OOOOWWWWW!!!!

Yesterday afternoon my trainer texted me and told me to meet her at the park. I had no idea what was in store for me. We started off with a brisk walk talking about how nice the weather was. How unbelievable it was that on February 2nd we were doing a workout outside and not uncomfortable with the weather at all. I was thinking...this isn't too bad. I can keep up. I'm going to be out of breath, but this isn't bad. Then we arrived at a park bench which turned out to be my first station. Pushups and squats and then we jogged to the next bench which was across from some bleachers. Stepping up and down off of the bleachers for fifteen times on each leg works leg muscles. We moved to the bench where I did more pushups, crunches, and calf raises. No time for a break we took off jogging to the next bench where I had to step up and down off of it for 15 times on each leg. I finished with more crunches, squats, and calf raises. Then a jog to the gazebo where I held onto a beam and lowered my leg off the back of the gazebo. 15 times each leg followed by running sideways up and down the stairs and then running up and down the stairs like any normal person would do. We took a quick break for some water and I was back lowering myself off the side of the gazebo and running stairs. I should have known I was in trouble when I woke up this morning and my upper leg muscles were talking to me before I ever tried to move them. They screamed when I moved them. The pain became slightly worse as the day wore on.

Being ever so dedicated I went to the gym after work. I hit the Helix for ten minutes. The leg muscles were screaming in a very hostile manner. Yet, having gone farther on the Helix than ever before I hopped off feeling quite successful. I meandered over to the stepper and was only going to go for twenty minutes. I was listening to my ipod, but watching the news. I saw a Deffenbaugh truck and saw a clip. I changed my headphones over quickly. (My dad is a supervisor for Deffenbaugh.) A driver was killed in an accident where his truck backed over him. I unplugged the headphones and called my mom. (Over Christmas I was told by my sister and my aunt who alternated cleaning an office with Mom on Friday nights that if I texted or called Mom on a Friday night I would owe them a cleaning because my calls and texts distract Mom and put them behind. I have adhered to this because I do not like to have to clean the office. However, this involved my dad and I classified it as an emergency.) Dad did in fact know the man who was killed. It's a tragedy that brings back even more emotion than knowing the man who was killed. Almost 16 years ago my dad was crushed by a trash truck. The fact that he didn't die was a miracle according to police officers who worked the scene and doctors who treated my dad at the hospital. Knowing that my dad is dealing with the hurt of losing a co worker and remembering his own accident, combined with me remembering his accident invoked a new strength in me. I went faster on the stepper than I have in a long time. So fast my heart rate was too high. I ended up on the stepper for 30 minutes instead of 20. Now trying to stand up from a sitting position isn't at all graceful. Don't fear Readers, I'm enjoying the burn. Hurts so good.

I haven't cut my hair for a year. There have been two trims and that's all. I was standing in the hall today problem solving a situation with a teacher. As I was playing with my hair I discovered it might be long enough for a pony tail. I made a trip to a friend who lent me a pony tail holder and I swept it up for the first time in 17 years. (I've been more partial to a shorter hair style for a great number of years.) Toward the end of the day some fifth grade girls saw me and said, "Mrs. Bunch you look beautiful with your hair up like that." "Mrs. Bunch you look fine." "Mrs. Bunch if you keep losing weight and growing your hair you aren't going to be a counselor they are going to want you to be a model." Oh one of the benefits of being an elementary educator is when you have students swooning over you. :) I could actually feel my head getting bigger. I see many more pony tails in my future. HA!

A public shout out to my new friend Belinda. I met Belinda as a result of this journey. I am soooo proud of her. She is hitting that gym so hard. She's getting results too. Go Belinda!!!