put a hurtin' on me

Early Thursday morning I head to the gym to take a 6 a.m. yoga class. As I walked in I quickly realized, it wasn’t yoga it was my favorite aerobic class – Body Attack. Our normal instructor is out for awhile so the gym brought in a man – to a ALL ladies fitness center – to fill in while she is gone. I seriously wish I had a video to show you of this “manstructor”. The first time he taught my class – I didn’t know if I could make through the entire thing due to the fact I got the giggles and I thought they would never go away. He is SO over the top. He is SO expressive. He says, “AHHHHHHHH” countless times into the mic and I think I am going to lose it every time. He’s very manly but his aerobic charisma is just almost too much. Well he was there completely energized and ready to share a whole new routine to us. I am like yawning walking in and not in the mood to move as much as I know I am about to have to do. The music comes on and here we go. I was sweating during the warm up. By the time we were a quarter of the way through I was exhausted. This guy was wearing us out and competitive part me would not me let up. I had to match his energy. By the end – I was dying – seriously whooped. Later that night, I could already feel the pain in my legs setting in. When I woke the next morning my body hurt all over. I was shocked. I take that class regularly but this time it kicked my butt. My calves hurt just to touch them. My abs hurt when I coughed or laughed. It’s been 4 days since and I still have some soreness.

one of my top 5 most embrassing moments

This morning I was kicking it, literally, at my aerobic body attack class. (See, make me do push ups, I’ll wimp out real quick but kicks and leg lifts and I am like YEAH!) So there I am kicking like I am in tryouts for the Rockettes and next thing I know crunch, ouch, bam … I am flat on the floor. I feel someone’s arms reach around me and try to pull me up and the whole class stops to make sure I am okay. One lady says, “I think you’re over doing it, you need to rest.” Thankfully nothing was hurt but my butt (plenty of padding there) and my pride. I felt like a real idiot. The instructor started looking for water or dust on the floor … she felt certain that was the reason for my fall. Nothing was there. I was just over excitedly kicking and at the peak of a high kick I pulled the grounded leg out from underneath me. I am an idiot. : )

oooooooh … my booty

Yesterday was my first day back at the gym since Christmas … I am hurting today. My body pump class kicked my booty big time. It hurts to walk, sit, stand, reach … just about any physical movement has some type of pain associated with it.

On to other news…

My girls are like BFF these days. Normally #1 is in the center and the girls take turns pairing up with him. The past few days, no matter what #1 tried to do, he can’t wiggle in between them. He made the comment this morning, “The girls are really building a good relationship.” It does make me happy. My girls are complete opposites so I am cherishing every minute that they laugh, play, wrestle, color, hug and love together.

back to the grind

I got to the gym this morning at 6 am. I did my first class today – Body Pump. Whoo Lordy, it wore me out! Taking four days off from working out made it really hard to drag my booty up and out of bed this morning. I just flashed images of all my problem areas through my mind and I quickly found the strength to get going. Honestly, I am loving the gym. I like the way I feel, too. I have a lot more energy, things don’t exhaust me like they used too. The only thing I don’t like is that I am hungry all all all day long. It’s kinda tempting to eat the wrong things just to satisfy my hunger.

Anyways, we took last week off from school so we hit it hard this morning. Thankfully only a moderate amount of whining was expressed when I handed out assignments. While #1 took 2 hours to do a math lesson (off in la la land) the girls pulled out some sassy fake metallic purple nails. It took me fifteen minutes to figure out how to get those little suckers on. The glamorous nails lasted maybe 5 minutes then they all started popping off. Oh well.

So that’s our day.

No matter if it’s winter, spring, summer or fall … he hardly ever wears a shirt around the house.

extra long nails … aka … booger hooks (that’s what my friend Ellen always called them)

recap

Saturday I had a day completely to myself. Crazy, I know. I went to a women’s conference at my mom’s church. The ladies there are so sweet and they really poured themselves into it. I really enjoyed it. I even got to hang out for a while with Glasses of Grace. She’s so fun.

The rest of the day I spent with my friend Jenn. We went shopping in Atlanta and ate at P.F. Changs (oh my gosh, it was so divine). I just love my friend Jenn so much. Several years ago I had prayed that God would give me a new close friendship and within about two weeks of that prayer, I met her. I am so thankful He granted my heart’s desire. Jenn, you are awesome!

Sunday we just hung out. Oh, how could I forget, I took the kids to a bowling party. My man couldn’t go because “he had to work” (kid parties aren’t his thing). For the first hour, it was total chaos. Trying to teach kids how to bowl, in what order to bowl, to not eat pizza off of other party’s tables, to not sit on the equipment, to bowl in your own lane … plus the noise. But after a while it started to all calm down and we had a nice time.

So, today I started off at the gym. I got there before 6:30 a.m. (I swear. I wasn’t even grumpy!) Turns out it is a 30 day trial and if I don’t like it I can get my money back. The plan is to really be consistent and evaluate at day 28 whether of not to continue.

The girls are starting their day off with the bubble machine. Why I agreed to allow them to let them do this inside, I have no idea b/c there is now bubble juice all over the washing machine and the laundry room floor. I really think there is something missing in my brain that connects the reality of the degree of messiness with certain activities I allow my kids to do. Oh, well, at least they are having fun.

