Edited by author 06-02-2009 08:01 AM
Morning everyone! Sure is quiet on here recently!

I had the best weekend camping. I have realized I must get out in nature for my own sanity to remain intact. It's such a spiritual experience to get to hike and play in the river.

Yesterday I spent the day outside working, I have to say it was a great workout! :)

Well, this morning I got to run/walk 2 miles this morning. Half is down hill and the other half it straight up. I was able to push it this morning and actually run intervals on the up hill! I have never been able to do that before! And I did it in 23 min! That is good for me with so much up hill!

What's going on with you all today? Wish we could all go for a nice coffee and talk....beside a river in a mountain town....with a view! LOL!

* Jillian Michaels: No More Trouble Zones
* Several Yoga Sequences
* Other Moves - crunches, lunges, etc.

Rachelmn, yep, it has been very quiet here.
How lovely that you got out in nature! I love that sort of thing.
I have to admit that I'm not into camping, but I love going out for hikes and for an entire day.
Yep, going out for a "nice coffee and talk....beside a river in a mountain town....with a view!" -
sounds like bliss!

yes, Rachel, I need that as well. Big time! Good for you on your progress w/your run!
Negin, is your DH still working out w/you?

I got the kayaks ready to go out, but I don't think the weather is going to co operate today for a river trip. Bummer.

Hooped, used the ballet barre, walked to hair dressers...

Jillian Michaels: No More Trouble Zones

Rachel Jane, it's actually me working out w/dh coaching me on. :-)
Yes, I am still working out w/him most afternoons.
He's my personal trainer and he tells me what to do while he stretches
 - and I usually end up really exhausted and feeling like I'm going to die!
His style is similar to Jillian Michaels.
But, thank God, he's not like that normally in day-to-day life!
Dh plays lots of soccer and just had a big tournament.
Kayaking sounds like such fun. We haven't done it in years.

My thought for today - since I am finally beginning to lose a tiny bit of weight and inches -
is about keeping it off. This is always my challenge. Sorry that this one is soooo long.

Obviously, a lot of people just aren't staying at their goal weight.
The major reason has to do with something called instinctual drift. Here's a story of a scorpion and a turtle.
Being unable to swim, a scorpion pleaded with a turtle to carry him across a river.
"No way!" bellowed the turtle. "You'll sting me in the neck while I'm swimming, and I'll drown."
The scorpion countered, "If I were to sting you, we'd both drown. So why would I sting you?"
"You're right," said the turtle. "Hop on." The scorpion climbed on the turtle's back and across the river they went.
About halfway over, the scorpion stung the turtle in the neck.
As they both sank to the bottom, the turtle moaned, "Why did you do that?"
To which the scorpion answered, "I couldn't help it. It's just my nature."

You see: instinctual drift is the tendency for all organisms, under certain conditions, to revert to their natural tendencies.
You have a long history of learned and overlearned behaviors - in the way you eat, the way you think, the way you feel, and the way you act
- so overlearned, in fact, that they have become second-nature habits to which you instinctually drift when under stress or pressure.
Whenever you're not actively managing your weight, your health, and your life with a great degree of awareness and programming.
Second-nature habits do not change quickly. That's why there's so much truth in the familiar saying: "Old habits die hard."
Your past behavior, with these deeply ingrained patterns of thinking, feeling, and acting, is unfortunately the best predictor of your future behavior.
For most people, this means that if you have tried to lose weight before but failed, you will most likely fail in the future.
If you have been an overeater every day for years and years, then the best predictor is that you will continue to be an overeater this year.
If you have been habitually inactive every day for most of your adult life, then the best prediction is that you will be inactive again this year.
That's your big burden; that's your great obstacle right now in your journey toward permanent weight loss and control.

But stop right here: this does not have to be true for you. You CAN create a new history.
Days turn into weeks, weeks into months, months into years, and your relevant past behavior is now healthy and productive.
Understand, too, that success is a moving target. You will never likely have fixed your weight problem 100 percent.
There will always be lots of work ahead.
There's a big difference between knowing and doing. You need to always keep your commitment to weight management.
Never stop taking action.

I didn't kayak yesterday. I ended up hauling dirt for over five hours - loading and moving wheelbarrows. This counts as both cardio and weight training. According to my pedometer, the hauling part was over 5 miles.

Got a great run/walk in this morning! Felt awesome! I also came home and did an upper body workout. :)

* Different moves - yoga, crunches, and weights w/special focus on triceps
* Swim: 1 Hour

Rachel Jane, the hauling dirt for that long (and that heavy!) certainly was a workout!
Wow!

Rachelmn, fabulous job on the run/walk and upper body work!

