My 29th year...
I woke up this morning at 3am with the sobering thought that holy crap, I'm 29 today. Not necessarily a huge milestone for some, but for whatever reason its hit me like a ton of bricks. I'm not quite sure if I feel 29,...some days 18, some 62, and other days I'm convinced I'm in my mid-40s about to face a crisis of epic proportion. Run for the hills when that happens.
But for today, I will celebrate me and realistically have a few minor freak-outs as the day rolls on...
Somehow I manage to cry every year on my birthday. Its like my ovaries take over and next thing you know I'm weeping like a baby. Yes, there's a good chance that will happen today...probably when I go to the Nike Outlet store and they don't have my size in the shoes I want. I might throw a tantrum. My birthday, my rules.....and then naturally you'll see me on the evening news.
Ok, first cry of the day just occurred. Kelly just called and had Payton sing Happy Birthday over the phone. 2 minutes later I'm boo-hooing to Kelly about why I cry every year and then mom calls and there I go again. What a mess. At this rate I will be drinking birthday cocktails by myself at 10am.
Whew, ok its game time. I've got a workout planned, a client at noon, and then the day is mine. Thank you all for the birthday wishes, cards, facebook messages, and texts. Seriously, I am blessed beyond measure to be surrounded by some amazing people. I am so grateful for you, and promise to give all I am during my 29th year. :)
Have a lovely day folks!
Friday, June 29, 2012
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Smells Oh So Good...
I thought that an extra hour of sleep would put me on a whole new level of greatness today. Yeah, that didn't go exactly as planned. My screwed up internal clock woke up at 4:18, practically smacked me in the face, and then made it even harder to get up at 5. Happy hump day to me.
The morning was pretty standard with a few clients telling jokes, a few professing their hate for exercise, and one person saying my display of "tough love" means nothing to them because they "don't want to be loved that hard." That was pretty good, hadn't heard that one before.
Its funny to me that people often think I'm being mean or take pleasure in watching them suffer...blah blah blah. Seriously? Its a workout. That's it. It as nothing to do with my mood, emotions, or anything else that some claim to effect exercise selection. If I had a dollar every time someone said they didn't want to do this or that, I could retire. Not that I don't care what someone likes or doesn't like to do in the gym, but to some extent I don't. Ha. Ironically, we tend to dislike what is hard,...which is exactly what we need to work on. Funny how that happens.
My own workout today was just a cardio session on the treadmill. That was pretty much all I could handle today. Looking forward to chest and triceps tomorrow...of course I would. My shoot is in a little over a week, which means no birthday cake on Friday. Yeah, I could punch myself for that....not nearly as hard as I'd like, but enough to piss me off. Its not the best timing, but I can always make up for it a week later. I'll probably spread my birthday celebration out until August, who knows. Don't judge me. I never got to have any cool birthday parties in school or bring cupcakes because I have a summer birthday. Yes, still a little bitter. Why couldn't Tommy and Susan get busy in March instead of October? Perhaps a little Columbus Day celebration gone craaazy...
Freaks.
Highlight of my day...
I had to go my the post office today. Its generally my least favorite place to go besides the DMV because they don't play any music while you wait for Gretta to send a 50 pound box of glass and liquids across the globe. By the time she figures out half her package cannot be sent, stamps have gone up 2 cents and you've contemplated boycotting every card-sending occasion for the next 7 years. Needless to say I'm not very fond of the place.
BUT, today there was a man standing in front of me wearing one of my absolute favorite colognes. I could have stood there for 20 minutes. What a creeper. I was afraid I might slip into a zone and next thing I know be sniffing his neck right there in front of the flat rate boxes. Some of you know exactly what I'm talking about.
So to the man, thank you. See you next Wednesday.
Clearly I should not be allowed in public on very little sleep, post-workout, with no caffeine left in my system...
Ah yes, bedtime. I am more excited about this than I should be. Long day, big day tomorrow, and then BIRTHDAY TIME!
My first 29th birthday ;)
The morning was pretty standard with a few clients telling jokes, a few professing their hate for exercise, and one person saying my display of "tough love" means nothing to them because they "don't want to be loved that hard." That was pretty good, hadn't heard that one before.
Its funny to me that people often think I'm being mean or take pleasure in watching them suffer...blah blah blah. Seriously? Its a workout. That's it. It as nothing to do with my mood, emotions, or anything else that some claim to effect exercise selection. If I had a dollar every time someone said they didn't want to do this or that, I could retire. Not that I don't care what someone likes or doesn't like to do in the gym, but to some extent I don't. Ha. Ironically, we tend to dislike what is hard,...which is exactly what we need to work on. Funny how that happens.
My own workout today was just a cardio session on the treadmill. That was pretty much all I could handle today. Looking forward to chest and triceps tomorrow...of course I would. My shoot is in a little over a week, which means no birthday cake on Friday. Yeah, I could punch myself for that....not nearly as hard as I'd like, but enough to piss me off. Its not the best timing, but I can always make up for it a week later. I'll probably spread my birthday celebration out until August, who knows. Don't judge me. I never got to have any cool birthday parties in school or bring cupcakes because I have a summer birthday. Yes, still a little bitter. Why couldn't Tommy and Susan get busy in March instead of October? Perhaps a little Columbus Day celebration gone craaazy...
Freaks.
Highlight of my day...
I had to go my the post office today. Its generally my least favorite place to go besides the DMV because they don't play any music while you wait for Gretta to send a 50 pound box of glass and liquids across the globe. By the time she figures out half her package cannot be sent, stamps have gone up 2 cents and you've contemplated boycotting every card-sending occasion for the next 7 years. Needless to say I'm not very fond of the place.
BUT, today there was a man standing in front of me wearing one of my absolute favorite colognes. I could have stood there for 20 minutes. What a creeper. I was afraid I might slip into a zone and next thing I know be sniffing his neck right there in front of the flat rate boxes. Some of you know exactly what I'm talking about.
So to the man, thank you. See you next Wednesday.
Clearly I should not be allowed in public on very little sleep, post-workout, with no caffeine left in my system...
Ah yes, bedtime. I am more excited about this than I should be. Long day, big day tomorrow, and then BIRTHDAY TIME!
My first 29th birthday ;)
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Abdominal Abuse
The Hunger Games are currently taking place at my dinner table. I am winning....pretty much beating myself. The appetite is revving tonight and this salmon is out of control good.
I feel lost in this week. Having come off a weekend getaway, its just crazy right now and the amount of laundry piled up on my floor is enough to make me risk an exposure charge to avoid washing and folding that crap. I am not a fan,...can you tell? Although, scrubbing the shower ranks pretty high up there on the horrible list. There's no way to stay dry while doing it, so I've tried cleaning it while actually showering, which can't be smart either. Enclosed space with Lysol.....butt naked....slippery surface....its a recipe for a torn ACL and unexplainable rash. There's got to be another way.
Its been an interesting week thus far with clients.
People are going on vacation, throwing parties, and seem to be struggling with the whole staying-on-track thing. Next thing they know, the scale is up a few pounds and a minor freak-out occurs with me mid workout. A common theme I've heard is "I'm just lazy to cook what I should eat or make sure I get in extra cardio." Uhhh....ok. I get it. But my God people, why on earth would you expect EVERYTHING to be easy, convenient, or handed to you? Why do we have this notion that ANY extra time spent on our health is a waste? As I've told clients before, every time you say its too hard to get up 15 minutes earlier to make a healthy breakfast, or 5 minutes to pack a lunch, or 30 minutes spent on a walk instead of in front of the tv, you're basically saying you're not worth the effort to be the healthiest version of YOU possible. Because the truth is that if you valued yourself and your health, a few minutes here and there would not be such a burden. Sure you can continue unhealthy habits, but ask yourself this...Am I content with my health? Some folks immediately fire back with "Yes!" as if to try and convince themselves that an extra 60 pounds is ok because at least its not 100. At some point it has to click,...that life should be enjoyed and lived in the fullest, and that starts when we are able to take better care of ourselves.
Its unfortunate that many people live a limited life because of their own poor choices. Adjust your perspective. It should be empowering to make changes and see improvement. It means you're taking steps outside of the self-proclaimed "lazy" habits, and regaining control. Very cool.
My own workouts this week have been great thus far. I am pretty darn tired, but weights have stayed relatively heavy considering. The highlight of today's workout was when I tried this ab exercise on the TRX and nearly gave birth on the 3rd rep. It was beautifully horrible. Garrett made it look like a piece of cake...I hate his abs. Mine still hurt.
Ah, almost 9pm. I've got to get in bed at a decent time tonight otherwise I will be a nightmare tomorrow morning. Have a great night, and yes, I have more stories tomorrow night. Gotta love hump day.
Unrelated: birthday in 2 days...28 years under the belt and yet I will still laugh at a fart. Unbelievable.
I feel lost in this week. Having come off a weekend getaway, its just crazy right now and the amount of laundry piled up on my floor is enough to make me risk an exposure charge to avoid washing and folding that crap. I am not a fan,...can you tell? Although, scrubbing the shower ranks pretty high up there on the horrible list. There's no way to stay dry while doing it, so I've tried cleaning it while actually showering, which can't be smart either. Enclosed space with Lysol.....butt naked....slippery surface....its a recipe for a torn ACL and unexplainable rash. There's got to be another way.
