Its a typical evening in which we are at the table eating dinner between activities. It's Taco Tuesday and the Baseball game is on TV quietly adding to the ambiance of a hasty and lively dinner.
In between bits, Son asks Dot "So, what exactly did you put on your burrito?"
"I had meat, lettuce, tomato, peppers, and mango on the side. It was well balanced, now leave me alone!"
"What about the cheese? You do need your calcium, that's what Mama says."
"I'm a cheeseatarian - well, except for cheddar - I'll eat that but nothing else. Ewww gross. Cheese. Bleck."
Tuesday, September 30, 2014
Monday, September 29, 2014
Flab to Fit
The first time I met up with her, my heart pounded from sheer anxiety. I’d never had a trainer before, and even though I’ve known people who’ve worked with and loved theirs - I had absolutely no idea what to expect - and that anticipation left me panicked.
If you’ve worked with Michelle for any length of time, you may have noticed the pin that she wears on the left lapel of her jacket. If you haven’t or you’ve not met her, it’s a tiny little thing with a big message.
That’s her motto and the running theme of her workouts. Be it in the ‘Torture room’, as it’s laughingly called, working with the free weights or in the open space of the basketball court - you will leave each and every session sucking wind like there is no tomorrow, desperate for water, barely able to walk, and having discovered muscles you didn’t know existed.
Michelle is fantastically talented at making winners from whiners.
At the age of 42 - my body is a far different creature than it was at 24. It takes longer to heal, it’s easier to break, and when you do hear something “pop” it’s usually not just a little thing that requires a couple of hours off your feet, a bag of ice, and a couple ibuprofen.
I’ve friends who love to run, it is their passion to feel the pavement under their feet, the air in their lungs, and the tiredness in their muscles. But simple injuries to their ankles or knees have left them sidelined; cheering but no longer in the race.
The fear of injury is and remains my number one concern; that I achieve health and fitness safely and properly so that I do not damage myself permanently.
Through this project, I’ve found that there is an incredible peace of mind in having a trainer work along side of you. They make sure you are positioned safely, squatting back far enough (“Butt Out!”) and they aren’t afraid to encourage you by any means necessary to push through the whine for the win.
When I first met Michelle, I expressed my concerns - and the fact that I’d thought that these fears were what held me back in my past non-mom life in attaining true health.
“Don’t worry about that. I’ve got you covered.”
Indeed she did and does. Each week I meet up with Michelle for 30 minutes of pure unadulterated muscle terror. I’ve achieved far more than I ever thought that I could and when I look back at where I’ve started and where I am today I can say that I’m astounded.
That’s not to say that I know what to expect each week when I meet up with Michelle. More often than not, I can’t help but think - “And what the heck is THAT for?” as she introduces me to one foreign exercise after another.
While I know that many dread their time with their trainer, I will miss mine when this project is over. I enjoy my tortured journey and when I leave each week, it’s with a huge smile, a soaked yellow bandana, a sense of accomplishment, and feeling incredibly alive.
Michelle Stout is the voice of confidence that I needed to be able to reach beyond the physical goals I set for myself when Project Purpose started. And for that, the only words I can say are 'Thank You'.
If you’ve worked with Michelle for any length of time, you may have noticed the pin that she wears on the left lapel of her jacket. If you haven’t or you’ve not met her, it’s a tiny little thing with a big message.
* - No Whining! - *
That’s her motto and the running theme of her workouts. Be it in the ‘Torture room’, as it’s laughingly called, working with the free weights or in the open space of the basketball court - you will leave each and every session sucking wind like there is no tomorrow, desperate for water, barely able to walk, and having discovered muscles you didn’t know existed.
Michelle is fantastically talented at making winners from whiners.
At the age of 42 - my body is a far different creature than it was at 24. It takes longer to heal, it’s easier to break, and when you do hear something “pop” it’s usually not just a little thing that requires a couple of hours off your feet, a bag of ice, and a couple ibuprofen.
I’ve friends who love to run, it is their passion to feel the pavement under their feet, the air in their lungs, and the tiredness in their muscles. But simple injuries to their ankles or knees have left them sidelined; cheering but no longer in the race.
The fear of injury is and remains my number one concern; that I achieve health and fitness safely and properly so that I do not damage myself permanently.
Through this project, I’ve found that there is an incredible peace of mind in having a trainer work along side of you. They make sure you are positioned safely, squatting back far enough (“Butt Out!”) and they aren’t afraid to encourage you by any means necessary to push through the whine for the win.
When I first met Michelle, I expressed my concerns - and the fact that I’d thought that these fears were what held me back in my past non-mom life in attaining true health.
