Finding Time for Fitness

In a previous post, I mentioned something about exercising and was asked how I find time for it. Instead of replying to that post, I decided to answer the question in a new post because I think many people (especially moms) struggle with finding time to exercise.

Here's the deal.  I'm not going to pretend like it's easy or say "you have to make time for it and just do it."  The fact of the matter is it happens when it happens.  One daughter goes to gymnastics at the YMCA two days a week for two hours each day.  So, I'm already there.  Other times, I go swimming with kids and make sure I swim laps in the pool.  You know, the real laps that increase the heart rate!  Then, there are nights like tonight when the entire family went to the bike path and rode for more than an hour.  Some nights, we go for a walk in the neighborhood after dinner.

Do it when you can and incorporate exercise into some sort of family routine.  The kids love the time together as a family and they benefit from it too!  When you take the kids to the park, instead of sitting on the bench, join in on the action.  Believe it or not, swinging is exercise!  And if the park you go to happens to have a monster slide, have at it!  Climbing those stairs will do wonders for your muscles and your heart.  Try out the monkey bars (a huge weakness of mine - my poor arms!).

Speaking of arms, I'll leave you with something funny.  We have a big fitness ball, or whatever they are called.  I saw someone at the gym using it to do push-ups so I thought I'd give it a try tonight.  Ha!  The whole family was laughing at me.  Those were the three hardest push-ups I've ever done in my life!  I can't even count the forth one because that's when I fell off the ball!  At least I tried.

That ball is great for many things.  (I know I said I was "leaving" but this is good.)  Emily (the gymnast) showed me a great abdomenal exercise to do with the ball.  Here's where I wish I had a video to show you.....or maybe not!  Anyway, lay flat on the floor (I prefer to use a mat) with your hands above your head.  Place the ball between your hands and as you lift it above your head, bring your legs up to pass it to your feet.  Then, slowly bring the ball down to the floor with your feet, keeping your legs straight.  Lift the ball back up in the same manner passing it off to your hands and back down again.  It really is great and would be even better if I could actually do it!  You thought I was really good, right?!  Not so much.  She is though and does it beautifully.  So if I ever do video the exercise, you will see Emily doing it and not me!  But, I try.  And you should too!

-- Sent from my Palm Pre

It's Playtime!!!

Emily ended up going to a friend's house for a few hours this evening. Hubs dropped her off before going to the driving range to hit golf balls and then picked her up when he was done.  That left Katie here with no one to play with but me. So guess what I did? I played! First I was a horse and Katie was riding on my back. That didn't last long!  Horsie got tired!!!  Then she decided we should be koala bears and snuggle with each other. Maggie (the princess dog) tried to join in and that's when we became monkeys! We ended as mice when the neighbor girl rang the doorbell. Then I was chopped liver! It worked out well though because I had to make dinner and was finished by the time she came back inside.  I just love one-on-one time with the kids!

All I've wanted to do lately is nothing!  TV doesn't even interest me.  I sit down, realize I'm bored, but don't feel like doing anything about it.  Ok, I suppose cleaning counts for something and I have done quite a bit of that, but that comes and goes.  A day or two later (or sometimes even an hour or two later), it seems as though the cleaning never even happened!

But I'm not talking about cleaning.  I'm talking about fun stuff.  Like making cards (rubber stamping), scrapbooking, updating my photo albums, photography, sewing, learning how to use the serger sewing machine I recently got from my grandma.  That's the stuff I desire to do but when it comes to actually doing it, I don't.  Am I tired?  Sometimes.  Am I lazy?  Sometimes.  Am I tired of being lazy?  Yes!  I suppose part of it is that my craft room in the basement is a mess.  Truly.  It should be declared a disaster area!  It seems that I'm pressed for time every time I go in there to work on something so I don't take the time to put things away when I'm done.  Hummmm, don't we teach our kids to put things away when they're done?  Well, we're not perfect, are we?

What about the other things I listed that don't require entrance into a disaster area?  What about updating my photo albums?  Oh yeah, that would require lots of time since I have seven years of photos stored on my computer (don't worry, I have back-ups) that need to be printed!  Just imagine the time & money involved in that project!  I know, I know.  You might suggest that I do a little at a time and pace myself!  That certainly would be easier on the budget too.  But do I do it?  I haven't yet!  Maybe I will.  Soon.  I hope to.

