I was out and about today after having lunch with my friend Andria (or Andira... hi!), and while wasting time before visiting my mom at her office, I decided to visit the local Family Christian Store. Why? Well, FCS was my first job, and one that I was at for several years.
As I walked in today, it was very, very different. When I worked there, there was life in the store. There was an air of excitement when you walked in, and also a sense of ownership with each employee. We took care of the store and made sure that everyone that came in had the best experience possible. Granted, we didn't always succeed, but we sure did try. But today, it was pretty dead. I think part of it is the way the store is laid out now and the marketing tools they are using. When I worked in the music department of the store, I took pride in knowing about the artists and the various styles of music. If someone came in with a question like, "My son likes Emenim, but I want him listening to Christian music. What would you recommend?", I was happy to assist them. Usually, I knew who to recommend. (My picks? T-Bone & KJ-52.) I loved being able to help people out and put music in their hands that they enjoyed. I especially enjoyed helping the parents as they looked for alternative music for their kids. Today, while I was visiting the store, a mom came in with a question like that for one of the workers. After listening to the clerk's recommendations, I slighly scooted over to the hard rock section, held up an Underoath CD and said, "I think your son might like this." And was I right? yup. :)
I secretly miss that. I don't know if I'd ever work retail again, but working at FCS was a joy of mine. I learned a lot there about people, and also how much crap there is in the Christian marketplace today. :) I guess it is just sad to see something you loved so much fall by the wayside. But at least they are still there...pressing on.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Personal Trainer: Part 1
It dawned on me the other day that one session with my personal trainer costs $20 more than just one MONTH of my gym membership. How does that work??
I met with my PT, Garrett, on the Monday before Christmas. We worked through the plan that Stephanie (hi!!) wrote out for me, which he made a couple of tweaks too. The tweaks being the number of sets he wants me doing, amount of weight to use, etc. Needless to say, it kicked my butt, and my thighs hurt for 2 days. But that's a good thing I guess. We were going to meet on Christmas Eve, but I had a last minute schedule change, so we have rescheduled for next Monday.
I really like the idea of having a personal trainer, but it is an expense that I can't really afford on a regular basis. I read a quote from the guy trainer on the Biggest Loser that a big trend this coming year will be people taking more group classes due to the affordability vs. personal training. I can totally see that. I haven't taken a group class yet, but I think I'm going to try one out when we get back next week. Of course, this coming few weeks are probably going to be NUTS with all the people joining gyms with their New Year's resolutions.
I need to whip myself into shape b/c the cruise is a month away!!
I met with my PT, Garrett, on the Monday before Christmas. We worked through the plan that Stephanie (hi!!) wrote out for me, which he made a couple of tweaks too. The tweaks being the number of sets he wants me doing, amount of weight to use, etc. Needless to say, it kicked my butt, and my thighs hurt for 2 days. But that's a good thing I guess. We were going to meet on Christmas Eve, but I had a last minute schedule change, so we have rescheduled for next Monday.
I really like the idea of having a personal trainer, but it is an expense that I can't really afford on a regular basis. I read a quote from the guy trainer on the Biggest Loser that a big trend this coming year will be people taking more group classes due to the affordability vs. personal training. I can totally see that. I haven't taken a group class yet, but I think I'm going to try one out when we get back next week. Of course, this coming few weeks are probably going to be NUTS with all the people joining gyms with their New Year's resolutions.
I need to whip myself into shape b/c the cruise is a month away!!
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Me and the Gym
Well, as I chronicled on here, I joined the gym on December 1. Since then, I've worked out about 4 times/week, except this past week b/c I was sick. I've really enjoyed working out! It has been a great stress reliever, and I just feel better all around. Since not being able to work out this week, I've noticed a HUGE difference in how I feel, eating habits, sleeping habits, etc.
