shan

shan

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Burpee Update

Confession time ya'll; the burpees workout was torture! First of all, who came up with burpees anyway? Must have been some kind of twisted. I goggled it. Ha ha. Turns out he was an engineer by trade, and discovered it while picking plumbs. Come again? Anyway thanks to Mr Burpee (and a certain brother) I spent Monday evening torturing myself. 
I normally wake up early in the morning, and get a workout in, really early. Instead I woke up late, and stalled the whole day. I finally caved, and decided to face the music right before I needed to take my daughter to her extra curricula activities.  With only 30 minutes to spare, I comforted myself with the thought that at least the session wouldn't be a long one. Believe me when I tell you, it was long enough. I didn't do plain burpees. I did a challenging version, a burpee with a pushup. Turns out I couldn't do more 15-17 burpees at a time. I didn't like doing them modified, but I tried that. I concluded that I rather do less of them all the way, than more of them modified. I did a bunch of sets, ranging from 10-15 per set. I probably did about 12-15 sets. I did NOT do much in between sets. I rested as needed. It took about 20-25 minutes to complete. By the end, my heart felt like it was going to leave my chest. 
Yesterday morning much to my surprise my upper body was not sore, but my lower body was a little sore. That surprised me because, my lower body has always been stronger than the upper. I also found that the burpee workout fatigued me more than anticipated, and I struggled through my routine Tuesday morning. I did the burpee workout again this morning. It was the same. I tried to do 150 of them. It took me longer than I care to admit. I threw in a few sets of pushups, and ended with a short set of interval jumping jacks. I'll see how I feel by the end of the day. I'm humbled by how far I have to go, and super motivated. See you on the ripped side :)

Monday, October 29, 2012

burpee

Over the past decade I've invested a lot of time in working out. Too much time. My life now is such, that I cannot invest that same amount of time , and frankly, it's hard to find the energy. To counter this I've been doing smaller, more intense blocks of training. I wouldn't call myself a fitness fanatic, but I'd be lying if I pretended, I could take it or leave it. I must have it. Before you begin to think, "wow she's so disciplined" let me just say it has little to do with discipline, and more to do with the way I feel after the workout. I can tell you now that "runners high" (workout high for that matter) is OH so real. Endorphins are amazing. Plus, it is a sure fire way to relieve stress. My body craves it.  It's to the point where if I'm having a cranky day, the husband says "why don't you go for a run, or go workout?" My practice has been to take a week off a few times a year, but usually by the end of that week (if I make it the whole week) I'm chomping at the bits, and ready to get back in a routine. I think it's such a blessing to be in good health and strength. It would be a shame not to use it. 
Healthy habits does not extend to all areas of my life. I eat like a horse! I love food. Good and bad. I was raised working very hard. People ate fish fried in lard with a huge plate of peas and rice. They had no thought of carbs or fat. And before you get to thinking "what an unhealthy lifestyle," my grandma is well in her 90's.  She rode a bike till she was in her 80's, and she ate that way all the while. I still have much of that island mindset.  There is no thought for what you eat, as long as you work hard. But my life doesn't afford me the opportunity to work that hard, instead I WORKOUT hard, and try to watch what I eat.

I've been doing better. I'm trying to make it more of a practice, in addition to working out, eating healthy.  I want to be fit when I'm older, God willing. I don't want to be struggling with nutrition and weight issues later in life. The time to act on those goals is now. 
I think it's safe to say I've got the workout thing licked, but I'm always up for a new challenge. I recently got one. It came from my youngest brother. Let me just say it here: He's a fitness freak! He enjoys the torture of it. So it comes as no surprise that when I mentioned shaking up my workouts a bit, he'd have a handbook of suggestions. And he threw at me the one I hate the most. Burpees.  Effective? Yes. Torture? Absolutely! His suggestion: I add some to workout my routine a few times a week. That that routine should include (get this) "a few sets" of burpees. And just so you know, a set by his definition is 50!!!!
OK first, as much as love to workout, I HATE burpees!!!!! Secondly I can't do 50 of them. My heart  feels ready to explode at 15-20. If I could make it through 50 of them, I certainly wouldn't be able to include sets of jumping jacks, or jump squats and the other crazy stuff he suggested ( I forgot what all he suggested. I tuned him out after he said the "b"word). And "I certainly wouldn't be able to repeat that cycle more than ONCE!!!!!!!!!!!" Do you know what he said when I mentioned that. He said, very matter-of-factly "well you'll probably feel like you're gonna puke, or you will puke, but it's effective." After mulling it over for a week. I decided to accept his burpee challenge. I had previously challenged myself to do 100 pushups, so I think the two routines will support each other nicely  And that is why I'm sitting here typing such a long post. I'm kinda scared, and I'm stalling....I usually keep the workout talk to myself. I've learned that people get the impression you're a fanatic, if you are exerting energy into any exercise that's more strenuous than walking.  But I had to share this with somebody. I'll let you know how it goes. 
If I can make it through this I'll be pumped, figuratively and literally. And I'll tell you this, if I'm gonna work this hard no way I'm I going to be eating everything in site.  There's gonna have to be more healthy eating going on around these parts.
OK, no more stalling.....wish me luck!
Just so you know what a burpee is, see below. Yes I'm still stalling....



