Today is Halloween...and based on my pic today...you may think my workout made me barf. It didn't...I just loved the pick. I know...I'm a little warped...that's not ALL bad. Not much to say...just that this was hard...and I'm in a hurry. Happy Halloween!
I had one of the best, fun days that I have had in a LONG time. Today I did one of my most favorite things in the world. I laughed so hard that I was lying in a booth cackling like a crazy person. It was as if no one else was around. I didn't care that I was loud and obnoxious. I didn't care what people thought...which is REALLY unusual for me. I just laughed and laughed. Laughing like that...laughing so hard you can't talk...laughing so hard that you feel it in your bones...it's like nothing else.
In a few days...A will be gone. He's going to Israel...making a new life. A and I have a lot of fun and he makes me laugh...we also like to tease each other and a couple of times he has made me cry...but in the end...even when we don't agree...he's my friend...and I love my friends. I will miss him. Whatever will I do now? I'll wish him well, keep in touch, and keep moving along.
I had a pretty good day in the gym...but I really don't have anything to say about it...one way or another. So I'm going to borrow a phrase from A's old blog and just say..."Let thy words be few."
I went in...pumped for a good workout..and I got one! I also got a bit of a scare. I was doing a workout that I affectionately call "El Ciento". It's 100 of each exercise. I got through lunges...and D-ball slams...and moved on to the dreaded push ups. I did 10 at a time until I got to 80...then I did them in sets of 5 with 15 seconds rest between each set. I tend to hold my breath when I'm struggling in the gym. This can be productive when lifting a heavy weight...not so good during push ups I learned. My head was kinda hurting, but that's not unusual during a fast, hard workout. At 95, the pressure in my head was getting pretty intense...did I stop??? OF COURSE NOT...being the stubborn mule I am...Woops! NO NEGATIVITY THIS WEEK!...being the tough, strong, determined girl I am (much better)...I continued.
Well...it's another Monday...and another new week in the gym. I've been such a basket case over my body lately that I'm wondering if I need to switch to yoga or silent meditation with monks. I'm like Shallow Hal, only instead of seeing everyone as beautiful...I see myself in reverse. I see beauty as ugliness and I see fit as fat. Not good! I SO need to chill..I know that. I already mentioned this in my other blog...so I apologize to the whole 3 people that read intermittently...gotta cover all the bases and be true to my friend. ANYWHO...as I wrote in my "blonde" blog...my friend K says I need to adapt a new mantra that doesn't start with "I suck" or "I'm fat"...and this is gonna be hard. So here goes...I am beautiful. My a** looks hot in my tight jeans and spandex workout pants. When I wear a shirt with words and people stare at my chest...they are not always reading...and they are smiling. When I wear heels...my legs look long and sexy. When I walk by, people stop and stare...not because I look ugly...because I look good. I am beautiful.There you have it. Today, I don't believe it. In fact, I'm embarrassed to post this..but I'm gonna say it everyday...and pray that one day...I believe. So, once again...thanks K!
I am strong. When I compete in the gym, I do well...sometimes...I even "beat the boys". When I demonstrate movements in the gym, I can make them look easy...even when they are not. When I do a difficult movement or lift a heavy weight, others are impressed. I have a body that most women would want and I should be proud. I am strong.
"I am beautiful...My a** looks hot....."
~"Mirror, mirror on the wall, who's the fattest one of all?"~ 
Today at the gym, we had a group workout to celebrate me and my client, L's birthdays that were earlier this week. It is always fun when we have group workouts on Saturdays. It's fun to workout with and compete against different people...friends. So yesterday when J sent me the WOD for today...I saw it and replied via text "love it!"...and I meant it. When I saw it on the white board this morning...I started to worry a bit. It was running (something I love) plus 39 reps (my age) of different exercises...hard stuff like burpee pullups. It looked long and hard, but still...I went in savage...ready to fight for a spot at the top!
Okay...so I'm in a funk...a MAJOR workout funk! I'm bored and I've lost a lot of my passion. I constantly feel fat and weak. I put off working out where I use to couldn't wait to do it. It's really weird. 
I went to the gym...with EVERY intention of working hard. I had no plan...but I did plan on hittin whatever I did hard. A came up to workout too. He was doing deadlifts...I was doin back squats. He was really strong...I was weak. Finally when it was VERY apparent that I was not going to be successful, I called it a "rest day". All the while...A deadlifted 415 lbs...like it was easy. I'm glad one of us got somethin done!
I am so excessive. When I'm fat...I'm FAT...I eat to excess and I don't do a thing! When I'm in shape...I over train and worry about my body...all the time. I always wonder, "Did I do enough at the gym today?" I think I would workout 3 hours a day if my knees and hips would "allow" it. Today was no different. I had a good workout...no problems...or disappointment...just the usual question..."Is it enough?".
Today is my 39th birthday! I feel so old. I cringe at pics of myself...I worry about every line...every place on my face that use to be plumped with fat when I was young that is now sunken...every bit of loose skin...I could go on and on. I really have to keep myself in check because at times I want to run to a plastic surgeon and say "GIMME A FACE LIFT...NOW!". I'm 39!!! That's crazy!
BIRTHDAY RUN = 5 MILES
I had a really hard time last week with feeling weak. I just felt unsuccessful and inept every time I lifted weights. I have felt much better this week...much stronger. Jared asked if I wanted to try the "main page" (Crossfit) WOD and I said, "YES!" I was scared...it looked hard...but really wanted to do it.
