Getting AM~Erica Inspired to Move

So anyway...

I have a lot of friends who go out and get fit...often. Good for them! It's not for me.

Don't get me wrong...back in my dancing days, I would sweat a lot. I worked hard & I was in killer shape! But seriously...that was "back in the day." I've talked about my dancing now, HERE, which involves me doing it as a ministry. It doesn't happen very often...and I got kinda lazy.

I was hoping to not have to sweat to get in shape. I eat everything in moderation...and I try to make most of it good for me to eat. I use the stairs in our house several times in the mornings & sometimes thru the afternoon/evening. And since we are coffee snobs (reminder HERE), I can use our hand-held electric coffee grinder much like a Shake Weight in the mornings. I don't brag too often on myself (cuz I really am humble & I find it weird), but my arms are pretty good just from shaking my grinder every morning for about 15 seconds.

I loved doing yoga "back in the day." I do miss it. But I will admit that I hardly have a long enough quiet time to get some yoga in. And I'm not big on that sweating stuff.

However...I found a way to work out daily without sweating. Remember? (New Year's workout plan HERE)

You know what? It's been working for me just fine. JUST FINE, I tell ya!!

My hubby has usually been the one to work out & work at staying fit. He'd always ask me to join in & I would graciously decline. And right now he's kicked up his workouts & training to get ready for the Tough Mudder that he was challenged to do. For you Tough Mudder peeps...you be crazy! That's what I got to say to you. Oh...and more power to ya. Sounds like you need it!
If you don't know what the Tough Mudder is...well...it's like the Warrior Dash on crack. Seriously. It's 12 miles of 25 ridiculous obstacles. *shudders*

I've gotten out & walked before. But I didn't stick with it. Well, illness stepped in each time & then I found it hard to start up again. But faking being in shape certainly hasn't done me much good.

The last few weeks, I have been keeping up with so many status updates of several of you working on getting into shape. I have been in awe of you. Especially when you all would talk about how hard it was, but still stuck with it.


I'm going to switch gears for a slight moment...
Just a couple of days ago, I saw an article about how SELF magazine did tutu shaming of a marathon runner who wore a Super Woman costume to give her motivation to run since she was on chemo for a brain tumor. On top of that...she sells running tutus as a charity to motivate girls to run. D'oh! The magazine said it was trying to be funny...but they epically failed at that. They have since been apologizing for being so insensitive!
But I did notice the tutu idea really was adorable!

OK, back to what I was talking about before...*ahem*
Yesterday, there were several posts on Facebook from & about friends who took part in a couple of races. There were pics from the Run or Dye 5K, and from the Diva Dash...
Now then...there have posts from others who do their runs that I see, and I can scroll thru the pics & admire them. But there was something about Beqi, Jessica, Louise & Aimee that really caught my attention. I have known these lovely ladies for many years & under different circumstances. None of them have been your "avid runner". Yet...I saw them covered in colors &/or wearing tutus. They were holding medals & looking like they had a great time. The sense of accomplishment on their faces really caught my attention...

I've always been taken by the color runs & the Glow Run. I've planned many-a-time to take part in the Race for the Cure. But I guess I didn't have the motivation like I thought I did. Until yesterday.

On Saturday, March 29th, 2014...I found inspiration! Not only in these fabulous ladies, but in tutus, costumes, medals...colors & glows!

That's right. I found inspiration in tutus, in color, necklaces (as Kelly Ripa calls them) and in the fun. Even if it involves a lot of sweating & running to get to this point! And I found inspiration in friends who were driven to enjoy getting fit!

People...I haven't actually run in...uh...I don't know how long. Well...I tried once out of low-self esteem spite. That was NOT good. At all! And really was only 1 time.

But, after getting inspired & researching...and getting a Pinterest board started (check it out HERE), I put on some running shoes & sunscreen. I threw on leggings (for working out...not pants), and my Derrick Thomas-inspired t-shirt I got about a year ago. And I took in the 70+ degree weather!

I told my hubby, while he was working out, that I was heading out to run. He looked at me, speechless. I assured him I wasn't going far. There's not a chance that I could. The joke has always been that I wouldn't make it to the end of the driveway. I've even said that. But he helped me semi-map out a short course to try. Maybe about a mile. And I started out the door...

...but not before telling my kiddos that I was heading out on a run. Teen Girl kindly offered to get 911 on the phone as a pre-emptive measure. Teen Boy hoped I would just jog around the driveway so the ambulance could just find me there.
My children are charming...

However, I was bound to prove them wrong! Tutus & medals are at stake, yo! So I took off...

And it was oh-so-obvious I had not run in oh-so-long!

So, today, March 30, 2014...I began running because I have been inspired!

I was so grateful that my hubby gave me a plan that allowed me to bail early. I didn't make it a mile. But you know what? I was still upright AND broke a sweat!

