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July 29, 2008
I had a dentist appointment today at 3:30. As usual, I gave myself a mere 10-15 minutes to get from Las Colinas to East of 75 for my appointment (I underestimate travel time). At about 3:37, I am just pulling into the parking lot when my iPhone starts blowing up. Its Suz. Since I'm in a bit of a rush, I let it slide to voicemail and plan to call her back once my appointment is through. As I am walking into the building I play her message, "hey, just calling to tell you that you are 7 minutes late for your dentist appointment". God, is that you? I start running through all the possible ways in which she could know that a) I have a dentist appointment at 3:30 today and b) that I'm running late. Did she see it in my planner? Does she have access to my iPhone calendar? WTF? And just as I am about to give up on guessing, I open the door to the office and there is the little Suzanita, sitting and smiling at me.
Apparently somewhere along the line I recommended my dentist to her. Who wouldn't... they give you laughing gas even when you're just getting your teeth cleaned. "It's like a little afternoon cocktail" is what my dental hygienist always says. She's awesome. But, back to the story... what are the odds Suz and I, unknowingly, schedule dentist appointments back to back on the same day? One in a million I'd say.
July 28, 2008
I randomly came across this gem that Suz sent me two years ago. It was taken in the bathroom of a bar we were at celebrating Mary's pink theme party. Oh yes, the year of the theme party. Anyways... you can see my true feelings for enduring a pink manicure. Oh and I might have had a little to drink.
I was supposed to train with a guy named Tyrone today, but he called in sick and no one called to tell me this, so I got stuck with a newbie trainer. It was this kid's first day. He showed up at LA to workout, not train, 10 minutes before my session was supposed to start. So, they threw him with me since my boy didn't show up. Great. A few trinkets from our half hour of fun:
The kid can't count for shiznit. He's either one rep slower or faster than I am. At all times. I found it funny when he asked what my profession was. I told him I was an accountant. He said, "mad props to you cause that's something I could never do". Really. You don't say.
Throughout our 3 hour, I mean 30 minute session, he makes it a point to work with me on my breathing. Exhale when I push up, inhale on the way down, etc. Over the course of 5 exercises, 3 sets of 15 reps each, I have a kid who obviously doesn't believe in gum or breath mints, over-exaggerating his breaths, in my face no less, to get me to remember to breath. It was literally like a dragon breathing rank fire into my face. I tried to chew my Trident Tropical Twist as fast as I could to promote some citrus-y scents into the air. It was only to his benefit though.
My "favorite" part of our session was when he was explaining to me how to do tricep dips. Like the ridiculously hard kind where you hold on to two bars and lower your body down (without touching the ground) and then push yourself up. He says and I quote, "you want to slowly lower yourself down like this until the handlebars are at nipple level". No. Surely he did not use the word nipple. ICK. Chest, mid back, "about here"...all those words would suffice. Just don't say the N word. It majorly creeps me out.
After almost 40 minutes had passed (this kid didn't believe in a watch either) I had lost my cool. He sucked. I was in a bad mood and starting to get hungry. I point blank asked how much longer this is going because I need to get on with my cardio and go home. He stuttered for a bit and within 10 seconds we were walking opposite directions. Phew.
Poor kid...it was only his first day. On the otherhand, I just paid 30 dollars for a bad mood.
July 11, 2008
I joined LA Fitness a year ago in attempt to have a gym that was close to the office. I figured it would be good for when I wanted to workout after work. Because I was already (and still am) a member of Bally's, which I use for working out in the morning. A year has gone by and I maybe make it to LA once a month. Thinking that I might want to go ahead and cancel my membership, I realized I still had a free Personal Trainer session I got when I signed up.
So, I went in on Wednesday for my free workout, with no intentions of buying additional sessions and with the understanding that I would quit the gym probably next month. After the workout they wanted to talk to me about package options etc etc. Fine, I knew they were gonna try to sell me on the deal, but I was going to be firm and say "no thanks, I am not ready to sign up today". These people do NOT give up. I was there for an hour after the session negotiating the price. After I got it down to half the original price, I still was ready to walk out commitment free. But, they kept going. And going. Finally, my trainer had to rope in his boss for the final kill. I really don't think these people would have let me walk out of there without tackling me first.
