Lemon Rosemary Chicken
Friday, April 5, 2013
Friday, March 29, 2013
Friday, March 22, 2013
Monday, March 11, 2013
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Getting Paid to Exercise?
Seems like somewhere, some wise voice in my head is saying "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is." And I guess that's how I felt about the app Gym-Pact. Someone is going to pay me to exercise? Well, yes... sign me up! But what's the catch?
The catch is that if you don't make your pact (kinda like a weekly bet with yourself on how many times you'll go to the gym), you have to pay so much per workout that you missed. For example, I've been working out six days a week, so I'm pretty confident that I'll make at least 5 workouts in a week. I've set my stakes at $10/day, which means if I only make four workouts, I'll pay ten dollars. But if I make my five, I make something like $3.70 per week. From where does the money come? From people who don't make their pacts. It's kind of like an office pool...
Maybe this is a great tool for people who are having a hard time going to the gym. But I have He-who-trains for that. If I wasn't showing up, the barrage of ugly texts and calls I'd get would be phenomenal. But I figure if I'm going to be there anyway, I might as well make a little dough in the process. Hey-- it could fund some new (smaller) workout wear!
The catch is that if you don't make your pact (kinda like a weekly bet with yourself on how many times you'll go to the gym), you have to pay so much per workout that you missed. For example, I've been working out six days a week, so I'm pretty confident that I'll make at least 5 workouts in a week. I've set my stakes at $10/day, which means if I only make four workouts, I'll pay ten dollars. But if I make my five, I make something like $3.70 per week. From where does the money come? From people who don't make their pacts. It's kind of like an office pool...
Maybe this is a great tool for people who are having a hard time going to the gym. But I have He-who-trains for that. If I wasn't showing up, the barrage of ugly texts and calls I'd get would be phenomenal. But I figure if I'm going to be there anyway, I might as well make a little dough in the process. Hey-- it could fund some new (smaller) workout wear!
Monday, February 25, 2013
This One Goes Out to the One I Love
DH started a new job-- and we've had a lot of conversations about how that would affect his ability to work out and keep rocking the lifestyle. He's got a thirty minute commute each way, and his hours are going to make it hard train with either me or He-who-trains. Nevermind that its a radio gig, and that's not known for being the healthiest profession around. I'll be honest, I've been worried about how this would go.
But last night, I saw him taking ownership. He didn't get back into town until 7ish--and by time we ate and talked it was 8:30. We are admittedly different people, but I'll be honest. I turn into a pumpkin early, and working out definitely would have been nowhere on my radar then. I would've scrapped it and vowed to do better the next day, recognizing that some days are like that. I was very careful not to sabbotage him and beg him to curl up on the couch with me. But he said something that both made me very proud and opened my eyes to how serious he is about this. He said, "What I do tonight will set the pattern for what I do every other night. If I don't tonight, I'll find reasons not to other nights." So he was downstairs working out-- and from the sounds of it, was getting a pretty decent workout.
It's good for us to do this together--not only so one doesn't sabbotage the other-- but so we can be inspired by each other. I'm inspired by his commitment--and maybe the next time I have a choice like that, maybe I'll remember his hard work.
Speaking of which, we have a date with the gym. We, the preacher's wife (DH) and I, have a funeral this afternoon-- so we have planned our day so that we could workout this morning. I guess everyday you get to choose. You have the opportunity to remind yourself what it is that you really want.
To be healthy, to have bodies that we are comfortable in-- this is what we want. It's worth it. And it is definitely easier together.
But last night, I saw him taking ownership. He didn't get back into town until 7ish--and by time we ate and talked it was 8:30. We are admittedly different people, but I'll be honest. I turn into a pumpkin early, and working out definitely would have been nowhere on my radar then. I would've scrapped it and vowed to do better the next day, recognizing that some days are like that. I was very careful not to sabbotage him and beg him to curl up on the couch with me. But he said something that both made me very proud and opened my eyes to how serious he is about this. He said, "What I do tonight will set the pattern for what I do every other night. If I don't tonight, I'll find reasons not to other nights." So he was downstairs working out-- and from the sounds of it, was getting a pretty decent workout.
It's good for us to do this together--not only so one doesn't sabbotage the other-- but so we can be inspired by each other. I'm inspired by his commitment--and maybe the next time I have a choice like that, maybe I'll remember his hard work.
Speaking of which, we have a date with the gym. We, the preacher's wife (DH) and I, have a funeral this afternoon-- so we have planned our day so that we could workout this morning. I guess everyday you get to choose. You have the opportunity to remind yourself what it is that you really want.
To be healthy, to have bodies that we are comfortable in-- this is what we want. It's worth it. And it is definitely easier together.
Monday, February 18, 2013
Through someone else's eyes...
I've hit another slump-- where I'm stuck. If the scale moves at all, it seems to go up. I got sick during my last workout. My knee started hollering again. And I'm getting frustrated. I know I'm still doing good things, and that my body is changing, but that doesn't keep me from lamenting my rate of progress.
Which is, I guess, one of the reasons I love the community at the gym. (And in that regard, the gym is definitely superior to running.) Since I usually workout about the same time every day, I usually see the same people. In addition to the playing around we all do, they are quick to point out how they see me making progress. But one young guy who I haven't seen much lately caught me off guard the last two days. The other day, he made a comment about me changing in all sorts of ways-- and I smiled, assuming he was talking about my shorter hair cut. But yesterday, I crossed paths with him and he said, "You're really working hard and it shows. You look great-- you are changing like crazy." I told him I was frustrated by being stuck lately and he said "That's because you can't see the whole picture. I can see it in your shoulders and face and legs."
That's helpful sometimes. Sometimes I've gotten so focused on the day in and day out that I lose sight of what I have accomplished. I tried on a previously unbuttonable suit just before Easter, and I looked like I was playing dress up. And that's not nothing. I keep the suit jacket hanging in the closet, and will pull it back out every now and then-- because the goal is still an awfully long way away. Maybe when I hit bumps, looking back at where at the place from which I've come is the best motivation to propel me forward.
I'm grateful for the people who go out of their way to say something, because sometimes it's just the thing I need to hear.
Which is, I guess, one of the reasons I love the community at the gym. (And in that regard, the gym is definitely superior to running.) Since I usually workout about the same time every day, I usually see the same people. In addition to the playing around we all do, they are quick to point out how they see me making progress. But one young guy who I haven't seen much lately caught me off guard the last two days. The other day, he made a comment about me changing in all sorts of ways-- and I smiled, assuming he was talking about my shorter hair cut. But yesterday, I crossed paths with him and he said, "You're really working hard and it shows. You look great-- you are changing like crazy." I told him I was frustrated by being stuck lately and he said "That's because you can't see the whole picture. I can see it in your shoulders and face and legs."
That's helpful sometimes. Sometimes I've gotten so focused on the day in and day out that I lose sight of what I have accomplished. I tried on a previously unbuttonable suit just before Easter, and I looked like I was playing dress up. And that's not nothing. I keep the suit jacket hanging in the closet, and will pull it back out every now and then-- because the goal is still an awfully long way away. Maybe when I hit bumps, looking back at where at the place from which I've come is the best motivation to propel me forward.
I'm grateful for the people who go out of their way to say something, because sometimes it's just the thing I need to hear.
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