The Mesa Verde Cliff Dwellings....unbelievable.  Yeah....and do you know how you get to be able to view them?  You hike!  You climb!  You pant!  Yup....another day on "vacation" I was tricked into exercising!

You had me at STOP

  

 

Recently, while on "vacation," I came across 3 signs...the first one said "STOP," the second one said "CAUTION," and the third one said, "BE PREPARED."  Where were the "RELAX", "ENJOY", and "POOL THIS WAY" signs??? The words of Goldie Hawn's character in "Overboard" kept ringing in my ears: "I'm not supposed to be here!" Like Alice in Wonderland, I was beginning to wonder just what I was getting myself into. (How I wish the signs had been "EAT ME" or "DRINK ME!")  I was begining to ascend down down down into the rabbit hole...er...Carlsbad Caverns.  A huge hole in the ground...the dank, dark, cold, no one will be able to find you kind of hole.  And I was doing this because I was on VACATION.  Huh?  Wait just a second....did I just get tricked into exercising?! 

Exercising is for the Dogs...and Cats

As soon as I roll out my exercise mat Roo immediately claims it as her very own spot to rest. But, once she spied the 2lb. weights she began to have second thoughts. I know exactly how she felt (Notice her expression: "Hold on just a second....I am slowly backing away....") I know exercising is good for me. I know that if I keep at it I will begin to see results...I GET IT PEOPLE! But here's the rub...I DON'T WANT TO DO IT!!! I like all of the gear...the mat, the dumb bells, the lycra, the outfits, the tennis shoes (I even bought one of those purple exercise balls...but, as you can see, it is outside on the porch deflating rapidly...in fact, Snickers is worn out just by the mere sight of it!)...it's the doing it after a long, hard day part...it's the getting undressed and then dressed again just to sweat and get undressed again...it's the "I don't like bouncing around on achey joints when I could be reading right now" part of it all. But...I have stuck with it. And, yes, I am starting to see results...and...I am feeling good about myself--dammit! NOW I HAVE to keep exercising! And so I do. Yes, I have skipped a couple of days here and there...mainly because of my crazy schedule...but I have picked right back up as soon as I was able. I like the fact that I am doing something to make me better. I also like the fact that my pets and I have so much in common!!!

Mindset+Sleep=Compliments

The stars must have been aligned yesterday because I received one compliment after another--all day long! Now, I say this because I have been feeling out of sorts for a while now and just this past week finally started taking control of my life...instead of letting it control me. I made certain that I got at least 8 hours of sleep on a daily basis. I watched what I ate and controlled my portions. I drank as much water as I could. I took my vitamins. I did all of the things we are always told to do. Except for the exercise part...well...that's not entirely true because yesterday I bought another exercise DVD...that counts, right? And guess what? It all started to gel. My face looked refreshed, my thinking was clear, and my energy levels were up. I've started adapting the 10-10-10 approach to decision making (more on this in another post) and I have decided to take part in the 30-Day Shred workout regime (more on this in another post as well).

And then, on Friday, BOOM! the compliments poured forth. As soon as I got to work several ladies approached me wanting to know what I was doing because I was "glowing." I shared with them my Bonne Bell makeup secret (Blend'nGlow Natural Blush...I use it as my foundation) and set off about my day. The outfit I was wearing was a hit and someone came up to me later in the day saying they didn't know who I was--they didn't recognize me from the back. At the end of the work day I went to pick up my son and while sitting in the front office a high school student complimented me on my eyes...she said they were just beautiful. Later that evening my husband told me that I looked nice today. WOW! All of this in ONE single day!

Lest I let all of this gushing go to my head, I had the following conversation with a kindergarten boy on this very same day:

boy: "Are you going to have a baby?"

me: "Do I look like I am going to have a baby?"

boy: "Yes."

me: "..."

Today I'm going to bed at 3 in the afternoon!

No Food For Thought

As someone relatively new to the world of diet & exercise I have to say it sucks. That's right...I used one of my all time most hated words...in print! I have enjoyed a blessed stint as the beneficiary of a high metabolism but, as they say, all good things must come to an end. That is why I have tried to start the year off right. I have made a gallant effort to drink more water, eat salad for lunch, and, dare I say it, exercise. The hard part has been putting a muzzle on my hunger. I am always hungry and I want nothing but junk. A York Peppermint Patty seems to do what a leaf of lettuce can't. After I do get a cardio workout in I am only thirsty for a cold beer...with a twist of lime (does that count as a fruit?...a vegetable?...) After my third workout my right hip is screaming, "GIVE ME GLOCOSAMINE CHONDROITIN!! NOW!!

