Friday, February 27, 2009
In My Way
Life has totally gotten in the way of my MiE time and I can feel it. I had to cancel class last night and just plain missed it tonight because of work. Tomorrow I have a bridal shower right in the middle of the day so none of the class times work. It is quite frustrating. I wanna dance dang it!
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Dynamics of being human
Have you ever noticed the impact it makes on you when someone shares the positive influence you have had on them? That happened to me tonight and I have to say it completely changed me.
I belong to a young couples group for my church and happened to be there when I noticed I had a voicemail. I was in kind of a pissy mood because of work and just didn't wanna do anything. For some reason I excused myself and listened to the message. Boy! That was what I needed. No more feeling sorry for myself. I decided to pass on the positive feeling to my group. Mind you this is the group that literally saved my marraige. Fall of last year my husband and I were not living together and I was contemplating divorce. (We were the epitomy of the couple in Fireproof) This group has had the biggest impact to the point of my husband and I are happily going to be celebrating our 2nd wedding anniversary in about a month. As we really got started I asked if I could share something and just poured my heart out to the women and called out what each individual woman had said to me that really effected me and just talked about the impact as a whole. It is amazing to me how easy it is to lift each other up but how often the simplest things like a thank you are left out in the cold.
Drum roll please...I think this is the weekend for update photos. I am not sure there will be a huge difference considering I just barely started paying attention to my eating habits but we'll see. I also think I am going to start imcorporating more photos anyway. For example, I had blisters on my legs from my rollar blades this weekend. Maybe pictures of that kind of stuff or maybe that is gross and people don't want to see it. I don't know.
Also, another funny thing about being human, specifically female, is how easily we can rationalize things away. For example, I felt sorry for myself today and when I got to group one of the gals had brought guacamole. Boo-yeah! That is the money in my book. I knew I didn't have that many points left and well...I had a bad day...I deserve this...blah...blah...blah. I ate too much and then I listened to the voicemail and it stopped me in my tracks. What in the heck are you doing?! You are going to throw away all of your hard work for more guacamole then you know what to do with? Really!? I stepped back, had a bit of inner dialoge, and passed on the cookies and brownies when they arrived. I was so proud of myself. I could have easily fallen back in the trap of "oh well...I will start fresh again on Monday" and then gone hog wild in the mean time.
1 point team Kathy.
I belong to a young couples group for my church and happened to be there when I noticed I had a voicemail. I was in kind of a pissy mood because of work and just didn't wanna do anything. For some reason I excused myself and listened to the message. Boy! That was what I needed. No more feeling sorry for myself. I decided to pass on the positive feeling to my group. Mind you this is the group that literally saved my marraige. Fall of last year my husband and I were not living together and I was contemplating divorce. (We were the epitomy of the couple in Fireproof) This group has had the biggest impact to the point of my husband and I are happily going to be celebrating our 2nd wedding anniversary in about a month. As we really got started I asked if I could share something and just poured my heart out to the women and called out what each individual woman had said to me that really effected me and just talked about the impact as a whole. It is amazing to me how easy it is to lift each other up but how often the simplest things like a thank you are left out in the cold.
Drum roll please...I think this is the weekend for update photos. I am not sure there will be a huge difference considering I just barely started paying attention to my eating habits but we'll see. I also think I am going to start imcorporating more photos anyway. For example, I had blisters on my legs from my rollar blades this weekend. Maybe pictures of that kind of stuff or maybe that is gross and people don't want to see it. I don't know.
Also, another funny thing about being human, specifically female, is how easily we can rationalize things away. For example, I felt sorry for myself today and when I got to group one of the gals had brought guacamole. Boo-yeah! That is the money in my book. I knew I didn't have that many points left and well...I had a bad day...I deserve this...blah...blah...blah. I ate too much and then I listened to the voicemail and it stopped me in my tracks. What in the heck are you doing?! You are going to throw away all of your hard work for more guacamole then you know what to do with? Really!? I stepped back, had a bit of inner dialoge, and passed on the cookies and brownies when they arrived. I was so proud of myself. I could have easily fallen back in the trap of "oh well...I will start fresh again on Monday" and then gone hog wild in the mean time.