One of my college buddies (Hi Steph!) has been kind enough to write me an exercise plan out. I'm meeting with a personal trainer, Garrett, tomorrow morning & Wednesday morning to go over the plan, and for him to show me how to use the weight machines. He's also going to give me a few tips on working out on the road when I don't have access to the machines. I did NOT join the YMCA, so I don't have access to several gyms when I'm on the road. But really? Why would I do that? Half the time, I would be at a hotel that has a fitness room or at someone's house that has stuff I could use. Just saying...
My parents bought a Wii b/c my mom wanted Wii Fit, so while we're at their house for Christmas/New Year's, I'm going to try that out. I'll let you know how that turns out. :)
So, I guess I'm going to blog more regularly about my fitness journey. Several people have expressed interest in following me on this journey and cheering me on, and I'll definitely need as much encouragement as I can get!! (As if the monthly gym fee wasn't enough encouragement to be at the gym!! ha!)
So...here goes nothing! :)
One of my college buddies (Hi Steph!) has been kind enough to write me an exercise plan out. I'm meeting with a personal trainer, Garrett, tomorrow morning & Wednesday morning to go over the plan, and for him to show me how to use the weight machines. He's also going to give me a few tips on working out on the road when I don't have access to the machines. I did NOT join the YMCA, so I don't have access to several gyms when I'm on the road. But really? Why would I do that? Half the time, I would be at a hotel that has a fitness room or at someone's house that has stuff I could use. Just saying...
My parents bought a Wii b/c my mom wanted Wii Fit, so while we're at their house for Christmas/New Year's, I'm going to try that out. I'll let you know how that turns out. :)
So, I guess I'm going to blog more regularly about my fitness journey. Several people have expressed interest in following me on this journey and cheering me on, and I'll definitely need as much encouragement as I can get!! (As if the monthly gym fee wasn't enough encouragement to be at the gym!! ha!)
So...here goes nothing! :)
Thursday, December 18, 2008
I should be relaxing...
Well, since I've been sick for the past couple days, I have not made it to the gym. I know...I know. And what's weird, is that I can tell a difference in my eating habits on these days that I haven't gone. So, yeah, once my energy level is back up, I will totally be hitting the gym. But until then, I will be at home and watching movies.
Which brings me to this month's post about movies I've seen recently:
AUSTRALIA
Well, I had actually wanted to see this purely for the fact that Hugh Jackman is in it. But when I heard it was 3 hours, I was like, "Umm...I'll wait." This past weekend I was visiting my g'ma in East TN, and she said, "Do you want to go see 'Australia'? So, of course I said yes b/c that meant I didn't have to pay for it. :)
Overall, it was a good movie. There were times however when I felt that I was watching the same movie directed by 2 different directors. And the scene where Hugh Jackman dumps a bucket of water on himself should've been sexy, but it came across as cheesy. But maybe that was just me. :)
So, my opinion? Wait for the DVD release.
MAMA MIA!
Okay, so when I saw this in the theater, this mom and her mom(in-law) brought the grandkids all under the age of 6. These kids don't need to be at a PG-13 movie. Common sense people!! Anyway...I had never seen the musical, so I really didn't know what to expect. But I really did like the movie! However, I did rent it last night, and liked it a LOT better the 2nd time around. Probably b/c I was more familiar with the plot line at this point, so I wasn't like, "What in the world?" Definitely one to see. And the folks in the UK LOVE this film.
THE FORBIDDEN KINGDOM
Jet-Li & Jackie Chan. Cute, funny, campy...twist at end. Worth the rent if you just want mindless entertainment one evening.
WALL STREET
I was definitely curious about this film b/c of all the "Gordon Gecko" references that were being made with the econonmy. Quite frankly, it was hard to follow. I had to keep asking Kyle what was going on. So...eh...once was enough.
THE GOOD SHEPHEARD
Heartbreaking. Absolutely heartbreaking. Matt Damon gives an incredible performance of a very tortured soul...a man who never made his own decisions in life. The film was a bit long, but probably worth seeing at least once.
