Day 19 - Win some, lose some

Win - today's efforts at the gym.  I did 45 minutes on the revolving stair machine, climbing over 3 1/3 miles.  Then I lifted weights for another 20ish minutes.  I haven't followed a lifting program in a long while, so I felt a little lost in the free weight section of the gym.  I'll need to dig out some of my old WSU dance weight workouts or awkwardly mimic what others are doing around me until I get back in to a routine.  I also took Tucker for a great 20 minute walk when I got back.

Lose - trial team.  We had another 5 hour practice tonight.  I am a little concerned that we aren't where we should be at this point.  Our competition is now less than two weeks away and we have A LOT to work on.  I probably spent 12 to 15 hours this weekend working on the trial problem, which means I didn't spend those 12 to 15 hours studying.  I am also concerned that I will not be prepared for finals, which are just a few short weeks away.

In an attempt to start the week off on the right foot, I am going to get up early tomorrow to study and then take a pilates class at 8.  I hope you have a happy Monday!

Day 18 - Updated

A bit of sun found its way through a small slit in our curtains this morning.  I seized the opportunity to run outside and bounced out of bed, laced up my running shoes and hit the road.  Menacingly BLACK rain clouds threatened to move in and spoil my run, but they thankfully stayed at bay until I finished the full 5 miles.

I LOVE running outside.  It is so peaceful and always puts my mind at ease.  My jubilation was short lived today though.  I realized the opportunities for running outdoors this winter will be nearly non-existent if Spokane is going to get the winter weather everyone is predicting.  I'll be stuck on a treadmill pining for the days when I used to jog on the beach in shorts and a t-shirt in February.  Oh San Diego, how do I love thee?  Let me count the ways...

I had a 5+ hour trial team meeting and practice today.  There is absolutely nothing exciting to report on that front.  I hope that like the Tortoise from the Aesop fable The Tortoise and The Hare, our slow and steady pace will help us win the race (competition).

Seeing as Charlie and I are 25, in the prime of our life, and it was a Saturday night, I bet you can't guess where we were off to after my practice?  That's right!  Another high school dance!  I just can't get enough of those little teeny-boppers and their incessant pleas for "music that they can dance to."  Allow me to translate.  "Everyone else around me appears to be jumping up and down and having a great time, but this song is not working for me because I want to get my freak nasty on and I really need to do some bumping and grinding ASAP."  After we tore everything down and were loading the gear in the car, I gave Charlie my 2 weeks notice.  He'll be needing a new roadie, so feel free to submit your resume.

After the dance, Charlie and I rushed home to change into our Halloween costumes.  In honor of the blog efforts and one of our favorite TV shows, we went as contestants of the Biggest Loser.  One of Charlie's co-workers had a party, so we arrived fashionably late (after midnight) and stayed awhile (until 3:30).  The last time Charlie and I stayed out until 3 in the morning was...  Never. 

Everyone seemed to have put significantly more effort into their costumes than we did (ours cost a combined total of $12).  By far, my favorite costume of the night was a gentleman wearing a plastic cow's snout and a halo.  Oh yes, he was a Holy Cow.

I love my law school buddies, but it was SOOOO nice to talk to people outside of the insulated Law School bubble.  The people I met had interesting lives, stories, hobbies and jokes.  I think my law school friends and I used to have those things, but law school seems to have beaten them out of us.

I doubt you will read this Marissa, but on the off chance you do, thanks for an awesome night!

Day 17 - Rest?

Today was a rest day fitness wise, but it certainly was not a day of rest.  It started WAY too early with prepping and teaching my Street Law class at Rogers High School.  Then class, a bit of studying, resume review, and a few errands including a trip to the post office.

When I got home, Charlie and I carved our pumpkins.  His giant pumpkin carved fabulously.  Mine, not so much.  Although I was thrilled to have a "blue" pumpkin, it was pretty much just a giant brick.  There was a TON of flesh, very few guts and SUPER thick skin.  I broke a knife just trying to cut the top.  Needless to say, I wasn't going to be carving that bad boy.  Instead, I gave up and etched the word "Boo" on the side and called it a day.

