The Boot Camp Journal- The Last Day # 18

I completed the Boot Camp Program yesterday. I graduated with Perfect Attendance, 15 pounds lighter and I ran an 11:02 mile! I beat my first day mile by over 2 minutes! I improved on my push-ups, sit-ups and dips reps too! They gave us Boot Camp T-shirts and stickers and I got a koozie for my perfect attendance. We celebrated last night at the Dunwoody Tavern with one free drink of choice and appetizers. All in all, it was a wonderful day.... and night.
Now that I have completed my first Boot Camp and found that the results are just so positive for me, I have signed up for ANOTHER THREE MONTHS!!!! Yes, folks you read it right... I have signed up for another 12 weeks of blood, sweat, tears and torture. Call me crazy but I am determined to make a positive lifestyle change. And Boot Camp is the only way so far that has truly made a difference in me physically AND mentally... Believe me, it is NOT easy getting out of the warm bed at 4:30am every weekday morning and going to that park to exert myself for 45 minutes to an hour each day.... BUT (yes, there is a but) I can see how much better I feel, how much more energy I have, the good changes to my body, and most of all, it makes my attitude MUCH more positive! And when I feel good, Life IS Good!
So this ends my series of Boot Camp Journals... I will not keep boring every one with my daily journals. I will only write highlights as they happen on occasion in the next 12 weeks.
Hoorah.

I Met Paula Deen Tonight!

Tonight was one of the highlights of my lifetime. I met the one lady I spend more time watching than any other on television…. Paul Deen, live and in living color. And it was Wonderful!
Here is how it all started: About two weeks ago, I was perusing through the weekly Publix advertisement flyer from the office copy of the AJC and just happened to see Paula’s picture. One of the many, many Publix stores in the Atlanta area was having a cooking class on May 29th with special guest Paula Deen. When I called about tickets, they were sold out at $150 each! And they could not even guarantee that she would actually be cooking during the class. But, they mentioned the Book Signing from 5:30 to 6:30 before the class. I was so excited! I called Hubby and made his co-worker interrupt his meeting just to tell him that I was going to meet THE Woman!
So today was the day and I got my friend, J-San to go with me. Please note that J-San is NOT from the South (Lord please forgive her) and when I told her about the Book Signing, she had the audacity to respond with, “who’s Paula Deen?” (Lord, please double forgive her). So I told her that she was now definitely going to meet her…I mean every Northerner should be graced with the presence of the Goddess of Southern Cooking, right? What an opportunity! Anyhoo, we arrived at 4:30 and the line had only 25-30 folks in it. The Publix folks were so nice and kept bringing around trays of fresh cut-up pineapple and chicken nuggets while we waited in line. It was heart-warming to see a group of ladies from an assisted living home there to meet her- they all had on matching hot pink T-shirts that stated, “The Veranda Loves Paula Deen”. I took their picture for them all together in line. So cute! And then it was our turn… I have to tell you that Paula has the biggest blue eyes and when she smiles it makes you feel so happy. I told her I was a huge fan and that Hubby was taking me to her restaurant in Savannah for our 2-year anniversary in September. I informed her that I wanted to try the Shrimp-n-Grits because even though I was from Pine Mountain, GA, I had never eaten any. She was so surprised! She was telling me about all the different ways they liked their grits with fish or roe… I then told her that we didn’t mix seafood with breakfast where I grew up. And besides, she was much closer to the coast than Pine Mountain…. We are next to Alabama and the closest thing we have is bass, bream or catfish! She just laughed and laughed at that! She and her Hubby both autographed my cookbook and were so pleasant to talk to… J-San just kept snapping pics. I finally walked away with Paula telling me that she looked forward to seeing us in September… What a great day for me!

The Boot Camp Journal- Day 17

Today was about 15 degrees cooler than yesterday!
And less humid…? Maybe?
Today was the obstacle like course in the ball field on the WET grass.
Running and jumping and lunging and shuffling all around cones.
And then bear walks (one hands and feet at the same time).
Crab walks were almost impossible to do!
I was huffing and puffing!
Tomorrow is the last day of Boot Camp.
Hoorah.

