Yikes. Here I am again. Starting over. Life has been insanely busy the past couple of months and today is one of the first days I was able to hang out in my pj's, not put on make-up and stick around the house. Since I didn't have any place to be, it finally gave me time to think. Time to think about where I'm at and where I want to be. I'm generally quite happy with where I'm at in my life, but I know I can do better. It's time to get back in shape. It's time to get back to finding my crazy. I find it really difficult to keep starting over. I haven't been to the gym in a few weeks and I'm not following any sort of workout plan, so I find it challenging to be motivated to hit the gym when I'm not sure what I'm going to do. *sigh*
I'm also frustrated as the last time I posted I had my first experience with Bikram Yoga. I went back a second time. It was so much better then the first time, except the room smelled like stinky feet and wet towels that were growing mold. The smell wasn't something I wanted to experience again, so I didn't go back. I did try a yoga studio on my block, but didn't like the instructors. So I have one more studio close to home that I'd like to try and even bought my own yoga gear so I wouldn't have to borrow my husband's. But alas, work got in the way and I have yet to use my new yoga stuff. So frustrated!
So now I'm looking to hope back on that path I set for myself when I started writing this blog. What more do I want in my life? What do I want to commit to for me? It starts with putting one foot in front of the other. Do I go to the gym and climb back on the stair machine? Do I go to Bootcamp class? Do I try running, yet again????
To be continued...
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Monday, June 13, 2011
Dear Bikram Yoga
As I laid down in the hot room before class started, I was staring at the fan going round and round. But that fan wasn't there to cool us down, it was there to churn the hot, sweaty air. As I laid there on the mat watching the fan turn, I thought, "this isn't so bad. It just feels like a sauna, which is actually kind of nice." Rookie mistake. I identified myself as a newbie, and as I look around the room, I'm one of a few, and I realize I'm in the front row. Awesome. It's hot. I'm dripping, she's dripping, everyone's dripping! How much longer? There is no clock in the room, and I thought I'd be able to count the poses, knowing there are 26, then I could surely figure out where we were in the class. Ha! That plan was blown immediately as I found myself focusing on staying upright and alert! I was very aware of the warning signs of passing out. Ears closing, light bursts appearing and I just kept telling myself, "don't pass out, don't pass out!"
Basically Bikram Yoga, you kicked my ass! I had to rest a lot, I even tried fanning myself with my towel, (which the seasoned woman next to me kindly mentioned that would only make me hotter.) But, I'm thrilled to report that I did not pass out and I did not puke! So I consider my first Bikram yoga class a success. I have signed up for two more classes, and even though I'm not particularly excited to go back, I think I ought to give you a fair shot. Bikram - are you my passion? Are you my crazy? Is it possible that I will get hooked and be motivated to keep going back to get better and better? I think this remains to be seen.
A special shout out to those in class who bared almost all. Making me feel comfortable to embrace my body and embrace the fact that it is HOT in there and even if my body isn't perfect, I'm there sweating with everyone else in pursuit of a healthy and strong body!
Maybe yours,
Nelle
Basically Bikram Yoga, you kicked my ass! I had to rest a lot, I even tried fanning myself with my towel, (which the seasoned woman next to me kindly mentioned that would only make me hotter.) But, I'm thrilled to report that I did not pass out and I did not puke! So I consider my first Bikram yoga class a success. I have signed up for two more classes, and even though I'm not particularly excited to go back, I think I ought to give you a fair shot. Bikram - are you my passion? Are you my crazy? Is it possible that I will get hooked and be motivated to keep going back to get better and better? I think this remains to be seen.
A special shout out to those in class who bared almost all. Making me feel comfortable to embrace my body and embrace the fact that it is HOT in there and even if my body isn't perfect, I'm there sweating with everyone else in pursuit of a healthy and strong body!
Maybe yours,
Nelle
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
The plan
To find one's crazy, I realize one has to try new things. So it is my intention to try a minimum of two new things per month until I find some activity that elevates my participation from, "ya, I tried that once" to "you're crazy" status. The way I will know when I achieve this is when a person's response to hearing about my passion for this new hobby or obsession is, "you're crazy!" I know this because as Dan was discovering his crazy for running, my response was and often still is, "you're crazy!" Whether it be because he is registered for two marathons within 4 weeks of each other or because he set his alarm for 4:30am, not to watch the royal wedding live, or to catch an early flight, but to get a 17 mile run in before he went to work! The only logical response to these things from someone that does not share his crazy is that he is in fact, you got it, "crazy!"
Last summer I tried a couple of new things including paint class and guitar lessons. Needless to say neither one stuck. Paint class was very fun. I especially enjoyed the starving artist instructor and the fact that he could come to work in an outfit that very closely resembled pajamas. The only problem was he would throw together a painting in less than 5 minutes that far surpassed my feeble attempt to paint the same glass bottle. This, for my competitive side, was not pleasing to me. Granted, he went to graduate school and honed in on his craft for no doubt hundreds of hours, maybe even thousands and surely thousands of dollars, but I wanted to find some amazing, hidden talent, that unfortunately, was too hidden for a 6 week class to uncover.
Then there was guitar class. I played piano and violin as a kid, so I thought surely I'd take to the guitar without any problems. And I really did enjoy it, I especially enjoyed that my teacher encourage us to bring booze to help us relax and feel the music. But my practical side wasn't sure where I would use these skills. Will I sit in the subway with my open guitar case and play for people who had to be there to catch a train, hoping for a couple of bucks? Will I find out I'm amazingly talented and find myself at House of Blues playing in a band? Will I start to play in the park and attract an audience? None of these options seemed likely, so I didn't sign up for the next level class.
