Well, there went $40....

Kenpo cost me $40. That's how much I had to pay my chiropractor this afternoon and she fixed me up and I felt great! It was fantastic to work out (for about 30 minutes) with no crunching or twinging. Then, well, then came back kicks and apparently that was a dumb thing for me to do right after having been adjusted, so now my lower back/hip is out of whack again and I am going to have to go back to see Dr. Bevis again soon. Which I don't mind too much because she is awesome, but still for $40 I would have liked to have felt better for longer. :) As I mentioned, Kenpo was tonight's poison of choice, and it went much better than last time, considering that it didn't make me blow chunks this time. That is ALWAYS a bonus. :D

On another note, I am going to buy a "wildlife" camera. One of those things that is activated when an animal steps in front of it to (innocently) eat some corn that some thoughtful person has strewn out on the ground for them. *Side note, why would a deer or something come loping along thru the woods and see some dried corn lying there, dozens of miles from the closest Feed 'n' Seed, and think, "Oo. Goodie! I shall partake of this yummy, tasty treat!" Didn't their mothers ever teach them not to eat things left behind by strangers?!*
Anyways, I am going to put up a camera because I want to exactly what villainous woodland creature is setting my dogs off on their maniacal baking fits. Audrey thinks it is a bear. But, she also thinks that motorcycles zooming past us in traffic are bears, too. She has an active imagination, that one. Bishop makes sure to sling extra webs at the woods just in case it is something he, as Spiderman, can keep at bay. Me? I just have these visions of a deer or a turkey "mooning" the dogs and taunting them with their tasty hindquarters. In actuality, it is probably the most dangerous, most fiendish, most gruesome...(pause for dramatic effect) branch laying on the ground. And the dogs think it is a bear...

Core (it ought to be a) Syn...

Core Synergystics- keeping chiropractors in business since... well, whenever it was invented...
Actually, I enjoyed this work out for the most part, but just like any time I do one of the work outs for the first time, there is a lot of "you want me to do WHAT?!" involved. My core is the weakest part of my body after two c-sections and well, to be honest, minimal ab work (and lots of cheesecake) for a long time. Can't just blame it on the kiddos like I can with most everything else. ;) I can see how it will become one that I enjoy more than, say, anesthesia-less knee surgery. I appreciated the way Tony was constantly reminding you to think while doing the moves and keep your core muscles engaged. When I get tired I have a tendency to let that stuff lapse and that is how you wind up with a hurt back. Which, mine already hurts, so I was even more conscientious about it. I am going to my chiropractor tomorrow because I don't want it to get any worse, but I am afraid she is going to kick my ass for doing this program. And she can do it, too, because HER back doesn't hurt! :)
On a proud "me" note, I was able to do these push ups in the routine that there is NO WAY I would have been able to do even 2 weeks ago, so it was really awesome to go "Holy crap! I just did that!!" :) That is what keeps you coming back for more- that realization that your body changed and was able to do something it wasn't able to do before. It makes you anticipate the next change even more. So, two work outs into Week 4 (yesterday was Yoga X) and I'm feelin' good.

Sh*t my kids say...

"But Mom, I can't eat my pancakes. They do NOT like me and it makes me sad."

"Mom, if your iPod hadn't fallen in the potty, what games would it have on it?"

"Yeah, that is a barn. Like, when a baby is barn."

"Spiderman is red and blue with webs." - Bishop's answer when asked why he had hit his sister

"Audrey, you have to say it right! You are not listening to me. Say it right, please!"
"Oh, FINE: Spiderman, let down your weeeeeeeeeeb..." - secret password phrase to get into the play house

"Cayne, you are my BEST dog EVER. Sorry Coors."

"Here, this is for you." - said by Audrey while handing me something from her nose

"Boys have a penis. Girls have a pajama."

"Mom, our family is really big: you and me and Bishop and Dad, and.... my blanket!"

"Because I didn't hit my brudder hard enough." - Audrey's answer when asked if she knew why she was in T/O

"Spiderman." - Bishop's answer to the question when asked at school what he was grateful for

"I can't; I'm too, too busy and so sad." - Audrey's reason for why she can't get in the bath tub

I'm still here and I'm still "bringing it"!

