Tennis Camp & Walking - Get Your Game Face On!

My oldest son started Tennis Camp today. 3 hours a day, 5 days a week for 7 weeks. Guess how much it cost?? Guess?!

Ready?

Sixty bucks. For the entire seven week camp. Isn't that awesome?! Sometimes it pays to live in a town where most of the people are low income. Go us!

So, as an added bonus it's a 15 minute walk there and a 15 minute walk back - built in exercise! Wahoo! Of course, the oldest son asked to be picked up in the van tomorrow because his feet were killing him at the end of the 3 hours. Poor kid. He's going to sleep well tonight!

So, I'll either be getting 30 or 60 minutes of great walking in 5 days a week. Wahoo!

Updates Galore

You'd think that when you put up a bunch of updates to auto-update that they'd actually do said task and not just disappear. Apparently, I was mistaken.

So, faithful blog readers, I do apologize, because I thought you had been reading my updates and alas, no such updates have been posting. Please don't stop following. I love you all. Really. Even the snarky one who thinks he knows more about exercising than me. You know who you are, snarky man. Ha!

Let's see... the MS Walk was this past Sunday and Team Gym Mama raised well over $400. Go us! It was also nice to see and chat with two friends that I went to high school with who I haven't seen since high school. Seriously, I don't think we've changed that much at all. Which is actually a good thing.

Oh, and I got a new pair of headphones to work with my cell phone! Wahoo! Except that I woke up in the middle of the night and realized that they're just earphones. No microphone piece. Laugh all you want. Actually, it is pretty funny and I chuckle every time I think about it. So, we've decided, my mom and I that is, that we'll just put the phones on speakerphone. Like that shouldn't have been our first option, right? I luck out in the deal, because I'll be slaving away in the basement alone on the treadmill and she'll actually be out in the open. It's going to look like she's talking to herself. Poor mom. I suggested that maybe my dad could go with her. You know, drive alongside her drinking his coffee in the golf cart while she walks. Moral support; it's the foundation of their marriage.

Another big wahoo, because I was selected to be a columnist for HandmadeNews.org! I'll be posting in the "Just For Fun" section and now I'm having anxiety that I'm not anywhere near fun enough to be posting in a "fun" section. What's a girl to do? I'll let you know when I post articles so you can all zoom on over and read them. It will be the highlight of your day. Well, after reading my snarky humor here anyway. Oh, and more importantly, you'll be able to buy ad space on my page! That's a BIG wahoo! You don't need to be in the handmade community for ad space either. So, if you sell something like, oh I don't know, let's say pepper spray (*wink, wink* to the hometeam!), for example, you could post an ad! "Stay safe while doing craft shows - Tase 'Em!" See? This column will be a piece of cake.

I know there's more I had to share with you, but I have to head out to work. I'll ramble more tomorrow. Thanks for reading, and again, apologies for the missed days.

Camels and Gilad

It's not that I like to pick on Gilad, it's just that it's so easy. Yes, he's a studly hunk of burning love to some, but for me he just brings back memories of high school. Although, I have to admit, he can move pretty darn fast for his age.

The other day we were flipping through the channels at my brother's house and happened upon FitTV. There, in all his high-def glory, was Gilad. Gilad and four other workout people, some dancers, a guitar player and some camel overlays. I don't know if it was just my brother's tv or what, but the images seemed strangely compacted. Everyone looked oddly short and stumpy. The strangest part was that while they were exercising the producer would through in these weird overlay images of camels. Seriously, I have no idea why a camel image would encourage one to exercise more vehemently, but apparently they thought it would motivate the watchers.

We sat there, staring in open-mouthed fascination/horror, for quite some time. The baby broke the spell when she breathed, "OH!" as the camel popped on the screen for the fifth time. It brought us all back to reality and the channel was quickly changed. For a moment though, we were all under the power of Gilad's workout. It was truly frightening.

10 Reviews in 20 Days

What's your favorite home exercise DVD? I need your suggestions, wonderful blog readers, because I'm going to review ten of them and give away my favorite! I'd like to start the reviews next Monday, so that means I need some serious suggesting.

So, please, leave a comment with your favorite exercise DVD. Yoga, pilates, aerobics...you name it and I'll give it a shot! Although, I'm a bit wary of the exercise ball DVDs (and with good reason), so you may want to pick something else.

AND to thank you for your help with the suggestions I'll have a special prize for the people who suggest the 10 DVDs I review! I know you're excited.... =)

BMI & Body Fat

When I started this blog last April I had 66 pounds of body fat according to the scanner from you-know-where that they made me do at the gym. That's a lot of fat. Yes, I'd just had a baby. Well, "just" as in "just 4 months ago". But still....66 pounds of fat. And a BMI that indicated that I was way too heavy. Not exactly encouraging numbers.

