“Clap on! Clap off!”
22 May 2010 3 Comments
in GRAVITY Experiment Tags: Captain D's, clap off, clap on, Crestwood Plaza, Fairview Heights, gravity, healthy, IL, Mexican hat dance, MO, Mommy brain, scale, St. Louis, sweat, The Clapper, Total Gym, WaterRower
GRAVITY Experiment Days #37 & #38
Pounds lost / pounds to go: 4.0 / 11.0
Exercise: Great workout – doubled up because I missed yesterday;-( I went 22 minutes / 5000+ meters on the WaterRower; 10 min jog on the treadmill with one hill interval for 2 min; at least 30 min on the Total Gym (squat jumps, squats with toes out, squat bridges, sitting torso twists, single bicep curls, scrunch board work, chest presses); Get-Delt-With-It, Roman lifts, squat push ups, gluteal series, prisoner squats, and ab series. I’ve noticed that I sweat more when I do my GRAVITY training than I do with cardio (just an observation).
For those of you who have children in school, you are well aware that this is one of the most hectic times of the year. Between testing, year-end field trips, award ceremonies, field days, concerts, and the general excitement of summer break being within reach, it’s a miracle we remember our names (much less our children’s).
When I was at my children’s elementary school on Tuesday for an award ceremony, I stopped in the office to sign my oldest daughter out for a special lunch with Mom. While I had every intention of doing this back in the fall, life happened and here we were during the last week of school squeezing it in;-) I showed my ID and off we went to Captain D’s (her choice).
While we were enjoying our seafood amongst the patrons (average age of 77 – just guessing), I got a call from my mom who teaches at my children’s school. She informed me that I had left my wallet lying in the office at the school and that she’d keep it safe for me until we returned.
In recent years, I would have blamed this on “Mommy brain.” I seriously believe that with each progressive child, mothers sacrificially lose brain cells. I’m living proof. But, I’m beginning to believe that it’s just me. I need a “clapper” for everything – my car keys, the checkbook, the remote, my wallet, my debit card in my purse, my phone, the children occasionally. I want someone to invent a device where I can clap my hands like I’m doing the Mexican hat dance and the item in question beeps to reveal its location.
Original “The Clapper” ad (can’t miss the lady at the end): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XUOhjW2AXM
My wallet’s the worst though. When I was in high school, I was shopping for a new purse at a department store in Fairview Heights, IL. I wanted to make sure that my wallet would fit so I tested it out. Mom and I were on a whirlwind shopping trip that day and we decided to hit Crestwood Plaza in St. Louis, MO, also. When I started to try out purses again, I went to perform the same wallet test only my wallet was nowhere to be found. Panic. Needless to say, it was hanging right where I left it in the next state over. The saleswoman thought it was funny. Mom, not so much. That’s the day I learned how fast she can drive;-)
So what does this have to do with working out, health, and this whole experiment? Everything. I thought that I would never look forward to working out, eating healthy, and losing weight again - my track record is that I either ignore it or I take it too far. I’m finding that this is something I can change and manage in a healthy way. I’ve loosened up a bit in the last few weeks but I haven’t chucked it. I also haven’t beaten myself up or looked at myself as a failure. I’ve just kept on keepin’ on and the scale and I are coming to terms with each other;-) This makes me think I can tackle some other habits that plague me.
Maybe, some day, I’ll come to terms with my forgetfulness…or someone can just expand on that clapper idea;-)
My First Cavity
20 May 2010 2 Comments
in GRAVITY Experiment Tags: cavity, dentist, gravity, jogging, low-fat frozen yogurt, McDonald's, needle, treadmill, WaterRower
GRAVITY Experiment Day #36
Pounds lost / pounds to go: 4.0 / 11.0
Exercise: I haven’t exercised yet today and I was planning on walking after I get home tonight but it is pouring rain (again). I’ll probably opt for a lighter workout tonight consisting of 30 min of light jogging on the treadmill mixed with rowing on the WaterRower. My plan is to go to a 5:15 a.m. circuit class in the morning so I don’t want to be wiped out going into that.
