My Cup is Empty

It's a matter of mind over matter.

When my cell phone alarm went off this morning, I DID NOT want to move, much less get out of bed and commit to some cardio.

It's winter.

It's cold out.

It's raining out.

I'm sleepy.

Who cares.

But I care.  I CARE.  And if it's to be, it's up to ME.

My cup is empty now, 1.5 cups later, and having had my Vitamin B & D supps, I'm a new woman.  I'm happy to be awake.  I claim this silence as mine.  This is morning in the life of T.  This is what I do.  And life is good right now.  Really good.  You did it again, T.

Time to move ...

"Now if you're going to win any battle, 

you have to do one thing.
You have to make the mind run the body.
Never the body tell the mind what to do.
The body will always give up."

--George S. Patton

January Gym Crowds - This Too Shall Pass?

For the last week and a half, the term "Full House" has taken on a whole new meaning at my gym.  It's nice that everyone resolves each January to make fitness their number one resolution.  And we all know what they say about New Year's resolutions.  Still, for the sake of good intentions, health and wellness , I'd like to think that many WILL keep their resolutions,
EVEN if it means I

O FAITHFUL ONE

keep getting snuffed out of spinning classes.

Last night was my third spin class, and although I would have preferred taking it on a Thursday night -- Wednesdays are not convenient gym days for me -- I had to grab for "the crumbs."  It's all that was left on the sign-up sheets for this week's classes.  And to make matters worse, I tried getting ahead of the game to sign up for next week's classes (I'm aiming for two spin classes a week) but it was too late.  Next week's classes are already filled up, two classes a night, Monday through Thursday -- ALL FILLED!

So now what?  If I have to wait a whole 'nother week before my fourth class, I'll feel like I'm starting all over again.  Not the ideal situation.  I have to wonder if "this too shall pass," since it IS January, and most gym goers manifest short-lived overzealousness in their best of intentions.  We shall see, I suppose.  But in the meantime -- what to do.

There are 6:00 a.m. spinning classes offered, but I didn't bother looking at those sign-up sheets.  I prefer an evening spin class; it's an intense sport, and not only has my body had a chance to fully wake up and work out its aging kinks, I can't imagine mustering enough energy for spinning at that hour.

But it may be my only option at this point.

Ugh.

And JUST when I was really getting the hang of this thing!  It's a fast, intense, kickass sweatfest that burns a whole lotta calories.  It seems to have gotten a bit easier each class as I am building on my  endurance, pushing a bit harder each time.  Spinning is not for the faint of heart.  Which begs the question:  

So what will it be, Newbies?

Can you hang?  Are you taking this crap seriously?

Will you stay or will you go?

We shall see.

The Color Blue

Billie sings the blues...

Blue gets a bad rap.

Sad.

Lonely.

Heartbroken.

Desperate.

Despondent.

Depressed.

Down in the dumps.

Funked

Winter has a way of bringin' on the blues.

Well, tonight I'm gonna take on the winter blues and kick 'em to the curb.

It's the second Tuesday of the month, my Bunco night.  Frankly, I'm not in the mood to go, but I'm going anyway.  I'm gonna beat the blues...

I'm gonna laugh...

Hang out with friends...

Drink a beer (a Blue Moon?) ...

Have a few (healthy) snacks....

Make the best of it.

Although a kickass workout does wonders for my mood (second class of spinning last night -- I'm liking the intensity!), I can't live at the gym.  I gotta find other ways.  Gotta rise up and over...

Climb out of this funk.

One day at a time, if I have to.

That's my plan.

So bring it on, Bunco Babes...

Let the 

Good Times

roll

Whispers of the Heart

Goin' for a Spin

My first spinning class is at 6:00 p.m. this evening.  I'm a little nervous.  Am I up for this?  I've heard it's pretty intense.  As a novice, what worries me is that I was encouraged to take the intermediate class rather than the beginner's class.  Really?

I don’t know…



It's been a while since I've run any distance, the holidays taking up a lot of my time and the colder dark thirty a.m. weather a detriment to my motivation.  So my cardio endurance level is not what it should be.  This will prove to be a daunting challenge.  Will I live through it?

We shall see.

A more painless aspect of this endeavor will be the eye candy.  The instructor is an absolute doll!  He has thick, shoulder-length, perpeptually-tousled, red-auburn hair that hangs in soft sexy curls (wild? yeah, that -- and I'm pretty sure he knows it), a broad, approachable and friendly smile, tall, lean, well-defined body, and a charming southern drawl.  I mean, what's not to like?  

