"I promise you that I'm smart." I used to say that repeatedly to my trainers. Why the need to reassure them that I wasn't in fact an idiot? Because of the weird phenomenon that happens when I walk through the gym doors...my brain completely takes a vacation.
They say left, I go right. They say right, I go left. Every time. You should see me in Step class. It's a hot mess. I have trouble following other commands too. Just last week Marisa was stretching us out after a tough workout and as I stood there stretching and sweating and slowing my breathing, I heard her saying, "Feet together. Feet together. Feet together."
I started chuckling, thinking it was funny that one of my friends didn't get where to put their feet until I heard, "Minter. Feet together."
I looked down and sure enough, my feet were spread widely apart. Whoops. Today I was back to confusing my left and right. I'm also very likely to trip on random weights that are strewn out across the floor due to lack of looking where I'm going. And I've flown off the back of more than one treadmill. But I promise, I really am smart.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Monday, September 19, 2011
Hard Work Never Hurt Anybody
It was definitely a busy Monday today.I missed my workout time with my buddies and found myself faced with the gym after work. I rolled in close to six o'clock to find Sylvia finishing up her workout. As I stood there chatting with her, I was so tempted to turn around and head home. All I wanted was my comfy chair, conversation with my husband, and dinner. I wanted no part of that treadmill.
"I don't want to do this Sylvia." I said.
She said, "Just get it done. You will feel better."
Simple words, but oh so true. I remember hearing my Mema saying to me when I was a child, "Hard work never hurt anybody." It is a theme from that generation who had to grow up tough during the Great Depression. She is the next to youngest of six children whose Daddy died young from blood poisoning and left her mother alone with the children to raise and a farm to contend with, right smack in the middle of the Great Depression. Mema learned from an early age that everyone had to pitch in so that the family was able to survive, in fact she used to tell us stories of pulling weeds from the strawberry fields when she was just a little thing, probably not even in school yet. No one back then had to worry about diet or exercise. They had fresh farm food and plenty of hard work to burn off any calories they took in.
Fast forward to now, me standing in the gym, needing a workout because I sit at a desk all day to do my work. I buy all of my food at the grocery store that someone else has grown and if I get real squirrely, I don't cook at all and pick up food that someone else has worked hard to prepare. And here I was whining about not wanting to exercise, shame on me.
I got on the treadmill, turned on my music, and picked up my feet. Soon I had a good sweat going and when I walked out of the gym, all the jittery Monday feelings were gone. Mema is right. Hard work never hurt anybody.
"I don't want to do this Sylvia." I said.
She said, "Just get it done. You will feel better."
Simple words, but oh so true. I remember hearing my Mema saying to me when I was a child, "Hard work never hurt anybody." It is a theme from that generation who had to grow up tough during the Great Depression. She is the next to youngest of six children whose Daddy died young from blood poisoning and left her mother alone with the children to raise and a farm to contend with, right smack in the middle of the Great Depression. Mema learned from an early age that everyone had to pitch in so that the family was able to survive, in fact she used to tell us stories of pulling weeds from the strawberry fields when she was just a little thing, probably not even in school yet. No one back then had to worry about diet or exercise. They had fresh farm food and plenty of hard work to burn off any calories they took in.
Fast forward to now, me standing in the gym, needing a workout because I sit at a desk all day to do my work. I buy all of my food at the grocery store that someone else has grown and if I get real squirrely, I don't cook at all and pick up food that someone else has worked hard to prepare. And here I was whining about not wanting to exercise, shame on me.
I got on the treadmill, turned on my music, and picked up my feet. Soon I had a good sweat going and when I walked out of the gym, all the jittery Monday feelings were gone. Mema is right. Hard work never hurt anybody.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Anniversaries and Wedding Gowns
Twelve years ago today my husband and I got married, two days after Hurricane Floyd hit our county. It was a beautiful day nonetheless and we carried out the wedding although we had no power. I remember feeling like I floated through that day and it was one of the happiest days of my life.
This weekend we had a great time hanging out together and celebrating our anniversary. After a wonderful brunch, I stuck to my regular eating plan even though it was a "holiday" of sorts, I decided to dig around in the closet and find my dress.
