by putting the work day by day and not seeing the result we want immediately.  We have to be careful if we catch ourselves thinking “Is this actually going to get me through the distance?”. Just remember, no matter what you are working towards, there are others who have been there before you. There are proven processes in place, and tried and tested strategies for success. Sometimes you have to take a step back from your worry and doubt, and put your faith in the process. See the big picture and keep adding the little pieces to get he whole puzzle complete.

5. Be patient and Remember to Enjoy the Moment

Before i got injured last year (I spent he whole year out!) there were days where I would think, “Let’s just get this over with.”Now I am so appreciative of being able to run that I am just thankful I get to do it. I also changed the way I see every run.I remember my last workout before I got a stress fracture and thank g-d it was a great one. I never knew that would be the last one for a while. So now when I find myself worrying about my pace or about how I feel (“I’m tired”, “I’m not as fast as I was two weeks ago…”) I just shift my focus to “What if this is the last time I get to do it?  How would I like to remember my last run?”. This helps me realize that there is a lot to appreciate: The weather, the interesting people, the thrill of running, the exercise, and the sheer excitement of building towards an unbelievable goal. Instead of wishing we could just accomplish our goals overnight, and setting our sights on the finish line, it’s important to soak in the experience. Chances are, you will never have the same opportunity again. It’s up to you to find the fun in your goals. Be patient and enjoy he present moment because you will never have another one exactly like this again.

6. It’s Not as Hard as You Think

Training for my firs marathon was as hard as I anticipated it would be. When I started out, all I could think about was the long sets I would have to endure and worrying about whether or not I would be able to run at a certain pace for that long period of time (I was a sprinter in the pool, 50 meters freestyler. In and out in 25 seconds or less. Anything that would imply holding a pace for over a minute seemed like forever!). But, when I started training for long distance running I didn’t realize how much stronger my body would get through training, and how much my confidence would increase in the weeks leading up to race day. Oftentimes, we underestimate our abilities. We get discouraged by the space between where we are and where we want to be. Yet if we start to shift what we think we are capable of, everything starts to change.

Remember, you are as limited as you think you are. You have been telling yourself a story about yourself for many years (“I can’t do this”, “I am not a runner”, “I can’t run that fast” or whatever it is that you tell yourself about your life and possibilities) but you can always choose to tell yourself a different story and to become whomever you choose to become.

I hope you have a fantastic week! Remember you can subscribe to this blog to get it on your email every Monday 🙂 Follow me on twitter (@terezacher) for daily mental tune ups 🙂