As yesterday rolled around, and I prepared to head over to Telos for my pilates session, I realized it had been over a week since I had last been in. I had been busy moving and my dad had come in town (and you know when your dad comes in town, all other plans cease, and you let him buy you dinner and take you shopping and help fix things around the house. Did I mention I love my dad?) so I wasn't able to make any sessions last week.
Which means it had been over a week since I had crunched, squeezed, pulled, pushed or basically used at all any of the muscles that pilates targets. And since pilates targets just about all of them, my session yesterday was not a pretty picture. I'm pretty sure my abs are just now fully functioning again after what I call the twist/crunch/torture exercise that I'm convinced is the worst thing ever created. And who knew that the exercise they call "Stomach Massage" is definitely not what it sounds like?
But it was nice to get back in, and to realize that even after a week of no pilates and, let's be honest, no diet of any kind, my body still remembered how to function and I was able to make it through the workout with only a slight amount of wanting to die.
And it was even nicer to get through that workout knowing that less than 2 hours later I would be eating fried oreos, fried bacon, fried peanut butter, jelly, and banana sandwich, and fried butter.
Yes, exactly what it sounds like. And yes, so worth it.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
46 days and counting
Yep. That's it.
46 days until the wedding.
46 days until I can stop questioning every decision I make about food (note: I always make bad, or good, decisions about food depending on how you look at it. Let's just say one of the things my future sister-in-law likes best about me is that I don't say no to anything put in front of me...or to a second serving.)
46 days until I don't have to check the hotel reservations to make sure there are enough rooms for people in our block.
46 days until every time I say, "Darling, I spoke to my mom today..." my fiance doesn't groan and say, "More wedding stuff?" (note: I actually do often call my fiance "darling." I think it lends a certain old Hollywood glamour to our relationship. Plus, it reminds me of Lady and the Tramp!)
46 days until I don't have to think about flowers, or favors, or hairstyles, or second cousins who are not invited.
46 days until we see if everything we've planned actually happens the way we've planned it.
46 days until we see how certain people react to the last minute changes that will inevitably occur. (Question: if you plan on having unplanned things happen, are they really unplanned? Do I really have no idea what I'm in for?)
46 days until regardless of what goes wrong with any of the little details, I am married to the man with whom I can't wait to spend the rest of my life.
Bonus: 47 days until we leave for an 8 day honeymoon in Jackson Hole, WY! What will we do in Jackson Hole in the middle of November when the average high is 35 degrees F and the average low is 12 degrees F? Absolutely nothing. And we'll like it!
46 days until the wedding.
46 days until I can stop questioning every decision I make about food (note: I always make bad, or good, decisions about food depending on how you look at it. Let's just say one of the things my future sister-in-law likes best about me is that I don't say no to anything put in front of me...or to a second serving.)
46 days until I don't have to check the hotel reservations to make sure there are enough rooms for people in our block.
46 days until every time I say, "Darling, I spoke to my mom today..." my fiance doesn't groan and say, "More wedding stuff?" (note: I actually do often call my fiance "darling." I think it lends a certain old Hollywood glamour to our relationship. Plus, it reminds me of Lady and the Tramp!)
46 days until I don't have to think about flowers, or favors, or hairstyles, or second cousins who are not invited.
46 days until we see if everything we've planned actually happens the way we've planned it.
46 days until we see how certain people react to the last minute changes that will inevitably occur. (Question: if you plan on having unplanned things happen, are they really unplanned? Do I really have no idea what I'm in for?)
46 days until regardless of what goes wrong with any of the little details, I am married to the man with whom I can't wait to spend the rest of my life.
Bonus: 47 days until we leave for an 8 day honeymoon in Jackson Hole, WY! What will we do in Jackson Hole in the middle of November when the average high is 35 degrees F and the average low is 12 degrees F? Absolutely nothing. And we'll like it!
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Some people are just great
And those people include my pilates instructors, Veronica and Alex.
Why, you ask?
Well, besides the fact that they are excellent instructors (you can tell because they are more toned than the Tabernacle choir), they are the most understanding, patient, chill, forgiving of me people I have ever met.
Our email conversations usually (I'm ashamed to say) go something like this:
From: Elizabeth
To: Veronica
Subject: Conflict
Hey Veronica (and/or Alex),
I know I said I'd be there on Thursday, but something came up. Again. Is it possible to meet later that day
or maybe on Friday? I'm so sorry for doing this again, please let me know!
Peace,
Elizabeth
---
From: Veronica
To: Elizabeth
Re:Conflict
Elizabeth,
No problem about Thursday. I can do Friday morning if that works better for you.
