Month-End Review, March

X marks the exercise spot and I exercised for 27 days. Yay! Here's how the calories were burned:

10 Minute Solution: 5 Day Get Fix Mix

Cardio Kickboxing, 1 x

Power Yoga, 1 x

10 Minute Solution: Belly, Butt & Thigh Blasters!

Better Booty Camp, 1 x

Belly Flab Fighter, 1 x

10 Minute Solution: Dance your body Thin!

Smooth & Sexy Moves, 6 x's

Dance Toner, 2 x's

Get Fit Club Mix, 1 x

Cardio Dance Party, 1 x

Ballet Sculpt, 1 x

10 Minute Solution: Fitness Ball Workouts

Firm Flat Abs, 1 x

Ultra Stretch, 1 x

10 Minute Solution: KnockOut Body!

Knockout Body Blast, 1 x

Fierce & Fabulous Abs, 1 x

10 Minute Solution: Tone Trouble Zones!

Stretching, 3 x's

Adaptive Motion Trainer, 1 x


Cardio and Muscle Class, 4 x's


Personal Training with Jackie: Power Circuit Training

15-Minute: Abs Only Circuit, 1 x

15-Minute Total Body Circuit, 1 x

P90X

Ab Ripper, 2 x's

Cardio X, 1 x

Rock Climbing, 6 x's

Stair Climbing (Out and Indoors), 6 x's

StairMaster, 1 x

Swimming, 2 x's

Treadmill, 3 x's

Walking (Outdoors & Lazy River) 8 x's

I'm most proud of the fact that I set out to drink eight glasses of a water a day and got in a total of 249.5 cups during the month of March.

Erin Gudeux from Consumer Reports Health Blog had me chuckling when she said that she is more likely to climb Mt. Everest than get in the newly recommended 60 minutes of exercise for women over 40. Well, duh, Erin; you'd have to be in great shape to climb Mt. Everest. So, go ahead and get in that 60...


Disclosure: I received the following videos without charge: 10 Minute Solution: 5 Day Get Fit Mix, Belly, Butt & Thigh Blasters! KnockOut Body! and Personal Training with Jackie.

Be Careful What You Ask For

You know that you are getting your butt kicked when time starts to stand still as if you're in your own personal version of The Twilight Zone or a childhood nightmare where you're running down the hall and trying to get to the door but the hallway keeps getting longer and longer.

All that to say, tonight was Cardio and Muscle night. It's so beautiful in The Lou and I thought about taking my workout outside but I was outside yesterday where I incorporated stair climbing with walking as I donned four pound weights. I felt like yesterday's exercise was decent but I felt like being pushed today.

Be careful what you ask for...

Kate's phrases for today were push and push it. And push she did.

At one time, I felt like an under matched fighter against the ropes when Kate said:

I can tell that I'm workin' you all because it's getting quieter and quieter.

I had to resort to lower modifications on more than one occasion.

I like jumping jacks and I couldn't quite figure out why but I was reading the Jan./Feb. issue of Health magazine. Health posed a question to several women. It began with this starter: What My Body Really Feels Like...

Carrie Ann Inaba from Dancing with the Stars said:

What My Body Really Feels Like...In Motion

But I must say, jumping jacks are probably one of my favorite movements. It's a full-body workout, plus there's a lot of joy because you're jumping like a child and it sort of takes you back to that place...It takes you back to the freedom of being in the air and not held down by gravity. It's defying the laws of physics for a minute, like you're doing something you're not supposed to and getting away with it...

Yeah, what Carrie Ann Inaba said.

Towards the end of class, Kate said Do you notice how much space I have around me? I snickered because her assessment was true. Everyone was pretty much in the back of the class. Why is that? The same happens at church. You would think that if you want to be in church, you would want to get as close as possible to God's messenger unless, of course, you're uncivilized like me. Same thing with school. Well, I don't think a lot of youngins appreciate school which reminds me of a forward I read about living life in reverse -- like we should start out retired and end life on an orgasmic note.

