A Mood Boost

I don't like the treadmill - I think we all know this - but today I decided to go ahead and spend some time on it.  A friend of mine suggested a tv show to help the time go by, but it's in the basement, and there isn't a tv down there.

Instead, I chose some music.  Normally, I would pick something pretty rocking, but today, I turned to a different sort of play list.  I typed in "Jeremy Camp" into my streaming radio, and let the phone do the rest.  I ended up spending 40 minutes on the treadmill, and since it is slipping from the move, I have to have it at a bit of an incline (and bummer!  no running), until James can tighten it up for me.

It turned into such a wonderful time.  I focused more on the music, then on the workout, and then focused more on my Savior then on the music.  It was a wonderful, refreshing time, and I was able to go back to the family and help them with their needs with a better attitude and outlook.

Which Do I Prefer?

I got this great idea to download the demo of Zumba onto our XBox.  I convinced my oldest son that he should do it with me.  I did the first 4 minute workout, then he did it, then I did the second 4 minutes and he followed.  So, after combined workouts of 16 whole minutes we could barely do any more.  Mostly because it was hard!  And because we were laughing at each other way too much! 

 I felt like such a wimp!  8 minutes with a 4 minute break?  Pathetic!

So, in order to combat my super wimp status I got on the treadmill for 20 minutes.  Not that exciting, but honestly, walking without going anywhere isn't all that dynamic to me.  I did get some much needed quiet time however and that was good.

But I wasn't quite done.  Since we still haven't gotten the Bowflex set up in the basement, I decided to just grab some free weights and do some arm work outs.  It was great that one of my sons (the 12 year old) came down to join me.  He has an issue with push ups, so we worked on those for a bit together and I showed him some arm exercises he could do as well.

I would have to say that there are two kinds of exercise that I enjoy the most.  Outdoors, it would have to be bike riding.  I have ridden a bike since I was little (didn't most of us?), and even though it was sometimes the only way to get to someplace I wanted to go, the love of being out on the open road is something that I really enjoy.

Inside though?  Really only one thing.  Weight lifting!  I love it.  I love the sense of accomplishment when I get through another rep or add more weights to the reps I am already doing. 

Darn!  Now I really want that machine set up! 

Day 1 is a Good One

It is 20 minutes to 8:00pm.  We are nearly finished with day 1 of our juice fast.  1 more to go in a little bit.  And that brings the total to 5.

Well, it’s not a pure juice fast, we did have one really yummy salad for dinner, but I can say that everything I ate was fresh and raw!  And that I feel great!  Now…..  Earlier, I was  a little drained.  So, we added some fruit to our next juice, and boosted our calorie intake a bit.

I got in 20 minutes of yoga, and 45 minutes in the pool with our two youngest.  While there wasn’t a lot of swimming, I figure that hauling around a 30 pound weight in the pool for that time had to do something good.  James took the middle two back for 2 hours this afternoon, so he is doing great with his exercise. 

We went to Sprouts market (one of our favorite hang outs) and got some more fresh veg for the next couple of days.  It is only 3 miles away, and we would rather have super fresh veg.  Plus, it gives us a chance to slow down and have some uninterrupted time together. Wish it was a mile closer, I would walk it every day. 

The other thing we did was weight, waist measurements, and pictures (to record how ‘gorgeous’ we are right now).  James wants to put those on here too….  Me?  Not so much.  It is going to be one of the biggest challenges I have.  Not going to lie about that!  Well, when he decides to grace us with his presence, he can add what he wants.  Until then, I will just keep working on me!

Lessons Learned

"Illnesses do not come upon us out of the blue. They are developed from small daily sins against nature. When enough sins have accumulated, illnesses will suddenly appear.” – Hippocrates

Yesterday morning I woke up and started thinking.  Bad thing to do.  I started thinking about money and where it needed to go and what we had to do next and, and, and….  And I started feeling so stressed.

I hadn’t even gotten out of bed, and I wanted to crawl back in and stay all day.  So, contrary to my nature, I decided to exercise.  Nothing spectacular.  I knew I had some 10 minute workouts on my Netflix queue.  I figured a little Pilates would take my mind off things and set me right for the day.  

The perky trainer said I should start with abs because it would be a good start for any other exercises I wanted to do.  Funny, I believed her.  BUT, I did realize two things.  1) I have abs.  2) they have forgotten what exercise is.  I was so glad that the rest of the family was still sleeping so they didn’t have to see (hear) me slugging through the exercises.  

One thing I also learned – I was right.  I did feel better.  I had decided once again to make a positive decision in a crazy moment.  After I was done, I told James that if I didn’t start doing something for myself, some things were going to start happening to myself.  I know the effects of stress can add problems to health that could otherwise be avoidable. Later that morning, I came across the quote above, and knew once again that I had made the right choice. 

Baby steps are, in fact, still steps.