“Don’t worry about that. I’ve got you covered.”
 |
| My 'Ghost' running shoes and bandanna ~ No workout is complete without them. |
Indeed she did and does. Each week I meet up with Michelle for 30 minutes of pure unadulterated muscle terror. I’ve achieved far more than I ever thought that I could and when I look back at where I’ve started and where I am today I can say that I’m astounded.
That’s not to say that I know what to expect each week when I meet up with Michelle. More often than not, I can’t help but think - “And what the heck is THAT for?” as she introduces me to one foreign exercise after another.
While I know that many dread their time with their trainer, I will miss mine when this project is over. I enjoy my tortured journey and when I leave each week, it’s with a huge smile, a soaked yellow bandana, a sense of accomplishment, and feeling incredibly alive.
Michelle Stout is the voice of confidence that I needed to be able to reach beyond the physical goals I set for myself when Project Purpose started. And for that, the only words I can say are 'Thank You'.
Friday, September 26, 2014
Equinox by Karl Olson
It's hard to believe that fall is already officially here. Today was the last day of summer before the autumnal equinox, and to celebrate I joined about seven hundred other runners for a half marathon down the Poudre Canyon.
We boarded buses at Poudre High School about 6:00am that took us up to Mishawaka. By race time the weather had turned from cloudy and too-cold-to-stand-around-in-running-gear to partly sunny and absolutely beautiful. I enjoyed every minute of the run with the sounds of the river, the changing foliage, and even the cheers of campers cooking their breakfast over campfires.
It was only three weeks since my last big run, so I was worried about how my legs would hold up. Thankfully a run down the canyon meant about a 1000 foot drop in elevation, and that meant a lot of people, myself included, earned personal records by the time we reached the finish line at Ted's Place. It also means a lot of us will be nursing sore quadriceps in the coming days.
Now that fall is upon us, some of the options for outdoor activities such as biking, running, and hiking begin to dwindle. And of course with the holiday season just around the corner, nutrition challenges will become even greater. So the scenery on this journey will be changing a bit, but it just means it's time to build on the successes of this summer, and perhaps find some new routines and activities for the road ahead.
- Karl
We boarded buses at Poudre High School about 6:00am that took us up to Mishawaka. By race time the weather had turned from cloudy and too-cold-to-stand-around-in-running-gear to partly sunny and absolutely beautiful. I enjoyed every minute of the run with the sounds of the river, the changing foliage, and even the cheers of campers cooking their breakfast over campfires.It was only three weeks since my last big run, so I was worried about how my legs would hold up. Thankfully a run down the canyon meant about a 1000 foot drop in elevation, and that meant a lot of people, myself included, earned personal records by the time we reached the finish line at Ted's Place. It also means a lot of us will be nursing sore quadriceps in the coming days.
Now that fall is upon us, some of the options for outdoor activities such as biking, running, and hiking begin to dwindle. And of course with the holiday season just around the corner, nutrition challenges will become even greater. So the scenery on this journey will be changing a bit, but it just means it's time to build on the successes of this summer, and perhaps find some new routines and activities for the road ahead.
- Karl
Friday, September 19, 2014
Faith In Training by Karl Olson
Faith In Training
On Labor Day I achieved my biggest fitness goal for the year: I ran a half marathon.
The whole thing.
From start to finish.
13.1 miles.
And it felt great.
Months ago I honestly and secretly thought that this goal was rather unrealistic. I had run maybe five miles on the treadmill long ago, but as I began working on this goal I could barely run even three without slowing down to a brisk walk at times. The thought of running not just that distance, but that amount of time was completely daunting.
My training has been focused on general fitness with an emphasis on stability, core, and muscle groups used in running. Plus plenty of time on the treadmill and stair stepper. My first official organized run (and actually the first time taking the running shoes outdoors) was the "Sharin' o' the Green 5k" here in Fort Collins. Encouraged by my results and with the invitation of a friend who was running the Bolder Boulder again, I went on to finish my first 10k with an even faster pace and even more confidence.
Still, the thought of 13 miles and nearly two hours of running seemed out-of-reach.
Following the sage advice of other running veterans, I followed a specific schedule of runs leading up to the event, but woke up that day honestly not knowing how I would do. I relied on the excitement and energy of the crowds and the pace of other runners (big thanks also for the cheers and encouragement from the event organizers and spectators). The miles went by faster than I expected, and yes the legs and feet were pretty sore the next few days, but I beat my goal time and learned to have faith in myself and my training.
The way I felt months ago is the same way I feel today about my next big target: a full marathon. The challenge sounds enormous. But these milestones have proven that my apprehension is expected but should not be a barrier to setting and working towards big goals.
- Karl
On Labor Day I achieved my biggest fitness goal for the year: I ran a half marathon.
 |
The whole thing.
From start to finish.
13.1 miles.
And it felt great.