ONCE UPON A MATTRESS
I had high hopes for this one since I knew Sarah Jessica Parker had been in the Broadway production. This time, her character was played by Tracey Ullman, the Queen by Carol Burnett, and Lady Larkin by Zooey Deschanel. I was very disappointed. I fast forwarded through most of it just to get to the ending. So, for me, it's a definite pass.
KUNG FU PANDA
Jack Black voices the lead, "Po", a panda whose "father" is a goose/duck that owns a noodle restaurant. There were some funny parts, but it just didn't hold my interest all that well. Definitely good for kids b/c of the animation and jokes. Just not my cup of tea. But it is worth seeing at least once.
NORTHANGER ABBY
I had heard about this adaptation of one of the lesser known Jane Austen novels, so I thought I'd check it out. The story of a young girl who is given the opportunity to be a part of a society she would've never dreamed of lets her imagination get the best of her. It is a good story, but I definitely like how Mirimax/Focus Pictures has been adapting the Jane Austen books. But this Masterpiecet Theater adaptation works well....though somewhat cheesy at times. Very BBCish. But if you are a die hard Jane Austen fan, it is totally worth seeeing.
LEATHERHEADS
George Clooney (le sigh), Renee Zellwegger, & John Krasinski (The Office) were incredible. This movie is TOTALLY worth checking out. It's very funny, and very much in the style of "A League of Their Own". The physical comedy, the one-liners, and more are just delivered awesome. I hate that this movie didn't do better at the box office, but it is really really good. It had me and Kyle laughing a LOT. George Clooney is very much his trademark swave self in this film, but with a quirky charm that adds a lot. GO RENT THIS!!
We honestly haven't watched/rented as many films recently b/c we finally gave in and got DVR. We spend most of our TV time watching programs that we recorded. OH, and if you missed it, totally keep your eyes peeled for the PBS documentary about the Royal Family & Buckingham Palace. I think it's a 5 or 6 part series, and it is totally worth watching. Absolutely fascinating!
So that's it for now! Happy watching!
Which brings me to this month's post about movies I've seen recently:
AUSTRALIA
Well, I had actually wanted to see this purely for the fact that Hugh Jackman is in it. But when I heard it was 3 hours, I was like, "Umm...I'll wait." This past weekend I was visiting my g'ma in East TN, and she said, "Do you want to go see 'Australia'? So, of course I said yes b/c that meant I didn't have to pay for it. :)
Overall, it was a good movie. There were times however when I felt that I was watching the same movie directed by 2 different directors. And the scene where Hugh Jackman dumps a bucket of water on himself should've been sexy, but it came across as cheesy. But maybe that was just me. :)
So, my opinion? Wait for the DVD release.
MAMA MIA!
Okay, so when I saw this in the theater, this mom and her mom(in-law) brought the grandkids all under the age of 6. These kids don't need to be at a PG-13 movie. Common sense people!! Anyway...I had never seen the musical, so I really didn't know what to expect. But I really did like the movie! However, I did rent it last night, and liked it a LOT better the 2nd time around. Probably b/c I was more familiar with the plot line at this point, so I wasn't like, "What in the world?" Definitely one to see. And the folks in the UK LOVE this film.
THE FORBIDDEN KINGDOM
Jet-Li & Jackie Chan. Cute, funny, campy...twist at end. Worth the rent if you just want mindless entertainment one evening.
WALL STREET
I was definitely curious about this film b/c of all the "Gordon Gecko" references that were being made with the econonmy. Quite frankly, it was hard to follow. I had to keep asking Kyle what was going on. So...eh...once was enough.
THE GOOD SHEPHEARD
Heartbreaking. Absolutely heartbreaking. Matt Damon gives an incredible performance of a very tortured soul...a man who never made his own decisions in life. The film was a bit long, but probably worth seeing at least once.
ONCE UPON A MATTRESS
I had high hopes for this one since I knew Sarah Jessica Parker had been in the Broadway production. This time, her character was played by Tracey Ullman, the Queen by Carol Burnett, and Lady Larkin by Zooey Deschanel. I was very disappointed. I fast forwarded through most of it just to get to the ending. So, for me, it's a definite pass.
