Wow, the New Gym is really BEAUTIFUL. There are abstract paintings on the wall, everything is new, the machines are smooth, it's not crowded and the people are nice. I guess it's worth the extra dough! ;-)
Had a great workout tonight -- fun trying new machines and a new kind of elliptical called the Wave which goes kind of sideways instead of straight front to back.
The soreness from yoga on Sunday is gone. Hopefully it will get better each week...I'm looking forward to finding out what happens...and if I'm sore tomorrow in different places!
I've been good with food and drink and was shocked to see my weight up today when I did a little aberration mid-week weigh-in...then my period started and I heaved a sigh of relief! At least some lbs. should be gone by Friday weigh-in. :-) At least they had better be!!
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Monday, January 7, 2008
Sore
Oh man, am I out of yoga-shape. Every muscle in my body aches today! I can't believe I let myself get so out of yoga-shape. But I sure am happy and excited to get back to it...or I will be as soon as I can lift my coffee cup without an "ouch". ;-)
Anyone who thinks yoga is easy or not good exercise should be in my body today...and I'm not even as out of yoga-shape as most people per my teacher!
Anyone who thinks yoga is easy or not good exercise should be in my body today...and I'm not even as out of yoga-shape as most people per my teacher!
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Getting moving again
Since I've decided/realized that I cannot lose this weight without it, yesterday I joined a new gym. It's a lot more per month than my last gym, but it is REALLY nice (beautiful new machines, gorgeous locker room, free towels and parking!) and I can quit any time. It's also super convenient -- I can take my gym stuff with me to work, stop there on the way home, work out and be home by 7:45 at the latest. I can't wait to start! :-)
Then, this morning, I went to my first private yoga practice with my old teacher. (Funny side story...she's from my hometown, went on a special program to France when in high school that only 30 kids from my home state each year were chosen for that I also went on another year and we met at a tiny yoga studio in L.A....I also was her "greeter" at her first Burning Man last year...the chances of this happening are about a zillion to one...small world!) It was wonderful. Wonderful. It was the kind of tough, challenging, GREAT practice I used to be used to. The big difference now is that I am WAY out of yoga shape. This is hard to confront, but I have to do it in order to get back. Having said that, I still can do a lot of things and my teacher is excellent at working with my injuries and challenges. She knows SO much about so much and applies all of it to her teaching. I almost cried in savasana, I was so happy (and dripping with sweat and feeling ALIVE).
I have two more Sundays that I have already paid for with her. I asked her today how much her usual fee is (I got these three on a special) and she gives a discount if you buy 10 sessions up front. While it's a LOT of money, I am SERIOUSLY considering doing this: going to new gym 3 days a week and buying 10 sessions with her and doing yoga on Sundays with her. The yoga would be something I really would look forward to...
The truth that I realized today is that while I CAN do yoga at home, it is not the same as doing it with another person/people...the collective energy really makes a difference to me. The problem is that there are no yoga studios close to my home, that do the kind of yoga practice I want to do, that have times that are conducive to me at this point. I think giving the gift of my teacher to me for a few months would really help me...not only does my body feel better after just one time, my spirit does too. The Yoga Glow is undeniable...and I want more of it!
Since I got home from yoga, I have been working on getting Christmas stuff put away and doing other projects around the house (DB is working today although he did put up my snazzy new spice racks in the kitchen and now my spices are all accessible and alphabetized -- such luxury, I've never had the space for that before!).
After I finish this post, I'm going to take down the aluminum tree, then take Doglet for a quick walk down to the beach...the wind has been so strong with the storms out here that we can actually hear the ocean crashing from our front yard (unusual) and I want to see it.
P.S. Saw Walk Hard last night and laughed our heads off...very funny if you like Judd Apatow-type silly movies (not as funny as Superbad to me though), and/or love music/know a lot about the music business and history. We really enjoyed it.