Bad Feelings At The Pumps

So yesterday evening I met Hubby after work at the Yellow River park to do some mountain biking. I cut it too close on leaving the office and did not have time to stop and fuel up my work truck. Therefore, I had to fuel up afterwards. I stopped at the first gas station on the way home. After standing there waiting for what seemed like forever, the pump finally halts at $89.48... Did you read that? $89.48!!! I was in shock... deep down I feel so bad about spending so much of the company's money on fuel... especially during these days when I am not really THAT busy! It makes me want to call up the Big Boss and demand that we only drive in on M-W-F and work from home on T-Th! I mean that truck only holds 25 gallons and at $3.97 per gallon- it adds up! Besides, there are a LOT of things that I do in the office that really can be done from home on the computer.... I am seriously considering asking about this idea and SOON.

Law Of The Garbage Truck

A dear friend of mine who happens to be related to me sent me an email earlier this week and I wanted to share it with you. I tried to tell Hubby about it last night and my rendition just does not stand up to the actual story... Enjoy!

......................................
Law Of The Garbage Truck

One day I hopped in a taxi and we took off for the airport. We were driving in the right lane when suddenly a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his breaks, skidded, and missed the other car by just inches! The driver of the other car whipped his head around and started yelling at us. My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, he was really friendly.

So I asked, "Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!" This is when my taxi driver taught me what I now call, "The Law of the Garbage Truck."

He explained that many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it and sometimes they'll dump it on you. Don't take it personally. Just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. Don't take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home, or on the streets.

The bottom line is that successful people do not let garbage trucks take over their day. Life's too short to wake up in the morning with regrets, so..... "Love the people who treat you right. Pray for the ones who don't." Life is ten percent what you make it and ninety percent how you take it.
..................................

Is that last sentence not the greatest quote you have heard in a long time or what? If only I could remember this every time someone cuts me off or pulls out in front of me... Garbage In, Garbage Out, right?

The Boot Camp Journal- Day 16

Woke up dead at 4:35am.
I was so sore all day yesterday from a combination of the 4+ mile run and the bike wreck the night before. My left butt cheek hurts the most.
Arrived at 5:20am.
Today's workout was called "Sprints".
Great.
And that is ALL we did... SPRINT!
Sprint up the hill over and over and over.
I was D-Y-I-N-G!!!!
I repeat- D-Y-I-N-G!!!!
Hoorah.

The Boot Camp Journal- Day 15

Woke very groggily at 4:35am since I did not fall asleep until almost 1am!
Arrived at 5:15am.
They announced today was "the long run" and did not even stretch or do warm-ups!!
Today's workout can be summed up in one word over and over again:
RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN
RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN
RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN
RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN
RUN RUN RUN RUN
That would be running for about 4 1/2 miles!
(More like half jog/half walk for me)
Hoorah.

Sad News About Sydney Pollack

On Friday I found out that Robert Redford is engaged and tonight I read that Sydney Pollack has died of cancer at 73 years old. What a bummer. Now some of you are wondering, “who is Sydney Pollack?” Well Mr. Pollack was an actor and a producer but he was most well known for being a Director. He directed many, many great films- and several of those starred Robert Redford! Do any of these ring a bell?--
Jeremiah Johnson, The Way We Were, Three Days Of The Condor, The Electric Horseman, Tootsie, Out Of Africa, Havana, The Firm, Sabrina, Random Hearts, and so on. He was notorious for directing a movie and playing a small acting part in it himself. The most recent one being Random Hearts with Harrison Ford and Kristin Scott Thomas… he played her campaign manager or something along those lines. The article stated that he was diagnosed 9 months ago and lost the battle today. I am sure it will be all over the Hollywood gossip shows and magazines by tomorrow…Oh well, I suppose Memorial Day now has more than one meaning for some…

The Sundance Kid Is Off The Market!!!??

All I can say is Wow.
I just caught a headline on Yahoo that just stopped me in my tracks.
Redford Gets Engaged
The one actor that I have had a fascination with for years has finally decided to marry his long-time girlfriend... they have been "together" for over a decade now. And he is 71 years old. Incredible. And even though Robert Redford is wrinkled and leathered from years of sun exposure, the man was one gorgeous fella back in his day. I can watch his movies over and over and over... I own every movie he has made on VHS or DVD- used to collect them as a hobby in the late 90's. I used to watch them pretty regularly. But, when I think about it, I guess I really haven't even thought about them since I met Hubby... only when I happen to catch them on one of the television networks. I can only hope that he keeps making movies... make-up can do wonders to wrinkles I hear.