It's literally been twelve years since I wore it because I knew there was no way it would fit. Today as I drew it out of the closet and smoothed it over the bed, marveling again at it's satin, pearl, ivory loveliness, I felt all over again enchanted by the dress, the most beloved article of clothing I've ever owned. I ran my hand over it, remembering that beautiful day back in 1999, and wondered if I could finally wear it again. Taking a deep breathe, I took it off of the hanger and "swam" into the dress like they had told me to back at the bridal shop. And. It. Fit!
I must admit I spent some time swooshing around the house in it and made Eric take my picture. Unfortunately the full length shot didn't turn out, but it was so much fun playing dress up in my wedding gown on our anniversary.
This weekend we had a great time hanging out together and celebrating our anniversary. After a wonderful brunch, I stuck to my regular eating plan even though it was a "holiday" of sorts, I decided to dig around in the closet and find my dress.
It's literally been twelve years since I wore it because I knew there was no way it would fit. Today as I drew it out of the closet and smoothed it over the bed, marveling again at it's satin, pearl, ivory loveliness, I felt all over again enchanted by the dress, the most beloved article of clothing I've ever owned. I ran my hand over it, remembering that beautiful day back in 1999, and wondered if I could finally wear it again. Taking a deep breathe, I took it off of the hanger and "swam" into the dress like they had told me to back at the bridal shop. And. It. Fit!
I must admit I spent some time swooshing around the house in it and made Eric take my picture. Unfortunately the full length shot didn't turn out, but it was so much fun playing dress up in my wedding gown on our anniversary.
Friday, September 16, 2011
Year Two Begins
Year Two of the journey started out kind of surprising to me in that my motivation was low. At the end of the month, our Transformation Program will be over and we'll be without our trainers at work (they'll still be there as our friends and supporters, but won't be training us anymore) and I started to seriously worry that I wouldn't be able to push myself to the level that they do... I knew that I would continue to workout and eat right, but would I be able to take things to the next level when I needed to? What if my old default setting to slack came back?
Then Jeff asked me to take the lead and workout the group on the days when we're not trained by them, and I started to think...what if I wrote up a workout that included all the things I hate most? Surely I'd be forced to push myself then. Questioning my sanity as I came up with the battle plan, I emailed the team saying that they were cordially invited to the Minter's Version of Hell aka I'm Going to Cuss Myself workout.
I must admit I chuckled evilly when the group assembled and asked what we were doing, but the joke was on me for sure because I was in for it too. First up on the list, my least favorite: the stairs. Right outside the gym are several flights of stairs that have played a critical part in my journey. I have out and out refused to take them, I have been scared of falling down them, I have been forced off the elevator by Jeff and made to take them, and been coaxed by my friends down each and every one of them as my fear of falling and my former terrible balance petrified me and made me look like an old lady slowly, slowly lumbering down. This day, I devised a workout that had us running laps up and down the stairs. It was not only a test of the physical but even more so, the mental. It felt awesome to conquer those stairs and crush my fear under my feet with each and every step.
Next up, we lined up behind the pull up bar and did four pull-ups then ran to the back of the line to go again for ten rounds. At one point, Jeff came over and said, "Are you guys still going at this?" Yep, forty pull-ups each. Then it was on to wall-sits. Sounds simple, you just put your back up against the wall and slide down into a sitting position and hold it there for a minute. Easy right? No way. 15 seconds into it, your quads are screaming and you definitely have to go to a happy place in your mind. Holding the stop watch and trying not to think about my legs, I looked around at my "trainees". Their faces were contorting like mine, they looked desperate for release, they started to slide back up the wall and I would say, "Back down. You can do it." I said this to myself as well as we did three rounds of it.
From the wall-sits we moved on to the rowing machine. One person would row as fast as they could to 100 meters, while the rest of the crowd would alternately do jumping jacks and run laps. We did two rounds of this and by the time we were done and stretching out, we were sore, sweaty, and feeling accomplished.
I am so so sore, and as are the others, but it was fun to play trainer and the knowledge that I am going to be okay eventually on my own was priceless. Next up: devising a workout for Monday.