Charlie had to work the camera tonight, so I went over and watched the 6 o'clock news in the studio before we headed downtown to catch a movie.  We saw Waiting for Superman.  My life will never be the same.  I've always had a passion for the education system and have devoted my legal studies to preparing for a career representing school districts, but now I feel a calling to take it a step further.  The education system in America is due for a major overhaul and I intend to play a part in promoting change.  Waiting for Superman is not a movie for everyone, but I hope you will at least Google it and get some general info about why it was created.

I am now getting off my soapbox and heading to bed.  I hope you have a fun and safe Halloween weekend!

Day 16 - Pain, lots of pain

I did Pilates again at the dance studio.  And yeah, it hurt.  There is no part of me that is not sore.  The instructor managed to find (and torture) every muscle that some how managed to escape last night's PiYo class.

The girl in the banana suit is my good friend Maggie.  Together, we are a banana split.  She owns the dance studio where the pilates went down and therefore can shoulder some of the blame for the fact that I can't walk in a straight line right now.  A case of respondeat superior if you ask me.  She and I met in college and instantly clicked.  Our odd (but awesome) senses of humor are completely in sync.

After class, I met Charlie for Mexican.  Let's just say I ate enough to make me feel like I should immediately call Jenny Craig and sign up for a weight watchers support group.  The upside is that I am feeling guilty when I over eat as opposed to being completely apathetic.  Down side, I have yet to change my ways and just stop when I am full.  I am off to digest in the fetal position.  Goodnight!

Day 15 - Habit

They say it take two weeks to develop a habit.  So far, it seems to be true.  This was another tough day.  The stress of school is REALLY getting to me right now and I am constantly on the verge of a complete mental breakdown.  Ordinarily, these feelings would drive me towards a comfort food (taco bell and/or chocolate), my pajamas and a few hours on the couch. Today, however, when I felt completely overwhelmed my first thought was "I better get to the gym."  Ta-da!  Progress!

I've heard that yoga and pilates are not only great for the body, but for the mind as well.  I figured I could use a little ZEN in my life right now so tonight I gave PiYo a try.  It was a combo pilates (pronounced pill-AH-tees) and yoga class.  It was awesome.  I was definitely the new kid in class.  The 57 year-old man next to me was able to bend further and hold posses longer than I could.  I know it's not about competition, but let's face it, I've never done anything in my life with out it being somewhat competitive.  You may have bested me this time old man, but I'm coming for ya!

When I left the gym I felt thinner, happier and stress free.  I could get used to PiYo.

I haven't really changed my diet yet.  In fact, tonight I enjoyed a few pieces of homemade chicken pesto pizza and a full glass of white wine.  It was WAY more calories than I needed.  I want this quest for fitness to be long lasting and don't want to get burnt out by turning my life upside down (while struggling to keep my head above water in school).  So, for this month I'll continue to eat as I normally do while focusing on re-incorporating exercise into my daily routine.  Next month I'll proactively work on eating healthier.  I can already tell, however, that consistent exercise is making me want to eat healthier.  I feel gross when I choose (like tonight) to pig out.  Well, this little piggy is going to bed.  Goodnight!

Day 14 - Odd

Today can best be described as odd.  My emotions were all over the spectrum and I think the stress of the end of the semester is literally driving me insane.  In Legal Research and Writing, I started crying because a friend suggested that I should probably take Sales in order to pass the bar exam.  I have no idea what is taught in Sales, but I am sure I don't want to take it.  The thought of having to take anything remotely related to another contracts class moved me to tears.

Shortly after the traumatic Sales conversation, this same friend provided me with one of the best laughs I've had in quite some time. In order to fully understand the glory of her statement, I must give you a little peak into the world of a GU law 2L.  All second year students are researching and writing appellate briefs.  Some students are writing about a pig farm and waste run off in relation to the Clean Water Act.  Other students have been assigned a problem in which an individual was mistakenly told by a blood bank that she had AIDS.  In reference to which problem she prefer working on, my dear friend blurted out "I'd rather have AIDS than a pig farm!"  I just about died.  If we hadn't been in class at the moment, I probably would have started crying again from laughing so hard.  So, friend who shall not be named, I hope you know that you made my day.