Then, this morning, I went to my first private yoga practice with my old teacher. (Funny side story...she's from my hometown, went on a special program to France when in high school that only 30 kids from my home state each year were chosen for that I also went on another year and we met at a tiny yoga studio in L.A....I also was her "greeter" at her first Burning Man last year...the chances of this happening are about a zillion to one...small world!) It was wonderful. Wonderful. It was the kind of tough, challenging, GREAT practice I used to be used to. The big difference now is that I am WAY out of yoga shape. This is hard to confront, but I have to do it in order to get back. Having said that, I still can do a lot of things and my teacher is excellent at working with my injuries and challenges. She knows SO much about so much and applies all of it to her teaching. I almost cried in savasana, I was so happy (and dripping with sweat and feeling ALIVE).
I have two more Sundays that I have already paid for with her. I asked her today how much her usual fee is (I got these three on a special) and she gives a discount if you buy 10 sessions up front. While it's a LOT of money, I am SERIOUSLY considering doing this: going to new gym 3 days a week and buying 10 sessions with her and doing yoga on Sundays with her. The yoga would be something I really would look forward to...
The truth that I realized today is that while I CAN do yoga at home, it is not the same as doing it with another person/people...the collective energy really makes a difference to me. The problem is that there are no yoga studios close to my home, that do the kind of yoga practice I want to do, that have times that are conducive to me at this point. I think giving the gift of my teacher to me for a few months would really help me...not only does my body feel better after just one time, my spirit does too. The Yoga Glow is undeniable...and I want more of it!
Since I got home from yoga, I have been working on getting Christmas stuff put away and doing other projects around the house (DB is working today although he did put up my snazzy new spice racks in the kitchen and now my spices are all accessible and alphabetized -- such luxury, I've never had the space for that before!).
After I finish this post, I'm going to take down the aluminum tree, then take Doglet for a quick walk down to the beach...the wind has been so strong with the storms out here that we can actually hear the ocean crashing from our front yard (unusual) and I want to see it.
P.S. Saw Walk Hard last night and laughed our heads off...very funny if you like Judd Apatow-type silly movies (not as funny as Superbad to me though), and/or love music/know a lot about the music business and history. We really enjoyed it.
Saturday, January 5, 2008
Yoga DVDs
As requested by Vickie, here's the one I've been using:
Yoga Conditioning for Weight Loss
and here's my all-time favorite:
Yoga Mind and Body
I recommend both...although neither is as good as a real live class!
Yoga Conditioning for Weight Loss
and here's my all-time favorite:
Yoga Mind and Body
I recommend both...although neither is as good as a real live class!
Friday, January 4, 2008
The bad news and the good news
The bad news: I'm up again this week, but only a tiny bit. And I deserve it. This week I really let go and said "oh well, I've already gained, what's a little more?'. BAD plan. And I've got to watch that tendency to let myself off the hook.
The good news: I weigh less than I did last year on this date. Not much, but less. Next year, I hope I can say it's quite a bit less. And I got back on the eating right wagon again big time yesterday and I feel good.
I have been thinking a lot about food/weight/holidays. When I was thinner, I made sure that I stayed with my workout routine regularly over the holidays and I maintained. While I did continue to do my yoga, I didn't do it as often the past couple of weeks. I am sure that exercise is the key thing that I need to get heavily back into in order to successfully lose.
Soo...what am I going to do? On Sunday, I start my first of three private yoga sessions with an old teacher of mine (Christmas present from me to me). While I'd love to be able to do only yoga and lose the weight because that is the exercise that I actually LIKE and look forward to, I'm afraid that might not be possible so I'm going to check out a new gym near me and see about joining...after I get the weight moving off, I can go back to only yoga.
Speaking of yoga, I've been doing the Yoga Conditioning for Weight Loss DVD that I got from Netflix and really like it a lot as a starting point to get me back into my yoga-jockitude. She really works those problem areas (for me, hips, thighs and waist) and holds poses for a good enough time (most yoga videos do not). I've now bought it. Have any of you tried this one? I find it so hard to find good yoga DVDs...the only other good one is the Ali McGraw/Erich Schiffman one that is over 10 years old but, in my opinion, still the best of all for my kind of practice.
Speaking of Netflix -- we watched Superbad last night. HILARIOUS. (Warning -- super raunchy!) Could I love Michael Cera any more? I don't think so. He cracks me up so much!
