I have a Genghis
Grill dream…
Today is Day 11 of my 60-day Genghis Grill HealthKwest
challenge. It may seem that my main goal – the reason why I signed up to be a
HealthKwest Khantestant – was to lose weight. Sometimes I can cover up my more "problem area" spots --- but sometimes they show through. Like in this embarrassing picture to the left.
But, though losing weight would be great…that's not my #1 HealthKwest goal.
My Genghis Grill
dream is really to teach myself to worship my own body and to use my own
healthy body to enjoy every ounce out of life.
My dream was instigated by my little puppy, Gideon. Gideon is my five month old chocolate lab. He’s loving, inquisitive, excited, easily entertained, bouncey, and, generally…Giddy! (Get it? Gideon . . . Giddy?!) His birthday is September 28, and he came into my life on December 19.
Now, I’m only 24 years old. I don’t have any children, and
don’t plan on having any soon. Bringing Gideon into my life has taught me a lot
about responsibility – he’s my fur child. Waking up at 3:00 am to bring a
little puppy down two flights of stairs to go potty when it’s 30 degrees
outside (that’s cold for Floridians!). Waking up an hour earlier than normal to
ensure that my puppy has sufficient exercise to tire him out before leaving for
work and school in the morning. My whole entire life has changed.
And it’s funny. Sometimes, walking Gideon seems to be such a
pain – I put on my “dog walking boots,” I tug on his leash to keep him away
from bottles, discarded McDonald’s bags, and dead frog corpses. I want to go
back inside. But then, something happens.
A fresh breeze blows through the trees, some leaves flutter
and change position, and little Gideon POUNCES. He is enthusiastic. Exuberant.
Giddy. I can’t help but laugh – he’s so proud of himself for attacking those
leaves and tears them apart jovially. Suddenly, I feel how glorious the sun
feels on my face and I hear my neighbor’s wind chimes tinkling with the breeze
and I think – woah. I need to slow down.
Life is too good to pass it by. 
And then I start to think about my health. Gideon is already
40 pounds – he will likely double in size over the next few months. His energy
levels will skyrocket. He loves to run – a seven-and-a-half minute mile, which
I can’t keep up with for more than a few seconds. He loves to jump and chase
Frisbees and break sticks off of low-hanging tree branches. He’s my baby puppy
– and I want to keep up with him, even as he grows.
I began realizing all of this as I applied for the Genghis Grill HealthKwest challenge and
realized – I need to change my lifestyle. Stop eating the fried foods and get
on the grilled veggie train. Trade in the fried rice for that brown rice stuff
– or even wheat udon noodles. Replace a 160-calorie can of Coke with a Peachy
Palmer of less than 100 calories. Jog a few miles in the beautiful sunshine
rather than watching TV in the darkness of my home.
Thanks to Giddy and Genghis, I have a dream that I can live
a healthy lifestyle. That I can worship my body by placing choosing to ingest
healthier foods and choosing to challenge my body with physical exercise and
fun. Life is just too darn good to spend it inside.
So, with Gideon prancing by my side, I’m slowly learning how
to drop the remote, step outside… and chase a leaf. I have a dream.
