My Last Day At Jim's Gym

Well, Thursday was my last day at Jim's Gym. I began my Jim's Gym journey back on November 10, 2009, and I went usually 2 times per week and sometimes 3 times per week if Becky couldn't make one of her workouts. In the last 2 weeks I've been working out about 4 times per week. I've been using the gym at my office building, and also a free pass I got online to Gold's Gym. I'm now excited to keep working out at this intense level 4 to 5 times per week.

Thanks to Jim for kicking my butt and getting me on the journey of staying in shape.

Checkout my pictures below; they tell the story of where I was and where I am (at least in my own mind).

Before:

After:

Why is it this place makes you feel like a loser?

One of my favorite things about my gym are the amazing people I have met.

Today while finishing up an extremely sweaty and exhausting routine my friend and I were told to get on the bikes for a 1/2 mile. As my friend went to get on her bike she stumbled a bit. While laughing and getting situated on the bike, she looked at me and asked "why is it this place makes you feel like such a loser?"

It is a good question and one I have often pondered. Am I really not that coordinated or have I really not improved much in the year I have be going? What is it?

Here's what I think it is. Our trainer always wants you to go bigger, stronger, faster, deeper. He never lets you get comfortable! NEVER! So yes many times during a session I think "why can't I do this?" or "why am I not stronger" or "why is running still so challenging?" The answer, because I am exhausted! I have been doing upside down military presses, hundreds of sit ups, dozens of squats/lunges, biked and run miles at increasing speeds and all to the tune of no stopping and no water breaks.

So my good friend Kolette, Congratulations, We are Amazing! Thanks for keeping me coming back and feel like maybe I'm not a loser, I'm just exhausted!

Kolette is an amazing person! She has overcome MANY challenges in her life and everytime I see her I think "this is what a valiant daughter of God is like." She is truly inspirational!

To see Kolette's blog go to http://kolettehall.wordpress.com/
Make sure to click on "getting fit" to read about her boot camp experiences. The one entitiled the Mantra is a must read!

The Challenger

Ty has wanted a football nickname for a while now. Zack's team uses nicknames and Ty really wants one! He has come up with a few but I had to veto them. I just couldn't see myself sitting in the bleachers yelling "Good job Killer" or "Nice hit crazy monkey".

If you know Ty at all you know he is VERY persistant. He just won't drop it until he gets what he wants. It is very tiring, so on one particially trying afternoon his nickname came to me in a flash. The Challenger! It is perfect. Think about it. I say "go take a shower" he says "can I bath?" I say "come here" he asks why. I say "Let's do your reading" he says I'll read with dad when he gets home. I say "don't hit that" he stops hitting and starts tapping. The Challenger!

And so my life is pretty peaceful until about 3:30 when "the Challenger" gets home from school. Some days are better than others but I am constantly praying for patience. Maybe I'll try Nicole's methood and "kill him with kindness."

Sick of being Sick!

It happens every school year but this year we have had enough! Our boys are healthy all summer long, then school starts and they get sick. This year has been especially hard.

About a week into the school year Zack got sick. Then in November it started to get serious. Both boys got the Swine Flu (at different times) and Ty got Strep while Matt and I were in Texas. December seemed fine, but January was horrible. Zack had Strep, Matt had a virus and Ty had a different a virus. February had to be better right? Wishful thinking! Zack once again got sick (and on a weekend too) and Ty had a nasty virus (also on a weekend also).

This morning when Matt went to wake up Zack he said he didn't feel well. It turned out that was an understatement. He slept until noon when I had to wake him to go to the doctor. Our doctor wasn't in today (he took a rare day off, we love our doctor!) so we saw his nurse practitioner. The nurses all welcomed us with a "your back again". Yes, we're back again. After a strep test guess what, it's strep AGAIN! That is two times in a one month period! Arggg! At least we can give him some antibiotics! The nurse practitioner didn't want to mess around with Ty getting sick again as he is still getting over his virus, so she put him on an antibiotic too! Poor Ty has been wiping his nose so much he has rubbed it raw. He even has four little blisters across his upper lip. I feel really bad about this as I know how painful they can be!

Yesterday was also a stressful day for me as I got TWO offers on a listing only to my sellers decide they didn't want to sale after all. That is a bit frustrating after spending a couple of months working on it!

All I can say is come on March you have to be better than January and February!