The Boot Camp Journal- Day 14

Very sleepy this morning on the way to workout...zzzzzzzzz.
Today can only be described by one word:
RUN.
Repeat for 1.5 miles!
Random stops during run to do push-ups or squats or dips off the curbs.
Keep running.
My ankle did not hurt so bad today.
And I did not walk as much today as two weeks ago.
Could I possibly be improving?
Hoorah.

Oh, and TGIF!

The Boot Camp Journal- Day 13

Today was "Bring A Friend To Boot Camp" day.
There must have been 25 additional folks this morning!
People were piled on top of each other doing the warm-ups.
Run up the driveway to the ballfield (or half-jog up it for me).
Split into 2 teams.
Run to each cone (10 cones total in a line), stop and do 5 push-ups or 5 situps.
After the 10 cones run to 3 different stations to do mountain climbers or planks or whatever...
Repeat 5 more times.
And the ground was SOAKING WET.
I had grass and water from my toes to my nose.
Hoorah.

Coyote Hunting

Last night after supper Hubby wanted to go ride the mountain bikes around the neighborhood to get a little exercise. So around 8:05pm, we took off on the bikes. We rode all around the area for about 20-30 minutes and then I decided to cruise back to the house because my feet were aching (thanks to the injured ankle)... Hubby decided to keep going a little longer. So off I go homeward bound. It was starting to get dark so I carefully maneuvered the bike around the turns and such. Right as I came around the last bend, I noticed an older gentleman walking on the left side of the road and his dog was up ahead of him about 20-25 yards... the dog was right near our driveway actually. I thought it was strange that the man did not have the dog on a leash... but, as I watched the dog he did not seem to walk quite like a dog... his path was zig-zaglike and he almost looked emaciated... I hoofed it up to the man and asked him if that was his dog... "No", he replied. That is when I realized that it was not a dog... it was a coyote! It was just the darkest coyote I have ever laid eyes on! Almost to the point it would make you think it was a dog. I have seen coyotes in my time, but nothing like this one! I replied back to the man, “Well I don’t think that is a dog, I think it is a coyote!” And he said, “I don’t think it is a dog either…” So I said, “well let’s find out!” I pedaled as hard as I could and chased him down the road… I yelled out at him and he took off into the woods… That is when I stopped. I could go no further in bicycle clip-in shoes. Now I believe all the hype when the neighbors kept talking about the coyotes roaming our neighborhoods in the past. For a long time many cats were coming up missing in our neighborhood (along with Tiger, our cat)… she just up and disappeared one day right before we got married. Poof! Cat be gone! I called the neighbors and told them about it. Time to go coyote hunting…

The Boot Camp Journal- Day 12

Today was another tough day.
My ankle is doing somewhat better… I am not limping much when I walk.
But, I still cannot run.
Running hurts.
So today I did legs and abs exercises while everyone else ran.
We did arms today using the “resistance bands”.
The Instructor even commented to me during the arms workout that I was doing them so well that maybe I should have used a stronger band.
My ankle seems to be hurting on the inside face of the ankle instead of the outside face….
Very strange.
Great workout.
Would have been greater if I could have run.
Hoorah.

The Boot Camp Journal- Day 11

Today was tough.
Woke at 4:30am- ankle is still painful- but, not as raging painful as it was when I took 1/2 a painkiller and went to bed last night.
Moving slowly this morning.
Arrived at 5:15am.
To make a long story short, I pretty much did the entire workout VERY CAREFULLY.
I did absolutely no jumping (no jumping jacks, no leap frogs, etc.).
I lunged instead.
Sideways shuffling from Point A to Point B was painful.
When everyone else was running, I was half walking/half jogging.
I did all of the push-ups, sit-ups, leg /abs, etc.
I was sweating bullets so the workout was still a challenge!
Put on the ace bandage and came to work today.
Hoping tomorrow is better.
Hoorah.