Veronica (and/or Alex)
It never fails. I abuse them time and time again, I'm consistently 5-10 minutes late (at least I'm consistent right?) and they are not only gracious when I do finally show up, but they make me feel like they don't hate me for being a total airhead about my schedule.
Why can't everyone be that great?
Plus, pilates is actually working! I know I'm firmer, trimmer, and Veronica and Alex both said I'm showing some good definition in my arms! (Another reason they are great.)
I also have this old rugby injury (I love that I can type that...I feel so hardcore), and my right shoulder was really messed up and was much weaker than my left. But at pilates, with all the one-on-one attention that they give me (let's just say I can hardly blink without them knowing) I have been able to strengthen it and it feels great!
The main point is that because of the greatness of Veronica and Alex, the craziness of what I have to deal with for my wedding doesn't even stress me out as much. Because while I have to worry about finding time to go to the jeweler's to look at wedding rings so that my fiance and I don't end up having to use string or foil or grass or whatever else we can find in my grandmother's backyard the day of, I know that I don't have to worry about rescheduling my pilates in order to figure it out.
So thanks, Veronica and Alex. You have truly made this whole wedding thing possible, and maybe...just maybe...I'll be on time tomorrow.
Why, you ask?
Well, besides the fact that they are excellent instructors (you can tell because they are more toned than the Tabernacle choir), they are the most understanding, patient, chill, forgiving of me people I have ever met.
Our email conversations usually (I'm ashamed to say) go something like this:
From: Elizabeth
To: Veronica
Subject: Conflict
Hey Veronica (and/or Alex),
I know I said I'd be there on Thursday, but something came up. Again. Is it possible to meet later that day
or maybe on Friday? I'm so sorry for doing this again, please let me know!
Peace,
Elizabeth
---
From: Veronica
To: Elizabeth
Re:Conflict
Elizabeth,
No problem about Thursday. I can do Friday morning if that works better for you.
Veronica (and/or Alex)
It never fails. I abuse them time and time again, I'm consistently 5-10 minutes late (at least I'm consistent right?) and they are not only gracious when I do finally show up, but they make me feel like they don't hate me for being a total airhead about my schedule.
Why can't everyone be that great?
Plus, pilates is actually working! I know I'm firmer, trimmer, and Veronica and Alex both said I'm showing some good definition in my arms! (Another reason they are great.)
I also have this old rugby injury (I love that I can type that...I feel so hardcore), and my right shoulder was really messed up and was much weaker than my left. But at pilates, with all the one-on-one attention that they give me (let's just say I can hardly blink without them knowing) I have been able to strengthen it and it feels great!
The main point is that because of the greatness of Veronica and Alex, the craziness of what I have to deal with for my wedding doesn't even stress me out as much. Because while I have to worry about finding time to go to the jeweler's to look at wedding rings so that my fiance and I don't end up having to use string or foil or grass or whatever else we can find in my grandmother's backyard the day of, I know that I don't have to worry about rescheduling my pilates in order to figure it out.
So thanks, Veronica and Alex. You have truly made this whole wedding thing possible, and maybe...just maybe...I'll be on time tomorrow.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
And now for this week's drama...
The closer I get to my wedding, the more often drama surrounding the wedding seems to attack me. Random things, little details, really, that you wouldn't expect to cause drama...well, that's when they cause the most.
Did you know that you're supposed to have at least 15 extra invitations that you don't plan on sending to anyone at all? Did you also know that it's possible for certain people TO PANIC if you have enough invitations, but not enough EXTRA invitations?
I know. Oh, how I know.
Now, what I don't know is if the amount of these little dramatic attacks increase exponentially as the wedding date approaches.
Cause if so, I'd better register for an emergency crank radio, some safety flares, a helmet, and probably some Kevlar body armor...
Did you know that you're supposed to have at least 15 extra invitations that you don't plan on sending to anyone at all? Did you also know that it's possible for certain people TO PANIC if you have enough invitations, but not enough EXTRA invitations?
I know. Oh, how I know.
Now, what I don't know is if the amount of these little dramatic attacks increase exponentially as the wedding date approaches.
Cause if so, I'd better register for an emergency crank radio, some safety flares, a helmet, and probably some Kevlar body armor...
Monday, August 31, 2009
It's a marathon, not a sprint
I've never been good at running long distances. And by long distance, I mean anything longer than a mile. I know it's kind of pathetic. I have friends that run half-marathons, and 5Ks, and full marathons, and friends who say "oh you know, I got up this morning and just had to run 5 miles before starting my day!" But, me? I get a stictch in my side, and have trouble breathing, and my legs want to fall off as I near the half-mile mark. This is why pilates is working for me.
