Boot Camp

In October I joined an exercise boot camp. Actually my girls joined and then wanted me to go with them. I took the food program to my Dr. and she called the instructor and discussed who-knows-what, made a few modifications and then said, "Go for it!"

WHAT?! I was sure she would say absolutely not. The food program was kind of weird... you eat the exact same foods every day for 7 days and then change. I'm pre-diabetic, I have an aneurysm in my head, I've basically destroyed my knees and my feet, my back hurts all the time... I'm in no condition to do a boot camp, but she said, "go for it". So I did.

It was amazing. By the end of the second day I couldn't sit down or stand up. Going to the ladies room was torture! By the end of the week I knew I was going to die... Everything hurt... everything. Denice told me to write a letter about exactly how I felt then, if I ever considered stopping I could read the letter and convince myself to keep going because I never wanted to start over again. I never wanted to hurt this bad again.

October came and went and I was doing push ups on a bench. Not great ones, but my form was good and even though I was just moving an inch or two, I was moving. It turned cold so we moved inside and for the first time there were no benches or curbs available and Chris said, "Everyone on the ground." I just laughed. I couldn't get on the ground. I hadn't been on the ground in years. And even if I somehow managed to get on the ground there was no possible way I could get off the ground. And then it sank in and I was shocked embarrassed and stunned - I really didn't know how to get on the ground. I stayed on my feet and pushed against the wall and that day I went home and learned how to get on the ground again.

My knees are horrible, especially my left one and the pain when I kneel on them is excruciating so all my kneeling for years has been on a couch or my bed. Now I had to put pressure on them to get down and up again. I did carry a foam mat with me to slide under my knee as I went down and came up and I did it, I figured out how to get on the ground.

Sit ups are another story :O) Every day he has the group do 25 and I would strain with my shoulders coming just inches off the bench, and then the ground but I never "sat up" and I was sure I never would. "Okay 25 sit-ups"... "Unh, unh, unh, unh..." and then one day in December I was UP! "Chris!" I said, "I'm sitting UP!" and everyone laughed :O) "Do it again", He said. So I did, 19 more times. It was amazing!

We didn't work out the week of Thanksgiving and then Natasha and the grand kids stayed on through the next week so I stayed home then as well (have I mentioned yet that boot camp is 5:30 - 6:30 am?). The 2nd week of December I only made it twice. On Monday the 14 of December it was below freezing outside and I was running a little late. When I arrived the group was already running laps so I didn't warm up but just hopped right in. I was surprised at how out of breath I was, but I hadn't really exercised in 2 1/2 weeks so I just kept pushing. We did some lunges across the gym and I still couldn't breath but lunges aren't that easy, however when we started doing deep knee bends and I still couldn't catch my breath I started to panic. I was getting light headed and there were sharp pains in my chest. I moved away from the line and leaned against the wall, Chris asked if I was okay, gasping, "can't breath" he had me raise both hands above head. I leaned my face against the wall because I was feeling pretty warm and started talking myself out of the panic. Cassandra said it lasted about 10 minutes, but I calmed down and could breath and just assumed I had gotten really badly out of shape.

Okay - I hate to do this to you.... It has taken me 1 1/2 hours to write this! it is 10:30 at night, I'm not packed and my flight is at 7:30 tomorrow morning, sooooo.... happy ending I am writing this, however you will have to wait for part 2.

Again?

I wasn't very successful the first time... and here I go again. There were some things I needed to do that were easier with a google account and I couldn't figure out how to "adjust, move, dislodge, change, shift or transfer" the other blog over cosequently there is a new one. Not better or improved, just new.

Go ahead and laugh, you know who you are and you know you want too.

Now if that is out of your system...

Yesterday I dropped Brittany off at the MTC. There is a new procedure. You pull up to a designated spot, unload the car, give your missionary a hug and they are escorted away by a couple of Elders.

The next morning there is an e-mail in your box with their address and mailing instructions for letters and packages.

Done.

I cried as I drove away, I cried on the airplane and now I am home and weary. We are so very, very proud of Brittany. She is a fantastic young woman and will make a Great Missionary!

It is cold in Oklahoma. It has been freezing 32 F. for a week now. This is not normal. It was warmer in Utah! It is supposed to start snowing again today at 3:00 P.M. Until 10:00 P.M. I wish Elliot was here. When it is this cold I like to play with Hot Wheels. I have to go to work tomorrow.

That was my talk for the E1 speech festival. How did I do Miss Denice?

Hoping all are warm and happy!