Its been an interesting week thus far with clients.
People are going on vacation, throwing parties, and seem to be struggling with the whole staying-on-track thing. Next thing they know, the scale is up a few pounds and a minor freak-out occurs with me mid workout. A common theme I've heard is "I'm just lazy to cook what I should eat or make sure I get in extra cardio." Uhhh....ok. I get it. But my God people, why on earth would you expect EVERYTHING to be easy, convenient, or handed to you? Why do we have this notion that ANY extra time spent on our health is a waste? As I've told clients before, every time you say its too hard to get up 15 minutes earlier to make a healthy breakfast, or 5 minutes to pack a lunch, or 30 minutes spent on a walk instead of in front of the tv, you're basically saying you're not worth the effort to be the healthiest version of YOU possible. Because the truth is that if you valued yourself and your health, a few minutes here and there would not be such a burden. Sure you can continue unhealthy habits, but ask yourself this...Am I content with my health? Some folks immediately fire back with "Yes!" as if to try and convince themselves that an extra 60 pounds is ok because at least its not 100. At some point it has to click,...that life should be enjoyed and lived in the fullest, and that starts when we are able to take better care of ourselves.
Its unfortunate that many people live a limited life because of their own poor choices. Adjust your perspective. It should be empowering to make changes and see improvement. It means you're taking steps outside of the self-proclaimed "lazy" habits, and regaining control. Very cool.
My own workouts this week have been great thus far. I am pretty darn tired, but weights have stayed relatively heavy considering. The highlight of today's workout was when I tried this ab exercise on the TRX and nearly gave birth on the 3rd rep. It was beautifully horrible. Garrett made it look like a piece of cake...I hate his abs. Mine still hurt.
Ah, almost 9pm. I've got to get in bed at a decent time tonight otherwise I will be a nightmare tomorrow morning. Have a great night, and yes, I have more stories tomorrow night. Gotta love hump day.
Unrelated: birthday in 2 days...28 years under the belt and yet I will still laugh at a fart. Unbelievable.
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Stories From The Stall...
Well, we made it back.
Ryan survived 2 days without ESPN, and I managed to only use the bathroom once during a 3 hour ride. Unbelievable. I may have been on the verge of dehydration, but I was determined not to be "that person" who needed to stop in every county. Ironically, by the time we did stop on the way there I was waiting to use the bathroom behind an 80 year old and a 7 year old. Pretty fitting....story of my life.
The weekend was a blast, and having my entire family there was amazing.....and comical.
Some things will only happen to my family.
Mainly my mom.
We're not even there 24 hours and she already managed to make a name for herself. This story goes into the Susan-vault-of-I-was-caught-in-my-happy-place moments...
Everyone was convening in the conference center getting ready for our first session. Everyone was grabbing last minute drinks and bathroom trips before going in. Dad tells us to save him and mom a seat. We didn't question this, assuming that dad was either headed to the free frozen yogurt pump for the 4th time in 2 hours, or he would stand and greet strangers like he often does in public. (Calling him Creeper seems to have no effect,...we've tried).
Anyway, we all go in and later see mom and dad walk in and actually sit on the front row. What we DIDN'T know was that they were about to stand up and speak in front of everyone. My mom's face was suspiciously red...
Well, when everyone was going to the bathroom, mom decided to go as well. However, mom apparently cannot read signs and went in the Mens restroom. Most women would have immediately noticed the...uh...LINE OF URINALS, and thought something to the effect of "Holy crap, I don't have a penis, something is not right." Not mom. Nope, she pranced her happy self straight passed a row of urinals, went to a stall, used it, and proceeded to wash her hands. It was at that moment that it clicked. She sees in the mirror a line of men behind her, backs turned, and she panics. Instead of simply quietly creeping out like a smart-but-clearly-wrong person, she puts her hands over her eyes and starts screaming "SOMEONE LEAD ME OUT OF HERE...SOMEONE LEAD ME OUT OF HERE!!"
So naturally, one of the men probably missed the target and messed himself at the sound of this shreak, zips up, and leads her out. You would have thought the woman walked away from a war zone.
We didn't let her live this one down the entire weekend.
I escorted her to the bathroom twice after that...we weren't taking any chances. My God, she was going to get us kicked out.
Peeping Tom,....but not.
Peeping Tammy.
Nice job mom. You make us proud.
The best part was that she immediately had to walk into the conference and speak in front of a couple hundred people. HA. Not sure which is more disturbing....that my mom can walk in and use a mens bathroom without knowing and have a mental breakdown. Or that we find it funny and show very little empathy.
Eh,...still funny.
The other big news was that I went on a 7 mile mountain hike. For the record, I don't do "nature." If I go camping, its not on purpose and you might need to send a search party. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate nature, I just don't want to wallow in it. We were soaked and smelled horrible by the end. The view was worth it, but the second I had to pop a squat over a suspicious plant I was pretty much ready for a cold plastic seat and flush button. Just being honest.
Tomorrow its back to the grind. My Monday is going to be nuts. Long day, but a great day ahead. Its birthday week folks :) 29 here I come...game time...
Ryan survived 2 days without ESPN, and I managed to only use the bathroom once during a 3 hour ride. Unbelievable. I may have been on the verge of dehydration, but I was determined not to be "that person" who needed to stop in every county. Ironically, by the time we did stop on the way there I was waiting to use the bathroom behind an 80 year old and a 7 year old. Pretty fitting....story of my life.
The weekend was a blast, and having my entire family there was amazing.....and comical.
Some things will only happen to my family.
Mainly my mom.
We're not even there 24 hours and she already managed to make a name for herself. This story goes into the Susan-vault-of-I-was-caught-in-my-happy-place moments...
Everyone was convening in the conference center getting ready for our first session. Everyone was grabbing last minute drinks and bathroom trips before going in. Dad tells us to save him and mom a seat. We didn't question this, assuming that dad was either headed to the free frozen yogurt pump for the 4th time in 2 hours, or he would stand and greet strangers like he often does in public. (Calling him Creeper seems to have no effect,...we've tried).
Anyway, we all go in and later see mom and dad walk in and actually sit on the front row. What we DIDN'T know was that they were about to stand up and speak in front of everyone. My mom's face was suspiciously red...
Well, when everyone was going to the bathroom, mom decided to go as well. However, mom apparently cannot read signs and went in the Mens restroom. Most women would have immediately noticed the...uh...LINE OF URINALS, and thought something to the effect of "Holy crap, I don't have a penis, something is not right." Not mom. Nope, she pranced her happy self straight passed a row of urinals, went to a stall, used it, and proceeded to wash her hands. It was at that moment that it clicked. She sees in the mirror a line of men behind her, backs turned, and she panics. Instead of simply quietly creeping out like a smart-but-clearly-wrong person, she puts her hands over her eyes and starts screaming "SOMEONE LEAD ME OUT OF HERE...SOMEONE LEAD ME OUT OF HERE!!"
So naturally, one of the men probably missed the target and messed himself at the sound of this shreak, zips up, and leads her out. You would have thought the woman walked away from a war zone.
We didn't let her live this one down the entire weekend.
I escorted her to the bathroom twice after that...we weren't taking any chances. My God, she was going to get us kicked out.
Peeping Tom,....but not.
Peeping Tammy.
Nice job mom. You make us proud.
The best part was that she immediately had to walk into the conference and speak in front of a couple hundred people. HA. Not sure which is more disturbing....that my mom can walk in and use a mens bathroom without knowing and have a mental breakdown. Or that we find it funny and show very little empathy.
Eh,...still funny.
The other big news was that I went on a 7 mile mountain hike. For the record, I don't do "nature." If I go camping, its not on purpose and you might need to send a search party. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate nature, I just don't want to wallow in it. We were soaked and smelled horrible by the end. The view was worth it, but the second I had to pop a squat over a suspicious plant I was pretty much ready for a cold plastic seat and flush button. Just being honest.
Tomorrow its back to the grind. My Monday is going to be nuts. Long day, but a great day ahead. Its birthday week folks :) 29 here I come...game time...
Friday, June 22, 2012
...To The Peaks
This is officially my last week at 28 years old.
Not sure how I feel about this, but pretty sure I will wake up and have a mini-freakout next Friday. For all of you over the age of 29 and rolling your eyes, just let me soak this in a little. Hate me a little. Fine, I get it.
Long workday yesterday.
As I ate dinner at 10pm I was practically in a coma...and I think I didn't wash my lettuce good enough. There's a good chance that I ate dirt. At that point I didn't really care and figured it was just extra fiber. The best investment I've made in the last month was a salad spinner. That thing is genius, and well worth it if you eat a lot of salads. But its one of those inventions you look at and get slightly pissed off that you didn't think of it yourself. Like the post-it. Somewhere someone is sitting on millions of dollars because they decided to put adhesive on the back of paper.
Apparently, I am friends with the wrong people.
I can't say anything,...I've invented nothing.
Finally Friday.
I've got a shoulder/core workout and then Ryan and I hit the road for a conference in the mountains. There are no televisions in the rooms so we'll see how long he lasts before he goes into convulsions. My guess is approximately 12 minutes.
With the College World Series on, its like putting him in front of a buffet with no plate and a straight jacket.