So, as you can probably imagine, going to get some health screenings done this weekend was not something I was overly excited about. But, I'm a mystery shopper in my secret life and I had signed up to do an evaluation of a heart health presentation at the local grocery store. So, I had no choice. I had to go.

WELL, I am happy, happy, happy to report that I have lost 40 pounds of fat and my BMI is at the LOW end of healthy. My cholesterol is good (although my fingertip is bruised from that stupid needle stick and I have newfound respect for diabetics everywhere). My blood pressure was higher than normal, but I think the demo cuff was off. Either that or the guy in front of me should have been rushed to the hospital, because his was verging on instant heart attack.

I was so excited I even called my husband when I left the store & told him I want to start working out again every day. Now that we've moved the baby's crib to her own room and she's not nursing at night just maybe I'll start getting up at 6 every morning to workout. There's hope! And 40 pounds less fat!

If the President-Elect Has Time to Exercise, Why Don't I?

I saw an article in The Philadelphia Inquirer today about Obama's workout obsession. Maybe "obsession" is a bit inaccurate. "Dedication" might be more fitting. Now. whether you're an Obama fan or not, you have to admire his visible passion for a good workout.

How is it that the soon-to-be leader of the free world has 90 minutes a day to exercise and I don't? For some reason that seems oddly peculiar. Maybe I need to hire some Secret Service guys to watch my kids and convince my husband that the gym membership fee really does fit into our budget.

"Sorry, honey, but we really can do without food this month. Me having a gym membership (and Secret Service babysitters) is much more important."

Yeah, don't think that's going to fly.

Maybe Obama just has extra hours in his day. Like 26 instead of 24. Maybe it's a little known perk of presidency.

Okay, I admit it. This post is just about jealousy. I want 90 minutes a day of uninterrupted, trainer driven workout time. Maybe I should run for office.

Donuts, Pigs & Exercise

Two 12 hour-ish days this weekend. I figure lots of calories were burned running around, pushing wheelchairs, serving coffee and transferring people. Of course, I also had goldfish crackers, 2 cans of soda, a delicious (and please, let me stress delicious!) Boston Cream Donut with the most decadent chocolate poured on top, and peanut butter cups. I'm hoping my snack-y intake was less than my calories burned. I doubt it, but here's hoping.

I sold another piggy bank on my etsy shop. Hopper is leaving home. A sad, but happy day. First Flo and Cloudy, then Moody and now Hopper. I think I'm going to have to get painting.

The end of the Gym Mama Biggest Loser Challenge is tomorrow. No matter what the outcome I'm just excited I lost weight during it. I'll post the results on Wednesday.

Well, I'm off to play outside with the kiddos. Or stand around and drink coffee while they ride their bikes. Either way, it's exciting to get outside in just a long sleeve shirt a week before Christmas. Reminds me of our years in Phoenix.

Outdoor Exercise in December

Today is a rare day in SE Pennsylvania. The weather is warm (almost 70!) and although it's grey and rain looms on the horizon, it's actually pleasant. Two days ago it was so cold I couldn't feel my fingers...and I was INSIDE!

So, the kiddos have been getting cabin fever and today was the day to break it. We headed off to our favorite zoo and spent an hour walking around and around and around. We did quite a few laps and I know from having done the MS Walk there a few years ago that we logged probably about 2 miles. Two glorious outdoor miles in December.

What a treat!


Speaking of the MS Walk...Team Gym Mama will be there in April. I'll post the link to sign-up as soon as I get it done. I hope you'll join us!

Remember the 50s?

So, here's the dilemma...I'm exactly .2 ounces away from the 50s. Now you all know my weight, but hey, I'll survive.

You'd think I'd be excited about the weight and really, I am, but also really, I'm not. You see, once I hit those 50s I'm not going back to the 60s and that means I REALLY have to workout. No more playing around, because the 50s are close to the 40s and then, ta da, there's the 30s! I haven't seen the 50s for about 5 years....having a 2 year old and an infant and moving cross country will make anyone's weight nosedive. Now, I feel like I'm within my goal weight.

Pressure for sure.

So, what's a girl to do?

She gets foam square mats from freecycle, so that she can workout comfortably and finally fit into smaller jeans. I'll let you know how it goes.

Workout While You work

Did you vote yesterday? I hope so! The 3 amigos and I dropped by our polling place mid-morning and got right in. Apparently, people in our little district aren't mid-morning voters. Of course, the district that also votes at the same polling place had a line out the door and into the parking lot. There were a lot of annoyed looking people as we breezed right by. I figured they should be happy we weren't standing in line....3 kids, 1 frazzled mom, no waiting in line...priceless.

