ARMed and Dangerous

I toyed with calling this post Excuses Excuses, but more than anything, this is a post about my arm.

YOU: A post about your arm? What? Has she is already lost it on Post #4 before she’s even really started?!

BB30: Bear with me...and my arm.

There is always a way to talk ourselves out of doing something we don’t want to do or are scared to do (or have been wanting to do for most of your life but haven't!!). I am currently battling a bit of an injury that I must not let get in my way and become a roadblock to fitness.

I know that office-life is not for me. Some thrive in it and love it. For me as an artist, it’s really toxic. It depletes me emotionally, and now I am experiencing a physical toll. Long story short, too many hours at my desk in improper positioning has resulted in a neck sprain effecting my dominate arm. To my surprise this has even involved x-rays and physical therapy, so I implore all of you to practice good working posture!!

I actually received this picture at work.

Anywho, what better reason to tell myself I can’t work out and lift weights. There is also an emotional element. Being hurt has made me a bit blue. It’s frustrating to be in pain and not be able to do some simple things like reach up for a spice while cooking dinner, lift the garage door, or even reach back to put on my coat. The physical therapist says I can begin lifting light weights again in a week or two. There are also plenty of exercises I can do until my arm heals up fully like cardio (walking, jogging, elliptical without arms) and even crunches. My PT exercises are also good for me in general, so I can heal and get fit at the same time. I have to refuse to let it be an excuse not to make headway.

What excuses do you tell yourself?

T-Minus One Week

A mere one week from today my 365 day journey to Fit Town will officially begin. I am nervous and excited. Just today I commented to my other half that it will be so nice to actually be strong and be able to lift things and carry grocery loads all on my own. Seriously friends, I am super weak, especially with upper body strength (more later on why this is an especially difficult challenge).

I will definitely not make the mistake of using the week to come as some kind of over indulgent last rites kind of week (easier said than done), but rather I hope to make an official plan and set some goals for Month One.

Flux Cap-ASS-itor

Yes, I am a huge Back to the Future fan. It is my favorite movie, but I digress.

I am a fluxuator and must mind my food intake. Do you ever feel like you have no metabolism? I know this is scientifically impossible, but I definitely feel this way sometimes. You know, the feeling that if you look at those nachos the wrong way they may attach themselves to your gut. So I am a Fluxuating Warrior.

My favorite weight management method that has proven the most effective all of these years is oldie but goodie: Eat less, move more. I pride myself of finding healthier alternatives to rich foods so I do not feel deprived (and knowing when it’s okay to indulge). So I feel like I have a pretty good handle on basic nutrition (although I plan to learn much more). For me, it’s the exercise factor-The move more part of the equation that I struggle with. After a long day of day job-dom, it is hard to find the motivation to put on those work out clothes and jump on the elliptical (even though I own one-now how lazy is that?!) Summer is easier since being outside makes me feel great, but I have some more days of chilly-ness in my neck of the woods, so I am continuously searching for motivation to move more. As I start back on the road to consistent exercise I know that any extra moving is good moving. My initial thoughts are to try a different activity each week to combat boredom. I love dancing-the Fitness Channel has fun dance choices on demand. I also have enjoyed the Dancing With the Stars dance dvd. So, as I gear up to start my year’s journey into fitness and create my figurative agenda I know I would like to explore many non-traditional methods of exercise!

The Skinny. (Pun intended.)

I must admit, I am a bit of a novice to this whole concept, my bloglife consisting of about five blogs I read on a regular basis.

Why blog?

Need for Creative Outlet: As an actor stuck in office day job-dom who is recently married and thus coming back from a hiatus, I am creatively starved. The audition pool is a little dry at the moment, and I am longing for something creative to do. Personal journaling isn’t my thing (although great for others, it evokes way too much "emo-ness", negativity, and unhealthy sad poems from me), but gabbing, talking about this and that, and sharing positives is definitely more my cup of tea. (Tadin Orange Green tea to be exact.)

Cause everyone else is doin’ it: Not really, but I do have some pals who have their own blogs and found satisfaction with doing it.

Supply and Demand: My favorite bloggers can’t keep up with my addiction to read their next posts, so I decided-why not just write my own.

BECAUSE I AM SCARED: Perhaps the most important reason to blog (or do anything). With blogging comes cyber-meanies and the inevitable negative people who will be hurtful and attempt to put a damper on my good intentions. This makes me apprehensive, and thus all the more reason to put myself out there and face them. This is a place for encouragement, support and being positive, so Negative Neds and Nancies I kindly invite you leave your mean-ness at the door.

Why a bikini by 30?
I have never worn one. I was an obese child (75 lbs in kindergarten) which has resulted in a lifelong physical struggle. I am at a healthy weight now, but I am at the very high end of being within my BMI (that means almost over weight). I was recently inspired by Valerie Bertinelli’s People Magazine cover where she was sporting a bikini at 50 and thought, "If Valerie is old enough to be my mom and can do it, I can do it." (Also, one of my favorite people, Rachael Ray, is now challenging herself as well.) I had been seeking a central theme for a personal blog, and this subject really struck a chord. With my birthday approaching (shout out to all you fellow Tauruses), I thought this would be a wonderful way to begin a blog and keep me accountable as I work my way to a bikini body.

You: But BB30, women are beautiful in all different shapes and sizes, aren’t you feeding into a horrible social stereotype of beauty?
Me: Hear me out, friend.

My reasons for this goal are manifold:
1. The main goal is to be fit. I am currently not fit. The title of this post is of course a fun pun. The goal is not for size 2-dom or any certain number but being fit (although I may give the occasional measurements post to show my results.) Any fit person can wear a bikini with confidence regardless of size. Think about how smokin' Gabriele Reese is vs. a scrawny model.

2. Knowing that this goal is out there in cyberland makes me accountable. Even if only one other person ever reads it, then I become much more accountable.

3. I want to do it for me and no one else. (This is very important.)

While the ultimate goal of sporting a bikini by the age of 30 is the central theme here and I will mostly be discussing my journey with health and fitness (exercise, food, vitamins, etc) I know I will discuss other things such as what I may be reading at the moment or what I thought of a movie. At first I thought maybe I should strategically plan a format before officially starting, but then I thought, "hey this is my blog, I can do whatever I want." So let’s see where the road takes us....

The Challenge!

I am here to make a personal and cyber-public challenge to myself: I will sport a bikini by age 30. There, I’ve said it. (Smacks self with white fringey gauntlet and throws it to the ground.) In one year’s time I will get fit, shape up and become bikini ready for the first time in my life. My 29th birthday is just around the corner. Hop aboard if you’d like to come for the ride. No negativity allowed!