"Hotter than You!" A P90X Story

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According to StatisticBrain.com the #1 New Year Resolution of 2012 was to loose weight. (I'm pretty sure that's been in 1st place since McDonalds was created)

Only 45% of Americans actually keep Resolutions.

I fall into the looser category and I don’t mean loosing weight.  I’m part of the 45% that don’t stick to it.

I always make New Year Resolutions but somewhere around April I forget what it was.

Last year I decided it would be doing 30 day challenges.  I figured I would have a better chance at accomplishing something for 30 days rather than 365.

 Again, that was lost at Feb!

Consistency is NOT in my genes.

The good news is consistency is Sam’s middle name!  

He keeps things going around here.

I'm more of the "New Rule!" mother if you know what i mean.

At the end of 2011 Sam and I had a little competition going on.  We called it: "Hotter than You“

(I named it that because I was sure I would win)

The goal was to transform our bodies by Valentines Day. (cheesy, I know)

Whoever made the most progress owed the other a vacation of their choice.

I was stoked about this....and then I never started.  About a month into it Sam came home with new running shoes.

He placed them in front of me like a gift. 

”Cool shoes“ I admired

”What do you think?“ he says with a smile.

I come back again with, ”cool shoes.“

”Look closely“

I stare at them wondering why he is bringing so much attention to a pair of shoes.

”What do you see?“

By now I am bored of this game and give in.

He tells me to look at the tongue of the shoes.

I saw the words: "Hotter Than You" printed across them.

My man was on a roll!  This did ignite a new found desire to start over so I went a bought a new pair of shoes too, but they didn't run as fast nor as often as his.

This is a picture of him before the "Hotter Than You" shoes were purchased:

 January (2012)

This is him with over 900 miles on those shoes!

Heartford Ct. Marathon

After a few months running he came home with a small box that looked like this:

P90X

I was toast!

Before and After pictures are a must with this program!

This was his before (which doesn’t show the 10lbs he just lost from running a month prior)

Day 1

90 Days

Day 1

90 Days

Day 1

90 Days

 He is a Rock Star!  

Is this what 45% of American’s are missing out on by not keeping their New Year Resolution of Loosing weight?!

Instead of P90X I did Insanity.

Insanity

If you want to get your butt kicked everyday-this workout is for you!

  Note: Insanity is not a program to build muscle like P90X does, but you do look fit.  It is a great conditioning program.

I picked up running after I completed it and found myself running 6 miles in an hour!

I’m  a long way behind Sam but the view is good from where I am! :)

 He is still hard core exercising everyday 

It makes us laugh when we see his before pictures!  It didn’t occur to us that he carried so much weight in his face!

color him green and call him the Hulk!

These kids thought he was strong 

It's clear that Sam won the contest.  I'm begging him to go on vacation where he can strut his stuff!

Interested in more statistics? Try this

amusing article about people showing up to the gym in January.

Hobi's in India Video

I don't know where my brain has been!  While updating the Rising Star blogs I realized I never posted my family video from India on my own blog!!
Here it is...10 months later!

The year of Karma

I think I'll call 2012 my year of Karma.

Karma is a fundamental doctrine in Buddhism, coming from India.  

I like the concept of it.  

There are various theories on how it all works which include; past sins or advantages from a past life, that follow you into this life identified as Bad Karma or Good Karma.  

My version is all Karma is good Karma.  It's a reflection of our actions, whether we like it or not.    

Thanissaro Bhikkhu (an American Buddhist monk) said:

Karma is caused by Ignorance, or not knowing things as they really are.

Or put differently Karma is a catalyst to knowledge, if you see it as such.  

You don't know what you don't know, right?  

If Karma is a result of being ignorant; It's a smack in the head telling you to smarten up! 

To me, that's Good Karma.

Well, my Karma came, ironically enough, while I was in India last Spring.

The day I returned to the US the wheels were in motion to turn me upside down and teach me a few things.

