TGIF

Exercise 4/6: Tae Bo: Abs
Time: 27 min

We missed Karate last night, so I am going to have to do a make-up work out between now and the deadline! :-P

Last night

Wednesday, Nov. 15/06

Exercise 3/6: Tae Bo
Time: 40 min

yep. Worked out.

Abs night

Exercise 2/6: Ab work-out
Time: 25 min.

Getting better!
The day I "look" better, I will hold a huge party. Maybe it will be on "the other side", if you know what I mean. I am doing this for my health, not my looks! (okay girls, repeat this 100x! ;-) )

I recently read a quote by Nicole Ritchie regarding her botched plastic surgery. She actually said, "I will never be perfect again."
Awwwwwww, poor baby! :-P

Let's just keep at it.
Ganbarimashou!

A new week underway...

Exercise 1/6: Tae Bo-Mission 2
Time: 40 min

It is getting cold real fast. Our warm fall was lasting a long time and now Mother Nature is making up for it. The thing is, in Japan, there is no insulation in the houses and no central heating. It is just as cold inside as out. You may think it is nice to have a high of 15˚ at this time of year. Sure!! Except, that is also the temperature of my office! Soon the big ol' heaters will come out...the ones at work are propane. The official date in Japan for turning them on is December 1st nation-wide, so until then, it is long undies and lap-blankets!

At home, working-out is a great way to keep warm...although I am finding that I am soon going to have to make the time to shower immediately after. It is too cold to walk around in sweaty clothes while making supper!

People do heat their homes...with portable kerosene heaters. The heaters are turned on only when you are in that room and they reek! The bathroom has no heat...thus the reason for fluffly toilet lid and seat covers!!!! (I had never really understood those as a kid ;-P) It is also why many toilet seats also have a warming function...which some of you may remember me mentioning last year.

Community BBQ

Exercise 6/6: 3.5 Km walk
Time: about 1 hour

Walking with the neighbours for some unknown cause...I LOVE being illiterate! (sarcasm :-/)

(mmmm. I posted the above at about 8:45 am my time and then actually did the walk at about 11am...but I knew I wouldn't be home in time to post it before 4pm... just in case you itunes gluttons out there were wondering about this post ;-))

The cause turned out to be enjoyment of fall leaves in the mountains...not a raise-money-kind- of-thing apparently. We filled up 4 buses and drove about 1 hour into the mountains. Then we hiked for 1 hour to a group BBQ site. This was SO interesting! The shelter had long benches for people to sit on (logs split in half and stained). In between each row were long concrete thingies shaped rougly in a u. We were split in groups of 8 and each group was given a "BBQ Pack" to make a fire in the concrete u. Once the coals were ready we put a grate and a grill across the top of the u. Then we spent the afternoon cooking veggies and meat and yakisoba and fish (whole) and it was so fun! btw the cooking utensil of choice here is chopsticks! Even for a BBQ. I am sure Colin will get around to posting pics on our family website...eventually.

Oh, and after, while we were waiting on the buses, we played some games. We did a ring-toss in pairs: You throw a ring at your partner at the same time and catch your partner's ring with the same hand. Colin and I quickly achieved this...and then being gaijin, had to try something different! ;-) We used 3 and tried juggling as a pair. (we got applause for that) Then we used 4 and tried doing it with both hands simultaneously. That was HARD...but fun.

The other game was a first for me. The equipment were long baton-like rods (but too long to actually do any baton twirling). The women lined up (maybe 7 or so) and held a rod upright in each hand with the bottom touching the ground.

• One person said, "ii se no rei" (ready, here we go) and
• we replied "don don pa".
  
• On the "don don" we tapped out batons on the ground to the beat (1-2), and
• on the "pa" we let go of our own and reached for the person's batons on our right.
  

The goal was for everyone to catch the next person's batons before they fell...and count how many times you could do this in a row as a group. Very fun.

Remembrance Day

This is totally unrelated to my blog-topic, but as I am half a world away and cannot take part in a moment of silence with my country-men, I thought I would express my appreciation here.

Whether you are a pacifist or not, in agreement with Afghanistan or not, etc, I am sure we can all take a moment to remember, reflect and apprectiate the sacrifices of our Canadian soldiers, living and dead, who defend/have defended our country and its people as well as attempt to extend peace to our struggling world.

Please click here to read "In Flanders Fields".

Biking with the kids

Exercise 5/6: Biking
Time: 2, 30min rides

Colin is at a "work event" tonight, so the kids and I managed to squeeze in a ride to the video store before dark....then we ate supper at McDonald's. :-o (hey, I had a salad...and some fries....and a chestnut-custard pie.) Well, good thing we had to ride home again to! ;-)

Now we are waiting on a student of mine to arrive. She comes every week to hang out and watch English movies! :-) (Yea, the same girl we visited her family with this past summer). Tonight she is bringing her sister and we are watching Cheaper by the Dozen 2. I was remembering that we went to the first movie with my parents in Calgary. I wanted to see it with my Dad because he read the book to us as children because it was one of his favorite books growing up! So, here's to you, Dad! I will think of you half-way round the world as we watch Steve Martin mutilate the original story. ;-)

Oh, and check this out! I was blown away by reading my sister-in-law's new blog and finding MY blog mentioned! Who knew l'le ol' me could inspire someone else with my daily battle. Cool! That inspires ME! Thanks, L-A!

