farmers market thursday

Since I went back to school August 25, my hours shifted for my many jobs. I am now off on Thursdays till about 4ish. I'm headed to work when everyone is headed home.

The south Bethlehem Farmers market is conveniently held on Thursdays at Campus Square. Megan, the baby and Bonnie and I usually take a 3-4 mile walk to get there. I have to get very creative with the routes. There is only so many ways to get tot he university.

Today I was smart and took two bags and balanced my groceries in them. Bonnie pushed the stroller home and Megan ended up carrying about 25 pounds. Next week Bonnie is taking an extra bag too.

Today we headed up the hill, out Sioux, down Clewell and out the alley to Bergen. We crossed Broadway and came back Seneca. Up the hill that I thought was huge as a kid, and past the old 'hood. Then we headed down fourth, to New and to the market. We zig-zagged our way back up the hill and home.

Last night I went to Zumba. It's back on. I'm worse at it now than I ever was. Oh well. After fighting with my sister I could blow off steam.

Tuesday I walked at the crack of dawn with Bonnie in her neighborhood. There was a fresh dead skunk on Emmaus Avenue and I couldn't walk out in the street to avoid it. Too much traffic. So I returned to the neighborhood and met up with Bonnie at the Daisy Hill.  I'm pretty certain she thought I was nuts.

Monday and Wednesday I walked at lunchtime. But maybe only a mile and a half. Not much. One day I only had 5,000 steps.


Speaking of steps. I received a message from Fit Bit today that I have reached 4000 flights of stairs (inclines) and have been awarded my 747 badge. It will probably be a year or two before I see the next one. I have to double—8000—the amount of stairs.

Tomorrow it's walking in south Whitehall with Betsy. Then Saturday it's the 30th anniversary celebration of the Liberty Bell Wanderers at Lake Galenda in Doylestown. That's a 10K walk.

snowy, cold week

It's hard getting in walks when the weather is this bad. It's bitter cold and has been snowing frequently. The weather is warming up, but again a walk was cancelled because of snow.

Tuesday it was bitter cold. My campus center walk did not generate nearly as many steps as I thought it would. Bummer. So while watching The Biggest Loser, I spent the better part of the hour power walking the living room. Small steps, really fast, into the office, out the hall, into the downstairs bathroom, around the kitchen table .... then repeat over and over. Sometimes I just went back and forth. Sometimes I did a couple loops around the table. I just kept moving

Wednesday I worked. I should have gone to Zumba, but it was the only time I'll be able to go till summer, so I coped out. Sadly, I did not make my minimum 10K steps. And I'd really like to change that to minimum to 15K.

Thursday Bonnie and I did the south Bethlehem Volkssport walk. We modified a bit because we walked too and from my house. We also stopped at the store on the way home. We managed to to a 10K plus. With the Monclair and Carlton hills on the way home. Carrying groceries.

Today I was to walk with Betsy, but it was cancelled due to weather. Instead I shoveled snow. I am not complaining. They were calling for freezing rain and/or wintery mix.  I will take snow over ice any day. So I walked to the grocery store shortly. (I go to the store once, twice a day. It's a long story.) I came back with frozen, wet feet. Sadly the sidewalks on Delaware were worse than the ones on Broadway. I thought for sure with all the doctors offices they would be good. Wrong.

Tomorrow they are calling for heavy rain. Looks like another wash out.

Today I went to log into my Tail On The Trail tracker. Even though the event ended in November, Bonnie discovered you could still track on the site. About a month ago they announced they would be doing a winter mini-challenge. Thirty miles in 30 days. Or, for over achievers like me, 90 miles in 30 days. I routinely do 100 miles a month, plus, so that will be easy—weather cooperating. But I do have snow shoes. And walk at home tapes. An a route thru the living room. I should be okay.

I need to be okay. There is the final weigh in for the Sugar Crushers (now called Sugar Smart) test panel. They claim this is the final one. I've heard that twice before. I gained about 5 pounds over Christmas. I need to get back on the program so at least I weigh the same when they weigh me in. Eating clean and healthy in winter is tougher. I heart comfort food.

a 10k for my birthday

Fifty eight. How the hell did that happen? Soon I shall be old. Golly I don't like that. I will be beating off old age as long as I can, and walking is one of those sticks.

