Body Rockin’

 

 

In India, many people commented on my weight loss. In fact, one lady at Church, who can’t speak English, managed to ask me “Health?” Someone said that she thought that I must have lost weight from illness. Women in India are all a little rounder and curvier and generally that’s encouraged; it’s the men who are skinny as sticks. I had hoped a little that my weight gain of last year didn’t make me look that different, that no one would notice one way or the other; now that I’ve lost 25 pounds I know better—I look different. I feel different, too. I feel more confident.

I never realized how much being active affects your confidence; but when I think about it, some of the most confident people I know are also people who make sports/fitness a priority.

So I’m excited to continue increasing my levels of fitness.

Beyond getting abs, I have other fitness goals such as doing a full push up.

Going to the gym, using the weight machines, and running a mile daily was giving me results, but very slowly, and there were setbacks.

Jacob, as my personal trainer, has recommended this website to do my training from home when I don’t have access to a gym (which is often)

http://www.bodyrock.tv/

I’ve already noticed results after only doing it for 2 weeks. It absolutely removes any excuses about not having the right equipment/not having a gym membership. Not only that, but the average daily workout is only 20 minutes long (this week it’s been 10!), and Zusana, the trainer, comes out with a new routine every single day. Which is nice for someone who doesn’t like to “go running”—the seeming default workout of all American women.

It’s really really hard, but when it gets easier it means you’re getting stronger. I definitely recommend it—I feel great.

What makes it extra fun is it’s run by a married couple who have been “married for three years, blogging for two” and who “love to travel and can’t decide where to settle down.” And she’s Czech, so her accent reminds me of my friend Iva’s. If you’re in an exercise rut, check it out.

By the way, she has a great body and dresses the part, but her breasts are fake (she admits).

Flash Flood

We are in Utah for my friend's wedding and to spend time with family. It is so nice to be around people we've known longer than 3 weeks. My super nice uncle, Uncle Kevin, lent us his Saturn to use for an entire month. Our adventures have followed us here, however. In an ironic twist, in the nicest place, possibly, that we have stayed in our travels, our hotel flooded. The fourth floor collapsed; incredibly, no one was hurt. A frozen water pipe had burst.

Jacob was gone to lunch with Dan Todd, his former business partner, and I had just gotten up and was on the computer when I heard a sound like it was raining inside the hotel. I thought it strange, but figured they were cleaning something and continued working until the ceiling started to drip. Then, I still thought it was just our room, and before I left I had to make myself presentable. I got dressed and put on some makeup. It was a surprise when I opened the door and saw the hall flooded with water about two inches deep. I asked a hotel manager down the hall what was going on. His only answer was, "Everything is under control!"

I went back to my computer and continued to work, tucking in my chair away from the growing puddle of water. I didn't want to wait outside in the cold for Jacob, who had the car. Fortunately, he showed up just as the firemen were insisting that we all exit.

We came back in the dead of night, snuck into the building with the electricity all turned off, and reclaimed our possessions. We are now staying at the Provo Travelodge until further notice...

*Edit
And we just found out today we will not be moving back there. We are now at the Amenities Inn in Provo. Also, I have gotten food poisoning twice since coming here! Both times it was from over-processed cheese pizzas. One from Freschetta's, the other from Sbarros. I am really grossed out by fast food now. Utah has proved to be our craziest adventure yet.

We took the Campbells to Olive Garden for Grandpa's Birthday


It's been fun for Kai and Jacob to get to know each other better. We have been helping Kai learn how to cook :)



Sitting next to Grandman Hansen on the plane

As a side note...I have started working out at the gym and I love it. I even went the other day when Jacob didn't go. Weird. I have read up on how nothing can replace weight lifting for your long-term health, but I have used the fact that I often walk for 3 hours a day as no need to lift weights, and when I had a membership at Gold's Gym I didn't really get into it because I found the weight machines intimidating.

I had this strange perception that girls only go to the gym because they think they're fat, and that working out will make you look masculine. With those myths dispelled, and with the realization that working out can help my posture, I am motivated and excited to work out.

It's funny because the gym was the only time Jacob and I were apart...now we're going to be together about 24/7. Good thing we enjoy each other's company :)