I joined a gym last Monday. Worked out Tuesday, Wednesday, missed Thursday and Friday because of the aforementioned sickness, then picked it back up Saturday, Sunday and today. Right now I’m doing cardio training for about 30-40 minutes, burning about 300-500 calories, on the elliptical and treadmill. If I really push myself, I can burn 400 calories on the elliptical in a half hour, then 100 calories running uphill on the treadmill for 10 minutes. So far I’ve only done that twice. Because I’m ridiculously out of shape. I can’t say I’m that surprised, I haven’t worked out since I was about 4 months pregnant with Claire, and that was late summer 2009. I’m having to remind myself of this every time I’m at the gym and all I can think is, “I’m going to work out for two hours and burn two thousand calories then do 50 reps of 100 with 100 pounds on all of these machines then I’m going to hit those free weights.” Stop being crazy!
I’m older, I’ve had two kids, and I’m in the worst shape of my life. I didn’t get to this point overnight, so trying to push myself to get back to my pre-baby body overnight is just silly. So slow I go. 300-500 calories a work out, work out every day, plus some light strength training that I’m actually going to kick up once I can arrange a time with the trainer provided by the gym.
To celebrate signing up for a gym, and to have encouragement to go, I bought myself a new pair of shoes.
I got a pair of Asics Rush33 in Bright Orange/Fuschia/White. Claire was nice enough to model them so I could take a picture. She seems to like them as much as me. She’s always pulling them off the shoe rack by the front door and clomping around the house in them. I picked them out because they were an affordable pair of low mileage running shoes and also because they’re ridiculously cool looking. The picture on Asics’ site doesn’t do them justice, they’re much more fluorescent, like in my picture above.
Also, if you’re wondering about the title, I like to tell people I’m “pumping iron” when I work out. One, it sounds slightly pornographic, and two, it sounds even more so when I do it in my Schwarzenegger voice. Second also, I’m disturbingly proud I spelled Schwarzenegger correctly on my first attempt.
Life
Amanda tagged!
- For an explanation of the blog title, please see the last question!
- Put your iTunes, Windows Media Player, etc. on shuffle.
- For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
- Write that song name no matter how weird it sounds. (NO CHEATING!)
- Tag some other people and force them to do the same thing ♥
IF SOMEONE SAYS ‘ARE YOU OKAY’ YOU SAY?
Beautiful Day – U2
WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY?
The Reason – Hoobastank
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF?
Santeria – Sublime
WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?
All My Life – Foo Fighters
HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?
Holiday – Green Day
WHAT IS YOUR LIFE’S PURPOSE?
Hurt – Johnny Cash
WHAT’S YOUR MOTTO?
I Believe in a Thing Called Love – The Darkness
WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
Beverly Hills – Weezer
WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
Flavor of the Weak – American Hi-Fi
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
The Kill – 30 Seconds to Mars
WHAT IS 2+2?
Downfall – TRUSTcompany
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Pinch Me – Barenaked Ladies
WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
Dream On – Aerosmith
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
Inside Out – EVE 6
WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Hey Jealousy – Gin Blossoms
WHAT WILL YOU DO AT YOUR WEDDING?
Feel Good Inc. – Gorillaz
WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
The Good Life – Three Days Grace
WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
Daughter – Pearl Jam
WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST FEAR?
Backstabber – Ke$ha
WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
I’m in the Mood for Love – Julie London
WHAT DO YOU WANT RIGHT NOW?
Are You Gonna Be My Girl – Jet
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
Baby Love – Diana Ross and The Supremes
WHAT’S THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN?
Fall Down – Toad The Wet Sprocket
WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU REGRET?
Don’t Cry – Guns N’ Roses
WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH?
So Far Away – Staind
WHAT MAKES YOU CRY?
Bad Romance – Lady Gaga
WILL YOU EVER GET MARRIED?
Lips of an Angel – Hinder
WHAT SCARES YOU THE MOST?
Aeroplane – Red Hot Chili Peppers
DOES ANYONE LIKE YOU?
I Hung My Head – Johnny Cash
IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE?
Fallin’ – Alicia Keys
WHAT HURTS RIGHT NOW?
Janie’s Got a Gun – Aerosmith
WHAT WOULD YOU WANT TO SAY TO THE PERSON WHO TAGGED YOU?
Dog’s Eye View – Speed of Silence
WHAT WILL YOU NAME THIS NOTE?
Last Kiss – Pearl Jam
Well some of it is completely nonsensical, some of it is interesting, and some of it is rather disturbing. I promise my purpose in life is not to hurt and I don’t think about killing all the time. iTunes just seems to thinks I’m a serial killer.
I’m going to tag Emmy, because I’m pretty sure she’ll just have a bunch of Disney songs. And Caity because I have no idea about her music taste and I’d like to see some. Also Lisa because she’s ridiculously pregnant and I think this might make her life harder, so there you go.
Meme
I’ve seen quinoa in the grocery store and in a few recipes here and there, but I never paid it much mind. On our most recent grocery excursion I picked up a box of it on a whim, figuring it would give us a break from wild rice or whole grain pastas. When I got home I decided to google it to find out how to pronounce it. Not only did I learn it’s pronounced “keen-WAH” (I was saying “kin-NO-ah”) and that it’s a “psuedocereal” from South America, but also that it’s like a millions time better for you than most other whole grains.
Did you know most whole grains are not complete proteins? That’s because they’re deficient in an amino acid called lysine, one of the essential amino acids your body needs to build proteins. Quinoa, which is not a grain, it’s the seed of the goosefoot plant and is related to spinach, has plenty of lysine. In one cooked cup it has 8 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber, as well as low sodium and valuable vitamins and minerals. It packs a pretty healthy punch, all while filling you up and keeping you filled up. No insulin spikes with this little wannabe grain.
We’ve been eating plenty of quinoa around here lately, and the kids love it. We had it for dinner tonight in one of my typical lazy-but-looks-like-I-made-an-effort meals.
I love, love, love Seeds of Change. And I really love their Indian simmer sauces. We’ve had the Tikka Masala with chicken a few times, and tonight I made the Korma with chicken. I served it with some quinoa – which I made in the microwave while cooking the chicken, because it’s healthy and convenient – and some store bought naan.
It was super tasty. Next time I’m going to make shrimp korma. And tomorrow night I’m making stuffed peppers with quinoa, my new favorite psuedocereal.
Life
Claire and Logan have a cold. Andrew is also starting to feel sick. He went to sleep almost as soon as he got home last night. He’s feeling better today, took his bow to the range and is now at Dick’s looking for some accessory or another. The kids and I are bumming it on the couch. I’m using my phone to post this because I’m literally too lazy to get up and walk two feet to the nearest laptop. I know why I’m so tired, I can feel the heaviness in my lungs, these germ sponges are getting me sick again. I want to go work out today, I didn’t get to last night with Andrew feeling sick and I know once I’m sick I won’t be able to. But I’m tired. I just want to sit here and watch Dragon Tales until the kids fall asleep. Then I’ll play some Dead Space on the PS3 while Andrew fiddles with his bow or plays WoW. Such an exciting Friday night, I know.
Now if you’ll excuse me, there’s two loads of clean laundry sitting on my bed that I need to get back to ignoring.
PS – I bought my aunt Skyrim today as an early Christmas present (everyone gets early presents around here, it seems) but I won’t have time to play it for some time, so if it sucks just don’t tell me yet. Let me have a little bit of hope for now.