The Boot Camp Journal- Day 10

Friday marked the halfway point of boot camp for my first month.
I woke up today ready to start the second half… at 4:40am.
Arrived at 5:15am.
Got some heat for the 6 wings I ate on Sunday.
Warm-ups.
Run up the driveway to ball field.
Cones are set up in straight line.
Everyone is designated their own cone.
Get in “plank” position (holding up one’s body weight on elbows and toes).
Hold until every one before me has run around me and then I get up and run around each and every body after me…
Run across field and up to asphalt parking lot.
Run down the hill to the bottom of parking lot to first station of zigzag cones.
I am half way down the hill when all of a sudden…
BAM!
My right ankle got off balance in a rut of uneven pavement that I did not see (probably because it was so dark)…
And down I fall…
O man did that hurt!
I fell hands and face forward…of course, because I was running downhill- that did not help matters either.
My left elbow is pained.
But, my right ankle is what hurts the most… I roll over and lay there.
People are flying by me and I am trying to get up.
I am trying to walk it out.
The pain is roaring at my right ankle… the Instructor is right there with me…
I pretty much slowly finished the rest of the workout while I still functioning.
Needless to say, I drove back home after this one…
I wound up staying home all morning icing the ankle before and after a LONG shower.
I had to go to a business luncheon in the middle of the day to pick up a safety award for my company.
But, then I decided to go back home and elevate the ankle.
I have been pretty much out of commission all day today… the pain is unbelievable.
Hubby came home early… we did venture to the grocery store for a few groceries and ace bandages.
Not sure what tomorrow brings….
Hoorah.

The Boot Camp Journal- Day 9

Woke at 4:45am
Arrived at 5:15am.
Today is the "15-15-15" workout.
Warm-ups.
Run up driveway to half-way point. Stop.
On command, sprint up the top half of driveway and then into clearing of woods.
15 Squats and kicks or 15 push ups
And then the "plank" (holding entire body up on elbows and toes) for 30 seconds.
Run back down to starting line.
Repeat 9 more times.
Can you say exhausted? I was dying after # 5!
But, you know what? The sprinting up the hill seemed to get a little easier after # 6 or 7th time...
even though I was more tired! How weird is that?
And the ground was floating in rain water from the rain all day yesterday...
so you can imagine what I looked like when I arrived back at the house to shower and get ready for work.
The best part? I get to sleep in tomorrow!
Hoorah.

Good News and Bad News

In my quest to eat better and achieve a good balanced diet, I am trying to find alternative foods to replace those high carb, high fat things we love so much...Well the good news is that last night I made a taco salad using "Veggie Crumbles" instead of ground meat (round, lean or beef). And I have to tell you that it was fantastic! Hubby had no idea he was eating soy protein instead of ground beef. And it took no time to cook the crumbles up straight out of the freezer! The most time-consuming part of the meal prep was chopping the tomatoes. One bag of the crumbles is equivalent to 1 pound of ground beef. I found the crumbles at Harry's Market in Marietta. Hubby said that the meal was definitely a "repeater"...

Now the bad news... Two days after I started the "New Kelly Quest", I discovered that Little Debbie makes a Smores snack cake now! AAAAGGGGHHHHH!! HOW could they do this to me? One of my biggest weaknesses is smores- they are right up there with rice krispy treats and chocolate chip cookies. I saw them again this past weekend at the grocery store near the house. I begged Hubby to buy a box and just give me ONE. And then throw the rest out. He would not do it... he stood his ground and we left without them. Yes, I had a moment of weakness and thankfully Hubby rescued me... All I can say now is "kiss my aching butt Little Debbie!!"

The Boot Camp Journal- Day 8

Woke up at 4:45am.
Decided the night before to come home after workout so did not have to pack up before I left house...
Woohoo! 10 extra minutes of sleep!
Arrived at 5:15am.
This workout can be described with one word:
RUN.
RUN.
RUN.
RUN.
RUN.
RUN.
Do you get the picture?
Hoorah.

The Boot Camp Journal- Day 7

Woke up at 4:35am.
Very sleeeeeeepy… had a hard time falling asleep last night.
Arrive at 5:20am.
Today’s workout is “Legs, Abs and Butts”.
Warm-ups are not too bad this morning.
Run up driveway hill and over to ball field.
Split class into two groups.
Spend 35 minutes moving between four stations.
Each station has different leg, abs and butt exercises that KILL.
We are sprinting back and forth between stations as they “switch” up the groups from station to station.
From the first station of exercises on the ground, I knew it was gonna be trouble…
Why?
The grass was absolutely drenched!
And we are just wallowing around in it on our stomachs.
On our backs.
On our knees.
On our stomachs again.
By the end of the session there was not one dry spot on a stitch of my clothing!
I could not wipe my brow ANY where!
And I was covered in dirt and grass.
Today has been the worse so far.
BTW, I have noticed that I now have a permanent grass rash on my knee caps thanks to Boot Camp. The crab grass just EATS my skin!
Storms predicted for tomorrow- cannot wait to do this again IN THE RAIN no less!
Hoorah.

