Taking It Back

I'm on the mend, slowly feeling the release of pressure and pain in my jaw, eyes and forehead. This time, the sinus infection hit me hard and hit me fast. I saw the doctor yesterday and about cried when he was tapping my cheekbones. He gave me quite possibly the biggest pills ever made and said I should be "back to normal" by tonight. I laughed, as I'm not even sure what normal really is anymore!

I've been toying around the last two weeks with doing something "drastic" about my health, knowing that the (more than a) few pounds I've gained since my local C*rves closed and Li'l Empress came home has been really hard on my body. Add to that the increased pressure and pace of raising now 5 kids and the decreased rest and down time, and it's no wonder I've been sick so often this winter. I'm tired of it and have decided to do something about it.

So today, while The Boss watched Li'l Empress and worked from home, I took myself off to my local W*ight W*tchers. I re-joined. It's been a long time coming, and I know that I need that extra level of accountability and "push" from others in the same journey. It's helpful that the Lord blessed us with an unexpected bit of finances. That goes a long way toward making me feel less guilty about needing to spend money to lose weight. And it's also helpful that I have several walking DVD's and CD's, plus some great tools and resources from my earlier years in the program. I don't have to spend that again.

When I first moved here, my membership in WW transferred without a hitch; and I had a built-in community of support and help. But as finances got tighter and the adoption loomed closer and closer, the decision to quit had to be considered. I was only 1/2 way to my goal weight and working out regularly at my local C*rves. I thought I could handle the freedom and "do the program" at home on my own. And I did okay, while I was still using the weigh-in options at C*rves. But with the big adjustments and different focus that we've been called to in the first 6-8 months of settling in with Li'l Empress, I got totally off track. I lost my focus and my health has suffered for it.

So today. I'm getting back on track. I'm honing my focus. I have a 10% goal to achieve and I'm moving myself forward. I'm doing this to feel better. I'm doing this to keep up with my kids. I'm taking my health back. And it feels really good.

Back On Line!

It's been a frustrating day or two around here: my computer was down for the count, after periodic episodes of freezing followed by error messages that effectively booted me off my own system. I couldn't complete a survey I was being paid to complete, The Boss couldn't load Shaggy's new MP3 stuff. I couldn't even reference my resources to prepare my mini-teaching at MOMS' Group and had to "wing it" with no notes. That's really my own fault, I shouldn't have tried so hard all Monday afternoon (between the letter J and math facts games) to trouble shoot the computer problem. Rather, I should have sat down and done my notes the old fashioned way: with paper and pen! I did get a good start on re-vamping and starting a new homeschool approach with Baby Blue Eyes, but that was all derailed by one very long phone call and a bad head cold.

Tuesday after the MOMS' Group crowd left and I cleaned up the kitchen and got lunch going for Shaggy (home on a 1/2 day) and Baby Blue Eyes, I called Dell for some tech support. No exaggeration, I was on the phone with them for 4 hours and 6 minutes. Most of that time was spent initiating and monitoring the diagnostic tests as directed by my new friend, Jersohn, since we couldn't get the Internet connection to unfreeze. Finally, after about 3 hours, he took over by remote and played with thing for a while. The good news is that it's not a hardware problem. The rest of what he said it might be just sounded like Charlie Brown's teacher to me, after 4 hours on speaker phone, basically stuck in one chair: "waht, wah, waht, wah, waht wah . . . ." Something about internet safety software interfering with the transfer of information and the sharing of data. So The Boss came home, ate a hearty meal of leftovers and dug in to cleaning up and disabling the "waht wah." By then, I was about comatose on the couch, trying to stop the burning in my eyes, the humming waht wah's in my ear and the pounding in my head. I vaguely remember channel surfing, a baseball game, and a fleeting concern over Baby Blue Eye's slight fever and cough. The rest of the night was a blur.

Today, I'm reclaiming my territory! Losing two days to that kind of busy-ness really put a crimp in my plans, but I'm gonna keep rolling. I dragged BBE to an early weigh-in, dinner is prepped, and I ran to Curves when Shaggy came home (again with the 1/2 day, although I have no idea why they have it!). Now I need to power through the mail, "Backpack Wednesday" school papers, Bible study homework and and some Homeroom Mom duties. I also need to find a good recipe for salt-dough for Shaggy's home ec project and get BBE on some homeschooling, even if he is a little sick. At some point, I really need to finish the fall clothes change-out and make lists of who needs what. I probably ought to consider making a list. And cutting the list into two or three days.