Months ago I honestly and secretly thought that this goal was rather unrealistic. I had run maybe five miles on the treadmill long ago, but as I began working on this goal I could barely run even three without slowing down to a brisk walk at times. The thought of running not just that distance, but that amount of time was completely daunting.
My training has been focused on general fitness with an emphasis on stability, core, and muscle groups used in running. Plus plenty of time on the treadmill and stair stepper. My first official organized run (and actually the first time taking the running shoes outdoors) was the "Sharin' o' the Green 5k" here in Fort Collins. Encouraged by my results and with the invitation of a friend who was running the Bolder Boulder again, I went on to finish my first 10k with an even faster pace and even more confidence.
Still, the thought of 13 miles and nearly two hours of running seemed out-of-reach.
Following the sage advice of other running veterans, I followed a specific schedule of runs leading up to the event, but woke up that day honestly not knowing how I would do. I relied on the excitement and energy of the crowds and the pace of other runners (big thanks also for the cheers and encouragement from the event organizers and spectators). The miles went by faster than I expected, and yes the legs and feet were pretty sore the next few days, but I beat my goal time and learned to have faith in myself and my training.
The way I felt months ago is the same way I feel today about my next big target: a full marathon. The challenge sounds enormous. But these milestones have proven that my apprehension is expected but should not be a barrier to setting and working towards big goals.
- Karl
Friday, September 12, 2014
Second Attempt by Karl Olson
A couple of years ago, a co-worker and I decided to take advantage of the unusually warm early-September weather and attempt Greys Peak. We weren't quite ready to say farewell to summer and wanted to say that we climbed at least one 14er that year. I had already hiked this peak once before, but it had been ten years. It still seemed fresh on my mind, however, and I remembered it for two reasons: that ridiculous, terrible road to the trail-head, and that compared to other 14ers, it was a
relatively easy hike.
At 6:00 that morning, my first memory was confirmed as we were navigating enormous potholes, ruts, and rocks, uttering obscenities under our breath, and congratulating ourselves on our wisdom to bring the four-wheel drive truck. When we got to the parking lot, we expressed out amazement at some of the vehicles we saw, wondering how they were successful in making it through that treacherous final stretch of road.
About 6:30 that morning, my second memory came into question as I was gasping for air, my heart was racing, and it was taking all I had to keep up. This wasn't supposed to be so difficult, but the reality quickly set in: I was completely out of shape and not fit enough for this hike. As I pushed myself and ignored the pain and kept telling myself "one more switchback", I realized that one of the things I love most about Colorado was almost beyond my physical capability.
With a slower pace, words of encouragement, and steadfast determination we eventually reached the summit, issued high-fives, snapped celebratory photos, and took in the amazing views. Because of its proximity, most hikers summit both Greys and the adjoining Torreys Peak on the same hike, but not this day. Despite a summit, this day felt like defeat.
This summer was different. Well, the road was the same, maybe even worse. But the hike -- that was different. Months of staying active, eating healthy, lifting weights, and running had paid off. I felt strong, I was not winded, my heart rate monitor was encouraging me to do more. Then I heard the distant gasp from one of my friends, "Hey, Karl, don't forget about us fat kids back here!"
We only summited Greys that day. Torreys still remained elusive, but I didn't care. Today was victory.
- Karl
relatively easy hike.
At 6:00 that morning, my first memory was confirmed as we were navigating enormous potholes, ruts, and rocks, uttering obscenities under our breath, and congratulating ourselves on our wisdom to bring the four-wheel drive truck. When we got to the parking lot, we expressed out amazement at some of the vehicles we saw, wondering how they were successful in making it through that treacherous final stretch of road.
About 6:30 that morning, my second memory came into question as I was gasping for air, my heart was racing, and it was taking all I had to keep up. This wasn't supposed to be so difficult, but the reality quickly set in: I was completely out of shape and not fit enough for this hike. As I pushed myself and ignored the pain and kept telling myself "one more switchback", I realized that one of the things I love most about Colorado was almost beyond my physical capability.
With a slower pace, words of encouragement, and steadfast determination we eventually reached the summit, issued high-fives, snapped celebratory photos, and took in the amazing views. Because of its proximity, most hikers summit both Greys and the adjoining Torreys Peak on the same hike, but not this day. Despite a summit, this day felt like defeat.
This summer was different. Well, the road was the same, maybe even worse. But the hike -- that was different. Months of staying active, eating healthy, lifting weights, and running had paid off. I felt strong, I was not winded, my heart rate monitor was encouraging me to do more. Then I heard the distant gasp from one of my friends, "Hey, Karl, don't forget about us fat kids back here!"
We only summited Greys that day. Torreys still remained elusive, but I didn't care. Today was victory.