Yesterday we went to the walking festival in Hershey. It's an annual Volkssport thing where you get to pick from several races and several distances. We chose the Candy Cane 10K. It goes all around Hershey and thru the park.

We were only about 1.5 miles into the walk when we found Santa hiding behind a tree. He see's the trolley and makes a run for it. They left him on. It was hysterical.

Lydia didn't feel good from the get-go. It was around this point she became sick. She took the car keys and headed back. Bonnie and I went on alone. The route was different this year. Much better actually. And we made some decent time.

We got Lyd at the car and went to sign in. It was then when I discovered I had 30 walks completed and could send my book in to HQ. While I was there I purchased my new book. Exciting. I also met the lady who sent me money back when I paid too much for a walk. And I met the lady from the postal nightmare back in early October.

Lydia, being an overgrown child, wanted to go to Chocolate World. On black Friday. We went. We stood in the long line and took the ride with the silly singing cows. The line went fast—10-15 minutes. And we found out that Bonnie had never done it before.

 At one point the cow tells you to smile for the camera. Above is the result. Bonnie purchased the digital version from the photo booth. Clearly someone had just pinched me.

 When we came out the lights were on in the amusement park. One nice thing about Hershey is they give you plenty of space to play and take pix and shop before you even get to the entrance. We checked out the lights we could see and then found the Reese's man for Lydia. We took her picture for her Christmas card then headed to dinner.

It was 5:00 when we arrived at the restaurant. The line was going out the door. It was a half-hour wait. I cannot imagine what it's like at 6:30.  While we were waiting, the TV advertised a Reese's martini. Lyd ordered it. (Yes, I know she was sick earlier.  I certainly wouldn't have done it. )

Finally, it was time to end the day at Sweet Lights. Hershey's version of Lights in the Parkway. It is so much better than ours. It's too miles of sensory overload. Bonnie even put on one of the Sirus Christmas stations. Lydia was hanging out the window trying to take pixs, but most were fuzzy.

Speaking of Lights in the Parkway. We'll be doing a 5K there Wednesday night. Yeah, no Zumba.

the good. the bad. and the roomie.

This has been a week of ups and downs.

The ups. Last night at Zumba one of my classmates asked if I've lost weight. Yes! I said. Also a colleague asked. I was on a high.

Yesterday was chrio day. Jury still out on that one, but I'm paid for a year, so I go. Afterwards was the benefits fair at work. Being part-time I have no benefits, but I go anyway. Free food. And it turns out, chair massages. For the first time in weeks there wasn't a knot at the base of my neck. I think I need to do this more regularly. First I have to see what the affordable care act is going to cost me. Dread that process.

The bad. About two weeks ago I received an email from Michelle. A surprise weigh in for the Sugar Crushers book. Oops. I 've not really followed that diet in weeks. It was a test panel, not a lifestyle. And it's very difficult to follow with the roomie. She won't eat but three things on it.  I lost another five pound and a couple inches. I was okay with that. It probably would have been better had I not toally fallen off the wagon the two weeks around Halloween. On the up side, Michelle gave me shirts to promote her new walking business—mywalkingcoach.com. Lydia is going to have to wait for hers. Something was wrong with the 2xs. She needed to have them re-done.

The horrible. A couple weeks ago I was shopping with Bonnie and bought a size 16 pants. I was delighted. When I started this adventure about 4 years ago I was in a 24 headed quickly to a 26. I felt good. One day I was shopping with my sisters and found this cute black and white knit a-line skirt. I tried it on the other day, and it fit. But it was first thing in the morning, with no control top hosiery.  It didn't look it's best. I showed the roomie. She told me I looked like a "sausage". Thanks. I explained the hosiery. She didn't buy it. I thought about taking it back and it just sat there in the bag.

Yesterday my other sister was over. Apparently she snooped in the bag and said "OMG it's a 16". The roomie told me today she knew the reason my skirt didn't fit. "It was only a 16." "I know". You don't wear a f**ing 16. "Yes, I do. All my new-to-me pants are a 16." "They were cut big" she snarled. "You are at least a 20. You are fatter than me." GULP.