But first I need a shower. And a big lunch. A really good one - I worked out hard and I'm starving now. Plus, today is my "cheat day," cuz I weighed in this morning. I lost 3.4 lbs. And I have no idea how. Especially since much of Monday and Tuesday was spent in this desk chair, fiddling around with Restore Systems and msconfigs, while eating one of Shaggy's gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches. But I'm up and running again - back on-line. With my computer and now the rest of my week, too!

Kudos To Curves

My local Curves started a motivational summer program called Camp Curves this week. I understand that many of the members of the Curves community are doing it too. In it, members are divided into teams (I'm on Spirit and Encouragement) and every time a member visits, she has the opportunity to earn points for her team by choosing various activities to do while she works out. For example, one could sing a camp song or submit an easy summer recipe. Additionally, on Thursdays and Fridays one can earn points for correctly answering trivia questions or for being there at least 3 times for that week. It is a fun summer boost and a neat way to connect the members with each other and with the reason we all drag ourselves out of bed or home from work to sweat it up for half an hour.

I'm so impressed with the way that our local Curves is run. It's very aesthetically pleasant, with nice decor and inspiring posters and pretty accessories all around. All the staff members seem to be enthusiastic and committed to their corporate mission ("Strengthening Women"). They all go out of their way to greet each woman who walks through the door, and they talk about their lives and inquire about ours. It gets us talking and relating to women we might never meet otherwise. I rarely get to know anyone's last names, but these staff members foster a great sense of community and hospitality every time I'm there. Each staff member is very different and unique, but they all carry a warm, caring spirit. It makes me glad to keep going and it CERTAINLY makes it easier to face my early morning work-outs. And believe me, THAT's no easy task!

So, I'm giving a big shout out to my Curves. I'm grateful for a place to go, that encourages me to get and stay healthy and that makes me want to connect with others when I'm there. For an extrovert like me, connection is so very important. And considering how unhealthy and unfit I have been for the past 10 years, THANK YOU Curves for getting me hooked. And for keeping me coming back!

"No Sweat Girl," No More!

When I was a kid, my Dad affectionately referred to me as his "No Sweat Girl." When I was young, I chafed at this label. I didn't like that it sounded like I was lazy. I didn't want that identity. But there was a lot of truth to the nickname: I really didn't like to sweat! REALLY didn't like it.

I didn't like being hot, or clammy, or uncomfortable. I detested yard work (still don't love it!) and I hated weeding the garden. I didn't like sports; running around a track in circles seemed futile to me. Watching my siblings on their various outdoor sports teams was fun, as long as I was with a friend and it wasn't blazing hot and sunny. When we went on vacation and the weather got hot and humid, as it invariably does in upstate NY in August, I was miserable. I preferred a quiet, shady spot with a breeze, a book and my dolls, or later my music and a book. And working out? Fah-gedd-a-bow-dit! I've never stuck to any workout routine, EVER! Give me some AC and a chilled glass of sweetened tea and I'm a happy camper. Better yet, throw in a suspense novel or a romantic comedy and I'm good to go.

But recently, I've discovered the addiction called Curves. In April, I was solicited to participate in a free three-week trial at my local Curves. And given that I've been struggling with the same 7 lbs. on and off since I moved to the Philly suburbs, and that I'd struggled all winter with the blues (in my case, they were blacks and grays!), and that I was starting to be really concerned about the encroaching 40's (AAAACK!), I thought I'd give it a shot. The gals in my Weight Watchers class all seemed to love it, but I was wary, as most of them are in their 50's+. But free for three weeks? Awwww, what the heck, I'll give it a chance.

Well, I am hooked. I can't say that I love all the music, but I have grown in the past 10 weeks to love the increased heart rates and the sweaty brow and the serious sucking of air. And I come home sweaty. Not just a mild, lady-like perspiration. I'm seriously sweaty, reeking and drippy. My work-out clothes (which I must admit, are actually kinda cute!) actually stink! And my t-shirts are getting sweat stains. Real sweat stains!

I'm so hooked that while I'm driving home, I'm mentally reviewing my calendar to see when I can get back there next. And a couple times a week, I actually do the circuits for an hour. AN HOUR! I know they recommend a half hour, three times a week. But I have so much fun, and I feel sooooo STINKIN' (pun fully intended!) good that I either do three full circuits or an hour. And I go 4 or 5 times a week. In ten weeks of working out, I've only worked out for the 2.5 circuits (which equals 1/2 hour) two times. I'm hooked, I tell ya, hooked!

So, now I'm the "Sweaty Girl!" And I'm proud of it. I'm proud of myself for stickin' with it and I'm proud of myself everytime I peel off my icky t-shirt and hang it to air out. I'm seeing good results, and I feel really good about myself. And if anyone has a great tip for removing sweat stains, I'm all over it!