Gerard Butler Continues to Inspire

The movie "300" came out on DVD this past Tuesday. I grabbed it from the shelves at Target that evening. The movie is awesome, if you like action, and I love it. But it fueled a different passion in me when it hit theatres in March. After learning what the actors, especially star Gerard Butler, had done to ready for their roles, I was inspired, even in awe.


For what would be short term gain, they put their bodies through hell. It paid off in spades on screen, every muscle moves and you see it, it's really phenomenal. Long term, Gerard did some permanent damage to his body with overtraining.

The reasons he continues to inspire me are: his passion in accomplishing what he did and his passion for life; the fact that he is realistic and recognizes that his extreme change could not be permanent; and his wonderful sense of humour through the whole process.

I am passionate, sometimes too much so; constantly seeking my new and ever changing reality; and if I didn't keep my sense of humour during all of this, I would be in serious trouble.

So, here is a reminder of how I felt about the movie:My "300" Review. I highly suggest you pick it up when you can, even if you just rent it.

Right now I am going to go do a screening in the conference room for our company's interns. Hey, just trying to pass on the Inpiration.

Best always, Ms_H
Weight - 166 pounds

A Long Week

Posting has been on my mind every day this week. I enjoy it and it can be very carthatic. But this week got away from me because a lot happened.

It was my last week with Caelen. I spent every moment on the go with him, so we didn't waste the time we had. We had a lot of fun. I love him so much, the next few weeks will be hard, as I get used to being without him. I am going to have to figure out my schedule so I can pick and afternoon to grab him from school once a week. That way we can have a "date" as Annette has suggested.

We have been so close, I do not want to lose that relationship. I hope to maintain it throughout his life. I hope to be the person he comes to when there are things he can't tell his mom and dad. I think it will take due diligence so that I do not get swept away in being busy with a job, but he is and will always be, a priority for me.

The other reason the week has been long is because I have worked every day. A friend and mentor of mine was let go at work and I have been put in the appreciated, but uncomfortable position of taking over her duties. Everyone, well almost everyone, has been supportive and knows that this was a corporate decision and I had nothing to do with it. Even she has offered up her support, saying if they fill her job, I deserve to have it. That typifies who she is, kind and selfless. It was a real blow to everyone when they showed her the door. I am still a bit in shock. I have been interested in a job like hers since I was in high school, but I am not the kind of person that would walk over anyone for a promotion and certainly not a friend.

The night she was let go I was too tired and sad from the stress of the situation to workout. So I went to bed early. Which is pretty much a requirement of filling in for her anyway. I have to be at work at 4 a.m., Monday through Friday. I have not done that regularly in years and then I was younger. So I am going to have to figure out how to make it work. Then again, the position is not necessarily mine permently, so we will see what the future holds.

I have still been finding time for workouts the rest of the week though. And while I faced stress, I was able to stare down pizza, scones and a number of other "naughty" things and win. Therefore, weight loss wise, it was a good week, despite not losing any weight as of weigh-in on Tuesday. Oh well, another Tuesday is right around the corner, in the midst of another long week.

Best always, Ms_H
Weight - 166 pounds

Starbucks Flavored Running Shoes

LOL. That's me laughing at myself.

I was going to "make-up" that workout last night. That was until, at 9:45 yesterday morning, I knocked over my Venti Americano with an extra shot, skim milk, sugar-free cinnamon dolce syrup and Splenda, all over myself and Starbucks. Yes, ordering that is a great workout for my mouth.

The coffee didn't just spill, it exploded as it hit the table top. I dove to try and keep it from spilling on Caelen, his socks caught a little spatter but that was it (thank god), so I took the brunt. It went right down my legs and poured into my shoes - my workout shoes. A lot of the coffee was caught in my wicking running socks, but the shoes were still pretty wet.

When I got home to change I called Fitness Sports to ask how to clean them. He informed me I could wash them, but be prepared for a two day drying process, because heat is the enemy - they would shrink.

I sat and stared at the shoes as mega-kitten Mischa licked them, apparently he's a Starbucks fan as well. After my deep guilt the other night from not working out, I couldn't take the idea of going two days without sweating. Finally, I picked them up and took them to the car, the plan was they could drive around with Caelen and I until I made a decision.

Late in the afternoon I dropped the boy with his momma and went to move the shoes to get something, they were dry. LOL. They smelled like caffeine, but they were dry. And that's enough for me. And you guessed it, I ran in them this morning. The bonus is, no one has commented anything like, "do you smell coffee?"

Best always, Ms_H
Weight - 166 pounds

PS - A BIG THANK YOU to the gal at my favorite Starbucks at 10th & Locust. She didn't bat an eyelash at the disaster I created. AND she got me a new drink, no charge. I believe in buying local, but their staff keeps me coming back.

