Gym Mama Without a Gym

Honestly, I don't think I'm ever going to get back to the gym. Unless Mary Poppins comes knocking at my door with the Publisher's Sweepstakes people I just don't see it happening.

And actually, I think I'd want to spend the day with Mary and the kids and those chalk drawings.

SO, what's a gym mama to do with no gym? For some reason "Home Gym Mama" doesn't seem quite right. True, I have a treadmill and an exercise ball and some hand weights (somewhere),but if you thought the Cardio Killer was amusing....well, it doesn't hold a candle to the exercise ball.

Of course the last time I was on the exercise ball I was about 30 pounds heavier and had just given birth a month or so earlier. But truly, it was an experience not to be forgotten. I couldn't get on it and then once I did I couldn't get off of it. If I remember correctly, my oldest son commented, "Oh, this is not going to end well." Out of the mouths of babes.

The Way to a Woman's Heart

My time at the gym has been non-existent. Even with the start of the GymMama.net's 1st Biggest Loser Charity Challenge underway. I've been fighting a cold since last Saturday and, ugh, I'm ready to be free of it. Thankfully, the kids are feeling pretty good...because as any parent knows you'd rather be sick than have the kiddos sick.

As I was running around last night helping to serve dinner at work, one of the ladies was hollering for her tea. She was literally hollering, "TEA! TEA! TEA!", so I'm not exaggerating with the "hollering" part. I couldn't help but chuckle and tease her as I poured her hot water and opened the tea bag. "Mary, you're keeping me on my toes tonight! Looks like I won't have to go to the gym tomorrow morning!" She looked at me, smacked my behind and replied, "Honey, you're fine the way you are. You don't need to lose any weight at all." Needless to say, I made sure her cup of tea was constantly filled throughout dinner.

Apparently, the way to a woman's heart is to compliment her weight!

Boiling Blood

So, instead of needing to go to the gym I've found a new way to get my heart a-pumpin'. It's called, "Park too close to the intersection and get a ticket." Yes, technically, I was in the wrong. As I have apparently been for FOUR YEARS, because I always park in the same spot. I was 14 1/2' away from the "intersection" vs. 20'. Who knew? Seriously. Who knew? And did Mr. I-Have-Nothing-Better-To-Do-Than-Measure-The-Bumper-Of-A-Minivan Parking Enforcement Man actually measure it??

Now, it's not the fact that I was 5 1/2' in the wrong...it's the fact that I've been finding bags of DRUGS on the sidewalk and in our YARD, but they are apparently NOT a priority. Apparently, the town cannot be bothered by drugs, but heck, park too close to a quiet, residential intersection and you're in for a fine. Makes me want to scream. Seriously. I want to scream.

I'll pay the fine. But I'm also going to call the Parking Enforcement people and ask them to either come out and mark the curb or put a sign up. I was thinking of making my own sign up, but I'm not sure that would be a smart, Christian thing to do.

Weighty Baby

Surely, carrying 20 pounds around on my hip for 90 minutes should be considered exercise. Especially when those 20 pounds are wriggling and grabbing my hair and smiling a toothy, drooling grin. That counts, right? It has to!

An hour and a half at the park is enough to drain anyone when you've a baby on your hip and your trying to keep an eye on two active boys. I'm ready for a nap. That, it seems, is quite out of the question though.

Too much to do and too big of an iced coffee to drink. (Actually, there's no such thing as TOO BIG of an iced coffee. Today there's only such thing as NOT BIG ENOUGH!) But, alas, too much to do. The consignment sale starts tomorrow and I still have 50 bags to make up and a some items to organize. Oh, and I have to go to work in an hour and a half. *sigh*

I'm pooped.

The Voting Link is Here!

There it is! Click on the badge on the sidebar there and vote for this site. It will take you about 30 seconds to register to vote, but golly, it's well worth it. =)

Last One...I Promise

Seriously? This little ol' site is nominated for a blog award? Wowzerz. First Google (*wave, wave*) and now this...

I'm trying to get the link to load for DivineCaroline's Love This Site! award, but you may need to wait until tonight to vote...the new laptop is almost out of juice...

Okay, one more exciting thing and then I'm done

Remember, not so long ago, when things were challenging? Things like walking more than 30 minutes without needing an oxygen tank; things like wearing jeans and breathing at the same time? Remember those times?

Well, news flash! Breathing and wearing smaller size jeans is not only now a reality, it's happening right this very minute! Sure, you can manage little wheezy breaths when you're standing, but sitting down in jeans and breathing? That's a whole new ballgame, sister. But yes, history is being made. Smaller size jeans, deep fulfilling breaths....at the same time.

And you thought the election was going to be the most historic event this year. Ha!

They're searching for me...

Oh my goodness, guess what? GymMama.net and this very blog are listed under Google's top searches. Whoa, baby! Who knew people would search for "Gym Mama"? Slightly creepy, but hey, it's on Google so I'll take it. *waving to my new friends at Google*

I wonder if I'll rank higher by having "Google" on my blog...

Hmm...

P.S. - Thanks to the folks at YourGreatestProtection.com for pointing this interesting tidbit out to me. Apparently, they're also my biggest fan club. *grin*

P.P.S. - Think I could possibly have any more links in this post??!

Did ya' watch it??

Did you watch it? The Biggest Loser season started last night and it was, as always, a time to reflect on the size of my thighs. Always slightly depressing. I must admit though that since I'm now smaller than I was before I got pregnant for the third time it wasn't quite as depressing. I'm not sure if that's a good thing.

So this morning I'm ready to face fitness head-on again. Well, maybe not THIS morning, but sometime soon. Like maybe tomorrow. Depends how much sleep I get.

This weekend is building up to be crazy and hectic, so maybe starting NEXT week would be better. Besides, I've got a cold. OMG, I sound like I did in April, don't I?

My church is having our Little Angels Consignment Sale this weekend (and I run it), so it's always a crazy time. We have a VERY cool gift basket from one of our vendors, Your Greatest Protection. You can check out their website here. Rest assured, the gift basket doesn't include pepper spray or stun guns...just some awesome child protection things that will make losing the kids at the park a bit more challenging. =)

Why a Charity Challenge?

Okay, so I've been getting asked why a charity challenge...especially in these tough economic times. I have to be honest and say that originally, I was thinking of maybe just getting some girlfriends together and putting money in a pot that we'd win at the end. No charity, just money. My husband, as he's reading this, is probably bemoaning the fact that I didn't stick with that idea. =)

Let me explain...

Sure, money to pay bills, especially around Christmas, is always great. But I don't want my motivation to lose weight to be something fleeting. I want my motivation to be for my health and to help others. You may agree and you may not. And that's okay. But for me...this is a great chance to motivate myself and help others at the same time.

The charity I'm competing for? I'm not sure yet. I haven't quite decided. There are so many and so many stories to go with each one. It's hard to pick just one knowing that so many could put the money to good use. I'll let you know when I decided.

In the meantime...register. We still have spots left and you'll feel better knowing you're making a difference....for yourself and others.

GymMama.net's 1st Biggest Loser Challenge

Join the GymMama.net's 1st Biggest Loser Challenge! Find out more by going to the website!

Registrations are due by Saturday, September 20th and it's limited to the first 20 registrants.

Email Me at GymMama at GymMama.net for a registration form!