Move It Davis

It has been a long time since I worked out in a gym.  When I was in high school I used the schools' gym religiously.  If  memory serves, there was really nothing to it.  It was a small, dirty, stinky room covered in greasy fingerprints.  There was a limit to how many of us could be in the room at one time.  I remember one big, multiple exercise machine in the middle of the room and one rack of dumbbells.  Near the orange cooler of room temperature water was a pile of jump ropes and towels that had seen better days. Things have come a long way since the 80's.

My son Trevor works in a Club Fitness as a certified personal trainer.  He knew I wasn't into the gym experience but, kept asking me to come in and check it out.  I had been inside the facility a couple times and was impressed with the layout of machines, how clean the place was, and I liked the music they had on.  Trevor was persistent and I finally caved last week.  Why the hell did I wait so long?

I ride a bike, I like to run, what do I need a gym for, was my mentality.  I have done several boot camps, with 20 others, which I liked, however, this would be my first one-on -one with anyone.  Not just anyone, my son.  I had heard he was very good at working people out, encouraging them, pushing them.  I had no doubts, he is very passionate about what he does.  I made it clear to him that he was not to treat me differently because I was his Mom. At one point he called me "Davis".  I prefer that over " Mother".   Trevor  knows what I am capable of  and I wanted him to put me through the ringer.

He did not disappoint .  My upper body strength is seriously lacking.  It is unfortunate that I have seriously injured both arms, which makes push ups a bit difficult, and basically anything else that requires arms, but I will get through it.  My favorite exercise was the 10 pound sledge hammer beating on the truck tire.  I should have one of those in my backyard.  ( Admit it, there are times it feels real good to beat the crap out of something.   Cheaper than therapy too. ) I have wanted to do a pull up for years.  Trevor introduced  me to a machine that will achieve that goal.  The machine provides a counter weight of your choice as a balance while you do the pull up.  Make sense?  For example, I weigh 147, we set the machine at 80 pounds.  That way I was only lifting 67 pounds in the pull up.  That is my starting point.  With two, one hour sessions a week, I see doing a 'real' pull up soon.

My hour passed quickly and I made my appointments for the next week.  I believe this time with my son is important to both of us.  He is aware of my goals and wants to help me get there.  I can't think of anyone I would rather have to help me.  Together we are an awesome team.

Planning A Camping Adventure

Her walking stick was bigger than she was

Sydney, currently 6, has been an outdoor girl since September 2006.  She was just six months old when Jim and I took her to her first Ozark Trail Association- OTA- trail build.  Needless to say, the two of us did not get a lot of trail built, we spent most of the time under a tree, me holding an umbrella while I breast fed her. Actually, it really wasn't that bad. We took her on many day hikes before attempting an over-nighter.  By July 2007, she was 18 months old and completed a three day hike of Berryman and Council Bluff.

Berryman July 2007

I wanted to give you some background info to assure you I know what I am talking about.  Preparing for a week long camping adventure seems overwhelming.  At first, it really is.  The planning and prepping for our trips did get easier over the years. I learned so much during those early outings, I could write a book.  Hmmmm.    Having done this so many times I can now get us camp ready blindfolded and in my sleep.  

Tree-huggers!

   My mind was free to pack and plan meals once I found someone willing to :

* Watch the house
* Pick up the mail
* Take care of the dog
* Water my garden

****Thank you Trevor and Emily

FOOD


I plan our meals based on what I have on hand first.  Leftovers do not go to waste at my house and are easy to reheat.  Using this time to clean out the fridge is a good idea too.  That way you don't come home to spoiled food and a stinky refrigerator.

Try to set up a daily meal plan.  I like lists, they work for me.  Make it easy on yourself.  Pre-made foods are quick options and keep your cooking time to a minimum. In the past, I have prepared home-made  stews, soups, spaghetti and BBQ pulled pork.  (  That was before I became a vegetarian ) Packing a cooler full of fruits and vegetables is easy. I make sure to clean and slice them beforehand and place them in freezer bags.  Using frozen Platypus bottles or water bladders in addition to loose ice cubes is a good idea, especially when it's hot.  If you have a large cooler, you can also freeze 1 gallon water jugs.  As a bonus, you have drinking water as they thaw out.

Plan easy snacks.  Granola, protein, and cereal bars are a great option.  Keep it simple.  Cut up fruit, apples, bananas, etc... If you bring it , they will eat it.  After planning your menu, make a grocery list of items you still need.  Easy so far?

