Rich Stuff

Happy 47th anniversary, Dad & Mom.

My parents, Ken & Linda.

Dad is 75, and has exercised every day of his life.  My mom is 64, and recent health issues have been tough.  Their legacy to me concerning exercise?  Slow and steady wins the race.

After work today...

Which is here, and is breathtaking, btw.

...we went to see a special 30th anniversary screening of The Goonies.

My children were not pleased.

I, on the other hand, wanted to do the Truffle Shuffle.

I resisted the urge to quote every line.

I still kept my eyes closed during the scary scenes.

Because I am a scaredy cat.  I've never seen what's behind One-Eyed Willy's patch.

To me, the appeal of the movie boils down to one thing:

Someday.

The Last Time #46

When was the last time you looked at your naked body and liked what you saw?

Probably the last time you got a good night's sleep, too.

I've never really have given my body much thought; I was too tall to attract the boys' attention, so my body wasn't something I thought negatively or positively about.

Then I had a baby.

Abbie, 3 days old.

And another baby.

Charlton, a few hours old.

And one more baby.

Parry, one week old.

Let me tell you, I didn't like my body from the day I birthed Abbie onward.  The stretch marks-everywhere!  Thigh, stomach, breasts!  After nursing three babies a total of five years, my poor baby feeders look like limp gym socks, and no exercise will ever improve that.  The scars have faded over time from two c-sections, but the silvery lines on too stretched skin will always remain.  I was once just too tall, and now I was too marked.  Not one to obsess over what I couldn't change, I ignored my body.  I kept my weight in check (until the recent concussion) but I cared little for it.  It had served it's purpose in birthing three beautiful children, and had nourished them through babyhood.  Job well done, body.  Then I just ignored it...for the next twelve years.

February 2008, when things were good.

Oh, I did enjoy being thin; I'm not going to lie.  As I approached 40 I actually grew to like how I looked for my age; interestingly, that's when the "boys" started to notice.  Remember, I started the Quest not to lose weight (that is a non-David corrected lose there) but to regain my health.  Now, 8 weeks in and about 15lbs down, I'm looking differently at my body.  The marks no longer bother me.  What do I want it to look like?

Really?  You honestly think I'd post a picture?

I'm more than comfortable now with my baby brandings.  Nothing a good bra and spanx can't correct.

This is miracle stuff.

But the rest of it?  I *liked* seeing definition in my biceps.  I *love* having strong legs.  If the cellulite could be banished, I'd swear it was heaven.  I still need to do one good push-up (wait!  Let me go try!  Nope!) but my next goal...what does it look like?  Is it what my body can do, or what it looks like?

With my new body goal question in mind (because I had put on yoga pants, which are very unforgiving, and spanx aren't an option in them) I headed to yoga at the Adult Center with Katy.  I expected another lovely stretchy workout.  Wrong.

Almost immediately, my stomach became upset.  Nausea and yoga are not a good mix, and I quickly grew very frustrated.  My mood blackened, and I dreaded the class immediately following at another studio.  I had trouble doing everything.

Just like Data in The Goonies.

I managed to muddle through, and hoped some fresh water and Tums might help.

I hoped blaring this night help, too.

At Vinyasa Studio I felt a little better, and I was assured this was a laid back class.

Unfortunately, it was hot yoga.

Not me.

The nausea returned quickly, complicated by the first song in the medley played.  My brain was overloaded with too much sensory, a byproduct of the concussion.  I felt the freaking air monster sneak up on me, and immediately focused on just breathing.  

I had no clue yoga could go south so quickly.

The South.  Sigh.

My body recovered; it may have been the lack of sleep, or some drainage in my ear.   I fell asleep during relaxation, startling awake when a bell sounded.  I felt much better with just the five minute nap I had snatched; Katy shared that falling asleep during relaxation is the equivalent to four times normal sleep.  No wonder I felt better; apparently my body thought it had a full twenty minutes.

Finishing up in restroom, I tried to finger comb my hair before I left the studio.

Do you see it?! UGH!

A long silver strand.

Grama used "chocolate kiss" by Loving Care.

I do the sensible thing, and pluck the offender.  Back to body goals.

Tired from a week of hiking, exercise and work, I drive home in silence.  What goal DO I have with my weight & body?  Do I need to have one right now?  I do want more strength, and the sculpting that naturally comes with it.  I do want to be cellulite free.  I'd like to be able to look at myself naked in the mirror and think- "well done."

But for now?

I still have to do a push-up.  That moves into primary position.

and

To touch my nose to my knees.  To gain flexibility.

I have but one man to present to this world....

Charlton just brought in this flower for me.  He found it growing by the driveway after hacking at shrubbery with an ax, just for fun.

Makes me think I'm doing something right.

36: Dressing like a Jedi

My trainer for the week needed to postpone; so I'm left without a plan.

Hmmm...this looks interesting.

Boredom wasn't on the agenda, so I settled in at my desk.

In pj's, because one thinks best in pj's, of course.

Hm.  According to the UK Daily Mail, you look better photographed from your right.  That's my left.  Let's try a right:

Interestingly, 95% of my photos are taken on the left.  I think it's because I used to try hide my right front incisor in photos.  Funny how an old habit continues.

Back to my pj story.

So, I decide to finish cleaning my desk, answer many emails, clean up blogs, set up kid's summer camps, etcetera.  I did fuel once, with my coffee, but then I pretty much forgot as I did a three hour marketing training.

Still in my pj's.

The joys of working from home.

So, at 3pm, I finish up.  I'm still in my pj's.  Which is ok, because let's be honest. 

What do Jedi wear?

That's right:  bathrobes over pj's.

I rest my case.

I did get dressed before I left the house because, let's face it:  one may work in pj's but one looks ridiculous out in public in pj's.

Notice I did not workout...

Nor did I do the Truffle Shuffle.

I hoped to get in some lifting once the King of Athletics came home...but he didn't show up until nearly 7pm.  By then, I was busy writing my column.

Before bed, I got on my knees and did seven perfect knee-ups. I wonder if a plank would make me cry?  

Nope. Feels fine.  Quite a bit easier than I remember.  Still can't do a regular push-up, though.  Curious when that occurs.

So I've had an unexpected day of rest.  Work got done, I forgot to eat.  All is well.

May the Force be with you, too.