Today was a milestone for me – I had my first cavity filled. I had a great track record for 33 years but that has all come to an end. After being numbed, I informed my beloved dentist that I could feel him touching my gum and that I was very concerned about the pain factor. I love how both he and the hygienist discreetly moved that giganto needle in a way that you can’t really make eye contact with it – very sneaky.
Anyway, he numbed me up really well. So much so that I couldn’t feel the entire left side of my face. Totally cool with me because I didn’t want to feel anything – thanks Dr. Tony;-) Even though I had considered asking for gas, it really wasn’t that bad.
Then came recovery. My appointment was at noon so my husband, having had many a filling over the years, suggested I eat before I went in. No time so it was going to have to wait. I ran a few errands with slurred speech and drool but my stomach started growling and I couldn’t ignore it anymore.
I thought about what would taste good and since my jaw was sore and I didn’t feel like chewing, I opted for a low-fat frozen yogurt cone from McDonald’s. I can eat those things in my sleep so it was the logical choice. I noticed that I was licking to the right quite a bit but for the most part I handled it with ease – no drips, no drool. It even tasted good on the right side of my tongue.
My best friend Kim posted on her blog yesterday how two men (complete strangers) had randomly waved and smiled at her recently. You have to understand that Kim is beautiful, bubbly, and a people magnet so I can completely understand why this would occur – but this never happens to me (see Post titled (Lack of) Passion is Contagious). Imagine my surprise when the lady next to me at the stop light looked over and grinned. I grinned back with the right side of my mouth and drove on.
Turning into traffic, I looked up into my rearview mirror. I caught a quick glimpse that made me do a double take. Not only did I have a huge glob of yogurt on my lip but I had two streaks of melting white goo all the way down the left side of my neck to my collar.
Sweet (literally).
Sinkholes Happen
12 May 2010 Leave a Comment
in GRAVITY Experiment Tags: 100-year flood, Diet Coke, geological, gravity, house, sinkhole, WaterRower
GRAVITY Experiment Day #30 (catch up from yesterday – I’ll post again tonight about today)
Today’s weight: 148.0
Pounds lost / pounds to go: 2.5 / 12.5
Exercise: Slacker – see below (I’m actually excited to double up tonight)
Yesterday was just one of those days. My husband and I were closer than we’ve ever been to purchasing land to build a new house. You have to understand that I have been planning this house since I was 8 years old. I could care less about cars, boats, clothes (to a degree), hair styles, traveling, stuff in general - but I love houses. I have been planning “the space” I’ve wanted my children to grow up in since I was their ages.
Then came the questions about a “low area” butting up against the piece of property we were looking at. The area marked as a 100-year flood area on the plat unusually held NO water during the 1000-year flood last weekend. Hmmmm - makes you wonder where all that water went?
I was educated during my geological expedition to the building and codes office but I left in tears. I told myself not to but I had gotten my hopes up – way up. We live in a county where building is a risk in and of itself – as the sinkhole expert put it, “It’s like building on a stereo speaker.” Great. Even though the chance is slim of the sinkhole opening in my lifetime, why take the risk? All I could picture was the kids skipping across the back yard one second and swallowed up by the earth the next. I’m a worrier so the gray hair isn’t worth it to me.
What’s more, I feel guilty for wanting this for my family. I am thankful for all the blessings in my life – is it okay to desire more? How do you validate your desires when others yearn for the basics or just lost everything they had??? Between the multiple times I cried yesterday, retaining fluid myself, and the flood that has left a dark cloud over everyone – I’M SO OVER WATER!
I think I’m going to drink Diet Coke while I workout on the WaterRower to drown my frustrations.
