Wolf Man

I stopped by the gym this morning to try to ease myself back into exercising. It is a small gym, in a community center and it's free. Since there are no membership fees or contracts, it attracts a unique (thrifty?) group of people, like me and April. But this morning it was just me and Wolf Man.

I was working on some free weights when a man walked in. Older than me, slight build, long hair. Gym etiquette requires an acknowledgment of other exercisers, perhaps a short nod or a "good morning". But he launched into a conversation about the Zombies in the park last night. Since I was the only other person in the room, I felt compelled to converse back, although I kept my answers short and became very interested in what I was doing. After he saw that I wasn't going to stop and give him my attention, he snatched up some 1 lb weights and started dancing around in front of the mirror, saying things like, "Whew! This is a good work out!" I inched farther away.

Then he struck a pose in the mirror and growled, "GRRRRR....wolf!" I put down the weights and fled walked to the elliptical machine, which was a respectable distance away. Pretty soon he came over and started messing with the machine next to me. It is a strange little contraption, with a stool and a V-shaped track with orange handles. I have no idea what it does - I always avoid it so I won't embarrass myself.

Wolf Man had no idea either, but that didn't stop him. "Huh, a stool," he remarked. I just kept exercising, pretending I was too winded to talk. Ok, I wasn't pretending much. "And some handles." He grabbed the machine and tilted it up off of the ground so the V was pointing to the ground. "Dive, dive! Going down 1000 feet." Then he started PINGing and making various mechanical noises. Suddenly he pushed a red button on the side of the machine. "Boom! That's what a 50 caliber sounds like when it hits the side of a house." Machine gun noises followed.

Ooookay........

I wasn't too concerned for my safety since I had about 30 lbs on the guy and I take martial arts. All he had was a strange piece of exercise equipment. And an invisible submarine. I'll take those odds any day. My overall impression was that this guy was harmless. A little stoned maybe, but not physically threatening.

But, I was done at that point so I snatched up my stuff and booked it out of there. I heard him call after me, "Thank you. It was a good workout!"

Maybe next time I'll try to use the Mystery Machine. Somehow, the embarrassment factor is not really an issue anymore. :)

Thanks, Wolf Man.

Up and Up

When I started martial arts and exercising, almost 2 years ago, I couldn't do a proper push-up. Not one! I can now do about 25 in a row, but I need to be able to do 100 for my Black belt test. Eeek!

This site offers over 35 variations on the basic push-up. Check it out for some inspiration!

Dog Days

Photo by Nick Krug

Our community offers a unique exercise program. For the past 25 summers, the public has been invited to workout together for free. You can read more about Dog Days here.

Yesterday, the group met in an attempt to set the record for the largest community workout. And I was there, along with 2765 other people.

But where was April?

Dog Days

Each summer brings a unique event to the large college town nearby. Each day, hundreds of people gather at dawn and dusk to, well, exercise! Together. In a huge, organized, free exercise orgy. In fact, next month, they will attempt to break the world record for the "World's Largest Community Workout"!

The sleepy little town down the way has it's own version. They meet during the week, morning and night to workout in the local outdoors sports stadium. This group numbers about 100 instead of 1000 and is a little more intimate and family-friendly. Still, it's a unique event - I've never heard of anything like this and there are 2 that meet within 15 minutes of my house!

I've gone to the smaller event twice now, and I am so sore! We run laps around the track, jog up and down the stadium stairs and lunge down the length of the football field. Oh, and do many, many jumping jacks, leg lifts, situps and pushups. Good old fashioned exercise. I'm hoping that attending this exercise group will help to counteract all of the yummy summer food in which I've been indulging, especially all those root beer floats. :) I mean, what's summer with root beer floats?!

Pictures may or may not be forthcoming. This class does meet at Crack-of-Dark-Thirty and I'm lucky to get there fully dressed. :P

Tricksy

I saw a quote recently that tickled me.

"I have to exercise first thing in the morning - before my brain can figure out what I'm up to."

Random Ramblings

In a renewed effort to get in shape and loose that last 20 lbs, I've been stopping by the local community gym after dropping the kids off at school in the mornings. Yesterday went well - I "elipted" for 30 minutes on my favorite machine of torture. Today I worked with weights and targeted my arms. Right now, they are so shaky and tired that I can hardly lift my favorite cookie to my mouth. O the pain, the agony... :P

On the upside, I have a photoshoot on Thursday. Something entirely new for me - It's shooting a house, inside and out, for a local construction company, before the owners take possession. I am so excited!

