So the Relay went well - but I caught a pretty nasty cold from being in that gym with all those people. Well worth it, still... Blah!
I went to my kickboxing class today and it was by far the hardest one yet. I am not sure if it was so hard because of the actual routine (which was pretty crazy) or, if it was because I am fighting this cold. It was very hard to catch my breath and keep going. I had to rest many times in order to make it through the whole class. I think I was also severely dehydrated from being sick and that didn't help things.
Funny thing though - I felt so AWESOME when it was done!
One thing I have learned this past week - I can push through pain and I can push this old body harder than I ever thought possible. Basic training won't be a piece of cake but I don't think I will fall apart either. In fact, I read an article today that said running builds up the joints and strengthens the ligaments - it does not tear them down. So, I am encouraged to keep going and as Pam said, get up, dust myself off and plug away.
At least with this cold I don't feel like eating much...
The plan for tomorrow is kickboxing at 11am with a Serbian who punches trees. I thought about attending his 10am and 11am classes back to back... for about 30 seconds.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Friday, June 26, 2009
It's All UpHill From Here...
It is nice to be back at home. That being said...
I am overwhelmed by the things I must do over the next month in order to leave. Besides the usual everyday work of running a household and taking care of finances, there is the ever present middle age bulge that refuses to stay away.
I have lost the same weight over and over and over for the past year and a half. It refuses to stay away. All the diets I have done successfully in the past to drop 20 pounds don't work anymore on this body. Not only has this body seen just about every diet out there - it refuses to stick with any one diet long enough to change eating habits. I blame my body - because I REALLY want to lose the weight. It's just this body has CRAVINGS! For, you know, food.
Anyone who knows me can tell you that I am not a picky eater. I love food and will try just about anything at least once. That is how I got addicted to sushi, which is my all time most favorite food, above and beyond even sweets.
While this wonderful quality makes me great at dinner parties, it does absolutely nothing for my waistline.
For the last year and a half I have been exercising regularly. A minimum of three times a week and sometimes as much as six. I even went with a friend to a personal trainer for six weeks, five days a week. I actually ended up gaining a pound. How does that happen?! So, I switched to a cardio based exercise regimen and I ran instead of strength training. I was able to drop another ten pounds, making it a total of 35 pounds lost. This would have been great...
IF it didn't keep on creeping back on! I still need to lose another twenty pounds. Okay, I could get by with 15. But I want it off and I want it to stay off, and I want it off yesterday!
I don't think that is too much to ask.
I am overwhelmed by the things I must do over the next month in order to leave. Besides the usual everyday work of running a household and taking care of finances, there is the ever present middle age bulge that refuses to stay away.
I have lost the same weight over and over and over for the past year and a half. It refuses to stay away. All the diets I have done successfully in the past to drop 20 pounds don't work anymore on this body. Not only has this body seen just about every diet out there - it refuses to stick with any one diet long enough to change eating habits. I blame my body - because I REALLY want to lose the weight. It's just this body has CRAVINGS! For, you know, food.
Anyone who knows me can tell you that I am not a picky eater. I love food and will try just about anything at least once. That is how I got addicted to sushi, which is my all time most favorite food, above and beyond even sweets.
While this wonderful quality makes me great at dinner parties, it does absolutely nothing for my waistline.
For the last year and a half I have been exercising regularly. A minimum of three times a week and sometimes as much as six. I even went with a friend to a personal trainer for six weeks, five days a week. I actually ended up gaining a pound. How does that happen?! So, I switched to a cardio based exercise regimen and I ran instead of strength training. I was able to drop another ten pounds, making it a total of 35 pounds lost. This would have been great...
IF it didn't keep on creeping back on! I still need to lose another twenty pounds. Okay, I could get by with 15. But I want it off and I want it to stay off, and I want it off yesterday!
I don't think that is too much to ask.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
I Did It. And then some...
What a glorious Relay for Life it was!
We woke on Friday to sheets and sheets of rain. Now I don't have a problem running in the rain, but adding swimming to the activity would have been quite taxing on my 40 year old body. I knew I would already have a hard time making my 17 mile goal...
I was understandably worried.
In the afternoon my mom, Nate and I made our way to the high school to claim our spot on the track. That this event would still be outside was truly wishful thinking as it was still raining heavily, however, we were undaunted in our optimism and enthusiasm.
When we arrived we were told that the Relay was going to be held indoors - in the rather tiny gym of Hall-Dale High School. As joyous as we were that the show would go on - we were a little depressed over having to run in the tiny gym with 500 other people.
