Nia

Recently, a friend of mine recommended a class to me.  She said "you have to go! you have to try it!" When I asked her what it was, she described it as a "free movement dance class."  The class was being offered at a local Rec Center, Twin Lakes. Previously, I took kickboxing at the Rec Center and had a positive experience. We had a great instructor and kickboxing helped to strengthen my core and help me with my balance.

We belonged to our local YMCA for several years- but I wasn't satisfied with my experience.  Despite being members for several years, I knew very few people- including instructors. In my opinion, the instructors didn't make an effort to meld the class in any way. The last class I took at the Y had an awful instructor. I'm sorry, but this is true. It was a dance class and she could never remember how to do the dances. We should have had to pay for the class, but we did. For several reasons, we made the decision to leave the YMCA.

 

Twin Lakes Rec Center is offering free classes this week. Tonight, Nia was offered and we decided to give it a try. Before we left, Doug said "you do know you do this class barefooted."  I nodded.  I knew this.

 

All of my life, others have considered me to be a strange duck. I do not like to go barefoot. First of all, I am a germaphobe. Secondly, I am allergic to bees. I don't want to step on anything and get hurt. I do not like my feet to get dirty. I like to wear my shoes and socks. I don't understand why this is considered to be strange, but people have always made fun of me because of this.

 

For me to take a class barefooted is a big (bare) step for me. Because I don't go barefooted, my feet are soft and tender. I greatly enjoyed the Nia class, but at one point I looked over and saw my friends, my shoes and socks and wanted to run over and put them on. I'm sorry, I have an aversion to being barefoot...may I please wear my shoes and socks?

 

The class was wonderful. In the beginning, we all formed a circle and introduced our selves to one another. This is great- the first step to getting to know others. Part of the class was structured, part of it was not. The instructor would say "anything goes!" and we would dance about on our own. The class was made up of people of all ages - I would guess from people in their twenties to mid-sixties. Everyone works to the best of their own ability. It was in the 80's outdoors today and I'm certain they had air on in the studio, but I was sweating buckets. There was a lot of jumping and dancing and stretching and some poses similar to those in Yoga. At the end of the class, we rolled about on the floor and I realized why little children roll about on the floor. It felt great. Kind of like a self massage. We stretched and rolled and wiggled. Similar to how I feel after a Yoga class, I felt very relaxed. I have a "bad" ankle that was broken in '97 and still gives me pain. After class, my ankle felt good.It felt relaxed.  My entire body felt good.

 

Free or not, I predict Nia will be a new joyful discovery.

 

Read more about Nia here.http://www.nianow.com/practice

The power of words

Today at work I was emailing with a colleague from work.  I shared a disappointment I experienced today.  She wrote back "enjoy this beautiful evening."  I thought to myself
I should take my bike out on the trail- but I have too much to do at home.
I've been too busy as of late- involved in a lot of fun things- like a lot of volunteer work, but I've neglected my art, my house, my blog, myself.  After tonight, I am busy for the next three nights.  Fun stuff, yes, but I have plans. 
I got home and started to take Chelsea out for a walk and just happened to look down at my phone and saw I had just missed a call from my friend. I'm really bad about leaving my phone off after work and missing calls. 
The message was did I want to go out to the trail and walk with her?
Did I?
I have not walked the trail with anyone this summer.  The times I've been out on the trail this summer I've been on my shiny new bicycle. 
But a walk and talk with a gal friend?  Oh, my.  Yes!  My friend and I had lunch recently after falling out of touch with one another.  When I told Doug we had fallen out of touch he said he couldn't believe it.  I couldn't believe it, either.
So I called her back, finished walking Chelsea, threw on a pair of hiking shorts and my Paris pink tennis shoes and drove to meet her. 
This is the kind of friend that causes me to always feel better after a visit with her.  You have those kind of friend, don't you?  I hope so.
We had a lot of catching up to do. We both are Grandmas to our first grandchild.  We both have two children.  We both still have our parents.  We had to catch up on all of that.
Then we started talking about how sometimes (especially with those you love the most) words come out of your mouth that you wish you had never said.  She asked me if I had those moments with my children.  Oh, do I ever.  I said a lot of things when my children were growing up that I wish I had never said.  The worst thing I ever said was to my daughter.  The night she told me she was gay.  Well, that night she was trying to soften the blow and she told me she was bi.  I sat there shell shocked.  Speechless.  My daughter said "say something"
and I said "I think I'm going to throw up?"
My daughter told me she was gay and I told her I was going to throw up.
That in my mind, is the worst thing I've ever said to anyone.
So I drove home after our walk thinking about the power of words.
Someone crossed the line with me recently.  Perhaps in her mind she thought she was being helpful.  But she proceeded to give me some unsolicited advice that was just downright insulting and hurtful.  I'm not the sort of person that needs (or desires) that kind of "feedback." 
Our words are so very powerful.  How will you use your power- for good or evil?

