Day 3 - Stationary Submission

Today I found myself in the gym at 6:00 am on a hampster wheel of sorts.  Bicycling in place with nothing to keep my mind occupied but the view from the 2nd floor of 24 Hour Fitness.  If it weren't for the couple displaying an inappropriate amount of PDA, which left me completely perplexed, or the amusement I gained from the lady sporting the neon Jurassic Park muscle shirt, I would have gone completely nuts.  I prefer to spend my workouts in the outdoors running, swimming, biking, etc.  It helps me clear my mind and prepare for a day spent indoors, seated, at a computer.  However...the genious that is drunk Lindsey decided, about 10 days ago, that it was a brilliant plan to have my 130 pound girlfriend stand on my shoulders.  After about a dozen failed attempts in the pool, I limped away with a sore lower back that is still hurting to this day.  (Note to self: you should learn from past mistakes and not attempt cheerleading moves and/or stunts while drunk...or ever, for that matter.  You are in your 30s.)  So, until my back heals, I'm stuck with low impact options, such as swimming or riding a bike in place (it's too dark to ride outside early in the morning...I'm afraid of being run over by a half-dazed suit on his/her way to get their morning cup of joe).

This leaves me frustrated, especially when I boot up my computer this morning, and get the reminder that I'm supposed to "start training for the Austin marathon" this week.  Ugh.  I wish!  For now, I'll have to relinquish my workouts to a state of stationary submission...and be more careful with my back in the future.

Day 3: 30 minutes on the stationary bike + 10 mintues of abs and stretching.
(Lindsey = 3; Laziness = 0)

Day 2 - Walk It Off

Another rough day for my wedding weight loss challenge.  Normally, my Sundays are spent lazily reading in the morning, then finishing up chores to prepare for the work week (this weekend, I started The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest and it would have been super easy to spend all day on the sofa with this book).  Today, however, began with a World Cup Finals party at Blake and Lamanda's place.  So, another day of early drinking and shenanigans.  I slept it off early this evening, then walked it off for 30 minutes with Pace in the Barton Hills neighborhood.  (Lindsey = 2; Laziness = 0)

Day 2: 30 minutes walking through Barton Hills

Taken alone, the 30 minutes spent walking through my neighborhood wouldn't seem like much...but take into consideration the fact that I was slightly hung over from drinking too many wine spritzers early in the day, and I'm feeling pretty pleased with myself.  It would have been so much easier to nap on the couch in the A/C.  Plus...Pacers got in on the exercise today...and loved it!  (He's still happily panting on the hardwood floors...cooling off underneath the fan).  Two days down...100 to go!

Day 1 - Getting My Feet Wet

So, day 1 of the wedding challenge went about as expected for a Saturday (remind me why I didn't start this thing on Monday???).  While I spent most of the day lounging on the sofa, watching Avatar or in front of this computer researching honeymoon destinations (Tahiti, Bora Bora)...I did actually manage to log in my activity for the day.

Day 1: 20 minutes of laps in the pool

Even though I only put in 20 minutes, I was quite proud of myself for following through today.  It would have been much easier to continue sipping mimosas in the sun, and trust me, the thought crossed my mind.  Not bad for a Saturday!

Wedding Challenge

So, it's 113 days until the "big day," and I still have lots of work to do to get in shape for my wedding gown.  The summers in Austin always lead to a bit of weight gain for me...I can't resist sipping margaritas on a patio somewhere with chips and salsa...which inevitably leads to the skipping of my morning workout routine.  Increased alcohol calorie consumption + too much Tex Mex = 10 pounds to lose in less than 4 months.

The challenge:  Lose 10 pounds in the next 112 days and firm up to look super fab on my wedding day.
The plan:  Engage in some sort of physical activity every day and log my calorie intake every day.  And, of course, blog about it.

112 days.
10 pounds.
1 dress.

I start my adventure tomorrow.  Wish me luck!

When We Were Young

You had gone away for college, and I was still home.  It was a school night for Jeff, but we were out and about.  We hopped in the lizard and headed to town to buy beverages.  At that time, I didn't really drink, so I opted for some Zima, and you grabbed a 6 of whatever lite beer the small town convenient store proffered. 

We went cruising...my first exposure to Radiohead.  I don't remember if it was OK Computer, or The Bends, or both...but I was mezmorized.  And, for the first time, I felt like we were in this thing together...like I wasn't alone.  Drive drive drive.  Through town and to the next.  Bottle caps tossed quickly and without apology...out the window.  We headed to the cornfields...the spot where only 2 years earlier I had learned to drive stick shift.  Where the high school kids would party after football games and we all knew to flash our lights twice as we approached the spot...as to not scare off all our under-aged drinking friends. 

This night it had been raining for days, and the fields were muddy.  We sloshed along in your 4 cylinder truck...slowly...happily.  Until, the wheels continued to spin, but we sat still.  Stuck...and had to call our little brother, awaken from his slumber to tug us out with his Jeep.  To tug us out of that moment...when we drove...when we listened.  When nothing mattered but the music and the open air.  To our parents' divorce.  To the fact that no success in our college courses could ever compensate for the fact that we would never learn.  Not really.  Not what mattered.  It was only a moment.  But it's what I keep.  I've always loved my brothers...but this was one of the first times I knew that you understood what it was like to come from our family...what it meant to always try but never quite get it.  From that day forward, I listen.  I keep listening.

Encore!

I know you just finished listening to "Like Ice In Water," as I recommended in my post a few minutes ago.  So, why not move on to my next favorite - "Endings."  Before you know it, you'll be in love with The Rocketboys, just like me.

Encore!!!

Encore?

M-W online defines the word encore as "a demand for repetition or reappearance made by an audience."  Sounds to me like the owners of the new Austin music venue, Encore (611 Red River St), missed the mark when they were naming their new bar.  I ventured out to the locale for the first time last Friday, and I can tell you, there will be no demand for repetition coming from me...and you can count me out for reappearance at this venue.

I bought VIP tickets for the Simple Massive Release - to check out one of my new favorite bands - The Rocketboys.  I should have known something was slightly off when the bartender working the VIP bar was pouring our free beer with 1/2 glass full of head (too much pump, not enough pour from that keg).  I was willing to overlook that - the beer was "free" with the extra $15 spent on VIP tix - and the bartender was a sweetie, so we can move on to the real issue.  About 3 songs into the Rocketboys' set, the power on the speakers went out, thus interrupting the show for at least 30 minutes (we left after 30 minutes because my fiance had to work the following morning, and there didn't appear to be much progress on the speaker situation).

Although I was super disappointed in this lame ass venue, what little I did hear from the Rocketboys was great.  Lucky for me, these guys are located in Austin now, so odds are in my favor that I'll have an opportunity to see them again.  If you haven't checked out their music yet, it's a must have album for 2010.  "Like Ice In Water" is currently my favorite.  If you are a member to Paste digital downloads, you can get a copy of their album for free.  If not, check it here: 20,000 Ghosts

With that, I'm signing off.