Moving on to photography, which is one of my greatest passions.  I love capturing the beauty of God's creation in photographs.  This would require very little, except time.  So why don't I do it?  I wish I had an answer.  Sometimes I'll go out in my yard and snap a few photos.  But I'm talking about real photo shoots.  I need inspiration.  And energy!

There is one project I have been working on that I believe has zapped me of energy... momentarily.  Shedding some unwanted pounds.  I exercise, almost daily.  The employees at the YMCA and I are on a first-name basis.  I love going there.  Believe it or not, I like to sweat!  I enjoy a good workout.  But my eating habits are not great.  I eat healthy foods, but I eat too much.  My portions were beyond what my 5' 1" small-framed body needs.  So, I'm eating less now, which is a good thing.  But I often feel hungry even though I know I shouldn't be.  And I think that's making me tired.  My body probably just needs time to adjust to it's new fuel allotment.  I hope!  Don't worry, I'm following the Weight Watcher plan so I'm not starving myself.  And when I really do believe I'm hungry, I'll grab a light snack such as carrots, broccoli, a piece of fruit, or somthing of the sort.  Like I said, I believe my body just needs time to adjust.  And rest.

So on that note, I'm signing off to go to bed.  Maybe tomorrow will bring me some energy and motivation!

To finish or not to finish.... that is my question!

We have just a few weeks left in ECC that we didn't get to at the end of the school year.  Do we finish or move on?  I hate leaving loose ends.  I know this may sound silly but the passport seems incomplete!  It's like our journey ended abruptly.  Any thoughts?

Cooling Off - Heating Up

Yay!!!  The A/C is working now!  Turns out that it was an electrical problem that my dad (a retired electrician) fixed yesterday!  The unit is still ancient and probably costs more to use than the new energy efficient units, but it's working!

Now for the "heating up" part of my post.  Does anyone know anything about saunas?  A friend asked me to join her in the sauna after working out yesterday.  I declined because I couldn't imagine sitting in a sauna after Zumba & Spinning.  Ambitious, I know.  But the scale is not agreeing with me so I must do something!  Unfortunately for me, that's not enough.  I must also take control of my diet.  Yes, I said it.  The "d" word.  But "diet" and "dieting" are two different things.  I am not a dieter.  I do believe in Weight Watchers though, which helped me to shed 30 pounds a few years ago.  More importantly, I must believe in myself.  I must believe that I can do it and that I should do it.  And quit selling myself short, thinking that I'm weak and have no will power.  Ha!  All those things are lies that the enemy would like me to believe.  Every time I look in the mirror I should see myself as God sees me; a beautiful creation.  And then I should care for myself as He would.  Would God force too much food in my mouth?  Would He have me eat ice cream for lunch?  Or would He give me just enough healthy things to satisfy my hunger?

Back to saunas (sorry about that little rabbit trail).  Some things I've read say they are a good healthy way to cleanse the body of toxins, opening up the pores, and a good way to not only shed pounds but also to lose fat.  Because the body works harder to keep it cooled, it's actually burning fat calories, therefore the weight lossed is not just water.  Other articles say that overuse of saunas is not good because as the body sweats, it also releases minerals it needs to help build muscles.  Does anyone know more about this or have any input you might offer?  I'm considering trying it to see what happens and how I feel.  We'll see how long I last - I get hot easily!

Catching Up

Although there hasn't been a whole lot happening here, I will share that I'm able to see the good among the bad.  Our A/C quit working yesterday and we are approaching 95 degree temps today.  But, at least we have a nice cool finished basement to hang out in, a membership to the YMCA where there is an outdoor pool, a friend with a nice pool, and if there is not a budget-friendly fix, we'll save money on utilities!

Here is the problem...

The unit is older than dirt!  Well, maybe not but it looks like it!

And here are the wires that our dog

chewed through three or four years ago...

And this is the connection to the house...

So if you ask me...

which I know you didn't but I'll tell you anyway

...it all looks a little sketchy!

Blessings to all!