Exercising

Well, I'm still not quilting, but life does go on. I'm not knitting right now either. I'm pretty much doing nothing. However, I did decide to exercise!

Okay, remember my post about being athletic and being blown away by that thought? Well, I came up with my very own exercise program, compliments of FlyLady. If you read that post, you'll see what I mean. To make it easier though, I'll just plug it in here again. I went out and bought the Dance Dance Revolution Supernova 2 system for our PS2. It's great! Today, I set it back on the beginner stage, but jumped it up to "basic" to make it more difficult. Oh, my gosh! I did about 2 or 3 "contests" and cleared 3 stages in each of them. When you're doing more steps with really high tempo songs, you can really get moving! I was almost sweating. You might find that amusing, but it's true. I'm one of those who doesn't sweat, I perspire. Doesn't that sound cheesy? *grin* It's true though. I can feel it, but it doesn't drip. I'm okay with that. LOL

Yesterday, I also bought a new pair of tennis shoes (they're actually running shoes), a jump rope, and this interesting dance tone video. It's 5 lessons with each lesson only being 10 minutes long. Each lesson focuses on a different part of the body to tone. Last night, I did both the upper body and the lower body exercises. Mainly because it didn't require me to do much dancing since my kids were in bed. It was a lot of fun. I've also been keeping up with my 6-Minute core strengthening program.

I can't even begin to tell you how much better I feel now. It's only been about a week since I started doing all of this and I can tell a difference already. Keep in mind that I didn't have to lose any weight first. My goal is to just tone up what I already have and then get a move on towards running, playing tennis, more swimming, etc. I just want to get into shape. To begin with, I'm eating 3 meals a day with sometimes a snack in there as well. Sometimes more than one snack. This is amazing for me because I've been eating only 1 meal a day for years! The next interesting thing is that I don't like junk food anymore. I know, really weird, huh? I was the junk food queen for ages. However, the other night, I just made frozen pizza for dinner. Really healthy, right? hahaha Anyway, after I got done eating it, I thought to myself, "Oh, why did I just eat all that grease?" It didn't taste as good and I hated putting that in my body. Even tonight, when I went looking for something to snack on, I passed up everything else and grabbed my dried cherries. Those are really yummy. *smile* I'm also drinking a lot more water. That's another amazing thing as I'll do almost anything to avoid drinking water. Now, I really like it.

Another big thing happened earlier today. We went to join our friends at the park and I put my 2 youngest sons' bikes into the car to take with us. Normally, I always think that those bikes are pretty heavy for their size. Today, I was very happy to notice that I didn't think they were heavy at all and I could lift them without any problems. Only 1 week in, but I already notice a difference. I'm so happy about that. I like seeing progress so quickly. *smile*

One minor problem this evening though... I've pushed myself a wee bit far the past 2 days and I'm really starting to feel it in my thighs. I don't know if I should just ignore it and work through it or give my legs a night off. I did do a lot of cardio with that dancing earlier. I could hold off and do my core muscle work tomorrow and start alternating them. That might be the best idea. *smile*

Well, I'm off to go and be lazy. *smile* I hope everyone has a marvelous evening.

FlyLady Rambling

Okay, most of us have heard of FlyLady over the years. I've tried her program many times and have usually dropped it by the end of the first month. Beats me why. I'm silly like that. I did drop my routines yesterday, but I had a very good reason to. My darling husband was put back on an airplane and sent back to his base for another 2.5 months. I figured that gave me perfect reason to just sit and be sad yesterday and ignore everything. I have discovered over time that if I can just let the sadness of him leaving wash over me for as long as it needs to, then it's actually less painful. This is the 4th time I've had to say "good bye" to him for long periods of time. I'm slowly learning what makes it easier for me.

Now, I got up this morning, still not quite on track, but more than willing to get back into my routines and get a move on. I'll get started in a few minutes. *smile*

May, for FlyLady, is about exercise and just how to get up and get moving. You know, something we definitely don't do while sitting in front of the computer. *smile* Rules: There really aren't any. Just set a timer for 15 minutes and MOVE! Oh, there is one small rule... Do what you enjoy. What did you used to do as a kid? Personally? I used to swim any chance I got or I'd go on hikes. I have 3 children now and only 1 knows how to swim. Okay, swimming is out until I have backup. *smile* Hiking? Well, we live a long ways away from the mountains now. When I was a kid, our home was backed up to BLM land in Grand Junction. I'd just slip through the storm culvert and go hiking. As I got older, what did I prefer doing? DANCING!! I still love to dance. So, there was a light bulb moment in one of the FlyLady emails. One lady had splurged and bought the new WiiFit. Right then. One problem for us, we don't like those game systems and definitely won't buy the new Wii just for one game. I won't go into my issues with them. However, awhile back, a neighbor had given us his old PS2 for free when he bought himself a new XBox. Okay, that's cool. Until now, it's been in my closet because all the kids would do was fight over it and ignore their chores. Remember what I said about dancing? *grin* I went and bought the Dance Dance Revolution Supernova 2. It is so much fun!! I actually have to limit my time on it so I don't get hurt. LOL They even have a workout mode so you can time how long you dance, approx. how many calories you've burned, and how far you've "danced." So far, I've danced 1.1 miles. LOL Guess how I'll go get my exercise in again today?