I will not win wife-of-the-year award.
Shocker.
Meanwhile, I've got food, vitamins, and protein to pack in preparation for the trip. At least I don't have to go through the airport. I can pack my cooler and go. Instant coffee, check....practically my medication.
Well folks, we are about to face the weekend. The time when A LOT of people lose focus and make poor health choices for the sake of "a good time" or "being social." Keep your goals at the forefront of your mind and remember why you started the journey to begin with. The reward of accomplishment is greater than any temptation to detour.
Stay focused.
Move forward.
Have a great weekend :)
Not sure how I feel about this, but pretty sure I will wake up and have a mini-freakout next Friday. For all of you over the age of 29 and rolling your eyes, just let me soak this in a little. Hate me a little. Fine, I get it.
Long workday yesterday.
As I ate dinner at 10pm I was practically in a coma...and I think I didn't wash my lettuce good enough. There's a good chance that I ate dirt. At that point I didn't really care and figured it was just extra fiber. The best investment I've made in the last month was a salad spinner. That thing is genius, and well worth it if you eat a lot of salads. But its one of those inventions you look at and get slightly pissed off that you didn't think of it yourself. Like the post-it. Somewhere someone is sitting on millions of dollars because they decided to put adhesive on the back of paper.
Apparently, I am friends with the wrong people.
I can't say anything,...I've invented nothing.
Finally Friday.
I've got a shoulder/core workout and then Ryan and I hit the road for a conference in the mountains. There are no televisions in the rooms so we'll see how long he lasts before he goes into convulsions. My guess is approximately 12 minutes.
With the College World Series on, its like putting him in front of a buffet with no plate and a straight jacket.
I will not win wife-of-the-year award.
Shocker.
Meanwhile, I've got food, vitamins, and protein to pack in preparation for the trip. At least I don't have to go through the airport. I can pack my cooler and go. Instant coffee, check....practically my medication.
Well folks, we are about to face the weekend. The time when A LOT of people lose focus and make poor health choices for the sake of "a good time" or "being social." Keep your goals at the forefront of your mind and remember why you started the journey to begin with. The reward of accomplishment is greater than any temptation to detour.
Stay focused.
Move forward.
Have a great weekend :)
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Mom, Dad, and 2-Pac
One of my favorite things is waking up and thinking its time to get going only to discover I still have 2 hours to sleep. Awesome. Its all about the little things, and THAT made my night.
The last two days have been crazy, and my God summer showed up all pissed off and ready to dehydrate and overheat every human being in NC. I will sweat from now until Halloween....at which point I will dress up as a nudist because thanks to global warming, it will still be 90 degrees out. Can't wait. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy summer and everything about it, but sweating profusely at every single outdoor event gets old. I've honestly had to leave social functions early because I was so disgusting. Some women "glow",...I hate you. My body is a faucet. At 28, I'm already preparing for menopause and stocking up on water and oriental fans.
Points is, yesterday and today were extremely hot. I managed to sweat all day. I'm probably overheating right now...
On a little more serious note, I thought a lot today about how we are often limited by our own preconceived notion of health and fitness. It absolutely blows me away the number of people who'll end a workout or exercise with "I never thought I'd be able to do that." Really?! Why?! At what point in your thinking are you limiting yourself to a ho-hum existence in which a "fit" lifestyle is mundane and clearly stops shy of what you really want for yourself?
I think it has so much to do with some form of that's how its always been. Ah yes, paralyzed by whats familiar and "safe." Time to throw that out people. All its brought you up until this point is disappointment and the unfortunate choice to disregard any notion that it could be different. That's sad. You are ultimately resigning yourself to a lie that you are not capable of more. Are you kidding?! That couldn't be further from the truth and yet majority of people LIVE that everyday. But, I could preach it until I'm blue in the face. At the end of the day, we must all take responsibility of this one body we are given, dare to consider our healthiest selves, and then run like hell towards that goal without considering any possibility of failure.
Shut up and go.
* * *
My own workout today was fairly decent for a leg beating. Ryan actually came in to workout at the same time as me so we had Eminem blasting in the background, 2-Pac following suit, and then all of a sudden my parents walk in. You would have thought they'd caught us on the floor. As if I were 12, I ran to turn down the music like I was guilty of something. Gotta hate that. I spent the majority of the mid-90's feeling guilty around the rents, I certainly didn't need it halfway through a leg workout. Eh,...we visited while I finished a few sets and then the family-flex-off concluded with mom bouncing her happy self out of there. I swear I think that woman prances around the house. No walking,...just prancing.
The afternoon rolled on and I was drained by the end.
Another great day at work, but I needed some quiet time tonight. Completely DONE. Have a great night!
By the way, this was day 10 of no gum. And no, I couldn't handle gum in moderation at this point....it would be an all-out relapse. I've got to keep going. Certified extremist...
The last two days have been crazy, and my God summer showed up all pissed off and ready to dehydrate and overheat every human being in NC. I will sweat from now until Halloween....at which point I will dress up as a nudist because thanks to global warming, it will still be 90 degrees out. Can't wait. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy summer and everything about it, but sweating profusely at every single outdoor event gets old. I've honestly had to leave social functions early because I was so disgusting. Some women "glow",...I hate you. My body is a faucet. At 28, I'm already preparing for menopause and stocking up on water and oriental fans.
Points is, yesterday and today were extremely hot. I managed to sweat all day. I'm probably overheating right now...
On a little more serious note, I thought a lot today about how we are often limited by our own preconceived notion of health and fitness. It absolutely blows me away the number of people who'll end a workout or exercise with "I never thought I'd be able to do that." Really?! Why?! At what point in your thinking are you limiting yourself to a ho-hum existence in which a "fit" lifestyle is mundane and clearly stops shy of what you really want for yourself?
I think it has so much to do with some form of that's how its always been. Ah yes, paralyzed by whats familiar and "safe." Time to throw that out people. All its brought you up until this point is disappointment and the unfortunate choice to disregard any notion that it could be different. That's sad. You are ultimately resigning yourself to a lie that you are not capable of more. Are you kidding?! That couldn't be further from the truth and yet majority of people LIVE that everyday. But, I could preach it until I'm blue in the face. At the end of the day, we must all take responsibility of this one body we are given, dare to consider our healthiest selves, and then run like hell towards that goal without considering any possibility of failure.
Shut up and go.
* * *
My own workout today was fairly decent for a leg beating. Ryan actually came in to workout at the same time as me so we had Eminem blasting in the background, 2-Pac following suit, and then all of a sudden my parents walk in. You would have thought they'd caught us on the floor. As if I were 12, I ran to turn down the music like I was guilty of something. Gotta hate that. I spent the majority of the mid-90's feeling guilty around the rents, I certainly didn't need it halfway through a leg workout. Eh,...we visited while I finished a few sets and then the family-flex-off concluded with mom bouncing her happy self out of there. I swear I think that woman prances around the house. No walking,...just prancing.
The afternoon rolled on and I was drained by the end.
Another great day at work, but I needed some quiet time tonight. Completely DONE. Have a great night!
By the way, this was day 10 of no gum. And no, I couldn't handle gum in moderation at this point....it would be an all-out relapse. I've got to keep going. Certified extremist...
Monday, June 18, 2012
Hope You Vom...
Monday.
What a day.
I had all intentions of getting to bed before 9 last night, but that simply didn't happen. Before I knew it, I was painting my nails at 9:52 while watching A League of Their Own thinking that Tom Hanks plays his drunk scenes pretty darn well. Sort of envious of that ability....could have saved me thousands of calories and a couple of blackouts in college.
I was pretty fired up all morning.
By 11am I just needed a "repeat" button to push on my arm from all the nutrition lectures I'd given. 16 year old boy thought it was a wise idea to swing by Bojangles for 2 chicken biscuits ON HIS WAY to the gym. Fifteen minutes into his workout both him and I were fairly certain he was going to throw up. And to be quite honest, I was hoping he would. I don't know what he was thinking, but he heard an earful about it. What tripped me out the most was that he claimed that he didn't know how to make anything at home and that his mom did it all.
Ok,...here I go...
At 16 years old, get off the boob.
You are fully capable of making food for yourself and good food choices at that. Yes, it takes a few minutes to make a sandwich, but so does sitting in the drive-thru while the other future diabetic in front of you breaks a sweat trying to find spare change. Get over it. Want to be a great athlete in your specific sport? New flash, nutrition fuels your performance. If your performance is THAT important to you, why would you jeopardize your best on a crappy chicken biscuit? Not worth it. Take some responsibility and stop blaming/depending on mom for everything.
And moms, do yourselves and your children a favor...give them some responsibilities in the kitchen. You don't have to be a slave to bag lunches, a nutritious breakfast, and a perfectly cut apple for snack. Teach them how to prepare some items on their own. It teaches valuable life skills as well as frees you of this notion that you have-to-do-everything-or-you're-not-a-good-parent. Please. Guess what? If you don't get a trophy in 15 years for being the best parent ever, its NOT going to be because of a Little Debbie...
Long story short, the kid left with a stomach ache and a small grocery list HE was in charge of getting.
You can imagine how I was by the time the afternoon rolled around...
Workout today was solid.
