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If you happen to find this blog, it as all been moved to this new website/blog: http://www.kellysjourney.com/

Thanks!
Kelly

Just Call Me Gumby

I got to stretch and bend (thank goodness no gas) in my first Yoga class at Body Solid this morning! It feels so good!

I am surprisingly flexible - always have been for no apparent reason - so the Yoga instructor, Jane, was excited to call me her Gumby. I have been quite happy the rest of the day, not letting things worry me that normally would. Was it because of the yoga? Who knows, but it was a great start to the day.

I have only done yoga with DVDs at home, which seems very comfortable to me, but I REALLY liked the REAL class because the atmosphere was great in the GYM's soothing yoga room and also because a real person can correct my poses and positions so that I get better results from my effort.

By the way, I had a few marriage proposals back in the day because of my flexibility. So just call me Gumby!

Age... Is it Just a Number?

I'm going to be 36 for just a few more hours. It is bothering me a bit to transition from the "mid 30's" to the "late 30's."

What is more bothersome is that the body assessment told me my body's Polar age is 46. That's just not right. I believe it because I spend too much time sitting at the computer and not much time moving. The good news is that I have the potential to have a 31-year-old body. Of course I'd rather have a 22-year-old body, but hey - I'll take what I can get.

On this new path, I will reverse some of the aging and then will age much slower.

On another note, tonight I decided on the domain for this blog. In honor of the book "Younger Next Year" that is explaining to me why exercise is so important, and that I keep saying I'm going to have a hot bod next year, I wanted to call it "HotterNextYear.com" but was afraid of what other kinds of sites a search could pull up - or if you misspelled something.

So instead I have decided on www.KellysJourney.com. Yes, it bothers me that it can't contain the apostrophe it needs to be grammatically correct, but I'm going to use it anyway.

I hope I can start reporting results and encourage you to start YourJourney.com as well.

Tackling the To-Do List

One thing that I allow to bother me is my To-Do list. I call it my "Perpetual List of Impossibility."

Life Coach Lissa gave me tips for new ways to handle the list(s) and I'm liking it! I HAVE to make lists, but now I'm making them differently and in a way that I can keep track of projects better - and best of all - so I can feel a sense of accomplishment at the end of the day instead of defeat.

And now exercise is on the schedule!

Gearing Up

I was so excited to get my heart rate monitor today! I couldn't wait to try it and finally got to tonight. Ty and I re-arranged part of my office so I could use the treadmill again. This Polar monitor communicates with the machines at the Gym and also the watch.

Cecilia gave me a "Cardio Rx" so I know what % of maximum heart rate I need to be at and how long. This way, I can get the most results from my time! YES!

I also got some work-out clothes at JC Penney 1/2 off tonight! 2 pants, 1 shirt and 2 jackets for $70.

So I am all geared up with my monitor and clothes, but what motivated me so much tonight was those mirrors while trying on those work-out clothes. I worked the treadmill 30 minutes tonight when the prescription was for 20.

I don't want those pants to fit for very long. :)

Tried de Trykes

Ty and I signed up to ride our bikes in Tour de Trykes. I had been fretting over which route to choose - the 2-mile family fun ride or the 10-mile ride (they also had routes up to 100 miles). I knew I could do 2 miles, but 10 miles scared me, so we signed up for 10. How am I going to become a new me if I don't push beyond my current me, right?

First we rode our bikes downtown. Then on the ride itself, after 2.5 miles I was done and we turned around. This is mostly because I'm not in shape for this and I also don't know when to shift the gears on my bike. Riding east of downtown Enid, there are actually hills. You notice these hills a lot more on a bike. I knew to go to 7th gear going down the hills, but stayed in 7th gear going up the hills. That about killed me. So at 30th street I was done.

Lexy was riding on the back of Ty's bike and they were getting video of the riders. When they stopped to get some video, they ended up way behind and would never be able to catch up. Next year the video crew is borrowing a convertible.

So we rode back downtown together and got our goodie bags and t-shirts. After a bit I rode on home... and you BET I'm going to count the distance from our house to 30th and back! So I actually rode 7.75 miles.

I think I could have made it further if I weren't a dumb butt on those hills. But I TRIED and I rode 7.75 miles further than those who didn't.

Life Coach Lissa

Since health isn't just about fitness, and Gym takes a whole-self approach with their clients, I had my first appointment with Life Coach Lissa.

Since the health and fitness aspect of my life has gone downhill from NOT making it a priority, she is going to help me stay on track with my goals. She will make it more difficult to stray from a new exercise routine, which would be really easy for me to stray from.

Lissa will also help me with time management. I feel like I work all the time and feel guilty when I'm not, but still can't seem to catch up. She is helping me to take a real look at where I spend my time and where I should make adjustments.

