SparkNB's Journey to Fitness

  I was reading the People's online "Look Great in '09" article, and Stacie Guines said: "...I could pretend I hadn't eaten yet and could go get more food. I was in denial." This really struck me...I realize that I have also been like 'Cleopatra, queen of deNial'...about 1) warped self-image 2) self-delusions about what I am doing 3) ongoing eating I am going to think about denial some more, and where and when it occurs...I know it does because sometimes I get "slaps" of reality, like clothes-shopping (this doesn't happen that much, as I am SO NOT a shop-a-holic like I was a few decades ago; and when I am 'binge-ing' and why; and when I see pictures of myself. I will also explore how these weird reality denials occur...part of it may be family-related/society-related , even historical necessity (like the deer eating corn, fighting when there is enough)...Recently, at the dinner table with my folks, I acknowledged that our wh...

  I haven't been on in awhile...and getting points via email made me want to get points to exercise, which made me exercise for an hour while watching TV, whereas otherwise I would have just sat on my butt watching TV. Gooooo Spark! Member Comments About This Blog Post v DOOMETTE6 Go you go. Yeah, I was getting points from reading emails and spinning the login wheel for a while, then I quit kidding myself that it was helping me at all. 4599 days ago

  Bah-humbug. I don't enjoy the holidaze. The consumerism, the lack of eco/green-ness (energy and paper waste are each up a third in the month of Dec...for what? not all of it is filled with good cheer....) This year, I fore-stalled as long as I could, then got rounded up into it via family demands, and ended up stuck, polluting, in traffic, in nasty gray snow, until I hit the highway and shopped at my local co-op for as many things as I could get away with giving from their more earth-friendly wares...fair trade hot chocolate for dad, beeswax, local candles for my sisters and mom, lots of things for baking, and was thus given at least a respite from the walmartXmas monstrosity that so many love so much. It WAS nice to see my family, and I stayed out of the range of my Bro-in-law who pissed me off a lot by sending out email reprimands re: gifts. I hope I didn't ruin it too much for my sister who I told that I hate xmas. We are ONLY NOW winding down. As Eastern Europeans, with E...

  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.