Oddly enough, that game has been a lifesaver the past 2 days. Not only am I really starting to get into shape, but it rained here the past 2 days. I just let the kids play with it, responsibly, for awhile and let them dance their energy out. Not only that, but it's great for teaching coordination and balance. Best of all worlds. I'm wondering how long it will be when I walk out from this room before they're begging me to bring it back out. I wonder how long I'll resist them when I want to play it too... LOL

Athletic. Who? Me?!

Okay, once again this has nothing to do with quilting. However, I just feel like talking so I will. It's my blog, right? *smile*

Yesterday, while watching my 3-year old zoom up and down the sidewalks on a regular scooter, I turned and asked my husband, "Where did the boys get all of this athletic ability?" Keep in mind that my husband is the one that played sports all through school. He wrestled for 17 years and coached it for awhile. He looked at me and said, "Honey. I hate to say it, but they got it from you." What? Huh?! ME?! The same girl who avoided sports in school like the plague and refuses to exercise. I'm the one with the athletic ability?!

I've always joked that I had an athletic build. I'm tall and slender and don't have any trouble with weight. (Okay, don't hurt me please.) However, I never put any stock into my body shape. I just figured this was the way God made me and that it was a big joke. Then, I started thinking about my past.

I adore swimming. I didn't learn to swim until I was 8, but I loved it. I was on a swim team by the time I was 10. However, I left the moment the coach said, "She has great potential, but she needs some weight training." The words 'weight training' scared me away.

My step-father used to be a tennis coach. One summer, he spent time with me teaching me how to play tennis. Looking back on it now, I remember that I enjoyed it. I don't remember why he quit coaching me. Maybe it was those 'evil' words again. You know the ones, "weight training." My arm muscles just weren't strong enough. Again, the potential was there and I wouldn't do anything about it.

I've always run well, but I wouldn't develop that 'skill' either. I played with the idea of doing track in high school one year. But I didn't want to take the time to get into shape for it.

Take yesterday as the final example. Two of our boys are in baseball. With DH home, for once I wasn't the one pitching to them so they could practice hitting. After everyone had a turn or two, I stepped in and said, "I want to try hitting the ball." Keep in mind I've never really hit a ball before. I'd never played baseball, though I could catch and throw well (compliments of my brothers teaching me), and only played girls softball for a little while. Though I did have that previous tennis training back when I was about 11 or so. I hit almost every single ball my husband threw at me. It was a lot of fun. My husband was really surprised, actually. I didn't think anything of it. I've always had pretty good hand and eye coordination.

In thinking back on it, especially after DH said the athletic talent comes from me, I have decided that it's finally time to do something about it. God gave me this body and my talent for some reason. I'm severely out of shape and couldn't do anything that I want to right now anyway. As the kids get older, it will be even easier for Mom to take part in some sport or another. I've picked out my 2 favorite sports from when I was young to get in shape for. Tennis and swimming. Swimming is easy to do without knowing anyone. You just need a nice pool. Tennis will be a little more difficult. However, with DH in the Army, we'll eventually get to join him near a base and I'll be able to use their facilities. That will make it a lot easier.

Today, my dog and I decided it was time to start getting into shape. Thanks to my lazy lifestyle, my dog is lazy and overweight too. So I clipped on her leash and we set out for a walk. I know not to overdo it or I'll be in a lot of pain. We didn't go all that far, but I was literally dragging my poor dog for a good chunk of it. She did not appreciate the quick pace I set (it wasn't all that fast, I wasn't even jogging). Poor little thing. She's a Sheltie, or Shetland Sheepdog. She's supposed to be this sleek, fast moving dog. Not my dog! Oh, well. We'll get her back into shape while I'm getting into shape. My husband can run 4 miles in about 30 minutes. I wonder if I'll ever be able to run with him? I think that will be my first goal. *smile*

