July 2009
Tuesday July 7, 2009
One-Eighty
If you are expecting an entry about half-rotation jumps, sorry to disappoint you. This is an entry about Kay’s struggle to get in shape and lose some weight. Unfortunately, I weight one hundred eighty pounds and have for a couple of years. My life has been a roller coaster ride of body mass reduction followed by regain. In my opinion, I do not look like I weigh one hundred eighty pounds. Yes, I am muscular and “big boned”. I hate that term. But I also look middle age dumpy. According to Body Mass Index (BMI) standards, I should drop about twenty pounds. The older I get, the harder it is to do this. Several years ago, I got down to one hundred fifty. I looked good at one-fifty; although that is not a cute little number society associates with attractive women. I regained most of that weight, then lost it again when I broke my ankle. Much of what I lost was probably muscle because my injured leg withered into atrophy. Yet, I fit comfortably into my “skinny jeans”.
Yesterday I went to the doctor only to discover I still weight one-eighty. I have been working out and watching what I eat. For weeks, I lived on salad, apples and lean meat. I thought a garden would start growing out of my ears. I wasn’t going out for lunch or having dessert. I snacked on carrots. How long can anyone live like that assuming they like food? Yes, I enjoy food. I could have at least lost a couple of pounds. I am disgusted. If I weigh the same eating like a rabbit as I do eating yummy stuff in moderation, why bother? At least I have not gained anything. I could have broken two hundred by now. However, morbid obesity does not run I my family. I doubt that is my body type, which is something to be grateful for. I would truly have to pig out on junk food constantly and do absolutely nothing to become morbidly obese, and that has never been my lifestyle. I was not blessed with a willowy frame either or a fast metabolism.
Nine years ago, I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism that usually results in weight gain and difficultly losing weight, with does run in my genes. The doctor did a blood test and called today to tell me my thyroid function is low. She increased my dose of synthetic thyroid hormone. I have decided to intensify my workouts focusing less on resistance training and more on cardio. I probably don’t need to build more muscle right now. My husband and I assembled the trampoline in the backyard, so I can exercise at home. Since we plan to be away much of the summer, I placed our gym membership on hold for July and August. My goal is to do aerobics on that trampoline at least five times per week and start jogging again. Hopefully, I can make some progress. I am not willing to accept one-eighty.
Week of July 5, 2009
The Tiara
One of my private students who skates at the Basic 3 level, which consists of proper (toeless) stroking, backward one-foot glides, and one-foot swizzle pumps on a circle, is having trouble with posture. The girl, who I shall call Naomi* for the purpose of this discussion, looks at her feet while skating. Naomi also tends to slouch and stick her butt out. The protruding bum and other herky-jerky movements most likely result from lack of knee bend. If a skater cannot create power from the knees, she must force propulsion via some other mechanism. These other mechanisms include awkward swinging of the caboose, stiff leg kicks, and wildly swinging shoulders. Naomi suffers from all of the above. I discussed these issues with Naomi’s mother who told me her daughter is not an otherwise athletic child. No surprises there, but she is an extremely hard worker and loves to skate. Mom brings Naomi to the rink about three times per week, so she gets plenty of practice for a child at her level.
In an effort to correct some of Naomi’s deficiencies, I offered to bring a tiara to Naomi’s lesson. Her mother was delighted. Naomi loves to play the role of princess. What little girl doesn’t? I fancied tiaras when I was a child too. However, tiaras were not in vogue as playthings for children in the seventies; although now plastic and cheap metal versions can be purchased in discount stores and mall shops just about anywhere. When I was fourteen and had a few dollars of my own money, I bought my first tiara; a tiny cute thing that saw a lot of wear through my teenage years if only in the confines of my bedroom. I have continued to collect tiaras and own about one hundred of the guilty jeweled pleasures.
True to my word, I exhumed a sparkly rhinestone tiara from a drawer and brought it to the rink for Naomi. Mother’s eyes caught the tiara before Naomi saw it glistening in my hand. “This will do wonders for your posture,” I said with a smile. Mom took Naomi’s hair out of her ponytail and affixed the tiara like a headband. Naomi’s face lit up. Just the effect I had wanted. By the time I came out of the locker room, Naomi was already sculling around the rink with the tiara on her head. The transformation of her posture could be classified as miraculous. She no longer stared down at her feet, but held her head high and moved across the rink with a serenity and confidence I had never seen in this child before.
We skated the entire thirty-minute lesson with the tiara on Naomi’s head. Not once did she look at her feet. If her posture began to deteriorate, I reminded my student not to allow the tiara to fall off her head. Of course, a rhinestone crown cannot convert a beginner into a champion, but it certainly can contribute to improved skating. At the end of the lesson, Naomi handed the tiara to her mother and continued to practice. Almost immediately, the girl reverted to old habits. As mom and I watched, I jokingly told her to put the diadem back on Naomi’s head. I will be on vacation for a couple of weeks and left the tiara with Mom. When I emerged from the pro room ready to leave the building, Naomi was in the lobby adjusting her skate laces and wearing the crown again. I would not be surprised if she will wear it to bed every night.
* Names have been changed.
Mid to Late July 2009
Too Hot to Skate
I think that title has been used before but not in this context. I have been in Mexico again. You may be wondering why I go to Mexico so often especially when I constantly complain about money and lack students at the skating rink. Well, we bought a condo in Mexico when I had a full-time job. We are also mortgaged to the hilt. We had to evict our last tenant who stuck us with an electric bill for over 6000 pesos. It also appears our property manager may have been pocketing rent and blaming nonpayment on a previous tenant. We found a new property manager. As much as I love Mexico, it can be a PITA to do business there especially when you do not speak Spanish. That is another item on my list of things to do. It has been on the list for a few years and still remains untouched.
Anyway, I packed my brand new pair of inline speed skates and a pair of off-road inline skates. My suitcase barely passed the weight limit. Don’t get me started on what a PITA international travel and air travel in general has become. Being herded like cattle is not one of my favorite activities. Our condo is in a gated resort community that has beautiful smooth streets and a lovely undulating golf cart path that meanders through a gorgeous tropical setting. I’ve been to the west coast of Mexico in the summer before. It is hot and humid. Still, I hoped to do some skating in the morning. The speed skates are too small. Maybe I should have made that determination before loading them into my luggage. The plastic moon boots of the off-roads would have caused my miserable feet to suffocate.
My husband and I enjoyed sitting by the pool drinking coffee in the morning until it became too muggy or the mosquitoes came out to make breakfast of my pallid skin. My legs got so bad, Mexicans who could speak English offered me advice about mosquito repellants. It was embarrassing, but they were very thoughtful. Ultimately, I did not skate in Mexico. My husband stuffed the off-roads in his suitcase, and I put the speed skates in mine. My case was overweight on the way home, and the airport workers helped us swap things around. My bag finally registered an even fifty pounds on the scale. I bought 800 pesos (and almost ten pounds!) worth of inexpensive colorful fabric in a Mexican fabric shop. Half of it went in my carry-on. We always come home with more than we bring. Read: tequila, magazines and real estate brochures.
Now I need to unpack and send those speed skates back for a refund.
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