The following months, even up to this day, God is showing me what I don't know.

However you want to look at it, Karma is just another expression used to teach what the Apostle Paul did:

 Whom the Lord loves he chastens

Hebrews 12:6

That's what I call God Karma! 

My love affair is ending...

I’m in love.  I’m being seduced every second of every day.  

This love affair is messing with my emotions...

My seducer... Fall in Connecticut.  I never tire of the colors, the chilly air, or the constant blanket of leaves on the ground.  Each year the same trees display a different show.  I drive more slowly, take more walks, and carry a camera in my purse during the month of October.  I’ve observed the “BEST” display of colors is around the 15th of Oct.  Most the leaves are at their peak color and haven’t fallen yet.

This time of year I believe I live in the prettiest place on Earth.

Winter has it’s perks too but they are short lived.  The first fall of snow is beautiful in a majestic way but near March it has overextended it’s stay.  By March I am depressed, gravitating to the sun filled window searching for light and warmth like a cat.

In my opinion, Spring doesn’t exist,  April offers a few teasing warm days but the jackets aren’t put away till May.  The dull branches that use to be a source of my adoration are frail and the flowering buds are shy to be revealed.

Summer arrives just in time for school to be out in June.  The trees are dressed again in deep green.  It’s like living in the Garden of Eden. Our days are spent at the pool while we anxiously await the return of our friends from their Global vacations.  

We mostly do “Stay-cations”, which Jace has renamed “Boring Activities.” 

Summer after summer I wish we were in Utah to go camping with the cousins, have sleepovers with Grandma, and enjoy summer fun.

In November I wish we could have Thanksgiving dinner with people we were related to.

In December I wish we could attend a family Christmas Party and enjoy family traditions

but these events have never happened!  Not once!

In January were snowed in and love sledding in our backyard but wouldn’t it be fun to share it with cousins?

With Sam’s work schedule and the fact that you can’t spend the night anywhere without dropping $$$ we stay at home.

Winter break is spent at home.

Spring Break is spent at home.

And Labor Day weekend (along with most 3 day weekends) we stay at home.

We have enjoyed road trips to most Church History sites on the East Coast.

We’ve lived here for 10 years and have exhausted all low budget and local activities.

I’ve missed weddings, funerals, babies, baptisms, cruises, birthdays, Mother’s Day, and reunions!

 A single trip to Utah for the 6 of us is out of our budget.

Instead I settle for “Get Away” trips where I sneak away without the kids and spend time with my family.  

My kids don’t know their cousins.  

They don’t know their 6 Uncles, 5 Aunts and 20+ cousins. 

They don’t know what Grandma’s house looks like and they don’t know their grandpa. 

They get gifts and cards from Sam’s family but don’t get the chance to put the face to the name most the time.

It’s been said that a child who is loved and supported by other adults, along with their parents, is more likely to have greater self worth. 

I would love for my kids to spend time with extended family.  

When I’m in Utah for my get away trips I feel like I can breath again.  I don’t realize how wound up I am here until I go there and it feels like time slows down and I can breath again.  I find myself jealous of the cost of living, the big sky, the close proximity to Temples and family lifestyle that exists there.Returning home is always hard.  

I am in L-O-V-E with the beauty of Connecticut.  But I would give it up to be closer to a family centered life.

The colors on the leaves are tugging at my heart strings but I’m going to let them go.

We are moving to Utah...soon

"Psst"...the kids don't know.  Please don't spill the beans till further notice. :)

Insanity

 

in·san·i·ty [in-san-i-tee]

   the condition of being insane;  a derangement of the mind. 

Given my current state of mind, and recent contact with a Physiologist, I think it only fitting that I take on a new workout challenge called INSANITY!

I'm hearing exercise is a great step in improving depression. 

I gave it a try...didn't last long. (humm...imagine that!)  