I had back, biceps, and cardio. My cardio is up a little bit for the next 3 weeks. Down to the wire here and entering a time where I usually cycle my carbs a bit more. Thus, on lower-carb days I am usually taking the pen to my eye by 9am.
Sooo...today was offially day 7 of no-gum. Unbelievable. The first 3 days were by far the worst, but today I hardly thought about it. 3 weeks to go. Crazy...I've already saved over 10 bucks....and lots of trapped gas. Win/win.
Time for bed. Another day is up for grabs...make it a good one folks. No excuses. Take responsibility and move forward, head up.
Night!
What a day.
I had all intentions of getting to bed before 9 last night, but that simply didn't happen. Before I knew it, I was painting my nails at 9:52 while watching A League of Their Own thinking that Tom Hanks plays his drunk scenes pretty darn well. Sort of envious of that ability....could have saved me thousands of calories and a couple of blackouts in college.
I was pretty fired up all morning.
By 11am I just needed a "repeat" button to push on my arm from all the nutrition lectures I'd given. 16 year old boy thought it was a wise idea to swing by Bojangles for 2 chicken biscuits ON HIS WAY to the gym. Fifteen minutes into his workout both him and I were fairly certain he was going to throw up. And to be quite honest, I was hoping he would. I don't know what he was thinking, but he heard an earful about it. What tripped me out the most was that he claimed that he didn't know how to make anything at home and that his mom did it all.
Ok,...here I go...
At 16 years old, get off the boob.
You are fully capable of making food for yourself and good food choices at that. Yes, it takes a few minutes to make a sandwich, but so does sitting in the drive-thru while the other future diabetic in front of you breaks a sweat trying to find spare change. Get over it. Want to be a great athlete in your specific sport? New flash, nutrition fuels your performance. If your performance is THAT important to you, why would you jeopardize your best on a crappy chicken biscuit? Not worth it. Take some responsibility and stop blaming/depending on mom for everything.
And moms, do yourselves and your children a favor...give them some responsibilities in the kitchen. You don't have to be a slave to bag lunches, a nutritious breakfast, and a perfectly cut apple for snack. Teach them how to prepare some items on their own. It teaches valuable life skills as well as frees you of this notion that you have-to-do-everything-or-you're-not-a-good-parent. Please. Guess what? If you don't get a trophy in 15 years for being the best parent ever, its NOT going to be because of a Little Debbie...
Long story short, the kid left with a stomach ache and a small grocery list HE was in charge of getting.
You can imagine how I was by the time the afternoon rolled around...
Workout today was solid.
I had back, biceps, and cardio. My cardio is up a little bit for the next 3 weeks. Down to the wire here and entering a time where I usually cycle my carbs a bit more. Thus, on lower-carb days I am usually taking the pen to my eye by 9am.
Sooo...today was offially day 7 of no-gum. Unbelievable. The first 3 days were by far the worst, but today I hardly thought about it. 3 weeks to go. Crazy...I've already saved over 10 bucks....and lots of trapped gas. Win/win.
Time for bed. Another day is up for grabs...make it a good one folks. No excuses. Take responsibility and move forward, head up.
Night!
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Thanks Dad
Its already Sunday night and I just woke up from a nap not too long ago.
I had no intentions of sleeping, and then the next thing I know I'm on the couch fighting the I'm-not-tired-but-I-would-punch-you-for-5-minutes-of-shut-eye battle...well, I lost. I was out in about 30 seconds. Now here I am in some sort of nap-handover. Sweet.
The weekend began Friday night when we went bowling and I had to completely dominate Ryan in spite of the arthritis flare-up during the 7th frame. Seriously, I have no clue how I managed that one, but back-2-back wins in anything is always nice. He blamed the loss on slippery fingers from eating pizza. I have little sympathy. They have a hand-drying machine for God's sake,...that's like skipping the water station during a race and then cramping up from dehydration. Come on Falcon...
Saturday night was a family dinner with my grandpa/aunt/uncle/cousin/brother/sister/nieces...you get the picture. They served everything family style. If you've never experienced that at an Italian restaurant, its pretty much all you can eat until you either vom, pass-out, or have an allergic reaction and must surrender. At one point I look over and I was fairly certain my brother was in pain. Self-induced pain. Meanwhile, I'm over there trying to explain to an almost 3 year old that you can't just eat butter for dinner. She gets it from my grandma. The same woman whose sweet-tooth nearly cost her a busted hip during a midnight honeybun craving.
It was an entertaining dinner to say the least...
Well, its Father's day.
First, let me say that my dad is in Key West on a fishing trip and the odds of me holding this fact against him for the next few years are fairly high. In the over/under, I'd pick the over. Nah, I'm kidding. After 31 years of being a father, I'm surprised it took him this long to leave NC during a holiday.
My dad is amazing. I am blessed to have a father I genuinely admire and consider one of my biggest cheerleaders in life. He deserves a trophy for putting up with all of us. However, he should have known those 3 nights of passion with my mom would haunt him for the rest of his life.
Yes, I like to think it was only 3.
Don't ruin it for me.
So here's to you, Dad...love you dearly!!
On that note, I am about to crawl in bed. Monday awaits and its going to be another hectic week. Have a great night folks. To you fathers, enjoy the rest of your Father's Day...
I had no intentions of sleeping, and then the next thing I know I'm on the couch fighting the I'm-not-tired-but-I-would-punch-you-for-5-minutes-of-shut-eye battle...well, I lost. I was out in about 30 seconds. Now here I am in some sort of nap-handover. Sweet.
The weekend began Friday night when we went bowling and I had to completely dominate Ryan in spite of the arthritis flare-up during the 7th frame. Seriously, I have no clue how I managed that one, but back-2-back wins in anything is always nice. He blamed the loss on slippery fingers from eating pizza. I have little sympathy. They have a hand-drying machine for God's sake,...that's like skipping the water station during a race and then cramping up from dehydration. Come on Falcon...
Saturday night was a family dinner with my grandpa/aunt/uncle/cousin/brother/sister/nieces...you get the picture. They served everything family style. If you've never experienced that at an Italian restaurant, its pretty much all you can eat until you either vom, pass-out, or have an allergic reaction and must surrender. At one point I look over and I was fairly certain my brother was in pain. Self-induced pain. Meanwhile, I'm over there trying to explain to an almost 3 year old that you can't just eat butter for dinner. She gets it from my grandma. The same woman whose sweet-tooth nearly cost her a busted hip during a midnight honeybun craving.
It was an entertaining dinner to say the least...
Well, its Father's day.
First, let me say that my dad is in Key West on a fishing trip and the odds of me holding this fact against him for the next few years are fairly high. In the over/under, I'd pick the over. Nah, I'm kidding. After 31 years of being a father, I'm surprised it took him this long to leave NC during a holiday.
My dad is amazing. I am blessed to have a father I genuinely admire and consider one of my biggest cheerleaders in life. He deserves a trophy for putting up with all of us. However, he should have known those 3 nights of passion with my mom would haunt him for the rest of his life.
Yes, I like to think it was only 3.
Don't ruin it for me.
So here's to you, Dad...love you dearly!!
On that note, I am about to crawl in bed. Monday awaits and its going to be another hectic week. Have a great night folks. To you fathers, enjoy the rest of your Father's Day...
Thursday, June 14, 2012
All You Can Eat...
Apparently a bug thought my right thigh was an open buffet. I look ridiculous. It doesn't really itch, but I could connect the bites with a marker and look like an etch-a-sketch.
This week honestly felt extremely long.
I didn't get enough sleep, and just felt down right stressed and worn out. I've got an entire afternoon tomorrow to devote to ME-time, and I have absolutely no clue how I want to spend it. Fetal position on my living room floor sounds about as appealing as anything right now.
The past 2 weeks have been full of diet overhauls. I've had a handful of female clients come to me wondering why the scale has not budged. As we talked a little more in depth about daily nutrition habits it became a common theme: not eating enough. They all looked at me like I was crazy. Its how the body works folks: When calories are too low, the body enters a mode of conservation. Thus, it will hold on to every ounce of fat and sometimes even get rid of the most calorically expensive tissue (muscle) in the name of survival. There is a fine line in a caloric deficit which is effective for fat-loss, and one that is too low and ultimately compromises muscle mass.
4 ladies have already reported back that they are down 2-5 pounds. Boom. Eat more, weigh less. Amazing that you don't have to starve to lose fat and be healthy....imagine that...
Speaking of workouts, mine were definitely a struggle the past few days. My heartrate was higher than normal, and everything felt extremely heavy. I know part of it is the fact that I've been at a harder grind than normal with this photoshoot coming up. I'm not in an all-out-competition-diet-mode, but close. The last 3-4 weeks are always the hardest. Fat is barely budging and energy levels are horrible. Sounds appealing doesn't it? I will be out of control by the time this thing rolls around.
I was excited to grocery shop in peace tonight.
My creeper was not working tonight. Thank God. I was not in the mood to remotely try and be pleasant with someone who just may be on the news in the next 2 years. More importantly, I was way too tired to put him in a choke-hold by the frozen salmon if need be. I don't play around with stalkers or grocery shopping. Mix the two and I will not think twice about crossing my own line of decency in front of innocent shoppers. Every time I walk in my anxiety level goes through the roof, and I suddenly feel the need to warm-up and stretch in case things go down. I'm prepared, what can I say...