Barn Burning- It's A Party!

I have a funny story I want to share with you... another saga in the life of Kelly... more drama, more stress... I thought this life was supposed to be "No worries", right?!!

The property we bought back home in good ol' Harris County was purchased from about eight siblings that had inherited the land from their grandparents. They had not touched the land since their grandparents died and the farm was overtaken by trees, bushes, vines, just growth in general. And then the old home place burned down on the property a few years back (not really sure how long ago- could be 10 years or 15 maybe?)... Anyhoo, we closed on the sale back in mid-October last year. Only one sibling actually showed up for the closing and she signed for herself and two others. And one of the nephews signed for his mother and the remaining others. Now this nephew is probably in his 50's so the siblings are probably in their late 70's to 90's... so it is undertstandable that most cannot sign for themselves... in person at least. We were told at the closing that it took the siblings many years to agree on selling the property, how much to sell it for, get all the signatures on the same documents, etc. Besides the fact, that one of the siblings died right after we made our offer- which now added her children into the picture as well.

Anyway, we closed on the property in October and started cleaning up the front part of the property in early November. When we realized that the land clean-up was going to be a LOT more than we could do ourselves with just my few family members and a tractor with a box blade, we agreed to save up our money to pay someone else to come in and take care of it. Our first official clean-up was around Christmas time. We hired a guy with a brush clearing machine that could literally eat trees and overgrown brush- he cleared over two acres for us over the course of 12/26 to 1/5. During all of this clearing we really exposed quite a bit of the leftover farm stuff- ex: chicken coops, hog fencing, food and water troughs, miscellaneous rusted junked appliances and last but not least- the old 2-room barn. We debated on what to do with the barn... push it over? burn it down? leave it till it falls? In the end after locals kept saying to keep it since it is an antique, we decided to let it stay...until it falls.

Well after these past two weeks, I am seriously thinking about pushing the barn to the ground myself... Maybe that might just end the saga that has seemed to unfold itself over the past week or so.. or at least anger someone enough to forget the other lingering issue at hand. Let me explain: About a week or so ago around 9:30pm on a weeknight, I get a phone call from a phone number from back home that I do not recognize. I call the number back and stepped right into a heated discussion with a very pissed off elderly woman about us needing to give her "her property" that was left in the barn on the land we bought. She is one of the siblings that we paid dearly for our land and now she thinks that she is entitled to "her property in the barn" and that "we only bought the land and not her property in the barn". She thinks that we should have known that under all that trash and crap left in the barn and under all the rat nests, buzzard droppings, busted bags of lime, dirt, dust, leaves, and who knows what else, she had a bed, some heaters and a corn sheller in there. She thinks we should have seen her stuff and known to call her and ask her what to do with it. I tried to be as diplomatic and respectful as I could considering her age and all. But I gotta tell you... she was not listening to ANY thing I was telling her! And then she called again the next day... and the next day... I called her nephew twice and told him that his aunt was out of control and how everything in that barn was hauled off to the landfill, buried or burned during the land clearing. We have since had another company out to do more land clearing in March and he cleaned out EVERY thing. The barn has been cleaned out end of story. I offered for him to come look himself. Well he must not be relaying the message because she keeps calling and leaving these 4-5 minute voicemails that call us every thing in the book. It just makes me cringe. I wish I could turn back time or I wish she would have said something earlier- you know since we have owned the place for over 8 months now!!

Yet and still, she has wished bad luck upon us and the land. We are bad people and she wishes they would have never sold it to us. She didn't sell us her property, just the land.

Hey lady, for all the thousands of dollars we forked out for your land... that includes every freaking stitch of property- the trees, the pinestraw, the grass, the barn, the trash you dumped on the land for years that we now have to haul off, EVERY thing. So every time you think about that ancient, rusty corn sheller and how you want it back, look deep into that wallet of yours and count your chunk of the pay out!

