Thursday, January 7, 2010

Sweatin' with the oldies

Yesterday daughter2 joined me in my workout. I'm still trying to decide how I feel about that. Here's how it went...

I wake up at the crack of dawn. I get out of bed and drink approximately 347 cups of coffee. I check email. I have more coffee. I write a blog post. I have more coffee. I give myself a little pep talk about why I need to get the exercise clothes on and just do it! I pull on my workout pants, a t-shirt, a pair of socks and a fleece. Because it's cold in my house in the early morning. And it's now only about 7:15. And Daughter2 is snoozing all snug in her bed.

Naturally.

We had settled on the time of 10 am to meet up with Jillian so I have hours to fill...I read today's chapter in Proverbs, I straighten up the family room, I make my bed, I load the dishwasher-loudly-thinking maybe just maybe daughter2 will wake up if she hears a little commotion, yeah right. I take the dog out, I pay some bills online, I read some blogs, I may drink more coffee. I call my mother. I wait. I look in daughter's room to make sure she's still sleeping. As if there were any doubt. I wait some more.

At 10:30 I roust the troops...Daughter2 grumbles and mumbles and I think she's not going to actually meet me in the family room but in a matter of about 60 seconds she has bounced into the room. She looks adorable...she is wearing shorts, a t-shirt, socks and tennis shoes. And she has her water bottle because she's serious like Jillian when it comes to working out. And her hair is all cute and bouncy in a pony tail. Did I mention my hair...yeah, well it's not cute and bouncy.

So we are finally ready. She presses play on the DVD when I notice I'm not wearing any shoes.

'Mooooom!'

Oops...pause please while I get my tennis shoes which are in the garage which is f-ree-zing.

'Ready now' ?
'Yes'.
'Mom...you're wearing a fleece. And pants. You're going to burn up'.
(And there may have been a slight roll of the eyes).

I take off the fleece but I inform her that I'm keeping the sweat pants. Now I'm really ready. Wait. Before we get started I need to run to the loo. Hey, I'm all about keeping it real people. And if you're over 40 reading here then I don't need to explain...but if you're under forty let's just say that women over 40 were not really meant to be doing jumping jacks. Or actually jumping for any reason. And daughter2 cringes when I explain this to her.

Moving on....because as Daughter2 tells me in a tone that sounds a lot like scolding, 'Mom, you're not going to get in the kind of shape you want to be in if you don't do the exercises'. Isn't she sweet? She's like my own little
Marine Corps drill seargentpersonal trainer.

We do the warm up. And I'm already hot and I don't mean this in a good way. I turn the ceiling fan on to superfast. Did I mention daughter1? She is sitting on the couch. Watching. She's on vacation and apparently a workout with Jillian was not on her agenda for the day. She is freezing because I have the ceiling fan going 100 miles an hour. She's wrapped in a blanket. Blogging. I think watching me exercise must be inspiring.

Anyway, there are a lot of great reasons to exercise with your college aged children but I'm not going to list them here. I want to talk about the downside which is this...you're working out, it's hard stuff but you're keeping up and you think you're doing great. You're feeling proud of yourself. You're on the floor holding that plank, doing those crunches...really pushing yourself. And you glance over at your daughter to say hey, look at us, aren't we amazing? But as you glance over to speak what you see are some seriously perfect abs. Abs that look remarkably like some you once possessed. Which you no longer do thanks in part to birthing the child with the perfect abs. And her sister who also has perfect abs even though she sits on the couch watching us work out. And the passing of a couple of decades. And gravity. And too much English cream. Sigh. I think about just collapsing out of that plank flat on my face and having a little pity party. But I don't.

Because daughter2 is nothing if not a cheerleader. And she tells me this is hard. And I did good. And we'll do this again tomorow. And I'm wishing that she were here to be my 'Jillian' every day. She's just as tough but way more fun. And cute. Did I mention the cute?

11 comments:

  1. That's why I didn't work out with you two- I didn't want to show off. (yeah right, just kidding). So funny mom! Love you!

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  2. Joyce,

    Oh how much I can relate to just about everything you've listed here. Makes you want to work out with them and then again consider working out without them. SO glad however that you got it done, accomplished and ready for tomorrow.

    Love and Hugs ~ Kat

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  3. Watching other people exercise IS inspiring. Maybe that's why I have to go to the gym... to motivate myself? Hmmm. Love that you did this with your girl. Let's not talk about the abs. Sigh... Some things will never be the same. ;)

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  4. Oh Lordy! Can totally relate. I just let the daughter do the workout and let me know how it went. She said it was hard. And I believe her.
    Don't you just love (to hate the cute) daughters . . .

    I'm just sayin'

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  5. I don't think I'd have the guts (pun intended) to workout with a spunky little college girl, even if she is related to me. You're a very brave woman!

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  6. I agree that watching others is inspiring but brutal. What is really bad is watching a 40+ woman who HAS had children working out next to you with 6 pack abs...boy do you ever feel like a slacker then!!

    Amy

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  7. This was a great post! I need a workout buddy. And I need someone to watch all my kids for me so I can workout. And I need a tummy tuck.
    I hate ab flab.

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  8. Okay, so, inspired by your post, I began my new workout regimen today (T-Tapp). I about died. I'm glad my own daughter was not here to witness it -- she'd have died.... laughing.

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  9. I went to spin class with #1 this morning at 9:30. We were going to go to a yoga class at 8:00.... I was up and ready and betting that she would not get up on time. No surprise there. I about died during spin class. I have not been to one since November and payed for it. I have gained some weight..... emotional eating, the holidays and lots of crab dip in this cute little piece of pottery that I have, so I really was glad I didn't wimp out and stay home. We do the Jillian workout too! Every level is hard for me.

    I do not have good morning hair either. I always look like I went to bed with my hair wet.

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  10. I can relate to the whole "college girl home for the holidays" real well. Difference is that I wouldn't be able to get mine to exercise with me I'm sure! She doesn't do much of anything but sleep when she's home. She is going with me to the movies tonight, I'm shocked!

    She will jump out of bed for a shopping trip though!

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  11. Oh can I relate! I look at my perky little daughter and her cute little body and think what the heck happened to me. I remember a few years ago, one of my best friends said nothing makes you realize how old you really are as when the guys who used to check you out are now checking out your daughter. So true!

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