Tonight was fine. In and out...got my food...got home...
Well, I am hitting the bed like a ton of bricks.
Friday is waiting. Here we go folks!
This week honestly felt extremely long.
I didn't get enough sleep, and just felt down right stressed and worn out. I've got an entire afternoon tomorrow to devote to ME-time, and I have absolutely no clue how I want to spend it. Fetal position on my living room floor sounds about as appealing as anything right now.
The past 2 weeks have been full of diet overhauls. I've had a handful of female clients come to me wondering why the scale has not budged. As we talked a little more in depth about daily nutrition habits it became a common theme: not eating enough. They all looked at me like I was crazy. Its how the body works folks: When calories are too low, the body enters a mode of conservation. Thus, it will hold on to every ounce of fat and sometimes even get rid of the most calorically expensive tissue (muscle) in the name of survival. There is a fine line in a caloric deficit which is effective for fat-loss, and one that is too low and ultimately compromises muscle mass.
4 ladies have already reported back that they are down 2-5 pounds. Boom. Eat more, weigh less. Amazing that you don't have to starve to lose fat and be healthy....imagine that...
Speaking of workouts, mine were definitely a struggle the past few days. My heartrate was higher than normal, and everything felt extremely heavy. I know part of it is the fact that I've been at a harder grind than normal with this photoshoot coming up. I'm not in an all-out-competition-diet-mode, but close. The last 3-4 weeks are always the hardest. Fat is barely budging and energy levels are horrible. Sounds appealing doesn't it? I will be out of control by the time this thing rolls around.
I was excited to grocery shop in peace tonight.
My creeper was not working tonight. Thank God. I was not in the mood to remotely try and be pleasant with someone who just may be on the news in the next 2 years. More importantly, I was way too tired to put him in a choke-hold by the frozen salmon if need be. I don't play around with stalkers or grocery shopping. Mix the two and I will not think twice about crossing my own line of decency in front of innocent shoppers. Every time I walk in my anxiety level goes through the roof, and I suddenly feel the need to warm-up and stretch in case things go down. I'm prepared, what can I say...
Tonight was fine. In and out...got my food...got home...
Well, I am hitting the bed like a ton of bricks.
Friday is waiting. Here we go folks!
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Thanks A Lot Maria...
Day 2, no gum.
I don't even really want to talk about it. It sucked, I'll be completely honest. I was slurring words and stuttering by 10am. Even though I wasn't chewing it for more than a couple of minutes at a time, the simple burst of that mouth-watering-minty-goodness helped keep me awake and alert. If I had a dollar for every time I yawned today I'd be making it rain.....on myself...
By 1:00 I surrendered and laid a mat on the floor. Everything else could wait, I needed a solid 20 minutes to sleep for the sake of my sanity and everyone else for that matter. I turned the lights off in the gym and was out cold in about 30 seconds. Floor was hard, pretty sure there were still sweat stains on the mat from my workout, but after a certain point hygiene means nothing to me. For the love of God, I needed sleep.
Ah yes, finally...
About 15 minutes into my slumber, the lights come on and I hear the sound of the stupid vacuum and mop bucket. I could have punched someone. It was our cleaning lady. No, she didn't know I was asleep behind the weight rack,...because no reasonable human being chooses to take a nap on a hard rubber floor in the gym. Except me. She apologized, but I'm fairly certain I responded with a look that could have killed any living organism. I rolled around for a few seconds before getting up and facing the rest of my day.
This post is short and sweet....I still have way too much to do before tomorrow. My legs are exhausted and even thinking about lifting legs tomorrow sounds horrible right now. I need some solid sleep asap.
I don't even really want to talk about it. It sucked, I'll be completely honest. I was slurring words and stuttering by 10am. Even though I wasn't chewing it for more than a couple of minutes at a time, the simple burst of that mouth-watering-minty-goodness helped keep me awake and alert. If I had a dollar for every time I yawned today I'd be making it rain.....on myself...
By 1:00 I surrendered and laid a mat on the floor. Everything else could wait, I needed a solid 20 minutes to sleep for the sake of my sanity and everyone else for that matter. I turned the lights off in the gym and was out cold in about 30 seconds. Floor was hard, pretty sure there were still sweat stains on the mat from my workout, but after a certain point hygiene means nothing to me. For the love of God, I needed sleep.
Ah yes, finally...
About 15 minutes into my slumber, the lights come on and I hear the sound of the stupid vacuum and mop bucket. I could have punched someone. It was our cleaning lady. No, she didn't know I was asleep behind the weight rack,...because no reasonable human being chooses to take a nap on a hard rubber floor in the gym. Except me. She apologized, but I'm fairly certain I responded with a look that could have killed any living organism. I rolled around for a few seconds before getting up and facing the rest of my day.
This post is short and sweet....I still have way too much to do before tomorrow. My legs are exhausted and even thinking about lifting legs tomorrow sounds horrible right now. I need some solid sleep asap.
Monday, June 11, 2012
Bubblemint Withdrawal...
I woke up face-down in the bed, flipped over, and was convinced it was the middle of the night. I was certain I had plenty of time before I'd slap on my war paint and head to work.
False.
The second I rolled over the alarm went off. You have got to kidding me. I literally just crawled in bed. Getting mad at this point was worthless and I honestly didn't have the energy to devote to it. Eh....time for a Monday...
The day began with a cruel reminder of an agreement Zimm and I made this past weekend. Each summer we sort of do our own version of Lent in the name of self-improvement. We spend a couple of weeks coming up with something for each of us to give up for a month. Last year he hit me with a whammy and I had to forgo my afternoon coffee. Well, after being on suicide watch for the first week I managed to survive, AND no longer need the afternoon cup of Joe. Yes, it broke me of the habit....I still love/hate him for it.
Well, this year my challenge is no chewing gum. Sounds easy right? Well, I sort of have an oral fetish for the Trident Bubble Mint. I throw in 2 at a time, and will have up to 16-20 pieces per day. What an addict. However, I do it for the initial "hit"....(spoken like any gum, crack, or meth junkie). I chew it for about 3 minutes and then spit it out. Its amazing my jaw does not cramp up during the day.
Today was brutal though. I was reminded of just how habitual we are as humans. When it came time for my usual gum-fix, I had to whine a little and put my mind on something else. Here's how my thought process went during the day...
6am....I can totally do this, piece of cake
8am....I really want 2 pieces right now...2 measly pieces...
10:30am...I totally empathize with everyone on Intervention. Life is not fair and rehab is for quitters.
1pm....You piss me off Zimm and you're not even here...2 FREAK'N PIECES...
3pm....Wonder if this pen tastes like bubblemint...
5pm....I will sell my cat for gum...
7pm....Someone please dare me to do something crazy...I win gum if I do it...
8:15pm....I have a problem.
I thought about it today and its been about 6 years since I've gone an entire day without gum. How horrible is that?...Very. Not going to lie, I've felt less gassy. Win/win for everyone....but not sure its worth the lack of gum.
I am convinced that tomorrow will either be very good, or a nightmare and I will be sending hate-texts to Zimm every hour on the hour....in all caps...and with an ungodly amount of exclamation points. For you people who already do that, STOP! ITS ANNOYING! IT FEELS LIKE YOU ARE YELLING ALL THE TIME!!
Workout went well today...not great, but ok. I mixed things up and went back and biceps. I needed a change from my typical Monday. Overall, I kept everything as heavy as possible and finished with cardio. I was pretty shocked that my biceps lasted as long as they did because after back, my forearms are pretty shot. Tomorrow will be shoulders and core....love that day.
Well, I am struggling to stay awake and still have a couple of emails to answer.
Need sleep.
Want gum.
Eesh...
False.
The second I rolled over the alarm went off. You have got to kidding me. I literally just crawled in bed. Getting mad at this point was worthless and I honestly didn't have the energy to devote to it. Eh....time for a Monday...
The day began with a cruel reminder of an agreement Zimm and I made this past weekend. Each summer we sort of do our own version of Lent in the name of self-improvement. We spend a couple of weeks coming up with something for each of us to give up for a month. Last year he hit me with a whammy and I had to forgo my afternoon coffee. Well, after being on suicide watch for the first week I managed to survive, AND no longer need the afternoon cup of Joe. Yes, it broke me of the habit....I still love/hate him for it.
Well, this year my challenge is no chewing gum. Sounds easy right? Well, I sort of have an oral fetish for the Trident Bubble Mint. I throw in 2 at a time, and will have up to 16-20 pieces per day. What an addict. However, I do it for the initial "hit"....(spoken like any gum, crack, or meth junkie). I chew it for about 3 minutes and then spit it out. Its amazing my jaw does not cramp up during the day.
Today was brutal though. I was reminded of just how habitual we are as humans. When it came time for my usual gum-fix, I had to whine a little and put my mind on something else. Here's how my thought process went during the day...
6am....I can totally do this, piece of cake
8am....I really want 2 pieces right now...2 measly pieces...
10:30am...I totally empathize with everyone on Intervention. Life is not fair and rehab is for quitters.
1pm....You piss me off Zimm and you're not even here...2 FREAK'N PIECES...
3pm....Wonder if this pen tastes like bubblemint...
5pm....I will sell my cat for gum...