Blessings Anyone?

Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2006
Exercise 3/6: Lower Body Work Out
Time: 25 min

Opened the last of my new Billy Blank's DVD's today. Wooowee. That hurt. (But it is a good hurt, if you know what I mean. ;-)
I have noticed that the BB work outs have been helping my overall endurance and strength in Karate. (yeah)

Speaking of which:
Thursday, Nov 9th, 2006

Exercise 4/6: Karate
Time: 1:15

One of the rules of the Dojo in "no socks/shoes", so we enter with bare feet all the time. Tonight was the first night that the gym floor started to feel cool to the touch. By the end of December, it will be painful. Colin's parents will be visiting about that time. They should get a good kick out of seeing us dance around trying to keep our feet off the floor as much as possible! (If they can stand the cold sitting through a work-out! ;-)

As for the title...
We are right in between Canadian Thanksgiving and American Thanksgiving. Also, the Japanese holiday of "Labor and Thanksgiving Day" in on the 23rd as well. (We are crashing a full-on Turkey Dinner with some American ALT's that day!! My mouth is watering already) Anyway, the other night I was laying in bed thinking about all the things I am thankful for. So here are some of the things I came up with:

I am thankful for

Hot cups of tea to wrap my hands around
Hot coffee in the morning
Hot baths to soak in (see a pattern here?)
Covers to bury under
Children to snuggle with
A Hubby to keep me warm (he may differ with me on that...since he is the warm one ;-)

Friends to share joys and sorrows with
Family near and far that I love and love me
Canadian Soldiers willing to fight/die for me (us) (btw, wear a poppy!)
A God who knows me (us)

What about you?
What are YOU thankful for?
Please share your comments.

During a Thunderstorm

Exercise 2/6: Abs workout-Taebo
Time: 27 min

Got to work-out during a thunderstorm. Had visions of being zapped thru the tv! ;-)
It was overcast all day and I was actually chilled at work in my short sleeve t-shirt!

I think it is funny that Japanese people think that because I am wearing short sleeves in the fall, I should be cold. It doesn't matter that I have fleece jogging pants on and they are wearing a miniskirt BUT long sleeves. (lol)

Karate

Exercise: Karate
Time: 1:30

Hurt my hand again in about the same place, doing the same block, except this time it was against Sensei! He is solid!
...still didn't break it. (not that I am trying too!...even tho it is starting to look like it...;-) )

I can't think of any pithy titles right now...

Sunday, Nov 5th, 2006

Exercise 6/6: Tae Bo/Misson 2
Time: 40 min

My shoulders are tired...but I met the deadline.

I once again submit that this blog has been the best thing in accountability for me! I just can't make excuses! :-)

Family Bike Ride

Saturday, Nov 4th, 2006

Exercise 5/6: Biking
Time: 1:30

Beautiful day for a family ride. We returned our videos via the bike path route.
It is Nov. 4th and the forcasted highs have not dipped below 20˚C yet. Even the Japanese are saying it is too hot for this time of year! I guess that makes up for last winter when they had the most snow in 50 years.

A Taste of Commuting

Thursday 3/6: Biking
Time: 35-40 min

Had a conference to attend yesterday with all Assistant Language Teachers from my prefecture. Lucky for me, it was within biking distance. I first biked all the way to a "nearby" train station to meet first year ALT's and walk them to the venue. (When you are essentially illiterate, getting to a place for the first time is always a challenge).
I am guessing it was about a 12-13 km ride.
Colin's Dad mailed us the bike paniers from Canada...it is SO nice to have those...I carted a change of clothes, a bunch of books (for a book exchange) and my purse etc without a second thought. It made the idea of going car-free in Canada much more plausible to me. (My husband and I have been exploring this idea for many reasons. You can check out our
"cultural vertigo" blog for more on that...)

Exercise 4/6: walk
Time: about 2 hours

Some of the ALTs from my region wanted to hang out after the conference and didn't particularly want to go to the nomihoudai.
(A nomihoudai is a "drinking party" in Japan. One price covers a 7-10 course meal and all-you -can-drink within a time limit of 2 hours for about the equivilant of $30.00.)
Anyhow, none of us had cars there, and I had my bike which eliminated the train as a possibililty. I offered to cook supper...but that meant we walked that same distance home to my place. They were game, so we walked! :-) It has been a long time since I have walked that far. We don't slow down that much very often or consider walking that distance as a possible option. But we had a great time! We had a great chance to just chat, enjoy the sunset and get some exercise.
When we got home, everyone pitched in, and we made bruchetta, yakisoba and then enjoyed a couple of well-earned creampuffs for dessert (kinda like the Costco ones...).

