What's one more thing to add to the plate?!

No, I don't mean the dinner plate either. I was offered a part time position at a local facility that I have been trying to get into since I moved to Grand Rapids, 3 years ago. I accepted the job offer with open arms but am racking my brain trying to figure out how the hell I am going to swing everything. This is the type facility that you take what you are offered and move up. So, here I am starting out as a receptionist..but in due time, I will be able to put my degree to use. I am sure of it. In the mean time...my kids are driving me nuts, my husband is too. I want to go for a bike ride..but I don't have a bike.*hmph* Maybe that is what I will reward myself with later on? Sounds like a plan :)

"It hurts up to a point and then it doesn't get any worse." -Ann Trason

I jumped on the "let's eat healthy" bandwagon and I’m on the “workout, workout, workout” one too. How many bandwagons can I be a part of? First of all just so you know, I DESPISE running. I don't like how my legs rub together, I don't like hearing my feet hit the pavement. I hate sweating. I don’t like other people to see me working out and I especially don't like my heart beating so frivolously that it feels like my chest might explode at any given moment.

On Saturday I promised my daughter a nice bike ride around the park. So I grabbed my HRM, a pony tail holder, and my sunglasses. I’ll be damned if I will let anyone see me as I decide to try this running thing. I thought about the C25K run. So I thought okay, after 5 minutes of walking, I will jog a little. By this time, I was on the main street walking up a slight hill to the park, so I decided I’d wait and run though the park. When we got to the side walk that runs though the park, it was very uneven and bumpy, sooo…I thought I’d wait until it go smoothed out a bit. Now, I’m about 20 minutes into my walk and finally I thought, okay..I’ll give this a try. I started jogging slightly. Staying just a head of my daughter. C25K you are supposed to warm up for 5 minutes, jog 60 seconds, walk for 90 seconds..and so on. This is supposed to go on for a total of 30 minutes. Does anyone know how long 60 seconds is? When you think you are dying…it seems to go on forever. I was only able to make it for 3 intervals before I thought screw this…I look like an idiot, and my legs already hurt.

Before you start thinking, oh look, she already gave up-you’re wrong. Today, I do plan on doing it again. I will stretch before I go, I will walk only for 5 minutes and I will at least do the 3 intervals again. Maybe even 4. Hey..it’s a start, and everyone has to have a beginning.



What is the point of running around my neighborhood…letting all my neighbors see me at my worst? Breathing heavy, sweaty, messy hair, smeared makeup..or none? REALLY? I have this friend who INSISTS on telling me I need to run with her. Jog, run, do a 5K, a marathon, something. So to hush her up, I agreed to do a 5K in October. She vowed to wow me with vodka if I did it. WTF did I get myself into?

The girl on the box..

My new years resolution was not only to lose weight, but stick with whatever I chose to do. At first, I was just watching what I would eat. From the plate it went to my mouth. My friends (and strangers) often ask "what was your ah-HA moment-why did you decide to do this" Well, two things happened. The first was my 5 year old daughter drew a picture of me, her daddy, and her. She pointed it that she was 'straight' (hence her stick figure drawing and her being skinny) and her daddy and I weren't. We had round bodies-much like eggs. I just kinda laughed at first-because she's 5. What the hell does she know!? Then the next day, we were playing outside-well, she was and I was watching. She wanted to play hopscotch. So I got down and helped her make a board and she wanted me to play. After only hopping those 10 squares, falling over when I tried to pick up the stone, and giving myself a concussion from my boobs hitting me in the face, I went in the house and cried.

How did I let myself get this way? I NEVER used to be this big, unhealthy, and let's face it...Lazy. It was time for a change. My 30th birthday was coming up and I told my husband I wanted an elliptical. The wonderful husband I have, got me one.

I thought I would LOVE having an elliptical.

The girl on the box made it look so effortless-as she stands on it, looking cute in her work out clothes, flat tummy, fresh makeup, and not one hair out of place-not to mention she isn’t even sweating. After my first work out, I go upstairs and gulp down a bottle of water, walk by my husband who is laying on the couch watching TV and eating a huge mixing bowl full of ice cream-when I turn, I about scream when I see myself in the mirror. Bright red face, sweat dripping off me, my hair matted to my forehead, and sticking up everywhere. What the hell? Where did the girl from the box go?!