A BRAVE NEW WORLD: TRAINING UPDATE 1

How should I explain this?

Since February, I have been lifting weights with my great trainer, Dan. It's been going really well, and we're about half way through our training course.

A couple of weeks ago, another teacher/trainer from work (Mike)approached me and asked if I had ever considered running for cardio. I told him "no" but that I was willing to start. Two Sundays ago, we met for a first run (I ran with him and my sister.) It was a rough run, but the next day he put me on a running program.

It's going so well so far! It's been over a week and I'm doing great! My ultimate goal is run a half-marathon. (Dan said that he would provide some incentive -- though we have not yet decided what -- if I manage to run 13 miles: a half-marathon.)

The BIG BUT though, is my diet. It stinks! As a matter of fact, I ran amok with the frosting-laden chocolate cake in the teacher's lounge today! I decided to post this so that I could record my progress, in the hopes that it will provide me with more motivation!

I have come to the conclusion now, after three months of weight-lifting, that motivation is motivation. If publishing my goings-on to the world is going to motivate me, then I will do it!!

WEEK 1

CURRENT STATS

CURRENT BMI: 29%

SHORT-TERM GOALS:

1. Spend one week without eating sweets (May 30-June 6)
2. Run at least four days this week
3. Lift weights at least two times this week

LONG-TERM GOALS:

1. 20-22% on my BMI (7% to go!)
2. Run a half-marathon

STUFF I WANNA DO:

1. Run with Misty
2. Buy a new dress

And it just so happened that the day I brought the camera to the gym was 80s day! Dan (my trainer. For reference, he is the one with the many tattoos), Brian (the gym's massage therapist and the guy with big fake moustache), and Tina (I don't know what her job is but she's an employee too) had a great old time with my camera and caught themselves in a bunch of poses. Here are a few of the pictures:

Dan looking tough and majestic at the same time.


Dan, Tina, and Brian


Brian and Tina take their own photo


What a big strong man you are!


Personally, I think Brian's moustache makes him look like Freddie Mercury from Queen. What do you all think?

Freddie with his cat

Argus Makes Me Cry

Hello, all!

I'm sitting here at Saturday School (The last one of the year. This is the only time I seem to have a moment to write to you!). I'm starting to prepare the epic "Odysseus" unit for next year and I just read the part where Odysseus returns home only to find his dear old dog -- nearly dead and half-eaten by flies -- lying on a dung heap in his last throes of life.

The sweet, old, mistreated dog looks at Odysseus and then dies at peace because he has seen his master again.

That part of the story always makes me cry.