1 point team Kathy.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
On a lighter note
I went to the Showcase tonight at Express MiE and had a good time. My friend Jen went with me and loved it. It was great seeing all of the instructors talk about and show their dancing abilities.
I did made the mistake of saying, out loud, that the Burlesque Beauties class was my favorite. I now feel the need to explain myself. First, it is an amazing workout. Second, I feel like I actually look okay when I do it. Last, it is slow and precise. My whole life is a rush and it is nice to have it slowed down for a second but still get a good workout in.
I did made the mistake of saying, out loud, that the Burlesque Beauties class was my favorite. I now feel the need to explain myself. First, it is an amazing workout. Second, I feel like I actually look okay when I do it. Last, it is slow and precise. My whole life is a rush and it is nice to have it slowed down for a second but still get a good workout in.
A little more personal
I am not sure about all of you but I am so not comfortable with myself. I have noticed an improvement since I started taking MiE time though and it has given me a glimpse that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. If you were to ask me about myself I could tell you a laundry list of all of the things I hate and barely come up with a handful of things I like...let alone love. For example, I joined Weight Watchers on Friday. I realized that all of this hard work at Express MiE would be useless until I made some major adjustments to my diet. (I will talk more about that below.) For my first meeting, the focus was on positive thoughts. Hum. I am good at that when other people needing positive thoughts but myself...not so much. The group was challenged to take the time once a day to look in the mirror and say something nice about ourselves. I don't know about you but when it comes to me looking in the mirror there are not a lot of nice thoughts that come to mind. Oh! I almost forgot...you have to say it out loud...and MEAN IT! Okay, okay, I can handle it. This afternoon I closed the bathroom door and looked at myself...really looked at myself...and said "You have amazing eyelashes". That's right I complimented my eyelashes. (No seriously, they are freaking fantastic. Next time you see me ask to look up close.) I guess I have to start somewhere.
Anywho, back to Weight Watchers. I joined for the accountability. See, I have no personal accountability. I wish I could say I was one of those driven people that can inspire themselves but I am not. For example, I signed up for the Zumba class today and thought it would be a great idea to roller blade there. I was thinking it is only 2 miles which isn't too bad until...I realized I forgot about 2 more of them. Translation: it was 4 miles. 4 miles that I had only allowed time for 2. That meant I would be late to the class. As I was blading along I had a little over a mile left and I was like, "forget it. I should just turn around. I should have driven. What was I thinking. This is freaking ridiculous. Blah. Blah. Blah" and then it hit me. I can't disappoint Leanne. She has to know that I at least tried to make it, so I will show my face and then head home. I pushed on and when I arrived at the studio I found out I was only 10 minutes late. 10 MINUTES! That is fantastic. I snuck in and had a great time. I was already warmed up so it worked out perfect. You see? If it was left to me I would look like this for the rest of my life. Hence the need for me to join Weight Watchers when it comes to my eating.
I talked to Leanne and Sarah a bit after the Zumba class and Leanne said something amazing. She said she wants to be fit enough to where all those cute clothes. Not so people would look at her but because they are just so cute that she wants to wear them. I thought that was so true about me. I like cute clothes and until I get my body to cooperate I get to look at other people looking cute in the clothes I can't, realistically, wear.
Another thing the gal leading the Weight Watchers group talked about was the one thing all of us had in common. We love food. In fact, we are addicted to it. She said this it the hardest addiction of all. You wanna know why? Because you still have to eat it several times a day. That's right...if you are addicted to booze or cigarettes you just quit. Well, the problem with the food addiction is if you just quit then eventually you will die. Doesn't that suck? No seriously, what kind of cruel joke is that? I have to learn to deal.
Anywho, back to Weight Watchers. I joined for the accountability. See, I have no personal accountability. I wish I could say I was one of those driven people that can inspire themselves but I am not. For example, I signed up for the Zumba class today and thought it would be a great idea to roller blade there. I was thinking it is only 2 miles which isn't too bad until...I realized I forgot about 2 more of them. Translation: it was 4 miles. 4 miles that I had only allowed time for 2. That meant I would be late to the class. As I was blading along I had a little over a mile left and I was like, "forget it. I should just turn around. I should have driven. What was I thinking. This is freaking ridiculous. Blah. Blah. Blah" and then it hit me. I can't disappoint Leanne. She has to know that I at least tried to make it, so I will show my face and then head home. I pushed on and when I arrived at the studio I found out I was only 10 minutes late. 10 MINUTES! That is fantastic. I snuck in and had a great time. I was already warmed up so it worked out perfect. You see? If it was left to me I would look like this for the rest of my life. Hence the need for me to join Weight Watchers when it comes to my eating.