Monday, October 22, 2012


Be Cool

Recently I've been thinking, I would love to have a bit more "manittude." I would like the ability to dismiss the non essentials like a lot of men do. My husband is such a dude in that way. He decides what's a problem for him. No one else does. I find that I'm much more reactive. Someone does something offensive, and naturally I'm offended. My husband's reaction; someone does something offensive, and he's not moved one way or the other, UNLESS he deems it a worthy cause. I've been watching him for years, and those "worthy causes" are few and far between.  It's not that he doesn't care, but more that he's intentional about what's worth his time, and energy. He seems almost immune to dramatic episodes. He does have a weak spot though, traffic. Crazy drivers have the ability to set him off like nothing else. Sill I find myself admiring his calm...
I'd like to think his levelheadedness rubbing off on me a bit, but today I find myself recovering from yet another episode of "the sweating of the small stuff." I'll tell you what, growing up female is hard to do. I think someone should make a movie called, "When Estrogen Attacks." Good luck balancing the tragedy and the comedy of it all!

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Muppet Show - Mahna Mahna...m HD 720p bacco... Original!

A while back I mentioned "Cracker Jacks." To my surprise, the eldest kid responded with a "what's that?" Seriously! I'ts bad enough, that she has to listen to subpar music, but subpar snacks too? I draw the line! We've been reliving old shows, music and food. She's experiencing some of the same junk I ate growing up. She enjoyed Ramen Noodles, and wanted to know "how long have you known about this?"
Cracker Jacks were a bit of a let down. She thought the prize was lame, and felt sorry for me. I'll grant her that. The prizes were not the best, but at the time, they sure seemed like it.
This week I introduced more music from childhood. Here we found common ground. We've been singing this tune all week. All of us, even the hubby and the baby (she says "numa num num") but we know what she means. Super cute!
If you watched the presidential debate last night I thought you might find that this tune especially meaningful. I happen to think it sums it all up our political climate perfectly. Don't be surprised if the next time you see a certain governor or president on TV, you start thinking about this one. Enjoy :)



Sunday, October 14, 2012

On my  Mind and out my Mouth

This evening finds me exhausted. Last week was very busy. The weekend (which was supposed to be a time to unwind) was also busy.  I'm beginning to hate the word busy. I decided that instead of a predetermined topic, or trying to catch you up on all that's been going on in my life, I'll just tell you whatever came to mind. Sounds simple enough, but my mind at the moment is a jumbled mess. At this very moment in my head, I'm  throwing around schedules, to do lists, chores, and teaching responsibilities. I'm replaying awkward conversations, evaluating discussions, an a relationship. I'm also trying to decide whether I'm really hungry, or if I've had enough food for the day. What's the next step in life is a question that hardly takes a break, and I'm I seriously getting cold? I'm wondering why God don't just speak audibly, and LOUDLY on every single issue, EVER! That way, all can hear it simultaneously, and there be no need for religious divisions, and oh yeah, did I mention I'm thinking about food? What's on your mind?
I think I'll go grab a bite to eat.

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Question For ya...

What's the one thing you cannot live without?  For years now I keep coming back to the same answer.  It's the inspiration behind this one:

Hope

It's that beat of the heart.
It's that twinkle in the eye.
It's that thread of confidence.
It's that reassuring still, small voice that says:
Be at ease, all is well, though reality screams otherwise.
It is that conviction that your desires, and dreams are not merely possible, but inevitable.
It's that force that makes you try, and try, though experience has taught you cruel and contrary lessons,
Hope is the jewel of the soul.