Have a good weekend everyone!
The good news: I weigh less than I did last year on this date. Not much, but less. Next year, I hope I can say it's quite a bit less. And I got back on the eating right wagon again big time yesterday and I feel good.
I have been thinking a lot about food/weight/holidays. When I was thinner, I made sure that I stayed with my workout routine regularly over the holidays and I maintained. While I did continue to do my yoga, I didn't do it as often the past couple of weeks. I am sure that exercise is the key thing that I need to get heavily back into in order to successfully lose.
Soo...what am I going to do? On Sunday, I start my first of three private yoga sessions with an old teacher of mine (Christmas present from me to me). While I'd love to be able to do only yoga and lose the weight because that is the exercise that I actually LIKE and look forward to, I'm afraid that might not be possible so I'm going to check out a new gym near me and see about joining...after I get the weight moving off, I can go back to only yoga.
Speaking of yoga, I've been doing the Yoga Conditioning for Weight Loss DVD that I got from Netflix and really like it a lot as a starting point to get me back into my yoga-jockitude. She really works those problem areas (for me, hips, thighs and waist) and holds poses for a good enough time (most yoga videos do not). I've now bought it. Have any of you tried this one? I find it so hard to find good yoga DVDs...the only other good one is the Ali McGraw/Erich Schiffman one that is over 10 years old but, in my opinion, still the best of all for my kind of practice.
Speaking of Netflix -- we watched Superbad last night. HILARIOUS. (Warning -- super raunchy!) Could I love Michael Cera any more? I don't think so. He cracks me up so much!
Have a good weekend everyone!
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Today is someone's birthday!
And in our family, that someone is DB's newest (and fifth and very very probably last) grandchild. :-) She is a girl, 7 lbs., 19 inches and BEAUTIFUL beyond words. We zoomed up to the hospital after she was born this morning and got to spend most of the afternoon with her, her mommy and daddy and her big sister. We got home this evening and went out to a special dinner to celebrate this special birthday and my special sweetheart...the best grandfather in the world!
OK...so I had cheese and other semi-bad stuff tonight (no sugar dessert though!)...and the NEW YEARS CRACKDOWN restarts tomorrow. ;-) Part of me recognizes the tendency to use things as EXCUSES to satisfy my addictions. The other part is sick of being fat. I hope the second part wins and I plan to help it along...tomorrow.
OK...so I had cheese and other semi-bad stuff tonight (no sugar dessert though!)...and the NEW YEARS CRACKDOWN restarts tomorrow. ;-) Part of me recognizes the tendency to use things as EXCUSES to satisfy my addictions. The other part is sick of being fat. I hope the second part wins and I plan to help it along...tomorrow.
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Refreshed
This weekend was everything last weekend wasn't in terms of relaxing and I feel SO much the better for it! Well, Saturday maybe not so much relaxing, but still VERY great.
Saturday morning we got up early to drive to DB's pregnant Teacher Daughter's house for breakfast and to have Christmas. Problem was that we and Mommy Daughter (DB's oldest) had arrived just before us and no one had apparently told Teacher Daughter that we were definitely coming (yes, DB was apparently supposed to confirm!). Oh well, we brought breakfast and presents and had a great time. :-)
After that, we went to Mommy Daughter's house for a birthday party for her 3-year-old, Little Princess. Little Princess was the first baby I saw VERY young...15 minutes old...she is very special to me for that. :-) It's amazing that she is such a PERSON now...so articulate for a 3-year-old (probably 'cause her sister, Princess, is almost 8). We had a ball. :-)
Then we headed to some of our best friends' house (also up near the daughters -- 30-40 minutes from us) just to say hi and Merry Christmas. They ended up giving us drinks, appetizers and DINNER. Again, we had a ball. :-) They are going skiing with us in Utah in 4 weeks and we can't wait. These are some truly dear and special friends I got thru DB.
