First workout with a personal trainer

23 Feb 2013 Leave a comment

by lifefullyinhabited in Uncategorized Tags: , , ,

Okay, so I survived my first workout yesterday.  This morning however, I feel like I’m walking in a fun house.  My legs are sooooo wobbly.  There are some muscles in these old legs of mine that haven’t been used for awhile.  I could tip over at any moment.  In spite of this, I am going to attempt a yoga class this morning.

Speaking of personal trainers, I think I have a nice one.  He’s very encouraging and he didn’t laugh at my attempts on the big rolly-polly exercise ball when I thought I would go flying across the room!  I give him points for that.

He kept asking me if I was doing okay, if I needed a short break, or if I needed water.  Makes me wonder if I looked like I was dying.  I lied and lied and told him I was just fine.  I have a few shreds of pride, after all.

Call me crazy.

I had a protein shake yesterday made with fresh pineapple and carrots.  It was quite delicious.  It would be refreshing on a hot humid summer day.  Yesterday it was in the twenties and snowing and windy, so the cold drink was followed by two cups of hot tea with honey.

It’s gonna take me awhile to figure all this out.  In the meantime, I may act a little crazy from time to time.  Bear with me, people!

More changes this week

22 Feb 2013 1 Comment

by lifefullyinhabited in Uncategorized Tags: , , , , ,

Yeah for protein shakes!  I bought my very first canister of protein powder, french vanilla flavor.  Mixed it with milk, unsweetened cocoa powder, and 1 cup of raspberries.  Eh, it was okay.  I might have NOT followed any recipe and just added too much unsweetened cocoa powder.  Don’t recommend it.  I’ll try again.  Less cocoa, no raspberries.

In the process of trying to eat more protein, I’m realizing how many carbs I want to eat!  I hope I don’t get tooo crabby.

On the positive side, I haven’t had any diet soda for 3 days and I don’t really miss it.  I never thought I would be able to make it through a day without it.  Then two weeks ago I read an article in AARP magazine that made me think I should quit the diet soda habit.  A recent study found that diet soda drinkers increased their risk of diabeties by 30% or something crazy like that.  So I started weaning off of it.  And now I think I’m done.

I started brewing my own iced tea and making flavored waters with lemons and cucumbers and such.  I’m getting enough caffeine with coffee and tea, so no withdrawl headaches.  And I have lots of handy hydration that is way more satisfying than diet soda.

(also no more embarassing burping)

What’s next for this old gal?  Maybe I can give up real cheese!  Someday.  Not yet!

Trying Something New

21 Feb 2013 2 Comments

by lifefullyinhabited in Uncategorized Tags: , , , , ,

So, I have decided to try something new.

February 20, 2013

I am taking another step in my journey through life, trying to live my life fully inhabited.  It seems to come so natural, the tendency to live unconsciously.  I need a jolt every now and then to bring back the awe and wonder that LIFE is, and dive deep into it.

So I have taken the next deep plunge into getting my body in shape for where my soul and spirit want to go.  Its a team ride, this ride through life.  All parts of me have to be willing to take the ride.  My body is holding me back.  It has been for a long time.  Let’s just say I’ve had a bad decade.

The good news is that its never too late to get on the ride.  And the body has willing traveling companions:  the soul and the spirit and the mind.

So hop on board the  fitness train.  Take this journey with me.  We’ll have some laughs, we’ll have some insights, we’ll shed some tears and hopefully lots of pounds of unwanted body fat.

I joined a fitness center.

I know, I’ve allowed myself to be talked into the deluxe package.  I’ve allowed myself to be talked into sessions with a personal trainer.  I know I’m probably being taken for a ride.

Cynicism is what I do best.  Along with beating myself up with guilt.

On the other hand, this could possibly be the smartest thing I’ve done for myself in a very long time.  I hope I survive the guilt of spending money on myself for what seems to be a gamble.

I need to see it as an investment in my health and well being.  I need to stop listening to the other messages in my head.  The little gnomes that hobble around on knarled feet and cackle that this is just something else I will fail at.