It was another Tappa Tappa Tuesday.  To celebrate Halloween, the girls were invited to wear their costumes to class.  I had several princesses, a midnight fairy, Dorthy, a bumble bee and a 70's go-go dancer.  I re-wore last year's costume and went as a ladybug. 

I love my little dancers, but they are exhausting.  When I got home, I was completely grouchy again.  I knew that if I sat down on the couch I wasn't going to get back up, so I dropped off my bags and headed to the gym.  I put in another 3 miles on the treadmill.  Nothing too exciting to report other than seeing an old friend from WSU.  When I returned home, I was in a much better mood.

The day ended gleefully.  Charlie, Jeffery and I fully enjoyed tonight's episode of the Greatest Show on Earth (The Ringling Brothers have nothing on the cast of Glee).  Glee + Rocky Horror Picture Show = an hour of mind-blowing entertainment.  If I could get a re-do, I would totally go back in time and spend a little less time reading and a little more time auditioning for musicals.  With out a doubt, I missed my calling. 

Peace Y'all.  Goodnight. 

Day 13 - Taco Bell

For no particular reason, I have been in a bad mood from the moment I woke up.  Nothing terrible happened, no one hurt my feelings, and for the most part it was a fairly decent day. But for some reason, I was just not feeling it.

I had a long day at school (noon-7:30pm).  By the time I was in my car on the way home, I was so cranky that I decided tonight was going to be a Taco Bell night.  Taco Bell is my happy place.  When I was doing the whole "Gals" thing, I would starve myself for an entire day before we had to weigh in.  No water.  No food.  Nothing.  Plus, I would run during my lunch break and go tanning to sweat out any water weight.  Then after weighing in and a 3 to 4 hour practice, I would drive my famished self to the nearest Taco Bell and order one soft taco supreme and a cheesy fiesta potatoes.  Just typing those words makes me feel warm and happy inside.  Taco Bell was more than just a quick meal on the go.  It represented the end of hunger and the blissful feeling of being full.  I no longer starve myself in order to fit into a pair of hot shorts and go-go boots, but I still experience the same euphoria each time I bite into a delectable double decker supreme.

Emotional eater?  Maybe.  Don't judge, we all have our vices.


The T-bell satisfaction, sadly, didn't last.  30 minutes after I'd devoured my dinner, I was back to being a grouch.  I knew the answer wasn't another trip to the drive-thru.  I was going to have to go to the gym.  But, I really, Really, REALLY didn't want to.  I'd have to go outside where it was cold, and wet, and dark, and windy.  NO THANK YOU!  I knew eventually I would drag my sorry rear over to the gym, so I finally figured there was no point in delaying the inevitable.

After a long-ish run yesterday, I thought I would do my joints a favor and give the recumbent bike a spin.  In all honesty, I assumed the bike would be the easiest thing I could do for 45 minutes.  I was wrong.  By the end of my "burn calories" program, I thought my legs were going to fall off.  It wasn't the best cardio workout I've ever gotten, but it sure worked my lower body.

According to the digital display, I rode about 12 1/2 miles and burned around 525 calories.  I don't particularly trust either of these numbers, but they at least make me feel like I did something productive.  My mood hasn't improved and now my rear hurts.  Oh well, hopefully I'll wake up on the right side of the bed tomorrow.

Day 12 - Check!

What a productive day! I'm very pleased with how many things got checked off my "to-do" list. The day started with the unpacking of last night's DJ gear. The gear must have sensed the sarcasm in yesterday's post because it sought revenge on my back this morning. As I pulled something out of the truck, every muscle in my lower back cramped up. The in-laws were waiting on us to finish so they could get on the road, so I didn't want to take a 10 minute "poor me" whine break. I sucked it up and finished, but was silently cursing in my head the entire time.

Thankfully, the pain didn't last long. I had yet to go for my run and was determined to do 5 miles. I had planned to go first thing in the morning, but the weather kept taunting me. There would be a 15 minute sun break, so I'd stop what I was doing and get ready to run. By the time I'd get to the door, golf ball sized raindrops were splashing off the cement back at me. I finally gave up and headed to the gym. I am proud to report that I finished all 5 miles on the treadmill while watching the end of the Seahawks game. Go Hawks!

