The Gimp Workout

Shake shake shake. Shake shake shake. Shake that Shake Weight.

It's amazing what a little activity and a few meal tweaks will do for your energy and stress levels, not to mention your self-esteem! This is day three of my newly-devised gimp workout and I feel amazingly better already. Okay - I may be icing my knee right now, but that's besides the point.

For about a week, I've completely cut grains out of my breakfast and have been eating two hard-boiled eggs and a small bowl of fruit. Regularly consuming a Costco-sized box of cereal in one week by myself is part of my life story, so this transition is a big deal.

I've also limited my snacks to produce. I've been eating only salads, sandwiches or other vegetable-heavy meals for lunch, and for dinner- well...we're still working on dinner, but two out of three ain't bad! (Just ignore the fact that I had a burger and shake from Triple X this weekend and we'll call it good). Obviously things aren't perfect, but it feels good knowing that I'm eating healthy for most of my meals each day.

My new, gimp workout routine consists of a 30-minute walk with Bowser involving hills, coming home and doing a 10-minute arm workout with my shake weight (I think I've fallen in love), some shoulder work with my free weights, and then another 10 minutes of ab work that doesn't require too much knee bending. Of course I'm not burning the amount of calories I was when I was able to run, but I do work up a little sweat. It certainly beats sitting on the sofa and losing my mind in HGTV everyday after work (although I do love me some House Hunters).

Even if my new routine doesn't do a ton for my waistline, it's doing wonders for my stress level and that's really what I need to get under control. Work has been just a bit too psycho lately so this new routine has been quite refreshing.

In more good news, my mom gets to move home from San Francisco soon! They're hoping about another week and they can come home for good. It wasn't like I saw my folks a ton when they were nearby, but knowing they're not an hour drive away makes me miss them a ton. I'll be excited that life can get back to being somewhat normal after these last few crazy years.

In the spirit of making positive changes and celebrating happy things, I was watching HBO's Treme last night after the premier of True Blood (which btw, OMG!!! I'm off to watch the next episode online because I don't think I can contain myself) and instead of my usual sticks and stones send off, I thought I'd share some quotes I heard on the show that made me smile: I'm too blessed to be stressed. Life is short, so let's play a song!

Relaaaxxxxx

Bowser, maxin and relaxin in his frog pose, all day, everyday. 

Ahh. This has been the most relaxing weekend I've had in a long time. Work has been draining and I've had errands or obligations on my days off all month. Not that my weekends haven't been enjoyable - just busy.

We had friends over for a BBQ Friday, Boyfriend and I had date night last night (go see Super 8!), and this morning, I treated myself to my very first facial, eyebrow and lip wax (hey even the best of us get lady 'staches and uni-brows). And as luck would have it, when I got home, HBO is running a True Blood marathon all day. The only thing missing this weekend is my dad!

We celebrated Father's Day a week early. My dad was up last weekend visiting for my sister's high school graduation. And boy, did that make me feel suuuuuper old. Her and I are nearly nine years apart. I couldn't believe how high the stilettos were that all the high school girls were wearing with their cap and gown! We all wore flip flops to graduation back in my day. I wouldn't even wear those kinds of shoes now - not because I think they're hoochie (well some of them were) - but I'd break my neck before I took a single step. Plus my hip/knee situation doesn't allow for such luxuries as high heels.

As promised in my last entry, I finally invested in a Shake Weight (Boyfriend drove me to Target yesterday so I wouldn't be "lying to my readers"). Holy cow, that thing is no joke! I could barely shake it for a minute straight, and they recommend six minutes to get the full arm workout. All I know is despite my muffin top, I'm going to have Michelle Obama arms by the end of the summer. Since I can't do road races, maybe I can start a shake weight competition and turn that into an endurance sport. How ridiculous would that be? If I got to have Shake Weight competitions, I would require this warning to be posted everywhere, just in case anyone forgot:

This has nothing to do with anything, but I've been trying to convince Boyfriend that we need to adopt this dog, Chewbaca from our local rescue shelter. It's so cute and awesome that I had to share it - if I can't have her, somebody has got to adopt this girl!

Anyway, on to another week!

Sticks and stones may break my bones, but relaxing weekends are key to staying sane.

Attack of the Muffin Top

Last weekend, I fatefully took my summer shorts out of hiding only to need an emergency shot of tequila to cope afterwards. I just about fainted trying button them up. I was just wearing them in Hawaii six months ago and I was experiencing a Costco-sized muffin top - the worst part was, they weren't even buttoned!

Not being able to work out due to my injuries has been quite frustrating. I miss running so much that I it pisses me off when my Runner's World magazine shows up in my mailbox. So I cancelled that subscription to avoid the ensuing rage blackouts.

But I'll admit, since most fitness activities have not been an option, I haven't done much in the way of improving my eating habits. I wasn't the best eater even when I was training for half marathons, but I was running so many miles each week that I was burning it all off.

With that said, I think I'm going to invest in a shake weight. When you're done laughing hear me out - it appears to be the only workout I can do since it doesn't involve my legs. Everything I've read has also affirmed that this goofy product actually works. I'll head to Target later today and let you know how it turns out. With my luck I'll have another ER story to tell.

Sticks and stones may break your bones, but injuries and cupcakes will bust your gut.

When Bad Writing Attacks

Kid, I totally feel you. Image from here.

I've had to bring work home today. It's open in another window which I should be diligently typing in, but I just. can't. do. it.

It's been one of those days where everything I write is complete shit. For example, this was the best lead I could come up with for this human interest piece I'm working on:

"Growing up on the Northern Beaches of New South Wales, there was no doubt that Joe Schmo [name has been changed] would be a water baby.


He was such a water baby in fact, that by the age of three, he was already on swimming squads."

For my next sentence, I really want to type "I'm sorry you just had to read that. You can stop now."

That's all I could muster. This article is supposed to be a masterpiece by tomorrow and I'm just word vomiting it up.

These are the days I hate being a writer; When I can't beckon my creative mojo to do it's thang. Usually I can just whack out a back page story with the same ease at which I can dominate a red velvet cupcake. But today, my mojo has taken a vacation and has left me to my own defenses. Damn you, mojo.

Sticks and stones may break your bones, but bad leads will break your writing career.

Magic Kudos

Rentersinsurance.org gave my Worst Roommate EVER post kudos. When I checked my blog stats today, I noticed that someone got to my blog through that site and I thought, "How on earth is someone getting to my blog through a renters insurance site?"

So I followed up, and voila! Magic kudos had been there for a year that I didn't even know about. Just click on their new title for my blog, "Another Nominee for Worst Roommate Ever." If you want to loop back and forth between blogs that is :)

And by the way, it's finally sunny and warm here in the Pacific Northwest- and on a Friday! I hope good weather finds you all this weekend as well.

TTFN! Ta Ta For Now! :)