KUNG FU PANDA
Jack Black voices the lead, "Po", a panda whose "father" is a goose/duck that owns a noodle restaurant. There were some funny parts, but it just didn't hold my interest all that well. Definitely good for kids b/c of the animation and jokes. Just not my cup of tea. But it is worth seeing at least once.
NORTHANGER ABBY
I had heard about this adaptation of one of the lesser known Jane Austen novels, so I thought I'd check it out. The story of a young girl who is given the opportunity to be a part of a society she would've never dreamed of lets her imagination get the best of her. It is a good story, but I definitely like how Mirimax/Focus Pictures has been adapting the Jane Austen books. But this Masterpiecet Theater adaptation works well....though somewhat cheesy at times. Very BBCish. But if you are a die hard Jane Austen fan, it is totally worth seeeing.
LEATHERHEADS
George Clooney (le sigh), Renee Zellwegger, & John Krasinski (The Office) were incredible. This movie is TOTALLY worth checking out. It's very funny, and very much in the style of "A League of Their Own". The physical comedy, the one-liners, and more are just delivered awesome. I hate that this movie didn't do better at the box office, but it is really really good. It had me and Kyle laughing a LOT. George Clooney is very much his trademark swave self in this film, but with a quirky charm that adds a lot. GO RENT THIS!!
We honestly haven't watched/rented as many films recently b/c we finally gave in and got DVR. We spend most of our TV time watching programs that we recorded. OH, and if you missed it, totally keep your eyes peeled for the PBS documentary about the Royal Family & Buckingham Palace. I think it's a 5 or 6 part series, and it is totally worth watching. Absolutely fascinating!
So that's it for now! Happy watching!
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Encouraged
What a Day That Will Be
Words & Music by: Jim Hill
There is coming a day when no heartaches shall come
No more clouds in the sky, no more tears to dim the eye.
All is peace forevermore on that happy golden shore,
What a day, glorious day that will be.
(Chorus)
What a day that will be when my Jesus I shall see,
And I look upon His face,
The One who saved me by His grace;
When He takes me by the hand
And leads me through the Promised Land,
What a day, glorious day that will be.
There'll be no sorrow there, no more burdens to bear,
No more sickness, no pain, no more parting over there;
And forever I will be with the One who died for me,
What a day, glorious day that will be.
(Chorus)
What a day that will be when my Jesus I shall see,
And I look upon His face,
The One who saved me by His grace;
When He takes me by the hand
And leads me through the Promised Land,
What a day, glorious day that will be.
What a day, glorious day that will be!
Words & Music by: Jim Hill
There is coming a day when no heartaches shall come
No more clouds in the sky, no more tears to dim the eye.
All is peace forevermore on that happy golden shore,
What a day, glorious day that will be.
(Chorus)
What a day that will be when my Jesus I shall see,
And I look upon His face,
The One who saved me by His grace;
When He takes me by the hand
And leads me through the Promised Land,
What a day, glorious day that will be.
There'll be no sorrow there, no more burdens to bear,
No more sickness, no pain, no more parting over there;
And forever I will be with the One who died for me,
What a day, glorious day that will be.
(Chorus)
What a day that will be when my Jesus I shall see,
And I look upon His face,
The One who saved me by His grace;
When He takes me by the hand
And leads me through the Promised Land,
What a day, glorious day that will be.
What a day, glorious day that will be!
Saturday, December 6, 2008
The Great Personal Trainer Debate
With joining the gym, you are granted a free meeting and fitness assessment with one of the gym's personal trainers. I ended up meeting with a guy named Garrett, who is a really nice guy. He actually trains one of the guys from Selah, so that was a nice...if somewhat of a longshot...connection. Plus, we have similar backgrounds in that we have struggled with our weight during most of our life, including middle/high school.
