The gym

The last time I was seriously physically fit was when I was following (mostly) the Eating For Life program from the book with the same name by Bill Phillips.  It calls for a definite dedication of time allotted to working out (30-45 min. 6 days a week).  That may scare some of you and I can honestly say it scared me too as prior doing it the word gym or work-out was actually laughable to me; something only freaks did.

About 7 years ago I herniated a disk in my lower spine (that basically means the soft tissue that separates the bones was coming out in one area and the bones were bonking into each other causing me excruciating pain).  I am one of those with a very high pain tolerance and I almost fainted when the problem was acute, thank goodness my hubby was around to catch me and stick me into a chair.

It took me over a year to heal naturally and because of the shape I was in, I was constantly having to pay attention to how I moved, what I did and how I did it to ensure that I didn’t ‘break’ it again.  If it started hurting I would end up on the couch for a day to ensure I didn’t ‘break’ it again.  Well, needless to say my chiropractor kept telling me over and over that if I would start working out (he didn’t care how, gym, home whatever) that I would not have to worry about it.  A friend of mine introduced me to the book and I was so incredibly not happy with the shape of my body and even less happy about the worry of a relapse that I went for it.

I joined Snap Fitness (summer of 08) and started alongside my friend and her hubby (my hubby being a builder was very supportive but wouldn’t go near the gym himself!) and started the work outs.  I ended up being on a different schedule then my friends but continued anyway and after three months I was amazed at the difference.  The book shows before and afters that blow your mind.  I didn’t get that ‘look’, in fact I didn’t loose much but I toned what I did have and I HAD NO PAIN.  That was amazing.  No pain and so much energy that I could not only keep up with my then six year old but was working in the garden all day (as compared to crashing after an hour or two in the heat).

So I was sold.  Then we had some things occur in life and I had to cancel my membership at the gym and we ended up moving out of the country.  While there we quit smoking and enjoyed food tremendously very far from any gym.  Well, we came back and continued to put on the poundage.  Now thirty pounds heavier than when I left, starting to experience back pain again and feeling generally miserable physically (oh, and can’t fit into my friggin jeans either) I think I had better get my booty back in there.  I was reflecting yesterday to the hubster on just how great it was when I was working out (although it is painful thinking about starting it up again but that’s just cuz I’m a lazy fatty now) and he told me I should just go and sign up.  I couldn’t get out there today but tomorrow I’m heading over to get signed up.  I’ll keep you filled in. 😀

If you like it, I probably don’t

I have come to the conclusion that I manage to fall in the low percentile of people when being surveyed.  For example, I love this restaurant called ‘The Ovo’.  They make this awesome appetizer with rolls, some sort of yummy cheese sauce and various types of chopped olives.  They also make pasta pillows; large pasta squares filled with various choices of cheeses and meats covered in different sauces that just melt it your mouth.  Being partial to the olives and also having a slimmer wallet kept me more in the appetizer range but oh did I love it.  When I was pregnant, my husband drove me over 20 miles to get that appetizer.

They closed.  Why else would they close other than not enough business?  Oh, I suppose there could be something else but it’s the most likely reason.  They closed along with The Ritz, Don Pablos and Hops.  I found out later that there is a Don Pablos but it’s a good 45-60 min. drive which kind of takes away from ever getting to eat there.  I just found out a day or so ago that Hops, the one that is about 20-30 min. away has reopened which was great.  I am hoping they haven’t changed their recipes etc.

Anyway, the whole point of that was me wondering WHY do the places I like close?  It doesn’t stop with restaurants either.  Survey me about a band name, a color for the office or a furniture style…I’ll be one of the ones that doesn’t like what everyone else likes. 

Gargoyles.  I love gargoyles.  Now I know that there are a lot of people out there who also love gargoyles but we are definitely on the lower percentile otherwise you would see a lot more of them around.  When it comes to gargoyles, I am pretty specific about the look I like.  I don’t like the ones that look deranged or non-gargoyle like (like they have a ghost head or some other off feature).  I like the more pleasant ones that actually look like a gargoyle as compared to mixed with other beasts BUT if I were to imagine him protecting a home or person – he could look as vicious as he likes.  But then again, I have seen gargoyles that are dragon like that I really like etc. so I guess I’m not that picky.