Spinspiration

I cannot be blind to the momentous history happening today - the Supreme Court's ruling in favor of the recognition of gay marriage throughout the United States.

Watching the coverage of the celebration in DC, Jim Obergefell spoke with the President and mentioned that his husband was not with him. That's the whole point of the case, actually; his husband died 20 months ago and Obergefell wanted to be listed as the surviving spouse on the death certificate.

Many people have been told no at a government office before - getting a driver's license, applying for a housing permit or trying to get a license for a small business - for a host of reasons, which include controversial topics. That's not my point today, though.

Instead, it's the perseverance of the denied. Lots of people would try once or twice and give up, assuming continued failure. My husband reminded my daughter and me of that which separated the ordinary from the extraordinary - the invention of the lightbulb.

“I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.”
― Thomas A. Edison

My small inspiration was this morning during spin class. The regular instructor was interviewing a prospective teacher by having her do the first half of the hour class. Every teacher has a different style, playlist and drills.

I liked this one - she played Paradise City by Guns'n'Roses for one of the drills. It was a set of quick in-and-out-of-the-saddle intervals that were incredibly tough for me. When it ended, I was huffing and puffing. Since it was her last song of the "interview," she got down and started the mid-class water refill.

When she got to me, she said "You were awesome." I demurred, "I'm terrible at this." "No, you were doing really well and I could see that I was connecting with you and inspiring you. And I needed that, so that I could go on."

The smallest acts of perseverance can mean a lot, not just for you. Believe me, I'm not equating me challenging myself during spin class to solving societal problems. I am trying to use my little success to overcome that voice in my head saying I'm too weak and I won't make it, though.

When you want to give up, try once more. Whether you make a difference for one, or for many, like Jim Obergefell, a grieving widower, try just a little harder. You could make somebody's day, their week, or their lifetime.

Baby, It's Cold Outside

I got yelled at today. It was 10:35 AM in the Columbia Athletic Club parking lot. No, I wasn't driving. (Full disclosure: I do drive offensively...)

When I woke up and found out schools were in a two-hour delay, I thought, Oh well, my ankle's hurting and I shouldn't take that class I've missed for 3 weeks. Looking for excuses.

I got the kiddo off to school & drove helter-skelter to the gym. But I was still giving myself an excuse - given the January resolvers, I wouldn't be able to find a space.

Oh, shoot, I found a space but kinda far away from the door. And it's POURING icy rain. And I have a rule that I bring my umbrella into the gym in my bag so it stays dry. Because my hair before exercising does not require protection.

So I jogged. I dodged the raindrops. I avoided the snow. As I ran, a woman yelled at me - it's raining, it's slippery.

I heard her but I thought - I'm in control. I'm looking where I step, but I need to get somewhere. I've assessed the risk and I'm taking it.

But...be careful out there, my friends!

Fitness Failures

I didn't make it to Body Pump or Body Vive class yesterday. Maybe it was the time change, but I decided to rest a little bit and just do the elliptical. I have a book that I can't renew again (Who Killed Kit Marlowe? by M. J. Trow) so I used that excuse.

Group fitness exercises have made the difference in my workout, and hence, my body. I've just started doing spinning - which powers the gym - and I'm "powering" through that. So I feel guilty when I can't or don't go to a class. My personal mantra is "I have to shower at the gym."

That sounds CRAZY, doesn't it? And so odd for me - who eschewed diets & exercise for years.

As a kid, I ran around, climbed trees & tried to get my older brothers to play with me. I rode bikes with my best friend Beth (now Liz!) and we'd daringly cross the railroad tracks DURING rush hour. We played on the bars at Washington Grove Elementary and even climbed onto the school roof periodically.


Then came 1987 - the year we moved. We moved a mile away to a townhouse development. I stayed at St. Martin's, we still shopped at the same grocery stores and my walk home from school was still a mile. (Except when I took the shortcut once I discovered it.) Beth & I were still besties, but the bike rides disappeared. My neighborhood was not ideal for riding given the number of cars in a congested area and I lost my main physical activity.

So I stopped exercising a lot before I even became a teenager. I had tried team sports, I wasn't very helpful on a team...For one thing, my brothers had taught me to throw overhand, which didn't make any sense in softball. Umm, only girls throw underhand...As my dad often recalls, I was the antithesis of grace, so dance & gymnastics didn't work very well. I dreaded physical education classes.

When I went to Holy Cross in Kensington, there became less time for exercise. Morning rush hour generally meant at least half an hour to school. My mom generally drove me and then I walked down the hill and up the hill to Grosvenor Metro station. Sometimes, I'd beg a driving friend for a ride to the metro.

But I was a singer, a drama club girl and an awkward nerd. I'd rather bury my nose in a book than put on sneakers. I believe I may have gone years without buying sneakers after the PE requirement was fulfilled in sophomore year.

In college, I tried to use the gym equipment, but never developed a lasting habit. Then in Fall 1996, I was sitting in the Delta Sigma Pi weekly fraternity meeting. I was wearing forest green suede Birkenstocks and they were irritating me when I was sitting? That's weird. I fiddled with the buckle, but no, something still felt wrong. So I grabbed my foot and felt a bump on the top of my foot. Hmm, that's odd. My mom had Morton's Neuromas on her left foot from years of wearing high heels. But those are on the BOTTOM of the foot. Who gets a bump on the top of their foot?

