Will This Involve Sweating?
June 15th, 2007 by FiddledeedeeThe phone rang. It was my SIL and partner in crime, Trish. “I got on the scales this morning.” “And?” I prompt her. Then she says those dreaded words, “We’re going to start walking.” “C-r-a-p,” I cover the phone, reaching into my wallet for the quarter that I must now plunk into the cuss jar.
It was inevitable. Since I’ve been involved with Tales From The Scales, and have started eating all healthy blah-blah-blah, the next step is exercise. And the one time that I got on my treadmill in the last 3 weeks really doesn’t count. Because I kept getting off of it to sip my coffee. Evidently I can’t walk and sip and the same time. I’ve tried it. I lose my balance and my treadmill catapults me into the garage door. While hurricane proof, it still dents. Who knew.
The plan was hatched. We would walk 3 times a week. At the park. With all of our children. Just the preparation is killing me, people. I have to load and unload 3 kids, two bikes, two helmets, a tire pump, one stroller, two pairs of roller skates, Jensen’s backpack, and a snack bag. And all that is before I even begin walking the 17 miles that she has planned. And by the way, Trish lied. She doesn’t walk. She sprints. All of the women in my husband’s family have long antelope legs. It is like keeping pace with a freaking gazelle. While pushing 38 pounds of Jensen in the stroller filled with the backpack, food bag, skates, assorted toys, and yes, my coffee drink. Which I have to come to a full and complete stop in order to take a sip from. Or I could easily end up face down in the soccer field.
Now, to be fair, Trish is laden down with similar crap cargo. Her 3 kids are the same age as mine, so she has also loaded and unloaded two bikes, a stroller, food bag, and toys. BUT WHY ISN’T SHE SWEATING? I’ll tell you why, she’s younger. And in much better shape. She actually ENJOYS this torture, I think.
The kids are having a ball, racing around on their assortment of wheels. Like little energizer bunnies. But, I notice my Cailey often lagging behind. Complaining loudly about how tired she is and can’t ride her bike with the training wheels ONE MORE SECOND, because she might faint. But the sounds of her misery are muffled by my own personal list of grievances. On Wednesday, during our 32 mile “stroll”, Trish threatened to separate Cailey and me. Both mother and daughter are cut from the same dainty cloth. I told Cailey I would gladly trade with her. She pushes Jensen, and I ride the pink princess bike with the training wheels. With a sideways glance from her flushed face, she says, “I don’t think so Mom.”
Finally, after 43 miles, we reached the pinnacle of our journey. The Playground. A child’s paradise. There are swings, slides, climbing thingys, bouncy cars, a teeter totter, and a nice cool sidewalk for me to lay down on. For about 5 seconds. Then I have to release Jensen from the confines of his stroller so that he can assault all of nature. While I dutifully give chase.
We’re scheduled to go again tomorrow. I can’t wait. I’m oh so very thankful that extra strength Tylenol comes in an industrial size bottle. And who knows, I may throw caution to the wind and dig out my own pair of roller skates from the bowels of my closet. Then we’ll see who keeps up with whom!
And I’ll have Saturday and Sunday to recover. In traction.
Have a wonderful weekend everyone!
Posted in My Life as I See It, Tales From The Scales | 30 Comments »
June 15th, 2007 at 1:12 am
tee hee….You are so me! I love your writing. I am never disappointed to click on your blog. Thanks for the smile!
June 15th, 2007 at 5:08 am
ROFL! This has been my experience nearly every Tuesday and Friday morning since the May Day challenge started! And, I’m walking with 2-4 other moms who each have 1-3 kids! LOL We’re quite a menagerie coming at someone on the walking path full of single and double strollers, tricycles, bicycles, wagons, and scooters! *wink* And, the playground time afterwards is equally chaotic as our kids range from infants to 8 years old! LOL
Hang in there!
June 15th, 2007 at 5:48 am
I love the post. Brings back memories of me and mom going to the park to walk when school was out. She’d get me up and we’d have to get over there about 7:30am. While she walked the entire track, many times I’d cut corners and beat her to the other side and sit down. Then we’d scoot across the street to Hardees to get a sausage biscuit. The only difference was it was just her and me… She and I……I guess to be correct.
Anyway, I love the post, especially when I see how your numbers go up the further you go!!
June 15th, 2007 at 5:58 am
I am so impressed that you still make the effort, even with all the planning and wheels involved! Way to go, girl! Even though my treadmill is in my nice, cool basement AND parked in front of the TV, it hardly sees me. I know it misses me because I can hear it calling out now and then. I just yell back, “Quit your complaining!! And yes I DO STILL SEE YOU… sometimes… when I come down to watch TV!” =(
June 15th, 2007 at 6:24 am
Uggggggggghhhhhhhh. My “partner in crime” had roped me into walking 4x a week, and we get up to do it at 6am so we can go sans kids. It’s a’killin’ me, I tell ya! I wish I could tell you it gets easier, but…
June 15th, 2007 at 7:05 am
Now all you need is a dog to take to the park! Maybe the dog could pull you while you are on the rollerblades ;o)
June 15th, 2007 at 7:08 am
You always crack me up! I started a running class about 3 months ago. I have NEVER been a runner for longer than 5 seconds at a time. But, I kept at it. And, it actually is getting easier. Now, it isn’t easy, at all. But it is easier than when I started, and I ran a 5K a few weeks ago and ran the entire time. And, now don’t hate me for saying this, I kind of like it. It makes me feel good…those endorphins are good stuff! I am not saying all of this to brag on myself, because trust me I have whined about the heat or my sweat or my non-working lungs the whole time, I am telling you this to tell you that you can do it!!! Have a wonderful Friday!
