I am NOT a runner!

About the only part of my body that is not sore today is my fingers! The workout last night was intense . . . at least for my poor, out-of-shape body. We were supposed to warm up and Stephanie (the trainer) told us to "go ahead and jog the second and third laps". What?!?!?! I am not a runner/jogger/really fast walker. But, I did it and I didn't die. Then we went over to the bridge and did three sets of walk/run over the bridge two times, then sets of squats/side walking with bands around our ankles.

Then, we got to pretend to be football players. We did the drills where you zig-zag through cones and then run back to your mat and do 10 push-ups and repeated the whole thing 5 times! If the Cards need any help this Sunday, they know where to find me!

This morning I was a little stiff but by the end of school it was a chore to get up or down into a chair--let's not even go into walking upstairs!

Now, don't think I'm complaining . . . I am so proud of myself that I made it through the whole work out last night. I'm looking forward to seeing what torture Stephanie will put us through tonight.

Biggest Loser - Day 1

All of us in the group met at a gym in Surprise to get our baseline fitness assessment done . . . in other words, "how out-of-shape are you, exactly?". My scores weren't impressive, but it will only lead to huge improvement! I did the mile in 16:24 and even did a run (actually a jog) at the end. We did the wall sit, which is pure torture on your quads, push-ups, sit ups and lunges. This morning I could definitely tell I had used my muscles but it wasn't bad. I am nervous to see what aches tomorrow morning brings since we have our first "official" workout tonight. I may regret the fact that I live on the 2nd story!
I also have a meal plan that I have to follow. Let me say this: there is no fear of being hungry. By yesterday afternoon I did not want to put another thing in my mouth. I was so sick of chewing. But I never did feel sluggish in the late afternoon like I normally do which is a good thing.
This competition is being sponsored by West Valley Magazine and so far they are doing a great job of documenting it. The photographer was there last night taking tons of pictures of us working out. Just what I need . . . me in all my sweaty glory in a magazine. I wouldn't choose to be in a magazine even on my good day, but in work-out clothes, frizzy, sweaty hair, and bright red cheeks---lovely!
I guess that's all for now . . . I need to go make another "mini-meal".

The Biggest Loser

I am going to be the Biggest Loser! OK, not on the TV show, but I am in the West Valley Biggest Loser competition. Weigh-in was today--it's a 6 month committment. We work out with the trainer Monday - Thursday, have AM fitness homework each day, and PM homework Friday - Sunday. Plus, I have a meal plan of what I eat and when. So, come July 11 I hope to be a whole lot smaller. I think that this blog is going to turn into my journal of how I'm doing. There's a warning for all 3 of you who read my blog :-) May not be the most interesting but its another accountability.

Snowballs and Idiots

I never updated about Christmas and now it's so last year! We had several celebrations, most of which were great fun. We celebrated with my mom's family on the 20th. My brother and cousin went up towards Flagstaff and loaded the bed of the truck with snow to bring back for the kids to play in. Here are some pictures of the fun.

Some of the cousins throwing snowballs.

The prettiest of all the younger cousins--and that is not even an aunt's bias showing.

The cute counterpart to the pretty girl.

Everything was going along just great until the evil side of the family decided to act like a jerk. What 60+ year old idiot can even think it is OK to throw a hard, ice-packed snowball at a child, with full force, not once, but twice? On purpose, with no apology at all?

Here is a picture of the result. He is still the cutest of all the boy cousins--again no bias here.

Semi-Homemade with Debra Lee

Sandra Lee has nothing on me. I did my Christmas "baking" a few days ago. I do not enjoy the monotony of baking cookies but I like making them "pretty". So, I don't bake--I buy! I love dipping and decorating marshmallows, Oreos, Nutter Butters, and pretzels. And, my OCD won't let me have more than 4 treats decorated in the same way. Here are some of the plates I made up to give to friends and family.

Birthday Time

So, my niece and nephew turned 8 a couple weeks ago. I can't believe they are that old already. They wanted brisket for dinner ( they may have left Texas behind but not the good Texas BBQ). I made them an ice-cream cake for the family dinner and then the next day they had a friend party in the park behind their house. There was a bouncer, a ton of kids, and a precious photo cake.

This isn't the greatest picture but they got video game chairs and Kam really wanted Shel Silversteins' Where The Sidewalk Ends.

Here is their cake from Sam's Club. 1/2 boy and 1/2 girl with their picture on it. It was the greatest cake!

Jared the goof ball.

Kam and some friends on the bouncer/slide.

A New Twist

Alright, instead of sending this to my email friends I decided to just post it here. The ones that are bold are the things I have done. All you need to do is copy and paste this list in your blog and let everyone know how much more exciting your life is than mine.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band--in 4th or 5th Grade
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped--although it is last on my list of things to do before I die
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked--only because my tire blew, pre-cell phone era
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon--but I did a triathlon back in the day
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors--Springfield, IL and Mason, MI :-)
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelos David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to the drive in
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving--see number 11
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day