You see, I've always been more of a sprinter. All the sports I did required short burst of sometimes intense energy. And that was fine. Volleyball, soccer, track, rugby...I could do that pretty much all day long. (Actually, rugby was tough, and I was always a little relieved when the final whistle blew, no matter what the score, and I still had all my teeth.) But ask me to pace myself for the long haul, and I'd come back sweaty, red-faced, doubled-over, telling you I pulled something and could I please sit down cause I wasn't going to make it.
So here I am, metaphorically sweaty, red-faced, doubled-over, positive I've pulled an emotional something and please let me sit down cause I'm not sure I can make it.
Now, look, I know what you're thinking. I, too, hate that all these posts seem to have a similar strain: Elizabeth being dramatic about getting married and planning a wedding, thinking she's not going to make it, blah, blah, blah...
But it's true, ok? It's like being in love, or losing a loved one, or having kids (so I've heard). You don't get it until you've done it, but at the same time it's different for everyone.
But I will say that some very significant progress has been made. My sisters and future sister-in-law have actually ordered their bridesmaids dresses. My mother and father have finally met my future mother-in-law and her husband (it went very well, and included smiles, homemade blackberry jam, and some alcohol, thanks for asking). We have hotel reservations. Flowers have been ordered. I've done a hair and make-up trial run. And we've received our long-awaited and much-anticipated stationary!
Note on the hair and make-up: Of course your fiance will probably be like my fiance and say, "Why don't you just get married with your hair down and no make-up on? I think you're beautiful that way!" Aw. Bless him. And yet, let's be honest. It's not about him. It's about the photographs that will last FOREVER. When I'm 94 and wrinkled with white feathers for hair, I will want to look at the pictures of my wedding and think, "Hell yeah, I looked good!"
Plus, it was kind of fabulous doing a trial run. My hairstylist did three different dos on me. The first style was a bit 80's and looked like I had pulled it up with one of those giant banana hair clips we all know and loved. Her excuse was that I just had so much hair (I do have a lot of hair). We moved on to better things. The final look [spoiler alert!] is with my hair in loose curls, pulled and then pinned up, low and to the side, just over my right shoulder. I think it will look really great with my dress.
Then the make-up was great too because...well, someone else did it, and it's always better when someone else does it. The end product was something that even my fiance couldn't complain about.
So things are going well. We're definitely on the home-stretch. With only 10 weeks and 5 days to go we'd better be on the home-stretch. But with all of 10 weeks and 5 days, we still have a long way to go.
And truthfully...I'm tired. Remember, I'm more of a sprinter. And planning a wedding I have found is draining. Especially if you're a people-pleaser. Like me. Nevermind the time wasted at work practising your new signature, or looking at pictures of other peoples' bouquets...
Hello, nice to meet you, I'm the oldest child, desperate from birth to please just about anybody she's ever met.
So yeah. That's why I'm not sure if I can make it. Because every day is a huge question of whether or not the decisions I make about this wedding will make everyone else involved happy.
Will my friends still want to come if they're not bridesmaids? Will my aunt be offended if I don't wear her jewelry? Will my grandmother care if I use her florist or the one my cousin recommended? Will that person feel bad if I don't invite them to the wedding?
I guess it's silly when you read it out loud. But I still feel it. Thus, the red-faced, exhausted person with no stamina when it comes to emotional outpouring. I literally sob every time I watch Armageddon for crying out loud!
At some point I can only hope for what some would call a "runner's high." That point when you've gone so hard for so long that your body actually responds positively to the exertion and you feel euphoric and could go on in the same way for days.
It hasn't hit yet...but with how hard this has been for me...it's gotta come soon.
You see, I've always been more of a sprinter. All the sports I did required short burst of sometimes intense energy. And that was fine. Volleyball, soccer, track, rugby...I could do that pretty much all day long. (Actually, rugby was tough, and I was always a little relieved when the final whistle blew, no matter what the score, and I still had all my teeth.) But ask me to pace myself for the long haul, and I'd come back sweaty, red-faced, doubled-over, telling you I pulled something and could I please sit down cause I wasn't going to make it.
So here I am, metaphorically sweaty, red-faced, doubled-over, positive I've pulled an emotional something and please let me sit down cause I'm not sure I can make it.
Now, look, I know what you're thinking. I, too, hate that all these posts seem to have a similar strain: Elizabeth being dramatic about getting married and planning a wedding, thinking she's not going to make it, blah, blah, blah...
But it's true, ok? It's like being in love, or losing a loved one, or having kids (so I've heard). You don't get it until you've done it, but at the same time it's different for everyone.
But I will say that some very significant progress has been made. My sisters and future sister-in-law have actually ordered their bridesmaids dresses. My mother and father have finally met my future mother-in-law and her husband (it went very well, and included smiles, homemade blackberry jam, and some alcohol, thanks for asking). We have hotel reservations. Flowers have been ordered. I've done a hair and make-up trial run. And we've received our long-awaited and much-anticipated stationary!
