A brand new me!

While I have complained about my weight gain since I turned about 28, I haven't really done anything about it. I make vague efforts, which I why I bought wii fit a while ago. While I used it for a bit, I got tired of always having to select the next workout. It felt like it took 45 minuets to do a 30 minute workout. It also didn't help that I didn't feel like I was getting a serious workout. It is fun and enjoyable, but it seemed to focus more on balance and coordination, not a good calorie burning exercise. So in the spring when I heard about Active, I decided to give it a try. I bought the game, which sat on my shelf for longer than it should. I did pull it out and play it once, but then got caught up in the bussle of finishing my last semester of graduate school. But even when I finished school, and lost my job, I still didn't work out more. For months I have lazed around with no job and just the occasional freelance projects.

Well, back to the orignal focus of this post, I have decided to turn over a new leaf and exercise more often. As it stands now, I have worked out for the last 3 days. I have been using the Active game I bought all those months ago. Overall, I am enjoying it. I have been using the 30 day challage, and I like how it creates preset workouts for me so I don't have to worry about what I am doing next. Each workout is just under 30 minutes, and I like the variety of strength training and cardio. By the end of the workout I am breathing hard and a bit sweaty. I think these are signs of a great workout! I also like that when you move from on exercise to the next they have a cut screen where it pauses while you get what ever equipment you need or grab a quick drink.

One of the things that I can't stand about it is the cheesy pep talks by the personal trainer. They just get annoying after a while. When I think about how they could be given by a 50 pound overweight voice actor sitting in a recording studio, they are even more annoying. Might least favorite is "what you are my friend, is poetry in motion!" Really, who thought anyone would be encouraged by this? Because of this, I have taken to muting the tv and just playing my own music while I work out. I find it easy to just follow the on screen prompts, and I don't miss the games bad music or cheesy dialog. Now I just have to keep it up!

Temptation...

For a while now, I have wanted a new iPod. I don't really need one, as I have a perfectly good 30 gb iPod... but I really want a 120 gb. I have quite the extensive music collection and with a 120 gb iPod I would be able to fit all of my collection on it. Then I would always have access to whatever song I wanted to listen to, even if my computer was off. So, I gave into temptation the other day and bought one at Costco. I know, as I am jobless I should be more practical with my money, but I wanted it! Anyway, I brought it home and hooked it up to my computer and had it sync my complete collection. Imagine my suprise when it barely fit all of my music. I only have 100 gb of music, but with album art and other silliness, it used the extra space. This made me reaize that my collection has indeed gotten out of control. After this I started to go through my music and removed some of the stuff that I never really listen too. I now have the goal to not let my music collection grow too large that I cannot fit it on my iPod. See, I can have some self control! (maybe...)

Seattle!

In a recent attempt to end my unemployed status, I went to Seattle for a job interview. I drove up there with my fabulous roommate. As the interview process spanned over two days, we decided to do a bit of sightseeing while we where there. I had a great time at Pike Place market and walking around the downtown area. Being the complete library geeks that we are, we did go to the Seattle Public Library while we where there. Overall, I wasn't that impressed by the library, it seemed to be a bit weird. I also didn't like how the escalators wouldn't take you to the next floor up, and would skip floors, which made finding the bathroom a bit adventurous. We also took a hike through Heritage park, which has some fabulous views of Puget Sound. Overall it was a great trip and I would love it if I could live there.

Beware of documentaries...

I have found that I am highly susceptible to documentaries. I can't seem to stop watching one once I start. As a case and point yesterday I decided to watch some tv while eating my lunch. I really meant to just watch it for a few minuetes while eating, but got sucked in. I ended up learning more than I ever expected about the storm water and sewaged systems in the US. Apparentely our infirstructure is really old and lots of people are having problems maintaining the sewage systems so that they don't contanimate our ground water supply. It was facinating, but this always happens to me. At least I learn something!

Hiking!

Now that I have some free time, I have started doing some of the things that I enjoy again. For instance, some friends and I went hiking in Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park the other day. It was a long hike (around 6 miles) where with a lot of elevation shifts. It was lots of fun, but I was really glad that I was wearing my water friendly Keens that day, as the trial took us across the river that runs through the park twice. At the first crossing there wasn't even a bridge, so I had to ford the river. It was a lot easier for me, since my shoes were made for water. My friends all had to take off their shoes for the first crossing. Luckily on the second crossing there was a narrow log that they could use to get across. I didn't bother with the log and just walked across the river. It was quite a beautiful hike, even though I was really tired by the end of it. I hope to get some more hiking done while I am still jobless.

Graduation

So this is a bit late, but I have finished! I actually had a good time at my graduation as my brother and my parents came to see me walk across the stage. It was nice to see them and to show them around the city I have been living in. It is nice to be done with school and I have no desire to go back for a second master's degree anytime soon. Sadly, I didn't pick the best time to graduate as the economy is starting to affect may public services, and many libraries are cutting their budgets, which means they are not hiring new librarians.... I haven't had much success with the job hunt so far, but I am hopeful that things will turn around eventually. Anyway, it was a fun day and my parents took me out for a really nice dinner afterwords. They only thing that would have made it better was for it not to be so hot! Of all the weekends for a heat wave, why the one when I am stuck in a polyester robe! At least my graduation was indoors, so it had a/c!

Yoga

I was introduced to yoga years ago by a friend who was a fanatic believer. While I have never felt the same level of addiction that she had, I do really enjoy it. One of the perks that the university offers students is unlimited fitness classes for $10 a semester. For the last few semesters I have have been attending yoga classes at the university. At the first of the semester, I am excited and go to every class, but will admit that by the end of the semester my attendance does become a bit spotty. As this is the first part of the semester, I am shinny and new in my enthusiasm for yoga. I just got back from my class this evening and am enjoying the sense of accomplishment that I get from participating. It is a workout that I enjoy and if I am going to make any attempt at losing some of the weight that I have put on over the last few years, it is a good start. Now I just need to find the time to work out a bit more often and stop eating as much and I will be set!