And when I say tiny gym, I mean REALLY TINY gym.
I opted to wait until midnight before joining in the fray to let the number of people in the gym thin out a little. It really wasn't so bad, as long as I could remember what lap I was on, so I could keep track of my miles.
Every 5 laps was a quarter mile - every 20 laps was a mile - every 100 laps was 5 miles and I did 20 miles - 400 laps! I beat my goal by three miles - which I ran at the end. It was 6am and I was totally beat.
My husband, my hero, and my son Nate arrived with Dunkin Donuts coffee at 7am and saved my day! Then I went back to the farmhouse at 10am...
...and died.
Post note:
*My mom did 16 miles - beating her goal of 15 miles. This is the best mother/daughter activity I can think of to be involved in. This is our 2nd year doing this together. It was worth every jarring step we took. The Greater Augusta Relay raised over $100,000 for the American Cancer Society.
Our "Nor'easter's - Blowing Away Cancer" team mates are amazing and I love them all.
I want to keep doing this when I am in the Army.
With my mom and in memory of my Grampy.
Hoping to see you again next year Greater Augusta Relay for Life!
Blessings!
We woke on Friday to sheets and sheets of rain. Now I don't have a problem running in the rain, but adding swimming to the activity would have been quite taxing on my 40 year old body. I knew I would already have a hard time making my 17 mile goal...
I was understandably worried.
In the afternoon my mom, Nate and I made our way to the high school to claim our spot on the track. That this event would still be outside was truly wishful thinking as it was still raining heavily, however, we were undaunted in our optimism and enthusiasm.
When we arrived we were told that the Relay was going to be held indoors - in the rather tiny gym of Hall-Dale High School. As joyous as we were that the show would go on - we were a little depressed over having to run in the tiny gym with 500 other people.
And when I say tiny gym, I mean REALLY TINY gym.
I opted to wait until midnight before joining in the fray to let the number of people in the gym thin out a little. It really wasn't so bad, as long as I could remember what lap I was on, so I could keep track of my miles.
Every 5 laps was a quarter mile - every 20 laps was a mile - every 100 laps was 5 miles and I did 20 miles - 400 laps! I beat my goal by three miles - which I ran at the end. It was 6am and I was totally beat.
My husband, my hero, and my son Nate arrived with Dunkin Donuts coffee at 7am and saved my day! Then I went back to the farmhouse at 10am...
...and died.
Post note:
*My mom did 16 miles - beating her goal of 15 miles. This is the best mother/daughter activity I can think of to be involved in. This is our 2nd year doing this together. It was worth every jarring step we took. The Greater Augusta Relay raised over $100,000 for the American Cancer Society.
Our "Nor'easter's - Blowing Away Cancer" team mates are amazing and I love them all.
I want to keep doing this when I am in the Army.
With my mom and in memory of my Grampy.
Hoping to see you again next year Greater Augusta Relay for Life!
Blessings!
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Well It's About Time...
Sorry about not posting sooner - a quick update:
Tuesday morning David and I left for Maine - planning a stopover in Virginia. It was a nice drive but I felt heavy, thick and fat. Resulting from kickboxing withdrawals I am sure.
We arrived in Maine late Wednesday night and hit the sack.
Thursday was spent in the Portland area as we waited for Nate's flight to arrive in the early evening. Portland Headlight and Ft William were wonderful places to play. They brought back nice memories from my childhood - climbing all over the rocks and the battery. I remember also exploring the Goddard House but it is now secured against all but the most persistent climbers.
I felt better having been out and using my legs a bit. Didn't feel so fatty, fat fat!
Today we are getting ready to run the Relay for Life at Hall-Dale High School. It will be soggy as it is raining buckets here in Maine, but it will be an adventure. I am looking forward to stretching the legs and seeing how far I can run this time.
Last year I ran/walked 13 miles. I am hoping for 17 miles this year... we will see.
Pray that the rain lets up - and my feet hold out!
Tuesday morning David and I left for Maine - planning a stopover in Virginia. It was a nice drive but I felt heavy, thick and fat. Resulting from kickboxing withdrawals I am sure.
We arrived in Maine late Wednesday night and hit the sack.
Thursday was spent in the Portland area as we waited for Nate's flight to arrive in the early evening. Portland Headlight and Ft William were wonderful places to play. They brought back nice memories from my childhood - climbing all over the rocks and the battery. I remember also exploring the Goddard House but it is now secured against all but the most persistent climbers.
