Spencer and family came to visit about a month ago and it was so fun to see them. I love my brother and his great kids. I loved spending time with them on their brief visit. It was so fun to jump on the tramp with them and hold Izzy. I held onto her as she stood and put her back against my legs. The girl had no fear and let me go as high as I wanted -- and she just turned 4.
Two awesome things that happened when they were here...
(I just heard about this first one...I wasn't actually present)
Spencer was in the car with Kimball and Isabel and Isabel had been singing for awhile - just making up her own song. Spencer wasn't paying attention and was talking to my dad in the front seat. Then he hears Izzy say, "Kimball, did you like my song?" Kimball says abruptly, "No." Izzy then says, "I said Jesus in it." Kimball says nothing. There's a long pause and then Izzy says convincingly and seriously, "I did." I laughed so hard when Spencer told me that conversation. Such funny kids.
There was also another hilarious moment when I'm sitting with Izzy and Kimball in the living room talking and Kimball passes gas. He completely denies it saying, "No. It wasn't me -- It must have been you (pointing at me) or you (pointing at Izzy)." He then continues saying "It wasn't me, because I didn't feel it!" Izzy then says, "But we smell it!" I started laughing and then the two of them started laughing so hard. It was so funny to me that a 4 year-old little girl is saying there's proof it happened because of the smell! Love her.
I think I see Spencer and my relationship in Kimball and Izzy's.
I'm grateful for my big brother.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Sunday, September 4, 2011
How to workout...and...not go running.
I've done a good amount of running as I figured out it was the easiest* way to do cardio. I trained for two 1/2 marathons. One in 2006 and one in 2007. And since then, I've gradually been realizing the following...I don't like running; I don't have a runner's body; Running doesn't really do my body much good. I know there are people out there who have runner's bodies and they can run a lot without pain and it proves to be a good workout for them. This is not my case. When I run a lot my knee hurts, my hip hurts, and my leg muscles bulk up a lot (not the look I want). Do people realize the impact of so much compression on their joints? And the effects of having poor running shoes? My friend's mom is convinced a lot of running is what has made her husband shrink as he has gotten older.
If you'd like to reevaluate your methods of cardio, I am offering the following list, because while throwing on running shoes might be the easiest method to workout, it really might not be of any benefit to your body.
1. Yoga. Of course, you know that's going to be number one. Nothing offers such a total body, sweat inducing workout as yoga, in my opinion.
2. Swimming. Get some good goggles. Buy a good speedo.
3. The eliptical. I love elipticals. You've gotta push yourself on these though -- no lackadaisical 20 minutes on there. I make myself burn at least 400 calories, which takes me about 40 minutes.
4. Spin classes. These are brutal, but the intensity is fun as the music is loud and the instructor pushes you to your limit. Sweat inducing for sure.
5. Zhumba. I love the zhumba class I go to. I pay $5 a class and it's held in a bingo hall in pretty ghetto Alexandria off Little River Turnpike. The girl who teaches is hot and Latin and can most definitely move her hips effectively. http://azuka-bom.com
6. Tennis. I don't play tennis a ton, but it's nice to have some variety. Of course, you've got to have someone to play with.
7. Kickboxing classes.
8. P90X. I've never actually done it, but I totally want to. I actually have a video I do every so often called Shape: Bikini Body Camp Transforming Workout. There are 3 segments (I just rotate between the first two) and they both are an awesome workout. It'll make you sore, for sure. You'll be feeling muscles you probably never knew you had.
9. Go for a bike ride outside. Get some fresh air!
10. Rollerblading. I LOVE rollerblading. It's such an awesome leg/butt workout without any impact. I start at "The Melrose" and go right past Reagan Airport on the Mount Vernon trail - the Virginia side of the Potomac. I go as far as the Memorial Bridge and turn around.
11. Skiing. I love both water and snow skiing. In the summer I water ski a lot, because my parents have a boat. It's definitely harder to go snow skiing. But it's so nice to have a day/weekend to look forward to something in the middle of the winter.
12. Hiking. I love being outside and the uneven terrain provides such a great workout.
13. Rock climbing. I don't do this, but have been really wanting to get into it.
That's all I've got! There are other things to do than run! Things that will make you stronger AND at your normal height into your older years!
I use my gym membership only for spin classes, swimming, an occasional kickboxing class, and the elliptical. It ends up being maybe twice a week, but I still think it's worth it. I just feel you have to have access to a gym.
If you'd like to reevaluate your methods of cardio, I am offering the following list, because while throwing on running shoes might be the easiest method to workout, it really might not be of any benefit to your body.
1. Yoga. Of course, you know that's going to be number one. Nothing offers such a total body, sweat inducing workout as yoga, in my opinion.
2. Swimming. Get some good goggles. Buy a good speedo.
3. The eliptical. I love elipticals. You've gotta push yourself on these though -- no lackadaisical 20 minutes on there. I make myself burn at least 400 calories, which takes me about 40 minutes.
4. Spin classes. These are brutal, but the intensity is fun as the music is loud and the instructor pushes you to your limit. Sweat inducing for sure.
5. Zhumba. I love the zhumba class I go to. I pay $5 a class and it's held in a bingo hall in pretty ghetto Alexandria off Little River Turnpike. The girl who teaches is hot and Latin and can most definitely move her hips effectively. http://azuka-bom.com
6. Tennis. I don't play tennis a ton, but it's nice to have some variety. Of course, you've got to have someone to play with.
7. Kickboxing classes.
8. P90X. I've never actually done it, but I totally want to. I actually have a video I do every so often called Shape: Bikini Body Camp Transforming Workout. There are 3 segments (I just rotate between the first two) and they both are an awesome workout. It'll make you sore, for sure. You'll be feeling muscles you probably never knew you had.
9. Go for a bike ride outside. Get some fresh air!
10. Rollerblading. I LOVE rollerblading. It's such an awesome leg/butt workout without any impact. I start at "The Melrose" and go right past Reagan Airport on the Mount Vernon trail - the Virginia side of the Potomac. I go as far as the Memorial Bridge and turn around.
11. Skiing. I love both water and snow skiing. In the summer I water ski a lot, because my parents have a boat. It's definitely harder to go snow skiing. But it's so nice to have a day/weekend to look forward to something in the middle of the winter.
12. Hiking. I love being outside and the uneven terrain provides such a great workout.
13. Rock climbing. I don't do this, but have been really wanting to get into it.
That's all I've got! There are other things to do than run! Things that will make you stronger AND at your normal height into your older years!
I use my gym membership only for spin classes, swimming, an occasional kickboxing class, and the elliptical. It ends up being maybe twice a week, but I still think it's worth it. I just feel you have to have access to a gym.
And then I wanted to move to California
I didn't wear a stitch of makeup (or even put on a normal bra) during my whole 3-week yoga teacher training. It was amazing. And after it all ended I wondered if I was living on the wrong coast and if I should just move to Berkeley and eat raw. I'm kidding about eating raw, but I did wonder if California is where I should be living and if I should go sans makeup all the time. I think I'll very possibly end up farther west down the road, but right now I'm happy to be in Virginia.
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