Between exercise attempts, Charlie and I decorated our Halloween shaped sugar cookies. It took some experimenting to get the frosting just right, but we eventually got there. Sadly, there was a lot of tasting and calories involved in the process.

Charlie and I had a ton of studying to do. We set aside a few cookies for us to enjoy (I saved 5 for myself so I could have one each day this week), and took the rest down to share with the other poor souls spending their weekend in the GU library. I have to give a quick shout out to my good friend Caitlin for keeping me accountable. I promise not to sneak any of Charlie's cookies or devour the left over frosting. Love ya!

Here's to the start of a hopefully productive week! Goodnight.

Day 11 - Date Day!

Sometimes you just need a day with the one you love. Because of our work and school schedules, Charlie and I are basically just really awesome roommates who occasionally pass each other in the hall during the week. The weekends are when we get to spend some quality time with each other, but either he or I have been out of town for the last two weekends. Long story short, we were WAY over due for a good date.

We headed out to Green Bluff farms to do a little apple picking and pumpkin selecting. It was foggy and drizzling most of the day, but we still had a great time. I found a cute little pumpkin that was sold to me by a cute little old lady on her cute little farm. It was cute.

Charlie chose the biggest pumpkin he could possibly find that had an appropriate carving surface for his cartoon character of choice.  After that, we headed out in to the orchard for some apple picking.  The rain was really starting to come down, so we didn't pick for too long.  We tried to get enough apples to make an apple pie.  Then we realized we had no idea how to make an apple pie, how many  apples it would take and that there are lots of places that sell pre-made pies.  Done and done.

After the pumpkin patch, we headed home for a quick nap and to make our traditional Halloween sugar cookies.  Then, while Charlie loaded the truck, I took Tucker for a half an hour walk.  The only other exercise I got today was loading and setting up all of our DJ gear.  That's right, we spent another Saturday hanging with the high schoolers.  In case you didn't know, Charlie and I have a small DJ business, In The Mix Events.  During the fall, we spend a ridiculous number of weekend nights laying down the hottest tracks for sweaty teenagers who are without a doubt having the MOST AMAZING NIGHT EVER, that they will never ever forget because they are with their one true love who they will love forever and ever.  Yep, it's awesome.


We're currently watching SNL with Jeffrey, but I'm about ready to call it a night.  As is frequently the intent (but rarely the reality), I plan to get up and run in the morning.  The goal is 5 miles.  I'll let you know how it goes.  Good night!

Day 10 - In-Laws

The in-laws are coming! THE IN-LAWS ARE COMING!!!  Why is it that you never know how filthy and disgusting your living quarters are until the day your extended family comes to visit?  Charlie and I (mostly Charlie) spent the day scouring the apartment and marveling at how shiny our counters can be once properly scrubbed.

It's Parent's Weekend at Gonzaga, so Jeff and Becky (Charlie's parents) came out to visit Jeffrey (Charlie's little bro) at GU.  We, however, reap the benefits of Becky's home cooking.  This time she brought out my all-time favorite food.  LASAGNA.  It's warming in the oven as we speak.

Thank goodness I already got my run in for the day.  Otherwise, I might be tempted to pull a Garfield and eat so much lasagna that physical activity is literally impossible.  My run tonight was a race against the sun, but it felt UH-MAZE-ING!!!  Last night I just barely did 3 miles and had to walk some.  Tonight I did just about 3.5 miles outside and didn't need walk at all.  The temperature was comfortable and the fresh air felt fantastic.

By the time I got home it was definitely dark.  I'll need to make sure I take off earlier in the evening if I'm going to continue working out at night.  Although my level of fitness is steadily improving, I am in no shape to be trying to out run any bad guys.

I'm off to enjoy dinner with the fam.  Have a great weekend!

Day 9 - Justice

This was a once in a lifetime day.  I had the honor of serving as a liaison to Justice Chambers of the Washington State Supreme Court.  The nine Supreme Court Justices visited the Gonzaga campus and heard three cases in the GU courtroom.  They also took the time to meet with students and answer questions during lunch.

My role in contributing to the success of the day was minimal, but I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity.  Listening to oral arguments gets my blood boiling.  I am such a litigation junkie!  I would have given my left arm to be able to sit in with the Justices as they deliberated after each case.  I clearly watch too much reality tv, because I yearned for Chief Justice Madsen to reenter the courtroom, say "the tribe has spoken" and then deliver the opinion of the court.  I hate having to wait 90 days to know the outcome!