Basically, he said that he'd like to meet with me for five (5) sessions to go over weight training with me so that I could incorporate that into my daily/weekly routine with the cardio to burn the maximum amount of fat. We would meet on Monday (1) & Wednesday (2), where he would show me the routine, go through it with me, and help me with all the machines, etc. etc. I would Friday to try it myself. We would then come back together the following Monday (3) & Wednesday (4) to try it again. Then, on Friday, I would try it myself...again. That next Monday (5) would then be the last session I have with him.
The entire time he was talking to me about this, the number one question in my head was, "How much is this going to cost?" Well, it's $325 for the 5 sessions....all due up front. Now, I technically have the money now, but I was hoping to use that on Christmas gifts for our families.
I'm just torn. I want to do this weight-loss thing the right way in the beginning, and not half-way. I want it to stick this time and maximize the outcome. I want and need a routine if this is going to work. I can't really put this off until January or February, it is something I need to do now. I just wish it didn't cost so much, or that there was at least a payment plan option.
Hmmm....
Basically, he said that he'd like to meet with me for five (5) sessions to go over weight training with me so that I could incorporate that into my daily/weekly routine with the cardio to burn the maximum amount of fat. We would meet on Monday (1) & Wednesday (2), where he would show me the routine, go through it with me, and help me with all the machines, etc. etc. I would Friday to try it myself. We would then come back together the following Monday (3) & Wednesday (4) to try it again. Then, on Friday, I would try it myself...again. That next Monday (5) would then be the last session I have with him.
The entire time he was talking to me about this, the number one question in my head was, "How much is this going to cost?" Well, it's $325 for the 5 sessions....all due up front. Now, I technically have the money now, but I was hoping to use that on Christmas gifts for our families.
I'm just torn. I want to do this weight-loss thing the right way in the beginning, and not half-way. I want it to stick this time and maximize the outcome. I want and need a routine if this is going to work. I can't really put this off until January or February, it is something I need to do now. I just wish it didn't cost so much, or that there was at least a payment plan option.
Hmmm....
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
I have JOINED the gym
I passed a church the other day and their sign basically read: "God Can Give Us A New Beginning And A New Ending". Isn't that a wonderful thing to hear? That we can totally let the past go, and start over again? That's where I'm at.
After getting back from England, I finally got to the point where I needed to be mentally to get back in shape, lose weight, and just feel better about myself. It has been a long time coming, but I am finally there...as in there mentally...no where near being in shape yet. LOL In my last semester at ASU, I took a swimming class for my last gym credit, and after that, I was in the best shape of my life. I felt good and I looked good. When I moved to Nashville, I joined the Y to keep my fitness level up. I did pretty good, until I met my husband. LOL I started gaining weight pretty fast b/c we were going out to eat all the time and not exercising. Once we set a wedding date, that did change. We were running almost every night, I was doing a workout with my "Buff Brides" book, and hitting the elliptical machine every other day. By the time the wedding rolled around, I felt good about myself again! I could look in a mirror and like what I was seeing.
However, I will say this...if you have never been overweight, then you may not get how hard it becomes and the temptations that come at you once you lose a lot of weight. I know that might sound weird, but I've been chunky my whole life. Boys were never all that interested in me in high school, and college was a bit different...but still. Once I lost the weight and was down to my lowest size, I began to get a lot of attention. Honestly, it was a bit uncomfortable. I didn't know how to react. I would get all these cat calls from men as I drove by or even just walked by. And that weirded me out. And I began making not-so-great decisions with my dating life. Thankfully, God brought Kyle along and you know the rest of that story. :)
After we got married, I began to gain a few pounds, but not too much. I became comfortable around Kyle and he love(d) me for what I looked like, no matter what. But in 2005, my world turned upside down. I had three (yes...THREE) car accidents in a period of 4 months (none of which were my fault), the pastor of the church I was working at left, my boss (the minister of music) went on sabbatical, only to turn in his resignation after it was over, and I was just plain miserable. I had grown to dislike my job, I had gotten out of my routine, and things were just messed up. Thus, the weight gain began at a faster rate.
