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| Clint did good! |
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| Me, Reesy and THE RING |
On a similar note, my wedding band and diamond are getting so loose on my finger from losing weight, that I'm going to have to put them on a chain soon!
Friday, May 13, 2011
Rings, Bling & Wonderful Things
Check out Marisa's new bling! Congrats Marisa and Clint! So excited for you guys!
On a similar note, my wedding band and diamond are getting so loose on my finger from losing weight, that I'm going to have to put them on a chain soon!
On a similar note, my wedding band and diamond are getting so loose on my finger from losing weight, that I'm going to have to put them on a chain soon!
Thursday, May 12, 2011
15 Seconds To Freedom
I've always wanted to be able to jog along on the treadmill like I see people doing in the gym. I like the rhythm of sneakers slapping the belt and I like the way our synchronized feet sound in step class when the music goes quiet for a few seconds and all you hear is the cadence of our stomps. In fact, I feel like with exercise, if I can get in a good rhythm with whatever I'm doing, whether it's hateful squat reps, doing a step class, or most recently - jogging on the treadmill - it helps my form and endurance.
I've also learned that besides making you look and feel better, exercise has practical applications. Last night I was in the grocery store (story of my life) trying to choose between brands of tuna fish, when I heard an altercation towards the front of the store. I looked around me and no one seemed concerned, so I continued my shopping down to the salad dressings. There I was weighing the odds of taste satisfaction versus calorie content, when the shouting began again. I threw the low-cal dressing in my buggy (if zombies are taking over this grocery store, I won't have to eat it anyway) and scooted towards the back of the store.
At this point I start to panic because the shouting gets louder. I think I can make out the words "gun" and "snitch". Oh snap! I round the corner so sharply that my cart's on three wheels and all the food goes sliding to one side, salad dressing bottle clinking loudly against the jar of olives (I'm sooo subtle). Okay, panic time....I'm the only one in the back of the store. The shouting abruptly stops and the store is silent. I am at this point convinced that all of the employees and customers are being held at gunpoint up front by the registers and the assailants (in my mind there was a full-on masked crew taking over Food Lion) are searching the store for any stragglers.
I head towards the back corner of the store, stealing glances down each aisle as I creep by. Oh no! I lock eyes with a weird man over a display of dog food. Yikes! Pushing my cart as fast as I can, I hit the eggs and milk section where I know the emergency exit door is. Here's my exit strategy: bolt out the back door as fast as I can (now that I can RUN!) should anything crazier go down. But there on the door was a sign that said, "Emergency Exit. Push and hold handle. Alarm will sound and door will open in 15 seconds."
15 seconds? Seriously? Anyone who has ever held a plank position can tell you how long 15 seconds really is. The robbers can burst back here and get me in 15 seconds once that alarm goes off. Luckily about that time I see a blue strobe light towards the front of the store. Yay the police are here! I can quit cowering by the imitation butter now.
Turns out there was an altercation in the parking lot where someone called someone else a snitch and displayed a gun. The "snitch" then went running into the grocery store shouting for 911. The bad guys were taken away and I was able to purchase my low fat salad dressing and go on home, but hey - at least I knew I could run away should the need arise!
I've also learned that besides making you look and feel better, exercise has practical applications. Last night I was in the grocery store (story of my life) trying to choose between brands of tuna fish, when I heard an altercation towards the front of the store. I looked around me and no one seemed concerned, so I continued my shopping down to the salad dressings. There I was weighing the odds of taste satisfaction versus calorie content, when the shouting began again. I threw the low-cal dressing in my buggy (if zombies are taking over this grocery store, I won't have to eat it anyway) and scooted towards the back of the store.
At this point I start to panic because the shouting gets louder. I think I can make out the words "gun" and "snitch". Oh snap! I round the corner so sharply that my cart's on three wheels and all the food goes sliding to one side, salad dressing bottle clinking loudly against the jar of olives (I'm sooo subtle). Okay, panic time....I'm the only one in the back of the store. The shouting abruptly stops and the store is silent. I am at this point convinced that all of the employees and customers are being held at gunpoint up front by the registers and the assailants (in my mind there was a full-on masked crew taking over Food Lion) are searching the store for any stragglers.