To help with the pain I am on my second glass of red wine...grapes are a fruit, right?

The End is Near

I just got in from a 2 mile walk...that's right...count 'em...2 miles baby!!! I figured that I better make good on my '08 resolution to walk/exercise this year...and...since it is still 2008 I thought I better fit that one in real quick. I am the ultimate procrastinator...and pretty damn proud of it!! To help give me a leg up on the inevitable "I'm going to eat more fruits and veggies and exercise regularly and get 8 hours of sleep and drink 8 glasses of water and write more and read more and keep up with the dishes and the laundry more" routine of making a new year's list of resolutions (perhaps I should actually print out a master copy of my list (which has been unchanged since 1982) and simply change the date at the top of it) I went ahead and purchased a bag full of yoga pants and tank tops. (No, I don't do yoga...and No, I won't wear the tank without a zippered jacket over it)...but nothing spurs girls on than new clothes!



Having stayed up past midnight for two nights in a row I am curious to see if it can be done tonight...the night it is supposed to be done. We have plans to go over to the neighbor's house so at least we won't be going far. This means that a nap is in high order! Besides that the walk flat out wore me out!!!

Feeling the Burn

Well, here it is the Monday before the Thursday I return to work for the new school year. I finally made good on my promise to get up early and walk in the morning. My daughter has a doctor’s appointment this afternoon at 1:30 so I have plenty of time to wait for the internet to connect.

My face has been zit free all summer long, but now that I have to sit in an auditorium with 1000+colleagues my jaw line is peppered and the infamous Cyclops look is upon me…go figure. After purchasing nothing but accessories (read:PURSES) all summer I must now face the fact that I have nothing to wear but plenty to carry.

My daughter is now using a flat iron while I just experienced my first "fat" iron. Let me explain: I was ironing a blouse (only because I had a meeting with my boss) and I was fresh out of the shower (only because I had a meeting with my boss). As I stood there in my next to nothings I somehow managed to run over my stomach with the iron. Nothing says WAKE UP AND START THAT EXERCISE PROGRAM like a hot iron to the gut. Talk about feeling the burn!

As I walked past our chicken coop I heard the roosters crowing and thought to myself, MEN! They are so darn noisy! Especially in the mornings when us hens are wanting to savor each precious second before the chicks wake up and peck away at us. And then I thought, COOP…how appropriate. With the heat of the summer and the kids and I at home we are certainly feeling cooped up with not much to crow about.
I guess it really is time to head on back to school/work (did I really just say that?!) Oh CacaDoodleDo!

Bobcat Workout

Remember the "Ab-buster?" Or how about the "Chuck Norris/Christie Brinkley endorsed gadget?" What about the "exercise ball?" Perhaps you prefer pilates to Jane Fonda's step aerobics? Perhaps you're into yoga. Well prepare yourselves to toss out the Stair Master and the Bowflex because I've discovered the best kept secret in workout machinery: The Bobcat Workout.

I was "fortunate" enough to experience this phenom just the other day. Let me take you there: I was in the comfort of my air conditioned home doing things that made me happy...such as reading and lounging. My husband was outside doing whatever made him happy...such as...watering the yard and fixing things. He called me on my cell and asked me if I wanted to meet him outside and look for rocks. Hmmm...how interesting??? In the past we have enjoyed fossil hunting and I figured why not? I sauntered outside and walked down to the barn. As soon as I got there my husband told me that he needed me to operate the bobcat (as in TRACTOR) while he searched for large rocks that will be used to line our garden. Alrighty-then. I hopped up into the driver's seat and settled myself down amongst the grime. As I backed up the tell-tale beep-beep sounded and I was off. If you've never driven a bobcat then you are missing out. It is like an amusement park ride gone wild. The jerking alone will have you shaking hours after getting off the darn thing. The slimy orangy-brown grime that pools at the bottom of the gears along with the scent of engine and fuel will have you feeling fine in no time. Seeing as I am a short individual my legs were totally extended and believe it or not I used stomach muscles I never knew that I even had!

It was sweaty fun and I actually enjoyed it. I had to put up with a husband who thought it necessary to "show me where to turn" (so I wouldn't run over a TREE), but overall it was a great experience. I think I would much rather run over things and lift and drop a bucket than raise my left knee to my right elbow anytime!