The Boot Camp Journal- Day 6

Woke up at 4:35am.
Arrived at park at 5:20am.
Pretty chilly this morning- breezy and 48 degrees!
They announce that today’s workout is “Sprints”…
Great.
Warm-ups for 5-10 minutes.
Run up the driveway to ball field next door.
Run entire perimeter of field.
Getting winded now.
Split into 4 teams.
Each team has 5 cones spread about 30-40 feet apart in a straight line.
Run to second cone and drop to do 10 sit-ups.
Run to last cone and drop to do 10 push-ups.
Sprint all the way back.
Repeat.
Stop at each cone and do 10 leapfrogs, 10 jumping jacks, 10 push-ups or 10 sit-ups. Sprint all the way back.
Repeat.
Squat shuffle sideways to each cone and do the above.
Sprint all the way back.
Repeat.
(Believe it or not, I actually enjoyed this workout because we were not continuously running… just sprinting short distances which is more my style). In between each of our turns, we were doing squats, push-ups, sit-ups, and etc. while waiting our turn. NEVER stop moving! How many times did I hear that this morning?
Oh and the grass was DRENCHED this morning with dew and freaking freezing mind you! When it was over, my whole backside from my shoes to my hair was soaked!
By the time I got the office, I was chilled and when I went to the restroom to change I realized I did not pack any clean underwear! So I had to walk around all morning in cold, wet skivvies for crying out loud! NOT funny at all…
Hoorah.

The Boot Camp Journal- Day 5

Wake up 4:35am- very sluggish this morning….
Got behind some idiot on Post Oak Tritt that stayed 5mph below the speed limit the entire way!
Finally arrived at 5:25am.
Issued a jump rope… Oh know… not jump roping!
Now I am worried- I despise the rope!
Warm-ups… Lord, I am sluggish this morning…
And then the inevitable… start your ropes….
I attempt to jump rope… I am good for about 25 seconds…
Keep jumping.
Keep tripping on the darn rope.
Jump. Jump. Jump. My calves and thighs are moo-ing.
My heart is about to burst out of my chest.
They keep saying, “Keep jumping! Don’t stop!”
More warm-ups.
More jump-roping again.
Run up driveway (which is a steep hill).
Now I am really hurting.
Legs and feet exercises at top of hill.
Run into clearing of woods-
Crunches. Bicycles. Scissors.
Run back up hill.
More legs and feet exercises.
Run back into woods.
Pushups. Planks. More pushups.
Run back down driveway zig-zagging the entire way in a sideways shuffle.
More legs and feet. Squats.
Stretches.
Hoorah.
The instructors took us out to Starbucks afterwards… Woohoo! Free non-fat latte!

One Week Down

So I have been on the “Boot Camp” plan now for over a week and I have to tell you that I am amazed at how much my daily life has changed. Who knew that eating right and exercising took so much time? Seriously… planning and preparing is the ROOT of a having a balanced diet and sticking to it. Grocery lists, meal planning, freezing items bought in bulk, packing for breakfast, snacks and lunch for two people is not easy! Being ready for the next morning to be able to rise at 4:30am, throw on my workout clothes, grab already packed clothes bag, briefcase, organize and grab my feedbag, prepare bottles of water for before/after exercise and pull together hubby’s lunch cooler and then get out the door by 5:00am is a task. And then coming home at the end of the day and getting all of the stuff ready that night before I have to do it all again the next morning just bites. Weekends are spent planning meals for the workweek and washing all those sweaty, dirty workout clothes. Television shows are being missed so I can go to bed around 10-10:30am to get the “necessary” hours of sleep I need. Every thing is rush, rush and rush… and even after all that planning and preparing, I still do not feel like I am eating enough. I have to log every single thing I eat and drink in a Log Book the Instructors handed out on the first day and I believe it just intimidates me into not eating what I might actually need to not be hungry at mysterious times of the day. Besides the fact, we are not allowed sugar or taste for that matter! And the grocery bill has only gone UP. How ironic is it that I am eating LESS and LIGHTER and yet, the grocery bill increased. Go figure. I have managed to cut my diet cola intake to only one Coke Zero a day. And somehow I am managing to consume right around 2,000 calories a day- which is GREAT compared to my normal consumption. (I even successfully managed to skate my way through the all-you-eat seafood buffet last Friday night at Callaway for Mom’s Day dinner.) All in all, I suppose I am on the right track. At least that is what every one keeps telling me. We shall see…

