There is an end.
This weekend has been a tough one - while the weigh in went great, Saturday's great planning went down the tubes. We had to put our cat, Boomer, to sleep. He was old and his health had taken a sudden turn for the worst. It's a sad time around here as he's been a part of our lives for 15 years. He came to us in January 1996 at about 6 months old. Farewell Boomer, enjoy things on the other side of the Rainbow Bridge.
And a beginning.
Our renovation is underway - the back part of our home is being redone out of necessity, and over the next while I'll share what we've been doing. I'm enjoying the planning and, of course, the shopping! and I'm taking before, during and after photos so you can see me play with my home. This, while not hands on art or writing, is definately a chance to exercise my creative side. Making a home is, I think, one of best creative arts.
And a little bit of nifty news - I made it to the semi-finals for Mommyfit 2011. From the 17 contestants chosen so far, 5 will be picked as finalists for an 8 week healthy living makeover. You can bet your bottom dollar I've got my fingers crossed. It would be the absolutely coolest thing! And I can't think of greater motivation than publicly (in a big way!) committing yourself to something like this to help get back on track!
If you'd like to know more, check out http://www.urbanmommies.com/ - it's a great resource for us, too - so if you've got little ones, sign up for their newsletters.
ps... miss you Boomer
Monday, January 31, 2011
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Yoga - another form of pretzel torture?
I did it. I went back to yoga class today at lunch. I really like yoga, but thinking about exercise always makes me start to look for excuses, you know? Today I shut down the naughty voice in my head, got changed, grabbed my mat and ran downstairs for the class (actually I took the elevator since I don't know the codes to actually get back onto the floor once I'm in the stairwell - maybe I should um.. look into that)
It was a new instructor and let me tell you, this was a much tougher class than the old one. We had to hold those poses and my arms and legs were shaking when we were done! She kept saying to let the pose go when we were ready. Ready? Oh yeah! but I wasn't going to be first so I held it there a few more seconds. And you know what? When I was done I was so proud of myself. I did it and I felt great in that weird way you feel great after you push your body. I'm going back next week.
What have you done to spice up the movement of your body? If you've a yen to try yoga, I suggest taking a class with a fairly hands on instructor to help you at first (all through this session I kept hearing my old instructors voice saying not to lock your joints, shoulders back into "angel wings", keep aligned, neutral hips... I loved how she guided a newbie like me) My new instructor came by a few times and gently moved me - which I take as a sign that I'm better than I was in the beginning thanks to the previous learning.
Oh, back to you... if you can't get to a class look for a video - GAIAM makes a good selection and I like theirs - they aren't an exercise video, they are a yoga video. So you'll learn how to do the movements. I liked the conditioning for women one where they had 3 people to watch and you follow the one at your level. Most important - it should never hurt. If it does, ease back, listen to your body and chat with your health care professional first if you need to.
Yoga's not your thing? Consider an exercise class, a walking club, swimming - anything! I especially like the ones that allow you time to feel and think. That's where creativity is conceived - so nurture your body and a wonderful project just might follow!
It was a new instructor and let me tell you, this was a much tougher class than the old one. We had to hold those poses and my arms and legs were shaking when we were done! She kept saying to let the pose go when we were ready. Ready? Oh yeah! but I wasn't going to be first so I held it there a few more seconds. And you know what? When I was done I was so proud of myself. I did it and I felt great in that weird way you feel great after you push your body. I'm going back next week.
What have you done to spice up the movement of your body? If you've a yen to try yoga, I suggest taking a class with a fairly hands on instructor to help you at first (all through this session I kept hearing my old instructors voice saying not to lock your joints, shoulders back into "angel wings", keep aligned, neutral hips... I loved how she guided a newbie like me) My new instructor came by a few times and gently moved me - which I take as a sign that I'm better than I was in the beginning thanks to the previous learning.
Oh, back to you... if you can't get to a class look for a video - GAIAM makes a good selection and I like theirs - they aren't an exercise video, they are a yoga video. So you'll learn how to do the movements. I liked the conditioning for women one where they had 3 people to watch and you follow the one at your level. Most important - it should never hurt. If it does, ease back, listen to your body and chat with your health care professional first if you need to.