June 15th, 2007 at 7:11 am
I Heeeeeeeeeeear ya, sister! Hang in there. It might actually take root like mine did 26 years ago. I did a post on this obsession, sort of, Wed I think. Happy trails!!
June 15th, 2007 at 7:45 am
Do not give in to the temptation of the roller skates. Can you imagine how hard it would be to be a mama to 3 while laid up with broken appendages?
On second thought, it might be like a mini-vacation.
Happy walking!
June 15th, 2007 at 8:02 am
HA!!! The visual. The visual! It’s too much. I still keep trying to find the time (w/out kids) to do some walking but I’m stuck with the dancing.
June 15th, 2007 at 8:12 am
Yeah, I’ve been trying to walk our neighborhood (and I’m convinced that the road is uphill both ways) three times a week. So far this week, it’s been once. And today’s Friday. Oh well. But I totally agree with you on all the stinkin’ prep work it takes to go anywhere. It’s enough to make me quit before I start.
June 15th, 2007 at 8:13 am
I have a friend like that, who’s goal in life is to get my muscles to ache. I just might have to start a savings program like yours…a cuss jar. Something to consider. Maybe so I can really make money I’ll expand it to rotten thoughts jar…
June 15th, 2007 at 8:25 am
I love your posts!!!! YOu always make me smile..Have fun walking
June 15th, 2007 at 9:09 am
Hysterical! Yeah, I’m still in the “thinking about it” exercise stage…
June 15th, 2007 at 9:25 am
Oh, so “the ‘c’ word” is cuss-jar material? My DH granted an exclusion for that word. Probably because it’s the only one he uses, therefore the cuss-jar has been filled entirely by my oldest son and me.
Check out this cuss jar, if you haven’t seen it already: http://www.chewymom.com/?p=946
Just one question about the skating idea…how do you plan to manage your coffee on wheels?
June 15th, 2007 at 10:05 am
You are too funny. Enjoy your walks!
June 15th, 2007 at 10:20 am
I wish I had a partner in crime to motivate/harass me into exercising. ‘Cause heaven knows I’m doing a poor job of getting my rear off the couch by myself!
June 15th, 2007 at 11:19 am
Funny!!!! I loved the part about laying down on the sidewalk best because that is ALWAYS how I feel after having done any kind of excercise, and have actually come *this close* to doing it a time or two.
June 15th, 2007 at 11:24 am
Too cute. You are braver than me. Who cares who is older than who. Exercise is just plain dangerous.
I must be cut from even dainter cloth than you. LOL
My daughter told me while climbing Pinnacle Mountain (more of a glorified rocky Ozark hill that takes an hour to get to the top)… “This was ambitious.” She has the vocabulary to really make me wish I had never homeschooled her when we try and make her get out and enjoy the outdoors.
She turns red and sweaty, starts complaining that I am trying to kill her, and eventually ends up just sitting down in protest. Ha! Like mother, like daughter.
If I lived near you, I would just hang out with you on your porch drinking coffee…
Although, I don’t know if that would really help your weight-loss cause. I’m pretty sure that it is why I haven’t lost more than one pound since mid-January! 
June 15th, 2007 at 11:40 am
And who knows, I may throw caution to the wind and dig out my own pair of roller skates from the bowels of my closet.
Ummm…there might be a reason those roller skates are in the bowels….of your closet, that is:-)
June 15th, 2007 at 11:42 am
I had a little one who thought it was funny to walk up behind people in the store and pat them on the bottom…she rode in the cart til she was over that spell…
June 15th, 2007 at 3:10 pm
I think after all the prep just to do this, I say to heck with the walk and call it good. What you do to get ready for this walk is more exercise than I get in six months. LOL
June 15th, 2007 at 3:23 pm
The things we do! I just finished a six week bootcamp and decided that I’d rather give up food than have to run anywhere ever again….oh.my.word. But that lasted only until my hubbie waved chocolate under my nose and now I don’t know what I’m gonna do.
June 15th, 2007 at 4:41 pm
For a minute you inspired me to exercise. Good thing the floor was handy, I laid down until the thought passed.
June 15th, 2007 at 6:00 pm
So much easier just to do the treadmill thing. Even if you do have to get off of it to drink your coffee. Can’t you put coffee into one of those water bottles with the suck spout?
I would gain back every ounce without my treadmill.
June 15th, 2007 at 6:20 pm
i went on a hike with my 3 kids sort of accidentally (we didn’t know it was going to be that long or that hot) and i was panting and having to tote my 2 year old because “i so tired mommy,” kept breaking my heart. but at the end there was a playground and when i asked if they were too tired to play they shouted “No!” amazing what a slide and some swings can do to their energy levels.
June 15th, 2007 at 11:16 pm
Oh, that darned “Tales from the Scales”!! I’m tired just reading this post…
June 16th, 2007 at 1:05 am
Thanks for making me smile.
June 16th, 2007 at 12:30 pm
You are too funny. Thanks for making laugh out loud today.
June 18th, 2007 at 6:49 am
Can you tell I’m catching up with your blog? Read-comment. Read-comment.
FYI-Advil Liquigels. Much better than Tylenol after a 43 mile hike.