The Boot Camp Journal- Day 4

Woke up at 4:35am after a very fitful night of sleep. (Or should I say non-sleep?)
Not raining when I loaded up truck- thanks goodness!
Thought to myself how interesting today would be with a wet ground though!
Arrived at park 5:20am.
Today was titled "Fabulous 50's" or something like that... meaning everything will be done in sets of 50!
Start with very fast warm-ups- getting winded...
Run up the driveway toward street in zig-zags sideways... Huh?
Finally make it to top- now I am really heaving.
Do a few leg exercises.
Run into woods to grassy clearing.
Get a partner- some guy named "Veelas" (not sure on spelling)
I do 25 sit-ups while he is holding my feet and he is doing the "plank".
(Plank is where you hold your entire body weight up off the ground with your elbows and toes)
Then he does the 25 sit-ups and I have to do the "Plank".
Holy Smokes I am hurting! The Plank is Killer!
Oh, and let's not forget the soaking grass and ground that I am laying in...
So humid this morning.
So thirsty.
Do 25 more and then the plank while partner does his other 25.
More running- back up to top of hill driveway and now down the street!
Huh?
I just pray in my head that we are not running the dreaded "1 mile" route.
Stop in front of fire station and do 50 assorted push-ups in different antagonizing positions.
Back on feet and running further from park...
Run down street to different park entrance and down the driveway to bottom parking lot.
Really, REALLY winded now...
Shuffling squats sideways all along and up and down the parking space lines.
They keep on yelling to keep our butts down while shuffling in squatting position.
Hell, they are lucky I am still going at this point!
More leg exercises.
So thirsty.
Run further down park driveway to the nature trail.
Walking lunges and squats all the way down the trail... Yikes!
Miraculously show up back at original warm-up spot.
50 Dips off the street curbs- oh my aching tri-ceps!
50 mountain climbers in the mud.
So, so thirsty.
50 sit-ups in the mud. Seriously, I am laying in the dirt people.
Ending stretches in grass...
You should see my outfit. Thank the Lord for Gain detergent.
Hoorah.

The Boot Camp Journal- Day 3

The Boot Camp Journal- Day 3

(We had the day off yesterday)
Woke at 4:30am this morning... no problem awakening- slight confusion on time though...
Weather seemed warmer and drier this morning.
Arrived at park at 5:15am
Today was called "Jump School".
Warm-ups in lower parking lot... already getting winded!
Run up to the ball field. Really winded now...
Cones are set up all over the place.
Divided class into 3 groups.
Running all around and in and out of the cones.
Shuffle sideways around cones.
Jumping over cones- knees are supposed by high up to your chest...
Yeah right.
More running.
20 Push-ups. (Miraculously the grass was NOT wet this morning!!)
Hopping around cones.
Lunging around cones.
More running.
So freakin' parched. Feeling it with every breath.
Left knee cap is aching with each jump.
Trying not to put full weight on left knee.
More hopping in and out of cones.
20 Push-ups.
More running.
Bunny hops over and over and over.
Squats around cones.
So thirsty.
20 Push-ups.
Stretches.
Run back to parking lot.

Order large coffee from McDonalds off Jimmy Carter on the way to work from workout. How sad is it when the lady handing me my coffee says, "You want it black? No cream or sweetener today?".. They know me too well there... Yikes.

Fuel Me Up, Scottie

Today I went to QT up the road from my office to fill up the every-thirty gas tank. It was a milestone day for me needless to say... I filled up my work truck with $80.08 of gas... Holy Cow, Batman! Over $80!! YIKES... What was even weirder was all the while I was waiting on the old gas pump to fuel me up, I watched at least 4 or 5 cars drive up to a gas pump and fuel up their ride with only $20 or $25 of gas... HUH? I mean seriously... at $3.60 per gallon, $20 of gas won't take you very far these days. And you just keep having to come back to the pump every day to get another $20.. and another $20.. and again another $20. Hubby and I are so very, very fortunate and should thanks our lucky stars every day that we are both blessed with company vehicles and company gas cards...Halleluah.

The Boot Camp Journal- Day 2

The Boot Camp Journal- Day 2

Woke at 4:45am.
Dressed in workout pants this morning since daily email instructed it.
Arrived at park at 5:25am.
Was issued a resistance band.
Started out doing warm up exercises on the asphalt parking lot-
Squats, lunges, stretches, jumping jacks, etc. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.
Run uphill to the ball field.
Did I mention sopping wet grassy ball field?
Yes, we spent the next 30 minutes laying in soaking wet mushy grass on our backs.
WET WATER.
In my hair.
On my elbows.
On my hands.
Covering my entire back.
Soaked through my pants on my butt.
And let’s not forget my poor achy WET knees!
And COLD wetness mind you.
We would do all these abdominal-torturing exercises and then arm exercises with those freaking resistance bands for about 8 minutes at a time and then have to RUN ¼ mile as fast as you could.
And then do it all over again… THREE more times!
We finally ran back to the parking lot and did more arm exercises and then stretches- my legs and ab muscles were screaming…
And tonight? I can hardly walk much less climb up or down stairs!
And this is only Day 2.