tonight's game

Tonight at the gym I noticed someone had written on the chalkboard
The Hunger Games
Isn't that the truth?

The name of tonight's game is Pizza/No Pizza. 
I was working out at the gym tonight with a colleague and told her "tonight is pizza night."  She said "are you excited?"  I said "no, because we aren't having pizza and this is the fourth week of not having pizza."

I really love pizza.

This is week four.  Week four of being back at the "tough" gym.  I am stronger than I was but not nearly strong enough.  Yesterday morning I was at my lowest weight since I started back.  Then I blew it by going to Friday's with the girls after work. This is what I refer to as a "temporary gain."  Because it will come off, again. 
Today, I'm back on the horse.
I'm counting weight watcher's points- on my own.  In 2000 I did weight watchers and after a year I was at goal and then I became an instructor.  I'm very good at telling people how to lose weight.
I'm a lot better at telling people how to lose weight than actually losing the weight myself. 
Another thing I'm good at is losing the weight, but I'm not so good at keeping it off.
This time, I want to lose it and keep it off.  This is the third big push for me.  I did it in 2000 and I did it again in 2010.  I want to lose it and keep it off because I'm tired of being overweight.  I need to lose it for my self-esteem.  I love being fashionable and I would rather feel fashionable than matronly.  Yes, I'm a grandma, but I don't want to look/feel like one.  In fact, I'd love to have a t-shirt to wear when I'm kicking ass in the gym (throwing tires, punching the punching bag, climbing the prowler) that reads "just call me Grandma." 

Go Granny!

I became a Grandma one year ago.  And suddenly I am filled with a desire to be the best that I can be.  I want to be able to garden with my little Bee.  To walk in the woods and show her things.  To play in the floor.  To run through the airport to make a connection (which I recently had to do when I had gone out to see her).  There are times I think how many years will I have with her?  When she is thirty I will be eighty.  I want to be here for her.  I want her to know me.  I don't want to be a photograph that my daughter shows to her and says "this was your grandma, my mother.  She loved you very much."
My paternal grandma ended up on a walker.  My mother has had a number of surgeries to correct osteo issues- ankles straightened, knees replaced.  My hips ache from all of the years I ran when I was in my twenties.  Tonight in class, my knees, first one, then the other ached.  I gingerly stretched and continued with my work-out.
Today, Doug got on the horse.  He joined weight watchers.  He is doing points plus.  Which I have no idea of what that means.  I'm doing the old basic weight watchers.  I have my points counter.  The old points counter that counts fiber, calories and fat.  It worked before and it can work again.  Now they want to give you all of these extra bonus points.  I'm sorry, but I don't do extra bonus points.  And you can add points for exercise.  If I add points for exercise, I'll never lose.  Weight watchers should have a special program for post-menopausal women because it is so difficult to lose after menopause.  I keep trying to tell friends who haven't yet gone through menopause lose it now. 
Besides working out and eating smart, I'm getting pedis.
How are you being good to yourself?

Bowl of jelly

Do you think Santa wonders how did this happen? 

You know, your waist band gets tight, your bra gets tight, whatever it is doesn't want to button?  And I don't know about you, but I think how did this happen?  I am getting ready to be interviewed by another blogger which has caused me to take a long hard look at my blog.  I've sat looking through old posts and photos.  Posts a little more than a year ago that talk about being a gym-rat.   I was doing boot camp.  I was filled with determination.  It was a "biggest loser" type of situation and I won!  I did.  I was the top overall female.  But, my weight has crept back on.  Bite by bite, nibble by nibble, little by little.