All I really wanted was a good workout. Which is great, because now I've got 48 of them coming right up!! Obviously I caved. They finally wore Miss Practical down. I spent the better part of yesterday stewing about it. If you can't tell, I'm still slightly bitter. Its a good thing I will be in Cabo next week because I need to get away and over this. These people took me to the bank and back. But, they do promise that I will lose 10% body fat just by training with them. Yeah right, I don't think I lost any body fat running a MARATHON, so good luck to you guys.
July 1, 2008
Its come to my attention recently that perhaps I have gained 10-ish pounds since joining the workforce 3.5 years ago. Why you ask? My pants are tight today. Oh, bother.
I have many theories for how this has happened. First being that I have relaxed from becoming the anal point/calorie counter I was when I first started working. Yeah, I may have been 10lbs lighter then, but I was a big stressbal thinking about what I was going to eat each day. And lets not forget booze...I enjoy it too much to restrict it as much as I did back then.
Second, I am not running the crazy 30+ miles a week that I used to run up until about 3 months ago. From lack of boredom and getting tired of the same thing for 7 years running, no pun intended, I decided to reduce mileage (probably to the ballpark of 10-15 miles a week) and start making exercise fun again. So, now my workout bag of tricks includes running, spin class, swimming, and P90X. Its possible some of this 10lb baggage includes extra muscle, since I seem to do more weights than I did back in the day. Because seriously it used to be running and only running. Hi knees...I'm sorry, can you ever forgive me?
My third and final theory is pretty random. Since the weather is getting warmer (well, not getting anymore, its 100 degree out), I have decided to take a more casual approach to work attire. Since I haven't yet reached my goal of having a job where I can wear tshirts and shorts everyday, I do have to dress "business casual". For the last 3 years this has consisted of button downs and pants, just ask anyone thats worked with me. And so, I have started wearing more casual clothes (ie more comfy) like skirts and dresses and I think that my ab muscles have relaxed since I've adopted this new habit. Therefore, they just like to hang out now instead of sucking it in while I wore pants. I think I am going to experiment a little and bringing pants back into my wardrobe somewhat regularly. We'll see if I get my six pack with koozies back.
I do realize that my third theory doesn't really have anything to do with gaining weight, but it is a factor in my pants being tight today.
June 9, 2008
I realized recently that I've become a Serial Returner (SR) meaning that I will go on shopping sprees only to end up returning the majority of what I buy. Its almost like an eating disorder... but for shopping. I am a bulimic when it comes to shopping.
For instance, last Friday at work the power went out at about 11am. We waited around for 15 or so minutes before being told that this would be a good day to take a two hour lunch. Bummer. So, what did I do? I went to Target. I spent my two hours of freedom at Target. I also spent about 200 bucks. Did I need to do this? No. Once I got home Friday I tried on all my purchases again and realized that either the crappy Target dressing room mirrors were very flattering or that I was smoking crack when I tried the stuff on. I put most of my purchases back in the bag, with receipt, and set it by the front door to get it ready for its return. On Saturday, I hit up the Gap and Old Navy and did the same thing. This morning as I was about to walk out my apartment door, I had three bags of stuff to return. I really don't know what my deal is. I guess I've realized that if I am not sure on something, I buy it anyways. I can always return it later. I am getting too comfortable with this...surely these stores will catch on to my madness and start rejecting my card when I am checking out?
I think the root or starting point of when I became an SR began one day in middle school when I went shopping with Dan and my Mom wasn't with us. Dan's motto is "if you think you'll wear it, buy it, regardless of the price". Mom is more of a bargain shopper. I can't tell you how many hours I spent playing underneath the clothing racks at Ross and Steinmart as a child. It was entertaining for a while, but by the 3rd or 4th hour I was probably ready to go. I quickly learned that shopping with Dan was a whole new kind of fun. The day we went to the mall was around the time when Abercrombie & Fitch was becoming popular and they used to sell bazillions of wool sweaters. I wanted them all. I picked out about 5 on this shopping trip. Yes, I realized that these were WOOL sweaters and that I lived in TEXAS. But, I had to have them, FIVE of them. Once we got back to the house and Mom asked what all we had gotten, I showed her my beloved A&F sweaters and she probably hadn't finished looking at second one before telling me I had to take them back. I could chose one, but the rest were being returned. I didn't need that many wool sweaters. In hindsight she was right, but still it was a major buzz kill. Dan and I were never allowed to go shopping again just the two of us.
And now I'm off to return all the unnecessary crap I bought this weekend.
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