I head towards the back corner of the store, stealing glances down each aisle as I creep by. Oh no! I lock eyes with a weird man over a display of dog food. Yikes! Pushing my cart as fast as I can, I hit the eggs and milk section where I know the emergency exit door is. Here's my exit strategy: bolt out the back door as fast as I can (now that I can RUN!) should anything crazier go down. But there on the door was a sign that said, "Emergency Exit. Push and hold handle. Alarm will sound and door will open in 15 seconds."
15 seconds? Seriously? Anyone who has ever held a plank position can tell you how long 15 seconds really is. The robbers can burst back here and get me in 15 seconds once that alarm goes off. Luckily about that time I see a blue strobe light towards the front of the store. Yay the police are here! I can quit cowering by the imitation butter now.
Turns out there was an altercation in the parking lot where someone called someone else a snitch and displayed a gun. The "snitch" then went running into the grocery store shouting for 911. The bad guys were taken away and I was able to purchase my low fat salad dressing and go on home, but hey - at least I knew I could run away should the need arise!
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Go Team Reesy!
It's so hard for me to keep a surprise to myself and I always want to immediately give someone a gift the minute I have it, which is why today was awesome because we finally debuted our Team Reesy (aka Marisa) shirts! Prior to the group workout at 2:30 we gathered in the upstairs bathroom to change (she'd see them too early in the locker room) and went downstairs as a group to surprise her. We even had pink and black hair bows because even in the gym, we are accessorized!
The boys were working out too and they tried to heckle, but I know they're afraid!
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| Millie and I getting ready.... |
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| Taking the stairs down to the gym.... |
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| Surprise Marisa! |
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| Team Reesy: Brooke, Millie, Me, Marisa, Lakshmi, Mary, Florence and Cara (We missed you Sylvia and Cadelia) |
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| After our butt-kicking workout: Millie, Marisa and Jenn |
The boys were working out too and they tried to heckle, but I know they're afraid!
The Lake
One of my favorite places in the world is White Lake, NC. I grew up there during my childhood summers with my cousins Jason and Holly. We have so many wonderful family memories in the water, by the water, and on the water. Saturday was the first day of this year that I've gotten over to the lake and it was great to visit with everyone, especially Holly and Jason and their children. It was crazy to watch the little ones play at the water's edge the way we used to when we were kids.
Obviously, a lot has changed! We build our homes and careers instead of sandcastles now. We drive cars instead of golf carts. We have a lot more to worry about these days than whether to spend the afternoon swimming or playing video games at the arcade.
One big change is our outlook on health and wellness. The three of us have all struggled with our weight at one point or another in our lives. We look back and laugh at how we used to get up on those summer mornings and wash our powdered donuts down with Tang. Talk about a sugar rush! Times have changed and now when we get together a lot of what we talk about is healthy food and work outs. Holly has just completed a 5K, I'm on my wellness journey, and Jason did a triathalon this weekend! I think we're a good example for this next generation of our family! Looking forward to a healthy summer at the Lake!
Obviously, a lot has changed! We build our homes and careers instead of sandcastles now. We drive cars instead of golf carts. We have a lot more to worry about these days than whether to spend the afternoon swimming or playing video games at the arcade.
One big change is our outlook on health and wellness. The three of us have all struggled with our weight at one point or another in our lives. We look back and laugh at how we used to get up on those summer mornings and wash our powdered donuts down with Tang. Talk about a sugar rush! Times have changed and now when we get together a lot of what we talk about is healthy food and work outs. Holly has just completed a 5K, I'm on my wellness journey, and Jason did a triathalon this weekend! I think we're a good example for this next generation of our family! Looking forward to a healthy summer at the Lake!
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| Jenn and Jason |
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| Jenn and Maggie, Holly's daughter |
Friday, May 6, 2011
Don't Call It A Comeback
I've been feeling a little weird this week...restless, unsettled, and in general just not right. Something I couldn't put my finger on was bugging me until the light bulb went off and I realized what was wrong: my muscles felt too good. Having one or multiple aching muscle groups is now the norm for me and also my badge of honor for a job well done. It was making me feel strange and anxious that nothing was hurting. I've done nothing but cardio this week and so naturally, in all my paranoid glory, I automatically started panicking about losing my muscle tone.
"Something's gonna hurt when I leave this gym today." I declared to Sylvia later when we met up at the gym.