Santa and his bowl full of jelly

We spent Thanksgiving day waiting to go pick up my son and his girlfriend.  We baked a ham and had a couple of ham sandwiches.  We congratulated ourselves and joked about how we were probably the only people that were not stuffed.  And despite the lovely salad that my son's girlfriend made and her healthful influence, once they arrived, we ate and ate.  On Sunday morning after they left I stepped on the scales and was horrified to see that the scales were as high as they had been since boot camp, a year ago.  I went to the Y that afternoon.  And I went back on Tuesday after work and last night after work.  I said to Doug "can we try through the holidays?"  I want to not only maintain and not gain any more weight, but lose!
Are you with me ladies?

I'm talking to myself, here, but if this applies to you, then heed my advice:  ignore that little voice in your head!  I need to ignore that voice that says "sit down in front of that nice hot fire and take a load off- have a glass of wine- have some cheese- have some crackers- have a beer!"  (Then whatever you do, don't move the rest of the evening!)    Shut up little voice!

And this is where I might add that I don't want a bowl full of jelly belly, but I already have one.  And I'm tired of this:

As much as I love muffins, I do not love the muffin top!  (Or, for that matter "mom jeans.") (And as I am not entirely certain just what "mom jeans" are, I may be guilty of wearing them already- despite how cool I think I look in my mind...)

And remember, every pound counts.  Every pound UP and every pound DOWN.  (Gross, huh?)

Here is one way to look at it:

just say no!

And remember:

I battle SAD during the fall and winter.  I've been off and on anti-depression meds.  IF you need them, take them, by all means!  People have suggested that I've never been on the correct meds, but they make me feel lethargic and numb.  I feel like I gain weight when I'm on them.  When I asked my doctor if there was an anti-depressant that has an appetite suppressant in it, she replied "wouldn't that be handy?"  I was able to avoid taking anti-depressants last fall and winter and hope to avoid them this fall and winter.  I talked to my son's girlfriend when she was here and said "it is hard to get out the door, but I always feel better afterward!"  (If nothing else, I'm glad when it is over!)  My doctor advises averaging 35 minutes a day.  What is that?  Four hours of exercise a week?  I think I can do this!  My goal is to get my heart rate up and to sweat.  In turn, that causes me to consider what I am and am not putting into my mouth.  Nibble when it comes to sweets and fats and carbs.  I'm not saying cut them out entirely because if you are like me, it makes me crazy with cravings, but just a little.

My friend Jayme over at Tales from the Coop Keeper has done an amazing job this past year.  She has taken off around one hundred pounds!  For more inspiration (and a lot of giggles) go over and give her a visit! 

"Move it!"

Chelsea and I heading out for a walk on Christmas day

While this may be a quiet work week for many people, I have been quite busy.  I am training to cover someone while they will be out of the office for two months and assisting someone whose assistant is out this week and dealing with my normal stuff.  When I left this afternoon, I was feeling a bit overwhelmed and stressed.  I felt like heading to the Y, but when Doug mentioned a walk with Chelsea, I joined in. 
All I did was change into some flat suede boots.  I had on navy chinos, a thin long sleeve t, and a cotton cable v-neck.  Then I wore the coat I have on in the above pic, gloves and pulled a fleece neck warmer over my head, under the hood of the coat.  It was thirty degrees, and even with gloves, my hands were cold. 
I struck out at a pace that Doug told Chelsea was faster than he could run.  I was ready to move and burn off some tension! For some reason I got a wild hair and decide to jog a bit.  I certainly wasn't dressed for it and didn't have on a sports bra.  The girls bounced along singing "Oh what fun it is to ride..."  well, not quite, but you get the picture.  In no time at all, my hands were warm enough to pull off my gloves.  My hair was wet as was other bodily parts and clothing. 
As I write, I sit, fresh from the shower in pajamas, in front of the fire.  

In all we walked/jogged for an hour.
It felt so good to get out and move.
Chelsea thought so, too.