I had already decided to take it back today before work before this conversation. I don't really like stores during the Christmas selling season. Okay, let me rephrase that. I don't like the parking lots and traffic. I was getting dressed and decided to try on the skirt again. This time with the proper items underneath. Damn it looked good. The roomie waddles in. "That skirt is too small." "No it's not. I think it looks good". Dang I wish Bonnie was there to back me up. "You look like a sausage. It needs to be at least one size bigger. Probably two." Then it would be 9 inches too big in the waist and I am not going to a tailor.

I took it back. I looked at nothing on my way in. I've pretty much decided not to buy any new clothes. I don't care how big ... or small ... they are.

After leaving Lane Bryant I pulled in Arbys and got onion rings and a soda. Now where the hell did I put that wagon?

return to zumba

I returned to Zumba tonight. the walking clinics are most likely over for the season. It just gets too dark too early. Tonight I took the 2 lb dumbbells that I got for the Sugar Crushers panel. Wow am I sore.

If she's at Zumba, I walk home with a neighbor. She lives on the 500 block. Tonight I thought I was walking slow. She said to me, you really walk fast. Oops. Then I told her I did half marathons and races, and walked over 100 miles a month. It sounded impressive. But it's not. It's just consistent. People going to the gym every morning log just as much time.

Yesterday Bonnie and I parked the car at the Bethlehem recycle center and then walked down Illicks Mill Road to the mill, then took the Monocacy Trail to Burnside. We returned up Paint Mill/Eaton Avenue, and then headed up 8th/Schoenerville back to Illicks Mill Road and to the car. Then we did Bonnie's recycling. I also gave Bonnie homework. Proofread the Volkssport south Bethlehem walks. I need to get them sent in.

Tomorrow we will be walking to the Hotel B and changing all the envelopes in the Volkssport walk box to my address. I am now the point of contact for the Bethlehem and Allentown trails. Friday, we'll change the ones in Allentown. Then we'll head thru historic Bethlehem, out Lehigh Street, over the Fahy and back home.

this week

I thought this week was pretty non-eventful until I saw this truck today. (More on that later.) But then I started to type.

Monday Bonnie and I walked in her neighborhood. I'm not sure how far. About three miles I guess. We wove in an out until we reached the Daisy Hill store, then came back Emmaus Avenue a bit before returning into the residential neighborhood. It was still hot, but the heat wave broke.

Tuesday was a work day. But Lydia came over after work for supper, and we walked thru the Lehigh campus and did a little grocery shopping. It was fairly cool that day, but a downpour blew thru and the humidity returned. It was hot walking. Lydia went thru one of the fountain sculptures to cool off.

Wednesday, another work day. Didn't walk much and went to what might be my final Zumba class, at least for a while. I get more exercise at the walking clinics. If it rains or snows I'll go to Zumba.


Thursday I was in Emmaus at 7 am, for the "Starve Off Sugar" test panel for Prevention magazine. What have I gotten myself into? It said there would be a diet. Duh. No Hershey bars But what I didn't expect was a list of recipes and eat this only. Yikes! They don't have to live with Pat. Though some looks yummy.

I guess I was expecting a diet plan that said "NO x-y-z". And then "eat more x-y-z". Eat so many calories of which x% has to be protein/fat/ect. I never dreamed that there would be pre-determined meals. (Kind of reminds me of a healthier version of Jenny Craig. By that, I mean all the decisions are already made.  When you stop doing it, you go back to eating the way you were. [And no, I never did any kind of program like that.] )

This very much reminds me of the Paleo diet. (No, I haven't done that either. But everyone around me is on some sort of weird diet.)  Lots of eggs. The farm will get sick of seeing me. Lots of meat—mostly fish and poultry. I think I'll hate all by the end. Meal planning will be essential to making this work. Steak is one of the meals, but I can't cook steak. So that's off the plan.

Then there is also a poop-load of exercise with weights, and yoga. Plus training for a half-marathon. Eating the four days I'm away will be a challenge. Eating during Musikfest will be more of a challenge.

On the up side all my blood work was normal.