She was game, God bless her. We started out with a warm-up on the bike before moving on to a four circuit Tabata blast on the elliptical (http://www.tabataprotocol.com/), then did some free weights and the cable cross machine. We ended with four more circuits on the elliptical.
Whew! Just what I needed! Thank you Sylvia! You are an awesome work out partner. You are encouraging but you also do your own thing and work hard. You're calm and cool and you never give in or give up.
As I stretched out on my back on the ball - the "feel free to take me Jesus" pose, I call it - a head-banging, metal version of LL Cool J's "Momma Said Knock You Out" came on over the Pandora radio I was listening to on my phone. It made me smile. "Don't call it a comeback!"
"Something's gonna hurt when I leave this gym today." I declared to Sylvia later when we met up at the gym.
She was game, God bless her. We started out with a warm-up on the bike before moving on to a four circuit Tabata blast on the elliptical (http://www.tabataprotocol.com/), then did some free weights and the cable cross machine. We ended with four more circuits on the elliptical.
Whew! Just what I needed! Thank you Sylvia! You are an awesome work out partner. You are encouraging but you also do your own thing and work hard. You're calm and cool and you never give in or give up.
As I stretched out on my back on the ball - the "feel free to take me Jesus" pose, I call it - a head-banging, metal version of LL Cool J's "Momma Said Knock You Out" came on over the Pandora radio I was listening to on my phone. It made me smile. "Don't call it a comeback!"
Thursday, May 5, 2011
In Case of Possible Zombie Attack
I have a hilarious friend who says that his whole motivation for being in the gym is to be physically prepared in case zombies eventually attack Resident Evil style. He says that all you need to do is be able to run fast, shoot straight, and have the ability to scale a wall in the event you need to get away from them. The other day I staggered out of the group exercise room to get some water and he asked me if I was prepared. I told him that on top of my cardio, my trigger finger muscles are ready.
All kidding aside, it's important to be able to at least be able to give yourself a fighting chance to get away from an approaching assailant, whether that be a mugger, rapist, or an incoming zombie chanting, "Braiiiiiinssssss..." In my former body, I certainly couldn't run away from anything. I had no muscular strength. I was virtually defenseless. Now I can sprint! And if that isn't fast enough, I know I can knock them out with my cross punch. It's always good to be ever vigilant!
All kidding aside, it's important to be able to at least be able to give yourself a fighting chance to get away from an approaching assailant, whether that be a mugger, rapist, or an incoming zombie chanting, "Braiiiiiinssssss..." In my former body, I certainly couldn't run away from anything. I had no muscular strength. I was virtually defenseless. Now I can sprint! And if that isn't fast enough, I know I can knock them out with my cross punch. It's always good to be ever vigilant!
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Battle of the Sexes
During the month of May, my Transformation team and our trainers will be waging the Battle of the Sexes. Jeff is only going to train the guys and Marisa will exclusively train the girls. The winner is going to receive a really nice mystery prize. It's great motivation for me because even mentioning the word "competition" makes my ears perk up like a doberman.
Laks, Milly, and I started the month off early with a Saturday Zumba class. I haven't done that class for several months because, as hard as I go at it 5 days a week, my trainers have advised me to take the weekends off most of the time. But it's game on now and it was a trip to see, or rather feel, how far I've come since that first Zumba class last October. Back then my muscles would stiffen up and clamp down on me when I tried to move them. I would also collapse against the wall for dear life between each song. It's a different story now! I have so much more endurance and flexibility! I almost treat workouts as a cool little experiment to see what new "trick" I can do each week.
This week's experiment....Boot Camp! Milly and I were definitely out of our comfort zone but it was a great challenge and we made it! I don't know what the boys are up to, but I know the ladies are bringing it!
Laks, Milly, and I started the month off early with a Saturday Zumba class. I haven't done that class for several months because, as hard as I go at it 5 days a week, my trainers have advised me to take the weekends off most of the time. But it's game on now and it was a trip to see, or rather feel, how far I've come since that first Zumba class last October. Back then my muscles would stiffen up and clamp down on me when I tried to move them. I would also collapse against the wall for dear life between each song. It's a different story now! I have so much more endurance and flexibility! I almost treat workouts as a cool little experiment to see what new "trick" I can do each week.
This week's experiment....Boot Camp! Milly and I were definitely out of our comfort zone but it was a great challenge and we made it! I don't know what the boys are up to, but I know the ladies are bringing it!
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