Boxing ruined my manicure

Apparently, boxing ruins a manicure.  Who knew?  I certainly didn't.  I wouldn't think that if you had on these cute boxing gloves that your nails would get messed up, but mine did.  Before yesterday, I had never had on a pair of boxing gloves.  At one of the classes I took in my Meltdown program, we punched the water base punching bag.  There were ladies gloves in pink like these and lavender.  Pretty cute.  I saw some people just hitting the bag.  Not me.  I was punching for all I was worth.  First of all, one of my goals when I started boot camp was to have "guns."  (Big muscles in my arms.)  Plus, I have a lot of aggression in me.  My work-out partner, Katie said "let your inner bitch out."  I said "let your inner hill-jack out."  When we were done, Katie & I tapped our gloves together.  I said "I think I want to be a boxer!"  It was fun.

 The class I was in has stations and you work your way around the room doing different tasks.  You are at each station for four or five minutes.  In one station, we swing kettle bells, similar to these.  I have graduated from the fifteen pound bell to the twenty-five pound bell.

The owner and master of Meltdown is Adam.  Ever the doppleganger, Adam is both caring mother and task-master to us.  His latest torture device is "Jacob's Ladder."  I didn't see them use it on Biggest Loser, but Adam said that they did and he had to have one.  The first time I was on it I did five minutes and climbed 274 feet.  Adam posted a video of me on facebook to demonstrate that anyone of any age or weight can do Jacob's Ladder.  Even though I am the poster child for the older, over-weight woman, I am proud of what I am doing.  We are beginning week four of boot camp and our second weigh-in is next Sunday.  On my first two week weigh-in I lost 11.2.  I have never worked so hard in any exercise class that I've ever been in.  This program and the people who participate are like no other.  There is literally blood, sweat, tears and barf.  I haven't personally seen the barfing part. (Thank goodness!) The big trash can is ever present.  People of all ages and weight range work and encourage one another.  In class I am gasping for breath and hanging on for dear life.  I can't say enough about this program.  When you are in boot camp, you are eating, living, breathing this program.  My daughter was home for a weekend and said that was all I talked about the entire time.  I know everyone in my life feels the same.  It is a journey and while on it, you are working harder than you've ever worked at anything and it is all you can think about.  It takes every ounce of effort within my being.  And even though the gloves ruined my manicure, I can't wait to box again!

Gym rat

I am, once again, becoming a gym rat.  For most of my life, I've been an obsessive person.  Either I'm in the zone and exercising, or not. I'm in the zone right now. 
I remember when my children were young how they learned that when mommy was grouchy, she needed to go work out.  One night I came through the door after working out and my daughter said "do you want to go back to the Y, mommy?"
I started boot camp last Sunday.  Eight week program, weigh-in every other week.  On weigh-in day, we get a "cheat day."  On the off week that we don't weigh in, we get a "cheat meal."  This past weekend, we didn't get either. 
I'm eating my weight in vegetables. 
This is where I'm going.  I've never done a program that is as effective.  The class are tough.  Everyone works hard.  Adam is strict but affirmative.  We are his children.  He walks around saying "nice" and "good job."  I swear I work harder just hoping he will give me a little tid-bit of praise.  He has this big deep voice.  Like a drill sergeant he will say "all right, listen up." 
We have fun sayings like "chatter makes you fatter." Which means, if you are talking in class, you aren't working out hard enough. I have never worked out so hard, ever.  I am shocked that at my age, my body is responding.  I was in a class yesterday where we had partners and worked around stations in the room.  My partner told me that I was going to be stronger than I've ever been, before.
I wrote here about my first class experience with Next Generation.  That class was called "burn fusion."  One of my friends later told me that she thought I was talking about an art class.  I've been sore, the diet is strict, it isn't "fun," but it is amazing. 
My dad is a type 2 diabetic, age 70 and is in great shape.  I guess it has always been a fear of mine that one day I too would be a diabetic.  I know I was dealing with  a serious sugar addiction.  About 3.5 months ago, I went to the Dr. and weighed more than I have ever weighed.  I started doing self-imposed "no sugar, no flour," the very next day.  Now this.
O.k., enough about me, I'm off to the gym.