Need a Towel?

Well its the day after Christmas and all is well! The visit with Mom is going amazingly well and I am feeling good! I must confess, like most of America during the holidays, the scale is up :-(  I know why so no need to lament over it. 


On the positive side I have been hitting the gym! I went for a Christmas eve workout and today for a post Christmas day workout! I WISH  I could take the credit however my personal trainer is the angel on my shoulder or the angel in my blackberry telling me to come work out. He is so... invaluable! There  is something to be said for pursuing your passion. He clearly has a heart to help others with health and fitness even today afterwards he texted me to say good job. Its the little things that mean so much to me along this journey.


But for the jokes b/c you KNOW I got 'em! Charles did one of his signature Chizel It classes today. So it was a combo of cardio and strength training. We set up two steps in the shape of an L and went to work! We added bicep curls, chest presses, rows, etc. all while stepping up and down on the steps... yes both steps! So we would go on the step in front of us then turn to the left and go up and down on the step to our left and back in front! Then to mix it up we would do squats and when we got "bored" lol we'd do 32 jumping jacks to mix it up! I felt in my zone to quote Jay Z & Kayne so I was going hard with the jumping jacks which I typically don't do. I usually do some form of a modification but I busted all 4 sets out and Charles had to stop and say "I see you pumped up today! That's right break free..Break free with exercise!" 


That struck me because I have had a lot of things going on in terms of death. I mentioned last post and after that our family cat CJ died on Christmas eve :-( She was almost 17 years old so we knew it was time that's almost 109 years in human years but it didn't make it any less sad. I am tearing up just thinking about seeing her. I must say I have been very sheltered from death to be 36 years old. I know people who have lost many family members and friends and I doubt it is any easier for them but I feel like I am so ill prepared to deal with death.


I have been feeling very sad lately and Charles's words really hit home because I can't let the death around me stop me from living my best life. Exercise and journaling have been life savers for me. That was a good reminder for me today... There are undeniable benefits to both for your mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual health. So I am grateful that Charles is such an encouraging and caring person b/c I needed all of that today! 


But enough of that...*exhaling* 


The workout....


I. Was. Struggling. I can't lie! At a point I felt sweat drop from my ear! Charles started to say something to me during class and I yelled "I AM SWEATING FROM MY EAR!" To which he replied "Oh! You need a towel?" 

*Falling out* LOL all I could say was "Yes please" lol a few minutes later he came back and said "That's a new one! Here you go!"  LOL


Ahhh gotta love him!!!


All in all a good workout! 


Afterwards I had a meeting downtown regarding my new role in the Junior League! I am chairing the Wise Penny Internship and Mentoring Program. That was my first placement so it is near and dear to me because it is a DIRECT form of community service. I truly enjoyed it when I served as a mentor. The intern I mentored went on to get a full time retail job which turned into a management position 6 months later, she lost weight, and got her own car. A real success story from being on public assistance and working part time! So I am excited about chairing the committee and working with a new group of women! 


Needless to say that's an added responsibility and another potential  distraction from my health and fitness routine BUT the benefits will out weigh the cost. Its going to be all about time management.  I really have no excuse there is a Lynne Bricks gym on the corner so anytime I have meeting I could squeeze in a workout either before or after! The impact of this program is far reaching; it helps the women, their children, and the community. Its a great example of the saying if you want to feed a man for a day you can give him a fish, but you want to feed him for a lifetime teach him to fish. They learn about resumes, customer service, budgeting, and basic life and professionalism skills to change their lives. 


It doesn't get better than that. 


Well anyhoo tomorrow I have another workout planned with Charles. I am looking forward to it. Even though the scale is up no need to compound the food problem with not exercising.  :-)
Plus the exercise is a natural mood enhancer! 


On the dating front I am starting 2012 with a clean slate well that was/is the plan but I spoke with Beres fan and he got me something for Christmas. Humm that makes one of us...Mean Girl...lol . I told him he didn't have to but whatever. I don't want to go into 2012 with any anger or animosity. Life is too short. I am not mad at him... really... I think it has been helpful to see some of my typical dating behaviors done to me... lol... and that's all I say about that. I am bossy and like to have things just so and just so is usually defined as my way. And well there has been a moment of clarity for me. I got the new Drake CD and there is a song on there that says something like "We just need something different." That's poetic to me. I don't think he's a bad person and I know I aint... I'm bossy but not bad... but I think we both just need something different and that's ok! While watching the movie The Adjustment Bureau made me really think about that idea of when two people are inexplicable drawn to each other but they just can't seem to get it right... but only time will tell....another friend wants to hook me up with someone from law school I asked her to wait until the new year... so again time will tell!


I've said it before, my journey has been about going from theory to practice. Its so easy to read something and said Ah ha! I got it but really until God puts you in a position to work things out in the real world you really don't got it lol that's been my biggest lesson in 2011.  


I started reading a new book called The Seat of the Soul. Its very timely and its been an interesting read thus far about life, the ego, your personality, and your spirit. A girlfriend of mine bought it for me for Christmas and we meet for Christmas eve dinner and she gave me the book, some nice perfume, and the sweetest card thanking me for being a wonderful friend and she wished me "happiness, success, and blessings." That made me think of this mantra below (by the way I found these awesome towels on a site called Words to Sweat By)

My theme (b/c I don't do resolutions) for 2012 is Celebrate Life and being Healthy, Strong, Happy, Successful, & Blessed is a great definition for my theme don't you think?! I really want to work on using mantras and daily affirmations in 2012. They are so important! 


I woke up to the movie EAT PRAY LOVE and the scene when Richard from Texas is telling the main character 


 "You need to learn how to select your thoughts just the same way you select your clothes every day. This is a power you can cultivate. If you want to control things in your life so bad, work on the mind. That’s the only thing you should be trying to control.”


My friend and I have had this discussion several times because the mind is so powerful. She also thanked me for all the advice I'd given her. It made me feel good to be appreciated and it made me think of the special people in my life I've been giving more love to..not to get anything in return but just to be appreciative of them but it was nice to feel the same in return! 


So if you want to give more love to a gym rat you know and love and want to encourage we always need towels so check out the towels below!  They'll make a great gift!! :-) 

Till next time peeps!! :-) Thanks as always for the emails and text messages!!!