Today I start, drum roll please...., WEEK NUMBER FOUR OF P90X!!! (dull roar of crowd cheering in the background) Wooohooooo!!!! This means that with the exception of missing Valentine's Day and Thursday's work out that I had to do yesterday (on my rest day), I have 22 days under my belt! I am seeing differences already and I am looking forward to the changes to come. I am finding myself pushing harder and working for more and that proves to me that I am committed! (Or, that I need to BE committed... ;)  )
Last night was Kenpo X. After having had a little less than 5 hours sleep the night before, starting at 10pm, and not having a really good dinner (Cripser's Polynesian Crap Stack gets a big ol' thumbs down), I could tell that it was going to be a rough work out 10 minutes in. But I still pushed through and did my best until about the last 7 minutes and then my stomach was like, "Yeah. Um. You are done.". I couldn't even cool down, just needed to throw up and shower and then laid down and I don't think I got back up until this morning. :) This is not indicative of how I usually feel during the work outs, so to any of you thinking of starting the program, it's not the "norm" that you barf and pass out, I swear. It just goes to show you how you really need to take in calories to have the energy to do this and that they need to be the right kind of fuel.
Tonight is Yoga X and I am going to try to get Danny to do it with me because you know what they say, "The family that pains together stays together"! :)

Week 3 coming to a close...

Yay! 2 more days until my rest day and that puts Week 3 in the books and I will start my next "routine". So stoked!!! Tonight was Yoga X and while I find it really difficult maintain a constant balance because of the carpet, I still was able to do more of the difficult stuff than the last time and even attempted (but failed miserably) the Crane Pose, which is where you squat down like a frog and put your knees on top of your arms and just kind of sit there, all your body weight balanced on your hands, waiting for natural selection to take effect. Night before last was Shoulders and Arms and that one went really, really well. I can already see a difference in my arm and it just makes me more pumped to keep going and seeing more difference everywhere. :) Tomorrow is my most dreaded day- Legs and Back. But, no matter how much I hate them, with God (and you guys) as my witness(es), I'll never wear jeans all summer again!!!! :D Lol, bring on the spray tan, cause these legs is pasty-white! ;)

Ick.

Well, the salmon I had for dinner was better going down than coming up, thanks to Plyometrics. I half-assed the last 20 minutes so it didn't happen again, but I still finished it. I'm on my third week now and still going strong. Yesterday was Chest and Back and, thanks to Danny, I got the bands set up so that the pull up sections were more challenging. I have increasing ability to do more reps on the push ups, but they are still being done on my knees. I can already see a difference around my collarbone and in my arms (though I am SUPER ready to see the difference in my mid section and thighs). Today was, as I mentioned, Plyometrics, which really sucked. I felt crummy all day- too little sleep, a pulled muscle in my neck, too freaking much pollen inhalation, sore muscles from last night's work out... So I didn't go into the workout with a great "gung ho" attitude. It was more like a "go eff yourself, Tony" attitude. On the plus side, however, I started it early while the kids were playing in their rooms. Eventually they were drawn to the sound of me arguing with someone and came out to investigate. Bishop jumped right in, literally, and started doing the moves right along with me. Audrey, the smart kid that she is, took one look at the screen and the peculiar shade of red my face had become and said, "I will watch." and plopped herself in a chair. Fortunately they had wandered back out of the room when dinner decided to make it's vengeful return. I say fortunately because they think me throwing up is the funniest thing in the world. It's not that they are mean or anything, but they think the noise is hilarious. It ranks right up there with watching me put on tights, which is the only other thing that I do that makes them noiseless with laughter. Anyways, Week 3 is under way and I'm still standing. Well, sitting, clutching my sides, and breathing like a steam engine, but you get the point....

Wowza, that hurts!!

Okay, this is a little diminished by the fact that I missed Arms & Shoulders on Monday due to Valentine's Day, but WEEK TWO IS DONE!!! WOOHOO!!!! Tomorrow is my rest day and then back at it on Saturday!!!
I have been pretty boring on my accountability reports here and I'm sorry for that, but all I am currently channeling all my extra energy to my muscles for repair, even the creative and wordy ones. :) My legs were still super tired from Legs & Back last night, so Kenpo X was a little tougher than it was last time. Actually, all the work outs are harder this second time around because nothing has fully recovered yet, but apparently that is the beauty (horror) of P90X. There were a couple of times during the routine where I was like, eh, I could just stop now, I did 35 minutes of it... I did 40 minutes of it, I could stop now... And then I realized that nothing I've ever done before worked because I allowed myself to be weak. So, this time I dug down, pushed harder, cussed A LOT, and got thru it, and I feel better for having done it. :) I want to get thru this to the other side and say, "Holy crap, I DID THAT, so I know anyone can!". So, two weeks down, many many more to go, but still holding on to it!!