As for the walk, (and I say this like my English students in their journals) I think want walk next time.

More Tae Bo

Exercise 2/6: Mission 2
Time: 40 min

Not much to say...I am going to bed. :-)

Karate

Exercise 1/6: Karate
Time: 1:30

We had to do sit-ups in class tonight. I kicked Colin's butt in ab-endurance...Only done the AB work-out from Tae-bo a couple of times and I already notice a difference! (Not in looks, but in ability) ;-)

Walking in my son's shoes

By that title, I don't mean that I am experiencing what it is like to be him...I mean I am literally walking in his shoes! I borrowed his sandals to go to work this week! His feet are as big as mine...and he is only 9!

Friday 5/6: Walk/jog
Time: 25 min


Saturday 6/6: Tae Bo, Mission 3
Time: 30 min

Karate

Thursday, Oct. 26th, 2006

Exercise 4/6: Karate
Time: 1:30

I was remembering yesterday that I forgot to mention that I had weighed in on Saturday.
I'm holding steady. (yea?)
I often get to this point. (how many of you out there can identify with me, let me hear an AMEN!)
I have lost a few pounds, I have worked hard (and for longer than 30 days, so it SHOULD be a habit). But now the schedule has changed, the days are shorter, the type of my workouts have changed due to those things, and my weight steadies out. This season has heavier food, Christmas and all its culinary wonders is just around the corner, and then a long, cold, boring winter. My weight starts to curve up again. Then in the spring, when the weather gets nice, I start this cycle all over again.
SO
I am at a cross roads now. I have a blog (accountability). Will I break the cycle? That is what I am aiming for. My one dilema is how to increase my times of "high heart-rate cardio" during my week. (It would seem that this is what most helps in losing weight over time, though it is what I least enjoy in exercise).

It is that time of year...

...to be indoors. Not that it is overly chilly here. The high today was 26˚C and it was sunny....beautiful! But it gets dark before 5:30, and there is not time to BE outside in an exercise manner due to childminding (I know, I have lamented this before...).
But that feel is also in the air now. Tonight we had homemade cream of potato/veggie soup with biscuits. MMMMMM warm \autumny feel. I LOVE that! :-)

...2 months from today is CHRISTMAS! Yatta! (Japanese for "Yippee!")

Exercise 3/6: Tae Bo and Tug-O'-War
Time: 40min and 1 hour

Yep, I said Tug-O'-War. November 3rd is a national holiday in Japan. It is Labour Thanksgiving Day. Our kids have signed on to a neighbourhood team to compete in a city-wide Tug-O'-War Competition on that day. It is being held to promote city-wide unity and "togetherness" since 3 small towns joined Ogaki city this year. (our town being one of them)
Tonight was the team practice. How can you practice for Tug-O'-War, you ask? Well, let me tell you, it is a precision sport, don't you know! There is technique that requires body, mind and spirit (and blisters!). And, the judges are using English!

1. "Pick up the rope!" (we can/must pick up the rope-a big thick old-fashioned rope-...at this point we grip in such a way as to pull the rope "apart", put it under our elbow, stand perpendicular with feet planted.

2. "Steady the reins" - we must pull it taut so the middle mark is in line with the boundary and becomes still.

3. "Pull!" - now we must lean straight back, look at the ceiling, and take baby-steps backwards.

The rope must go 4 meters one-way, within one minute, in order for a team to win.
I have no idea how many teams will be competing...I'll let you know. It could be a LONG afternoon! ;-)

The kids had a blast...so it will be worth it.

Mission 3

Exercise 2/6: Tae Bo
Time: 30 min

So I pulled out another of the Billy Blanks DVD's, Mission 3: Rock Solid Abs.
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.

My first Karate injury...almost

Exercise 1/6: Karate
Time: 1:30

So, because all my "senpai" (seniors) have gone up a level (as ruefully mentioned in a previous post ;-) the sparring has also gone up a level. FUN!
And as also previously mentioned, I really like sparring with my husband! He is the one in the class (besides sensei) that I can actually let it loose with, and not worry about hurting. But last night, I didn't move fast enough. I brought my hand down to block his front kick and my hand met his shin. His shin won! (No, tears though...sensei doesn't allow crying in class. ;-)
I have a beautiful bruise on the side of my hand below my pinky finger. :-) Don't worry, I am not complaining! In fact, I was kind of hoping it was fractured! How cool would that be! I have never had a broken bone, and this would certainly be a great way to earn one.
I continued sparring...and I moved a lot quicker! And I do not have a fracture. :(

I think my parents named me aptly: Kelly = maiden warrior
(lol)