Body, Barbells, and Books

There were 40+ people in my Body Pump class this morning! I have NEVER had so many people in one class. New Years Resolutions in Action- All right!! I'm still working through the pain, but it isn't too bad. Body Pump is a weight lifting class set to music. I really love it. (except squats and lunges). I've been going light with the barbell because I'm still sore from the first class, but I'm hoping next week to increase a little.

I had been trying not to step on the scale, but I can't help myself. I should probably just throw the thing out, but it's a good scale. And it has told me some good things this week.

I'm feeling better than I have in a long time. Hmm...eating well, exercising, feeling better....I'm sensing a connection....

I started attending a book club a few months ago, and it has been a VERY successful endeavor. Outside of church I haven't really met anyone since I've moved to Illinois. I tell you, I haven't laughed so much in years. We loved meeting that we added a 2nd social meeting per month and will randomly text/email to get together for drinks/movies at other times. Having a social life in addition to my family and separate from church has really helped me feel like a better person. It's a place where there are no expectations, no requirements, no judgments. Where people are really interested in your ideas and what you think. It is a beautiful thing. And on top of that, I am reading at least 1 book per month, which just helps to better my mind!

Two stresses today almost led me down the binging path of bad food. First, my husbands company is having layoffs at the end of the month, and while we are fairly confident that he will keep his job, it still adds some stress. We've just gone through 2 years of financial stress not being able to sell our second house. We really hope that we will not have to go through any time of unemployment! Secondly a friends husband is looking out of state for a new job. I cannot even express how devastating it would be for me to not have my friend here. She has been my greatest cheerleader in my weight loss efforts, she's the one I call crying when I get pulled over for speeding and don't want to tell my husband. She's the type that starts belting out Bon Jovi and Bette Midler tunes just because they fit the conversation we are having!

But, she will be glad to know that instead of grabbing the bag of chips, I grabbed the bag of snow peas. (They aren't nearly as satisfying though!) It would be silly to sabotage my efforts due to the "what ifs" of life. Today I made it through...

2011 Workouts: 3/4 days

Full Steam Ahead

There's an episode of the Gilmore Girls when Rory goes golfing with her grandfather at an upscale country club, and when telling the tale to her mother she says "I took a steam" as if it were the most natural thing in the world. I think taking a steam should be a natural part of everyone's life!

Here's a link to Livestrong's website that describes the benefits of a steam room

http://www.livestrong.com/article/51064-benefits-steam-rooms/

Our steam room pumps in a minty smell, which helps in the relaxation. I'm wondering why, with this luxury (that I've been continuously paying for, mind you) I have not actually gone more often these past 6 months.

I took an Aqua Pump Class today. It was a pretty good workout, and I didn't have to fight for a spot in the class. Thankfully our fitness center didn't run a $0 enrollment fee for the new year like last year, which made it CRAZY! I'm still sore from the other day, but I don't want to start skipping workouts already!

Workout days for 2011: 2/3

Full Steam Ahead!

The Pain! The Pain!

Ah yes, I remember this now...it's been so long. The day after the first workout in a while...ouch! I went easy at the gym yesterday, too, but I guess coupled with preparing our house and food for our game night it added the the stress on my body! Not that I mind. Game nights are one of my favorite nights of the month. I love laughing and there's always a lot of that going on! I'm not sure my body could handle all of that laughing today, though!

I had some great successes in the kitchen though. I made a guacamole for the first time and it came out pretty well. It would have been better if the avocados were riper, but most of it was eaten so it wasn't that bad! Ingredients: Roma Tomatoes, Garlic, Avocado, Red Onion, Lime Juice, Olive Oil, Salt & Pepper. I made delicious fudge earlier this week, and the girls and I made Cereal Cookies that were quite tasty as well!

However, my kitchen work was not without a failure with my deviled eggs. I think the recipe (in one of those homemade recipe books)had a typo and called for a Tbsp of Mustard. I think it should have been a Tsp. Thankfully I tasted it before I put it in the eggs-It was HORRIBLE. I will probably make an egg salad sandwich with Miracle Whip for lunch with the hard egg whites. Egg salad seems like a very unhealthy thing, but with Miracle Whip its not that unhealthy at all.

Laying low today...might walk if its not too unbearably cold!