I remember when I first met Joe about two years ago.  He had just joined our gym, and new faces always stand out -- well, some more than others.  After seeing him around a few times, exchanging friendly smiles, I purposefully walked up to him, said hello, and introduced myself.  Smiling broadly, he responds:

JOE:  "Hey, T. How's it goin? (Huge smile) I'm Joe.

(Love the drawl)

ME:  "Hey, Joe...(welcoming smile)

I gotta tell ya, you have some amazing hair."

JOE:  "Awl, uh, thaynks (an even bigger smile).

And we've been friends ever since. Joe's close to my oldest son's age, somewhere between 25 and 30, who knows for sure. He's like a son to me. Very kind, funny, polite. Old-fashioned manners. We often engage in conversations about fitness, workout strategies, nutrition ... wine.  (He happens to love red wine too.)

Since our gym moved to the new location, Joe's been encouraging me to give spinning a try. I thought about it for a while.  Okay.  It's time.  New year.  Now or never.  Members don't pay extra for the classes, so why not?   Let me broaden my exercise horizon a little more, get in some valuable cardio to burn some of this post-holiday carb bloat, unleash some pent-up energy and ignite those endorphins.

Who knows...I may just like it.   And if not, I can at least say I tried.

Expressions of Soul

 

 

 

 



Relaxing New Year's Eve

I had a long to-do list at the start of the last day of the year.  I wanted everything beautiful, orderly and festive to welcome my son's girlfriend once she arrived.  New Year's Eve at our home this year was quite different from last year.  Rather than throw a party, I decided to keep it low key with just family, relaxed, laid back. Just us, without the sparkly and hooplah.  There was a part of me that was a little disappointed at not having gotten down my New Year's decorations from the attic, transforming the atmosphere to loads of bling and dazzle.   But there's always next year.  There will be another opportunity for a bigger "staged" New Year's party.  This year dictated a slower pace. 

I decided to make it to the gym early and put in an intense upper body workout.  My thighs and hams were still sore from Saturday's workout; they needed more recovery.  The gym was rather busy, and I saw many new faces.  The membership has grown quite a bit with the expansion of their facilities, and the secret was getting out, its reputation shinier by the day.  I feel proud to be a member there, and I treasure all my friendships I've made over the last few years -- my "other" family.   After wishing everyone a happy new year, I quickly drove home and showered, then headed to the grocery store for last-minute items for the evening.  Pandora blasting, the crisp air invigorating, the bustling holiday spirit abounding in our community, I felt effervescent.   I was looking forward to our celebration this evening.  All is well in the world.  Time for a toast!

We had great fun.  I didn't take many pictures, my only regret.  My son and his girlfriend wanted to make gingerbread martinis (Outback's recipe) and Harry Potter Butter Beer, along with shots of Patron XO Cafe.   I'd never had Butter Beer, and truthfully was not expecting to like it.  It actually was pretty tasty.  Very smooth, and not as sweet as I'd expected.  It was also my first ever gingerbread martini.  It was good, but not my favorite.  A bit too sweet for my tastes.  But I loved my shot of Patron Cafe Liquer.  Yum!  We stood around and talked and laughed as we indulged in our concoctions and party foods I had prepared.  I tried to keep the selections as low carb as possible, since most of us are trying to start the new year with a focus on leaning and discipline.  Resolutions!  Our menu included:

• Turkey meatballs w/ Smokin Joe Jones LC BBQ Sauce
• Asiago Spinach Shrimp Dip
• Boneless wings
• Petite Broccoli Cheddar Quiches
• Shrimp cocktail with LC cocktail sauce
• Fresh veggies
• Stacy's Pita Chips
• Tostitos
• Baguettes with Garlic Tomato Pesto & Parmesan
• Stuffed Crust Cheese Pizza (personal request of my youngest son)
• Rice Krispie holiday treats
• Mini Pumpkin Bites (made with oat flour and Splenda)
• Lemonade

 The food was tasty and plentiful.  We played cards, laughed, told stories.  We watched a movie together, pausing it long enough for a toast to the New Year as we watched The Ball drop in NYC.  The movie was one my son had put on his Christmas Wish List, "Lawless."  It was very good -- a little too violent/bloody for my preferences, but the plot was engaging and the acting very good.

After cleaning up the kitchen and starting a load in the dishwasher, I made my way upstairs and prepared for bed.  I was tired, but not sleepy.  I had drank a cup of coffee when we started the movie and it apparently wired me up.  I laid in bed for a while and read with my Kindle until my body finally gave way to slumber.  Just before turning off the light, I smiled inside as I reflected on the holiday memories.  I wondered briefly what Christmas 2013 would be like ... Will we spend it together as we always have (except when Z was in Japan), or would our two oldest be tied to jobs and commitments in other places, with other people, families?  Only time would tell. 

Good night, world.  Hello New Year.