Trying to achieve balance

This drawing is hilarious. Many people who exercise  also party hard. Don't we all think there's a conversion chart for working off potato chips and Sierra Nevada pale ales? I know we all have vices. The goal is to find that balance between falling off the wagon, rolling down a hill, and landing in a mound of bacon and Guiness versus depriving yourself of sleep to run a marathon every week. But even if you do end up in a hole of nachos with shredded cheese and cheap beer, it's good to remember that you don't have to stay there. Maybe I didn't have the healthiest dinner last night. Truthfully, it probably wasn't the most unhealthy choice I could have made either.  Should I sleep in past my alarm and beat myself up while skipping my morning workout? Of course not.

Life is meant to be lived. I want to drink beer and have my snacks on occasion. I like my smoothies spiked with coconut rum on a weekend evening. I'm gonna order pizza at times and eat too many pieces. We all do this. Right? But I'm also gonna walk my dog when I don't feel up for it and take the stairs up to the fourth floor when I have to use the bathroom at work. I'm never parking in the closest parking spot to the door wherever I go. These are little things I do to keep myself in check.

I do big things too. Like, I got up again at 5:30 and did an hourlong DVD before work. This time I did Jillian's Burn Fat Boost Metabolism. I did plenty of lifting with weights yesterday, so today was going to be my cardio burn. Burn, it did, indeed! I think tomorrow I'll even hit the gym before work. I haven't done that in ages. Seriously, maybe even years? But then I get my exercise out of the way before the holiday weekend. Bring on the fireworks, the beer, and the sweet joy of sleeping in! 

Talk dirty to me Bob

Kickin ass and taking names! I was up and sweating at 5:30 a.m. today. Jason was snoozing and Quixote was grunting in his sleep. Occasionally I wonder what the hell I'm doing. An extra hour of sleep every day is a luxury most people wouldn't pass on. Oh well, I'm not most people, I'm kicking ass at the butt crack of dawn. If you don't believe me, check out Bob Harper's ferocious kicking on the cover of the DVD. Now, picture my face on that threatening pose!
This marks four mornings now that I have stuck to my plan. It's easier to get up when I have something new to try. I never know if I'll love a DVD or dread it. The not-knowing really carries me to a good place. After I punched, squatted, lunged, and planked my way to a drippy, soggy mess, I leashed up the pooch and took him for a quick stroll down the dirt roads. Ahhh, that lucky little guy.

I am still taking Jillian's advice to heart. I'm writing in my journal at night about my accomplishments and about my goals. Really, most people wouldn't notice if I gained 10 lbs. Some people probably think I should. The truth is I can't afford to buy new pants. I want  my old jeans to fit me! When I'm pregnant one day and my clothes don't fit — that's a transformation I'll make peace with. However, I'm not making peace with laziness or clothes that deceive me. My sister gave me a pair of stylish jeans that her friend outgrew. They were a bit too big on me and I seriously think this went to my head. I was like, "Oh, gosh, I am skinny. Get in my face, frosting. Get in my face, potato chips."  I was misled because I wasn't wearing my jeans for these bouts of frenetic eating and sloth moments. I don't want to be that freaky woman who eats in a bikini to stay on track. That is just whack! However, there are different feelings when you're sporting clothes that are too small, too big, or just right for us.

I intend to keep kicking ass at the break of dawn. I want my jeans to fit, not someone else's. And let's face it: those were designer jeans.  I'll stick to my unstylish style and my buns of steel!

On the wagon still!

Full steam ahead with my workout goals. A hangover can't even stop me now! On Saturday morning I went to the gym right away. I am  realizing that working out first thing in the day is the best choice for me. I have heard that people who work out in the morning are more likely to stick with their workouts. (They're also more likely to fall asleep in the parking lot when they get to work, but that's another issue.) The reason you stick with a.m. exercise is because nothing derails you: not the grocery store, not your dog's sad eyes that scream I've been alone all day, walk me now!, not the hundred other things that enter your brain as soon as you come home and drop your keys down. If you can get up with that alarm, that's 90 percent of the battle.