ESSENTIALS


Having had a lot of experience outdoors, I know what works and what doesn't.  Our family uses Bullfrog  Mosquito Coast, and a lot of it.    Mosquitoes, pesky gnats, and biting flies are no fun.  Not to leave out the danger of being bitten by a tick and possibly getting lyme disease or worse, Ehrlichiosis .

I like to stock up on sunscreen, took three bottles on this trip.  We prefer the spray on, sweat proof, sport sunblock.  Purchase a couple travel size lotions too.  They don't take up much space in a backpack.  When we returned home, we had less than half of one bottle left.  Maybe I am a sunscreen nazi, nonetheless, you can't be too careful if you are blonde and blue-eyed.

Toss in a bottle of Doc Bronners soap, baby wipes, Advil Liqui-gels, and travel size tooth brushes/paste and you are good to go.  Don't forget any medication.  It's hard to find a Walgreens in the woods.

CLOTHING


There is no one to impress while camping.  Choose light colored, loose fitting, breathable clothes and you will be comfortable during the summer weather.  Keep in mind that whatever you wear may get ruined or turn into permanent "camping only" clothing.  Piece of advice.... pick an old swim suit since it will never be the same after a week of playing in the river.  Sydney is old enough to pick out and pack her own clothes.  Last year, I separated her "camp clothes" from her "everyday clothes".  I give her a number of items to pick out, say eight shirts and shorts.  Who cares if she doesn't match? Add in a jacket and some pants, just in case.

BEDDING


Our family usually sleeps in ENO's or Hennessy Hammocks. ( Check out the Alpine Shop for deals ) We purchased bug nets to keep the bugs away while we sleep, and tarps in case of rain.  All we need are a couple of trees and we can use our car as a tie off.  In bad weather, we use a tent or we  sleep in the car.  The hammocks are the best choice since they set up in minutes and double as chairs. I sleep better in my ENO than in our Sleep Number.  No kidding.

Ready to roll

My next post will tell you where we ended up and what we did when we got there.  In six days I did NOT hear "I am bored".  In my eyes, that equals success.  Feel free to ask any questions in the comment section  below or send it to my email.

Before I go, I want to leave you with a giggle..... Before we leave I shower, shampoo, and shave since I will not be doing these things until we return.  I must have been in a real hurry because I missed shaving under my right arm.  It was hilarious when I put my swimsuit on for our first swim.  It goes without saying, that was the first thing I rectified when we returned home.

Happy Camping,

Wendy

Have Questions About Camping With Kids?

My husband  and I just returned from a six day adventure with our six year old. I have had many parents ask me " how do you do it".  I am putting together a few blogs about our experiences and would like to provide as much information as possible.

  In order to do that, I need your assistance.  So, here's your chance to ask me anything and everything about camping with your child/children.  I will try to incorporate your questions into my posts.

 Don't be shy.... ask me anything.  Leave me a comment or send me an email.  I hope to have my first post up by Monday. Have a great weekend. Get outside!

Quality Time

A last minute sitter afforded my husband and I some much needed time together.  We try to get one weekend a month alone together.  These outings help us stay connected and remind us that our relationship is important too.  Being parents is great, being ourselves is awesome.

It was still a stifling 102 degrees at 630pm this past Tuesday evening.  We stopped at QT and picked up a cold, frothy beverage to enjoy on our hike at Lewis and Clark.   We covered ourselves in bug spray and  entered the trail to find it a pleasant 10 degrees cooler.  We were still going to sweat a ridiculous amount, which was better than sitting on the couch.

I love that my other half and I share an active lifestyle.  When we can't be together, we support each others solo journeys.

A Trail Monster is always prepared

The Lewis and Clark trail is about 15 minutes from our house. This trail system offers a five or an eight mile option.  We had planned a bike ride for the following day so five miles would suffice.

On my right

On my left

We reached the special overlook spot as the sun went down. Jim had carried our ENO hammocks but we decided against hanging them. It was just too hot.  After enjoying a couple brews, we headed out.  We reached the car at 10pm.

The following day, July 4th, we awakened early to beat the heat and get a ride in.  We were on our cross bikes by 730am and in the woods a short while later.  We are fortunate to live close to several trails, single track and gravel.