I talked to Leanne and Sarah a bit after the Zumba class and Leanne said something amazing. She said she wants to be fit enough to where all those cute clothes. Not so people would look at her but because they are just so cute that she wants to wear them. I thought that was so true about me. I like cute clothes and until I get my body to cooperate I get to look at other people looking cute in the clothes I can't, realistically, wear.
Another thing the gal leading the Weight Watchers group talked about was the one thing all of us had in common. We love food. In fact, we are addicted to it. She said this it the hardest addiction of all. You wanna know why? Because you still have to eat it several times a day. That's right...if you are addicted to booze or cigarettes you just quit. Well, the problem with the food addiction is if you just quit then eventually you will die. Doesn't that suck? No seriously, what kind of cruel joke is that? I have to learn to deal.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Grand Canyon
My husbands and my 2nd wedding anniversary is April 1st. We have decided that we are going to camp at the Grand Canyon for the weekend and just explore everything up there. We also plan to hike it one of the days but he is a little leery about it. I have hiked it once and backpacked it once. The Grand Canyon is pretty from the top but absolutely stunning from the bottom. I highly recommend that everyone experience that once.
Good thing I have been taking some MiE time because I am not that nervous about it. Pretty excited actually. Wish me luck!
Good thing I have been taking some MiE time because I am not that nervous about it. Pretty excited actually. Wish me luck!
Good Times
I had a lot of fun last night. I took three classes; Country Linercise, Cumbia Rhythms and Burlesque Beauty. Not gonna lie...I love the Burlesque Beauty class. There is something about it that I absolutely love. Maybe that it is silly and saucy all wrapped into one. Maybe it is because Hannah makes it super fun. I don't know...I just love it. I have been trying to get my friend Jen to come with me. She is willing but lives quite far. I think I have her hooked for this Saturday night's showcase though. We are going to do a movie (Confessions of a Shopaholic though I think I might be a litte annoyed by it because it looks nothing like the plot of the book except for the massive amount of spending), dinner with some wine, finished up by the showcase. Good times...
Cumbia Rhythms was freaking amazing. Josefa had me rolling around on the ground in a cute kind of way not in the siezure kind of way I envisioned when she mentioned we would be on the floor. There were 2 parts of the dance that were my favorites. First, she had us do this chest pop thing that turns into this swoop thing. I guess from that explaination it doesn't sound so hot but it was. Last, there is a part when we are on the floor and we spin around on our tailbone. I spun slower and always missed the next couple of counts. Oh! I almost forgot about freaking fantastic part. She had us slap the floor. It was weird how invigorating it was. I am totally a fan of that class though I need to learn what to do with the hips because I still feel somewhat clumsy doing the movements stiff. (Josefa, my upper body hurts and I am pretty sure it is from the move when we went down and then popped our leg out. I love it! but we are somewhat in a fight)
Country Linercise was neat too. There were a couple of other girls in the class that caught on to the dance quick. It was fun to watch them totally nail the dance.
Okay. I am doing the Cheer-ful Fitness class tonight. My positive affirmation for the day is "I will get out of my head and just enjoy the class". I am also doing the Colloquial Celtic class but I love that one so the only affirmation I need is "show up".
Signing off - Kourageous Kathy
Cumbia Rhythms was freaking amazing. Josefa had me rolling around on the ground in a cute kind of way not in the siezure kind of way I envisioned when she mentioned we would be on the floor. There were 2 parts of the dance that were my favorites. First, she had us do this chest pop thing that turns into this swoop thing. I guess from that explaination it doesn't sound so hot but it was. Last, there is a part when we are on the floor and we spin around on our tailbone. I spun slower and always missed the next couple of counts. Oh! I almost forgot about freaking fantastic part. She had us slap the floor. It was weird how invigorating it was. I am totally a fan of that class though I need to learn what to do with the hips because I still feel somewhat clumsy doing the movements stiff. (Josefa, my upper body hurts and I am pretty sure it is from the move when we went down and then popped our leg out. I love it! but we are somewhat in a fight)
Country Linercise was neat too. There were a couple of other girls in the class that caught on to the dance quick. It was fun to watch them totally nail the dance.