I'll be truthful here and admit that I hit snooze too long this morning. By the time I dragged my pillow-smushed face from my perfect cocoon, it was after 6:00. I only had time for a 30-minute Jillian Yoga Meltdown DVD but that's OK. I didn't chuck the whole plan since there wasn't time for an hour of exercise. I still got up. I did something. My body and my psyche were better for it.

It's true that morning workouts can energize you but they can also deplete you. I drove to work, parked in the lot, then promptly reclined my seat and took a quick snooze ... before I even went into the office! I really think I'm immune to coffee.  Oh well it was a party hardy weekend with lots of socializing and little sleep. The old me would have done nothing this morning. I would've figured that if I can't go whole hog, why bother? Not so anymore. I'm sticking with my plan!

2 Down, 5 Ahead

 I have now woke up with my alarm at 5:30 a.m. two days in a row.I finished a Jillian DVD and then took Quixote for a short walk that turned into a 45-minute walk. It was longer than I planned but Fridays are his long days at home, so it was worth it. He needs to get out and unleash his pee sprinkler everywhere and see how high he can lift his leg to do so. That's his morning exercise routine.

In keeping with my spirit of goal setting and recording progress, I wrote in my little journal last night. I talked about how proud of myself I was for getting up early and sticking to my plan. I said I felt great throughout the day having that energy carry me. Well I did fall asleep on my couch for about 20 minutes when I got home, but at least it wasn't at my desk at work! I even took the little squirt machine for another walk after dinner. Don't ever tell me he's not living the dream life! I wrote in my journal that I was going to stick to my plan and get up early once again. When my alarm went off this morning, as the sky was changing from the color of a bruise to the color or a robin's egg and the birds were chirping, my first instinct was to hit snooze. After I did, I laid awake, thinking about my journal and this blog and the need to follow through. That's all it took: a few gentle reminders about  life and healthy body that I want to have. My feet hit the floor before I even heard snooze start squawking once again.

Today I sweated huffed puffed flailed around did Jillian's Burn Fat Boost Metabolism DVD. I was a little sore this morning and thought that dynamic stretching through cardio was the best choice. The cardio in this video is not for wimps! I was flinging beads of sweat off my hair and around the room before the clock even said 6:00! The DVD included a warm-up and a 40-minute circuit of high intensity moves: mountain climbers, up-down planks, burpees, side kicks, butt kicks, back kicks, roundhouse kicks, kick kick kickin' my buns into high gear. Mama! I was feeling it in every muscle from my lower back to my big toe. So many of the moves are actually full-body moves, so even my obliques and washboard abs were feeling the burn.

Sure at times I half-assed a few moves. The climbing, standing mountain climbers were the worst. If someone peeped in my window and saw me they would've snickered at my lack of gusto. But then I would've nailed them right in the snot locker with one of my many side or back or butt kicks! Hiiii-yah!

I feel like a champ having kicked myself all the way through another workout. I will exercise again on Saturday even though it will be a busy day. I might walk up to the gym and then throw myself on a few machines and hope for the best. Then I'll be beating my chest Tarzan-style and saying HOOT HOOT THREE DAYS! SUCK ON THAT!

Unlimited

For the last two weeks, I have been listening to Jillian Michaels' Unlimited book-on-CD in my car. Jillian reads the book, which is probably most of the reason that I enjoy listening to it! She talks about finding your true potential and living your best life, in regards to your profession, your health and other aspects.

The last section I heard was about setting goals. She discussed longer term and immediate goals and how you break things down into sections that you can deal with. Maybe you want to lose 100 pounds in a year, so that's 12 pounds a month, or 3 pounds a week. You break it down into manageable segments.

She talked about the power of getting organized, looking at your time table, and then writing stuff down. I know this isn't rocket science here but gosh, I used to always write goals down and record my workout stats in a little notebook. I keep saying I can't find time to exercise, but clearly I'm simply not prioritizing it!

