Flexing Fannies

I hit the living room for another round of yoga today and managed to stay on the mat for about 25 minutes before my left knee took on a life of its own and began dancing and wiggling in a kind of muscle spasm I've never seen before.  Rather than push myself through the last 5 minutes of the workout and risk my Jello-knee going completely haywire I did a little cool-down stretching and then walked away.

Unfortunately as the weather has started getting nicer and my friends and family have realized that spring is quickly approaching, our group has become littered with twisted ankles and pulled muscles.  We're all in a rush to get back into our workout routines and while getting back into shape after a winter of hibernating under a stack of pumpkin pies, roasted turkeys and chocolate covered strawberries is rapidly climbing to the top of our list it is best to tread softly during these first few weeks of workout weather.

My knee has stopped jiggling, so I think it's time to hit the showers.  On to the rest of the day!

Three walks in a single week - It's a trend!

On my third trip around the neighborhood for the week, I realized how far I've come in the scheme of things.  I beat myself up a lot for not working out as much as I'd like, not making getting a gym membership a priority and not eating exactly right 100% of the time.  But really, when putting one foot in front of the other on a cold January day, it is amazing to think about everything that I've accomplished in the last year.  Since it's all fresh on my mind, I figure I'll list everything I can think of here:

1) Quit my day-job to write full-time and support my husband's business.
2) Began writing weekly for sites like Associated Content, Yahoo!, Examiner, Rivals and more.
3) Managed three blogs (almost) weekly.
4) Started an exercise routine.
5) Moved my mom in with me and my husband.
6) Helped my mom move back out on her own.
7) Finished writing a novel.
8) Started writing a second novel.
9) Began submitting writing to contests, magazines and journals (still keeping fingers crossed that those pan out someday).
10) Kept up with friends and family as best I could.
11) Went to Disneyland.
12) Went to Legoland.
13) Went to Dragon*Con.
14) Played paintball more times than I can count.
15) Suffered a death in the family.
16) Had to put a pet down due to illness.
17) Started reading again.
18) Started sewing again.
19) Started crocheting again.

The list goes on, I'm sure.  It's a lot - much more than I thought could possibly fit all in one year, but there it is. 2011 is shaping up to be even more jam-packed, and I am glad that I've been able to stick to my desire to live a healthier lifestyle through it all.  Of course, I'm not perfect, but the changes to my well being have stuck and that is what matters.

On that note, I'm off to do laundry for the first time this year.  Thank goodness for clean underpants!

Round Two!

Lo and behold, I was able to make another trek outside today!  Another mile down on the road to fitness, and another great burst of energy that has helped me through a hectic day at the office.  One thing that I have noticed is that even after taking a couple of weeks off of my quest for a smaller bottom, going a mile just doesn't take very long.  Roughly 15 minutes or so and I'm done!  This got me thinking today; as someone who seems to never take the chance to take a "real" break from work, perhaps I should push myself to do a 15 minute stroll 2 or 3 times a day to get my labor-laws taken care of AND my workout at the same time!

Should do... but will I?  Only time will tell.

Chasing the 4:35 Train

Adding some oompf to an otherwise computer-keying day, I decided to take a walk through the neighborhood to the local grocery store this afternoon.  On my way back as I crossed over the train tracks I noticed the afternoon train coming down the line.  I decided to try to beat the train through the neighborhood (the tracks run parallel to the road that I walk to get to my house) and held my giant bundle of toilet paper and brownie mix tight against my chest as I hoofed it across the concrete.

The train probably moves at 4 or 5 miles an hour, which is still slightly faster than I can walk and so I really had to push myself which is surprisingly difficult with 12 rolls of toilet paper filling both arms and a sack of boxed goodness pounding against your outer thigh.  The people in the neighborhood all looked at me in confusion as I peeked between the houses to see how I was progressing and trying to stay in front of the nose of the train.

Sadly the train beat me to the end of the street, but only by a nose.  I was even with the conductor's window at the end of the "race".  I take a proud second place though, realizing that the conductor has thousands of tons of steel, fuel and momentum keeping him moving and all I've got are a pair of New Balance shoes and the promise of frosted brownies in my future.

John Spencer Ellis.... We Meet Again

Although I have a habit of trying something new each time I work out, for day 9 of the 10 Pound Slimdown challenge I headed back to John Spencer Ellis's 20 Min. Lower Body Workout / Real Housewives 1.  Although M and I have enjoyed a wide variety of trainers and exercises this last week, the Real Housewives workouts (there is an upper body workout also) have been some of our favorites.

Not only does it help to be working out while watching a good looking man (rawr!) instead of staring at some peppy stick-thin woman with perfect abs and latex-hugged glutes, but the routines themselves are great.  John has put together a workout that is methodical instead of jarring, allowing you to really focus on the muscles that are supposed to be doing all the work.  It's great to be able to close your eyes and feel your body moving and to be able to feel when your posture is off or your balance is starting to go off kilter.

I have noticed that the more I workout the more sweat seems to accumulate on the insides of my elbows, on the back sides of my knees, on my scalp and under my bra-line.  I suppose that means this whole exercise thing is really getting into swing and my body is switching into "fit" mode.  I read an article recently (it's been out for a year but I only just stumbled upon it) that mentions fit people may actually sweat more than people who are out of shape.  That makes one more notch on the fitness totem pole!

So to John, I raise my glass of water and would like to say: Thanks for being gorgeous and while I hate to admit it being a fan of crappy reality tv, I love your appearance on this damn show: