4 Sweet Sisters

I guess I should have looked up the definition of Cross Training before I started this post. Since that would be to laborious, I've decided to give you my definition. (See the stuff you read online may not always be accurate.) Reader Beware ! My definition is just this: Exercising 4 to 5 times per week using different muscle groups on opposing days. How am I going to accomplish this? Let me tell you... it has been a HUGE brain struggle! I've been warring with myself for a couple of months over this. My brain has finally won. I've decided to Nordic Walk 2 to 3 times a week and Swim 3 times a week. My body has become somewhat stagnant with just swimming and due to concerns over osteoporosis I needed to get in some bone building exercise. For Christmas I received a new pair of walking shoes and have really been trying hard to do my foot exercises each night. Urban Girl and I took our maiden walk on New Year's day (before I came down with the crud, again). It was great!...

Life has been a whirl wind. I keep stating that each time I have a chance to break away and blog. I would like to be on here a lot more, but time is precious when you're raising a family of any size. Am I right? I did want to update on my exercise habits. Since I last posted a lot has happened. First off, the Lord has been so good in graciously giving me the toys I wanted. I got a pair of water gloves for half price at Target and I was so excited. I used them for all my arm work outs for about a month. Then I laid off for a couple of days. Some how on my break I over extended one of my shoulders. I tried swimming through it thinking it would heal. It did not. So about two weeks ago I changed my workout and got rid of all arms. I'm not sure what I looked like coming down the lane, but I can assure you it was silly! That leads me to the next gift. This time another swimmer. She wanted me to have her old fins because she bought new ones. What a blessing. She's such a great la...

While I was doing my workout today I started thinking about all the money spent on gym memberships, equipment and all the other paraphernalia that we "need" to exercise. Now I'm not here to criticize or critic anyone. It just got me thinking about myself. Where do I fall into this category? Maybe you'll think about where you fall also, maybe not. Trying to be frugal, careful, spend thrifty with the family finances has made me take a deeper look at this. I'm not a person who "not intentional" when it comes to exercise. I have many wonderful girlfriends that are. My definition of this is a person who doesn't have to think about getting some exercise. They are always involved in something that gives them this and their bodies crave it if it is not available to them about 12 hours after their last "session". "Intentional" people on the other hand may enjoy being in the great out doors, but they are sitting on the back porch or on a qu...

Just a update and a way for me to see my progress. Started water aerobics the end of June. (2 times a week) July continued water aerobics, but added in another day (3 times). Gained 6 pounds but feeling great! I can feel the muscle. Mid July added in swimming laps 40 to 50 laps in 1 1/2 hours (1 to 2 times per week and water aerobics 1to2 times per week- total of 4 days) August buy swim pass. Goal: laps 4 times a week. ( 2 weeks of water aerobics, twice a week). I feel that I really need to step it up. Feeling really good. NO weight loss. Losing some inches. By mid August shaving off time down to an hour for 50 laps (1000 yards). Swimming only laps 5 days a week. Gained 2 more pounds (freaking out!) Feeling really good . Seeing muscle definition. Feeling a new strength in my body. Mid August start eating only when I'm hungry and stopping when satisfied. A few bumps in the road, but doing well. No more dieting. Praying and asking for direction. Start really upping the pace of my lap...

It's been a long time since I've done a Works For Me Wednesday post. It's not that I don't have anything to offer up. It's that I can't remember when it comes time to post it. So without further ado let me show you! Thank you to my very brave husband, Superman. We don't call him a superhero for nothing. He also believes in this concept a lot! Ye old Nette . Has anyone ever used a nette pot? I tried and hated it. It felt like I was diving into the deep end of the pool and depositing most of the water in my sinuses. It would hurt like the dickens ( what exactly is a dickens?). Superman informed that I had the wrong technique. So I tried again with no success. So a year has gone by and I've been sneezing like crazy for a couple of months. Rarely do I ever sneeze. I decided to give the pot another go. Superman was right! My technique was all wrong. Here is Superman's Technique: use sea salt warm water shower (easiest place w/no clean up) tip your hea...

Does anyone recall me explaining the Sumo Diet? Go here and find out more. Unknown to me, I was following this lovely large plan. Ugh, yikes, I could scream were a couple of my thoughts and emotions. After I got over the initial shock and horror. I became terrified. Yay , I over did it. I was a afraid to sit down for fear of being sedentary. Don't worry, it didn't last long. I REALLY did not want to low carb diet anymore. Especially when we eat really healthy, preservative free and organic. Calorie counting at this point in my life would take an enormous amount of thought and time (although I'm still holding on to the idea- it's falling further back in my mind) So I've prayed and swam and swam while I prayed, yelled, screamed and shed a few tears. (You can do all that under water without people noticing - I think) Finally after having my rant I knew what I was supposed to do. The hardest of all weight control solutions out there! Eat when I'm really hungry...

Have you ever read about the Sumo Wrestler's diet and how he trains? Well in my morning reading (which doesn't happen as often as I like) I started a book by Laurette Willis entitled , Strengthening Your Body and Soul: Basic Steps to Godly Fitness. I've had this book for a couple years and tried her alternative to Yoga work out. I liked it, but wasn't quite ready for it. Anyway on the third page of chapter one she goes into the Sumo's diet. I was soooooo distraught. I'm on that diet!!!! Not totally, but pretty darn close! Go here if you want to read up on it. I did a small search and found out it's true......ugh..... I've been working my buns off in the pool to no avail! ( i've seen a lot of strengthening and a couple of inches- but not what should be happening.) For years I've been trying to figure out why I gain weight when I exercise. Anyone know what I'm talking about? I'm talking 5 to 10 pounds (muscle gain) and then staying ther...

A week or so ago while I was amidst my morning (torture) laps, I realized I needed a better way than my bean to keep track of my laps. I could be on 10 for 6 laps ( if I get into pray or start playing a game to keep me moving) before I realize I'm not on 10. Another more experienced swimmer had these big nuts on a string. They looked as if they had come from the South Pacific and I wanted some! They were really cool. Anyway, a swimmer who is on the mend made them for her out of a necklace. Perfect! I can do this. Well I didn't have much moola in the budget for beads ( i want big funky turquoise ones). So Monday as my feet hit the floor I see that some of the chickadees haven't cleaned up after crafting (ahem)... I scurried into the room and found enough beads and string to work for now. I would prefer to use fishing line, but the beads have worked out great! I did want to mix colors for easier counting, but I was in a hurry. So here's what I did: A Clear bead (purity) t...

It's another Works For Me Wednesday over at We Are That Family and I'm joining in. Let's start of with 911. I'm truly blessed we have this service in our community! Here's the scoop. Around 10:30 this morning we arrived home from swim team. The family has all been under the weather so Superman was with us. Just down the street from our home he says (rather loudly and very controlled), "What is going on at our house?" Huh? I'm looking all around trying to figure out what he is talking about. Then as we get closer I see 4 police cars then a couple of undercover vehicles.... We pull up just in front of our home and an Officer says,"Sir stay in your vehicle and back it down the street". Superman responds by letting him know one of our Chickadees was in the home. He said that he knew. 6 Officers, GUNS DRAWN start up our front steps to the entry. While other Officers were behind the house ready and waiting. I cannot describe what was goin...

Lookie ,what I did tonight. I CRAMMED my bod into a modest, yet uncomfortably snug bathing suit. Marched myself down (okay, a girlfriend picked me up) to our community center and took a water aerobics class! (I couldn't have done it without you Debbie! I needed you by my side and your accountability to get my bathing suit clad body down there.) (that's me in the floral number, bottom right) We had a great time exercising and not sweating a drop! The girls in the Zumba class (inside the air conditioned center) had nothing on us. We were working just as hard... Oh ladies, what you are missing out on! Seriously, we were the youngest in the group. But they accepted us with love and made us get right to work! You see the buoy looking thingies up there. Man, do your arms hurt after a couple of reps with those babies ;) And I never knew there were so many exercises you could do with a noodle. I need to get me one and a pool to go with it. heeheehee If I could do this year round and i...

We've been using a surprisingly wonderful face wash for about 6 months. Guess What it is? Olive & Castor Oil! I was really surprised at how well it works and you can customize the formula to you own needs. For people with T-zone, dry or oily conditions. At www.theoilcleansingmethod.com/ they give all the details. I used an old facial cleanser bottle and tweaked the instructions to fit our needs. -15% Castor oil -85% olive oil -Shake and place in shower with wash cloth. - Gently rub 1 to 2 pumpfuls into face, neck, ears etc. (before you get in) -Use the warmth of shower to open pores. -Heat wash cloth with water, place on face for a minute or so. Then gently rub off excess oil, make up and dirt. Like I said, we've been using this for 6 months or so. In that time I've had only 1 blemish ( I'm a t-zone). My face is so much smoother and softer and this is all I do. No more 3 parts, no extra lotions! The above recipe has worked well for dry and t-zone. So we only h...

I'm sure there are many culinary delights that could be made with the use of vinegar and eggs. Alone or together...but I have chosen to go another route. What you may ask? My hair wash! Yup, you read right. I finally did it last night. I had been reading over at www.inashoe.com/ about her trials with going w/o the shampoo and conditioner. She has been using baking soda and apple cider vinegar for a rinse, but found that her hair would still get a bit greasy after a couple of days. So a reader suggested eggs. Well we've been using organic shampoo and conditioner for quite awhile and it does get pricey! When we first switched. I cut way back on washing my hair. I've found over the year I only need to wash it twice a week, but I would still condition every day. So this helped to keep cost down a bit.( A hairstylist friend told me that we really don't need to wash it every day and that it strips our hair.) So what I would do is rinse my hair with warm water give my scal...