The Kids Are Alright. :)

Readers of my blog, REJOICE! A non-workout related entry, woohoo!!! :) Instead, it centers around the only other thing I talk about: my kids.
 This morning I woke up to both of them in my bed, snuggled up together next to me like little angels. I silently crept into the bathroom and showered and silently opened the door back up... to find them jumping on the bed like monkeys with a death wish. I tried to close the door and re-open the "time/space continuum" to get back to where they were before, but alas...
This whole evening they have been playing so wonderfully together, using their imaginations, flashing back and forth between pretending to be characters at the speed only achieved by a child's mind. They have been Rainbow Bright, Spiderman, Venom, Tinkerbell, Wolverine, Carnage, Black Cat, Sarah, Scarlett, Starlight, the kids from the tv show Avatar, and their own crazy selves.
Earlier when I was cooking dinner, Audrey went to the bathroom. After she is done, she always yells, "Mooooom, I'm all DONE!". sInce I was busy and since she forgot to get toilet paper BEFORE she sat down, I asked Bishop to hand her some, which he did. A few minutes ago she went again and instead of yelling to me, she went, " Biiiiiiishop, I'm all DONE!"... I might never have to wipe another booty again! This having kids thing is HANDY!

Accountability...

Alright. I have to confess that I did NOT do my work out yesterday. Valentine's Day festivities took precedence over my work out. And while I am a little bit disappointed in myself for that, I had a great time and I enjoyed myself immensely. I have been feeling like crap all day with a sore throat and achy joints and I've been really tired and had to seriously KICK MYSELF into doing Yoga X tonight. I didn't push myself as hard as I would have normally, but I still did 90 minutes of yoga when all I wanted to do was crash into my bed. Which I am now going to do. Lol, bring it bed!

Oh, I have not quit, fear not!!

Friday was my rest day, thank the good Lord! After work the kids and I packed up and went out to Lake Santa Fe to my sister's house to spend time with the family while Danny painted. Bishop and Audrey had a blast playing with their cousin Alex and we grown ups had a blast giving each other hell while playing Trivial Pursuit. I was up too late and drank a little too much wine, got not the greatest sleep with both kids attacking me, and got up too early, but I still kicked my nephew Brad out of his house next door, and started this first cycle of these work outs again- Chest and Back. Instead of using the pull up bar (which he has coming right out of the ceiling in his living room, btw), I felt that it would be more beneficial to me to use the bands for simulating the same movements. It worked a lot better and I was able to do more with good form, etc. Then, today was plyometrics again, (which, if I haven't told you lately, Plyo, I hate your f-ing GUTS,) and I was struggling a little more this time around than I was the first time, but, at that time, I was still young and naive and in (relative) control of my faculties. I think that my body is just going, "Hey, hey, hey! We thought this was a ONE TIME DEAL! You were supposed to crap out after the first week like you always do. What's up with this??!!" But, you know what body? It's for your own damn good. :D

On a non-fitness related note (alright, seriously, that was one too many "thank God!"'s people!), I would like to give a little, mushy shout out to my main squeeze/best friend/beat of my heart/beginning and end: thank you for working so hard this weekend and for every thing that you do and for every day you spend with me. I love you, Danny; all my heart.

I'm lacking a bit of my usual "joie de vivre". I'm feeling awfully maudlin tonight, beleaguered by the loss of lives I have seen around me lately, all hovering just on the outskirts of my own blessed life and those of the people I love, and each one has broken a piece of my heart. Each one has made me put aside my pride and love more openly. Each one has made every single second I have with my children all the more precious. Each one has chipped away at my ability to take things for granted. Let no kiss go un-smooched. Let no hug go un-squeezed.

Alright, that is it for me tonight. I hope to be back tomorrow, pithy and humorous and brimming with loath for Yoga X.

WEEK #1 IS DONE!! WOOHOO!!!