Intense Guilt

Tonight I took my first non-scheduled night off from working out in a long time.

My friend Marianne was unable to join me as we had planned. I called Gordon hoping he would be available to join me, he was working. And he said I should take the night off because I sounded tired and my dehydration incident may have affected me more than I realized.

I sat at Jordan Creek Town Center (where I had gone to meet Marianne) and I debated.

I didn't really want to workout, I am tired and I have to work at 4 a.m. But I should workout, no matter how tired I think I am. I walked around some more and called Lori. She had talked about going to the gym and I thought, well, if she is, I will buy a day pass and workout inside. That would lessen my chance of ending up sick again. She was wiped out from a very busy day at Penzey's.

Well, that was it. I decided to give up and head to the store for veggies and home for dinner. That's where I am now. And I am about 15 minutes away from bed.

Gordon told me not to chastise myself, a day off now and then was o.k. I know he is right. But I tried on a couple of dresses for Annette's bachelorette party today and was reminded, by the undressed body in the mirror, how far I have to go.

On the way to the grocery store I felt sick to my stomach from guilt because I didn't workout. I have never felt that way about exercise before. I'm not entirely clear if that's good because it has become a part of me or if it's sick because I shouldn't be obsessed.

Either way I will be back at it tomorrow.

Best always, Ms_H
Weight - 166 pounds

Dehydration, it isn't pretty

I was busy today, apparently far too busy. When I went for my run tonight I paid the price.

It was only 85, but high humidity, so I started sweating almost immediately. I was about a mile and a half in to the run and I started to notice I felt funny. By the end of the second mile, I knew I was in trouble. Thankfully I had kept pretty close to where I had parked my car, so I slowed to a fast walk and made my way back.

By the time I threw myself into the car, I was quite clear on what was wrong, I was dehydrated. The thing is, I have worked out in much hotter weather and worked much harder for that matter and not had a problem. Today though, I had been busy and really slacked off on my water intake. Normally by the time I hit the road I have consumed at least 12 glasses of water, plus I will down another 16-20 ounces about 30-40 minutes before hand.

I looked back over today and if I drank 10 glasses, including the one I took in about an hour before my run, I am lucky. And, I hadn't packed water for after the workout, because I planned to head straight for Panera, where I planned to eat, just two blocks away. Normally not a problem.

Actually, I am lucky. Lucky I didn't pass out or end up even more incoherent than I did or worse yet, wreck my car. That's right, I was so out of it, I came up with the idea of driving down the street to said Panera. I made it safely, got out to stagger in to get water, locked the car, shut the car door and promptly realized the key to that door was sitting inside the change dish in my car.

That's right, I was so far gone, I locked myself out. Upside? I had grabbed my purse and could still buy water and dinner, plus an old water bottle to fill in the sink in the bathroom. (That way I could have some warmer water to start rehydrating more quickly, because I could take in more. Proof that my brain wasn't completely fried.) Downside? I had also locked my cell phone in the car and I had a meeting at 7.

I wandered in, filled the bottle in the bathroom sink, downed it, filled it again. Half way through the second bottle I found my sense of taste and threw out the rest of the West Des Moines tap and headed inside to order my dinner. (And more water.)

But first I figured I had better call for help on the locked car situation. The young lady, who offered kindly to help me with my order, gets my sad tale told to her as I drip sweat on the counter. She is very nice and offers what would become unlimited use of their phone.

My first call, as always, was to Lori. No answer, I left her a message. I tried my mom, she said she didn't think they had an extra key to my car, but I should call my step-dad Bruce. I think I am calling Bruce, but still out of it, I call Gordon. He says he will come get me. But surprisingly, before I agree to this, I realize that will only get me so far, because the house keys are also locked in my car. I promise to call him if I remain stranded. This time I really call Bruce and he informs me, no shocker, they do not have an extra set of my keys.

Okay, back to Lori, still no answer. I decide to breathe and get more water in me. I head over and another friendly Panera employee helps me get my dinner. (I sweat on his counter too.) I go sit down and plot to use the phone again in 10 minutes to continue my hunt for Lori. While I am eating and drinking God's gift - water - I start freezing from the dehydration and the air conditioning cooling my apparently unstoppable perspiration.

Well - to finish the story quickly - because I could go on as it continues, with more dialing and waiting and sweating.

I found Lori, she brought my extra keys (furthering her application for sainthood), I bought her dinner for her trouble and I was able to make my 7:00 meeting somehow. Another highlight, by the way, Gordon was extra sweet and called Panera to make sure things were getting handled, he's so great.

So, if you needed any other motivation to stay hydrated when losing weight and working out, I hope I have just supplied it. Because believe me, on this end, lesson learned.

Best always, Ms_H
Weight - 166 pounds (Yes, I lost 2 more!)

PS - I will be making a plethora of extra keys to sprinkle among my family tomorrow.