So, I've started a workout at work mentality...fit in whatever exercise I can as often as I can. While riding the elevator stuffed full of wheelchairs I now do calf raises (or whatever those things are called when you stand on your toes). While waiting for the elevator I do those things where you kick your leg back to your butt...one at a time, of course. And deep walking lunges down the hall make everyone chuckle while I firm my quads. I also walk really fast, but that's out of necessity and not to workout.

It must be working, because I'm down a pound and a half this week. Better than nothing, eh?

Magazine Neck

The thing about cutting out exercises from a magazine is that instead of being able to actually do the move correctly you end up twisting your neck to stare at the pages. You know you're supposed to look straight ahead, but the page is on the floor or sofa and, creeeek, there goes your neck.

So, now my neck hurts and I still look nothing like Kelly Ripa in Shape. In fact, I'm not even sure those moves are possible. Surely, secret wires were in place for the photo shoot to hold her up. Poor woman.

Anyway, there's a new picture on the title bar.....me picking organic carrots. Fun! (I thought the ones of me eating Halloween candymight be a wee bit inappropriate to post on a fitness-y blog.)

Jumping Counts

So, I get these daily "motivational" emails from Jillian a.k.a. "Scary Trainer on TBL". According to today's email jumping is great cardio.

Since times are tough and home heating oil is, or was 3 weeks ago, super high, we've been keeping the thermostat at 60 degrees. I knew it was cold when even the baby didn't try to take off her warm, fleece hat this morning. So, while heating up my third cup of coffee this morning I decided to exercise according to Jillian. Yep, that's right, for 1 minute and 20 seconds I jumped up and down. Not only did it serve exercising purposes, it also warmed me up.

"Stop whining, kids. If you want to be warm just jump up and down." My new mommy mantra...along with, "If you can't feel your fingers wear gloves. Yes, I know we're in the house."

Food, Mom and Morning Workouts

The smorgasboard (I like the word too, Jer) yesterday was yummy. And big. Although my meal consisted of mostly a salad, some mashed potatoes, some cold roast beef that should have been eaten warm, and a dish of apple crisp with vanilla ice cream. It's tough feeding a baby miniature size bites of things and still eating your food while it's warm. Impossible really.

Well, my mom flies back tomorrow. What a quick two weeks! Don't you find that time goes so much faster as you get older? Scary. Anyway, a wonderful time was had with my mom and it wasn't so much that we did anything super special....it was just being together that was fun. That's the way it should be.

I was thinking of starting to walk on the treadmill again tomorrow morning. It sounds like a good idea now, but tomorrow at 6am I may have second thoughts. So, please, don't hold me to it. We're also going to hit the library tomorrow, so I'll be checking out the exercise DVDs....maybe I'll get lucky and find Gilad. A girl can dream.

Exercise at the Smorgasbord

Does walking around the buffet count as exercise?

It's a BIG smorgasbord. BIG.

And there's A LOT of food.

It's not looking good for weight loss today.

Putting It Off

I'm putting it off. Unfortunately, I'm not talking about the weight. I'm talking about the gym membership. I can put it on hold and I'm putting it off. I know I have to. Really, what's the point in paying for it if I can't get out the door to go?

But it feels like giving up.

And that I don't like.

So, I have a few more days until I have to make those dreaded keystrokes and resign myself to giving it a go at home. Which I doubt will actually happen. And that stinks.

Darn.

Darn.

Darn.

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.

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.

Kindness, Cheerfulness & Cancer

So many things to tell you today...

The trip to the gym this morning was eventful. A good workout, some amusing stories to relay and the ever present closed captioning word of the day. Ready?

Okay. So, today I witnessed some random acts of kindness. Pretty impressive at 6:15in the morning, but since I tend to believe the best of people it was nice to see. The first was when a gentleman helped pick up another gentleman's oxygen tank after it had tipped over. Now you don't usually see a lot of big oxygen tanks at the gym, but you have to hand it to this guy. He needed to work out and along came the tank. And a purple Crown Royale bag to hold his belongings tied to the oxygen tank. At least I'm assuming his belongings were in it and not Crown Royale. You wouldn't bring alcohol to a gym now would you? But wasn't that nice of someone else to help him pick up his oxygen tank?

The next act of kindness I witnessed was while I was riding feverishly on the recumbent bike. (Speaking of which, I really need to ask someone how to make those things work correctly....it never has much resistance. Hmm.) There was a woman trying to adjust that ungodly glute machine where you lay across it and curl your legs towards your butt. She tried pushing the leg pad arm thingy down to no avail. So, along came a big guy who apparently had just done some chest exercises because it got there before he did. "I'll get that for you," he booms. And then proceeds to struggle with it just like she did. Until they both notice the lever on the side that they need to pull. Ta-Da! Isn't that so sweet that he fixed it for her? (And then stayed there making sure she didn't need anything else....and then walked by her 3 more times to say hi...)

