Gym Rat-a-Tat

One day I allowed my sister to convince me to go to a yoga class. While I was there, my husband sneakily signed me up for a gym membership. Being the cheapskate that I am, I have been using it. If I'm locked in for two years then I'm going to the gym for two years. If I have to frickin pay for it, then I am going to use the crap out of it..

And now I have become a gym rat...

I have gained some weight that I want to have magically fall off (like every body else) and I started doing cardio (cause I know what that means now) and lifting weights.

Unfortunately, my husband thought that I should be lifting weights as he does and I had to explain that I didn't want "man back" and to be overly muscular.

Like this:

This may be wonderful for some people (and wow if you can stick to it) but definitely not me. My suits already don't fit right, imagine over those shoulders? So while we both know I can curl 60 pounds with my biceps, I don't need to do it as part of my workout.

My sister goes with us and we're dedicated to keeping each other on track. All three of us (my sister, husband and I) slump over to the gym and gossip on the elliptical or track. People around us aren't always fond of our conversational direction but I've noticed more than a few listening intently.

At first, I would dread the one day a week we had to go. I already had zumba, why must I do more???? I would whine and find lame excuses as to why I couldn't go. Then I started looking forward to our gym days. I felt good after our workouts (and gossip fests) and I was more eager to go more often. Now we're up to three days a week (off and on depending on schedules) and I still have my zumba class. I love being able to spend time with my sister and having quirky gym dates with my husband.

I have my cute little gym bag, my own lock and even went out and bought new shoes. Apparently converse tennies aren't gym appropriate? Whatevs.

I haven't lost any weight. In fact I've gained. (*Enter sad face*) I was really upset about it but my muscles are toned and my biceps are huge. I am laying off the bicep curls and spending more time on the ab twisty machine (love that one!!!).

I know I am not going to have "those" abs... the ones we dream of and hate those who have them:

 

*Sigh*

But I am determined to get back to and stay in the 150's. I am happiest there and it's only just a couple of pounds away.
But if I don't, oh well.

I would cut out carbs and count my calories (again) and work out every day if I knew that within a month, maybe two, I could have that body but it ain't happening. Even when I was 117, it wasn't happening.

I'm just going to keep on swimming, swimming, swimming (sorry Finding Nemo is Chunko's latest obsession).

And hope that someday soon I can have this again...

*crunch, crunch, crunch*

I swear this is my last bag of potato chips... Today... Maybe


Ps, why do people get buck naked in the locker rooms??????? Did you really need to drop your towel and lotion your body in the center on the locker area? Did you really need to shower with the stall door open???? Did you need to have a towl on your head while you stand NAKED talking on your phone and itching your inner coot???????
WTH people???? Wrap a towel around you and shut the stall doors!!
I walk with my head down and eyes to the ground. I may run into walls and accidentally knock down signs but I am NOT seeing this stuff if I don't have to... Yikes

Pretending to Know

Lately, I seemed to have been consumed by the need for another baby. I don’t want more kids but my lady clock was still ticking and counting down until the next baby. I guess no one explained to her that I couldn’t get pregnant again. These past few weeks have put her in check and now I am in sync. I do not want another baby (No matter how cute I think it would be to name it Waffles or B.E.R.T.). We have our hands full and we are just now, after 2 ½ years, getting into a routine that we like. We can finally travel without the pack ‘n’ play, the 4 diaper bags, diapers and formula and extra bottles and rattles and teethers and… And all just so we can go grocery shopping. I know that some moms can accomplish the potty training while breast feeding (and I’m seriously in awe that you can) but I know that isn’t for us. I’m glad that I can spend quality time with Chunko and revel in his baby-ness.

I know that the last time I wrote I seemed a little out of control and in all honesty, I was. I was overwhelmed by the constant fighting and I was tired. I’ve gotten some amazing advice from my mommy group and friends and have been able to put it to practice and have succeeded! The first week was hard but I could already feel that we were on the right path and so it made me more determined to get it right.

I give one warning and the threat of timeout if he continues. Then (this is hard part #1) I follow through with timeout if he does it again. He has to stay in his time out corner, same corner every time, for 2 minutes. If he gets out, it’s starts over. I don’t give time off for good behavior or for making me laugh (hard part #2) and we learned that the “Timeout Chair” is a great idea for others but definitely not for ours. He thinks it’s fun to throw said chair and has the strength to cause serious damage. After his full two minutes we remind him why he is in timeout and go about our day.

Sounds super easy, right? Narf!

It was hard the first three days but now he actually stops doing his bad behavior when he receives a threat of timeout! We can’t seem to get him to stop picking of my China Doll niecey but we’re working on that.

In the mean time, I have stepped back and have done some serious thinking about our boys. I realized that they are growing and really fast and that nitpicking is only going to make it all go by faster. I am stopping and appreciating our days together. I am literally stopping to smell the roses with them and I am so much calmer (work is stressing me out but at home I am calm). I sit and build lego houses for Chunko to destroy and I am photographing Fart Bone’s latest alien warrior. I miss my chunky ball Michelin baby that Fart Bone used to be and if I keep freaking over spilled milk, I’m going to be stuck wondering where Chunko’s baby years went, too.

I’ve also decided that I am taking my camera with me everywhere (except work, nobody wants to see that). My loving husband went out and hunted a nice camera for me to practice and really enjoy shooting with and I have poorly abused it with neglect. I haven’t downloaded the pictures that are on it since June!!! That is the beginning of a horror story for me. My sister and I have both agreed to get out there and shoot! We have already scheduled a fun shoot for this weekend and another one for November. We have to get those creative juices flowing and create, create, create!

I feel more at peace than I have in while and it feels good to get back to me, who I am and what I want (other than shoes).

Ps, thank you MMMs, you guys are always there for me, no matter how crazy the questions get!!!!!!