The whole front of the class/church/studio reminds me of Patti (one of my belay partners). Patti has invited me to laughing yoga a couple of times. She said that there's only one rule: to maintain eye contact. I hate eye contact so that's why I've never gone. Just kidding.

So, my question is: if you're up front, is there more contact and, if so, why is contact shunned?

By the way, Kate had on pink and black and it was hard to differentiate her from the bunny since she just kept going and going...

RX For Sunday Blues

I was feeling sore and sluggish and the thought of actually getting dressed and venturing out the house was so unappealing. Then, the rain came. I think that I get in a blue funk of sorts on Sunday.

I read an article, not this one although it sounds similar, that talked about Sunday depression being a serious issue for some people. Like, they can't even sleep or won't go to sleep in order to extend the weekend.

For me, I think about all the stuff that I wanted to do: clean the fish tank, organizing, clean xyz, plan meals.

I remember one professor that I had from Africa. He said: you people put too much stock in Friday. The you people didn't even bother me; I understood where he was coming from. He also said something about it being a no win situation when you put all of your happiness in one day...

I also remember reading The Artist's Way and the author talked about taking advantage of small moments and not waiting for huge chunks of time to enjoy activities or to get things done which is why I try to read for, at least, 15 or 20 minutes in the morning instead of looking at Today or GMA and listening to repetitive horror stories with anchors who are on automatic. I can always read the newspaper later to catch up on important news.

I decided not to go swimming as planned because I didn't have the heart to exit my abode. So, I'm catching up on The Biggest Loser and it's time for the last chance workout. Daris is doing army crawls under his blue team cohorts who are making it hard for him to crawl under. Tears are seeping out my eyes, a frequent occurrence when I watch TBL and when the last chance workout is over, Daris says:

I left everything I had in the gym. I don't have any skin on my elbows to prove it.

I decide that I will work out. I do Cardio X from P90X and I have to tell you that I love the swing kicks which you do with the aid of a chair or stool. You swing your left then right leg over the chair and vice versa. I felt like a Rockette. I wasn't so crazy about The Dreya Roll which just seemed like a Burpee in reverse and I hate burpees and trust me when I say that hate is not too strong of a word.

One Speed For Now

My rock climbing goals include getting up a 5.9 route and taking a lead climbing class. In order to participate in the class, I need to get myself up a 5.9. I'm hoping that I'll be able to ascend such a route soon and I know it's possible because I never thought I'd be able to climb 5.8's.

Route tally for 3/27:

Truxton or Bust, 5.6 (Ascended 2x's & Down Climbed Once)
Unnamed, 5.6 (Ascended & Down Climbed)
Sponge Bob, 5.7
A Savage Salvage Project, 5.8
Bright Idea, 5.8
Face Plant, 5.8
Rainbow Bright, 5.8
All Weinered Up, 5.8b (attempted)

That 5.8b that I attempted was wicked; that's all I'm saying. I should also say ouch.

The kids had me chuckling. One youngin in his teeny tiny voice was telling himself and his crew I can make to the top; I can make it. A first time preteen climber asked if I was going to fly up the wall if he fell because, at the time, I was belaying for Mike (Patti's husband). Mike is about six feet tall. I told him that I would not fly but Patti explained to him if we were doing lead climbing that, because of the weight disparity, I might, indeed, go flying up the wall.

After climbing, I went to South Side Cyclery and took a 2010 7.2 FX Trek and a 2010 Trek 7000 for a spin on the parking lot. Don't laugh but my current bike is a one speed. I can gut it out and labor up hills and such but it would be much nicer to have a better bike. :o, I completely dug the rapid fire gears on the Trek 7.2. So nice.

I saw this beauty, a Specialized Allez, as I was walking around the shop.

The young man that was helping me out was super nice. Still, I find bike folks just as confusing as car mechanics. What's good about the South Side Cyclery is that they will let you take the bike out of the shop but you can pay (without interest) off the bike in 12 months provided that the application that you fill out is approved.