Such nice acts of random kindness so early in the morning. And such a great source of amusement.

As I got ready to leave I was saying goodbye to the nice guy who works at the desk in the mornings. He remarked that he always likes when I come in in the morning, because I'm always so friendly and cheerful. Awwww.... How nice. Anyone who has seen me before my fourth cup of coffee would have trouble believing there's any cheerfulness in my morning at 6am, but alas, on gym mornings there is. It made me think. And yes, hard as it is to believe, it makes me happy to go to the gym first thing in the morning. Even before I've had coffee. I think it's the whole "doing something for myself" thing. That, and knowing that my coffee will be waiting when I come home and I can get a shower. (Thanks for the coffee, hubby!) The little things.

And one more thing. My hubby's family has a history of colorectal cancer and his brother is currently receiving chemo for it. While looking online for information about the experimental drugs available for cancer that has metastasized into the liver yesterday I came across an interesting fact. Did you know that exercise can reduce the risk of colorectal cancer by 40-50%? 40-50%. That's huge. And in people who have had surgery to remove the cancer, those who exercised after the surgery (no matter what their level of fitness was prior to the surgery) reduced their chances of having a recurrence by 40% too! Colorectal cancer kills more people each year than any other type of cancer.

So, get up, get moving and stay healthy. Because no one deserves to lose a husband or daddy or brother or uncle or wife or mommy or sister or aunt.... (Nudge, nudge)

Ping Pong, Volleyball & High School

My youngest son asked me what "ping pong" is this morning and, oh, the memories that evoked. Not your usual memory jerker, I know, but ping pong brings back memories from that long ago thing called "high school gym class." And for me, gym class was always a lesson in being uncoordinated, my lack of athletic ability and pity.

Let me explain...

I was so bad at gym class that for an entire year I was given the job of "score keeper" for volleyball. Score keeper. Do you know what a score keeper does? Yep, that's right, keep score. By making tally marks on a chalk board. While seated. For an entire year. Even I realized the complete waste of time it was, but honestly, I didn't care. Everyone else was sweaty and I wasn't. That was a bonus.

And then for 6 months I got to take ping pong. How in the world did that happen, you may wonder. Well, I'm pretty savvy at reading and I somehow found a copy of the activities that could be offered each semester. Ping pong was one of them. I don't think anyone every asked for ping pong, but I saw it as my chance to get out of swimming and basketball.

The gym teachers took pity on me. God bless them. They knew how truly atrocious I was at sports and just couldn't bring themselves to watch. So, for 6 months I "played" ping pong. You'd think that with all of the hand dexterity I had gained as score keeper (for an entire year) that ping pong would have been my thing. Alas, I was no Forrest Gump. I wasn't even as good as Forrest's cousin twice removed from his mother's uncle's sister's side. I spent most of my time chasing that gosh darn little ball around the room and counting the minutes until gym was over.

So, when my son asked me this morning about ping pong I got to thinking about the difference between being fit and being athletic. I don't think I'll ever be athletic. I don't like team sports; I'm not a big rah-rah-go-team kind of gal. I don't like competing which is really the main purpose of athletics, or so it seems. No, I'm more of the "walk-or-exercise-so-my-thighs-will-fit-in-my-pants" kind of gal. And what's the side effect of exercising so that I don't have to wear a tent? Yep,that's right....getting fit.

So, hold the ping pong and the volleyball time keeping position and give me some free weights and some walking shoes. I've got "gym class."

Why are you going to the gym again?

I actually set my alarm this morning! I figured that if I started the week off right it would help set the pattern for the rest of the week. Let's hope that's the case!

I got out of the house later than usual...a few minutes after 6. The boys were awake and stood in their window waving and blowing kisses. The youngest asked why I was going to the gym again this morning. I was tempted to say, "To rid myself of unwanted fat," but that seemed a bit much to tell a 4 year old. So, instead, I said, "Because I want to be healthy. And one way to get healthy is by exercising."

That was a much better way to explain it, don't you agree? Anyone who knows my youngest son knows that he's got an amazing auditory memory and can remember just about everything he hears. Much to his daddy's chagrin many times. So, I have no doubt that he will now associate exercising with being healthy.

And that's what it's all for, isn't it? Exercising to be healthy. Exercising to be a good role model for our children. Exercising to live longer and with a better quality of life.

Losing that unwanted fat is just (pardon the expression) icing on the cake.