Lesson learned (the hard way)

I could have titled this so many different ways, but the bottom line is that I've learned my lesson and I had to learn it the hard way.

The other night I noticed a girl at the gym put on this brace type of contraption around her waist before doing step class. I thought it was a back brace of some sort. After class she took it off and I was curious. I asked her what she used it for and she told me it was a sweat band. It helps shed excess water weight and also helps compress and support the abdomen.

After having 3 children, I could use all the extra support I can get in my belly, so I thought I would give it a try, especially since it only cost me $5. It was very comfortable and I could feel the warmth as soon as I put it on, which was nice since it was a chilly day. I've worn back braces in the past and this was a similar feel compression wise, but much more comfortable.

My trial run during the day went great and I decided to keep it on during the class I taught in the evening. I was a little concerned that it would inhibit my movement, but I was very pleased and comfortable throughout each exercise and could hardly tell it was on until I started sweating.

During the abs section I could feel it sliding around a bit and a few air pockets formed. Luckily the music volume concealed any noise from the belt. I continued through each different exercise and towards the end I had worked up a good sweat, more than normal I thought. This is the moment I took a glance at myself in the mirror and was horrified at what I saw.

It totally looked like I had peed my pants! I was so embarrassed. Apparently all the abdominal sweating I was doing wasn't actually being absorbed into the belt, but gravity was taking it down south. It was ridiculous. And of course it didn't help that I had on a gray pair of workout pants. That totally accentuated the pee look.

After class I immediately took off the belt, put it away, and tied my shirt around my waist. A few members came up to me afterwards and I explained my dilemma. Of course I had to laugh at myself, and jokingly I vowed next time I would remember to wear my Depends.

Why is it that I have to learn lessons the hard (and embarrassing) way?

Oopsy!

Do you want to know how I celebrate becoming a fitness instructor?  

A pizza delivered to my house and a sale made on  Craigslist.  

Do I know how to party or what?!?!!

Holla!

This weekend I spent 16 hours in training classes in order to get some group exercise certifications.  Sunday morning I had to wake up at 4 AM in order to make the 2.5 hour drive to Columbus for a full day of training.  Back to back grueling training days have left me exhausted in addition to the other 5 days I worked out this week.  Intense doesn't even being to explain it, but I totally love what I am going to be doing and it is worth every ounce of effort and sweat that was poured out.  

So when I got home Sunday night, Jason left to go out to eat with his long time buddy who was in town visiting (prior band mates in high school) and of course I was too tired to make anything for dinner.  I did what any sensible half-awake zombie person would do and ordered an extra large New York style cheese pizza for dinner.  So much for the brutal work outs this weekend. 

I plopped down (literally) with my pizza and my 2nd glass of wine and checked my email.  To my surprise I had a request for an item I posted on Craigslist.  A few emails back and forth later, we made arrangements for them to stop by the house in the next 15 minutes to pick up their purchase.  

"Sweet!" I thought to myself - "I'm making $5!  That will pay for a fourth of the pizza I just bought."  

I look over a few more emails, check my facebook page, drink some more wine and double check the last email I sent to Mr. Craigslist Purchaser.    

As I blink through my bloodshot, dried-out eyeballs, I noticed that I mistyped my address.  

Seriously?

Luckily the dude left me his home phone number, so I quickly give it a ring, hoping he hadn't left his house yet.  No such luck.  I gave it a second try with no answer once again. 

I took the item outside and placed it at the end of my driveway and went back in side to check out Mapquest and look up the incorrect address I entered to see if I could intercept him on his way.  Well, Mapquest is retarded or maybe it's just me.  (Don't respond to that.)  It showed a house on the map right down the street from me.  I grab my slice of pizza and cell phone and start trotting down the street barefoot.  

Hillbilly central.

I got down the street to where Tardquest said the house was, but no such place existed.  So I merrily scampered back home and waited for the next vehicle to pass by.  

As I am standing there next to the item, still eating my slice of pizza, a car drives by.  I wave to them, point to the item, and shrug my shoulders.  I sort of looked like a ravenous, crazed, black market street dealer ready to make a sale.  The people just looked at me like I belonged in a mental institute and kept driving.  

A 2nd vehicle drove past and this one was going slower than usual, so I knew it was very probable that it was my buyer.  I did my wave and shrug and the guy looks at me at first with a puzzled look and then stops and rolls his window down.   

He mentions the incorrect address and I explain to him what a freak I am and that I've been up since 4 am and need to learn how to type correctly.  

We both got a good laugh out of it.  And that, my friends, is how I celebrated my demanding, yet rewarding weekend.     

I should have read the sign

I went to the gym the other night and decided since hubby was out of town I would spend some extra time there and get in some upper body strength training and run on the indoor track before my step class.  

The boys (actually Taylor in particular) wasn't thrilled about the extra 45 minutes we'd be there, but he would have to survive and deal with it.  

I am your typical group exercise addict and don't usually venture out to the machines unless I have some extra time on my hands.  The gym I go to has a huge assortment of machines and equipment.  Some of which I was familiar with and others not so much.  But really how hard could it be?  There were signs posted on each piece of equipment with a picture of what you should be doing.  And I've got some experience, so I thought.   

I sat down at this one machine that works your back and abs.  It resembled the one in this picture.  At my old gym we had a similar one where you sat with the bar across your chest and crunched down.  Apparently, this was not the same machine.  How do I know that?  Because when I sat down and tried to push the bar down it wasn't moving.  I adjusted the weight stack and tried again.  Nothing.  So, I decided to look at the picture and wouldn't you know, I was sitting the wrong way.  The bar was supposed to be behind my back (not chest) and I was supposed to be pushing back against it not forward.  No wonder it felt strange.  I was embarrassed because this particular machine sits about 10 feet away from the personal training desk where 6 trainers were standing around.  I am sure they noticed my lack of equipment knowledge not to mention my unique way to use the workout machines.  

I think I'll retreat back to what I know.  There aren't many ways to mishandle a step.

I'm going to be sore tomorrow

I can just feel it. Not only because yesterday I rode my bike around the neighborhood with the boys, and today I ran 5 miles outside on a route with a ton of hills. Plus I spent a lot of time outside doing yard work with hubby. It was such a beautiful spring day that I had to take full advantage of it.

We patched bleached out dead grass spots - thanks a bunch for that extra chore Sasha dog. We mulched around some trees, mowed, trimmed, and I pulled countless weeds, primarily dandelion weeds. Even though we fertilized two weeks ago our yard is still full of them. I was bent over yanking those puppies out with my sticker-bush-puller-outer tool for over an hour and there are still many many more that need to get removed. So much for the useless bag of fertilizer.

For all the hard work today, I have rewarded myself with a fresh home-made batch of warm, gooey, soft chocolate chip cookies. It's okay, I'm drooling too.

So much for the exercise.

Up for a little horseback ride?

Do you like horse back riding? Need to get rid of those saddle bags?

Well, giddy up cowboys and cowgirls cause there's a new revolution going on in the exercise world.

It's called the Rock-n-Go Exerciser. And, no, I'm not making this stuff up.



This product simulates riding a horse without ever making a trip to the stables. One of the descriptions I read is that it gives you gentle back and forth saddle movements.

Okay then. I wonder if this is a G rated piece of equipment. By the looks of this girl, I question that. She may be having a little bit too much fun.

Now this horsey isn't for everyone. It only has a weight capacity of 280 lbs. But, maybe they'll come out with the Clydesdale version for those who are pushing the limit.


So grab your spurs and get riding.

Yee-haw!!!!!!!!