I did learn one thing from these failed attempts at finding crazy last year. I need to put my competitive side and practical side to rest. My crazy will be developed out of something I enjoy! My crazy doesn't have to hang on the wall or have an audience. I realize that now and am ready to open my mind to my crazy!
Up next: June picks!
Last summer I tried a couple of new things including paint class and guitar lessons. Needless to say neither one stuck. Paint class was very fun. I especially enjoyed the starving artist instructor and the fact that he could come to work in an outfit that very closely resembled pajamas. The only problem was he would throw together a painting in less than 5 minutes that far surpassed my feeble attempt to paint the same glass bottle. This, for my competitive side, was not pleasing to me. Granted, he went to graduate school and honed in on his craft for no doubt hundreds of hours, maybe even thousands and surely thousands of dollars, but I wanted to find some amazing, hidden talent, that unfortunately, was too hidden for a 6 week class to uncover.
Then there was guitar class. I played piano and violin as a kid, so I thought surely I'd take to the guitar without any problems. And I really did enjoy it, I especially enjoyed that my teacher encourage us to bring booze to help us relax and feel the music. But my practical side wasn't sure where I would use these skills. Will I sit in the subway with my open guitar case and play for people who had to be there to catch a train, hoping for a couple of bucks? Will I find out I'm amazingly talented and find myself at House of Blues playing in a band? Will I start to play in the park and attract an audience? None of these options seemed likely, so I didn't sign up for the next level class.
I did learn one thing from these failed attempts at finding crazy last year. I need to put my competitive side and practical side to rest. My crazy will be developed out of something I enjoy! My crazy doesn't have to hang on the wall or have an audience. I realize that now and am ready to open my mind to my crazy!
Up next: June picks!
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| The inspiration |
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| My painting |
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| Instructor's painting - literally, 5 minutes! |
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Where it all began: Chapters 1-4 and what it all means
Chapter 1: It began with a decision for my city mouse husband to move to Denver, CO. Who knew that my pizza loving, bubble butt, baseball player boyfriend would end up my lean, mean running machine husband! (The pizza has stuck around, but the bubble butt has since disappeared.)
Chapter 2: Dan bought a bike. Dan decided to ride his bike. Dan worked up to riding his bike 18 miles round trip to work and home everyday.
Chapter 3: When we moved from Denver back to his hometown of Chicago, the opportunity came up for him to run the Chicago Marathon. Dan ran, but not as much as he biked. He decided he could do it and trained for the three weeks he had prior to the race. Dan ran that race. His time was: 4:40:04. Dan then hurt for about six months after the race due to the brevity of his training program. Dan then decided he could do better.
Chapter 4: During all of this bike riding, running madness, Dan reached his goal weight and as a result, seems to be in the best shape of his life. Dan ran the 2010 Chicago Marathon and came in at 4:05:59. Just a little too close to completing the race under four hours. So, like anyone who claims that their crazy is running, he registered for the 2011 Chicago Marathon in hopes to see a 3 at the beginning of his time. And as if that wasn't enough, he also entered the lottery for the NYC Marathon. Guess what? He was picked! So not only will he be running 26.2 miles in Chicago, but a mere four weeks later, he'll be taking a 26.2 mile tour of NYC on his two feet.
What it means: I am exceedingly proud of my former bubble butt husband. He has worked so hard and as he puts it, he has "found his crazy". I am his biggest cheerleader, but while cheering him on and supporting him, (even when I roll my eyes and wonder if he can get any more lean as he leaves for yet another session at the gym), I realize I don't have a crazy, (because I'm guessing wine and manicures don't count), and I want one. His determination and self motivation is something I admire and I am taking on the challenge to find my own crazy. It may not be something that whittles my frame to its' absolute leanest, but I'm searching for just some of that passion that has motivated him to commit to running two races totaling 54.4 miles within a month. I've created this blog as a way to hold myself accountable to find my crazy as he blogs about his.
A happily married woman's journey to find her own crazy.
Chapter 2: Dan bought a bike. Dan decided to ride his bike. Dan worked up to riding his bike 18 miles round trip to work and home everyday.
Chapter 3: When we moved from Denver back to his hometown of Chicago, the opportunity came up for him to run the Chicago Marathon. Dan ran, but not as much as he biked. He decided he could do it and trained for the three weeks he had prior to the race. Dan ran that race. His time was: 4:40:04. Dan then hurt for about six months after the race due to the brevity of his training program. Dan then decided he could do better.
Chapter 4: During all of this bike riding, running madness, Dan reached his goal weight and as a result, seems to be in the best shape of his life. Dan ran the 2010 Chicago Marathon and came in at 4:05:59. Just a little too close to completing the race under four hours. So, like anyone who claims that their crazy is running, he registered for the 2011 Chicago Marathon in hopes to see a 3 at the beginning of his time. And as if that wasn't enough, he also entered the lottery for the NYC Marathon. Guess what? He was picked! So not only will he be running 26.2 miles in Chicago, but a mere four weeks later, he'll be taking a 26.2 mile tour of NYC on his two feet.
What it means: I am exceedingly proud of my former bubble butt husband. He has worked so hard and as he puts it, he has "found his crazy". I am his biggest cheerleader, but while cheering him on and supporting him, (even when I roll my eyes and wonder if he can get any more lean as he leaves for yet another session at the gym), I realize I don't have a crazy, (because I'm guessing wine and manicures don't count), and I want one. His determination and self motivation is something I admire and I am taking on the challenge to find my own crazy. It may not be something that whittles my frame to its' absolute leanest, but I'm searching for just some of that passion that has motivated him to commit to running two races totaling 54.4 miles within a month. I've created this blog as a way to hold myself accountable to find my crazy as he blogs about his.
A happily married woman's journey to find her own crazy.
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