I got to work late and didn't get a walk in. I barely crossed 5000 steps on my pedometer.

Today, Bonnie, Betsy and I were out at 8 am walking. The weather has cooled off dramatically. It's lovely. Hopefully it holds for the weekend. We have a 10 mile and 6 mile walk planned. We walked thru her development, which, at 8 am is a lot shadier than at 1 pm. Bonnie's watch said four miles.

On the way home we stopped at Wegman's for some gluten free groceries. When we got back to the car I saw the truck. This is an official City of Allentown vehicle with municipal plates. It's covered with veggies and the back says "Fruits and veggies on the move". They must be doing rolling nutrition workshops. Check out the speakers in the cab.

Oh, I decided to go to the chiropractor regularly. Right now when I come home I feel like I went a couple rounds with Ali. Apparently that takes about a month to go away. Not sure if I will feel any different in a year. But if my leg stops hurting, it will be a good thing. I guess. Now it's just finding time to go.

Tuesday is the dreaded trip to the doctor. If she gives me the "you need to lose weight" lecture. I'm walking out.

must. stop. eating. frozen. treats.

It has been beautiful the past two or three days in the Lehigh Valley. Perfect weather for walking. No excuses allowed.

Today at lunch my colleague and I walked down to center square, and back. I wish I would have taken my camera. The new Crayola Experience exterior is visually terrific. (I borrowed this pix Lydia took a couple weeks ago from her FB page!). Actually that whole block is starting to come back to life. I love when a city revitalizes.

The alley side of the building is a huge Crayola mural. Next time we walk down I'll take the camera.

While I was walking I planned an Easton walk for the Volkssporters. I bet it's a 10K, or darn close. We'll see.

We headed down Bank Street to go to the Purple Cow Creamery. Bank Street Creamery. Same place. New name. Long story. They weren't open yet. Whoo Hoo. Calories saved! we turned the corner and discovered Frozenlandia. It looked like a chain, but it's locally owned and operated. Just one store. Could have fooled me. Frozen yogurt has to be slightly more healthy than ice cream. Less fat at least. They have these huge cups and they sell by the ounce. It's self serve. 49 cents an ounce. You could easily have a $10 cup if you are not careful. Especially when adding toppings. Mine was a hair over 4 ounce. I mixed pomegranate raspberry with wild, wild berry. It tasted like pomegranate and strawberry. Quite lovely. but I must stop eating frozen treats. It's becoming a habit. All walks lead to a frozen treat.

After dessert—I still hadn't eaten lunch—we had to walk back up College Hill. Hopefully that burned two or three of the calories I just ate.

Tuesday and Wednesday we also walked around College Hill. Last night I went to Zumba. The people are always the same. I really only know one persons name beside the instructor. Last night a woman came up to me with a pretty accent. She also walks, and apparently often follows me, but can't catch up. She asked where "I lived" and I said "Bishopthorpe". "So do I" she replied.  "One way or two way side"? "One way" and she gave me the number. We live about a half block from each other. We'll be walking home together from now on. But not the next two weeks. No Zumba. Gladys is on vacation.

No walk with Betsy and Bonnie tomorrow. I've borrowed a child and am going to Muhlenberg Summer Theatre's Suessical. Can't wait.

rain, rain, go away

I love rain. And snow. And pretty much any weather event that does not send me soaring into the atmosphere like Dorothy to Oz. Although, if Oz was a guaranteed destination, I might rethink it.

This morning was another morning of torrential downpours. Sadly, none of the water is going into the ground, it is coming down too fast. It's just heading for the sewers and the rivers. (Left is Willy Wonka's chocolate river, aka the mighty Delaware.)

All the storms lately did motivate me to call the roofer to check the roof. The insurance company to review my insurance, and start looking for someone to point my foundation. Know any good masons?

Yesterday was beautiful. I walked around campus twice. Once in the morning while the servers were down. The second at lunch time. Then in the evening I headed the big five blocks to Zumba. I'm perplexed. I can't do it, and maybe do only 40% of what the others do. Should I continue to do it? It isn't fun. But it isn't torture either. I don't like it, but I don't dislike it. I like the people. And it's one less hour to spend with the roomie. Am I wasting my $6 a week? See what I mean. When I ask myself WWJD (what would Jillian do) the answer is stay. Maybe I should try and find a free Tai Chi class. I liked that. Or yoga. Wait, I can't do that either. All questions. No answers.