Sometimes, I hit a snag in the road and well...when I do I tend to want to stop...I feel like I've somehow lost the race. Not so. I just need to remember a line from a song, "Life ain't a track meet. It's a marathon." Sometimes, I just gotta take it one mile...one day at a time.
Today has been hectic...a swim meet for one child...a soccer game for another...and soon I'll go to J's wedding. So...in the interest of time, I'm gonna do all I have time for. It's not much, but better than nothin!
I went in to workout...I knew what I was gonna do...I knew what time I wanted to beat. J and A were there, so we chatted a bit and then I got ready to start the stopwatch...and my workout. I kept stallin...I'm not sure why...I just was nervous and I knew once I started...I was committed til the end. I don't quit...not usually.
I LOVE autumn! I always have. I don't know if it's because I am an "autumn baby" or what. I love it when it's a little cool and I don't expect it, so I was pleasantly surprised when I walked out in my PJs to take my daughter to school this morning.
I don't think I have EVER been this behind on my blog! I am just running to catch up with myself and I'm not sure why. I feel like I'm doing lots of things...but none of them very well. Anywho...I decided to sit down and catch up day by day...no matter how tired I am...or how long it takes me...or how many times I fall asleep and wake up with my fingers on the keyboard of my computer (so far it's been 2X).
...................WOW! THOSE ARE SOME LEGS!...................
I got a chance to workout with my hubby. Usually he's at work when I go to the gym, but he was home for parent/teacher conferences at the school for our kids. I invited him to do a workout that other people at the gym did a couple of days ago...he agreed. It was tough because it included 2 runs with 100 squats and 100 push ups between. The squats were breezy...the push ups were pure pain. I was ahead of him and once I finished, I was trying to help "coach" him through the push ups. He was tired and we needed to get ready to go, so I told him to just get to 75. "That's still A LOT of push ups! and nothing to be ashamed of! Just get to 75!" Our sweet 9 yr old daughter that was watching as she colored with chalk on the driveway said very nonchalantly, "Or you can do 100 and feel proud of yourself!" OF COURSE, he did ALL 100!...and he was "proud of himself"! What a great lesson from a child...
I was supposed to workout with A, but I was late and he had obligations that he had to take care of by a certain time. That meant we didn't have time to workout together. I was really bummed, but I understood...and it was my own fault for not leaving on time. Luckily, he caught me before I drove all the way out to where he was. When I told him that I was bummed, he suggested that I still go do a hard workout...one that would get my "aggression out". So, I decided that I would. I drove to Lowe's Home Improvement and bought a 10 lb sledgehammer. I went up to CrossFit and crafted a "good one" for myself. In the midst of this, I ended up talking to J...who just happened to be working RIGHT DOWN THE STREET at the firehouse. He and a couple of his co-workers/buddies decided to come join me. They had NO IDEA what they had waiting for them! Muuuah ah ah! (evil laugh)
Today's workout went a little faster than I expected. I was too lazy to plan my own, so I just did the same workout that J had his classes do. I was hoping to get my time around 25 minutes and I did even better. My shoulders were ON FIRE, and it was tough to do the Hang Squat cleans with my knees bothering me so much lately. Anywho...the important part was that I did it...faster than I expected!
Wow! Now those are some serious PECS! His "boobs" are bigger than mine! Guys seem to like bench pressing more than us girls do, but today I was doing an "upper body" strength day...so bench pressing was on the "menu". I was trying to lift a little more weight, but it's so hard without anyone around to "spot" me. I think I strained my neck reaching back and trying to get the bar off the rack, but I completed my workout and did okay.
I'm sorry but my DAMN KNEES are really pissing me off!!! I can walk. The pain is not excruciating. I am not really injured per say...but I also can't do everything I want to do. My knee hurts...and pops. It feels weak...and I'm sick and tired of it! 
I don't have much to say about today's workout...I am HARDLY EVER at a loss for words...but all I can think to say is...I have done a very similar version of this workout before...and TODAY...it was much harder than I remembered. Surprisingly, I had to fight my way through.
"Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end..." I can't move on or grow if things stay the same, so I have to be strong even when I don't want to be. And yes...this is the end of what we had...but it is also a new beginning. I will start this week strong and I will choose to have peace in my heart.
............................LAKE McDONALD...........................
...PROPPED ON A REALLY COOL TREE ROOT AT LAKE McDONALD...
..............DRIVING UP TOWARDS LOGAN'S PASS...............
.....THE CREEK THAT WE FINALLY MADE IT TO ON OUR HIKE.....
...THE BEAUTIFUL FALL COLORS FURTHER UP THE MOUNTAIN...
..........ALMOST TO THE TOP AND STARTING TO SEE SNOW..........
...............................BREATHTAKING!...............................
So plans changed a bit...instead of Echo Lake Cafe...we met W and his posse at Somers Bay Cafe for breakfast. It was great to see him, but I have to admit that I felt a little out of place. I guess I'm like a guy friend...but I'm not a guy...and I don't know "the girls"...and I'm either older or younger than everyone here. Either way...I'm so glad to be here for W. He's such an important person in my life so it's worth it.
So, once again...I didn't get to workout traditionally...but I was huffin and puffin during that hike! We also drove up to Logan's Pass (to the Continental Divide). S was scared of my drivng and of the height. I got out at one point to take a pic right up by the edge...she was givin me "words" through the window. Ha! I love my sis!
Unfortunately S was feeling really sick to her stomach and had a bad headache by the time we made it up there, so we decided to go back down. It was a long trip, but it was well worth it to see that beauty!
THURSDAY...
WEDNESDAY...