Post mini-run...yeah, I'm still standing!

I'm going to need ibuprofen tonight. I'm still dealing with jelly-legs. But I have a sense of accomplishment. A sense of being inspired!

Now I hope I can keep it up...

Not too sure I will be ready for the Glow Run in June...but I have a goal to do the KC Race for the Cure in August. It would be a big deal if I could do it. That's my big goal right now...

And then, someday...because I am a Disney Princess (reminders HERE), I now have it on my bucket list to do the Disney Princess Half Marathon. Disney? Costumes encouraged? Princess medal? Yeah...that would be awesome! Princesses can totally run, too!

Whatever it takes to get someone off the couch...amm-i-rite?

Tutus: they're not just for dancing anymore...

I hope to give periodic updates on my blog. Hoping to use it as some additional accountability.

Believe it or not...I'm nearly looking forward to going back out there...maybe I'll get that mile in.

So...stay tuned...

God Bless, AM~Erica

AM~Erica Has a Lazy New Year Workout Plan

So anyway...

It's another brand new year!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

And as a new year begins...we are hearing about all the resolutions people are wanting to make.

BLAH-BLAH-BLAH!!

Seriously. It's crazy to hear about all of them. I really question all of these resolutions. If you keep 'em...great. But there's so many people who put these out there like a promise ready & beckoning to be broken.

If you couldn't tell, I'm so not a resolution-type person. I've always got goals & dreams. I just don't look at January 1st as being the beginning of "my year." You know what I mean?

I'm always striving to do things, failing to do things, and end up stumbling upon other things that I had no clue I might have any interest in. Every day should give us a want to be something better...someone better; a new beginning to discover something new. Amm-i-rite?

One of the resolutions I smile & nod at folks who made it is the one about starting their healthier lifestyle: better eating, no sugar, watching calories, working out...you know who you are. The ones who gobble up all the junk in the last week of December because January 1st will be all new. Right?

Not me! I love food. I even started making food. Heck...I started a blog about my food! (check it out HERE) I just try not to gorge on everything. I believe in moderation. Don't go back for seconds. Know what I mean? I work in healthier stuff, but I won't deprive myself because of a "diet".

Now when it comes to the exercise thing...ummm...I'm not so great at that. I used to dance. A lot. For around 20 years of my life, I danced pretty hardcore...at least for about 15 of those years. I carried on teaching it, and it kept me pretty fit. Now I do it so infrequently, it's really sad. It's my ministry, but it has been a slow upstart where I'm at right now. I did yoga for a while, too. I miss doing it. But it's sometimes difficult to do on my own, and...the dog ate my yoga mat. Which is a true story. Our dog actually ate my yoga mat.

I'm definitely not one to pick up & start running...

I have walked off & on. What happens is that I start walking for about 3-4 weeks, and then I get really ill...and I have issues getting motivated to start back up. But I believe I have found something that just might work. It. Just. Might...

When it comes to working out, I'm such a weenie! I tried gym stuff, but hated it. I don't even want to discuss the 30-ish minutes I spent with a personal trainer that left me near-lifeless & ready to vomit in the lobby's floor. I spent more energy dodging "Adam" than actually working out. Sad, but true.

I can deal with walking at my own pace. I can deal with yoga. Of course I love to dance. But there is something so easy, so convenient...it's so green. At least I think...

Teen Boy randomly brought up (as he often approaches smarticle-type subject things) about working out somehow. And all I know is that is began talking about fidgeting. He began going into how fidgeting was a true calorie burner, keeps muscles moving, keeps a heart rate up due to the constant movement, and...wait for it...uses less energy! (See? A green workout!)

So...I found a  couple of articles, and seemed entertained & taken with this one right HERE.

OMGoodness! This is it! The "workout" for me! As a matter of fact, I'm working out right now! You can do it while multitasking! And, if you are annoyed by the person by you clicking their pen, tapping their fingers, or even shaking their foot...join them instead! Make it an impromptu group session! Yeah!

So...who's in? In a lazy workout...let's fidget our way to fitness, yo! Plus you can dance or run or walk or lift or whatever if you wanna.

C'mon! Do it with me!

Wiggle that foot & tap those fingers...

Click that pen & bob that head...

Holding up? You should be. Breaking a sweat? You're doing it wrong.

And, if this is the case...then...

"Me? Work out? You betcha!"

Hey! I'm feeling fitter already! Pass me that Reece's!

(Does this mean Teen Boy's my trainer? Hmmmm...)

Viva la Resolution! (or whatever...)

Stay tuned...

God Bless, AM~Erica

Life Change For Busy AM~Erica

So anyway...

What a busy weekend we have had at our house!