I felt better having been out and using my legs a bit. Didn't feel so fatty, fat fat!
Today we are getting ready to run the Relay for Life at Hall-Dale High School. It will be soggy as it is raining buckets here in Maine, but it will be an adventure. I am looking forward to stretching the legs and seeing how far I can run this time.
Last year I ran/walked 13 miles. I am hoping for 17 miles this year... we will see.
Pray that the rain lets up - and my feet hold out!
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Doing it Right
Today in kickboxing class I learned how to round kick the correct way. It makes a very satisfying "Whap" sound. I like it.
I also learned that I need to breathe while I punch and kick - catching my breath in between combinations, when we are supposed to be doing floor work, just opens me up to the trainer saying, "What do you need a special invitation? Let's go, let's go, let's go!" He is like a polite Drill Sargent - well maybe not so polite - he does call me "Retarded Left."
It is very difficult to be left-handed in a kickboxing class because you have to reverse all the combinations - so, after two pretty humiliating classes of trying to keep up I decided to just go right. SO much easier. I was surprised to find that my right arm and leg are much stronger and more coordinated than my left. Go figure.
I am tempted to attend the 5:30pm class tonight - I am that addicted! But good sense tells me that it would be really bad if I overextended and then got hurt. So, I will have to wait a week for my next fix.
In the meantime, I dream of stuffed punching bags and the sweet sound of "Whap!"
I also learned that I need to breathe while I punch and kick - catching my breath in between combinations, when we are supposed to be doing floor work, just opens me up to the trainer saying, "What do you need a special invitation? Let's go, let's go, let's go!" He is like a polite Drill Sargent - well maybe not so polite - he does call me "Retarded Left."
It is very difficult to be left-handed in a kickboxing class because you have to reverse all the combinations - so, after two pretty humiliating classes of trying to keep up I decided to just go right. SO much easier. I was surprised to find that my right arm and leg are much stronger and more coordinated than my left. Go figure.
I am tempted to attend the 5:30pm class tonight - I am that addicted! But good sense tells me that it would be really bad if I overextended and then got hurt. So, I will have to wait a week for my next fix.
In the meantime, I dream of stuffed punching bags and the sweet sound of "Whap!"
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Accountability Post
Kickboxing today with a friend of mine was WONDERFUL! She remarked that it would have been nice to have that class when she was having man problems. Even without man problems I can find plenty of faces to put on that bag!
I feel amazing and motivated.
Army Basic Training will never know what hit them - okay well, maybe that is too ambitious a statement. My barracks of teens and 20 somethings will never know what hit them!
Momma/Granny my a$$!
If someone had said 5 years ago that I would be in the Army now I would have laughed in their face. It is amazing what a little economic desperation and a love of learning will get you!
This 40 year old body will have to step up and perform. I know I can do it.
But will the Army survive it?
:o)
I feel amazing and motivated.
Army Basic Training will never know what hit them - okay well, maybe that is too ambitious a statement. My barracks of teens and 20 somethings will never know what hit them!
Momma/Granny my a$$!
If someone had said 5 years ago that I would be in the Army now I would have laughed in their face. It is amazing what a little economic desperation and a love of learning will get you!
This 40 year old body will have to step up and perform. I know I can do it.
But will the Army survive it?
:o)
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Mis-Perception
I have survived my second kickboxing class. In fact, I more than survived - I feel euphoric. There is something about beating on that bag that just soothes my soul and energizes my spirit.
Does this mean I am a violent person?
Someone once asked me, "When did you first start feeling so angry?"
I replied: "I can't ever remember not feeling angry."
I may be angry, but I have never seen myself as a violent person - despite the episodes where my children seemed determined to drive me into digging shallow graves in the backyard to inter their ungrateful little butts. Thankfully for them, those episodes were short-lived. For the most part my anger peaks quickly and just as quickly loses steam, not leaving too much time for breakage.
These thoughts led me to another time when someone else asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up - I remember saying I wanted to be a cowboy. A cowboy? You must mean a cowgirl - nope I replied, a cowboy. *
Is this why I love kickboxing so much? It seems to be such a cowboy-like (aka manly) thing to do.
This "mis-perception" of my future occupation continued through elementary school until finally it was made clear to me that I would have to settle for being a cowgirl. Life sucks sometimes. Cowgirls were just so decidedly... uncool.
Boys got to do everything and they were stronger and didn't cry so much and were, you know, awesome.