Apparently, I do.

So off to the podiatrist I went and he diagnosed a bone spur. Which anyone who has seen me walk would understand. I walk FAST and I POUND the pavement. I attribute this to years of walking in high heels as well...I think the constant jamming caused it. Christmas Break 1996-97 - I spent in that lovely knee-high black boot and couldn't drive. I finished my senior year with a handicapped pass and my friends enjoyed my parking privileges.

And that is how I became a victim of my foot. Granted, I've had four surgeries since that initial one, most recently 2010. Luke & I used to joke that he'd have to wheel me down the aisle at our wedding. My papa says if my mom & I were horses, we'd have been disposed of LONG ago given our many ailments.

All those years of wallowing in pain, aging, sitting behind a desk, having a baby and not changing my diet meant I am a lot heavier than I'd like to be. Last winter, I had bronchitis for about 5 months, followed by sinus surgery in May. I started working out in June, but wasn't 100% til autumn. I haven't been on steroids since September. My cheekbones are actually visible now! I still need to lose more if just to avoid the judginess of my pulmonologist's tech who scolded me like a 5 year old about my weight's effect on my asthma.

But I've been scared for the past 10 days. The psoriatic arthritis flared up. I would reach for my keys in my purse and yelp in pain. The topical pain reliever didn't help. Anti-inflammatories weren't helping. I'm trying to train my left arm & hand to squeeze the shampoo bottle or spread the peanut butter. I made Lily fill out her summer camp forms so that I can just sign them. (Even if I had Luke do them, it's questionable which would look more childlike.)

Today, I felt much more energetic. So I tried out a class at CA - Zumba Circuit, which combines TRX and weights with Zumba. I had forgotten about the TRX and I got worried that I wouldn't be able to hold on. The arthritis flare seems to have receded.

And my feet do hurt. There might be another neuroma or cyst or spur on top of my foot, but I'm not giving into my stupid foot anymore. I'll never be a runner - I think that would be asking for trouble - but I can exercise in a healthy way. My inertia was hard to break through, but I did.

What is your inertia?

My dirty little secret

I'm a little ashamed to admit this: I don't always walk to the Mall.

Sometimes it's because I'm returning from someplace like dropping Lil off at ballet, which is based at the Howard County Center for the Arts in Ellicott City. (Even if they move to Long Reach, which I hope they do, that's still on the other side of town, and I don't know if Ballet Mobile would go with them, which I hope they would.)

But sometimes, I'm not returning. I'm driving from my house to the mall. There are a few reasons for this:



Sometimes it looks like this:



Or it's raining or really cold...

So yes, if I'm planning on doing major shopping, I will drive so I don't have to walk up the hill with all my packages. Sometimes, when it's really cold, I can't breathe because of my asthma. (Have you seen those Symbicort ads where the person doesn't acknowledge their asthma is a problem? That's me to a T. And my Symbicort makes me feel a little jittery.)

We do walk down there a lot. Luke has even been known to purchase furniture and borrow a dolly to push it up to the house.

But we definitely don't walk down to the Lakefront to Clyde's very often. And if we do shop a little at Whole Foods when it opens later this year, which is questionable because it's so expensive, I'm going to drive.

My British chum Claire over at UK Desperate Housewife has noted that one of the differences between the UK & the US is that we drive EVERYWHERE. Buses are for people that can't afford cars. (Not that I agree with that exactly, but the Howard County government study below says that essentially.) I love driving my car...I listen to books on tape and I love being in control. And my car doubles as another branch of the Howard County Library...

But I am looking forward to the Columbia Town Center development because of one item in particular. The plan mentions "multi-modal transportation," which seems to include a downtown circulator. When this comes to fruition, I will commit to using it!

#HoCoBlogs

Be vewy, vewy quiet, I'm hunting resolvers

The instructor of my gym class mentioned how the gym will be crowded in a few days. She said she wished we could wear pins that marked us as regular/active gym members. Ah, yes, it's time for New Year's Resolutions, an ancient tradition to Roman times. When we try to take back our self-control by swearing we'll eat better, exercise more, drink less and be nicer!

The "resolvers," as I refer to the gym members who realize they do in fact belong to a gym, will come in search of thinner thighs and toned abs on January 1 (after their hangover is almost over). They will attempt to lift the 250 lbs they could back in college (never mind that college was 20 years ago).  They'll stand in front of the Package Plan Plus room trying to punch random numbers to unlock the door. The treadmill "stop" buttons might get a few more uses as people realize they cannot run that fast anymore. People will hop on equipment they have no idea how to operate and will sit looking confused until they finally give up or brave asking one of us regulars concentrating on our Kindles. Staff will have to get out their boltcutters to remove locks left on for days on end on lockers. People will take showers without realizing there are no towels available in that area. Worst of all, the parking lot will be a mess. Which leads to my resolution - to be more patient. Because 80% of the American population gives up within two months - I can wait it out!