Working on Fitness

This week a good friend and I decided we were going to hire a personal trainer.  Usually any time of gym membership or fitness project makes my wallet much leaner than my body, but I continue to try.

We went to Catalyst Fitness, which is a huge and amazing place.  My friend belongs but the real reason was that I met the owner and could not help but notice she has the BEST defined arms I have ever seen.  I want them on this body.  Although defined muscles may take more than the regular lifting of wine glass to lips, I was willing to try.  It was late in the day when we got to the gym and simply walking in made me tired.

It's not like I am in terrible shape.  My husband and I take a spin class every weekday morning at the Bike Or Bar.  It is loud music, flashing lights and the BEST instructors in all of NY state.  I usually leave there soaked in sweat.  I also try to do 2 days of Hot yoga - which I love.  So you would think that I could at least get through a little fitness class at a gym.  Not so.

My friend and I met our trainer Sebastian.  Very tall, very fit, very cute.  You know the kind of person you want to impress a bit.  Instead of putting together a program, he had us join his TRX class.  Frankly it didn't look too bad.  A couple of straps hanging from a station and you just kind of suspend yourself.  How hard could it be?

We positioned out mats and started by laying on our backs, putting a foot in each strap and then flipping over.  Yes I said flipping.  I haven't flipped since I was a toddler.  Now I am on my my palms with my body in the air, my feet in stirrups and after 20 seconds I AM EXHAUSTED.  That was the first exercise and the easiest.  So much for impressing the cute trainer.  We were on our hands, our heels our toes.  We were pushing and pulling and bending.  None of it was easy and our trainer may have realized it because he offers us a water break.

Exhausted to the point of delusion, we walk to the water fountain.  On the way, I start feeling a bit better until I walk directly into some piece of exercise equipment, jabbing me in the stomach and making me trip.  Surely no one say that - although my friend has trying hard to hide the hysteria.  What the hell am I doing here?

After 1 hour, I am wiped out.  I thought I would be better at this and now I just feel weak and even more in need of a trainer.  Next week he booked us for an 1 1/2 so he can test our fitness - apparently lying flat on the mat breathing heavy didn't give him a clear indication.

I could quit and just deal with things the way I am especially because it has been three days and my legs are still sore.  But I will not.  You see my twin sister recently lost 60 pounds and can do 100 push ups.  My best friend recently lost 20 pounds and looks awesome in a tight size 4.  Where does that leave me?  I will tell you.  It leaves me visiting Sebastian and suspending my self in this TRX nightmare.

Win or Lose It's How You Play the Game

Remember your parents telling you that it doesn't matter if you win or lose, it's how you play the game.  I just keep thinking about how the presidential election game was played this year and how maybe some campaign managers didn't get their mom's message.

If you know me or have ever read my blog, you will know that my candidate did win and of course I am happy about that. I have many friends who had and have very different views, opinions and favorites. Those people are educated, aware and involved.  I respect them and value their opinions.  We were able to have conversations which brought to light differing opinions and approaches as well as taught me a few things.  No my mind was not changed nor do I think I chanced their minds.  But we are all better off for having those discussions.

That's not how I feel about the candidates.  The debates were devoid of truth and facts, simply littered with opinions and attacks disguised as truth.  The NY Times published a fantastic Op Ed piece by Thomas Friedman today that really made me realize what a disappointment this process has become.  My son will be eligible to vote in the next presidential election, what will that be like?

Did you happen to see the news piece that focused on a campaign to scare voters into thinking they were not legal to vote?  Billboards were established in low income, under educated neighborhoods stating voter fraud was punishable by a $10k fine and 3 years in jail.  Those neighborhoods were blanketed with mail pieces claiming that if these folks voted they would be doing so illegally.  Now I am sure some of these people were probaly not registered, but what was the purpose of these tactics?  Obviously to not have this "group" perform their civil duty.  I get that this was not a political sanctioned move but the brain child of some overly zealous Romney supporters..not that the overly zealous Obama supporters couldn't have come up with a similiar move.  But when you look at what the candidates are doing, can you be surprised that their supporters are following suit?

