Forwards or Backwards...

Five weeks into The Biggest Loser and last night the one thing I take away from the show...  How do they manage to walk backwards on the treadmill.  Jillian's trainee was making great progress on the treadmill - backwards. 

So there I was...  working off the minutes of my 2 mile walk this morning when my mind started wandering...  how hard can it  be to walk backwards on the treadmill?!

Don't laugh.  I tried it!  Blame it on my recent afliction of ADD increased by lack of focus waiting on our newest grandson's arrival.

My first attempt wasn't pretty.  I kept the belt running at a slower 3.0 speed.  I stared for a few minutes at the belt trying to get my rhythm in my head.  Couldn't quite grasp the steps but felt I was ready.  I think I stepped twice before I was off entirely!  No injuries.  No one watching.  I got away clean. 

Determined, I got back on - backwards - and started the belt up again, this time slower at 1.0.  I HELD on, and started stepping on the belt.  I felt pretty darn smug - look at me, look at me...  but NEVER, EVER actually let go of the rails.  Oh well.  It's baby steps. 

And here's a news flash.  Walking backwards is a WHOLE NEW set of muscles.  Five minutes was all the backward walking I needed to point out which muscles were not familiar with this motion as they were screaming the first time I went down the stairs.

A Letter to Calder...

Dear Calder,

I'm sure you've heard my voice during our visits.  Soon we will meet face to face.  This is what I want to talk to you about - this whole meeting thing. 

I realize the medical professionals have picked a random date based on statistics and facts provided by your parents and their medical training, however it's my professional position as a Grandma that NOW is a good time to make your debut. 

You have family waiting to meeting you - and like the pioneers before us, we will make the pilgrimage to see you.  We will travel from Southern Idaho, Michigan, and Alaska.  Your roots extend to Wisconsin, Illinois and Washington as well. 

As you can imagine since you know your Momma so well, I'm slightly OCD about organization and getting things accomplished.  If you can believe this, my lists have lists.  However your impending arrival has sent me into a tail spin of hyper-disorganization and inactivity. If M&M's provided focus I'd be good to go.  So far nothing has worked.  I've started and stopped so many things of late and am struggling to get back on track before you arrive.  As soon as I leave a room I'm on to something new.  My planning has ceased because we are waiting... 

Today is Monday.  Your due date is Thursday.  I'm racing the clock to finish the blind to warm your room and the blanket to warm your backside.  Instead I've got spaghetti sauce cooking on the stove, laundry churning the the washer and dryer AND I've walked 45 minutes on the treadmill rocking out to the play list on my iPOD, which led me to writing.  The brain works in mysterious ways.

So having said this, and making no sense at all, I'd like to remind you in the future when Mom and Dad say "no" it's going to be Gramma and Papa (as well as a few others with similar names and parentage) who will work things in your favor.  How about it lil'guy?  Come out and play!

New Year...

For the seventeenhundredth day in a row the temperatures are below 20 degrees and I'm struggling to get motivated, be motivated, remain motivated...  It's tough when it feels ambitious to wrap up in a blanket take a nap.

Our Christmas present to ourselves was a treadmill.  We haven't taken advantage of our membership at the YMCA like we should (reality...  we could probably count the number of times we've been to the Y to work out on one hand.)  I'm not ready to walk completely away from the Y.  It's my goal to start Mondays and Wednesdays in February for Yoga class and WHEN (see that small light of optimisim) it finally warms again I'll return to swim laps.

We very astutely measured  in advance to know what the footprint of the new treadmill was and were insightful enough to know where we wanted to place said treadmill.  (Reality... once put together it takes up a LOT of air space in the room.)

Nonetheless, after some creative rearranging of furniture between rooms we are up and operational.  (Reality...  I now have another project on my "to do" list - Painting!) 

So not to be excluded from the masses who have now made resolutions to change their weight and fitness I'm continuing on my 3 year plan.  A year ago we joined WW and started dieting.  I was very lacking when it came to exercising.  We had a ton of projects to prepare for last year's wedding.  The Fall months that followed were definitely a decline.  I can live with where I am starting 2013.  My head is on straight.  My food tracking is a habit once more.  AND I'm execising.

So evenings I find myself finding a much-viewed TV sit-com to mute and hook up my iPOD in my ears (or the fancy speaker system on the treadmill).  Don't ask - I'm not sure WHY I want the picture to go with my music but it works for me!

I walk - and walk - and walk.  Our multi-faceted machine does all sorts of mapping and programs.  I'm struggling with a calorie burner but it's exactly where I want to be - walking fast and then a short interval at a run.  Sadly I still walk faster than I run. 

When my mind starts to wander or I feel defeated I check out my view.  I see the cross on the mantle reminding me to have faith and give up my doubts to God for strength.  I look around at the framed pictures on the shelves and see the faces of our family members.  And I walk - and walk - and walk.

Sometimes the conversation in my head gets jumbled. 

(Dilusional Me):  Pushing buttons on the monitor. I think I'll try for a 45 minute work out tonight.

(Reality):  Five minutes in... Holy Crap I think the timer on this thing is broken.

(Dilusional Me): Look at me - I am using my hand weights, the belt is inclined and my speed is not a crawl.

(Reality): I'm DYING! Slow this thing down.  I can't get my breath...  where was that arrow to decrease the speed.

(Dilusional Me):  I don't understand why those folks on Biggest Loser want to hold on the front all the time.

(Reality):  Grasping on hand rails for dear life...

(Dilusional Me):  I think I'll walk through the entire hour of my favorite TV show.

(Reality):  When is the next commercial?  I want to stop and go sit on the sofa in the other room.

Hang in there folks.  We can do this!