I hope to honestly record my ups and downs along this journey to a better, more fully inhabited life.  You may be inspired.  You may laugh.

I may be on just a lonely quest, just one desperate woman trying to find some hope and success in an area where failure and disappointment have been my only nurishment thus far.

Today I had a fitness assessment.

I met with my new “friend” : the personal trainer and nutrition consultant.  He’s a cute young thing.  He shall remain anonymous.  He seems every excited to help me transform.  He thinks I should track calories and eat more protein.  Sounds reasonable.  He also said I should switch to fat-free cheese.  I told him that’s like drinking non-alcholic beer:  WHAT’s the point!!???  Geez, I’m from Wisconsin.  We eat REAL CHEESE here!

I’ll try.  I’m not as excited as he is.  He obviously doesn’t have the decade of baggage of failure and the numerous decades of fighting extra poundage that I do.  It’s really and literally weighing me down.

I am, however, the kind of person that with even a shred of encouragement, can bounce up to optimistic quickly.

I’m hoping for a high protein kind of day!

 

Why?

15 Dec 2012 Leave a comment

by lifefullyinhabited in Uncategorized Tags:

I was going to write about preparing for Christmas, but in light of the tragedy in Connecticut yesterday, another thing entirely came to mind.

Why?

I have lots of questions that all start with “why”.

Why does this tragedy enflame a discussion about gun control?

Why are we not debating, instead, about how to help those with mental illness?

In almost every case of mass shooting, the person who did these unthinkable crimes was someone with a history of mental illness.  Why are people not getting the help, the therapy, the medication, etc. that they need?  Why are their families not getting the help and support they need?

Why does this have to be about gun control?

Why, in this great country of ours, can we not focus properly on people as the highest priority?

Why do we tolerate celebrities getting millions of dollars to entertain us, but we pay our teachers barely enough to make a living?

Why?

Why does the Congress debate a “fiscal cliff” and threaten to cut aid to the most vulnerable among us when they aren’t doing their job?

If they can’t resolve the budget issues, don’t we as a people have a right to cut their funds off?  Why does someone else suffer if the elected officials don’t do their job?  In the real world, if you don’t do your job, you get fired.

Why?

All I have right now are lots of questions.  Why? Why? Why?  Why did all those children die?  Why?  Why did teachers die?

I’m usually not one to go off a political rant.  I really don’t like to debate politics.  But these are really human issues, not political ones.  Or they should be human issues.

Why can we not make people, all people a priority in our society?

Decency can’t be legislated, it has to be practiced by everyone.  Every day.  In every way.

So, as we are all going to have to keep moving forward, in spite of our collective grief and shock, Christmas is coming.  Most of us are preparing in some way.

Maybe this tragedy will change how you behave while you are huslting and bustling about town.  Maybe you will toss a few extra dollars in the red buckets.  Maybe you will stop before a lighted tree and say a prayer for a grieving family.  Maybe you will be more patient while waiting in line at the stores.

Maybe you will be moved to be a better human being.  Maybe you will see the dark, ugly side of yourself when you find it difficult to be a better human being.

Maybe then you will be motivated to find out what Christmas is really all about.

For no particular reason. . . or “Forrest Gumping it” through the parkway

03 Nov 2012 Leave a comment

by lifefullyinhabited in Uncategorized Tags: , , , ,

For no particular reason today I decided to start running.  Well, okay, jogging.  Realistically it was like fast walk- shuffling, barely getting my feet off the ground one after the other.

So here’s what happened.  I was walking the dog, Twiggy.  We were on our usual Menomonee River Parkway trail.

There were few other humans in sight.

For no particular reason, I decided to pick up the pace.  Once I did, Twiggy must have thought, “Finally!!!” She went faster.  I tried to keep up with her.  Faster still she went.    She starting actually dragging me.

I tried to slow down.  I prayed that the good Lord would blind the eyes of anyone who caught sight of us.

I thought I might have an asthma attack.  I tried to slow down.  Then I realized I was keeping up with the Twiggster.

Please don’t think this was fun.  This was insanity.  I hate running.