Regardless of whether your candidate won or lost, it is time to get together and support our political leaders - that means the president, the senate and the congress.  Yes express your difference of opinion and yes financially support those who you want to see in power.  But do so with civility not with emotionaly jabs, damaging lies and a reluctance to work together.  As cheesy as it may sounds, we are after all Americans.

 

Determination

This weekend my husband and I went to see a body building competition.  Never would we have ever thought to do this in the past, however I good friend of ours was competing.

When she first told us, we thought she had gone crazy.  What close to 50 year old women, with multiple children would want to put her body on display?  Or even to put the effort into building those muscles and refraining from the things we all like wine and desserts?

After seeing her on stage, we could not be more impressed.  She looked amazing! Lean muscles dripping with confidence.  She strutted across that stage and she deserved every bit of applause she received.  I think she looked better than most of the 20 somethings competing.  But it wasn't so much the body building as it was the fact that she put her mind forward to do something, something extremely difficult demanding determination, persistence and will power.  She did it.

It seems we rarely see that determination and dedication any more.  How many times do we hear or even say " I'm going to ..." and then when it gets too difficult we quit with some rational on not enough time or not the right time or why bother.  Our friend is an inspiration.  We should all feel the need to look at ourselves and pick a challenge.  Most importantly to follow through on that challenge.

Congrats to my beautiful, determined friend.

Vroom Vroom

Max is driving.  It happened.  My baby has upgrade from a hobby horse to a real car.

It's not like this was a big surprise.  He received his permit in February; I drove with him to Drivers Ed daily for 6 weeks at the end of the summer, and I signed off on his road test.  So why didn't I realize he would actually be driving on his own?

Tuesday I drove him to school, as I have down for the past 13 years - give or take a day.  It was like any other morning....we listened to his ipod, he made me laugh and I hounded him about his school work.  Had I realized this was the last time I would drive him to school I would have done things differently.  I would have noticed the road and sites to store in my memory of lasts.  I would have said all the wonderful things I wanted him to know about how proud I am of him and how happy I am that he is becoming so a strong young man.  Instead, I said "Bye luv, have a good day" and that was that.

Wed he was off of school and my hubby took him to his road test.  I received the call at work that it was official and would it be alright if he took the car to the XC meet.  On my way home, I saw police lights and heard sirens which appeared near my street.  Oh my god!!  He has been in a terrible accident, why did  I let him drive, I did not protect him...my stomach is in my throat and my heart is beating through my chest.  But no.  The first responders are at an apartment complex not even close to my street and no Max was not in an accident. He is fine. But I went through all the emotions.  Will that happen every time I hear a siren and he has the car?  I need a cocktail.

To make matters worse, we buy him a car.  Let's not even discuss the cost of insurance ( remember I am in an assigned risk because of some poor speeding decisions on my part).  Max loved the Charger.  Why wouldn't he?  That sound of power when you start it up?  I tell him rear wheel drive will be terrible in the winter only to hear him respond that it really hasn"t been snowing that much and usually the streets are plowed well.  Seriously??? That's his justification.

Add hubby to the mix, who recommends a Camero.  Sure why not put my baby in that death trap? Although I must admit, I jumped into those bucket leather seats and thought "pop in the Journey tape, I'll change into a tube top and we can make out in the back seat".  Oh so sad.

Well we decided on a Kia Optima, 4 cyclinder, front wheel drive, 36 mpg.  Much better.  He loves it because it has heated leather seats and full navigation.  What 16 year old should have to deal with a cold bottom and no map?

I will finish with the realization that driving was probably the last thing we will teach our son.  Sure we will be there for advice and guidance, not to mention as a provider of cash, but will there be anything else we can actually teach him?  My baby continues his path away from me...

Reality TV or Debate

So it is pretty obvious that blogging has not been much of a priority lately.  However I watched the debates and just had to comment.

Full disclosure - I support Obama.  Actually I cannot bear to even think of Romney in office but that is not the point of this post.  I am shocked, dismayed and even disheartened by the debates.  It is my understanding that the debate is to allow the candidate to present their ideas, policies, plans for their elected presidency.  Instead it has become reality tv with newscasters commenting on who is more fierce and who wants it more.  Lies are exposed, aggression is valued and insults seem to score points.