Then Jeff asked me to take the lead and workout the group on the days when we're not trained by them, and I started to think...what if I wrote up a workout that included all the things I hate most? Surely I'd be forced to push myself then. Questioning my sanity as I came up with the battle plan, I emailed the team saying that they were cordially invited to the Minter's Version of Hell aka I'm Going to Cuss Myself workout.
I must admit I chuckled evilly when the group assembled and asked what we were doing, but the joke was on me for sure because I was in for it too. First up on the list, my least favorite: the stairs. Right outside the gym are several flights of stairs that have played a critical part in my journey. I have out and out refused to take them, I have been scared of falling down them, I have been forced off the elevator by Jeff and made to take them, and been coaxed by my friends down each and every one of them as my fear of falling and my former terrible balance petrified me and made me look like an old lady slowly, slowly lumbering down. This day, I devised a workout that had us running laps up and down the stairs. It was not only a test of the physical but even more so, the mental. It felt awesome to conquer those stairs and crush my fear under my feet with each and every step.
Next up, we lined up behind the pull up bar and did four pull-ups then ran to the back of the line to go again for ten rounds. At one point, Jeff came over and said, "Are you guys still going at this?" Yep, forty pull-ups each. Then it was on to wall-sits. Sounds simple, you just put your back up against the wall and slide down into a sitting position and hold it there for a minute. Easy right? No way. 15 seconds into it, your quads are screaming and you definitely have to go to a happy place in your mind. Holding the stop watch and trying not to think about my legs, I looked around at my "trainees". Their faces were contorting like mine, they looked desperate for release, they started to slide back up the wall and I would say, "Back down. You can do it." I said this to myself as well as we did three rounds of it.
From the wall-sits we moved on to the rowing machine. One person would row as fast as they could to 100 meters, while the rest of the crowd would alternately do jumping jacks and run laps. We did two rounds of this and by the time we were done and stretching out, we were sore, sweaty, and feeling accomplished.
I am so so sore, and as are the others, but it was fun to play trainer and the knowledge that I am going to be okay eventually on my own was priceless. Next up: devising a workout for Monday.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Thank You
Tomorrow is a very special day to me because on September 14th of last year, I started this journey and it has been 365 amazing days of transformation. My birthday is in May, but September 14th will hereafter become a day that I consider my re-birthday because this year has been one of rebirth for me.
On this day I want to say thank you to two very special people, my trainers Jeff and Marisa.
On this day I want to say thank you to two very special people, my trainers Jeff and Marisa.
- Thank you for choosing me for this amazing opportunity.
- Thank you for believing in me before I believed in myself.
- Thank you for making this fun because that is what kept me engaged.
- Thank you for your patience and constant, unwaivering encouragement.
- Thank you for your time and expertise.
- Thank you for bringing out that inner fighter in me that my Mema always told me was there.
- Thank you for every sore muscle and drop of sweat.
- Thank you for celebrating every victory, no matter how small, along the way with me and understanding how important each one was.
- Thank you for making me strong.
- Thank you for helping me beat down the fear that always held me back and for every time you told me that I could do it.
- Thank you for showing me a whole new world and for everything you've taught me.
- Thank you for taking something that I've always dreaded and faltered at, and turning it around into something I love and that makes me feel successful.
- Thank you for every time you've helped me up, pushed me forward, or held out your arm to help me balance.
- Thank you from everyone that loves me.
- Thank you for saving my life.
- Thank you for my transformation.
Monday, September 12, 2011
She's Got No Socks. I've Got No Shoes.
"I forgot my socks!" said Millie from across the locker room as we were changing out today. Inevitably this happens at least once a week with our group. Someone will forget their socks, or a hair tie, or some other garment and we'll all go digging around in our gym bags for extras.
"Hey," I said as we got dressed. "At least it's not something critical like pants or shoes."
Ironic words out of my mouth because five minutes later as we started to warm up on the treadmills, I had a shoe calamity. It turned out that the new pair of running shoes that had felt right in the store this weekend were the wrong, wrong choice. As soon as my feet started moving on the belt, the side of my right foot up near my pinky toe that always gives me a fit started burning like someone had lit a candle to it. The shoes were pinching in the worst place and I realized that everyone who had told me that this particular brand of shoes were always too narrow had been right.