When we got home, I thought I would try  “Forrest Gumping it” through a box of chocolates!  That’s really more my sport.

No chocolate in the house.

So I did what any reasonable human would do, I took a hot bath , some ibuprophen, and tried to regain my dignity.

If you happen to come across me someday on the trail getting dragged by a cute, fluffy dog, please have the decency to avert your eyes.

This will save both of us a lot of shame!

Some poetic thoughts

02 Nov 2012 Leave a comment

by lifefullyinhabited in Uncategorized

I am not an overnight sensation

I am not an instant success

I am more than the form of skin that defines the space I live within

Please don’t judge me by the instant you see me

please try to look at the spirit inside me that is trying to breathe free

I don’t have all the answers

I am not even sure of the questions

All I know is that my heart keeps beating, my lungs keep breathing

That counts for something

And the spirit and soul that is really me chaffs and scratches on the walls  they are forced to live, caged.

So very much inside me wants more, needs more, endless yearning to be known

I don’t have the words, I don’t have the means, there is only groaning

Longing for everything to be made right.  Everything in me and for everyone I know and love.

Everything in the world that is wrong and hurtful, I long for all to be made right.

so I keep breathing in and out.  I keep scratching on the cage. 

I am not spontaneous.  I am constant.  I am loyal.  No overnight glitz, not a one time pizzazz, I spurt, I sputter.

Some days I do strong, some days I do weak.  but all days i do breathe.   And that means something. 

Finding the Beauty in “Past Peak”

17 Oct 2012 1 Comment

by lifefullyinhabited in Uncategorized Tags: , , , , ,

10-16-2012

Took a walk today, with my camera, to the woods.  I snapped some photos of what I would like to call “past peak”.  The trees and leaves are past peak in terms of fall color.  but I wanted to see if I could still find the beauty of nature in past peak performance.  It was overcast and pleasant temps.  The rainy weekend prevented any walking and I thought the dog and I really needed to get out.  I think I found beauty in some unlikely places.

There is a unique beauty to one tree that has some of its leaves gone and the others in the process of falling and others still holding onto their glory.  All the surrounding trees are bare or brown or evergreens.

It is this one tree that captures my attention.  It stands in stark contrast to its surroundings.  How brave and brazen is this tree?  How dare it still declare its flaming colors to the rest of the world?  When fall color was at peak, this tree didn’t seem so flamboyant surrounded by others sporting like colors.  All the trees melded together to form a vista of beautiful warmth.  But now, this lone tree gets more attention.

There is also this one spot where several tree trunks form a surprise linear composition.  The foliage is not so much the star now, past peak.  The underlying structure of the tree stands out.  I would not have noticed this on my walk two weeks ago.  The beauty of the trunk and limbs and their graceful balance is striking.

              Another beautiful composition that caught my eye is the willow tree and its reflection in the creek.  Also something that I would not have noticed a few weeks ago.  I was so mesmerized by all the color, I missed the lines.

Today I noticed.

These things in nature speak to me.  The beauty of the “past peak” stage.  The truth is, that my age would put me in the category of “past peak”.  A woman in her fifties, not noticed too much in a youth-oriented culture.  I can walk down a street or in the mall and feel invisible.  Overlooked.  I don’t attract attention with flamboyant colors or clothes.

I don’t have that dewy youthful glow anymore.  No one would turn back and look twice at me.

I really don’t mind.  It is freeing to be this invisible.  There is something that shows in me

that is more beautiful than a dewy youthful complexion.  There is a sassiness

and twinkle in my eyes now.  I don’t really care what others think.

I’m comfortable with me.

The beautiful graceful foundation of my character speaks louder than the quality of my clothes.  The audacity of my joy makes me a standout in a world of haters.  And the gorgeous reflection of who I am, I hope, speaks of the One I am trying to reflect.

Peak colors, or past peak, the trees still stand.

The ones that have fallen have fallen naturally, not cut by chainsaws

and the hands of man.

There is a quiet honor about the tree fallen in the woods,

like a soldier dying with his boots on.