Last night  before I went to bed I found an old notebook and wrote down a very short entry. I reminded myself how I like to work out regularly and consistently. I want my original size jeans to fit, because I don't have enough money to fluctuate in weight and buy varying wardrobes. I need to prioritize my exercise as much as I do for Quixote. I know if I take him for a walk that that's great for him and decent for me. However, a walk isn't the satisfying, vigorous workout that going to the gym or doing a DVD can be for me. The solution seems to me that I simply have to force myself out of bed early in the morning. That is the one time of day where I can't get derailed. Quixote can still get his evening walk. I can still do house stuff after work. I just have to hear that alarm and follow through.

I know it's possible. Duh. It totally is. How many 5:30 a.m. bootcamps did I go to last summer? Do I have to pay money and be accountable or get a new outfit or buy a $150 DVD box set to get my ass in motion? The answer is NO. I don't! I am the key to my success or failure. I can hold myself accountable.

So I'm telling the Internet that I will fit in SEVEN hour-long workouts by next Friday. I accomplished the first one today. Only six more to go. Thank you, Jillian!

Trying to find the right fit

Remember how a few days ago I was excited for the eight-week Body Challenge Groupon that I bought for $89? Well I asked for a refund and Groupon granted it. It is an amazing company. Whenever I have had an issue, I have received a response within one day and it always meets or exceeds my expectations. I am glad I wasn't hassled about this one because I feel that what it turned out to be wasn't exactly what was detailed when I bought it. This was my email to Groupon:

This is in regards to #90102-1000034-MM. I am writing to ask for a refund of this Groupon. I feel like there was a big difference between the information posted on the day it was available versus what it turned out to be. I simply thought I was purchasing a deal for a block of exercise classes.  Then I received an email from the company stating that participants had to attend a 2.5 hour orientation section, had to have our bodies measured, had to take before and after pictures in a sports bra, and had to be put on a team with strangers in the hopes of winning rewards, and had to listen to a bunch of nutrition advice. I'm a little frustrated because that is way more information than was ever specified on the Groupon.  I simply thought I could work out as much as I wanted. I didn't know there was a team element or that we had to take pictures or that we had to sit through a long registration process.   Because of the disparity in what was in the Groupon versus what I found out later, I feel let down. I simply didn't sign on for all of those extra requirements. It didn't seem like that was part of the initial deal. Plus none of that information was available on the company's website either. For these reasons, I would like my $89 refunded to me.  Gosh, usually I am not this picky! I love Groupon and I have participated in some great deals because of your service. I will continue to do so in the future. I just like it when there's a lot of information available to us before buying the deal, and this one lacked that.  You can contact me at my email address. Thanks in advance for your help.

Now I have $89 back in my account and a new opportunity to come up with a different plan. I am strongly considering buying the P90X DVDs. I have been thinking about it for a long time. I only know one person to use the program and that's our neighbor. This guy was admittedly overweight. He played tennis and went to the gym. Although, I don't think he was incredibly energetic in any of those pursuits. Jason and  I saw him in the winter when he was starting a weight loss kick. Then spring came and he was outside in sleeveless shirts. He looked so much fitter and more toned. His calves are amazing! Even Jason who's not so observant of these things told our neighbor that he looked great and he asked how he did it. He told us that he bought the P90X set and did the program six days a week.  He said it was one of the hardest things he did in his life and that he'll never do it again. However, he stuck with it and was proud of the results. He said he felt stronger and more active. I think the program is about 12 weeks long. You can choose to do it five or six days a week. Either way, it's an intense commitment. You also need to get resistance bands and a pull-up bar. I have been trolling Craigslist and if I find a good, legitimate deal, I'm gonna buy that.

I have been talking about lacking in consistency and I just can't get over this hump. I'll walk a lot. In fact last week I walked 22 miles! I'll do DVDs here and there. But for some reason, I can't stick to a regular routine.  I miss those 5:30 a.m. bootcamp classes from last summer. They held me accountable. That Groupon would have probably held me accountable but something didn't feel right. I know myself well enough to know that when I find the right fit, I'll stick with it. Maybe that will be P90X. We'll see!