Okay. I am doing the Cheer-ful Fitness class tonight. My positive affirmation for the day is "I will get out of my head and just enjoy the class". I am also doing the Colloquial Celtic class but I love that one so the only affirmation I need is "show up".
Signing off - Kourageous Kathy
Monday, February 16, 2009
Not feeling it
Do you ever have one of those days where you don't want to do anything but go home and go to sleep? That is so me today. I am just not in the mood. It doesn't help that I ate crappy food for lunch. Ugh. Why do I do this to myself?
Oh...for the record I am still going to my 2 classes tonight but it is a "drag myself by the shoe strings" kind of going.
Oh...for the record I am still going to my 2 classes tonight but it is a "drag myself by the shoe strings" kind of going.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
What in the blazes!
I woke up this morning and had to just lay there for a minute. I thought I was over this ...and then...it hit me. Class last night. I attended both Country Linercise and Cheer-ful Fitness. Sarah took me through the ringer in the Linercise class. It was just her and I so she decided to see if I could keep up on one of the more advanced dances since I know most of the rest. Needless to say I did but my calves are on FIRE! My high heels and I are so not getting along right now.
Cheer-ful Fitness on the other hand was different. For some reason I was so self conscious and when I say self conscious I mean in the "I feel like I am in 5th grade again wearing my first bra" kind of way. I couldn't get into it. I felt awkward and clumsy. It was super weird. I tried and I tried but I could not get out of my head. I think it may be the fact that I didn't pick this one up as fast as most of the other classes but I am crappy at the latin dances too so that can't be it. I definitely feel it this morning though. You have to stay super tense and flexed. I can tell I did. This class and I will be frienemies.
So between Sarah and Hannah I am sore from head to toe in a hurt so good way.
Cheer-ful Fitness on the other hand was different. For some reason I was so self conscious and when I say self conscious I mean in the "I feel like I am in 5th grade again wearing my first bra" kind of way. I couldn't get into it. I felt awkward and clumsy. It was super weird. I tried and I tried but I could not get out of my head. I think it may be the fact that I didn't pick this one up as fast as most of the other classes but I am crappy at the latin dances too so that can't be it. I definitely feel it this morning though. You have to stay super tense and flexed. I can tell I did. This class and I will be frienemies.
So between Sarah and Hannah I am sore from head to toe in a hurt so good way.
Monday, February 9, 2009
I am gonna be so mad at Josefa tomorrow...YES!
Ladies, ladies, ladies...if you want a real whooping then I highly suggest that you take one of Josefa's classes. I took Salsa Pump tonight and I am already feeling it. I can only imagine what tomorrow and the next day are going to feel like. I love it!
Oh! and speaking from experience remember to eat before you go otherwise (like I did tonight) you will be getting tunnel vision. I thought I was gonna puke. And this whole San Diego trip taught her this fantasticly torterous new move. No need to describe it because I have no doubt whatsoever that you will figure it out the second she shows it to you.
I also took another Bollywood Babes class. I love the fact that you can act as silly as you want because the sillier you act the better it looks. It also helps that everyone looks as equally silly as you feel. I fell in love with Bollywood watching So You Think You Can Dance last season. Erin, if you haven't seen the performance I included the link below. FYI - I really want to learn the move around the floor on your knees thing. Just saying...
Signing off - Kourageous Kathy
Bollywood Dance
Oh! and speaking from experience remember to eat before you go otherwise (like I did tonight) you will be getting tunnel vision. I thought I was gonna puke. And this whole San Diego trip taught her this fantasticly torterous new move. No need to describe it because I have no doubt whatsoever that you will figure it out the second she shows it to you.
