First Workout Of The Year

Ok, I'm excited. Finally after a busy holiday season things are slowing down and everyone is healthy. Which got me to thinking that maybe we (my family and I) should do something together to stay fit/healthy. So after some research our family now had a YMCA membership. I'm really excited about that because I feel like that has given me back the opportunity to workout with out kids crawling under me when I am in downward-dog pose. Not only that I will be able to take the kids to the pool during any weather and that is always a lot of fun for them.

So yesterday was my first workout in quite a while. I was able to do 20 minutes on the stair stepper, 1o minutes on the eliptical machine, and 40 minutes on the weight machines. I know that on the weight machines I probably should be doing more reps but seeing as how I was figuring out the adjustments on them and what they do, I figured that doing 2 reps of 10 on each was good enough. It felt really good to be able to do that. I am a little sore today but not to bad. The cool thing is that my kids had lots of fun while I was working out. I am hoping to be able to start a regular MWF workout routine and take the kids swimming on the weekends. I'm geeked! So Hooray for the Y!

Say Yes to Sledding!

So being that biking outside is out of the question right now and I don't have a bike trainer I have to seek alternative exercises. Not that I have been very motivated to put in a tape and exercise to it but I am trying not to totally lose myself to the sedentary life of winter, as well as all the yummy comfort food. I mean, who can stop eating? So at the very least I try to take my kids outside to play. What better fun is there in the snow than sledding with kids? All the laughing, crying from snow in the face, then asking for more is just way to much fun. Not to mention how many times I have pulled them up the hill in the sled. One being 35 lbs, one is 25 lbs, and the oldest is 90 lbs. Now I don't normally pull the older one. Only on occassion and never up a hill. The other two I pull around all the time. Not just running around the front yard, but up the hill everytime. That certaingly gets my heart pumping! After about an hour of playing like that outside I am whooped! But it feels good and I think I got my workout in. So even though I can't seem to quit eating the food and I'm not motivated to do a regular exercise routine, at least I go sledding 3-4 times a week (and karate 2x). So I will sled on, my friends.

News...

I have not been neglecting my blog on purpose, just been really busy with other things lately. One of which is the fundraising for the WAM 2008 bike tour. I have to say that I am happy with how it is going. I have had a lot of support from a lot of people. Thank you so much for all the donations towards my fundraising goals. I hope you are as excited as I am about being that much closer to granting a wish. These children certainly deserve it. The last I checked F2F and I have raised over $600!! Yeah!!!

Now for that training. Haven't been doing so much lately. And of course with all the comfort food and Thanksgiving holiday I may have sabotaged myself! lol This time of year is bad for my hips. :) Thank goodness for karate 2x per week. I know I get a good workout there! Plus I love it. I am excited to say that I have just tested and passed for my 3rd grade brown belt! WooHoo!! I can't believe I am actually a brown belt. I'm thrilled! It means I am that much closer to being a black belt. According to my instructor about another year, though it is hard for me to imagine! Now I'll be getting into more self defense (against knives and guns), some more weapons training, and then having to do some reading on martial arts history. I'm excited! Sparring is one thing in karate I don't do often but participated in last night. Now I remember why I haven't done it in a while. No shin guards! I desparately need some. My shins are looking a pretty shade of purple. Don't get me wrong, I love purple-just not when it hurts!

Stay tuned, I'll keep you posted on the fundraising, bike training, and how much better I am at kicking my own butt...:)

It's Official

Yep, that's right. You can now classify me as out of my mind. :) I have just registered today for the WAM 2008 bike tour. Wow! All I can say is that I'm excited and nervous. I mean 300 miles. I was just on the site to see what the route would be and here's what was posted: Start in Traverse City and ride to Big Rapids. Day 2 Ride to DeWitt. Day 3 Finish at Chelsea. Ok, doesn't sound that bad right? Then I looked at the state map. Holy COW! Definately nervous. I think it's time to change my workout stratagy which hasn't been much lately. Definately going to have to get the aerobics in so that I'm not breathing like I'm a smoker after about 10 minutes of working out. lol I'm so excited too! Can you imagine?

I've registerd with my anonomyous friend :) as the team 1st Century Riders. If you're reading this, we could really use your help in donations. You can click on the donations link on the left. Remember, it's to give children that are terminally ill something joyous, hope. Every little bit counts!

A Big Thank You

I just had to dedicate this post to BJB. You are awesome! Why? Because you are always helping others out!

Since deciding to try this bike tour you have not only been emotionally supportive, but you go the extra mile and try to help me raise money for it too. That is above and beyond. I want to thank you for doing that for me. Like I said AWESOME!

Always Something...

Sometimes the best intentions just get squashed with other things that seem to take priority. Sometimes it's that piece of chocolate just calling my name. Maybe it's that really wonderful dinner that I had at the restaurant that was loaded with God knows how many calories. Yummy! The extra hour of sleep I felt I needed. The projects that get in the way. Somehow these things just keep sneaking their way back into my day. How it happens is sometimes a mystery. But the fact of the matter is it does happen. My motivation needs a swift kick in the butt!

Once again my biking was put on hold. Why this time you ask? (I bet the suspense is killing you!LOL) Landscaping! Yep! That's it! The thing is I started this project last weekend and what happens? It's dragged out because, you guessed it, other things get in the way of me finishing it. I am mostly finished with it now. Just have to transplant of few things. Then it's onto working on the back porch. The good thing is that I am still finding the time for karate and yoga, or some sort of aerobic activity. Now if I could just get that biking in...I'll keep you posted.:)

Been A While...

I haven't been on my bike in weeks! It's pathetic really. But I am happy to say that last week and this past weekend I was able to go for three different bike rides. Not as long as I would have like becuase the kids only tolerate so much. All total I probably only biked about twenty miles. I'm happy with that. I guess I figure if at least I got out there then it's all good!

I know that I attend karate pretty regularly but we are always training of various things. Because it gets switched up there are times some of the things we train in don't happen for a while. Bow form would be one of those things that I haven't done in a while. So Monday was the first night in about 7 weeks that I have picked up my bow to train. It's not like I was great at it to begin with and Monday when I picked it up I was rusty on top of that. Let me tell you that whirling around, striking and blocking with a six foot stick is harder than it looks. I have the bruises to show for it! :) Becuase of striking and blocking techniques I now sport bruises on my left arm (about 4 inches in diameter), my right shoulder (about 3 inches in diameter), and my right knee (about 2 inches in diameter). If you haven't guessed it, my problem is in my control! lol I need some so that I don't beat the hell out of myself! Needless to say I took the night off on Wednesday.

Which leads to the other activity I haven't done in a while: hiking. Now, ordinarily I am not sore from hiking but that is when I do it more often and am not backpacking a kid. I realize my little one may only be 23 lbs. but after an hour hiking up and down sand dunes two consecutive days in a row, I'm a little sore. Not my legs so much but my shoulders. Oh well...

I can't complain though, I have gotten three really good workouts in in three days. It feels awesome, if not a little sore. So even though I haven't done these things in a while I do plan to do them more often.

On a side note, I just started practicing with my nunchucks. Quite exciting really! Wish me luck that I don't beat myself up to much. Though I have to say, so far so good.