Oooh, other bloggers are recording their progress! I have to read these stories!

"It's time for the soul of the nation to rise."

Sometimes I can't believe I have a job that requires me to sit at a desk all day. It feels absolutely antithetical to my state of living in the world. Some days I'm not even sure how I ended up in this situation. After all when I think back on all those career questions that you ask yourself to explore your job potential, I would never have answered "yes" to the ones that keep my ass glued to this seat.

Would you rather work in a corporate environment or somewhere less structured?
Less structured.
Would you prefer to sit behind a desk all day or be constantly moving around?
Constantly moving around.
Would you balk at the idea of saying you work in a place with cubicles or not?
I'm balking right now.
Does the idea of sitting on your butt all day as a prerequisite for your job seem relaxing or horrifying?
Horrifying.

Oh, it's times like this when I have to reflect deeply on where I am and how I got here. My mom recently told me that of my 18 or so maternal and paternal cousins that I was the one who was the most active. If there was a magazine rack in a waiting room, I'd be the kid throwing every magazine to the ground. Apparently  I was that kid standing in a checkout line bouncing up and down, moving throughout the line always distracted by something new, shiny or loud. I was probably ADD before the term was so trendy. Although my mom would have never diagnosed me like that. She said I was active and I was always looking for (imitating Cookie Monster here) inpuuuut.  I think it was frustrating for her but she also saw me as a little explorer ready to take on the world. She said my her saving grace was when I learned to read. Once I could read, I could finally sit still. In fact I read so much that she actually had to ground me from reading. She actually took my books away and forced me to socialize and play outside.

Hmmm, maybe this does explain my current position a bit. I do love to read and explore. However, now I'm exploring the world through the Internet instead of from a captain's chair on a boat. Oh, how I wish I was on a boat right now, or at the gym, or traveling. There is so much world to see, smell, taste, and touch.

It's just that when you sit, I think you atrophy. At least your butt does! Have you heard the term "bus driver's butt"? It exists for a reason. Jason told me he started driving a bus in Alaska with another young girl. He said after a few months she was still skinny but her butt just expanded. How many hours a day do most people spend sitting in their car, sitting at their desk, sitting in the bathroom, sitting while watching TV or eating. We are becoming a nation of butt place mats!

New research has recently confirmed how detrimental sitting is for your health. I'm not talking about its pernicious affects on your looks but on your actual body chemistry. A New York Times article asked the question, Is Sitting a Lethal Activity?

The posture of sitting itself probably isn’t worse than any other type of daytime physical inactivity, like lying on the couch watching “Wheel of Fortune.” But for most of us, when we’re awake and not moving, we’re sitting. This is your body on chairs: Electrical activity in the muscles drops — “the muscles go as silent as those of a dead horse,” Hamilton says — leading to a cascade of harmful metabolic effects. Your calorie-burning rate immediately plunges to about one per minute, a third of what it would be if you got up and walked. Insulin effectiveness drops within a single day, and the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes rises. So does the risk of being obese. The enzymes responsible for breaking down lipids and triglycerides — for “vacuuming up fat out of the bloodstream,” as Hamilton puts it — plunge, which in turn causes the levels of good (HDL) cholesterol to fall.

There are so many health-related problems that arise from inactivity. There are measurements for obesity, earlier death, diabetes, etc. The worst though is probably how sitting has a pejorative effect on your outlook. Read this last paragraph and try not to cringe. Then get up and and stay up for the rest of the day.

Dr. Levine was in a philosophical mood as we left the temp agency. For all of the hard science against sitting, he admits that his campaign against what he calls “the chair-based lifestyle” is not limited to simply a quest for better physical health. His is a war against inertia itself, which he believes sickens more than just our body. “Go into cubeland in a tightly controlled corporate environment and you immediately sense that there is a malaise about being tied behind a computer screen seated all day,” he said. “The soul of the nation is sapped, and now it’s time for the soul of the nation to rise.”