7pm....Someone please dare me to do something crazy...I win gum if I do it...
8:15pm....I have a problem.
I thought about it today and its been about 6 years since I've gone an entire day without gum. How horrible is that?...Very. Not going to lie, I've felt less gassy. Win/win for everyone....but not sure its worth the lack of gum.
I am convinced that tomorrow will either be very good, or a nightmare and I will be sending hate-texts to Zimm every hour on the hour....in all caps...and with an ungodly amount of exclamation points. For you people who already do that, STOP! ITS ANNOYING! IT FEELS LIKE YOU ARE YELLING ALL THE TIME!!
Workout went well today...not great, but ok. I mixed things up and went back and biceps. I needed a change from my typical Monday. Overall, I kept everything as heavy as possible and finished with cardio. I was pretty shocked that my biceps lasted as long as they did because after back, my forearms are pretty shot. Tomorrow will be shoulders and core....love that day.
Well, I am struggling to stay awake and still have a couple of emails to answer.
Need sleep.
Want gum.
Eesh...
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Feeling Old...er
Sunday morning.
I just finished peeling 36 eggs, browning turkey meat, and making meatballs. My house smells like an interesting combination of basil and egg yolk, which is horrible by the way. Lavender/vanilla = much more appealing. That's probably my favorite yankee candle scent...well, and anything having to do with Christmas. In addition to being a shoe whore, I am also a Christmas whore.
Ha, where's that greeting card Hallmark?
Seriously, the fact that they can make a candle that smell exactly like a Christmas tree, Christmas cookies, etc. is pretty mind blowing. And yes, I realize that spending more than 2 seconds contemplating this is a waste of time...
I cleaned out my closet yesterday.
I do this fairly often, but it amazes me how some clothes look totally different when you try them on later. I swear I got rid of several shirts that made me look 6 months pregnant. Not the look I was going for. So then I have this moment of self-doubt....Did I wear this and actually think I looked good?...Was I accidentally shopping in the maternity section?...Was I intoxicated when I entered the store?...
Momentary panic before immediately throwing the items in the goodwill-go-make-someone-else-look-prego pile.
The weekend flew by just like every other weekend post-college. Friday night I had dinner with a lovely and dear friend from high school. I think we sucked all the oxygen out of that restaurant from talking so much. That's how we do. I ordered the salmon, as I always do at that particular place, and I may have drooled a few times on the plate. I meant to take a picture. Clearly, I got caught up in telling stories....it was the perfect way to cap off the week.
Last night I attended a graduation party for Tyler. God I feel old. Having been at a job where I've worked with athletes from the time they were starting middle school up through high school and then beyond, I literally feel like an old woman. Many of you are shaking your head because you've felt this way for years. Fine, let me marinate in my shocking dose of reality for a second.
I kept looking at him and his friends thinking how young they seem and doing the whole did I look that young? thought process. The answer is yes. Senior year:
Its been a full weekend and I'm not quite done yet. Getting ready to go celebrate an early Father's Day with my dad and the whole Parker crew. Family gathering means a few guarantees...
1. Something inappropriate in reference to a bodily function will be discussed while eating.
2. Mom will show us her latest project which will involve glitter, jewels, or both.
3. David and Jordan will fake punches and crotch-kicks to one another all afternoon.
4. Someone will cry. My money is on mom.
5. Dad will brag about his garden.......which is ironically located in the middle of the front yard and pretty sure devalues the house.
6. I will sweat the entire time.
7. Mom and/or dad will wear something that I will later have to secretly extract from their closet and burn.
...that list could probably go for another page or so.
Ah yes, family time is never boring.
Well folks, rest up for another week. Be excited to have another opportunity to be better tomorrow than you were today. Stay focused. Keep moving forward.
I just finished peeling 36 eggs, browning turkey meat, and making meatballs. My house smells like an interesting combination of basil and egg yolk, which is horrible by the way. Lavender/vanilla = much more appealing. That's probably my favorite yankee candle scent...well, and anything having to do with Christmas. In addition to being a shoe whore, I am also a Christmas whore.
Ha, where's that greeting card Hallmark?
Seriously, the fact that they can make a candle that smell exactly like a Christmas tree, Christmas cookies, etc. is pretty mind blowing. And yes, I realize that spending more than 2 seconds contemplating this is a waste of time...
I cleaned out my closet yesterday.
I do this fairly often, but it amazes me how some clothes look totally different when you try them on later. I swear I got rid of several shirts that made me look 6 months pregnant. Not the look I was going for. So then I have this moment of self-doubt....Did I wear this and actually think I looked good?...Was I accidentally shopping in the maternity section?...Was I intoxicated when I entered the store?...
Momentary panic before immediately throwing the items in the goodwill-go-make-someone-else-look-prego pile.
The weekend flew by just like every other weekend post-college. Friday night I had dinner with a lovely and dear friend from high school. I think we sucked all the oxygen out of that restaurant from talking so much. That's how we do. I ordered the salmon, as I always do at that particular place, and I may have drooled a few times on the plate. I meant to take a picture. Clearly, I got caught up in telling stories....it was the perfect way to cap off the week.
Last night I attended a graduation party for Tyler. God I feel old. Having been at a job where I've worked with athletes from the time they were starting middle school up through high school and then beyond, I literally feel like an old woman. Many of you are shaking your head because you've felt this way for years. Fine, let me marinate in my shocking dose of reality for a second.
I kept looking at him and his friends thinking how young they seem and doing the whole did I look that young? thought process. The answer is yes. Senior year:
Its been a full weekend and I'm not quite done yet. Getting ready to go celebrate an early Father's Day with my dad and the whole Parker crew. Family gathering means a few guarantees...
1. Something inappropriate in reference to a bodily function will be discussed while eating.
2. Mom will show us her latest project which will involve glitter, jewels, or both.
3. David and Jordan will fake punches and crotch-kicks to one another all afternoon.
4. Someone will cry. My money is on mom.
5. Dad will brag about his garden.......which is ironically located in the middle of the front yard and pretty sure devalues the house.
6. I will sweat the entire time.
7. Mom and/or dad will wear something that I will later have to secretly extract from their closet and burn.
...that list could probably go for another page or so.
Ah yes, family time is never boring.
Well folks, rest up for another week. Be excited to have another opportunity to be better tomorrow than you were today. Stay focused. Keep moving forward.
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Limping Through Thursday
Not sure when my Thursday officially started.
It could have been at 1am when I got up to use the bathroom...or at 2:30 when I was ready to strap on a Depends...or perhaps at 3:30 when I vowed never to drink water again. I'm not really sure. To make it even better, I've had this horrible sharp pain in my left foot since yesterday that caused me to limp to the toilet. What's worse than using the bathroom in the middle of the night more than a 5 year old with a UTI?...Limping to the bathroom numerous times knowing that if the house were on fire you'd pee yourself and then not make it out because of a gimp foot.
This is what goes through my head. Welcome to my twisted world.
Once I was up and rolling I was so hungry. Some days it just hits me like a mac truck. By the time I am downstairs, I scarf down egg whites and grapefruit like I'm in the last 30 seconds of Man vs. Food. Back in college when I was trying to put on weight in preparation for Nationals, I had to wake up at 1am to have a protein shake and peanut butter. It was the highlight of my evening... which makes my life look really sad, I know. Most college seniors were chugging beer at 1am, and there I was half-naked borderline comatose with a shake in one hand and some JIF in the other. What a scene.
Anyway, after my first meal and coffee it was a FULL day to say the least.
Workout today ended up being back, core, and triceps. I was pretty frustrated because it took me longer than usual to sort of get in the groove of things. That's life sometimes. By the end I was pleased with my numbers, finished with cardio, and then it was time for my afternoon crowd. Everyone seemed pretty quiet today...well, with the exception of a certain few who would talk through anesthesia. The one thing I can say about my job is that there is never a dull moment or lack of interesting people. One day I'll write a book...
Oh my day only got better...
This must have been the week people knew I needed a mega-dose of sanity/caffeine. Susan brought me some more Dunkin Donuts coffee this afternoon! Was there a memo that went out? I am set for the entire summer. Seriously. If everyone is willing to fuel my addictions, I also wear a size 6.5 shoe...
You people are unbelievable.
Before I sign off, I'd like to say that there are weeks when I truly struggle through each day...mentally, physically, emotionally...but my clients keep me going in more ways than they know. I am beyond grateful for you/them...even when you complain and momentarily hate me. You rock ;)
It could have been at 1am when I got up to use the bathroom...or at 2:30 when I was ready to strap on a Depends...or perhaps at 3:30 when I vowed never to drink water again. I'm not really sure. To make it even better, I've had this horrible sharp pain in my left foot since yesterday that caused me to limp to the toilet. What's worse than using the bathroom in the middle of the night more than a 5 year old with a UTI?...Limping to the bathroom numerous times knowing that if the house were on fire you'd pee yourself and then not make it out because of a gimp foot.
This is what goes through my head. Welcome to my twisted world.
Once I was up and rolling I was so hungry. Some days it just hits me like a mac truck. By the time I am downstairs, I scarf down egg whites and grapefruit like I'm in the last 30 seconds of Man vs. Food. Back in college when I was trying to put on weight in preparation for Nationals, I had to wake up at 1am to have a protein shake and peanut butter. It was the highlight of my evening... which makes my life look really sad, I know. Most college seniors were chugging beer at 1am, and there I was half-naked borderline comatose with a shake in one hand and some JIF in the other. What a scene.