It irks me sometimes to know that I won't be allowed to participate in any combat positions in the Army. On the one hand I want to prove that I can hold my own and, on the other hand, another (girly) part of me is relieved. Personally, I think I really just want to kick butt!
So, I will be continuing this kickboxing class at Knuckle Up in Alpharetta, GA. The staff is awesome and the workout cannot be beat. (No pun intended.)
Join me there. You won't regret it.
*On a side note, why do we do this to our kids? I understand encouraging and cultivating dreams but what if they truly do not know? Panic sets in and they get this deer in the headlights look! This happens more frequently the closer they get to their high school graduation... come on people! I am still trying to figure it out at 40!
Does this mean I am a violent person?
Someone once asked me, "When did you first start feeling so angry?"
I replied: "I can't ever remember not feeling angry."
I may be angry, but I have never seen myself as a violent person - despite the episodes where my children seemed determined to drive me into digging shallow graves in the backyard to inter their ungrateful little butts. Thankfully for them, those episodes were short-lived. For the most part my anger peaks quickly and just as quickly loses steam, not leaving too much time for breakage.
These thoughts led me to another time when someone else asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up - I remember saying I wanted to be a cowboy. A cowboy? You must mean a cowgirl - nope I replied, a cowboy. *
Is this why I love kickboxing so much? It seems to be such a cowboy-like (aka manly) thing to do.
This "mis-perception" of my future occupation continued through elementary school until finally it was made clear to me that I would have to settle for being a cowgirl. Life sucks sometimes. Cowgirls were just so decidedly... uncool.
Boys got to do everything and they were stronger and didn't cry so much and were, you know, awesome.
It irks me sometimes to know that I won't be allowed to participate in any combat positions in the Army. On the one hand I want to prove that I can hold my own and, on the other hand, another (girly) part of me is relieved. Personally, I think I really just want to kick butt!
So, I will be continuing this kickboxing class at Knuckle Up in Alpharetta, GA. The staff is awesome and the workout cannot be beat. (No pun intended.)
Join me there. You won't regret it.
*On a side note, why do we do this to our kids? I understand encouraging and cultivating dreams but what if they truly do not know? Panic sets in and they get this deer in the headlights look! This happens more frequently the closer they get to their high school graduation... come on people! I am still trying to figure it out at 40!
Friday, June 12, 2009
Do I Qualify As a Cult Leader Now?
Wow - I now have my very own follower. In celebration, I have chosen to answer her question in this post, which is technically the very first one. Thanks Pam for your support!
Pam's question was: "Is "Artemis" one of your nicknames? Where does that come from?"
Answer:
I was looking for a nickname I could use on the Army Forums/Discussion Boards. A friend once told me that if someone asks if you are a god - you say, "Yes!" In an effort to follow this advice and to be original and creative, I thought I would try some of the old Greek/Roman goddesses and see what might be cool.
Artemis is one of the most widely venerated, which I thought fit my friend's requirement quite well, and the oldest, which I thought was also fitting under the circumstances of me joining the Army at 40 years of age.
Her best known cults were also on the Island of Delos. The origin of my name Dela: "From the Island of Delos" seemed to be more than just a coincidence.
And lastly, she is a huntress after all. The best huntress to hear her tell it. I imagine that will come in quite handy as a soldier.
I handily ignored the fact that she requested to remain chaste and unencumbered by marriage - especially in light of the fact that I am quite happily married and decidedly unchaste in that regard... for which my husband is eternally grateful.
I think that answers your question Pam. Thank you again for your support and encouragement!
On a side note and in an effort to be accountable - I have joined a kickboxing class to get in shape for Basic Training. The first class was yesterday - from which I am recovering today. I have another class tomorrow and one on Saturday... then again on Monday before heading to Maine for a week.
While in Maine I will be participating in a Relay for Life at Hall-Dale HS - visit if you can. I will be running, so bring your sneakers!
God Bless!
I have some hunting to do...
Pam's question was: "Is "Artemis" one of your nicknames? Where does that come from?"
Answer:
I was looking for a nickname I could use on the Army Forums/Discussion Boards. A friend once told me that if someone asks if you are a god - you say, "Yes!" In an effort to follow this advice and to be original and creative, I thought I would try some of the old Greek/Roman goddesses and see what might be cool.
Artemis is one of the most widely venerated, which I thought fit my friend's requirement quite well, and the oldest, which I thought was also fitting under the circumstances of me joining the Army at 40 years of age.
Her best known cults were also on the Island of Delos. The origin of my name Dela: "From the Island of Delos" seemed to be more than just a coincidence.
