Fifty is the New Forty

If you hopped over here from the Blog Hop, Welcome! I'd love to see where you came from in your comments, and where you are going next.

I have gotten discouraged, knowing I'll never reach my weight or fitness goal by 50. It's less than two months away now.  Do I change my blog to Fit by Sixty?  It just doesn't have the same ring to it.

There's a country song that expresses the idea that on the internet the guy is all the things he's not in real life. If I could remember an actual line of it, I'd put it here.  Anyway, everyone knows that on the internet you can be whatever and whoever you want.  So I decided on my birthday I will simply erase 10 years and be forty.  At least for the blog.

I'll just lie about my age. Don't all women do that? I've already been doing it for Yahoo, only on there I'm 76 years old! And my husband is 84 and female.  By doing this, we have discovered we rarely get the spam for beautiful women, bigger male parts, or Viagra. Seriously!  We get scam retirement plans, which Yahoo generally throws directly to the Spam box anyway. But I digress.

In December, I will turn 40.  I graduated from high school at age 8 because I am such a genius.  I got married at 9, and had my first baby at 11, about the same time I had my first period. And I have 10 years to get in shape--which I will start on--again-- instead of waiting until I am 40.

If you like the clock, I found it it for sale in blue and yellow.

Leaving?

I discovered a great exercise for the obliques! Raking leaves! It gives the waist, shoulders, and back a really good workout.

Somewhere in this picture, our giraffe Ginger is hiding in the leaves. Can you find her?

Finding Curves My Own Way

Well, the verdict is in. I am not joining Curves. And I did walk a mile with Leslie today. And then probably two or three miles at work! Just back in forth in front of a classroom whiteboard for five hours tutoring math.

I wish I had worn my pedometer to work. But I try to exercise in addition to daily duties. Still,  it would be interesting to know how much I walked.

Curves

I went to Curves for their tour. Frankly, I'm kind of bored with Leslie lately. I think I need something new to add momentum.  I liked what I saw at Curves, but I don't know if it's what I want and I don't want to make the two year commitment.

I decided to research other gyms online. It wasn't too hard because there are only a few in town, and only a couple of them on my side of town.  They all had one thing in common: they don't put their prices online. Are they afraid they will scare people off if they see it before they see all the fancy equipment and talkative salesman?  It was frustrating!

Pros and cons of Curves:
Pro: it looks like a friendly place.
It's really close to where I work. Like right next door.
It's bright and cheery.
It's women only, and the women I saw there are all in the same boat as me. (age, size, etc.) But obviously in better shape.
I am impressed with the new Smart Curves program which helps you set and keep track of individual goals.

Con: A two-year commitment that will cost me $39-49 a month, depending on which way I choose to pay.
I'm not sure I like their equipment. It's kind of counter-intuitive, at least to what I've been taught.
They don't have classes or variety. It's just go in, pick a machine, and do the circuit. Change when they tell you to. What if I feel like I need more or less time on a particular area? Can I do the same thing for two years?

I kind of like yoga now and then, and water aerobics, walking some days, etc. But if I could drop by Curves and do my 30 minutes after work, or on the way to work, then maybe I would actually get it done. It's easy, it's quick, and there are people there. Once I park I'm committed. Unlike exercise at home, where I can find a million other things to do.  Like blogging instead of raking the lawn!

Bonus

 We decided to walk outdoors yesterday, so Anthony put on his pedometer and off we went. We wandered around the neighborhood for blocks, tracked down two garage sales, and headed home. It was hot and it felt like quite a long walk.

When we got home he looked at his pedometer and it said 1.35 miles. That's all?  I guess we better range further next time. Maybe track down four or five garage sales.

At the second garage sale they had mostly baby stuff, but the lady gave me a blue silk flower bridal bouquet. It's exactly the same colors and flowers as my wedding colors, so I can augment the  faded silk flower bouquet currently adorning my living room. I carried the bouquet several blocks, feeling a bit silly.

I guess after 30 years of marriage I shouldn't worry about feeling silly. Some people renew their vows; I get to renew the bouquet.