Woke up very late for me.
Just finished Jillian Michaels: 30-Day Shred.
This is what I love about this workout.
It's so effective and only 25 minutes long.
So even on crazy days like this, I can try to fit this one in.

Ladies, remember to try to lymphasize when you can!
"Bouncing on a trampoline stimulates the free-flowing lymphatic drainage system.
The lymph carries the waste away to be disposed of through the urinary tract and other excretory mechanisms."
Other forms of lymphasizing, once again, in case you're not sick of me talking about this ...
* Body brushing
* Deep breathing
* Bouncing/rebounding (again, children love to bounce on beds!)
* Massage, reflexology, etc.
* Swinging (think why children love swings. They know what's good for them!)
I dry brush pretty much daily.
I try to remember to really breathe properly.
And I felt so lucky to have a wonderful massage yesterday.
I'm also going to try to bounce on the rebounder sometime today.

Well, Thursday DH and I did the shred dvd and did the stability ball stretch that I LOOOOOVE, Friday I hooped and used the minitramp. Today, since it has finally stopped pouring rain, I will walk my pups and maybe go for a motorcycle ride w/DH.

P90X Yoga - this workout made me REALLY sweat. 90 minutes long.
I don't think I've ever seen a yoga workout that's made me sweat as much as this one. That, to me, was the only plus.
Otherwise, I didn't really care for this DVD.
I didn't like the style of instruction. Not very clear.
And I REALLY didn't like how serious and dry everyone was.
I know that yoga is no giggling matter, but these folks were beyond all seriousness I've ever seen. Not a single smile for 90 mins ...
The instructor himself was okay.

Jillian Michaels: No More Trouble Zones

I've been doing tons of yard work and DH and I went on a motorcycle ride yesterday.
I am hoping to go kayaking today. We shall see.

whew! sorry i haven't been here in so long!
i've been trying to keep up with the posts as best i can so i know what's going on with everybody
i just CANNOT get caught up with my own life though . . .

the tap recital in seattle (for both boys) was yesterday
(after 3 trips to seattle for practices last week)

our third round of guests in two weeks left yesterday

my last class for the first session is this tuesday (tomorrow)
and i'm possibly starting a second session next week

i'm a bit behind in my "am i hungry?" facilitator training
but i'm madly trying to get back on track
(she gives LOTS of homework)

i need to FINISH my husband's company's books so the accountant can do the taxes

this is our last week of school (nicholas at home - a few things to wrap up, alexander has finals and then he's not going back to the private school)

the KITTENS! the DOGS!

upcoming (thru mid-july):
-play in seattle this friday (nicholas and i have been reading "around the world in 80 days" to complete our world geography study - OUTSTANDING BOOK!!!! - we'll finish it on friday and we're going to the play)
-a.'s wisdom teeth out next week
-weekend homeschool convention in a city about 1.5 hours from here (eric and i are both going so we can finalize our high school junior's curriculum plan)
-jury duty
-wedding in corvallis, oregon
-conference in boston, mass (and visiting relatives nearby)
-a. trying to get a summer job
-a. driver's training (hopefully)
-n. resume hearing tests
-a. surgery on nose (deviated septum)

i've been walking a lot
(especially with all of the trips to green lake)
i'm also trying to fit in strength exercises every day

last week we went outside for the "walk" portion of my class
it was a beautiful day
we walked a mile around an elementary/middle school complex and then SWUNG on the swings at the end!
it was so much fun
(and i've heard it's good for lymphasizing!) negin :)

i love you all
i love hearing what you're doing
i love your daily tips, negin

i'll try to check in more often

I just typed up this long post and lost it all. :(

My left knee has been giving me problems,
so I only did several yoga poses to specifically target my knees.
No Jillian Michaels or anything rigorous for a little while.
I hate it when this sort of thing happens.

April, so nice to see you back.
Hope your bus-y-ness eases up very soon.
I sympathize and empathize. I can relate.
Yesterday I felt so overwhelmed that I was almost in tears.
Today I feel better and a tiny bit more in control.

My goal - when it comes to eating AND working out is to be more mindful.
I keep reading how being more mindful when we workout makes our workouts more effective.
"Living in the moment simply involves putting less attention on worries, concerns, regrets, mistakes, 'what’s wrong', things yet to be done, things that bother you, the future, and the past."
I really, really need that reminder.

7 Miles of Leslie's Walks
45 Minutes Swim

Seven miles? WOW!
April, it sounds like your classes are going really well!

Yesterday: walked over 2 miles w/my pups, shreded. The day before, lifted weight and did lots of hooping. :D
When I have a headache or feel off balance, I can still hoop. I am so glad this item was brought to my attention.