Yoga's not your thing? Consider an exercise class, a walking club, swimming - anything! I especially like the ones that allow you time to feel and think. That's where creativity is conceived - so nurture your body and a wonderful project just might follow!
Monday, January 24, 2011
New Journey to a New Me...
It's typical that at the start of a new year, we begin to look at change. After all, there are 365 clean squares on the calendar just waiting to be filled. At this point, anything is possible! Usually we get in there all gung ho, then fizzle, then hope no one notices that we've quit reaching for those possibilities. This year, I'm all about changing that!
I've suddenly realized that those little squares on the calendar disappear quickly, and that somewhere along the way, decades have gone by. Yes, not years, but decades! And while those pages were turning and the years were rolling, piece by piece, I began to go missing. Oh, not in the literal sense - actually I've expanded rather well in that regard! No, it's been a more a gradual lessening of the "essence of me" evolving into the "essence of we". I am, after all, a wife and a mother, so it goes without saying that a little piece of me follows those I love wherever they may be. But over time I've left a bigger piece of me out there - enough to wonder who I am when I look in the mirror. And so I decided that 2011 would be my year of finding me. I know that underneath my clutter, my weight, my responsibilities, my roles and the expectations of all that the essence of me is waiting to burst free again.
This is the year I make that happen!!!
I've already joined Weight Watchers and I've lost 5.8lbs in my first two weeks (way to go me!) and I'm shooting for at least 20lbs total by my birthday in March. I'm focussed on the good feelings, and except for the unfortunate incident with the KD crackers this evening - I'm happily following the program without any worries. (It's ok, I've accounted for said KD crackers. and learned they are NOT worth using up all of my extra points for)
My plan is to lose weight, get healthy (I do have to keep up with a toddler and a preschooler, afterall), and to allow my creative side to make an appearance through my writing, scrapbooking and my renovation and restoration projects in my home. I itch to create and so I shall. I'll create me (I'm aiming for luscious, not skinny. - don't you just love that word - Luscious. Makes me think of Marilyn Monroe, May West and Jessica Rabbit)I'll create my work of fiction and I'll create a home that soothes and heals rather than screeches and stresses.
It's going to be one fun ride. Won't you join me?
I've suddenly realized that those little squares on the calendar disappear quickly, and that somewhere along the way, decades have gone by. Yes, not years, but decades! And while those pages were turning and the years were rolling, piece by piece, I began to go missing. Oh, not in the literal sense - actually I've expanded rather well in that regard! No, it's been a more a gradual lessening of the "essence of me" evolving into the "essence of we". I am, after all, a wife and a mother, so it goes without saying that a little piece of me follows those I love wherever they may be. But over time I've left a bigger piece of me out there - enough to wonder who I am when I look in the mirror. And so I decided that 2011 would be my year of finding me. I know that underneath my clutter, my weight, my responsibilities, my roles and the expectations of all that the essence of me is waiting to burst free again.
This is the year I make that happen!!!
I've already joined Weight Watchers and I've lost 5.8lbs in my first two weeks (way to go me!) and I'm shooting for at least 20lbs total by my birthday in March. I'm focussed on the good feelings, and except for the unfortunate incident with the KD crackers this evening - I'm happily following the program without any worries. (It's ok, I've accounted for said KD crackers. and learned they are NOT worth using up all of my extra points for)
My plan is to lose weight, get healthy (I do have to keep up with a toddler and a preschooler, afterall), and to allow my creative side to make an appearance through my writing, scrapbooking and my renovation and restoration projects in my home. I itch to create and so I shall. I'll create me (I'm aiming for luscious, not skinny. - don't you just love that word - Luscious. Makes me think of Marilyn Monroe, May West and Jessica Rabbit)I'll create my work of fiction and I'll create a home that soothes and heals rather than screeches and stresses.
It's going to be one fun ride. Won't you join me?
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