So, here’s what happened with CoppaTrek:
The more I got into my training, the more I realized just what an uphill battle I was facing: Trying to figure out how I was going to fundraise the donation goal AND get all my gear AND book all my travel and lodging was giving me a ton of anxiety, especially since it was happening during what is historically a very quiet period for my freelance/contracting work. I started to feel like I was drowning under the weight of all the things I needed to do in three very short months.
But I also KNEW that if I stuck with CoppaTrek, I would find a way to make it happen. If I really committed to making it happen, it would happen.
In order to do that, though, I would have to give it my all, or at least 95% of my all. Every day until I literally left for the UK would have to be devoted to physical training and fundraising.
And that, my friends, was the fatal blow. Because only a few days before getting accepted into CoppaTrek, I had literally made a promise to myself that I was going to commit FULLY to building the writing career of my dreams. No more dicking around, no more loading myself up on projects that had nothing do with and/or only distracted from my writing, no more making anything else but writing the priority of my life.
Because that’s what historically always happened, yeah? I would promise myself that I was going to do it this time, I was really going to commit to writing all the books I want to write, and then invariably, three months later I would find myself buried under all these new projects that had nothing to do with that writing.
And, I realized, with a punch to the gut, CoppaTrek? Was exactly one of those projects. If it wasn’t only three months away, if I wasn’t already so behind everyone else on my team when it came to training or just basic hiking gear, it would’ve totally been a different story. If I had gotten into the Mount Blanc trip in September instead, those three extra months probably would have made all the difference.
I don’t know. It’s hard to explain. Part of me liked the rush of having to get everything done in 3 months, the necessity of staying super focused. But at the end of the day, that stress and anxiety was starting to make me sick. Something had to give, and it couldn’t be my writing.
So I dropped out. And I still know that it was the right decision for me at the time.
But that doesn’t mean I still didn’t hold it against myself for the next three months.
I felt like I had let myself - and everybody else - down. That once again, I didn’t follow through on some big audacious plan or dream that I had told everyone I was 100% going to do, no matter what. In the past, I’ve been known to talk a big game and then suddenly disappear off the field with no explanation, and I was bummed that this was probably going to look like just another instance of that.
But I tried to stay focused, telling myself and my audience that my overall purpose for Body Adventures hadn’t changed - I was still committed to the body goals I had set for myself outside of Trek training.
But from April to the end of July, I found myself being super inconsistent with my training and nutrition. I would have a few days when I was hitting it hard in the gym and sticking to my meal plan, followed by a couple weeks when my nutrition was a mess and I hadn’t bothered to do even a warm-up. I could not get my act together, I told my trainer. And I was falling into those old habits, too, where I would let myself off the hook for the rest of the day or even the rest of the week if I skipped a workout or had something off-plan. I don’t do that stuff anymore!! I am not a “We’ll start on Monday” or “I’ll do it tomorrow” type person anymore…even when I try to tell myself that, I have a very strong, very loud inner voice that immediately booms, “no, you’ll do it now” (and it either comes from one of my guides or it comes from the Sears commercial below).
Then, towards the end of July, I decided that it was time to stop punishing myself, and to get back in gear. I made a series of goals to kick off on August 1, two of which were to hit 10K steps every day, no matter what, and to really focus on my nutrition.
I was super successful with my goal of 10K steps every day - spoiler alert, the streak is still going - and was moderately successful about nutrition. But by the time September rolled around, I knew I needed to change something to get me back on track and consistent with my nutrition and work out goals. I needed another big, audacious challenge, I told myself, as I laid in bed late one night. One that would challenge me like CoppaTrek had: A big scary endeavor that I would have to work hard to meet. The thing about CoppaTrek was that it was so expansive…it reminded me of the girl I used to be, back when I was young: this girl who was so excited to be a wilderness and adventure guide, to be someone who climbed mountains and explored far-flung destinations with nothing but a backpack and a keen sense of direction.
Mountains.
Scenes from the Finding Michael documentary poured into my brain - Spencer’s trek in, arriving at Base Camp, seeing sherpas and summiting teams get ready for their exhibitions. This sort of exhilarating energy that surrounded everything, this sense of daring and danger, pure adventure. I had watched the doc right when I was in the thick of still training for CoppaTrek, and it had set off so many things for me…mainly parts of myself that, as I mentioned above I had long forgotten.
I grabbed my phone and did a quick Google search. Were you even allowed at Everest Base Camp if you weren’t trying to summit the mountain? And if you were, did companies like Charity Challenge - the company that arranged Treks for CoppaFeel - do treks to EBC?
The answer was yes and yes. Placing my phone back down on my nightstand, my mind racing, I told myself to give it 48 hours before I made a decision. For people who know about Human Design, I have Emotional Authority, and so I’m inclined to make big bold decisions right away in a rush of excitement, only to change my mind two days later after everything levels off.
So that’s what I’ll do, I decided. I’m gonna sleep on it and then sit on it for a couple more days before I make any decisions.
But by the time I got up the next morning, I knew my mind had been made up. I’m going to trek to Everest Base Camp in 2025, roughly a year and a half from now: Enough time to prep and plan and train without having to steal focus from my writing, but also not so much time that I could afford to take my eye off the ball.
Or the mountain, if you will.
Next week we’ll get into specifics about my training and nutrition goals, my starting baseline vs. where I’m at now, and how it’s all going. In the meantime, check out some of the tools I’m using for Body Adventures (heads up, most of these are affiliate links, which help support Body Adventures and my EBC Trek - thanks in advance for your support!)
Get Fit With Mer - my training pro’grim
I first stumbled across Meredith on TikTok, and right away, it felt like I had been led to her. She actually started at the exact same weight that I did when I first started Body Adventures, which is just so inspiring and motivating to me. Now she’s a certified fitness coach who runs her own program, Get Fit With Mer, and manages a team of other coaches. I can’t say enough good things about the program - the meal plans are tits, the workouts are great (you can tailor both to your specific needs and always request changes and modifications when you need them), and there’s a whole community of other amazing women to connect with, bounce ideas off of, or just go to for support.
If you’re thinking of starting your own body adventure and are looking for a program that offers both autonomy and accountability in a safe, friendly, non-judgmental, and non-intimidating way, again, I cannot recommend this program enough!
Finding Michael
Click the link to watch the trailer for the documentary, now available on Disney+ and Hulu!
Walking Pad
This is the walking pad I’ve been using to help get my 10K steps in everyday. I recommend this if you’re looking for a walking pad to use while you watch TV or work at your desk - the price is a low barrier to entry, and it’s super easy to move around your home when you’re not using it.
BreBebe Resistance Bands & Door Anchor
These are the ones I use for my workouts - I don’t use the door anchor because my doors are too tall for it, but I love the bands and they’re super easy to change and switch out!
Old Navy High-Waisted Powersoft 7/8 Leggings
I do think it’s true that, when you have cute workout gear that you’re excited to wear, it’s that much easier to stick to your workouts. And I loooove these leggings - the material, the fit, the generous side pockets...I literally ordered three more in different colors after I kept wanting to wear the same pair every single day.
C-ya next time!
AC