Boot Camp Kick Off

It is humbling to see just how far out of shape I have allowed myself to become. Today was the first day of boot camp. I woke up at 4 a.m. (too early) and left the house around 4:15 a.m. to get there on time (I think I'll try leaving at 4:30 a.m. on Wednesday). Eager beaver that I was, I got there before EVERYONE, even Dr. Drill so I sat in my car in the dark and pretended I was on a stake out, watching a delivery truck pull into the shopping mall in front of me, a couple of early morning joggers, and the gradual increase in traffic as people started their morning commutes.

When I saw Dr. Drill pull into the parking lot, I followed him into the building. I felt like such a brown noser. Oh well. I helped bring a bag in and set stuff up. Bonus was, I didn't have to wait in line to get my blood pressure taken!

Today was an "administrative day" so we didn't work out as hard as I thought we were going to. A gradual ease-in is good for my nerves I suppose. We are using this week to take base line measurements on our size and capabilities so this morning we did crunches, squats and push ups to see how many we could do in two minute increments. All in all I did 100 crunches, 25 girly-push-ups on my knees, and 73 squats. On Wednesday, we'll be running around a track, so that should be fun :). Ooorah!

My friend Jynell is my squad leader. She has really been showing me the ropes, much to my relief and delight. She's a powerhouse, no-holds-barred, tough cookie. I hope I do her proud! She lent me her old, fingerless, work out gloves this morning because I neglected to purchase a pair. Thanks girl! I hope they bring me good juju :) (Jynell lost 30 lbs. doing weight watchers and Drill's boot camp. This is her 3rd or 4th session. She's my boot camp hero. Go girl!

I'm really enjoying all the repetitive echoing we do of our drill instructor and the counting etc. We do it as a team and I'm finding I really enjoy the enthusiasm and energy it creates. Dr. Drill talks about discipline and setting goals for ourselves and he talks about how we will be monitored. He also talks about the changes in our bodies we can expect to see in 10 weeks and the inches we will lose. It's pretty exciting. He expects us to give 110% when we're there and THAT is good to hear. I like to be encouraged and pushed that way. And I love being around disciplined people! I'm even hoping that some of my friends will want to join if they admire the results and changes in my life.

Mood: positive, expectant, good

Things I'm learning about myself: There is ALWAYS room for growth. I lack spiritual, emotional and physical discipline. I am working on these areas of my life.

I will commit to: counting points with my Weight Watchers guide book, and writing down what I put into my body (both food and drink). Successfully completing boot camp. Going to Sunday School and Bible Study (when it starts), spending time in prayer each day with God and reading from my Bible. I need to journal/blog as often as possible about my experiences so that I don't forget the journey, when I reach the destination. I will work to be cognisant of my emotions and how my behavior influences others.

People I met in boot camp: Dr. Drill, Beth, Kim (co-leaders with Drill), Jynell my squad leader, Raquel (the girl who is next to me on my left), Andy the man who helped me set up the exercise mats this morning (a duty I gladly did because I was way early today).

Current weight: 193 lbs
Height: 5'10''
Goal weight: I'm not sure what's healthy for my height and frame, but I'll say 160 lbs. with muscle.

I weighed 167 lbs when I got married. I would love to be a size 8-10. Right now I'm a 14. Diggidy Dang. Time to get disciplined. Oohrah!

One of the things Dr. Drill has us do is care for and maintain our amo box. It's a munitions box that we are supposed to personalize and bring with us to class each day. Jeff took me to WalMart this weekend to get some stuff to decorate it with and I thought I already knew what I wanted to do when I got there, and then I didn't so we went home without any decorations.

This whole boot camp experience is opening up windows in my life for me and causing me to be "introspective" as Jeff put it so eloquently. Our amo boxes are to be a "reflection of [us]". What am I all about? What is a good reflection of who I am inside? (What would Mulan say? WWMS)

As an adult, I am learning about my own lack of knowledge in spiritual things, lack of discipline in my eating habits and exercise habits, and my inability to be decisive and take charge of my own destiny. That part has changed since I started school, and began this boot camp program. I am hoping that through the discipline of this boot camp, I will become disciplined in my own life.