Anyway, after my first meal and coffee it was a FULL day to say the least.
Workout today ended up being back, core, and triceps. I was pretty frustrated because it took me longer than usual to sort of get in the groove of things. That's life sometimes. By the end I was pleased with my numbers, finished with cardio, and then it was time for my afternoon crowd. Everyone seemed pretty quiet today...well, with the exception of a certain few who would talk through anesthesia. The one thing I can say about my job is that there is never a dull moment or lack of interesting people. One day I'll write a book...
Oh my day only got better...
This must have been the week people knew I needed a mega-dose of sanity/caffeine. Susan brought me some more Dunkin Donuts coffee this afternoon! Was there a memo that went out? I am set for the entire summer. Seriously. If everyone is willing to fuel my addictions, I also wear a size 6.5 shoe...
You people are unbelievable.
Before I sign off, I'd like to say that there are weeks when I truly struggle through each day...mentally, physically, emotionally...but my clients keep me going in more ways than they know. I am beyond grateful for you/them...even when you complain and momentarily hate me. You rock ;)
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Hump Day Turkey Crisis
My hump day just ended with 2 pounds of cooked ground turkey on the floor.
Yes, I dropped it.
It went everywhere.
Oscar stood there eying it like a milk-filled toilet bowl, ready to dive in. I yelled at him as if he was the one that caused the problem. He wasn't, but he was the only innocent bystander to take the blame. Sucks for him. Ironically, I'll be scooping his poo tomorrow.....and the circle of life is complete....
There are days when I honestly want to sit in the back corner of a Barnes and Noble (I like the smell of books), and just be. Yes, I would read, but that would last all of 10 minutes before I'm asleep and drooling on myself in the self-help section. What a site. But the day started off rainy,..I was tired,...so for a second it was fitting. I needed a serious boost. And by boost I mean caffeine, sleep, or slap in the face...maybe all three, in that order.
There was no way I could have attempted to lift weights today. Thankfully, I just had cardio...and I huffed and puffed through that. Tomorrow is back/core. I'd still like for my upper back to be thicker, but I'll have to focus on that after this shoot in 4 weeks.
Highlight of the day...
I worked with this kid who is in high school and often comes in with a girl he is "quite fond of". They're cute, probably more interested in making out than working out, but whatever. I mentioned to him that I could tell he's put on some mass in his chest and shoulders. For the record, I probably still have a good 15-20 pounds on this guy, but it was progress so I was definitely going to take note. Well, after their workout they go strolling to the car, and he takes his shirt off in the parking lot like a Chip n Dale. Garrett and I just stood back and laughed. It was a proud moment for a kid who would never be the base of any human-pyramid picture. His vertebrae would literally snap.
But holy crap the guy now has pecs. What a great day.
They are definitely making out right now...
And yes, his shirt is on the floor.
On that note, I am headed to bed. I've got 15 minutes to wash dishes, fold laundry, and attempt to make a to-do list for tomorrow. You know I'm tired when making a list does not excite me.....next thing you know Lohan is refusing free shots, Octomom gets a hysterectomy, and the world comes to an end.
Have a lovely night...here we come Thursday!
Yes, I dropped it.
It went everywhere.
Oscar stood there eying it like a milk-filled toilet bowl, ready to dive in. I yelled at him as if he was the one that caused the problem. He wasn't, but he was the only innocent bystander to take the blame. Sucks for him. Ironically, I'll be scooping his poo tomorrow.....and the circle of life is complete....
There are days when I honestly want to sit in the back corner of a Barnes and Noble (I like the smell of books), and just be. Yes, I would read, but that would last all of 10 minutes before I'm asleep and drooling on myself in the self-help section. What a site. But the day started off rainy,..I was tired,...so for a second it was fitting. I needed a serious boost. And by boost I mean caffeine, sleep, or slap in the face...maybe all three, in that order.
There was no way I could have attempted to lift weights today. Thankfully, I just had cardio...and I huffed and puffed through that. Tomorrow is back/core. I'd still like for my upper back to be thicker, but I'll have to focus on that after this shoot in 4 weeks.
Highlight of the day...
I worked with this kid who is in high school and often comes in with a girl he is "quite fond of". They're cute, probably more interested in making out than working out, but whatever. I mentioned to him that I could tell he's put on some mass in his chest and shoulders. For the record, I probably still have a good 15-20 pounds on this guy, but it was progress so I was definitely going to take note. Well, after their workout they go strolling to the car, and he takes his shirt off in the parking lot like a Chip n Dale. Garrett and I just stood back and laughed. It was a proud moment for a kid who would never be the base of any human-pyramid picture. His vertebrae would literally snap.
But holy crap the guy now has pecs. What a great day.
They are definitely making out right now...
And yes, his shirt is on the floor.
On that note, I am headed to bed. I've got 15 minutes to wash dishes, fold laundry, and attempt to make a to-do list for tomorrow. You know I'm tired when making a list does not excite me.....next thing you know Lohan is refusing free shots, Octomom gets a hysterectomy, and the world comes to an end.
Have a lovely night...here we come Thursday!
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Short On Patience...
I got a phone call today that I've honestly never had before.
While I am always eager to learn more about where our clients are mentally in regards to their goals/workouts/lifestyle changes, some interactions leave me completely dumbfounded.
Let me see if I can recap this for you without getting arthritis or making your eyes bleed...
We met for an assessment a little over 3 weeks ago. 3 weeks. That is key to the story for all you note takers. She said that she wanted to come to us once a week and then workout on her own 3 other days. Fine, very doable. We talked about diet changes and everything she needed to do to meet her goals. She was on board and excited. Good.
Phone rings today. When someone says "Meredith, I need to talk to you about something" there is a 15% chance it has to do with an injury, 80% chance it has to do with motivation, and 5% chance it involves something borderline inappropriate/funny. This fell into the 80%, but was combined with a completely distorted perspective that I could hardly wrap my mind around. The gist of it was that she couldn't understand why she hasn't seen major changes yet. Oh but it gets better. I asked her how much she'd been working out on her own...the answer was inconsistently. Soooo basically she wanted to stop working out because she hadn't seen major changes after 3 workouts. I didn't know whether to laugh in the phone, curse in the phone, or jump through the phone and shake her like my old barbie dolls...(don't ask).
To make sure I was hearing correctly I asked her to explain her logic.
There was none.
I was truly at a loss for words for maybe the third time in my entire life. I can understand someone being frustrated after 6-8 weeks of training C-O-N-S-I-S-T-E-N-T-L-Y with a healthy diet in place, but 3 workouts?! You've got to be kidding me. Quite frankly, it boiled down to laziness. She didn't want to actually work to achieve her goals. I really have zero patience for that because its like trying to turn a train around. At some point she, (and others who think like her), will either have to derail and change their mindset and habits, or stop complaining about the very thing they have control over. When it comes to fitness, you are the result of what you DO and DON'T DO day in and day out. Period.
I hung up the phone slightly pissed.
Mainly disappointed.
Speaking of trains...
After a 13 hour day I got off my exit to come home and caught the RR at the wrong time. I sat there and watched....and waited....helpless along with dozens of other cars losing their minds. I counted 35, 36, 37 train cars and thought for sure this post-work-mini-patience-test-nightmare would be over soon. You can only imagine my stress level at this point. Combined with fatigue, I was 5 seconds from a freakout and perhaps a few tears. ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-SIX cars later, I was beyond stressed,...I wanted to jump on the caboose with a bottle of Gin and hitch a ride to Virginia.
Its for lovers.
Should be nice.
Instead, I sat there in awe that a train could move so freak'n slow and that I actually counted all the stupid cars. Unbelievable.
Well, I am spent. I got myself all riled up and now its bedtime. Gametime tomorrow folks. New day. Make it a great one.
While I am always eager to learn more about where our clients are mentally in regards to their goals/workouts/lifestyle changes, some interactions leave me completely dumbfounded.
Let me see if I can recap this for you without getting arthritis or making your eyes bleed...
We met for an assessment a little over 3 weeks ago. 3 weeks. That is key to the story for all you note takers. She said that she wanted to come to us once a week and then workout on her own 3 other days. Fine, very doable. We talked about diet changes and everything she needed to do to meet her goals. She was on board and excited. Good.
Phone rings today. When someone says "Meredith, I need to talk to you about something" there is a 15% chance it has to do with an injury, 80% chance it has to do with motivation, and 5% chance it involves something borderline inappropriate/funny. This fell into the 80%, but was combined with a completely distorted perspective that I could hardly wrap my mind around. The gist of it was that she couldn't understand why she hasn't seen major changes yet. Oh but it gets better. I asked her how much she'd been working out on her own...the answer was inconsistently. Soooo basically she wanted to stop working out because she hadn't seen major changes after 3 workouts. I didn't know whether to laugh in the phone, curse in the phone, or jump through the phone and shake her like my old barbie dolls...(don't ask).
To make sure I was hearing correctly I asked her to explain her logic.
There was none.