Lydia called last night. She wanted to know if the roomie wanted a furry friend for the day. If there isn't a downpour when I get home, I'll take Adonis for a walk. If it's not raining after supper, I'll go with Lyd for a walk.  My pedometer isn't even at 5,000 yet, and I walked at lunch. Office jobs are heck on your activity level.

staff retreat

Yesterday was our annual staff retreat. This year it was at NCC-Southside at the Center for Business and Industry. Clearly I wasn't taking the car.

Since the car needed minor repairs, I also thought it would be a good day to do that too. Kill two birds with one stone.

The garage is on Cherokee, as is one of my colleagues. Drop off the car, meet the colleague and take the scenic route to NCC-SS. Then I walked up (and down) the six flights of stairs to the meeting room. As far as I know, I was the only one walking up. A few others walked down. After the meeting, lunch was 2 blocks away at Looper's Pub. Then we walked home down the Greenway, with a pit stop at the home brew store.

At the five points, my colleague headed up the hill to Cherokee and I called the garage to see which way I was going. Car wasn't done yet, so I walked home via Pawnee. Because Broadway was being dug up.

At four, they called the that the car was finished. I walked the couple blocks to retrieve it.

Then I came home, ate leftovers from Memorial Day, and at 5:45 I walked to the American Legion for Zumba and home.

All in all I was at almost 17000 steps for the day. Not bad for a workday!

Let's see how today goes. It's supposed to get into the 90s, and the humidity is beginning to build. Oh goodie.

casa 5k, zumbathon

Busy day today. I was actually going to can the Zumbathon. I even told Lydia that when I talked to her on the phone. But I wanted to procrastinate work, so exercise won.

First up, the Casa 5K. It's the first time in a long time that I've done a 5K alone. It was odd. I haven't forgotten how to take the solo pix. But I did leave my hat in the car.

This was clearly a mom and pop operation. Three or four tables, a couple of chairs and that is about it. The entire set up is in the pix. If you didn't know better, you'd think someone was having a breakfast picnic.

Not a huge turnout, but of the ones that did, about 40% walkers! Whooo hoo. Many had dogs and babies. One had a triple stroller and she still beat me.

It was at the Parkway in Allentown using the usual route. Starting at the iron bridge, thru the planet walk, over the covered bridge and back the other side. Then cross the open bridge, and come back the bridle path. Horses had used the path so you had to be careful not to step in any poop.

News flash. No more job johnny in the ''iron bridge" parking lot. The city has built a comfort station!

My time was 54:51. About my usual time in the Parkway. Gravel and hills, get me every time.

At 1:50 I decided I couldn't stand being home any longer and went to the Zumbaton at the old American Legion (Epic Center). It benefited Autusim awareness. I guess April is autism month. The last time I went to one was in fall for breast cancer. This was nothing like that one.
There was over 100 people packed like sausages into the room. Mostly women, some men. It was decorated, there was a DJ, and even raffles.

Because of the turnout, you couldn't move out of your spot, but it was okay, they planned for that. All the "dances" were fairly stationary. They had a DJ and maybe six instructors, including one very big one who could move better than me. Because of all the instructors, there was about 30 second breaks between the songs. It was rough. I was exhausted, out of water, and only doing maybe half the moves. Those doing 100% had water pouring off them. I left after 1.5 hours. They still had 9 songs left. Yep, I'm a weenie.

Suddenly sitting at a computer doing class and listening to my sisters bicker doesn't seem so bad.

zumba night

I haven't been there since the beginning of the term. And I'll only get to go twice—this week and next—but it's better than nothing. (And then during spring break!)

While I was gone it switched from regular Zumba to Zumba Toning. The toning is only about 20 minutes. You begin with the warm up, move to regular Zumba, then tone, then Zumba, then cool down.

I borrowed Zumba sticks—one pound weights. They have sand or something in them so they make noise. Like a rain stick. About half the class had them. The others had other weights. They also have 2.5 pound ones.