They had felt fine at the store. I had walked briskly up and down the aisles of shoes, thinking that my idea to run back and forth to test out the shoes would have gotten me some odd glances from the large crowd of weekend shoppers. I should have done it and let everyone think I was a weirdo, then I wouldn't have been in the predicament I found myself in at the gym today. I also should have listened to my instinct that told me to take my old shoes along with me this morning.
Frustrated, I got off of the treadmill, jealous of my friends in their perfectly comfy shoes who were already into the 5K training we'd planned today. What to do...I could have gotten on the bike, but I wanted to run with my friends.
"Just take 'em off and come on." Millie said.
So that's what I did. I ditched the cute but wretched pair of shoes and ran in my socks. I had no shoes and Millie had no socks, but we made it work.
"Hey," I said as we got dressed. "At least it's not something critical like pants or shoes."
Ironic words out of my mouth because five minutes later as we started to warm up on the treadmills, I had a shoe calamity. It turned out that the new pair of running shoes that had felt right in the store this weekend were the wrong, wrong choice. As soon as my feet started moving on the belt, the side of my right foot up near my pinky toe that always gives me a fit started burning like someone had lit a candle to it. The shoes were pinching in the worst place and I realized that everyone who had told me that this particular brand of shoes were always too narrow had been right.
They had felt fine at the store. I had walked briskly up and down the aisles of shoes, thinking that my idea to run back and forth to test out the shoes would have gotten me some odd glances from the large crowd of weekend shoppers. I should have done it and let everyone think I was a weirdo, then I wouldn't have been in the predicament I found myself in at the gym today. I also should have listened to my instinct that told me to take my old shoes along with me this morning.
Frustrated, I got off of the treadmill, jealous of my friends in their perfectly comfy shoes who were already into the 5K training we'd planned today. What to do...I could have gotten on the bike, but I wanted to run with my friends.
"Just take 'em off and come on." Millie said.
So that's what I did. I ditched the cute but wretched pair of shoes and ran in my socks. I had no shoes and Millie had no socks, but we made it work.
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Summer Days
What awesome weather we had today! It was a beautiful, sunny Saturday that was not too hot but warm enough that the pool felt so cool and refreshing. I had the top down on my car all day and swam hard for about two and a half hours, then floated like a crocodile for about half an hour. Perfect day in my book. The water gives you the wonderful option of feeling weightless, plus you can get in some great exercise without getting sweaty.
Today reminded me of all the wonderful summer days I spent as a child with my cousins at the lake. Back then we didn't know what a calorie was and we got tons of exercise without even realizing it. Days started early in the boat when conditions on the lake were slick and primed for skiing, hydrasliding, and tubing. We were only out of the water for the amount of time it would take to eat a meal and play a few video games at the arcade while waiting the mandatory hour you have to wait after eating before you could go back to swimming. Afternoons would drift by as we'd bob in the lake, laughing at our inside jokes and playing games we'd made up, like an underwater version of tag we called "Never Trust a Shark." At Sunday lunch there was always chicken on the grill and delicious summer vegetables grown by my aunt and uncle and our screened-in porch always rung out with the laughter of my boisterous family. Wonderful days for sure, and I'm happy to say they're still going on every summer with our family and the next generation.
Nothing can top the carefree days of childhood summers, but it felt great today to be outside all day, burning some calories in a weightless environment. I even did a few handstands and flips in the water like we used to in the lake.
Today reminded me of all the wonderful summer days I spent as a child with my cousins at the lake. Back then we didn't know what a calorie was and we got tons of exercise without even realizing it. Days started early in the boat when conditions on the lake were slick and primed for skiing, hydrasliding, and tubing. We were only out of the water for the amount of time it would take to eat a meal and play a few video games at the arcade while waiting the mandatory hour you have to wait after eating before you could go back to swimming. Afternoons would drift by as we'd bob in the lake, laughing at our inside jokes and playing games we'd made up, like an underwater version of tag we called "Never Trust a Shark." At Sunday lunch there was always chicken on the grill and delicious summer vegetables grown by my aunt and uncle and our screened-in porch always rung out with the laughter of my boisterous family. Wonderful days for sure, and I'm happy to say they're still going on every summer with our family and the next generation.
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| Back in the day with my cousins Holly and Jason |
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