The Boot Camp Journal- Day 1

I am starting a new blog series today called "The Boot Camp Journals"... Yes, I have taken the plunge and joined a boot camp exercise program. Today was the first day of the rest of my life... Mark your calendars accordingly. Cinco de Mayo 2008 is the beginning of my end. Every morning at 5:30am for the next four weeks I will be joining 25 or so other folks at a park in the Dunwoody area and participating in an outdoor program that will motivate me, inspire me, and most of all- shrink me. I will be the first to admit that I have struggled with my weight my entire life. But, once I turned 30 a few years ago, my poor ol' bones have really been telling they have taken the toll for way too long... I tried the gym thing and I just cannot get "into it" like those gym rats. Working out on a treadmill makes me feel like a hamster on his wheel. I hate all the sticky machines and the sweaty, humid smell of the building... NOT for me! I came upon this camp on the Internet and decided to join. What a better way to kick my butt into fitness?? So this morning, the alarm sounded early at 4:00am and I put on my workout clothes and headed to the park...


Operation Boot Camp- Day 1-

Took me 24 minutes to get to the Park- NO traffic- WOOHOO!
Arrived at 4:40am. No one around and way too dark to hang out by myself.
Went up the road and waited in Publix parking lot.
Joined about 25 others and 4 leaders at 5:00am
Orientation for 30 minutes- handed out our Log Book for tracking our food intake.
Announced that this first day of camp would be a PT Test- to see how fit we are...
PT Test: Run 1 mile as fast as you can, do as many push-ups, then sit-ups and then dips as you can in 1 minute each.
HUH? One ENTIRE mile? At one time? I have not run a consecutive mile in over 15 years!
And as predicted I sucked at it this morning!
First of all, it was really chilly in the night air and my lungs were heaving big time.
It was dark and I tripped a few times over unlevel sidewalks- thank you shaky legs.
My nose was running faster than me the entire 13 minutes...
Yes, my final time was 13:06- Big Bummer.
Oh well, things should only improve from there, right?

Dancing In The Rain

It will be obvious to most of you why this piece touched my heart so profoundly... an old friend of mine sent this to me in an email several weeks ago. It has been sitting in my Inbox since and almost everyday I see it there and re-read it because it truly does speak to my heart on many levels. Today, after reading it again, I decided to share it with you...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dancing in the Rain

It was a busy morning, about 8:30, when an elderly gentleman
in his 80's, arrived to have stitches removed from his thumb. He said he
was in a hurry as he had an appointment at 9:00 am.
I took his vital signs and had him take a seat, knowing it would be
over an hour before someone would to able to see him.
I saw him looking at his watch and decided, since I was not busy
with another patient, I would evaluate his wound.
On exam, it was well healed, so I talked to one of the doctors, got
the needed supplies to remove his sutures and redress his wound.
While taking care of his wound, I asked him if he had another
doctor's appointment this morning, as he was in such a hurry. The
gentleman told me no, that he needed to go to the nursing home to eat
breakfast with his wife.
I inquired as to her health. He told me that she had been there for
a while and that she was a victim of Alzheimer's disease. As we
talked, I asked if she would be upset if he was a bit late. He replied that
she no longer knew who he was, that she had not recognized him in five
years now.
I was surprised, and asked him, “And you still go every morning,
even though she doesn't know who you are?”
He smiled as he patted my hand and said, “She doesn't know me, but I
still know who she is...”.
I had to hold back tears as he left, I had goose bumps on my arm,
and thought, “That is the kind of love I want in my life.”

True love is neither physical, nor romantic. True love is an
acceptance of all that is, has been, will be, and will not be.
With all the jokes and fun that is in e-mails, sometimes there is
one that comes along that has an important message. This one I
thought I could share with you.
The happiest people don't necessarily have the best of everything;
they just make the best of everything they have.
I hope you share this with someone you care about. I just did.
“Life isn't about how to survive the storm, but how to dance in the
rain.”
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As I dab my eyes once again this morning, all I can say is "WOW" to this one... thanks, P!