I was truly at a loss for words for maybe the third time in my entire life. I can understand someone being frustrated after 6-8 weeks of training C-O-N-S-I-S-T-E-N-T-L-Y with a healthy diet in place, but 3 workouts?! You've got to be kidding me. Quite frankly, it boiled down to laziness. She didn't want to actually work to achieve her goals. I really have zero patience for that because its like trying to turn a train around. At some point she, (and others who think like her), will either have to derail and change their mindset and habits, or stop complaining about the very thing they have control over. When it comes to fitness, you are the result of what you DO and DON'T DO day in and day out. Period.
I hung up the phone slightly pissed.
Mainly disappointed.
Speaking of trains...
After a 13 hour day I got off my exit to come home and caught the RR at the wrong time. I sat there and watched....and waited....helpless along with dozens of other cars losing their minds. I counted 35, 36, 37 train cars and thought for sure this post-work-mini-patience-test-nightmare would be over soon. You can only imagine my stress level at this point. Combined with fatigue, I was 5 seconds from a freakout and perhaps a few tears. ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-SIX cars later, I was beyond stressed,...I wanted to jump on the caboose with a bottle of Gin and hitch a ride to Virginia.
Its for lovers.
Should be nice.
Instead, I sat there in awe that a train could move so freak'n slow and that I actually counted all the stupid cars. Unbelievable.
Well, I am spent. I got myself all riled up and now its bedtime. Gametime tomorrow folks. New day. Make it a great one.
Monday, June 4, 2012
Monday Kicks and Gifts
Facebook is not letting me post comments right now.
Amazing.
The one time this week I want to comment on a status and it refuses to cooperate, and yet Peggy-Sue-Talkbox has successfully posted 7 times since noon about her dog, kids, neighbor, job, and bowel movements. Completely unnecessary. I'll be over it in a few minutes...for now, I will marinate in my bitterness...
Today kicked me...hard. I was more tired than yesterday and don't really remember much of the drive to work. I had death grip on the coffee mug and Kesha was blasting in my ears. There is nothing calm and relaxing about my morning commute. Its pretty much a coffee-drunk-rock-concert in the Galant for the entire 21 miles.
My morning clients were a trip, and even came bearing gifts. Fueling the addiction, Lora shows up with coffee beans...it was like a moth to a flame. Perfect gift for a Monday....or any day for that matter. Thank you Lora!! That was very thoughtful :)
My workout proved to be a ridiculous struggle. Some days it flows. Some days I'd rather take a punch to the face and hope for the best. Everything felt heavier than it should have. My chest routine was much harder than last week, and biceps seemed to follow suit. 40 minutes in and I was hating life. Sounds so positive. Its the truth. I was exhausted and frustrated, and to sugar coat it would be a lie. Yes, even I don't like my workouts some days. Why does that shock people? Embrace the suck and keep moving. Oh I was embracing it all right. It was practically groping me.
I was happy to be done and get in the shower. Most days I get in there and experience momentary paralysis. I have no intentions of moving...much less scrubbing. Today was one of those days. I was running up the water bill and quite frankly didn't care. I was contemplating life. Ok, that's a lie. I was just thinking that the bench in the shower should come slightly padded and perhaps with an armrest. Someone get on that...
8:20pm.
There is a good chance that I fall asleep while typing. I can hardly keep my eyes open. I have a few more things I want to address, but I honestly need to get in bed. Have a great Monday night folks, and I'll catch ya tomorrow!
Amazing.
The one time this week I want to comment on a status and it refuses to cooperate, and yet Peggy-Sue-Talkbox has successfully posted 7 times since noon about her dog, kids, neighbor, job, and bowel movements. Completely unnecessary. I'll be over it in a few minutes...for now, I will marinate in my bitterness...
Today kicked me...hard. I was more tired than yesterday and don't really remember much of the drive to work. I had death grip on the coffee mug and Kesha was blasting in my ears. There is nothing calm and relaxing about my morning commute. Its pretty much a coffee-drunk-rock-concert in the Galant for the entire 21 miles.
My morning clients were a trip, and even came bearing gifts. Fueling the addiction, Lora shows up with coffee beans...it was like a moth to a flame. Perfect gift for a Monday....or any day for that matter. Thank you Lora!! That was very thoughtful :)
My workout proved to be a ridiculous struggle. Some days it flows. Some days I'd rather take a punch to the face and hope for the best. Everything felt heavier than it should have. My chest routine was much harder than last week, and biceps seemed to follow suit. 40 minutes in and I was hating life. Sounds so positive. Its the truth. I was exhausted and frustrated, and to sugar coat it would be a lie. Yes, even I don't like my workouts some days. Why does that shock people? Embrace the suck and keep moving. Oh I was embracing it all right. It was practically groping me.
I was happy to be done and get in the shower. Most days I get in there and experience momentary paralysis. I have no intentions of moving...much less scrubbing. Today was one of those days. I was running up the water bill and quite frankly didn't care. I was contemplating life. Ok, that's a lie. I was just thinking that the bench in the shower should come slightly padded and perhaps with an armrest. Someone get on that...
8:20pm.
There is a good chance that I fall asleep while typing. I can hardly keep my eyes open. I have a few more things I want to address, but I honestly need to get in bed. Have a great Monday night folks, and I'll catch ya tomorrow!
Sunday, June 3, 2012
Girls Night....with George.
I almost sent out a search party for myself.
Its been 3 days since I've posted, and its honestly not because I haven't had anything to say. We all know that's not true. The weekend just flew by from one thing to the next and before I knew it I was peeling eggs like some factory worker losing fingers and what not in preparation for another week. I was a complete zombie today, but for good reason.
I went to stay with my nieces last night while my brother/sister-in-law went to a wedding. We went to the park....baked muffins...went potty....and watched Curious George...and more Curious George....oh, and one more time. He should no longer be curious. It was a blast. A few shots of milk for them and coffee for me and things get crraaaazzy...
....working on the whole smile-thing....
This was self-induced whip-lash.
I was driving home well after 1am trying to stay awake and hold back any road rage that naturally occurs post-9pm. At one point I remember being too tired to change the radio station, and 6 minutes later it occurred to me that I just sat through back-to-back Phil Collins songs. At 1:30 in the morning, exhausted, and no more caffeine in the system, Phil Collins is a crotch-kick. I didn't know whether to cry, curse, or keep veering right.
It was the end to a fairly busy day that began with hip-hop class. First hip-hop class in about 5 weeks so we were all sucking wind like smokers in there, but it was worth it. I had a couple of newbies in there, high school freshmen,...so I was proud of them for simply stepping out of their comfort zone. After an hour I was completely drenched and wondering how I survived college without having a heart attack and muscle cramps at every frat party.
Ah yes, a new week. It will be a busy one, but I am ready to roll. I don't do too well with "down time". Shocking, I know. What can I say,...I love what I do. Not to say I won't long for a nap around 3pm and consider a forehead-to-the-wall move by 5, but that's just a typical Monday right?
Exactly.
I am headed to bed. Its not even 9 yet, but I am 5 minutes from a freakout and need some coma-like sleep before I say or do something I'll have to apologize for later.
On that note, get your week started right. Plan your workout schedule. Mark it on your calendar and make your health a priority. Simply writing it down will make you more likely to follow through and not book something else during that time. 1 hour,...20 minutes,....whatever. Fit it in. No excuses.
Night folks!
Its been 3 days since I've posted, and its honestly not because I haven't had anything to say. We all know that's not true. The weekend just flew by from one thing to the next and before I knew it I was peeling eggs like some factory worker losing fingers and what not in preparation for another week. I was a complete zombie today, but for good reason.
I went to stay with my nieces last night while my brother/sister-in-law went to a wedding. We went to the park....baked muffins...went potty....and watched Curious George...and more Curious George....oh, and one more time. He should no longer be curious. It was a blast. A few shots of milk for them and coffee for me and things get crraaaazzy...
I was driving home well after 1am trying to stay awake and hold back any road rage that naturally occurs post-9pm. At one point I remember being too tired to change the radio station, and 6 minutes later it occurred to me that I just sat through back-to-back Phil Collins songs. At 1:30 in the morning, exhausted, and no more caffeine in the system, Phil Collins is a crotch-kick. I didn't know whether to cry, curse, or keep veering right.
It was the end to a fairly busy day that began with hip-hop class. First hip-hop class in about 5 weeks so we were all sucking wind like smokers in there, but it was worth it. I had a couple of newbies in there, high school freshmen,...so I was proud of them for simply stepping out of their comfort zone. After an hour I was completely drenched and wondering how I survived college without having a heart attack and muscle cramps at every frat party.
Ah yes, a new week. It will be a busy one, but I am ready to roll. I don't do too well with "down time". Shocking, I know. What can I say,...I love what I do. Not to say I won't long for a nap around 3pm and consider a forehead-to-the-wall move by 5, but that's just a typical Monday right?
Exactly.
I am headed to bed. Its not even 9 yet, but I am 5 minutes from a freakout and need some coma-like sleep before I say or do something I'll have to apologize for later.
On that note, get your week started right. Plan your workout schedule. Mark it on your calendar and make your health a priority. Simply writing it down will make you more likely to follow through and not book something else during that time. 1 hour,...20 minutes,....whatever. Fit it in. No excuses.
Night folks!
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