It was kind of fun. And a lot slower than the old class (yes!) and less foot work. Thank heaven for that. I did more than 50%.

The class is held at the Epic Center, the old Ft. Hill American Legion. When I was there the last time, the stairs in the back were still old, narrow, and a little creepy. As the Epic people remodel bit-by-bit, they have replaced the scary stairs. Yeah!

It was odd not walking. It's maybe 5 blocks. But I'm not walking on Broadway alone in the dark. That's just crazy.

zumba party in pink

Friday night I went to the Zumba Party in Pink in Bath. It was 1.5 hours of Zumba lead by five instructors including one man.

Ultimately there was 20-30 people including all the instructors. Almost everyone wore pink. including the man.

I'm not sure what I was expecting, but it's listed on the website as a Zumbathon, and a party in pink. I think I was expecting more of a party atmosphere. You know, streamers, balloons, pink Gatorade. They did have one raffle prize. I don't even think they played the Party In Pink song—All Around The World by Paulina Rubio.

Overall it was just a really long class. Nothing I was familiar with, so I did maybe 1/3 of it. Very high impact. My knees still hurt. It was actually very similar to the first Zumba class I went to that I hated.

I have plans for the local events in October. The one on the 20th in Allentown sounds more like what I was expecting. But alas, that's half-marathon weekend. So I'll have to pass. There's also one the 28th, which I might be able to make. But it's at the Pig Pen bar. Really, exercise at a bar? But I bet there will be a pink cocktail.

strength and tone

 sxc.hu

Yesterday was my first time at the lunchtime Strength and Tone class. My colleague assured me that torture lady from this summer was not the instructor.  She was. The regular instructor was out.

Now it wasn't as horrible as the torture class this summer, but it was a lot of up and down. Can't we do up, then do down, and call it a day? Old fat people with bad joints are not flexible. I guarantee it.

I really liked the up, and could do most of it. I can't do a squat but she told me the demi-pliés I was doing were find. Good thing. That all the further I can go! We used weights and resistance cords.

On the contrary,  I hated the down. I can't do a push up to save my soul. Or a crunch without torturing my neck. I lay on the mat a lot.

There is a niche market out there for exercise. Exercise for dummies. Instead of having this beautifully choreographed routine that no one can do, how about teaching the moves. Show all the ways that it can be done—easy, harder, hardest—and then walk around the room to make sure everyone can do it. Correct their form so that they don't hurt themselves. Then one by one make it more difficult so by the end of the 10 or 15 weeks you can do the whole thing—well. I guess that's what personal trainers do. But I can't afford that. Nor, do I think I have the desire to spend that much time in a stinky gym.

Will I go back next week. More than likely. Trying to tick with my three strikes and your out rule.

Friday, I might go to Bath to the Zumba Party in Pink breast cancer event. I fear it will be a mob scene and I won't enjoy it, but oh well, it's for a good cause. Why Bath? The ABE ones are scheduled while I am away for the Half Marathon.

water review

Fiji. What's the big deal?

Since I've been doing these random water reviews I've avoided Fiji water. First of all because it's expensive. Second, because everyone is always fussing about it. A woman in my office brings quarts of it in.

Yesterday I was out longer than I planned and stopped at the Wawa for water. I was going to get Perrier. I like the bubbles and maybe I could trick myself into thinking it's soda. Fiji was on sale 2/$2.22. That brought the price in line with regular spring waters. I bought two. (Full price for one!)

The company wbesite, and the bottle pretty much say

“Please don’t touch the water” – it’s our number-one rule.

Fiji Water’s state-of-the-art bottling facility was designed to protect the purity of our water at every step of the production process, and as part of that strict commitment to quality, no human hands are allowed to touch it. In fact, the facility was built directly on top of the Fiji Water aquifer, where a completely sealed delivery system draws the water up from the protected chamber and places it directly into our iconic square bottles, which are made from the highest-grade terephthalate (PET) plastic resin.
     To put it simply, until you unscrew the cap, Fiji Water never meets the compromised air of the 21st century nor is it touched by another human being. No other natural waters can honestly make that claim.