Katy trail bound

Shady Kona's

Not even the pinch flat I had at mile 10 could ruin our day.  We hit the Katy Trail after riding some at Busch Wildlife.  We had high hopes of catching up and enjoying a beer with friends, who were doing another ride.  There were many people out taking advantage of the cooler morning temp. We rode to Matson and then headed back to Defiance.  

It turns out the two bars were closed for the day, which was probably good since the temps were climbing quickly and we needed to be home by 1pm.  We reached our neighborhood by 1230pm with 35 miles under our belt.  Not a bad day.

We finished up the holiday by grilling some veggies and enjoying a Raspberry Hefewiezen Ale by Schlafly.

Yummy!

What a fun and healthy holiday!  What did you do?

My Happy Place

Back in April I started gardening.  It didn't take me long to realize that taking care of a garden is incredibly hard work, that you really can't take a day off.  You must have a lot of patience, as a tomato or zucchini plant takes roughly 45-60 days to produce vegetables.  That said, I believe most folks today would starve if they had to grow their own food.  Those who didn't starve would be in jail for stealing.  

April

My husband, more than doubled my space for this year.  Since I mostly eat plants and veggies, he felt it was a good investment.  Sydney recently had a physical and told her doctor that she is a vegetarian.  She told him she still likes chicken and turkey, but only sometimes. I have already caught her sneaking tomatoes into her pockets.  

June

Several varieties of tomatoes

I wake up every morning, make coffee, and walk outside to my deck.  I live in a quiet suburb which is very peaceful at 6:30am.  I take a quick walk through my garden to survey any bunny carnage before I turn on the hose.  I planted several small rows of lettuce for the bunnies, hoping they would stay away from all my other plants.  Obviously, they were not happy with that offering as they dug up or destroyed my garlic, herbs, and all but one asparagus plant.

Bunnies can't eat my lettuce and herbs up here

Last year I picked tomatoes until Halloween from my front yard.  I had over 60 green tomatoes, which I was advised to wrap in newspaper and store in the basement.  I was surprised to find most of them ripe over the next six weeks. They were delicious.  Who knew?

Volunteer in the front yard

Zucchini's are blooming

Five zucchini harvest in one day

I  planted some blackberry bushes, unfortunately they will not produce until next year.   We tried blueberry bushes, but they did not like the soil very much and died a few weeks after planting.  The apple tree below has been trying to die for several years.  It has taken the tree a while to catch on that I was not giving up on it.  As you can see, the tree has decided to hang around.

Our apple tree finally bears fruit


  Our grape vine looks amazing and fills out more every year. The vine also provides shade to half of our deck.  Maybe this year Jim will get to make wine. When my husband first started growing this I was skeptical.  Know I am a believer. 

Grape vine covers half our deck

There is a huge flea market in Wentzville every Sunday.  Jim picked up the beauties below, plus two more for $20.  Those plants easily sell for  $20 a piece at Home Depot or Lowes.  All four plants were thrilled when I transplanted them over the weekend into bigger pots.   Whew, that was a lot of work too.   

Pretty tropical flowers

Tropical tree 

I look forward to eating from my garden.  I have put a lot of love, muscle, and time into it.  I will be sharing the wealth with family and friends too. Give me a holler if you are local and want to try some.  I gave my sister a small container of baby tomatoes and three zucchini's yesterday. The tomatoes were gone before I left.  

Icicle radishes.  Super hot and spicy

Bunnies got my first purple pepper

 Thanks for letting me share my happy place with you. What a feeling of accomplishment to grow something.  Try it!  I love the fact that I know where my veggies came from and that they are not covered in pesticides.  Now, if I can just keep the bunnies out........

 

Reality Tv Versus Reality

Reality Tv

I watched an interesting show a few nights ago.  It was called Extreme Makeover Weight Loss Edition, which airs on Sunday evenings at 8 pm. The show was a big hit last year and has returned for season two.  As a contestant of the show, they get 365 days to transform their lives with the help of a medical doctor, nutritionist, and, for a while, a live in trainer named Chris Powell.

 The first hour of the show I got to know Jacqui, who was 30yrs old and weighed in at 355 pounds.  Her weight problem began at 14 after she was attacked by a boy at a party.  She is married now to a very supportive man, Shawn, and they would like to start a family.  However, her weight is keeping her from getting pregnant.   She is  ready to do something about it. Plus, she is willing to do it in front of cameras and share her life with the world.

