Working Together

I don't believe in resolutions. Especially weight loss resolutions. No sooner do I tell myself I can't eat this or I must do that, then I'm eating whatever and not doing anything. I do however believe in making goals. I make small goals that are the steps towards achieving a long term goal. My goal for the following months is to increase overall fitness and make good choices in the kitchen.

Too many people separate themselves from their bodies. They act like losing weight is a battle they have to fight everyday. If they could only join forces with their body instead of treating it like the enemy weight loss and body image satisfaction would come so much more easily. The first time I looked at my body and thought positively was during a yoga class. After a lot of work I had finally gotten into a shoulder stand. I was pretty impressed with myself and my body. We had done this one together. Once I let go of the "it's me vs. you" attitude I became a happier person. In all reality it's you, your body, vs. diet myths, pills, and all that processed junk at the grocery store.

Getting Off the Couch

What exactly gets me off of the couch and onto the floor, weights in hand? I would tell you but I'm not sure. One moment I am one with the sofa zoned out and tuned in to the tube and the next moment I'm kicking and punching, burning approximately one hundred calories for every ten minutes into it. However I can say that I give myself every mental advantage I can think of.

I leave out the blender with my rice protein blend ready to go. I leave my weights by the TV at all times. I wake up and put on my sweats first thing. Recently just starting with a quick ten minute routine from on demand has done wonders for my motivation. All I have to do is make myself hit the button and I'm up doing a new routine.

I tell myself that it's OK I can do just a few minutes, finish the first work out and then I can be done. I only commit to a little at a time but here's the thing, typically if I do just five or ten minutes odds are I'm hungry for more. A short buns and thigh routine gets followed by a full kickboxing video and I'm done. Sometimes the challenge is to tell yourself to slow down.

I would like to have the luxury of grabbing my sneakers along with my ipod and running out the door for a morning jog. In my neighborhood however, that's just not an option. I live on a very busy road with lots of cars and plenty of exhaust, add to that concrete sidewalks which are hard on knee and ankle joints and your health bonus is nullified. Not to mention I'm a 5' 2" young woman who is not about to go off jogging alone on a busy street. For now I have a system that works for me and my body.

Broccoli and Lima Beans

After four days of holiday festivities back on the ranch I relished the opportunity to eat some vegetables. Strange as it may seem I just wanted something green. After inhaling more cheese in a few days than I had consumed in the last year I felt overjoyed to sit down with a plate of broccoli, lima beans, soup and a slice of homemade bread. It was good fuel for the day and though my house work didn't seem to get done, I did spend an hour and a half with my weights and work out mat. It's never to early to start good habits for the new year. I tried out some complimentary work outs on comcast's on demand channel and to my delight I found a set that met all of my needs. Work out: one on one with Jackie has three 20 minute circuit training routines concentrating on upper body, lower body, and the core. Believe it or not it's hard to find work out videos that have all of the necessary elements. A not so bubbly fitness instructor who can manage to do the same repetitions on each side while reminding you to breath and gives tips on good posture is key. This means I will probably have to purchase it. Today was a pretty good start to the week and tomorrow is of course, another day.

Snowed In

We have seen an unusual amount of snow here in Portland Oregon. Winter sort of came as a surprise. After a few days of 23 degree weather I stepped outside yesterday thinking that 36 degrees is fairly warm in comparison. My friends from out of state are quick to point out that this "extreme weather" in Oregon is a regular winter for other folks. Sure, that's why I live in Oregon.
It's almost as if this weather put life as usual at somewhat of a stand still. I am typically a busy-body multi-tasking fanatic with several to-do lists. After the winter weather set in it seemed it was all I could do to get up and do some dishes. The minimalist of activities feel overwhelmingly difficult and I have taken up new hobbies such as staying inside wrapped in blankets and sipping on cocoa. I have discovered various celeb reality shows each one trashier than the next, yet I sit mesmerized laid out on the couch with the cat at my feet and the dog on my lap.

I only began to come out of my winter wonderland haze yesterday. I realized that if I couldn't pry the TV remote out of my hand I would have to work around it. I turned it to on Demand to see what complimentary work outs were being offered. I have done enough of these that I've become somewhat picky and it took a moment to zone into something worth while. Needless to say the 44 year old mother of three and exotic dancer turned fitness enthusiast was not the type of expert I wanted to take tips from. I ended up doing a couple of quick lower body work outs and an ab video that almost defeated me.

It's funny how the exercise bug works; you can go days, weeks, even months without it, but as soon as you get the first five or ten minutes under your belt you are hooked. No sooner had I finished the first work out than I felt fully rejuvenated. So much so that it was hard to stop the momentum.

That's the key to starting a new work out routine, or picking up where you left off. After a long break from physical exercise your muscles are fresh and working at full unchallenged potential so it can be hard to recognize when you've overworked them. I usually figure it out the next day, when I can hardly get out of bed because my legs don't want to work. Luckily for me I didn't push it too hard yesterday, and can enjoy an upper body work out later today.

2008 In Retrospect

I think it is safe to say that I lived this last year to the fullest. It was full of spectacular events:

We started the year of 2008 at the Hilton, three stories of fun with four different dance floors. We ended up spending most of the night dancing to a live band doing a mix of 80's classics. It was one big party and unforgettable fun.

For our second anniversary I surprised Alex with a trip to Seattle, complete with a room at the posh hotel, The Alexis, and a trip to the Fry Museum where they hosted a spectacular exhibit of Robert Crumbs work. You don't have to travel far from home in order to escape the ordinary.

Our baby boy Mojo came bounding into our lives early in the summer. I felt an indescribable need to find a dog to adopt into our home. After a lot of thought and deliberation we visited a Min Pin rescue and once we saw Mojo the search was over.

We had the pleasure of accompanying our dear friends Jason and Cornell to the British Invasion themed bash of the year. It was a circus! Fun booths, body paint, and a very talented band none other than the Fab Four. Even though imbibed a little too much to be any good to anyone the next day, it was so worth it.

Another year and another Pow Wow. The whole crew was back for the week long camping
trip. Only this time, for the first time since I had started going, Eric and his girlfriend Stephanie made the trip. Nothing like five or so days straight without a real shower.

Alex and I stowed away to the little Eastern Oregon town of Fossil for a weekend and it was one of the most incredible trips of my life. To think we have so many natural treasure right here in Oregon, it makes me realize how lucky we are to live here.

We left the states for a week and took our first trip to the Caribbean. Words can not express what the Caribbean ocean feels like and pictures can only give you a glimpse of its beauty. I feel grateful that we were able to experience the peaceful serenity that is the Dominican Republic.

On Halloween 2008 Alex and I made the big step and moved in together. Thanks to my good friend Justin we found a three bedroom two story house for a very affordable price. It's got lots of room for our boy to run around and enough space that we feel like it's got room for both of our big personalities.

December 7th 2008 Alex and I went to the Rose Garden to see Nine Inch Nails perform live. I had never imagined I would be seeing the powerhouse in person yet there he was on stage. The man doesn't even need a mike, his vocals are out of this world. We had amazing seats and I don't think that concert experience will ever be beat.

Despite the first snow storm of 2008 hitting Portland, my brother, Alex and I made it downtown to see Bruce Campbell live. He was in town promoting his lates movie, 'My name is Bruce.' and hosted a special Q and A session afterwords. Though it was 22 degrees and snowing we took the max to the city, made it on time, got to have a few words with our superhero and made it back safely in a cab.

Two weeks to go in 2008, in retropsect, no regrets, nothing but found memories and a feeling that there are more good things to come.