I took a quick nap when I got home after class and woke up with a horrendous headache.  I occasionally get migraines and fortunately this wasn't that bad.  I must not be drinking enough water and/or getting enough sleep, because this was the third headache in 5 days.  I'll try to get more of both and see if that fixes things.

Fitness wise, I put in another 3 miles on the treadmill while I watched the Office.  I am embarrassed to report that I had to walk some tonight.  Running 3 miles used to be the bare minimum in terms of acceptable daily exercise.  Today, it just about killed me!  I know that getting back into shape will literally require learning to walk before I run, but it is so disappointing to see how far I have fallen.  Oh well, at least I got up off the couch and tried.

Day 8 - Busted!

Whoops!  Today I was totally busted by this guy, Vitaliy Mkrtchyan.  I've asked my friends to help keep me accountable to my fitness goals and as this picture depicts, Vitaliy clearly did not approve of my mid-day meal choice.

I failed to make time to pack a lunch today.  I rushed out the door for hair appointment and left my rabbit food behind.  While I enjoy some leafy greens from time to time, I'd just about always prefer a big plate of nachos.  Mission Possible (a service group on campus) sold me some of the most delicious nachos piled high with meat, cheese, salsa, guilt and just a dollop of regret.  

They weren't the healthiest choice, but they were sold for a good cause.  The proceeds were donated to a woman in Honduras battling breast cancer.  My grandmother fought and beat breast cancer several years ago and I'd like to think that some woman somewhere along the way would have broken her diet and eaten a pile of nachos in her honor.

After attending class and a small social function, I was ready to put on my p-jammies and curl up on the couch.  BUT, today was an exercise day.  I had planned to run, but the only treadmill available at the gym was right in front of the door.  I am fairly certain I'm not the ideal spokesmodel for Oz Fitness at this time.  I did both the gym and my self-esteem a favor and went to my second favorite machine, the original Rotating Step Stairmaster!

In 2007, the Stairmaster helped me get my rear in gear for Sea Gal auditions.  I was excited to be reunited with an old favorite.  I was even more excited to explore the exercise options listed under the "more workouts" button.  I was going to stick with the tried and true "Fat Burning" routine until I came across the mysterious and intriguing "Random Play." 

What could this "Random Play" possibly entail?  Could I handle the "Random Play"?  Could the "Random Play" handle me?  I wasn't sure, but I was certainly determined to find out.

Apparently, "Random Play" loosely translates to "keep stepping while trying not to fall off and break your face."  The machine would speed up and slow down without warning.  You are a tricky beast, "Random Play," but you have been bested.

In 45 minutes, I climbed 3.28 miles and burned around 400 calories.  Not bad for a days work!

Tomorrow will be busier than normal as I am the liaison to a visiting WA State Supreme Court Justice.  I have to be at school at 8 AM.  Yuck.  I have always been a morning person, but lately I've grown rather fond of not needing to ready for public viewing until closer to 10 AM.  Sorry Justices, I haven't had any "beauty sleep" for over a year and a half now.  That said, I had better get to bed for some "slightly better than average on most days sleep."  Goodnight!

Day 7 - A tappa tappa tappa

I'm having a hard time keeping my eyes open, so tonight's post is going to be short. The highlights of my day included teaching a fun tap class and enjoying a movie with my hubs.

The tap class irritated whatever is going on with my left foot, so I decided that today would be a rest day. Even the Lord rested on the seventh day, so I don't feel too bad.

Tomorrow, I plan to be up bright and early for a run.

I am now down to one eye that is 3/4 closed. I'm off to bed. Good night!

Day 6 - Ugh

Today I experienced the power of the blog. I had planned to get up and exercise at 9 this morning. Didn't happen. Then I promised myself that I'd go right after Ellen. Didn't happen. With out a doubt, I was going to go to the gym the second I finished writing my opening argument. Guess what?! Didn't happen.