The Gun Show
06 May 2010 1 Comment
in GRAVITY Experiment Tags: American Idol, biceps, gravity, gun show, guns, hugs, junk food, kindergartener, Lady Gaga, The Berenstain Bears, Total Gym, WaterRower
GRAVITY Experiment Day #24
Today’s weight: 146.5 (still)
Pounds lost / pounds to go: 4.0 / 11.0
Exercise: 40 min of GRAVITY training on the Total Gym speckled with 2 min bouts on the arm/leg bike, elliptical, WaterRower, and recumbent bike; continued with Get-Delt-With-It with 5# dumbbells and Roman lifts with a weighted bar
I am so insanely tired tonight that I fell asleep on the couch watching Lady Gaga on American Idol - what the heck was that by the way? Even though my weight seems to be in a holding pattern, my body is changing. I took measurements tonight and was happy to see that they are reducing (only slightly, though). It did confirm my suspicions that I am losing mass in my upper body more than the plumper part of my pear.
My favorite part of the day was reading The Berenstain Bears and Too Much Junk Food to my favorite kindergartener. Will informed me when he picked the book that I would like it. He said that he sometimes eats junk food but that “he’s trying to eat healthier.”
The book had a part about muscles and bones and of course I had to impress him with my cut biceps. We went on to have a full-blown gun show complete with poses and strained facial expressions. So fun. I can see why guys do that in front of the mirror.
I was then told I needed to give Will a hug every time he touched my neck. After about 30 of those, my guns were worn out.
My Three Moldable Lumps
03 May 2010 Leave a Comment
in GRAVITY Experiment Tags: athletic, BOSU, cardio, gravity, Lowe's, lumps, parenting, squats, Total Gym, WaterRower
GRAVITY Experiment Day #21
Today’s weight: 146.5 (ate great yesterday so it had to be revenge of the stuffed crust pizza)
Pounds lost / pounds to go: 4.0 / 11.0
Exercise: 30 minutes GRAVITY training with continued “heart rate bumps” on recumbent bike, Pro II (arm & leg bike), and WaterRower; felt great at the end of my workout on the Total Gym so I did Get-Delt-With-It, Roman lifts, plank on the BOSU, mountain climbers, some type of push up I have no clue what its name is and about 5 min on my abs (30 each of reverse crunches, heels to heaven, and alternating oblique crunches)
Okay, gut check. I’m 3 weeks into this experiment and I’ve lost 4 pounds. I’ve done 18 workouts alternating between GRAVITY training on the Total Gym and cardio. I’m feeling awesome about the workouts and really look forward to the endorphin buzz I get. Food intake is probably my weak point but I’m definitely making smarter choices. I have a love-hate relationship with food so I’m not going to get too obsessive about it – this needs to be something I can maintain after the experiment is over.
During church today, it was reiterated that parents have the single most influence on their children – more so than media, other adults, their friends, etc. Before I started this experiment, I voiced to my husband how I regretted the fact that my children never saw the “athletic” side of me. I was super active and sportsy when I was younger but my own kids have never witnessed this.
I have made oodles of mistakes parenting. I remember being horrified when I dropped my first child on the bathroom floor at Lowe’s when she was 3 months old. I know, awful. I thought she was strapped into her carrier and she just slid right out as I lifted it up. I was absolutely beside myself and crying more than her as we rushed to the doctor’s office. That now 3rd grader reads at a 12th grade level – she’d probably be at a college reading level if it weren’t for me;-)
But after you learn to hold, feed, burp, and change diapers, there is this moldable little lump that is looking to you as an example for behavior – scary. This experiment has changed my kids’ behavior in a very short amount of time. The two youngest munchkins wanted to go into the clinic today with Daddy because they wanted to ”workout.” By the time I got there, the 7-year-old said she’d been doing squats on the Total Gym for ”at least 30 minutes.” The youngest – well his big thing is to make faces and grunt when he does his lat pullups. Wonder where he learned that?
The oldest isn’t quite there yet. When we go to the clinic as a family, she opts for reading as opposed to sweating. I do think there is a point your kids pass where shaping their behavior becomes harder and harder. I’m not giving up but I know that I am going to have to be diligent and creative with her.
Maybe a reading stand on the equipment will do the trick?
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