Up to this point I was beginning to think water was like wine or beer (or Coke/Pepsi), that you could tell the subtle differences between two waters. I noticed it a lot with the bottle of artesian water from Duane Reade.

Gotta tell you, I was underwhelmed. I couldn't taste the minerals. It was cold and wet. Better than tap, but not better than spring water tapped out of the big jug in the office.

Another strike. The square bottle doesn't fit in the cup holder.

The second bottle is going with me to my last night of Zumba. School starts next week. Maybe by that time the toning sessions will start.

heaven help me, it zumba night!

But I shall go. I haven't really done much serious walking in weeks except for 5Ks and special events. It has been just too damn hot. Funny, when I was training for the three day I went out come hell or high water. I was "training". But now I'm not and I've lost motivation. But I've gained 6 pounds. That trend needs to stop.

The weather has broken and I have no excuses. So tonight I shall go to Zumba and do 1/2 of what everyone else does and try to do more.

And I can't back out. I wrote it here, and I put it in my Presidential Challenge log. So I am going.

We did not resign-up for torture class. There was nothing beginner about it. Starting next week, we will go back to climbing stairs and taking hour long hilly walks on College hill.

One day next week we will also walk down to Connexions gallery for the "We" exhibit. I participated so I'd like to see the finished projects. It's collaborative art. So on one I did the first layer, the next the second, and the final the third. I know what the third one looks like. So-so. The first one is now beautiful. The second I haven't seen.

Finally I've discovered standing most of the day, three days a week burns a couple calories. On the livestrong.com it says that a person in my weight category can burn " 726 calories while standing quietly for eight hours and 1,670 calories performing eight hours of office work while standing."

The pop up says that an "average person must stand for 61 hours to burn the amount of calories in one pound of body fat.

This was on ABC news the other night. I don't think I'll ever get the desk with the built in treadmill!

there is a dress barn at the casino!

The casino in town has a mall. I guess it's a high end outlet mall. If that's the case I don't understand why Dress Barn is there. But it doesn't matter. It's there. It is my favorite store to buy clothes and I can walk to it—that should keep the binge purchases down. You are looking at one fat girl in heaven!

This week has been a series of little walks and Zumba. Nothing exciting.

I did go to Zumba Wednesday night. It was hot. Very hot. I still only did maybe a third of it. I am just not that coordinated. But I will try at least one more time.

Thursday I had a meeting at Gilbert's on campus and took the scenic route there and back. I could have stayed all day. We talked about the project—a book filled with photos of dead pigeons—for ten minutes and talked the rest. Part way in we were joined by the college archivist. It was my kind of meeting.

I usually walk from a drop-off point from the car pool. But I was a lazy butt and had them drop me off at home. The heat was on.

Friday I did not walk with Betsy. We decided that an afternoon walk in 100 degree weather was crazy. And they were calling for violent storms. Instead, I did a morning, two mile flat walk with Bonnie down at the Steel. The storms never came, but it did rain hard a couple of times. Later in the afternoon the power went off. In the dark for a hour and a half, I went for Chinese for dinner.

Today, Sharon, Lyd and I went for 2.66 miles, around the steel, the casino and a section of the Greenway that we've never walked on. The extension to Hellertown is being worked on. Can't wait to walk the whole thing. It will meet with the Saucon Valley Trail, and then with the Coopersburg trail. Being noisy, I trip over a guide wire at the Skatepark.

I did every walk in my Birks. It was heaven.

torture class, week four

My colleague picked me up at 6:15, and as I got in her car, she said "I don't want to go to torture class". So we walked instead.

Zumba tonight. Maybe. Depends on how hot it is.

might even go back

Last night was Zumba at the Ft. Hill American Legion. First thing I must note is how nice that hall is now. I was sold about a year ago. Maybe two. A Latino restaurant is in the bar area, and they still rent the hall out for weddings and things.

The 70s paneling is gone. Everything is painted, with some nice wall art, and the ceilings, and about a foot down, are black. It looks clean, bright and inviting instead of a little scary.

I saw the sign for Zumba just over a week ago. It was exciting because it met my goals for fitness. I could walk there. I didn’t go last week, I could barely keep my eyes open after work. When I left my house last night to walk to the American Legion I told my roomie I’d be back in an hour and a half, or 15 minutes. Wasn’t sure if they would still be there. They were.