Just because I was up three hours earlier than I normally am, I had more time to myself, I played with my cat, and didn't feel as rushed as I typically do in the morning getting out of bed late and then throwing myself together to get to work on time. I had to prepare the night before for boot camp, check my gear, lay out my clothes etc. It felt good to do something like this for myself, for ME! Oh my word! How fabulous! Here's looking forward to what the next 10 weeks may bring!

My Poor Posture

I recently, or semi-recently wrote about comments someone made to ME about my lack of good posture. (This person even asked if I had a history of Scoliosis (spelling?). No, I just huntch. Dang.

I admit my head rests in front of my rounded shoulders and that I have TERRIBLE posture. I slouch all day at work in my office chair, and I don't work out. Hence, I have no muscles developed to help support even moderately good posture.

Like the middle aged man who sucks in his protruding beer belly when the pretty girl walks by, I straighten to impress, and only to impress. I'll admit, it does look better when I sit up straight. Posture is an asset. Everything you have on your body looks better when you can show it/them off by sitting up straight! When a person sits up straight it says positive things about him or her.

A person with excellent posture looks like they have it together. They appear self-confident, ready and in possession of self-control. Slouchers like me just look lazy and like they don't care if someone gives them a papercut and pours lemon juice on it.

Check out this article I found on posture: http://www.nashvillescene.com/Stories/Columns/2005/04/07/Making_a_stand_for_good_posture/index.shtml

It rocks!

Flat Stanley Has an Itinerary

Thank you to those of you who volunteered to host Stanley. He will be on his way shortly to visit his first host family!

I thank you from the bottom of my heart! :)

Flat Stanley

Oh my word! I have a fun assignment for one of my classes this semester. Has anyone ever heard of Flat Stanley? It's a classroom pen pal program designed to teach kids about geography, climate and the environment.

I'm looking for a couple of people to mail my Stanley to. Over the next few weeks I'll need to pass him around via the US mail to people who will volunteer to write in Stanley's journal from his perspective about his adventures, the geography, the climate etc. I'll need participants to write three journal entries each for Stanley as you take him places and take pictures of him at different places as he goes on adventures with you. In his journal you include details about his travels and paste your pictures into the journal in designated places.

Ideally, Stanley will be adopted by some teacher friends who will introduce him to your students, however, he can go to friends too! My sister has volunteered to be one person. Any takers to be the second person?

You just need to write in his journal and take some pictures and send him on his way. It's a committment to write three journal entries, take some pictures and you can include post cards if you like. Anything that will fit nicely in the envelope. The first person will get Stanley from me and then send him on in a pre-paid, self-addressed, stamped envelope to my next friend, who will then send him back to me along with his journal.

Let me know if you have experience with Flat Stanley or if you would like him to visit you!

Thanks!

The Dawn of a New Season

It's the beginning of September and I just LOVE the fall. I've already seen my first wagonfull of pumpkins, can you believe it?! I just want to go find some leaves and rake them into a gigantic pile and jump in them and roll around! I also feel this tremendous urge to bake something...and eat chilli. Go figure!

The kiddies are back to school Sept. 4th, and that means making adjustments for school bus traffic in my morning commute. Mental note to self...must leave 10 minutes early for work from now on. So let's think positively! What do I have to look forward to this fall...

Two new classes at Eastern on Wed. nights...
Daylight savings time (lose an hour of sleep, argh....)
Fall festivals galore on the weekends... (WooHoo!)
A reunion with friends from back home at the end of September (friends I haven't seen together in years!)
Homecoming at Houghton in October (if we go)
Thanksgiving with friends (sometime this fall hopefully)
My niece's 2nd birthday celebration
Jeff's 31st birthday (Oct. 22nd for those who want to wish him a Happy Birthday)
and Bootcamp starts on Sept. 10th and I am excited. (Oohrah!)
Thanksgiving at Uncle Tom and Aunt Jenny's (dad, say you're coming!)

Anyone want to invite me over for a bondfire?
What is the fall bringing into your lives?