:D
I was hoping to have some witty, acerbic, snarky comments about Kenpo X, but you know what? I LIKED IT! (I know, I know, the endorphins or something must have kicked in. Or someone spiked my protein powder.) Other than being an ass kicker, it kicked ass! I mean, yes, in parts I looked like a marionette being handled by an epileptic, but it felt really good to just kick and punch and breathe. I seriously need hard floors for balance and my knee was none too pleased with the X jumps (you basically just jump up in the air and make your body an X. Think standard diving board dismount when you were a kid), but all in all I was able to control my movements and not flail about, hurting my joints. Joints, which are about the only thing on me that does not currently hurt. I'm still sore from the first day and now I have one day of rest (or X Stretch) and then the whole cycle starts over and I do that for 2 more weeks. I have bitched and moaned and complained, but I got up and DID IT!  I wanted to do nothing but lay on the couch after the kids went to bed and watch tv or go to bed early, and before I started this program, I would have done just that, feeling all virtuous that I had at least worked out the days preceding. But, not only I have committed publicly to following through with this, I have committed to myself that I want to change my body and be in the best shape I can be in. I'm not going to make grand plans to run marathons or be a manic gym bunny, but I do plan to feel good and be healthy and set a good example for my kids, because that's what I want for them, too. I set my first goal the other day. At 45 days, the half way point, I am going to get a full fledged, no-holds-barred hair color and style and not a day before. As for my second goal- the 90 day will be up 11 days before my 32nd birthday and I will just have to think of something fantastic to do for that. :) Like, a two hour long massage on the beach or something. Anyways, that is Week One in the bag and I'm still standing (albeit with a LOT of groaning).

Be afraid... be VERY afraid...

You can't tell from reading this, but I am whispering. I am afraid if that workout heard me talking bad about it, it would go find several of it's burliest friends and come back and stomp (whatever is left of) my a**. So, turn the volume up if you can't hear me and listen to my newest and greatest enemy. It is called...*looks over shoulder*... Legs and Back... SHHHHH!!!! Holy mother of destroyed ability to walk! Don't take that one for granted, kids! I had to scoot over here to the computer on my butt and apparently Bishop didn't pick up all his superheroes, because Captain America and I became QUITE intimate... Legs and Back (a.k.a. Fire and Brimstone) consists of an hour of chin up/pull ups and various lunges/squats of epic proportions. My right knee was giving me some concern, so I had to modify the exercises in order to keep from doing any harm. I am finding myself to be stronger in my left leg, but more flexible in my right, which is something I understand to be pretty common, but I am hoping that my right and left leg don't develop some sort of "sibling rivalry" and start lashing out at each other... I'm clumsy enough as it is. Added on to the end of... *glances under table*... Legs and Back, was the every horrifying Ab Ripper X. This is the 3rd time I've done it this week and while my legs were wasted and thus  making it harder on some of the moves, I found that I was able to do markedly better. There's Day 5 down, only 85 more to go. Crap. Now I'm depressed...

Anyways, on a kid related note, I was getting Audrey in her jammies and I over heard Bishop talking out in the living room, and when I asked him what he said, he told me: "I pledge leegance to de flag of de United Spates of Amerdica and to de Republix for which dit stands, one nation, under God, wit biberty and dustice for all"
<3!!!! I was so freaking proud, I wanted to go grab a flag and just wave it around while humming America The Beautiful!! That boy is a SPONGE! And, at this point, probably has it better memorized than Christina Aguillera!

Ow-ga. I mean, Yoga...

Ohhhhhmmmmm.... Ohhhhhhmmmmm... OhhhMG!! The only thing going through my head during the Yoga X work out (besides massive amounts of rushing blood) was my chiropractor's voice going, "What the HELL are you doing??!!".
For those of you who haven't done this work out (or have but have forgotten all about it thanks to extensive psychotherapy), it is 90 minutes long. In a normal (read: sane) person's life, that is about the length of a movie. That you sit down during. And eat popcorn. And maybe fold a couple loads of laundry. This was an hour and a half of "stand on one leg, put the other leg straight up in the air, bend your torso through your legs, and now attempt to kiss your own ass". Well, it felt like that anyways. As it was, I really was able to handle most of it except the super bendy, twisty, stand on your head things. The second half was more balance poses and if I needed more motivation to get wood floors, that would be it. Its terribly difficult to retain your balance successfully when you are standing on high pile carpet, albeit on a yoga mat. I also learned that it is terribly difficult to retain a bridge or table pose when your cat seems to think that the space vacated by your suspended ass is just the coziest place she could lay down in the entire house. She's a little flatter, I'm a little scratched, but we are both the wiser for it.