     And then there is this peace rose that just won’t quit blooming, no matter how cold the nights have been.

It just keeps producing new buds and blooms.

When all the flowers in the garden were parading their finery, this rose was nearly invisible.

Now, when all other contenders have withered in the frost or gone to seed, this one rose bush is a stand-out.

There is beauty “past peak”.  It may be a different kind of beauty and you may have to search a little harder to find it.    But it is no less stunning.

Blessings, and have a great day!

Leaves and Glory

09 Oct 2012 1 Comment

by lifefullyinhabited in Uncategorized

Leaves and Glory

“3 And even if our gospelis veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 The godof this age has blinded  the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ,   who is the image of God.   5 For what we preach is not ourselves,   but Jesus Christ as Lord,   and ourselves as your servants   for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,”   made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. ” 

2 Corinthians 4:3-6

I am convinced that even “believers” can have their vision “veiled”, and a veiled believer is often a dangerous person.  We can believe in Jesus as our Saviour and become blinded by many so-called gods of this age.  Especially the god of self-righteousness.  Or the god of self-pity.  Or the god of materialism.  You get the idea.

Autumn is a wonderful time to do a heart check.  Am I blinded or veiled by anything that takes away from the glory of God reflecting in my life?

As the leaves around us turn from calming green to blazing glory, we can assess the “leaves” in our own lives.  What am I “leaving” behind me?

The psalmist says “surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life”.  What’s following you?  Is your path strewn with goodness and mercy, which brings glory to God?  Or is the path behind you strewn with people you’ve wounded with judgements and criticism?

Sometimes we can get caught up in running from Bible study to church, to conferences, to seminars.  Just gluttonizing on the scriptures and knowledge.  And we never give back or share or let God really use our lives, broken and spilled out for Him.

All those green green growing leaves, which are not necessarily bad.  Until stresses hit unawares.  Like leaves on a tree that don’t change from green to glory, when the frost hits, those leaves turn black and whither, never reavealing the beauty underneath the green.  Leaves that turn from green to glory survive the frost better and the glory is the broken, spilled out golden blazing hues.

I want my life to reveal God’s glory, not my own.  It’s not easy.  But every time I turn toward God even just a little bit, the veil is brought down.

Every time I have a challenging situation or person to deal with, when I turn toward God, the veil is removed.  And His glory blazes like the sugar maple in full autumnal splendor.

Blazing Glory

02 Oct 2012 Leave a comment

by lifefullyinhabited in Uncategorized

lifefullyinhabited's avatarlifefullyinhabited

There is something about an attitude of acceptance that brings peace to my soul.  if I can graciously accept my situation, my circumstances, my limitations, I am instantly at peace.

I accept what the moment brings me.  I accept where the moment takes me.  I accept who the moment brings me.  I am at peace.

Then there are the stubborn days.  days of resistance.  days of strife.  hard days.  no peace.  anxiety and tension rule the moments that were meant for higher, loftier goals.

This summer I did not do much writing or blogging, but I did a lot of “accepting”.  I am hoping to be able to share some of the fruits of my summer thoughts in my blog over the next several entries.

If you feel like maybe you need an attitude adjustment some days, try adjusting the dial to “acceptance mode”.   Once you do, a whole new…

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Acceptance

02 Oct 2012 2 Comments

by lifefullyinhabited in Uncategorized

There is something about an attitude of acceptance that brings peace to my soul.  if I can graciously accept my situation, my circumstances, my limitations, I am instantly at peace.

I accept what the moment brings me.  I accept where the moment takes me.  I accept who the moment brings me.  I am at peace.

Then there are the stubborn days.  days of resistance.  days of strife.  hard days.  no peace.  anxiety and tension rule the moments that were meant for higher, loftier goals.

This summer I did not do much writing or blogging, but I did a lot of “accepting”.  I am hoping to be able to share some of the fruits of my summer thoughts in my blog over the next several entries.

If you feel like maybe you need an attitude adjustment some days, try adjusting the dial to “acceptance mode”.   Once you do, a whole new world can open up.

Blessings!

 

 

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