In my heart of hearts I was hoping they wouldn’t be there! My first experience with Zumba was not good. It was held in a suburban community center, with 200 people, largely white, and suburban. Then instructor never introduced herself, and it was chaos.

This class is led by Glady’s a very friendly and perky woman. She not only introduced herself, but greeted each person as they came in, asked if you were new and gave you the “do what you can” speech.

She is also training to be a Zumba toning instructor. I think it’s a slower version with weights. Better than torture class.

By the time everyone came in, there was maybe 20 people, max, in the room. And they looked like the neighborhood—young, old, fat, thin, black, white and everything in-between. Refreshing.

Zumba is fast. All cardio, all the time—legs and arms flying constantly. I did maybe a third of it, and I was soaked to the skin. My major problem was having my feet do one thing and my torso another, and my arms a third thing. I can’t walk and chew gum, and I have two left feet. But I was still burning buckets of calories.

She gave us water breaks. One refillable bottle was not enough. I need to take a bigger one.

I didn’t like that it was “follow the leader”, but the routines are repetitious, so I guess that eventually you learn them thru repetition.

Overall a positive experience. Will I go back? Maybe. Probably. We’ll see next week.

torture, week two

In this mornings email I found this inspirational message from our torturer, I mean instructor. It reminds me of the stuff Lyd posts on her Bari Page on FB. As a graphic designer I must note that it needs contrast. Just saying.

The workout was exactly like last week. I might have done a hair more of the standing work, but did little on the floor work. Although I did manage 3 half-assed push ups in each set. Then I held a plank and crashed to the ground.

Like last week, my knees hurt. This week because of the planks my wrists hurt. And my shoulders. Not enough to take the Aleve. I have to be in serious pain to kill my liver.

We're going to finish this class but not take another, unless it's different. And really for beginners. We'll go back to walking the stadium stairs and maybe go into the gym for some weights or cardio. I actually kind-of like the weights. But not enough to buy some. Besides, I wouldn't use them if I did.

Yesterday on my way to the Wawa I saw a sign at the old American Legion. Zumba 6-7 pm on Weds. nights. Now when I did Zumba before I hated it. But this is four blocks from my house. I can walk, at least till summer is over. I have no excuse. Maybe I can get Lyd and Bonnie, after she heals from this latest surgery, to join me. Maybe I'll even go tonight. Seeing the people in my ’hood, I should not be the heaviest one there. This will clearly not be a class of Jillian's.

Monday I did my errands on foot. It was bright and sunny. I was five blocks form my house, a black cloud appeared, and a downpour occurred. I was a drown rat.

zumba=aerobics on steroids

When was the last time you went to an exercise class where there was more than 100 people in the gym?

Tonight I went to the Zumba class with Beth and her friend. There was more than 100 people in the class, ranging in age from six on up. Mostly young skinny minnies, but there was a few of us "real sized" women. Less than half brought reusable water bottles. (It's 2010. Haven't they gotten the memo?)

The instructor was energetic and fit. You could do an anatomy lesson on the muscles in her arms. I'm guessing her body fat was 15%, maybe.

So you literally dance your ass off.

Your feet are doing one thing, your hips another, and your arms a third thing. All together. You are also bending and twisting. It's aerobics on steroids. I was wiped at the end of the warm up and then she kicked it up a few notches.

The instructor uses hand signals to tell you whats coming next, and it took me a while, but I finally figured out that there is a lot of repetition in the movements during a song. Her finger twisting in a circle means turn around. She points toward her core and it means hold it your gut. Pointing up down, left, right, that type of thing.  When we did the butt dance hers went maybe 100 times in a minute. Oh and the happy face. She wants you to smile while you're torturing yourself.

I did maybe a quarter of what everyone else did, mostly incorrectly, and way slower. I was lost and confused most of the time. And sweating like crazy. If you can do it, it's quite the workout. Now I know why it's popular. Heck, even if you can't do it, it is.

But I won't be going back. It's really high impact, and my knees won't take it. I'm also not coordinated enough to do all the movements together. This fat girl is sticking to walking.