This morning, Master Muchkin, being a 7 year old boy, asked me, "Why does shampoo have the word POO in it?" He sounded somewhat suspicious.

And Daylight Savings Time is still messing with me. I am ready for bed about 9-9:30 at night and wake up, ready to go, around 4 AM. Aughhhh!

It's a cold, wet, dreary day here. I just finished making a pot of tea and am off to spend some time post-processing Rechelle's photos.

Some Help from my Corner

You may already know that I am trying to get fit and somewhat not-fat before I reach forty. This week I received my latest cholesterol test results. The overall number went from 245 to 220; That is still high, but I'm heading in the right direction. Honestly, I was disappointed that it wasn't normal. I have been exercising 5 days a week, eating fairly healthy (hey, I gave up butter!) and have lost almost 20 pounds.

My next goal, becoming a Lightweight, is now within reach. I've been teetering near it for awhile, but with a little encouragement from my Corner (you, dear readers), I might actually make it. I have about 2 1/2 lbs to go.

Go MrsMama - you can do it! Oh wait - that's your line. :)

A Little Inspiration

I love to listen to music when I have to do something unpleasant, like housework or exercise. I even took my mp3 player to the dentist recently to drown out the whine of the drill.

One of my very favorite things to listen to when I have to run is the orchestral score from the movie, Transformers. The movie was *OK*, but the music was incredible. You can hear snips of it from Amazon and you'll see what I mean. It is very motivational with its strong strings, driving beat and ethereal choir. Kinda Angelic-Technology meets Pirates-of-the-Carribean sounding. I've heard it compared to the Harry Potter score, but I haven't heard that so I can't really say.

Apparently this movie score wasn't available to the public for a long time. It was only released after a large, organized public movement and online petition. Even now, copies of the CD are hard to find. But you can download it easily online now from various places (for a reasonable fee).

Check out the clip from songs #12, Arrival To Earth and #7, Bumblebee. From Amazon, just click the little arrow to the left of them and you'll hear a free clip. That will give you a taste of what I'm talking about. You might even get inspired and get up and do something exciting! :)

There's Honesty

I like weights. You know where you stand with them. Well, sometimes you're lying under them, trying not to let them crush you, but you see, you KNOW they'd crush you if they could. There's honesty.
T. Cambell

100 Day Update

I haven't given up my Fight of the Year, the 100 Day Onslaught. This morning, Round 1 went to me. I jogged to the mailbox and back (hey, don't forget we live in the country!) worked on the bag, and got in some arm and ab exercises. But then I got ambushed downtown by some guy named Einstein AND his brothers so Round 2 went to them. But I feel optimistic about Round 3 - it's kickboxing class tonight and that is a full hour of nonstop sweat and panting. And I'm bringing my hubby. Woo Hoo!

100 Day Update

I recently started a One Hundred Day Onslaught exercise program and wanted to provide an update. I did get in 2 days with the extra 40 minutes of exercise but I've had a few setbacks as well. I've been having a sore elbow for some time now but it has worsened to the point where I can't ignore it any longer. It seems a few tendons in my right arm are inflamed and apparently boxing and punching with them 4 nights a week hasn't helped! I will have to take it easy in class and will probably have to postpone the extra push ups until I heal. Also, 2 guys named Breyers and Ghirardelli have been formidable opponents this week. I have to admit that they may have even won a round or two. But I'll still in the fight!

I'll let you know when I weigh in in the Lightweight division. :)

Digging In

Uppercut, originally uploaded by MrsMama.

It seems I have reached a plateau in my fight to get in shape. While I continue to gain flexibility and strength, I have stopped dropping weight. Since, according to my doctor, I still have 23 lbs to loose, I have decided that I need to do something above and beyond going to martial arts/kickboxing class 4 nights a week.

So yesterday, I came up with a 100 Day Onslaught (plan). Each day, for the next 100 days, my goal is to:

do 100 push ups (throughout the day, not all at once!)
do 100 sit ups
do 100 kicks
do 100 punches
exercise 100 minutes (classtime will count towards this)
not eat sugar or white flour

Sundays are a rest day.

If I can stick with this, I should be at or near my goal weight by my wedding anniversary this August.

Off to drag myself downstairs to my bag. Wish me luck!