January 2016 – Sweat & Sparkle

Power Step and Fifteen Years

My new DVD’s finally arrived yesterday! The first one I tried was Kathy Smith’s Power Step Workout. I was crazy excited to get this DVD, because as I mentioned, I had this on VHS tape back in the day. This workout was released on VHS in 1998, so that tells you how long ago I used to own this workout!

When my VCR went the way of the dinosaur, I sadly had to say good-bye to this workout…until I found it on Collage Video, miraculously resurrected on DVD! Yesssss!

I yanked out my trusty old Reebok step last night and popped in this DVD. As I was remembering the moves and enjoying the trip down memory lane, I realized that it has to have been at least 15 years since the last time I did the workout. I know I was still married to my ex-husband, and that was a looooong time ago.

At first I laughed, then I stopped so fast I nearly fell off the step. Because then I realized that also meant that is how long I have been battling and fighting and struggling with my weight. And fifteen years later, I still haven’t made it. Fifteen years later, I am still “trying to lose weight”.

Wow, that was sobering. Still is. Is it worth fighting if I haven’t been successful yet? Obviously I am losing the battle.

Well, screw that. Yes, it is worth still fighting. I still want to be at my goal weight and experience life at a healthy weight. I want to be proud of myself. I still want to look and feel good.

It’s mortifying and horrifying and depressing to realize just how long I have gaining and losing, gaining and losing. Maybe I needed this slap in the face to get my act together, finally, and just get it done already!

Anyway…onto the workout review…

I love this workout! It is 3 sections, so you really could make it a shorter workout if you like. All together, it ran 53 minutes, even though she says on the DVD that all three sections are 45 minutes. She must not be counting the warm-up or something. Either way, it’s a great workout, well cued, with options to make it easier or more intense. For example, instead of stepping up and down, you can jog onto the step and then step down.

None of the moves are terribly complicated, which is a must for someone like me who can trip over her own shadow. And did I mention that I love Kathy Smith? I love her non-fussy, straight-forward, clear instruction, just encouraging enough to help through the harder parts, but not annoying (can anyone say “Denise Austin”)?

I nearly wore this workout out when I had it on tape, and I plan to do the same now that I have it on DVD. I liked it just as much now as I did 15 years ago!

Collage Video

Part of my “get my act together” plan is getting some new workout DVD’s to get me excited about working out again and to give me something new to try. If you also like workout DVD’s, go check out Collage Video’s big sale! They’ve been my favorite workout DVD site for a long time, and shipping is free if you buy 2 or more DVD’s.

While cruising around, exploring workouts on their website, I came across some Kathy Smith workouts and smiled. I used to own quite a few of her workouts on VHS tape. Lord, remember those? I was upset when I had to get rid of them, because my old-school TV with the VCR built-in finally rolled over and died, and I had no way to play the tapes anymore.

I nearly hyperventilated when I saw that Kathy Smith has re-released some of those old classics on DVD! I hunted for my favorite:

I was in my early 20’s when I owned this on VHS! That seems like a lifetime ago. I remember it was a very good workout. Collage Video has the DVD, and it’s on sale! Score! I threw that into my cart right away.

I also ordered an ab workout and a Jillian Michaels strength training workout. I can’t wait to get them! I will post reviews here after I get a chance to do the workouts a few times. It’s going to be a trip down memory lane, doing that old step workout again!

Cold Weather Running

As a sworn autumn-lover, and a life-long summer heat hater, I never thought I’d say this, but I really wish it would warm up just a bit! I love chilly weather, and I adore test driving the fireplace in our new house, but when it comes to running outside, I am definitely a fair weather runner. I don’t like too hot, and I don’t like too cold!

Living in the south, I definitely fight the heat more than the cold. We’ve had freeze warnings the past two evenings, though, and even without that, it’s just been too uncomfortable outside for my liking.

I planned a run outside last night, but it’s dark before I get home from work and get ready for a run. Cold AND dark? C’mon! That’s too much. So I went to the gym and managed 5 miles on the Boring Treadmill of Death before I called it a day and headed home to my crackling fireplace.

I have no idea what I was thinking, signing up for a half marathon in February. Of course my training was going to have to be in the cold! All I was thinking at the time was “Well, it won’t be hot in February.”

I really want the medal, so I don’t want to wimp out. Evening runs in the dark probably aren’t going to happen, though. On Saturday morning I will go for a (hopefully) long run during the late morning, so the sun warms me up at least a little, and I am off on Monday and will run that day as well. I have covered the 13.1 mile distance twice, but I slacked off over the past month and want to be sure I can still do it without the overwhelming urge to die.

This morning I mentioned to my boyfriend that I could feel every pound I have gained while I was running. He said “You can’t see it”, which was super sweet but also a total lie. I can see the fullness in my face and can feel how much tighter my pants are. Those extra 10 pounds are going to feel like a ton during a 13.1 mile run, so I need to get to work, get more running in, and get back on track toward my goal!

Wedding Dress Shopping

On New Year’s Eve, my boyfriend surprised me with an engagement ring. My stepkids were home, and right after midnight, just after we toasted with our sparkling grape juice, my boyfriend and the kids dropped to one knee and popped the question. I was so happy he included the kids in it. We have been together over nine years, and I have watched the kids grow up, so them being a part of it just seemed right.

Oh, and I said yes 🙂

The holidays, moving, and the kids being home have really thrown me on my butt. I’ve gained at least 10 pounds since the end of November. I did nothing but gain in December. And now that I can get back to a more normal routine, I feel stuck. I’m struggling and just keep sliding right back off the wagon.

This morning, I looked around the bedroom as I was getting ready for work, and I thought to myself, there are so many happy and exciting things happening right now. We just bought our first house, we just got engaged. I can’t do this to myself right now. I can’t blacken this by continuing to gain weight. Wouldn’t it be awesome to continue the happy streak by losing this weight, once and for all, and still reach my goal weight before my birthday in April?

And besides…I have wedding dress shopping to do now!