SparkNB's Journey to Fitness

  I've seen this in various places and decided it'd make a good blog entry! Thanks BShowell :) 1. YOUR (magic) NAME: Iris 2. ARE YOU MARRIED? Nope! Couldn't anyway...prop 108. 3. DO YOU HAVE KIDS? HOW MANY? AGES? None! 4. DO YOU WORK OUTSIDE THE HOME? Currently 'on sabbatical' 5. DO YOU COLLECT ANYTHING? art and craft supplies, especially yarn stash, and paper, mostly recycled, and books, magazines, and cat toys 6. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE COLOR? Purple and black 7. HOW MANY TV'S DO YOU HAVE IN YOUR HOUSE? 3 - but only one is mine 8. DO YOU OWN A PIECE OF WORKOUT EQUIPMENT? Yes...jump rope, weight bench. I want a mini tramp...super fun! 9. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE DRINK? Herbal teas, unsweetened, both cold and hot; hot chocolate, 10. DO YOU BELONG TO OTHER ONLINE GROUPS OTHER THAN SPARKPEOPLE? Several 11. FAVORITE TV SHOW? HGTV, Charmed, "Create", PBS, Food Network, USA, TNT 12. DID YOU (OR ARE YOU GOING) GO ON VACATION THIS WINTER? WHERE? Everyone is planni

  Blessed is he who speaks a kindness; thrice blessed is he who repeats it. - Arabian proverb This is an issue for me today, and everyday, as I am working towards managing anger better. I sincerely believe that "Spreading goodwill can return to you"...basically moods are catching. Living with mom can be a trial...she is often playing the martyr. SPARK says: "This quote can be read in a few ways, and all of them are worth thinking about. First, complimenting and encouraging others is one of the easiest and most powerful ways to be a positive force in someone's life. As long as you're sincere, repeating that encouragement as often as possible can have effects that far outweigh the effort. Countless people have exceeded their own expectations just because others believed in them." This is true, and I found it to be so as a teacher. But sometimes, like with family, it just is not appreciated. "Second, giving positive feedback works even better if done publi

  I'm working out...A LOT!, but plateauing because I am allowing myself to eat a lot too...frankly I prefer working this method to less of each...like my friend Eglantine says about me: "the too much is never enough girrrrrrllll......" I lost immediately upon joining the gym, which was, not completely coincidentally, right when I had to start shoveling snow a lot. Recently, I weigh myself (probably too) often and have been eating healthily, but the weight may have stabiliized. Maybe if I was working on other projects.... So...have holidaze, web, art, blogs, grad, room, jobs, hunt, voluntelling.... But keeping it up in the exercise world, and maybe more fruit, like yesterday, and a little less bread?

  Just got my free 1 month membership, via my sister, at the health club I went to last year. Yeah! Started working out, and picked right up where I left off...did an hour of elliptical yesterday, and half an hour today, with a class (Body Combat, that I always wanted to try...side jumps were the funnest part) and 20 min of strength.... Then, online here at spark...I noted my overall progress is not where it should be...basically 8 months gone, and only 15 pounds lost. Summer! I guess I am used to Tucson summers and was too sluggish. I did do walks, and some running, but then took time off, and also had poison ivy twice. I guess I wasn't as diligent as I should have been.