Sunday? We slept. DB slept almost literally ALL DAY!! ;-) We got up around 11. I made breakfast (French toast...low fat). I headed to the computer and joined DB back in bed at 1. We got up again at 3! I did yoga, but DB literally slept most of the rest of the day (except eating dinner and watching Paris, Je T'aime...great flick).
Yesterday, my mom came over at 11:30 and we headed out at noon. DB had no idea where he was driving to! My secret plan? A great luxurious inn in Ojai, dinner at a famous restaurant and REST. The inn was lovely...we had a living room with fireplace, flat screen tv, etc., a kitchenette, large bedroom with super fantastic smooshy comfy king bed, etc. Our dinner was less perfect...outside...lovely, but COLD. They provided lap blankets, but my feet practically had frostbite after dinner (pate, scallops, ice cream dessert). We cruised the lovely grounds afterwards, but couldn't wait to get back to our fireplace...where we snuggled up with jammies and watched Bowfinger (hilariosu Steve Martin/Eddie Murphy movie) until midnight when we had the New Year's Kiss to End All New Year's Kisses. Started at midnight minus 20 seconds and went on and on................
Today we slept in (again...aaahhhh), had breakfast in Ojai then took the long road home along the ocean. Checked out lots of possible beach camping sites for a future trip with the kids then home to OUR beach for sunset and wondering why ever leave when we live in paradise? :-) Mexican dinner (not too fatty) and now DB is sleeping off the margaritas and I'm having another before the total NEW YEARS CRACKDOWN.
Tomorrow...I'm losing weight. Seriously.
For today, Happy New Year to all...again. :-)
Saturday morning we got up early to drive to DB's pregnant Teacher Daughter's house for breakfast and to have Christmas. Problem was that we and Mommy Daughter (DB's oldest) had arrived just before us and no one had apparently told Teacher Daughter that we were definitely coming (yes, DB was apparently supposed to confirm!). Oh well, we brought breakfast and presents and had a great time. :-)
After that, we went to Mommy Daughter's house for a birthday party for her 3-year-old, Little Princess. Little Princess was the first baby I saw VERY young...15 minutes old...she is very special to me for that. :-) It's amazing that she is such a PERSON now...so articulate for a 3-year-old (probably 'cause her sister, Princess, is almost 8). We had a ball. :-)
Then we headed to some of our best friends' house (also up near the daughters -- 30-40 minutes from us) just to say hi and Merry Christmas. They ended up giving us drinks, appetizers and DINNER. Again, we had a ball. :-) They are going skiing with us in Utah in 4 weeks and we can't wait. These are some truly dear and special friends I got thru DB.
Sunday? We slept. DB slept almost literally ALL DAY!! ;-) We got up around 11. I made breakfast (French toast...low fat). I headed to the computer and joined DB back in bed at 1. We got up again at 3! I did yoga, but DB literally slept most of the rest of the day (except eating dinner and watching Paris, Je T'aime...great flick).
Yesterday, my mom came over at 11:30 and we headed out at noon. DB had no idea where he was driving to! My secret plan? A great luxurious inn in Ojai, dinner at a famous restaurant and REST. The inn was lovely...we had a living room with fireplace, flat screen tv, etc., a kitchenette, large bedroom with super fantastic smooshy comfy king bed, etc. Our dinner was less perfect...outside...lovely, but COLD. They provided lap blankets, but my feet practically had frostbite after dinner (pate, scallops, ice cream dessert). We cruised the lovely grounds afterwards, but couldn't wait to get back to our fireplace...where we snuggled up with jammies and watched Bowfinger (hilariosu Steve Martin/Eddie Murphy movie) until midnight when we had the New Year's Kiss to End All New Year's Kisses. Started at midnight minus 20 seconds and went on and on................
Today we slept in (again...aaahhhh), had breakfast in Ojai then took the long road home along the ocean. Checked out lots of possible beach camping sites for a future trip with the kids then home to OUR beach for sunset and wondering why ever leave when we live in paradise? :-) Mexican dinner (not too fatty) and now DB is sleeping off the margaritas and I'm having another before the total NEW YEARS CRACKDOWN.
Tomorrow...I'm losing weight. Seriously.
For today, Happy New Year to all...again. :-)
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