The Week in the Proverbial Nutshell, 3

Once again I am linking this to Java's Follow Friday 40 and Over at Never Growing Old!

And here's the week in a-

Now we know that it will be the Steelers and the Packers squaring off in the Super Bowl.  What's that mean for us?  It means our focus will be on the commercials because neither of those teams is one of ours.  No, our main team, the Carolina Panthers, were so terrible this season that the game they were playing every time they took the field did not even remotely resemble the game of football (maybe they were playing without cups...LOL).  Pretty sure that little kids play better than these guys did.  But, all is not lost- we have a new coach, a new offensive coordinator and next season.  There's always next season.  Anyway, this year we simply enjoy the game without concern over who wins. Besides, the commercials are always entertaining.  And so, until next year, I'll just pull for the offense.  LOL

DoodleBug is now officially an education major at CofC where she has a dual focus--early childhood and elementary ed.  It sure is different these days...when I was in college you simply declared your major (which I did about 6 times...LOL) today, you have to jump through hoops, stand on your head and blow fire to declare.  AND you have to be accepted into your program of choice.  If they won't take you, I guess you have to change your mind.  Oh well, congrats to Doodlebug!  Now, if we can just get her to Bio lab at the right time...early is better than late sweetie!  LOL

Waited for sleet and snow.  Again.  That never came.  Again.  The monkey never learns.  And the weather dude NEVER gets it right.  Except in the spring, summer and early fall months when all he has to do is say, "It's HOT," or "It's REALLY HOT."

My dad gave me the stainless steel food processor I wanted for Christmas.  I needed one because there are a few Ina Garden (the Barefoot Contessa) recipes that I want to make and, you need a food processor.  So, this week I made the crust for her chicken pot pie in the food processor.  It was DEEEE-LISH!  Then I used it to make a pie crust and Birdie came over to make her homemade apple pie!  Also DEEE-LISH!

My mom was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes a while back and I recently saw this Dr. Shapiro dude on GMA who has a book called Eat and Beat Diabetes.  My copy came in this week and I've been playing with those recipes too so that I can figure out which ones Mother would like.  She's already tried the root vegetable gratin after I told her it was---DEEE-LISH!  LOL  Seriously, the food, so far, is quite good!  If you have anyone in your family with this diagnosis or who is headed in that direction, check it out! 

Several people have told me that I needed to get Zumba for the Wii.  So I did.  Let me just say here and now that, if you are one of those people, you are in BIG TROUBLE MISTER.  Holy Crap my legs were sore the first time but, after the second session...let's just say that I had no idea I still had ab muscles but I would have loved it if they had been just achy.  But NO, they hurt when I walked, when I bent over, when I sat, when I stood, when I laid down, when I moved and when I was still.  Hubs was like, "Yeah, right." And I would have told him to give a shot but I would have been laughing and that would have hurt so....  Anyway, the third time (as they say) is the charm because now I am getting the hang of it and the abs aren't nearly as sore as they were.  Gesh, if I keep this up I'll lose 50 pounds by next week!  Ha! I wish!

Wii Fit and I are doing much better together as well.  Seriously, if you have one and haven't tried it, get it out!  It's fun and gives noticeable results in a short period of time.  Honestly, after the first few times of doing the Yoga, my balance is really better.  I was shocked but it's true.  And I can even tell it when I walk Tucker everyday.  Amazing!  Oh, and I have unlocked the advanced levels on the downhill skiing and the Ninja!  That's right!  I'm rocking that darn thing!

Had a very nice visit with Birdie and one of the roommates, Gibby.  They came over for one of the Eat to Beat Diabetes dishes and they loved it!  They stuck around and played a game of Farkle! with us too.  DoodleBug couldn't make it because she was busy showing up for lab at the wrong time!  LOL  We sent her some for later though and she loved it as well!

 Birdie is very excited about this weekend.  As an Athletic Training major, she will be attending an anatomy lab in Florida.  What's an anatomy lab?  It's a freaking CADAVER LAB is what it is!  This kid is CRAZY!  She is beside herself with excitement.  One of their professors is taking them down to the University of North Florida for this little excursion--to cut up dead people.  Ewwwwwww!!!!  Did I mention that THIS KID IS CRAZY?!  I'm way too grossed out to include a picture with this one.  You'll thank me, I promise.  As my Mother said, "You know I love to hear about the details of what the girls are doing, but you can keep some things to yourself!  And, when she comes back, keep the detailed description to yourselves."

Finally, Deanie (DD2) who is living the big city life in DC went to the Dupont Circle Snowball Fight last night and made the news!  If you follow the link, she's the gorgeous beauty they call Claudia.  If you stick with it to the end, they continue talking about her--it's pretty funny.  When you get to the site, it's the second video NOT the first one!  http://www.myfoxdc.com/dpp/weather/dupont-circle-snowball-fight-scheduled-012611

And that's my week in a nutshell!  Hope yours was terrific and your weekend is even better than you ever imagined!  