Note on the hair and make-up: Of course your fiance will probably be like my fiance and say, "Why don't you just get married with your hair down and no make-up on? I think you're beautiful that way!" Aw. Bless him. And yet, let's be honest. It's not about him. It's about the photographs that will last FOREVER. When I'm 94 and wrinkled with white feathers for hair, I will want to look at the pictures of my wedding and think, "Hell yeah, I looked good!"
Plus, it was kind of fabulous doing a trial run. My hairstylist did three different dos on me. The first style was a bit 80's and looked like I had pulled it up with one of those giant banana hair clips we all know and loved. Her excuse was that I just had so much hair (I do have a lot of hair). We moved on to better things. The final look [spoiler alert!] is with my hair in loose curls, pulled and then pinned up, low and to the side, just over my right shoulder. I think it will look really great with my dress.
Then the make-up was great too because...well, someone else did it, and it's always better when someone else does it. The end product was something that even my fiance couldn't complain about.
So things are going well. We're definitely on the home-stretch. With only 10 weeks and 5 days to go we'd better be on the home-stretch. But with all of 10 weeks and 5 days, we still have a long way to go.
And truthfully...I'm tired. Remember, I'm more of a sprinter. And planning a wedding I have found is draining. Especially if you're a people-pleaser. Like me. Nevermind the time wasted at work practising your new signature, or looking at pictures of other peoples' bouquets...
Hello, nice to meet you, I'm the oldest child, desperate from birth to please just about anybody she's ever met.
So yeah. That's why I'm not sure if I can make it. Because every day is a huge question of whether or not the decisions I make about this wedding will make everyone else involved happy.
Will my friends still want to come if they're not bridesmaids? Will my aunt be offended if I don't wear her jewelry? Will my grandmother care if I use her florist or the one my cousin recommended? Will that person feel bad if I don't invite them to the wedding?
I guess it's silly when you read it out loud. But I still feel it. Thus, the red-faced, exhausted person with no stamina when it comes to emotional outpouring. I literally sob every time I watch Armageddon for crying out loud!
At some point I can only hope for what some would call a "runner's high." That point when you've gone so hard for so long that your body actually responds positively to the exertion and you feel euphoric and could go on in the same way for days.
It hasn't hit yet...but with how hard this has been for me...it's gotta come soon.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Miracles DO happen!
After being down in Houston for 35 hours this past weekend, I have decided two things:
1) Pilates is not only combating but kicking all the bad-for-me-food-I-eat's butt.
2) Having to TAKE IN the wedding dress (as opposed to letting it out) is an amazing feeling.
1) Pilates is not only combating but kicking all the bad-for-me-food-I-eat's butt.
2) Having to TAKE IN the wedding dress (as opposed to letting it out) is an amazing feeling.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Mayday, Mayday, MAYDAY!
I like food. I'm a foodie, a gourmet, a food snob. (Ok, I also just looked up "foodie" on Wikipedia and apparently I'm neither a foodie or gourmet because I don't love food for "consumption, study, preparation and news." I love it for going in my belly and tasting good on the way down.)
That being said, this whole you-loose-weight-before-your-wedding-because-you-get-so-stressed thing I've been hearing so much about...I've decided is a myth. At least in my case. Because I'm plenty stressed (see previous post). And yet the overwhelming desire for pizza, ice cream, and all things fried keeps coming.
Now, I am combating the food that desires to take up permanent residence on my thighs and hips by doing pilates, which is great and is really making me feel good. But I'm failing in this whole work-out and (double emphasis on the "and") eat-right thing.
And here's the scary part. My first dress fitting. Is. This. Friday.
Thus the distress signal. I am indeed in grave and imminent danger of eating a whole pizza for lunch...and probably some cereal...and some popcorn...and maybe some carrots...and then a couple of cookies...
That being said, this whole you-loose-weight-before-your-wedding-because-you-get-so-stressed thing I've been hearing so much about...I've decided is a myth. At least in my case. Because I'm plenty stressed (see previous post). And yet the overwhelming desire for pizza, ice cream, and all things fried keeps coming.
Now, I am combating the food that desires to take up permanent residence on my thighs and hips by doing pilates, which is great and is really making me feel good. But I'm failing in this whole work-out and (double emphasis on the "and") eat-right thing.
And here's the scary part. My first dress fitting. Is. This. Friday.
Thus the distress signal. I am indeed in grave and imminent danger of eating a whole pizza for lunch...and probably some cereal...and some popcorn...and maybe some carrots...and then a couple of cookies...
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