I pulled a no show for a Triathlon I signed up for (and got 15 other people to sign up for too..sorry!) and apparently left some friends hanging this morning for a bike ride!!  ( Just read the email about meeting outside my house at 7am. oops!) 

I'm pathetic! 

Sam is such a stud right now.  He's almost done with P90X.  He lost a lot of weight and gained a lot of MUSCLES!! (woot woot!)  I watch him manage every calorie that enters his mouth, as I relish in my ice cream addiction.

        

My drug of choice is ice cream.  I putter around like Eeyore all day and then snuggle up to a pint (never less) of Ben and Jerry's.  I seriously feel so much better after my pint is gone.  It even cured my "I've-been-crying-all-day-head-ache" that tortured me for about 5 hours.

Some people go to alcohol, or drugs, to escape their depression.  i totally get it.  

This one is my favorite.  I eat it right out of the carton!

I'm stuck in the cycle of feeling down so I eat ice cream to feel better for the night then wake up and start counting the hours till I can escape in my ice cream again.  (I'll never break it out mid-day.  I would have to share it! :)  

See, isn't this addictive behavior?  Maybe I should start attending Addictive Recovery Classes!

Thankfully, ice cream isn't as harmful as alcohol or drugs, but I escape to it probably just the same and it is leaving it's mark on my body.

It's been 3 months since my depression set in, and today I took a good look in the mirror.  I literally did...

I went to Kohl's and tried on a few items.  I had no idea my body looks the way it does!  There's something about those changing room lights!

I can tell you right where the ice cream is sitting!! 

I've got to get my life back! 

I did exercise yesterday and today (does learning Hannah Montana's Hoedown Throwdown Dance count??) and I'll admit they were my more productive days. (Productive to a LOW standard...I never got out of my pj's)

Insanity is a 60 day workout which includes a nutrition plan.  That's just what I need.  I'm pretty sure B&J won't be showing up on the menu!  And it takes the work out of Meal ideas!  

I HATE COOKING MEALS!!!

The "normal ME" likes a good workout and can handle a challenge so this might kick my butt, but I'm really hoping that it kicks my butt in gear!

Maybe this will be enough to self-medicate the depression.??

I know it's crazy to do something as extreme as Insanity.  I hear it's HARD.  I'm actually excited to DO something for once!

Fingers and toes make me look bad

Why is it hard for me to remember to clip my children’s fingernails and toenails?

They stay hidden until piano lessons, where they are grossly displayed week after week- on all 3 kids!.

“Ugh!” I cringe inside.  How do I miss that at home?!

After weeks of embarrassment I vow to arrive to piano with all 30 fingers neatly cut and CLEAN!

I don’t remember about this vow until we’re in the car to the next weeks piano lesson and I pass out baby wipes with instructions to dig under the nail!

The rest of the drive I am trying to visualize myself cutting their nails in hope that it will get me closer to action.

The problem is I can’t find those darn clippers!  They are never around when I need them!  Or when I do have them the kids aren’t around!

I do remember holding a pair (like a new found treasure) and making a deliberate effort to place them where I could return to them at a later time.  Problem is...I can’t remember where that deliberate place is!?!

Should be obvious right?  In a drawer?  On the piano?  Nope!

None of my kids like their toes to be touched.  They retract their feet every time I go for their nails.  I don’t get it.

Toenails are gross, fingernails are too. 

They make me look like a bad mother.

They scream: “My Mom lets me do whatever I want!  I don’t even need to take a bath!”

You know the school teachers aren’t seeing the grime under their nails and blaming it on the kids!  It’s that crazy mother that doesn’t keep up on  hygiene!

I don’t even want to go to the dirt patches behind the ears!

Looking forward to the long days at the pool where the chlorine will do the dirty work for me! haha!

Great things

Great things are happening in the Hobi Home!
Sometimes I am up all night working on "Project India" and other nights I'm in bed before the baby.
Most my blog posts are geared to India these days.  Swing on over to www.EmberInIndia.blogspot.com to see what we've been up to.