So, now, I'm at a place that all the weight I worked so hard to lose over a period of time has all come back. Now granted, I don't necessarily blame it on circumstances b/c it is my responsibility to take care of my body, but that time in my life was definitely a crux for everything.
However, there are things in life that I want to do, and in order to do so, I need to be healthy. There is the possibility of children in the future, and if I am still this overweight, I could develop gestational diabetes. Plus, my dad had a heart attack back in 2007, so it has become increasingly apparent that heart disease runs in my family. And my husband said to me that he wants as much time with me as possible, so I want to make sure that I get the most of out the life that I have been given. By continuing to be overweight, I'm shortening the time that I have here on earth.
Though none of this may make too much sense, it is where I'm at. I'm ready for a New Beginning and a New Ending. I'm ready to take our life and my career to the next level. I'm ready for a change, and I am free to do so. I know that this road is going to be an uphill battle, but I know that I can do this only by Christ's strength that He provides. This isn't just about me...this is about my marriage, our future children, and all that is to come.
So, join me on this journey if you will in prayer b/c I'm going to need all I can get!
After getting back from England, I finally got to the point where I needed to be mentally to get back in shape, lose weight, and just feel better about myself. It has been a long time coming, but I am finally there...as in there mentally...no where near being in shape yet. LOL In my last semester at ASU, I took a swimming class for my last gym credit, and after that, I was in the best shape of my life. I felt good and I looked good. When I moved to Nashville, I joined the Y to keep my fitness level up. I did pretty good, until I met my husband. LOL I started gaining weight pretty fast b/c we were going out to eat all the time and not exercising. Once we set a wedding date, that did change. We were running almost every night, I was doing a workout with my "Buff Brides" book, and hitting the elliptical machine every other day. By the time the wedding rolled around, I felt good about myself again! I could look in a mirror and like what I was seeing.
However, I will say this...if you have never been overweight, then you may not get how hard it becomes and the temptations that come at you once you lose a lot of weight. I know that might sound weird, but I've been chunky my whole life. Boys were never all that interested in me in high school, and college was a bit different...but still. Once I lost the weight and was down to my lowest size, I began to get a lot of attention. Honestly, it was a bit uncomfortable. I didn't know how to react. I would get all these cat calls from men as I drove by or even just walked by. And that weirded me out. And I began making not-so-great decisions with my dating life. Thankfully, God brought Kyle along and you know the rest of that story. :)
After we got married, I began to gain a few pounds, but not too much. I became comfortable around Kyle and he love(d) me for what I looked like, no matter what. But in 2005, my world turned upside down. I had three (yes...THREE) car accidents in a period of 4 months (none of which were my fault), the pastor of the church I was working at left, my boss (the minister of music) went on sabbatical, only to turn in his resignation after it was over, and I was just plain miserable. I had grown to dislike my job, I had gotten out of my routine, and things were just messed up. Thus, the weight gain began at a faster rate.
So, now, I'm at a place that all the weight I worked so hard to lose over a period of time has all come back. Now granted, I don't necessarily blame it on circumstances b/c it is my responsibility to take care of my body, but that time in my life was definitely a crux for everything.
However, there are things in life that I want to do, and in order to do so, I need to be healthy. There is the possibility of children in the future, and if I am still this overweight, I could develop gestational diabetes. Plus, my dad had a heart attack back in 2007, so it has become increasingly apparent that heart disease runs in my family. And my husband said to me that he wants as much time with me as possible, so I want to make sure that I get the most of out the life that I have been given. By continuing to be overweight, I'm shortening the time that I have here on earth.
Though none of this may make too much sense, it is where I'm at. I'm ready for a New Beginning and a New Ending. I'm ready to take our life and my career to the next level. I'm ready for a change, and I am free to do so. I know that this road is going to be an uphill battle, but I know that I can do this only by Christ's strength that He provides. This isn't just about me...this is about my marriage, our future children, and all that is to come.
So, join me on this journey if you will in prayer b/c I'm going to need all I can get!
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