- Karl
It's HERE! Part II
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| Cover of the Fall 2014 Issue |
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| Intro's all around... |
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| Team House of Chaos! |
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| The other team - team Reality Bites |
Sunday, September 7, 2014
Should-ing Yourself
This isn’t the blog post that I’d intended to write today, but it’s the one that ended up on paper.
The day finally came. The day that I looked at my gym bag not with a sense of purpose, giddiness, and relief, but with a tinge of dread.
It’s Labor Day, and like many, I too had the day off. Given that it was a three-day weekend, it was our chance to tackle some of the ‘didn’t-yet-get-to’ summer projects... that we didn't get to over the summer. A match of bumper cars, little dog taking big dog’s meds, a broken lawnmower and a mad dash of hail put a damper on our attempts to be productive on Saturday.
Sunday we spent perfecting the furna-dents of our sofa as we got caught up on AMC’s “Halt and Catch Fire”, one of the better-written series we’ve stumbled upon in a very long time. (Since we are both tech geeks, this particular show appeals to us).
Unlike other weekends, I hadn’t worked out on either Saturday or Sunday and today being Monday was day three of the non-gym streak.
I didn’t want to go, and I didn’t feel good. I felt lazy...and unable to wake up, to get up, to move. Because I hadn’t been to the gym in too many days, and I wasn’t sleeping well. Again. (A correlation? Perhaps.)
But, as Karl and I say to each other on those days when we don’t want to move, don’t want to ‘hit the gym’... “You’ll feel better after.” It’s true.
We do always feel better after.
Gone now for the most part are the ‘I should go to the gym’ moments – but today was the exception. ‘Shoulding’ is a hard habit to break from and one that is so easy to fall into especially now that the days are growing shorter, the crispness of fall is the air, and the kids are back in school so there is less noise and chaos competing for my attention.
The ‘shoulds’ invoke only feelings of guilt and I spend far more time focusing on the need to work out instead of the actual time I would spend there.
I was able to break the ‘shoulding’ cycle today... to remember where I was 6 weeks ago and all that I’ve accomplished, to get dressed, get to the gym and pound out 500 calories on the AMT.
Then I went home and resumed ‘lazy’, at least for another hour or two.
On this Labor Day, I hope that you were able to take a break from the work-a-day routine. Today, congratulations to Karl, my House of Chaos Teammate. During the long cold days of January he made it his goal to participate in a Half-Marathon and today he did just that. He placed second in his category for the Colorado Run half-marathon, and he beat his personal goal by running an 8-minute mile. I can’t say enough how proud we are of his efforts and accomplishment. If you happen to see him – pass along a ‘Congrats!’
The day finally came. The day that I looked at my gym bag not with a sense of purpose, giddiness, and relief, but with a tinge of dread.
It’s Labor Day, and like many, I too had the day off. Given that it was a three-day weekend, it was our chance to tackle some of the ‘didn’t-yet-get-to’ summer projects... that we didn't get to over the summer. A match of bumper cars, little dog taking big dog’s meds, a broken lawnmower and a mad dash of hail put a damper on our attempts to be productive on Saturday.
Sunday we spent perfecting the furna-dents of our sofa as we got caught up on AMC’s “Halt and Catch Fire”, one of the better-written series we’ve stumbled upon in a very long time. (Since we are both tech geeks, this particular show appeals to us).
Unlike other weekends, I hadn’t worked out on either Saturday or Sunday and today being Monday was day three of the non-gym streak.
I didn’t want to go, and I didn’t feel good. I felt lazy...and unable to wake up, to get up, to move. Because I hadn’t been to the gym in too many days, and I wasn’t sleeping well. Again. (A correlation? Perhaps.)
But, as Karl and I say to each other on those days when we don’t want to move, don’t want to ‘hit the gym’... “You’ll feel better after.” It’s true.
We do always feel better after.
Gone now for the most part are the ‘I should go to the gym’ moments – but today was the exception. ‘Shoulding’ is a hard habit to break from and one that is so easy to fall into especially now that the days are growing shorter, the crispness of fall is the air, and the kids are back in school so there is less noise and chaos competing for my attention.
The ‘shoulds’ invoke only feelings of guilt and I spend far more time focusing on the need to work out instead of the actual time I would spend there.
I was able to break the ‘shoulding’ cycle today... to remember where I was 6 weeks ago and all that I’ve accomplished, to get dressed, get to the gym and pound out 500 calories on the AMT.
Then I went home and resumed ‘lazy’, at least for another hour or two.
On this Labor Day, I hope that you were able to take a break from the work-a-day routine. Today, congratulations to Karl, my House of Chaos Teammate. During the long cold days of January he made it his goal to participate in a Half-Marathon and today he did just that. He placed second in his category for the Colorado Run half-marathon, and he beat his personal goal by running an 8-minute mile. I can’t say enough how proud we are of his efforts and accomplishment. If you happen to see him – pass along a ‘Congrats!’
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