Friday was an "in-service day" @ work to get the classrooms ready for the summer switch over. This meant we had to clean & scrub EVERYTHING from the celings to the floors, plus any rearranging & updating of files, so we can be ready for a great new start for Tuesday AM.

Friday afternoon, we had to finish cleaning the house, get groceries & supplies for a birthday slumber party for my now 12-year-old daughter (on Wed) & 3 of her friends. Insanity.

Saturday AM, we had to get the girls out of the house (invites said 10:30 AM) so that we could get ready for a b-day surprise for Lizzie. My folks said they would be getting her b-day gifts to her by the weekend. Liz has been checking the mail & hoping for either UPS or FedEx to be showing up with SOMETHING! Just after 1:00 PM, my mom & dad showed up on the doorstep with b-day gifts for Lizzie. She was SO surprised!! So, this also meant my folks were staying Sat. PM.

Sunday, we all got up & went to church, then out to lunch before mom & dad headed back for KC. As we were eating, my hubby got a phone call that had him leaving the table @ the restaraunt...

Chelsea called from Vegas & was having a very hard time...her mom & boyfriend told her she was not to live with them & needed to come live with her dad, and that they had no respect for her. Normally she we would told from our side to let things cool down & see what happens, but...this isn't the first time she's been told that. So sad.

So...June 10th, we are getting a 16-year-old in our household, along with our 12, 10½ & 3-year-old children. WHEW!

This is another child in school here, updated chore lists, possibly another vehicle, higher grocery bills & less eating out. I'm sure there is a whole lot more that I am leaving out, but no matter how you look at it, it is going to be a BIG change for us...again.

Pray for Chelsea & her heart; she is hurting right now. Pray for us as we prepare for continued madness. Although, I know it is God's will that she needs this change in her life.

Stay tuned...

God Bless, AM~Erica

P.S. ~ My voice is mostly back. YEA!

Searching AM~Erica

So anyway...

OWIE! (Like my youngest likes to say)

I had my meeting with my personal trainer. I still hurt! He worked me so hard, I wanted to hurt him...only if I could lift a leg or arm to strike him with, but to no avail.

I'm supposed to see him again in about a month...oh boy...I can't tell you how excited I am about that one. I thought I wanted to puke after my 15-minute workout. My hubby's workout was longer, but he was in the same position as me. He asked me what the name of my trainer was, so I told him it was Adam (as my eye started twitching...because it was the only part of me not hurting), and he told me, "Oh, that's nice...mine was named Satan." My hubby had to meet with his trainer again today. Poor baby...REALLY!

OK - after trying to muster up some normal movement without hurting, I put on heels & a suit today for my interview. It went very well, but now I've got some decisions to make. It's the perfect work enviornement for me, the hours are perfect, it's something I'm good at (I don't brag often), and it's just down the street. So what's making my hubby & I question? The pay. Yikes! Even with all of my expierence, they can't pay very much because they are still a very new company.

So, I may have to keep looking. Just like daycare. Once again, "OWIE!" My leads for in-home have fallen through so far, and the one chain daycare in the area that has openings, wants an arm & a leg. Both of my arms & legs hurt already, and so does my hubby's. That won't work! I did see where some of them are hiring & give daycare discounts & benefits...there may be some hope.

Stay tuned...

God Bless, AM~Erica

Heart-Pounding AM~Erica

So anyway...

I have recently started walking bright & early in the AM. I'm really trying to focus on my health & fitness. It's not bad, but it could always be better.

My hubby & I also joined at Gold's Gym - YEA! I now have access to my yoga classes, and whatever I want to do there.

For anyone who knows my hubby, he's more like "Mr. Fitness". No, he's not big & buff, but he tries to keep in shape, and he knows his stuff about it. He invited me to workout with him, but I'll pass...he'd kill me with his workout routine torture. I prefer other methods.

Here's where it gets scary...
In joining at Gold's, the primary member (i.e., hubby) gets 7 hours of free personal trainer attention. That's pretty good since my hubby has gotten out of routine since we've moved, and he wants some real targeted know-how for his workouts. The membership also offers 1 hour of a personal trainer for the other member (i.e., me). My hubby set up his first appointment for Monday AM (yes, tomorrow). Go, Honey! Oh, that leaves me to make one now...for Monday AM (yes, tomorrow). I'm set up with "Adam", who called me today to confirm the appointment. OK, I'm going to admit that I already hurt thinking about it. I am terrified to work with a pro. I won't workout with my hubby, or anyone for that matter. I'm a loner when it comes to getting fit. I want to go at my pace, whether it's a fast day or slow day for me, I don't want someone else there to hinder me. No offense to anyone.

What have I gotten myself into? 8:00 AM is when I meet with Adam, and my hubby meets with his trainer. YIKES!!

Stay tuned...

God Bless, AM~Erica