Her trainer and transformation specialist Chris set her first goal at 90 lbs, in 90 days. She struggled greatly through the 4-6hr daily workouts.  Lucky for her, Chris was constantly by her side reminding her of her goals, giving her endless support and hugs, telling her exactly what to eat and how much, and scheduling all of her workouts.  If Jacqui was successful, she would win a honeymoon vacation.  At her weigh in 3 months later, she had lost 92 pounds and had won her "carrot", the all expense paid trip to Ireland.  While on her trip, she would have the challenge of completing a metric century, 62 miles, by bike.  She was also presented another goal, to lose 30+ pounds more in 30 days.  So much for relaxing.

This lady put her heart, mind, and soul into her weight loss. Jacqui developed the "eye of the tiger" attitude, an intense focus on winning back her life.  She was fascinating to watch as she shed the pounds. She eventually quit her job when her HR department would not accept her employment on a part time basis.  She was now able to focus entirely on losing over half her body weight.  Remember, she has no children either.  Her extended family was unbelievably supportive, changing the way they ate and exercising.

In the end, Jacqui annihilated her goals and went from being super obese to an astonishing knock out in just a years time.  She finished the metric century and lost an astonishing 207 pounds.  After losing the weight, she was given skin removal surgery, at the expense of the show.  Jacqui was awesome for television. Her trainer was quick to point out that she was the "perfect client".  She did everything he asked her to do and exactly the way she was instructed to.  At her final weigh in, she was presented  a $50,000 Walmart gift card.



Reality 




I love and hate shows like this.  This is not the everyday persons experience.  For instance, when I started on my weight loss journey, I could not afford a gym.  I sure as hell would not have been able to quit my job. I did not have a MD , a nutritionist, or a live in trainer at my disposal.  I did not have a personal chef nor did I have an expensive vacation or a HUGE gift card dangled in front of me as a bonus prize. I had to do my own research on food and exercising, getting my information from books and the internet.  I am not trying to be negative about Jacqui, she had to work very hard to lose that weight.  However, she had a lot of variables in her favor.  Her guess work was replaced by professionals.   In the real world, not many people can afford to go about their weight loss in this way.


I believe shows like this catch the eye of very desperate people.  They think that " if she can do it, so can I".  Which is a great attitude to have, but desperate people do not see the entire situation.  Desperate folks will forget all the things Jacqui had given to her, the fact that she did not have a job or children, and was blessed with a very supportive family.  She had it ALL. All the necessary tools to be triumphant.  I applaud her for being successful and hope she pays it forward since she was given the gift of life.


Jacqui and I did share a common denominator.  She wanted to have a baby, and I had just had one.  My little girl deserved a healthy mom and I was determined to give her one.  Our long term goal is what kept us going.  We were not trying to fit into a wedding dress or a bikini.  We were changing our lives permanently, not just for a special occasion. 


Losing weight can be done by yourself.  You have to want it. You have to want it more than anything else.  You do not need anyone's help.  Therefore, you have to become your own help. Be your own cheerleader.   Remind yourself daily of your motivation.  Show up at your workouts.  Give it everything you have. Don't quit, ever. Pat yourself on the back once in a while. You can do this.


 Thanks for reading,
Wendy

What It Looks Like

I started walking six years ago.  I weighed just over 200 pounds.  I chose to take my walks around my neighborhood in the middle of the day, when no one was home.  I was afraid of what it looked like.  Everything jiggled.  My body fat had a mind of its own, bouncing everywhere.  My butt resembled Jello and wiggled just like it. My belly swayed back and forth and up and down.  I felt terrible about my appearance and did not want anyone to see me.  I even walked in disguise, big clothes, hat, glasses. At times I wished I was invisible.

As the months passed I began not to care what it looked like, what I looked like to others while I exercised.  I had realized that I couldn't change what it looked like if I stayed on the couch, out of sight.  I mean, why did I care what my neighbors and strangers thought anyway.  I was out walking the streets for my health, not as their entertainment.

Fast forward six years....  I go for a run or a bike ride whenever I want.  I want my neighbors to see me. In fact, I wear a fluorescent green safety vest to make sure I am visible.  I am aware my neighbors/strangers watch me and I don't care.  Some of them remember that girl who started and what I used to look like.  Some of them have started to wave and smile at me and give me the thumbs up sign.

So, if you are worried about what it looks like, drop that as an excuse, it's lame.  Get your body moving.  I guarantee it will change your life.  The magic really does happen when you stop caring what it looks like and get out there.