inspired! (continued)

Hello all! Yesterday I posted a story written by someone named Andrew Pogai, who runs a blog called Polynesian Weight Loss. My dear friend Fui posted his story on facebook, and it led me to a facebook group called the Pacific Health Club (PHC). (If you're on facebook, check them out!) According to their page, the mission of PHC is this:

PHC is a collaboration of Pacific Islander health and fitness professionals working to fight obesity through specialized and effective fitness and nutrition programs and events designed for Pacific Islanders by Pacific Islanders.

Though it's under construction, the PHC has a website that can be found here.

As I mentioned yesterday, I feel very fortunate to have stumbled across this gem. Reading their sites and the challenges that they design to inspire a healthier Pacific Islander community is really inspiring to me. In particular, I was struck at how this article prompted the formation of the PHC. Of course, I am also struck by the idea of Pacific Islanders tackling health within the community. Often times, it's helpful to consult with people who you can really relate to and can design an eating and exercise program that is conducive to your own interests. (Hel-lo! I love that the PHC is doing hot hula and boot camp courses! And reclaiming the coconut into your diet?! I'm ALL about it!)

Call me a nationalist (or ignorant depending on where you're coming from), but I think it's important to tailor health interests to fit specific community needs. When I think about the alarming rates of heart disease and diabetes in the Filipino and Pacific Islander community, I find it disturbing that within (and outside) the community, cuisine from this part of the world is thought of as unhealthy. In turn, people think that we are, by nature, doomed to fail at having good health. This is because our cuisine is often defined by our massive consumption of corned beef, spam, and vienna sausage. Ahem. Take note. This cuisine is not indigenous to our respective cultures. Rather, they are products of colonization - a project whose goal is to literally kill indigenous people across the world. (Okay. I digress. Back to my point.)

I would like to give my deepest respect to the folks behind PHC. I thank you for recognizing that eating well and maintaining good health is not only vital to the survival of our communities, it is also a political act. Bravo to you!

Today's Small Victories
I came up with my "30 days to 35" Challenge.

Warm-up
8 minutes of jump rope work

CrossFit One World WOD
Complete 9 rounds for time of:
5 deadlifts 115#
5 handstand subs
5 burpees

Joanne's Final Time - N/A (but I think I took about 15 minutes)

Notes (to myself) about this workout: Since I missed Tuesday and Wednesday, I decided to combine the two WODs. (For the record, I think doing 235 burpees to honor the USMC is pure insanity. I settled on doing just 45 burpees.) I kinda liked this WOD. Yes, I'd do it again:)