The Importance of Play

Play energizes us and enlivens us. It eases our burdens. It renews our natural sense of optimism and opens us up to new possibilities.

Stuart Brown, MD
Contemporary American psychiatrist

Gidget thinks she needs to help Kennith drive!

This weekend I got to play.  I got to stand outside in the sun, watch my puppy romp around in the tall grass, stand in a creek in my boots, sludge through the mood, ride a four wheeler, and shoot my pistol.  My body aches, I tweaked my right shoulder splitting wood, and my shoulders look 98% lobster and 2% human but I played and I played hard.  Now, I totally get how chopping down trees and being eaten by giant Texas mosquitoes might not be everyone's idea of a good time, but for me it was just what the doctor ordered (minus the giant welts from mosquito bites in a place I shan't mention but sit on daily).  

I think that sometimes we are so intent upon a goal or getting through our daily lives that we forget to take a break and just play!  I know some of you are probably mumbling how working out is fun but come on even if I enjoy doing P90X it is not "fun" it is hard work and a necessity for me to reach my goal.  Take some time and give yourself a chance to go out and do something that you truly enjoy doing.  Maybe its playing with your kids, maybe its shopping (even if you can only window shop right now), check out a movie, or share a drink ~preferable a low calorie one ~ with friends!  Cut loose!  Give yourself some credit for working your hind end off...literally :)

Checking out the other shoppers at Academy

One thing you should remember though is that food isn't a reward and you don't have to blow all of your hard work on your play date!  Yesterday I had my cereal before we left home so when my husband stopped at Sonic and we were met by my brother and sister-in-law I didn't feel the need to scarf down a breakfast burrito!  Then I made sure I brought a variety of 100 calorie snacks with me in case I got hungry and boy were those Fruity Cheerios yummy!  Then at lunch on the way back to Sonic I stopped by Subway and got me a 6in Turkey Breast on Wheat sandwich and wasn't even that jealous of the Oreo Blast my brother-in-law was enjoying.  (Because I knew how many of those little demon calories were lurking in that little foam cup waiting to latch onto my currently shrinking hips!!)  And Lord bless the creators of Coke Zero!  I don't know what I would do without that vice!!! (takes sip)  So don't think that you can't let yourself go for a few hours because you might kill all of that hard work you have done throughout the week!  Go into it prepared and don't give yourself the opportunity to make a bad decision - trust me battling it out with your cravings can be tough but that pride that comes when you win is a pretty darn good feeling! 

In my grunge attire ready to play outside!

So in addition to playing yesterday I also got to wear my new "toy" the Body Media Fit CORE armband.  Guys... this thing is so freaking AWESOME!!!  One, I can barely even tell I'm wearing anything which is pretty amazing in itself but two, as a visual learner, this device is perfect for me!  So I wore it all day yesterday and to be completely honest I worked my butt off trying to burn enough calories that I didn't have to go home and do Kenpo X.  I know, I know, that's cheating but I actually burned over the amount of calories I was supposed too so I guess this time I passed.  Okay so I took it off last night and synced it to my computer and then input the food I had eaten and not only did it come back with a bar graph of my total results it breaks each category up and gives me a graph for each one.  

So Cute!  He never wears a baseball cap!

For example, I did 1:44minutes of exercise yesterday.  It also tells me that I did most of that exercise between the hours of 4pm and 6pm which is when I was cutting down trees at my in-laws house.   It also breaks down how many hours you actually sleep, not only how many steps you took, but when you take most of them, and when you burned the most calories.  I am so impressed and happy with this purchase!  I think it is going to be a great tool over the next several months!  I have posted my results on Facebook if you want to check them out!

Alright so enough gushing about the armband!  Tonight starts my fourth week of P90X and a change in workout plans.  Instead of Shoulders and Back tonight it is Yoga X!  Hopefully I will have a lot more coordination and balance this go round and won't get stuck in the plow position!  I have also decided that if I am delusional enough to try the Crane I will first make sure my coffee table is not within six feet of my face!  I'm also trying to convince my sister-in-law to try it out with me but she is adamant she isn't going to do it... you know who I'm talking about...you should just give in and show up!!  (I'm not above begging, brow beating, threatening, or bribing... just saying)  

Enough out of me for now!  What do you like to do for fun?  How are you going to treat yourself this week even if its just a hot shower or bubble bath!  Don't feel the need to reward yourself with food!  Think outside the box and come up with some new incentives or ideas to not only congratulate yourself for a job well done but also to give yourself a much needed break from the necessary things we do everyday!  Talk to you guys soon!

Oh and an update on the medication situation!  I have a new prescription and it seems to not fill me with a primal rage to massacre anyone within a 15ft radius!!  So happy about this!  Now I can leave the apartment without worrying about 25years to Life!!!

Rocking the Armband and Shooting my Ruger!

 Don't forget I'm on FB and at Texas_Ginger23@yahoo.com.  If you want to join my FB I'm under Sarah Michelle Rose-Greenmyer!  Just let me know you follow the blog so I won't think you are some kind of crazy stalker!  :)