As I was watching the end of House, a swell of shame washed over me. Was I really going to sign on tonight and have nothing positive to report for the day? I had been wearing gym clothes all day, so all I had to do was pick up my car keys, walk to the car and drive to the gym. It sounds easy, but it took a good 5 min. of mental pep-talking to suck it up and go.

Once at the gym, I ran 3 miles on the treadmill. When I run indoors, I fully depend on music to get me through. Tonight, it was River Deep, Mountain High from the last Glee episode. Love It!

The run felt great with the exception of my left foot/ankle. I started to get a weird pain going from my heal up to that nobby ankle bone thing. I don't think it is anything serious, but I'll probably stick to lower impact exercises for the next few days. I hope you had a great start to your week!

Day 5 - Hip Hop Abs

Mom, grandma and I made a pact to wake up at 7 this morning to do Hip Hop Abs. If you are not familiar with Hip Hop Abs, turn on the tv tonight at 3:15 AM. There is bound to be at least one channel glorifying the wonders of Shaun T and his magical "tilt, tuck and tighten" ab routine. 

Shaun T purports to get you flat abs through simple moves that you can use on the dance floor. As far as I'm concerned, both claims are false. Perhaps if you did 6 hours a day, your abs may look like Shaun T's. Otherwise, it's just an ok cardio routine. In regards to taking the steps out on the dance floor, I'll give $10 to the first person to document them self doing either "the freak" or "the throw down" in a night club. Go on, I dare you. 

My mom, god bless her, does not have an ounce of hip hop in all of her being. But for some reason, Hip Hop Abs strikes her fancy so she and Shaun T break it down in the living room every morning. 

I thought we could use a little more cardio, so we did a few of the routines I used to teach in a cardio dance class. By the end of all of that, we had worked up a good sweat. That may, however, have been more associated with the fact that my grandparents keep their house at a balmy 80 degrees than our actual output of physical exertion. Nonetheless, we got our fat butts out of bed and did it. Mark today in the "win" column. 

I am currently on the train heading back to Spokanistan. I thoroughly enjoy that when I started typing Spokane, my phone autocorrected it to Spokanistan.  I'll be home in two more hours, but until then I fear I'll be subjected to hearing even more details of the woman behind me's recent tour of a hotel made of ice and her dimwitted seat-mate's lack of understanding that EVERYTHING was made out of ice. 

"We ordered appletinis and had to wear gloves to drink them because they were so cold." 
"What was wrong with the glasses?"
"They weren't glass, they were made of ice. Everything was ice."
"So they wouldn't let you drink out of a glass? Were they out of glasses?"

It was at this point when I decided to go ahead and eat my 440 calorie king size Twix bar. It wasn't good for my health, but given my level of PMS and growing annoyance, it was definitely good for their health.  

Oh well, I'll just have to burn it off tomorrow.  Until then, have a great night!

Day 4 - Success!

Although Grandpa had a few more zingers about my weight and what would be good for the “twins,” today was a good day.

I started out the morning with a fantastic run.  I had planned to do laps at the nearby high school track, but it was locked.  I considered climbing the fence, but then remembered I will eventually apply for the bar exam and don’t want to have to explain a trespassing charge.  So, I changed my route and decided to run out for 25 minutes and then turn around and come back. 

I wound up running around 5 miles and it felt great!  The sun was out, but it wasn’t too hot.  It was the perfect temperature to work up a good sweat while enjoying the changing colors of the leaves.  I hadn’t gone for many outdoor runs lately, but I was pleasantly surprised to see my snot-blowing technique had not waned.  My knees started to hurt and I began to feel a few blisters on the hill coming back home.  Otherwise, I would have enjoyed running a bit longer. 

I am always the most relaxed right after a good run.  Charlie, when he can’t take anymore of my nagging and pestering, will often ask if I would like to go for a run.  He’s a smart man.

Today’s post-run peace and relaxation didn’t last long.  When I got back, Grandpa informed me that he hoped I was having twin boys, because he was tired of “all these women bossing him around.”  Gotta love him!

In addition to running, I got a few hours of studying in, visited with my Grandma Wilson and got to enjoy a nice dinner with my Aunt, Uncle and Cousins.  All things considered, today was a success.