We will come up with a schedule, like a time budget, which will need to include exercise time, family time, guilt-free fun time and house cleaning time... and Ty wouldn't mind some date time. :)

Learnin' Cardio

The machines at Gym are so stinkin' cool! They're making my treadmill at home look like a piece.

I learned how to use the machines (never been on an elliptical before) and how to do intervals - and when to stop doing intervals. At Gym I learn HOW and the book I'm reading tells me WHY.

Their machines show your heart rate, etc., and I'm using their heart rate straps until mine is delivered. NOTE: If you are going to start with a gym, see what kind of equipment they have so you can purchase the correct heart rate monitor that "talks" to their machines. Gym uses Polar and I am excited to get my own to wear! The strap communicates with their machines while there, and communicates with the watch when you're not.

It's important to know your heart rate and % of your maximum heart rate so you will be exercising at the correct levels for optimum results. Seriously, if I'm going to spend my time exercising, I don't want it to be worthless. I don't have time for worthless.

Letting Go of the Guilt

Today at the Gym, I learned how to do cardio the right way, but I'll talk about that later because Guilt has been on my mind today.

I'm sure a lot of us women/moms have guilt issues about taking time for ourselves. I definitely do. We need to realize that taking care of ourseves is good for our children and household, not just us. We will be more active, more happy and will live more years without someone wiping our drool. Plus, we will be setting a fantastic example for our children. They learn how to be by watching us - and we don't want them to grow up with health problems. No way.

I have been extreme about this guilt thing in the past. I have worked from home for years, which means I don't stop at 5:00 or 6:00 - or on weekends. There are ALWAYS things that I feel people are waiting for me to get done. Some of my friends have heard this before, but a few years ago, I didn't like to be out taking a walk because I was afraid people would see me and KNOW that I wasn't working.

I am not that bad now, but I am worried about exercising and meal planning taking time away from getting work done. Thank goodness I don't cook (that's Ty's job) so the exercise time is what I'm worried about most.

Even reading the book, Younger Next Year, is a bit of a struggle because I am taking some time here and there for myself instead of work. The only books I have ever read are self-improvement books and instruction manuals. (And I usually only get through the first 2 or 3 chapters.) I envy those who can relax with a good book - I have no idea what that's like.

I must put it on my schedule as if it is "work" and let go of the guilt. After all, if I am healthier, my mind will be more clear and I will do a better job.

Lizard Brain Signals

Last night and tonight I told my lizard brain that it's Springtime in the Savannah by riding my bicycle around the 'hood.

If you have read Younger Next Year, you know what the heck I'm talking about. The rest of you probably think I should take more Lexapro.

Good Stuff

Here is a list of good stuff about my new plan:

• It is a well-rounded plan, NOT gonna kill me with Cardio.
• So far, I have NOT been told I have to give up my drinks of happiness - Dr. Pepper and wine, as long as I don't drink too much of either one, of course.
• I have NOT been told I have to cut out cheese.
• I can replace things I like (cereal for breakfast) with other things I like (scrambled egg, yogurt, fruit).
• I can still have Uptown Subs with friends on Fridays! :)
• My short-term goal is reasonable - 19 lbs in 7 weeks.
• My long-term goal will get me to my driver's license weight.
• The BEST part... the GYM is germ conscious! They have disinfecting wipes and hand sanitizer everywhere and they use it - especially when I'm there! YES!

Today I started reading the book Cecilia recommended, Younger Next Year ... for Women. They have it at Hasting's.

I am happy about the good stuff.

The Journey to a Healthier Me begins today!

Two years ago I was at an average weight, but since then I have grown a few sizes. It has snuck up on me and I don't appreciate it. Not one bit. I am at a computer most hours of the day, but I have been for years, so that's not it. I had a baby 9 1/2 years ago and was thin afterward, so that's not it. I can't find a good excuse, so I better start a good plan.

Today the journey began with a body age assessment at Gym, formerly known as Body Solid in downtown Enid, OK. Cecilia used a neat-o contraption and program that measures and calculates all kinds of things (don't worry - no body fluids and no blood taken). Then it spits out things you don't want to know, but things you need to know. It offers suggestions on activity level, kinds of activities, food plan based on what you are willing to eat and what you should eat, etc. It is not a one-size-fits-all thing, it's a this-plan-fits-you thing.

After looking at my assessment, the BAD news is: there's lots of room for improvement. The GOOD news is: there's lots of room for improvement!

It is time for me to make time for myself, get healthier and teach my daughter the value of having a healthy lifestyle.

By the way, don't even think that I'm going to post my weight, but since we're on the subject, I'll say that I have a whopping 42% fat mass. What that means is... DAD GUM!