Nordic Walking

For the last year-ish, I have been wanting to get into something called Nodic Walking? Have you heard of it? Basicly, it is walking with ski poles--special ski poles, mind you. I looked into the "sport" a little more and found out that the poles were very special indeed--like upwards of $120 special and I'm sure there were others that were even more special. So I put that dream to rest, but still kept my eye on them on amazon.

I found them at Target!!! For $20 for both poles, not just one, but two. I'm sure there are "better" poles out there, but for me these work perfectly. They can be used on regular surfaces as well as in hiking type of conditions. They are also adjustable. My family and I went to Target yesterday to buy my birthday present. Martin kept telling me that they had to leave me at home so the present would be a surpise, but I told him that I knew what I was getting and the surpise was for them. The kids were very excited as well.

I thought that I enjoyed walking before--but now it's got a fun little twist to it. I have always tried to use my Oprah arms while walking to help burn more, but the nordic walking does so much more--you really feel it and it is such a work out. The packaging claims I can burn up to 45% more calories and strengthen 90% of my muscles. I'm not sure if it is all true, but I was tuckered after a mile so I called it a day. I know that I will need to work up my endurance before I can head up for a six mile walk with the poles. But I look forward to it. I think once I get a little more use to walking this new way, it will just start to feel and be more natural. Who would have thought walking with ski poles would be so sweat inducing?

Cheese Cake, Frappe, and Burgers...Oh, My!

After a wonderful carefree weekend of Eating Quiche, drinking yummy Frappes (but it was dark chocolate)having chips & homemade salsa, drinking a touch of wine, burgers & fries and eating a very grand baked oatmeal complete with cream to pour over the top, has left me 3 pounds higher this week.

I know exactly where the three pounds I gained went. There is about a pound that has reattached itself to my gut, a pound on my ass and my hips have been nice enough to share a pound together. The reason I know this is because I tried on my dress for the wedding I am in only a little over 2 weeks. I'm so glad that Kaylee's mother is just starting on alterations. I'm not going to let the alterations be good enough, I'm going to work my body in hopes that things will be a little smoother under the taffeta. In fact last night when I got home (after 11pm) I did a quick video. I'm not hoping for a miracle, just a little less mush and a lot more confidence.

The Climb

This is something that I need to keep in my mind--even if you are not a fan of Hannah Tannah, the words (provided below) sum it up this journey.

Miley Cyrus The Climb by J Rice (Only male cover)
by Jriceproductions

I can almost see it
That dream I am dreaming
But there's a voice inside my head saying
"You'll never reach it"

Every step I'm taking
Every move I make feels
Lost with no direction
My faith is shaking

But I gotta keep trying
Gotta keep my head held high

There's always gonna be another mountain
I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be a uphill battle
Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose

Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb

The struggles I'm facing
The chances I'm taking
Sometimes might knock me down
But no, I'm not breaking

I may not know it
But these are the moments that
I'm gonna remember most, yeah
Just gotta keep going

And I, I got to be strong
Just keep pushing on

'Cause there's always gonna be another mountain
I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be a uphill battle
Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose

Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb, yeah!

There's always gonna be another mountain
I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be an uphill battle
Somebody's gonna have to lose

Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb, yeah!

Keep on moving, keep climbing
Keep the faith, baby
It's all about, it's all about the climb
Keep the faith, keep your faith, whoa

I am

down a tiny little bit from last week. .2 to be exact. And since the computer was sick with a bad bug I never reported that last week I was up almost 4 pounds. Moving forward. Moving forward.

not given up

I'm not giving up--life has just been getting in the way of me taking care of me. Right now I am in the process of trying to make things better for us--by that I mean I am working towards becoming a licenced family day care. This is something that had been in the goal list, but not up front and center--it was always a well maybe someday, but in order to help out our family the time has come.

So does this mean I am not taking care of myself? We'll not as good as I was or should be, but right now I'm trying to figure out how to make myself a priority when I have other things that need to get done and by the time the day is over, there is no time left. I don't know if any of you have looked outside at 4:45 but it is DARK out there--last week I got up and went for a morning walk and it was a bit freaky, so now I need to readjust myself and find something else that works. (I'm making excuses again--old habits, they sneak up on a person) I am beat--going to head to bed.