The Siren Call

Recently, I decided that my children needed a "life skills" class. Since I homeschool, I get full control over what they learn. So, with that, I brought in an e-book on how to teach boys sewing. That's very important as projects that would keep a boy's attention are completely different from a girl's. With that, we started working on it. My oldest is the one I started on first, of course. He's 9 and I consider him responsible enough to handle a 'dangerous' machine and an iron. How lucky for me that I have 3 sewing machines. *grin* I pulled out one I bought ages ago (okay, about 2 or 3) and had never really used, for the boys. It is currently sitting on the kitchen table looking cute and blue. LOL

My son started out learning how to really control the machine. Learning smooth starts and stops and how to sew at the right speed. We then threaded it and he practiced sewing straight lines that were printed on a piece of paper. His first project is to be a pillowcase. However, he's just not interested enough to go to Joann's for the fabric. *sigh* Figures. So who knows when he'll actually get it done. If he ever does, I'll post a picture.

Now, my two younger boys are interested in the machine. I walked my youngest (he's 3) through how to use the pedal. We kept his hands clear of the moving parts and I let him push the pedal and watch what the machine does. I then put him in my lap while I controlled the pedal so he could see how the machine responds to different pressure on the pedal. By the time we called it quits, he was getting the machine to go at a good pace for a child to sew with. I know it's a speed I'd be comfortable working with. I was proud of him. *smile* In a few days, I'll let the two younger boys work on making straight lines with the machine threaded. I might draw the lines on fabric for them though. This should be interesting to see what happens. My middle son was fascinated because he put a napkin in the machine (it was new) and got to see how it fed things across the feed dogs. He was so excited to show me that the machine would move something without his hands on it. Again, we'll continue the lessons in a few days.

Okay, you may be asking, "Why in a few days? There's an entire weekend ahead of you." Well, it's because Daddy is coming home tomorrow. *happy dance* While Daddy is here, there won't be much interest in sewing, I'm sure.

However, there's now this cute little blue sewing machine perched on the kitchen table. I used it before the boys started to make sure the needle was okay and everything was working right. To do that, I grabbed two strips and a foundation square and started a string block. I now have my drawer of strings sitting out with that started block in it. It's calling to me... It's saying, "There's that little machine there that works great. It wouldn't take much to set up the little ironing board and get out an iron. Why don't you go sew?" Mean little thing. LOL I just want to sit and relax this evening. I wonder how long I can resist that call. So far, I've managed to avoid it for 2 days. I don't know why I'm fighting it so much. I mean, I'm a quilter by golly! I haven't quilted or sewn anything "for real" on a machine in some time now. I guess I don't want to get "trapped" right before my husband comes home. When I hit a full blown quilting stride, I don't want anything to get in the way. My husband will be #1 this entire weekend so I think I'll avoid the call of the sewing machine. I think tonight is the night to be lazy and just read. *smile*

With that, I think it's time to minimize the call of the machine. I'm going to go put my string block drawer back where it belongs. The cover is already on the machine. I think I'll have to store it somewhere while DH is home anyway. We're going to need the entire table for a few days. That's a novel idea. LOL We've only needed 4 seats for months now. It will be lovely having everyone home for awhile though.

I hope and pray that everyone has a terrific Memorial Day weekend. Ours is looking to be pretty terrific. *smile*

Still Knitting

Well, I'm still happily knitting away. Awhile back, I mentioned that I don't mind knitting for money and that I was working on dish cloth and dish towel sets for a craft fair later this year. I finally settled on a vertical garter stitch for my dish towels. Unfortunately, the yarn I'm using for the dish towels doesn't make a long enough dish towel, IMO. The balls just aren't large enough. So after finishing my first one, it started bothering me how short it was. It measures about 9-10" before the decreases for the towel top. (The towels are meant to loop around something and are to button closed.) Anyway, I finished up another dish cloth and then went on a hunt for a simple lace border. Just something I could knit up in a coordinating yarn, to add to the bottom of the dish towel. I found the perfect little pattern. For some reason, just adding a little bit of lace that's only about an 1" or so wide is all it took to add the finishing touch. It's not what I'd consider 'true' lace as I'm knitting it with the same type of yarn and the same sized needles as I did the dish towel. I think of it more as a primitive or country lace. I just wanted it to look right on the dish towel. Now, when I have that lace knitted, I hope I can figure out how to put it on to the towel. *grin*

Well, I guess I'll meander off now. When I finally get it all finished, I'll take a picture to share. Right now, I'm getting worn out and we haven't even had our busy day this week yet. Saturday is going to be hard. I'll make it though! I know I will. *grin*