Day 3 - Room for Improvement

After a 7 1/2 hour train ride next to a man who must have rolled himself in tobacco while smoking a pack of cigarettes in a room with no windows, I arrived safe and sound in Portland. Needless to say, I didn't get much sleep. That's now two nights this week without sleeping. Not a good start to my renewed vow to fitness.

I'm happy to have the opportunity to spend some time with my grandparents. I don't get to see them often enough. As the first grandchild and only granddaughter, I've always been my grandpa's favorite. However, he has made it abundantly clear lately that he feels my time would be better spent having children than in law school. His new catchphrase is "too many lawyers, not enough babies."

One of the first things my grandpa asks when we speak on the phone is whether I have anything "to report." In otherwords, am I knocked up yet? Today, my grandfather ever-so-kindly let me know that if I didn't have anything to report, that I had gained enough weight for twins. Thanks Grandpa. I love you to pieces, but I think we can add your social filter to the list of things that just aren't working the way they used to.

I've sadly got no physical activity to report for the day. I had hoped to get out for a run, but no such luck. I'll do some sit ups and squats before I go to bed so that the day is not a total loss.

On a more positive note, I forgot to mention in yesterday's post that I am officially registered for the Mt. Rainier climb. There's no turning back now!

Thank goodness tomorrow is a new day.

Day 2 - Pilates

Today I tried Pilates.  It was... an experience.  Given how sore I am, I assume it will be an experience I'll remember intimately for at least 3 to 4 days.  After I regain full body comfort and function, I may repress the memory.

We started with what was apparently the "warm up." It consisted of the V-up move pictured followed by a series of full body crunches in varying degrees of impossibility.  The instructor then informed us that we'd move on to the ab workout...  Um, what?  I thought that's what we were doing?  WRONG!

She had us folding and flexing our bodies in ways I had never imagined were possible.  The ab series was followed by measures of torture designed to terrorize targeted areas of the body.  They worked.

I made a conscious effort to dislike the instructor.  I really wanted to blame her for how much pain I was in, but she was so calm and encouraging.  It's almost like I had to blame myself for being out of shape, or something.  Weird.  

The class lasted about 45 minutes.  A minute longer and I may have needed assistance off the floor.  Surprisingly, however, when I stood up to gather my things, I felt fantastic!  I was taller, stronger and more relaxed.   I'll definitely be coming back.

I'm taking the train to Portland tonight/tomorrow morning to spend some time with my mom and Grandparents.  My running shoes are packed and I look forward to using the nearby high school track. No better way to celebrate a long 4-day weekend than by running in circles!

I'll be working with a dial-up modem this weekend, so we'll see how much blogging actually happens.  If I can't update before then, I hope you have a fantastic weekend!

Day 1 - Here we go!

Today marks the beginning of what I hope to be the most adventurous summer of my 25 years. I'll be running a marathon in May, climbing Mt. Rainier in July and hitting the sandy shores of Maui (while looking awesome in bikini) in August.

For the record, as of today (October 13, 2010), none of these things seem remotely possible. I am an overweight law student who spends more hours doing and avoiding homework than any form of physical activity. I teach a weekly jazz/tap combo dance class to a group of 5 year-olds, but other than that, I have no workout routine.

This was not always the case. In fact, I used to be quite a catch. I ran a marathon in Australia, ran/walked one in San Diego and used to be an NFL cheerleader for the Seattle Seahawks. Needless to say, that was over 3 years and 30 pounds ago.

And while I'm being honest, let's talk numbers. In May of 2007, I weighed in at an all-too-skinny 130lbs. Those were the professional pom pom days. Today, the bathroom scale hinted at a slightly larger number. And by hinted, I mean SHOUTED in a florescent blue light. And by slightly, I mean 34lbs. That's right. All of my awesomeness adds up to a less-than-healthy 164lbs. I'll allow a moment for the shock and horror to wear off...

I assume that you've regained your composure since you've continued reading. I have found peace in my new body. It's my wardrobe that's having trouble adjusting.

All of that, however, is about to change. I'm not exactly sure what "the plan" is going to be, but I'll be happy to share what I learn along the way.

For now, I'm going to finish my plate of nearly 2,000 calories of deep-fried Mexican deliciousness and think about how I'll squeeze some form of exercise into my evening. Wish me luck!