A Farewell To (my) Arms

Please forgive the typos, as I am currently typing this with my nose. My arms are dangling uselessly by my side. Or, at least, I think that they are. That's where I last saw them. I am concerned that while I sleep tonight they will re-enervate and commence to  beating me senseless. I mean, it would only be fair and I wouldn't begrudge them too much.

Tonight was Arms & Shoulders with a side order of Ab Ripper X. Yeah. Like my arms needed more cause to hate me. As it was today, I had a brief panic attack when I got stuck in the bathroom at work because I was not actually aware how HEAVY the door was. (No more going in there without my cell phone to text for help!) For that matter, who the hell is in charge of making pens, because HOLY SH*T those things are weighty!! I started out this morning, trying to get out of bed to get the alarm turned off before it woke anyone, but that entailed pulling myself out of my bed using both my arms and my abs, so, needless to say, by the time I was up, so was everyone else.

I am looking forward to the day when I am not quite so wrapped up in my physical pain and might actually be able to write about something else. Like, say, Bishop and Audrey getting baths last night and Audrey heckling Bishop, "Bishop!! Haha, you have a peeeeenis! A peeeeeenis, haha!!" and Bishop responding with, "Oh yeah? Well you have a PAJAMA! Ha HA!". Audrey looked at him and said, "No, I have a booty and a booty-butt!"  I think it is officially time for separate baths. And a pronunciation lesson.

No. Really. OUCH!

I sit here before the computer sipping a  little "post work out" recovery drink concoction and it gave me an idea for protein powder that contains Novocaine that can be dispersed thru the whole body... Or, even better, powdered muscle relaxers... But they will only work if you use vodka as the liquid in the mixture...*sigh... Enough dreaming.

Day 2 of P90X went better than I expected; I only had to modify a little bit (but I made up for it by cursing very loudly and inventively so as to burn more calories AND stimulate my children's vocabulary). However, I was wrong yesterday when I postulated Plyometrics' Greek meaning. It in fact, literally translated, stand for "What the %*)# was I THINKING?!?!?" You live and you learn. I found myself several times today down on the floor going pondering how exactly I was going to get up and (sorry for a little TMI here, but) how I was going to fasten my bra without being able to reach around behind myself. Let's just say that necessity is the mother of invention and just leave it at that...

So, anyways, there is Day 2 in the books... Only 88 more to g.... oh crap, someone just shoot me now...

Um. Ouch?

Captain's log. Stardate 28792... Whoops! Wrong entry! I feel that I have reserved the right to be slightly turned around as I just completed my first P90X work out: Chest & Back, followed by Ab Ripper X. I should be okay tomorrow, just as long as I do not have to lift my arms over my head. I am already devising a method of applying deodorant that consists mainly of duct tape on the bathroom counter and a series of back and forth motions over the applicator. I seriously feel that if someone came up to me and tossed me a ball, I would not be able to get my hands up in time to keep it from smacking me in the face. The only reason I can get my hands on this keyboard is because as I was sitting (read: falling desperately) in my chair, they were caught in the momentum of my body and happened to land on the table. Rag doll style. Yeah. That's how I roll... Tomorrow is Plyometrics, which I believe is Greek for "Thank God I have the blinds pulled so the neighbors can't see me and think that I am being attacked by a swarm of bees".

Virgin Blog

Alright. I have joined the 21st century and I thank it for welcoming me with open arms (and not the wedgie and noogie I was expecting). This will most likely serve as a place for me to expound on the antics of my children, rant about social issues that cause the vein in the middle of my forehead to do the samba, and wax philosophically (if I have the right amount of wine, anyways). I am also hoping to use it for the next little while as an accountability tool for my attempt at getting in serious shape. I hope to make it entertaining and something that others besides myself (and my Mom, because moms always have to read the crap their children write) will want to read. Occasionally. So, here goes nothing:

Tonight I begin my insane, ill advised, and positively FRIGHTENING trip into the world of P90X. My husband did the program a couple of years ago and really hated/loved it, but wasn't getting enough rest, so it was difficult to recover. Then about a year ago my best friend, Kate, did it and just had RIDICULOUS results because she was very, very dedicated to it and basically made it her bitch! So, in an effort to get into good enough shape that I might ditch my muu-muu for a bathing suit (oh, and that whole get healthy, live a long life, blah blah blah thing) I shall give this my very best effort. If I am able to type tomorrow, I hope to be able to share my experience, or, at the very least, an entertaining anecdote.