Back on my Program

After being on vacation, I just can't seem to get myself back on my program. I've given up writing down what I eat, have been excising very inconsistently, and just don't seem to be in the right frame of mind. I want to change it--I'm going to change it. This is only a temporary block in my path (maybe I should turn around and go a different way?)

I had been in my routine and then life happened and for some reason it seemed a little easier to wait around for the next train. But it is not easier--I'm beat, tired, moody, feel slumpy and I just don't like it. I've been having headaches a lot more--in fact last night I went to bed with one--but I set my alarm anyhow. This morning, like almost every morning lately, I turned it off, however my head feels very heavy & stuffed and sore and I just want to sleep. My eyes keep running and my head is throbbing. I did not walk this morning. I'm going to drink tea with honey today and hope that I'm just dealing with allergies and not some sort of sinus funk. Tomorrow is weigh in day (not thinking it's going to be good)--I feel myself slipping back into old habits. Someone throw me a rope before it is too late. I'm going to go lay down now.

Energy Drain

Someone has come along and pulled the plug on my energy and I feel as though I have nothing left. The crazy thing is that I know that if I could just move my body, I would feel so much better. My mind and body seem to working against each other at this point in time. I need to realign myself and get into balance...not just with exercise, but with everything that is going on in my world. I cleaned up my sun room this weekend and in the process, I think I may have misplaced my motivation. I'm going to go see if I filed it somewhere...

ParCourse

We headed out to Lowes Creek Park as soon as I finished typing my last blog--it was a fun time--Martin wants to go back every day to do it and Poppy also wants to join in on the fun. Some of the stations were very very hard, but we just had fun and made the most of what we could do. What a beautiful area it is--very peaceful (with the exception of my children yelling at each other) I would go back for sure. It's also loaded with tons of off road bike trails if that is something anyone is interested in.

This evening I think the kids and I are going to head to Owen park to kick off the celebration of Night Out on Crime (don't forget to turn on your porch lights tonight) They have a little carnival with games & prizes and music--I think we will park across the river so we can get in some movement therapy--and avoid tons of traffic. We love walking across that old train bridge and love walking along the river. Martin also wants to tackle the stairs tonight--maybe will throw that in for just a little extra fun : o )

When

When I have nothing to blog about, I need to remember to keep at it. It helps me stay more honest when I feel as though someone is checking up on me. When I get lazy about blogging I tend to get lazy about everything. Sorry if I start to get boring, the boring stuff is really just for me.

Today the kids and I went to Big Falls and climbed around all the rocks. It was such a nice time, I even forgot about how bad my legs still hurt from the stair climbing that took place last Friday night (darn trainer) We had a picnic lunch before our climb and all though it was not the healthiest of choices--there were chips involved and we had ice cream after our fun in the sun--I have come to terms that this time around I'm not playing with an all or nothing tude. It's okay to have chips with a meal and ice cream as a treat, it is not okay for me to eat an entire bag of chips or have ice cream every afternoon. I am on a plan that I will be on for the rest of my life and need to make that plan livable--something that makes me feel normal and not stand out because today I am only eating things that are blue.

I was chatting with a good friend (I'll keep your name a secret ; o )) about maybe we should not call workouts "workouts" because the word work in there always makes me feel like something dreaded may be involves. I've been tossing around some ideas and have extended a challenge to come up with a new term for the process of movement that keeps me feeling good--I've come up with Therapy, but not sure if that's what I want to call it either, I'm afraid someone might start charging me $$$'s every time I partake in this activity. Her and I also talked about how we need to make sure that this time is fun & why not involved the whole family from time to time. I will still take my beloved walks alone, but from time to time I will have the kids tag a long and if we stop to skip rocks, then we do, I still benefit from the activity even if my target heart rate is briefly interrupted. One of the main reasons I am on this healthier path is so that my children see me living my life--and how are they going to see it if there are never along for the ride.

My most wonderful Chiro was telling me about a trail near Eau Claire that has stopping points where you do various things (such as push ups or some other type of 70's activities, everything is retro these days) I think I will take the kids there sometime soon so we can have a good laugh and really isn't that what it is really all about. Thank you for the laughter.