(Lack of) Passion is Contagious
30 Apr 2010 Leave a Comment
in GRAVITY Experiment Tags: gravity, happy, post office, USPS, weight, workout
GRAVITY Experiment Day #19
Today’s weight: 146.5 (tomorrow’s weight might not be so hot)
Pounds lost / pounds to go: 4.0 / 11.0
Exercise: Not happening today (not by choice) – my workout clothes are still in my bag at the office. Gonna have to count today as my day of rest and workout both Saturday and Sunday. The needs of the business had to be put in front of my own tonight - but I’m no less enthused about it;-)
I went to the post office today and just felt icky when I left. It was gray, cold, musty, and was full of unhappy people (total contrast to Starbucks by the way). I literally tried smiling at three different people and not one of them even acknowledged my existence.
The kicker – Fred and Gary.* These two men were working the counter and not once did the tone of their voices or facial expressions change while they helped the string of people in front of me. This is normal for these two regulars but I was there earlier than normal – guess I was expecting a bit more spring in their step when they were fresh. Good gracious guys – it was only 10 minutes into your shift!!!
One of my favorite sayings ever is: “Are you happy? Don’t forget to tell your face.” I don’t think they have that sign posted at their stations. To the credit of the good ol’ USPS, I do know that happy employees exist at this particular branch because I’ve seen them there before;-)
The first time I exude the passion of Fred and Gary when I’m at work is the first time I need to be looking for something else to float my boat.
Maybe it’s not work you’re jazzed about. Maybe it’s the business you plan to start? Or the goal you are trying to accomplish? Or the exciting outing you are planning with the kids? Or an answered prayer?
It doesn’t matter what it’s for – if you are filled to the brim with passion, those around you will catch it. Lack of passion, well that’s contagious, too!
*names changed to protect the unenthused
Walk the Walk
22 Apr 2010 2 Comments
in GRAVITY Experiment Tags: exercises, gait, German push ups, gravity, gym, mountain climbers, physical therapist, prisoner squats, skull crushers, workout
GRAVITY Experiment Day #11
Today’s weight: 148.5 (WOW – didn’t see that coming;-)
Pounds lost / pounds to go: 2.0 / 13.0
Exercise: 30 minutes of GRAVITY training – did the lunge series currently listed on the Total Gym blog @ http://blog.totalgym.com, our own internal ”ab creation” that Jacob designed which I am horrible at (stay tuned for more info about that), and my standard array of exercises right out of the manual
Isn’t it funny how each profession has its own lingo? My husband and I were hiking a few weeks back and my right knee started “clunking” with every step. The physical therapist in me kicked in and I started trying different things with my step to see if I could eliminate the annoyance. He asked me what I was doing and I said, “I’m trying to modify my gait – if I externally rotate my hip and maximally contract my gluteals at toe-off, I can make this clunk in my right knee stop approximately 50% of the time.” I’ve always wondered why my husband doesn’t talk much or ask many questions – I think I found my answer;-)
Aren’t “fitness people” the same way though? Ask a friend who hits the gym regularly what they did during their workout and you might hear phrases like skull crushers, prisoner squats, German push ups, and mountain climbers. No wonder so many people are afraid of starting a workout routine!?!?
People avoid starting a fitness routine because they don’t talk the talk. They don’t look the part. They don’t have the right clothes or shoes. They are afraid. They are afraid of the machines, the exercises, what people will think, that they will get hurt, that they won’t be good at it – worse yet, that they will fail. They are looking for any excuse to validate the status quo.
Being more active isn’t complicated - it just requires movement. Movement right where you are. You don’t have to talk the talk – you just have to walk the walk.
My GRAVITY Experiment – Losing the Last 15 Pounds
11 Apr 2010 2 Comments
in GRAVITY Experiment Tags: Christie Brinkley, Chuck Norris, freshman 15, gravity, healthy, personal trainer, Sesame Street, Total Gym, weight, workout
Just got back yesterday from a day-long GRAVITY Personal Training course (from here on out referred to as G since my forearms are so sore I can barely type). G is basically using a commercial Total Gym (yeah, insert buff picture of Christie Brinkley and Chuck Norris here) to perform group workouts, personal training, and whatever other insane torture you can contrive. I went to the training so that I can fill in for the clinic trainer Jacob if he is ever deathly ill. Lord, please give Jacob stellar health for the rest of his days.
Anyway, the class consisted of me, Jacob, a twenty-year-old co-ed named Melissa, and our instructor, Chan. All I could think of during the course was the Sesame Street filler “which one of these is not like the other?” ME!!! Needless to say, this 33-year-old out-of-shape mother of three was not anxious to work out on the “contraption” for 6 hours. My first comment to Chan was, “I need to be able to function on Monday.”
Okay, getting the Total Gym GTS open was step number one. Check. Are we done yet? No such luck. On to the fun stuff, or so Chan said.
I have to admit the exercises were very cool – fluid, non-jarring, easily modified to make everyone feel like they were getting a good workout. I actually got excited about continuing with the program after returning home to reality. For working out a total of 3 hours the entire year thus far, I think I held my own. No, I didn’t have the thighs of Melissa or the metabolism of Jacob who can eat an entire package of Oreos in one sitting and lose weight the next day – but I didn’t fall and I didn’t feel like a weakling. Score!!!
So here’s the deal – I’m going to commence on an experiment. I’m calling it the G Experiment. Gravity (the real gravity) has not been my friend the past few years – my baby pocket now lies on the bed next to me when I am sidelying and that is simply not acceptable. My chest (keeping this G-rated) is much more southern than (they) once were. And, dear Lord, has anyone else ever looked at what their face looks like upside down??? I can only imagine what other parts of me look like in contorted positions!!!
I’m out to make G my friend. What’s the saying – keep your friends close but your enemies closer? So I am going to embrace our GRAVITY system with open arms. Since I am a mother of 3 and a business owner, time is gold so I am going to have to do something that can work with my schedule. I think 30 minutes 3 times per week performing G exercises is doable. I also think I can handle walking, riding my bike, or being uber active with the kids for 30 minutes 3 more times per week. Sorry, Sundays are off-limits – I’m already crabby enough on Sundays so it just aint happenin’ on nap day.
My goal – finally lose my college 15 (15 years later). I’d love to say that my motivation is to get healthy and be more energetic but it’s much more vain than that – I want to feel good wearing shorts and a sleeveless shirt;-) All that other stuff, well that’s good too. I will post my weight and loss each day with the goal of 15 pounds in 60 days (~1.75 pounds per week). I really think I can do this (maybe). What I’ve been doing for the past 15 years hasn’t been working so it’s worth a try at least.
So back to the class – I can’t go up or down stairs, breathe, or sit up straight today without cringing. Sitting down to go to the bathroom? Forget it – all I can do is hover while holding onto the sink for dear life. Imagine the panic when I climbed the bunk ladder to kiss my 8-year-old good night and realized that I couldn’t get down without the feeling of someone hitting my thighs with a baseball bat. Joy. Can’t wait to get started on the regime.
Today’s weight: 150.5
Pounds to go: 15
Love the Feedback...