Do you have a bike? If so, what kind and what is your main use for your bicycle? Fitness? Transportation? Triathlons? Also, how many gears do you have?

Light Refreshments

I attended this Building Inclusion Workshop and wondered how I was going to negotiate food and water chugging. Light refreshments were provided and I knew that meant donuts or bagels or both. I took fruit and Greek yogurt just in case.

The workshop, sponsored by The National Conference for Community and Justice, was held in conjunction with the RACE: Are We So Different? exhibit currently at The MO History Museum.

One of the coolest segments was The Hapa Project, a photo/essay exhibit featuring mixed-race Asians. One of the most touching photos was of a young boy (Filipino, Mexican, Irish) who wrote:

I’m just a very little boy in 5th grade that has nofrands.

Interesting RACE factoid:

Diet, health and genetics – not race – determine height.

I stopped by the hypertension booth that talked about the stress of racism being a contributing factor regarding the higher rate of hypertension among African Americans.

My blood pressure was 113/80 and my pulse rate was 59 which is normal.


After viewing the exhibit and taking notes on my designated area of reportage, the wealth display, I headed back to the room. After the workshop participants finished viewing the exhibit and before our discussion, we had to read The Group Agreement which read in part:

Listen

Be Honest (Embrace Honesty)

Speak in the “I”

Trust in the Process

Work An Issue, Not The Person

Lean Into Discomfort

I’m so glad that I was able to participate in this workshop and see the exhibit. And take aways? Some Group Agreement principles can also be applied to weight loss: lean into discomfort, trust the process and be honest.

And There's Nothing Particulary Wrong

I don't talk much about weighing in because I've been at or around the same weight since November.

I get on the scale almost every day and sometimes it is quite a bummer to see the needle at a standstill or moving northbound even.

I look leaner to myself.

I'm 5'3 (and a 1/2), I weigh 175 right now which puts my BMI at 31 (obese). I certainly don't feel or think of myself as obese though.






My BMI score reminds me of the BMI Project that Gingersnapper linked to in one of her blog posts.

I would not have dreamed of being in the 170's two years ago. So, I am grateful for where I'm at right now.

In addition, I'm in a good place emotionally. So, why should I let the scale dictate my mood?

I'm lovin' exercise. I mean, really, who would have thunk it? I look forward to exercising and I have stamina galore.

I'm trying to get away from the concept of only the scale satisfying me...

I did something today that I haven't done in a long time. I put on ankle weights and, at first, it took me awhile to get into a decent rhythm. For the life of me, though, I don't know how I carried around so many extra pounds for so long because just four extra pounds on my walk felt heavy and burdensome.

By the way, it's always the side view that keeps you honest.

To See A Belly Dancer

Several of my coworkers said that I looked spring-like so I took the opportunity to pose for another staged photo.

Do you see a collarbone? Do you, hunh?

That's the March Shape magazine in my hand but if you get a chance to, you should check out the April issue. Diane over at Fit To The Finish is profiled in that issue.

And, back to the workplace, yet another colleague stopped me in the hall.

Colleague: Do you like belly dancing?

Me: I've never tried it.

I'm so into exercise right now that my mind went straight to belly dancing classes. Only, she was talking about going to see a belly dancer. She then handed me a menu. Um, no thanks. I'm not going to see a belly dancer while noshing on fried falafel, baklava and onion rings but I wish the new restaurant well.


I went to Cardio and Muscle class today. Found out that Kate, the instructor, is 20 years old. No wonder she is kicking my butt. I'm almost old enough to be her very nice auntie. By the way, the oldest person in our class is 63. Cool.

I wish that I had had enough sense when I was 20 years old to be serious about exercising. What can I say? There's no experience like bought experience.

I stopped by Big Lots on a whim after exercise class and they had my beloved Wasa crackers in stock. They have not had them in ages and they are way more expensive in the grocery store.


I was like Santa Claus when I emerged and, really, I should have purchased more.