I also took another Bollywood Babes class. I love the fact that you can act as silly as you want because the sillier you act the better it looks. It also helps that everyone looks as equally silly as you feel. I fell in love with Bollywood watching So You Think You Can Dance last season. Erin, if you haven't seen the performance I included the link below. FYI - I really want to learn the move around the floor on your knees thing. Just saying...
Signing off - Kourageous Kathy
Bollywood Dance
Friday, February 6, 2009
Do you ever feel like...
Your life grabs a hold of you and sucks you in? Case in point this week. My boss is no longer (happened on my b-day), which left me working 2 - 12 hour days plus all day today and a HUGE dinner event tonight. I spent the day trying to shop and getting my makeup done. Oh! I am so tired that I just want to go to sleep for a week. I have missed the studio for a few days and that is leaving me pretty crabby.
You make plans and God laughs.
You make plans and God laughs.
Monday, February 2, 2009
What a difference!
Along with the addition of MiE time I have also made a conscious effort to eat different (aka: better). I have not put that much thought into it yet since I want to succeed and have a bit of a tendency of burning myself out trying to do everything perfectly right out of the gate. Anywho, I decided to not worry about it too much yesterday and ate what sounded good. Boy! What a mistake that was...I am SO salt bloated I can't even describe it. It is amazing how quickly your body adjusts to all things that are good. When I went back to my oatmeal this morning I actually heard my body rejoice a little.
Tonight is going to be a blast. I am taking 2 classes I have not tried yet, Belly-Licious and Sound Body. I am having mixed feelings about the belly dancing class though. I took a belly dancing class a long time ago when I was in much better shape and am having anxiety about how attractive I might or, more than likely, might not look. Breath...I should be fine.
Last Thursday I made a super decision. I bought dance shoes (Thanks for the advice Sarah!). There is this really great ballroom dance shoe store near Express MiE. The guy is really knowledgeable so I recommend you support the local little guy. Well, the shoes have a really hard bottom except where the arch of your foot is there is nothing but material. Having those shoes has made a huge difference in all of the classes I have used them in thus far. I did use my cowboy boots for the Country Linercise class on Friday night and will definitely be doing that again. They have a good 3 inch heal on them that adds a whole new dimension to the class. I do have to admit that I want those pretty little pink and black lacey looking heals with a strap for the Burlesque Beauty class. That is officially my favorite class and Hannah, biggest freaking cutey in the world, is a blast to learn it from. I do end up feeling like an amazon woman next to her but that is my lack of confidence talking.
Oh! As promised...dadadaDAH...my big reveal. I am going to use my ample hips as my measurement for success. Christie recommended that since it is often the most troublesome area for us women. As you are about to find out I am no exception to that little stereotype. As of right now I have 47" hips. Gasp! That is so not awesome to write but as the months go by that number will go BYE! Get it! Man, am I funny.
Signing off - Kourageous Kathy
Tonight is going to be a blast. I am taking 2 classes I have not tried yet, Belly-Licious and Sound Body. I am having mixed feelings about the belly dancing class though. I took a belly dancing class a long time ago when I was in much better shape and am having anxiety about how attractive I might or, more than likely, might not look. Breath...I should be fine.
Last Thursday I made a super decision. I bought dance shoes (Thanks for the advice Sarah!). There is this really great ballroom dance shoe store near Express MiE. The guy is really knowledgeable so I recommend you support the local little guy. Well, the shoes have a really hard bottom except where the arch of your foot is there is nothing but material. Having those shoes has made a huge difference in all of the classes I have used them in thus far. I did use my cowboy boots for the Country Linercise class on Friday night and will definitely be doing that again. They have a good 3 inch heal on them that adds a whole new dimension to the class. I do have to admit that I want those pretty little pink and black lacey looking heals with a strap for the Burlesque Beauty class. That is officially my favorite class and Hannah, biggest freaking cutey in the world, is a blast to learn it from. I do end up feeling like an amazon woman next to her but that is my lack of confidence talking.
Oh! As promised...dadadaDAH...my big reveal. I am going to use my ample hips as my measurement for success. Christie recommended that since it is often the most troublesome area for us women. As you are about to find out I am no exception to that little stereotype. As of right now I have 47" hips. Gasp! That is so not awesome to write but as the months go by that number will go BYE! Get it! Man, am I funny.
Signing off - Kourageous Kathy
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