One more thing. #3 is eating a lollipop, and she came over to show me where she bit a chunk off. She said “Mommy, wook what happened when I bit this part of. It’s so smooth and soft, just like waying on the beach.” ??????

to gym or not to gym

Sometimes my brain can like run a marathon trying to solve a basic problem, well it might not even be a real problem, but it’s something I just need … need to figure out. (or at least I think I need need need to like it’s some complicated math equation that I am going to get graded on) So, I haven’t got stumped in a while, but this one is just driving me bananas today. Here it goes …. See, I have been very consistent with my little workout routine for months now. The mornings are getting cooler and I started pondering the idea of joining a gym to escape the cold weather. So, last week at Target a lady walked up to me. She asked, “Would you like me to put your name into a drawing where you could win a free gym membership to (blank)?” Now my gut reaction was, “this isn’t right for her to be soliciting business for a gym at Target.” (Target in no way is affiliated with them) But, I did think, “Wow, is this a sign. Maybe I should sign up at a gym.” So I gave my phone number to her and big shock (yeah right) when I got a call later on that afternoon from this girl saying I had won a $150 gift certificate to the gym. I’m a smart girl. I knew this was just a pitch to get me to the gym. I put it off for over a week, still every day she calls. Finally I check it out this morning. I have been truly like wrestling with this decision to commit to a gym and when I found myself sitting in the office going through the whole spill, I was like, I guess. I have 7 days to cancel with no strings, and 30 days to cancel with no extra fees. As I walked out and headed to the treadmill, I had this feeling I had just signed an agreement with the devil. I hate the way they try to sell their services to you, but I think I really want to be at a gym this winter. So, what to do, what to do????

Gym vs Jogging around our wonderful park (Free exercise)

I can tan when I want (sorry but if you know me, you know this very appealing to me)
Not being tempted to look like I just got back from the beach all winter long

Treadmills: I can wimp out and hop off whenever I want (not a good thing)
Jogging around our park … I have to get home so I can’t wimp out and quit

I can pay $x amount per month
I can save $x amount per month

More equipment means a more varied exercise routine
Two options: jogging or looking like a freak and power walking

I can use machines and really tone up some areas (esp. my butt and abs)
Am I being vain b/c it only takes one bad month off to feel like all I have worked for is gone

Paying $x per month
Saving $x per month (wait I already listed this, can you tell what is really weighing on my brain?)

So, the bottom line is, I am cheap. It is so hard for me to pay for this. WHY? I know, I have money issues. I am also scared I won’t stay committed. I ran with crappy old sneakers for a month to make sure I was committed to exercising before I allowed myself to go out and buy new running shoes.

So, so and more so’s. I keep weighing everything trying to find that right answer. I know, (Heather stop laughing!) I am making a mountain out of a mole hill. At least I know I am being ridiculous spending all this brain energy trying to figure out something that in the grand scheme of things, really doesn’t matter all that much. ( I am giggling at myself)

addiction

I am finally and I mean FINALLY … over my coke addiction. (Coke is what I call soft drinks/pop or whatever you other people call them) I have quit many times, but I seriously hope I am truly done. Now … I only used to drink one a day. But that one, it was special. It was my treat. It was my sweet sugary goodness that I craved and had to have and if I finished my day without having a cold one poured over ice …. well … lets just day I felt jipped.

See, I am on a health kick … again. I know, I am so not consistent. But the thing is I really REALLY want to become very consistent with staying healthy. I am not out to lose a bunch of weight (though I have been eating VERY good and exercising like 5 days a week for almost a month and I have only lost ONE stinkin POUND!) : ) I just love the way I feel when I know I am doing good things for my body. When I don’t jog or walk I get lazy and I eat crap, huge portions of crap. But when I exercise, I make much better choices when it come to my diet. My thinking … I didn’t just go and jog several miles just to void it out by eating a several pizza rolls and a hot dog.

So, that is where I am at. Oh, and I thought I was really craving a coke the other day, and I reached in the frig to pop open a can. The second it slid down my throat, I had to fight the urge to spit it out. I was so happy. Now, I just need to cut my coffee intake by half, and I will be really happy.

hit the spot

please do not touch my butt, cause I might scream! I have been a regular now for about three weeks at walking and doing pilates. I have a great workout video by Denise Austin called “Hit the Spot Pilates”. It is awesome. (No crazy aerobics that make me look like a FREAK) It has great short 10 minute options. Well yesterday I was feeling pretty confident that I could handle the 15 minute “Pilates Challenge” option. It is a more intense workout that hits all the “spots” instead of isolating just one. Well it blindly kicked my butt. I felt fine all day, then when I woke up, it felt like I got a dozen shots in each cheek. So a friend of mine and her kids came over to play and we decided to bond and hit the pilates challenge together. Now my butt has seriously been kicked, pounded and slammed. I have never been so sore in the buttocks (Denise loves to use that word and it is now one of #1’s favorite) It’s working. RW thanks for joining me in the punishment today. One more week of this and the kids will be able to bounce a ball off my buns. tight!