Getting in Shape...Again

Anyone on the box who is smiling, is lying.

Momma Brown over at Growing roots and turning over a new leaf posted about getting fit and mentioned how she felt after using her Wii Fit.  And I thought, really?  She's got achy muscles from a game?  She must be joking.  Well, I have recently discovered that she was not joking.  Oh no.  She was SERIOUS.

Danger! Will Robinson!

We have been having BIG FUN with the Wii from the moment we opened it on Christmas day.  Soon after, I foolishly made the comment that, "All we need now is a Wii Fit."  I got one for my birthday (thanks Hubs). And, I have discovered that instead of reading Momma Brown's post for entertainment and inspiration, I should have heeded it as a WARNING (cue Robot from LOST IN SPACE).  I completed my second day on that evil piece of crap the Wii Fit board yesterday and I am seriously trying to devise a way to inject ibuprofen intravenously.  Either Wii Fit is somewhat misleading OR I have been misleading myself as to how many of those lost 83 pounds I have, in reality, gained back because, and I am being totally honest here, my body KNOWS it has been worked out.  From a freaking GAME.  While I was hula hooping, nothing hurt.  While I was ski jumping and downhill skiing, nothing hurt.  While I was doing the step aerobics, nothing hurt.  All during strength training and the Yoga?  That's right.  Nothing hurt.  But, today?  Well, today is a different story altogether.  Today, EVERYTHING I HAVE HURTS.  And today, I also thank Momma Brown for her warning and am kicking myself (figuratively rather than literally for obvious reasons) for not taking it to heart.

The options provided for a workout seem harmless enough.  All you have to do is stand there and move your body from side to side or up and down.  The Yoga exercise I tried only involved BREATHING  for goodness sakes.  BREATHING.  And my abdominal muscles are sore.  Have I not been breathing all along?  My legs are so sore I didn't want to take Tucker on our morning walk-- I did, but I didn't want to.  And all I did to them were the skiing options (which are for balance not killing your legs).  You just stand there with your legs bent and then straighten them out to jump and, for downhill skiing, you simply lean from side to side to go between the flags.  The running in place, where I refused to stop even though my breathing sounded like an old time steam engine, was nothing more than--running in place.  And that step one?  It's supposed to be for working on your rhythm not making you pant like a cartoon wolf.  Apparently, because you are concentrating on the game, you don't think about using your muscles.  Oh, but they are being used.  Yes indeed! 

Poor, embarrassed Mii

I have made another discovery.  Thanks to Wii Fit I have discovered that I am not only COMPLETELY AND TOTALLY OUT OF SHAPE but that I also have NO BALANCE whatsoever.  It's a wonder I walk upright.  This discovery is thanks to the downhill skiing and the ski jump.  And that soccer balance game?  The one where you lean and head the ball that's thrown at you but lean to AVOID the shoes that come your way?  I have managed to hit my Mii with shoes and avoid the soccer balls (no wonder my Mii hangs her head...she's not experiencing frustration or defeat, she's embarrassed!).  However, sore and unbalanced though I am, I am not deterred.  I'm going to get back on that darn thing today because I know that, if I don't, the pain will NEVER go away.  And I am determined not to live out the rest of my life carrying all this extra UNNEEDED weight around.  I might also be fueled somewhat by the how pisssed I am at myself for gaining ANY of that 83 pounds back.  Plus there is the fact that the darn Wii Fit game keeps a nice little record of how often you 'play' it, what you do, how well you do and it TALKS to you!  (Crap, now I realize that I'm even competitive with a stupid game.).  Oh, and I also reward myself with a few games of Wii Sports bowling afterwards.  I have beat my high score of 200!  It's now 225.  That's right fellas!  Can't wait for y'all to come back for a weekend!  (I TOLD you it was ON!). 

Yes, read it and WEEP!

I even tried the Penguin exercise where you lean to catch fish...

And ended up in the water.

So, it's back on the Wii Fit board today coupled with walking Tucker every day.  AND just as the Wii Fit holds me accountable by keeping records, I have joined in with Julie at The Going to be New Me for her Walk 400 Miles in 2011.  If you need a little something to help you motivate or keep you going, go visit Julie and sign the linky to walk this year.  Seriously, it's only a smidge over one mile/day.  And, because we check in once every week (or once each month if you prefer) it's almost like we're all walking together!  Tucker and I walk three miles MOST days but this is going to help me walk those THREE miles EVERY day.  (Plus, Tucker will stop looking at me funny when we stop after one or two miles).  If you want to join in the fun, just click the button below and get started!  See you out there!