And lastly, she is a huntress after all. The best huntress to hear her tell it. I imagine that will come in quite handy as a soldier.
I handily ignored the fact that she requested to remain chaste and unencumbered by marriage - especially in light of the fact that I am quite happily married and decidedly unchaste in that regard... for which my husband is eternally grateful.
I think that answers your question Pam. Thank you again for your support and encouragement!
On a side note and in an effort to be accountable - I have joined a kickboxing class to get in shape for Basic Training. The first class was yesterday - from which I am recovering today. I have another class tomorrow and one on Saturday... then again on Monday before heading to Maine for a week.
While in Maine I will be participating in a Relay for Life at Hall-Dale HS - visit if you can. I will be running, so bring your sneakers!
God Bless!
I have some hunting to do...
Getting Started
In February of 2008 I walked into a National Guard Recruiting office. "I am overweight and old but I have a degree, can you use me?" I took the ASVAB to find out and scored a 90.
Yes, they wanted me.
In July, my recruiter insisted that I go to MEPS (military entrance processing station) even though I didn't feel ready. The result was predictable; I was still too heavy and my cholesterol was above normal. So, now I needed to lose more weight and get a waiver for the high cholesterol.
In October my weight was acceptable and my cholesterol within normal range but my recruiter was nowhere to be found. I was very frustrated and depressed over the whole process.
After the holidays and at the insistence of my husband David, I contacted another recruiter. She got to work immediately on my profile and worked hard to get me in before the age limit was lowered from 42 to 35. Unfortunately my waiver for the high cholesterol, that I no longer had, did not appear in time. I was out of luck for the National Guard but all was not lost. My recruiter handed me over to an Active Army Recruiter and I was on my way again.
After several MEPS trips, sweating bullets each time on whether I would still make the height/weight requirements, I was FINALLY enlisted as a 27D (Paralegal) and given the ship date of August 11, 2009. This is just two weeks after my son Nate leaves for Marine Boot Camp.
Yes, we will be sharing this journey, my son and me.
In an effort to keep family and friends abreast of the happenings with me and to give out vital contact information (I say vital because that may be all that gets me through basic training!), I started an email group list. Now the list is so long that it forced me to rethink my strategy and come up with something a bit more manageable for my husband.
Thus, this blog.
If you requested to be included on the Basic Training Group email list then you will want to subscribe to this blog. Even if you aren't on the list, I encourage you to subscribe, or at least visit often. I promise that there will be many humorous things to read about my experiences in the US Army. I mean, I am 40 and just now going into Basic Training - that in itself is hysterical.
So, now that you are up to date, I will be posting my physical progress here while I ready myself and my family for my absence.
Please feel free to comment.
Hoo ah!
Yes, they wanted me.
In July, my recruiter insisted that I go to MEPS (military entrance processing station) even though I didn't feel ready. The result was predictable; I was still too heavy and my cholesterol was above normal. So, now I needed to lose more weight and get a waiver for the high cholesterol.
In October my weight was acceptable and my cholesterol within normal range but my recruiter was nowhere to be found. I was very frustrated and depressed over the whole process.
After the holidays and at the insistence of my husband David, I contacted another recruiter. She got to work immediately on my profile and worked hard to get me in before the age limit was lowered from 42 to 35. Unfortunately my waiver for the high cholesterol, that I no longer had, did not appear in time. I was out of luck for the National Guard but all was not lost. My recruiter handed me over to an Active Army Recruiter and I was on my way again.
After several MEPS trips, sweating bullets each time on whether I would still make the height/weight requirements, I was FINALLY enlisted as a 27D (Paralegal) and given the ship date of August 11, 2009. This is just two weeks after my son Nate leaves for Marine Boot Camp.
Yes, we will be sharing this journey, my son and me.
In an effort to keep family and friends abreast of the happenings with me and to give out vital contact information (I say vital because that may be all that gets me through basic training!), I started an email group list. Now the list is so long that it forced me to rethink my strategy and come up with something a bit more manageable for my husband.
Thus, this blog.
If you requested to be included on the Basic Training Group email list then you will want to subscribe to this blog. Even if you aren't on the list, I encourage you to subscribe, or at least visit often. I promise that there will be many humorous things to read about my experiences in the US Army. I mean, I am 40 and just now going into Basic Training - that in itself is hysterical.
So, now that you are up to date, I will be posting my physical progress here while I ready myself and my family for my absence.
Please feel free to comment.
Hoo ah!
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