My Metabolic Makeover

I actually bit the bullet and signed up for a local gym makeover program.  Me...the girl who has never set foot in a gym.  My friend belongs to the same one and loves it there.  We had talked for years about weight struggles.  Well, how self-conscience do I feel when she starts dropping dress sizes and for some reason I keep going up.  She set up a walk through with the coordinator for me and came with.  Way too expensive for me was my first thought.  Then, they went over a six week program that lets you have full gym access for that time, a personal trainer, and a custom made makeover based on how many calories I burn while doing nothing.  The price wasn't as bad as signing up for a regular membership so I went in this week.

I remember this same time last year I was about to turn 30.  I didn't like the weight I was at then and vowed to lose at least a little by my birthday.  I did exercise videos a few times a week, but that was it.  I think being a stay at home mom makes it harder to lose weight.  You have access to a kitchen 24-7.  Also, I discovered the wonder of velor pant suits, so I could be comfortable all hours of the day and not feel my skinny jeans getting tighter.  So, here I am approaching 31 and am in a better position to lose weight with being accountable to a trainer.

I never understood how lifting weights could make a person lose weight.  I just thought vigorous exercise a few times a week would help.  I am getting educated times two because of my trainer and a good friend training to be one.  I'm not that literate in explaining the ins and outs of it, but know now it's important.  Perhaps you'll see a comment explaining it, if my friend is up to it. This is how my ideal workout looks:

1. Warm up with light cardio 5-10 minutes.

2.  Strength training on 6 different machines, starting out with 4 reps on each and eventually increasing.

3. Followed by cardio for 30-45 minutes.

So there you have it.  I'm making it a goal to do this three times a week to get the most of paying for this. Also, I'm trying my best to cut calories but that will be the hardest challenge.  One thing I have learned is to drink cold water and lots of it.  Why?  Because you actually burn calories by drinking it.  You use up calories by your body warming the water up.  I'm sure I'll be sharing more tips while I am going through this.

This gym offers daycare which is the only way I could do this.  There are days my daughter is tired of staying home with me, so this gives us both a little break.  Our computer was down for over a week so I was not able to post.  Don't give up on me, new posts will soon follow.

My Poetry Door...

You've spoken and I've listened.  This is the post that you may leave comments on my poetry.  I have made it as easy as possible to leave comments, all you do is type in an e-mail address. The poems I have posted are a sample of hundreds of poems I have written over seventeen years.  Share your favorite one with me, or even a favorite line.  Maybe there is one you can relate to.  Or maybe you're not a big poetry buff.  Yet to know me, is to know my poetry.

The Book Whore

I have a confession.  I have not been reading Persuasion for the past three months.  My ADHD kicks in when there are a plethora of good books before me.  I was about to read Persuasion when I see the newly purchased Bell Jar in Julio's collection.  It looked like somewhat of a short read, so I started flipping through it one night and couldn't put it down.  The first half of the book was the best descriptive literature I've ever read.  It got a little too dark for me from there, but does deal with the important topic of mental health.  Of course from past posts, you know how I feel about a writer putting themself in the story.  So, I was hooked.  Then for 50 cents each, Julio gets me the poetry of Baudelaire and a bio of Barbra Striesand.  Beautiful poetry and and an interesting life story.  Good stuff.  What does a couple in their thirties do with kids that is cost effective?  Go to used book stores of course.  Everyone gets something they want.  So, I have been very fortunate to add some much searched for books to my collection.  In the same day, I got a book about L.M. Montgomery and Madeleine L'Engle's first two Crosswicks Journals:  A Circle of Quiet and The Summer of the Great-Grandmother.  I finished the L.M. Montgomery book in one night, and started A Circle of Quiet.  I can tell I'm going to like it.  Then the biggest treat I discovered two weeks ago.  In a used book store we frequent, I stumbled upon The Selected Journals of L.M. Montgomery Volume I edited by Mary Rueben and Elizabeth Waterson.  I had the honor of having the same Mary Rueben post on my site a few months ago.  The reason this one is so special is because I never thought I'd find it used at an affordable price.  On Amazon, the least expensive used copy was $35.  I got this for $5 in excellent condition.  So I read a few chapters that night.  There is not more extensive information on her life than what are contained in these volumes.  The additional maps and pictures enhance the book so beautifully. 

So should I say I'm in the middle of reading three books?  The Montgomery journal might have to go in the front of the line.  I have to thank the editors for leaving in all the details Montgomery wanted taken out.  I love her secrets and all.  And as for Persuasion, PBS is featuring Jane Austen movies all month.  The movie might be seen before I get around to the book.  I think Jane would understand.  It's because of her I have an appetite for classic novels. 

Living in the Moment

Almost a year ago, my husband started to ask about my dad's time in the navy.  I remembered as a child watching footage he took during that time of 1967-1971.  He had toured Europe and had himself a good time.   He took videos with his Super 8 movie camera that does not record sound.  Talking about it, made me remember he had family movies too.  It became a goal to get my family together and view them.  It finally happened a few weeks ago and was a dream come true.  None of the footage had been viewed for almost thirty years, some of it only filmed and never seen. 

 I saw my grandparents in a whole new light.  By the time I was five, their lives had drastically changed.  In the film, I saw them vibrant and happy...and dancing?  My family doesn't dance...does it?  They were cutting a rug quite enthusiastically and then...my parents join in?  What parallel universe is this?  Perhaps your relatives are the same people they were thirty years ago.  Perhaps it's easy for you to imagine your mom at Woodstock because she still has her love beads.  Well, people in my family have changed or changed then passed away.  I was living in their moment of happiness.  Seeing their familiar faces on video made me feel like I was there with them, in the house I remember visiting as a child.  Then when the reel would end, and the lights go on, reality set in.  It made me feel robbed of them, of not knowing them at a time they were happy.

My family actually came a second time this week to view what we thought were the navy videos.  None of them are labeled,  so we never knew what was coming next.  Here, they were more family videos my parents don't even remember taking.  What a treat!  They featured a trip to Canada, our family going to Strasburg Railroad, Dutch Wonderland, and my cousins when Sean was a toddler and Kim and I as babies.  What was the best was seeing my parents wedding.  To see relatives I loved so much on either side of the family talking outside after the ceremony was very surreal. 

We'll have to wait till next time to see those Navy videos.  One thing I wish was on those reels was my dad meeting Jackie Kennedy and her children.  They came on board the day of the christening of the ship because it was named in honor of JFK.  I'm just so thrilled these films have withstood the test of time and were kept safe from harm.  Seeing these videos has been a bonding experience for us I never thought would happen.  Do you know of any old videos of your family?  Grab a relative and a movie projector (or buy one on eBay) and watch one.  You might learn something about yourself in the process.