Are we so "dumbed down" that we look forward to Romney and Obama in the roles of JWOW and Snookie?  Do we need to see our country leaders acting like "The Real Housewives of the White House"?  Does the public even understand the reason for the debate and are we listening to what the positions actually are?

I consider myself somewhat of an educated voter.  There are reasons...policy reasons...that I am making my choice.  I will not vote because I think one candidate "wants it" more...or because of the displayed aggression.  I don't really care which big dog marks his territory how.  But I do believe there are many, many voters out there who have very, very different criteria for choosing a leader.

I am frightened for our future.

Where are you now?

My sister and I hosted somewhat of a high school reunion for about a dozen girls from high school.  I hadn't really seen any of them for about 20 years.  But thanks to Facebook and my sister Ann's tenacity, the girls from Villa were reunited.

I couldn't help thinking how I spent so much time with these girls during such an impressionable part of my life, yet I never chose to keep in touch with them.  In considering the places I worked and the cities I've lived in, there are so many people who played fairly significant roles in making me the person I am today.  Yet I don't speak to them either.

So what does this say about the people I know today?  Will they also drift away?  I think not. I think the older you get, the more you want and need those people with you.

I have a very few close friends who have been with me for a long time.  I will not lose them.

Miss Me? Did I mention I broke my foot?

So it's been a rather long time since I wrote something on this blog.  It's not that I had nothing to say...God knows I always have something to rant about.  It's just that I felt any comments from my current state of mind would sound pitiful.  You see I have been a bit sad lately.   No need to focus on that though.  I am back and I am going to try to make this work yet again.  I have been blogging for another site and try to post daily.  Seems to be working so let's see what we can do here.


I want to talk about mobility.  Odd subject to jump back on the track with but you see I recently broke my foot and it is a daily challenge.  I'd like to say that the injury was due to some amazing feat: saving a child from a burning building, foiling a mugging from getting grandma's purse or even getting a cat from a tree. I'd also like to say that I was doing something fun when it happen:  skydiving, dancing, entertaining.  But no those would all be lies.  I broke my foot falling down the stairs.  No high heels, no cocktails, no running, no heavy carrying, no nothing.  Just a simple misstep and a lot of pain.

Immediately following the fall, I sat on the bottom of the stairs crying.  The boys never came to find me.  So I picked myself and found them. I swore it was broken, but took a couple of aspirin and applied ice.  That night we had tickets to see "The Screwtape Letters" performed at UB's Center for Performing Arts.  I really did not want to miss it.  By the end of the performance, I could not walk. The next day I awoke and looked at my foot.  I giant eggplant, color and size had replaced my ankle and foot.

My right foot or a bizarre eggplant?

Yes that is my giant foot and ankle.  Hideous.  Obviously I needed the ER.  Off we went and after xrays confirming I had broken my 5th metatarsal and severely sprained my ankle, we were home with pain meds.  The next day I drove myself to Excelsior to get it checked out.  Talk of pins, casts and restrictions were making me insane.  They put on a camel walker or air cast and I drove home against orders.  Two days later my foot could hold no pressure, I was crying all the time and off I went back to Excelsior.  This time I needed a ride.  Three cheers for mom and dad, who saved the day yet again.

Seeing the podiatrist was a different experience than my first time seeing the PA.  The podiatrist told me what the deal was, why it was so painful, what I could expect and orders for how to live for the next three weeks.  He put on a hard cast, forbid me to drive and instructed me to elevate it as much as possible.

Why neon green?

Everyone asks why neon green?  Great question.  Because I wanted out, I was annoyed and handled a color palette of about 40 shades.  I told the guy to choose one.  He picked pink - I said anything but pink.  And there you have it.

I know I am a baby but I hate this.  It hurts.  If it feels better, I walk on it and then it swells and then it looks like bread rising over the cast.  The cast can't get wet so shower time includes a plastic bag and tape concoction.  I can't drive but on the rare occasion I have to - it is painful.

Another week or so and the hard cast can be replaced with the camel walking cast for another 2 to 3 weeks.  When I asked the doctor about getting back into those stilettos, he informed me that it could take months for my swollen ankle to heal and that we were a long way off from considering pumps.  

We'll see about that one!