nerdy fitness freaks
G: On Thursday I had to take our
Scion in to Carmax Laurel to get the rear right window fixed. It
wouldn't go down - power windows. Izolda had the day off so we decided
to hang out together, she drove there too and after I dropped off the
car, we decided to hit some thrift stores near there. I didn't buy
much, and Izolda got a couple of things, but we had fun. Then we went
to the
Shops at Savage Mill
and wandered around. There is a fairly new game store, called, simply,
Family Game Store, that was
very nice. They were carrying all the Looneys' games and we chatted
with the owner for quite a while. They called my cell and said the car
was ready, but we looked for another store that Izolda remembered being
there before and found it -
Artcraft.
As their website says, they have the coolest crafts in the world. We
were walking around drooling and sighing at all the cool, beautiful
stuff, when I picked up a fairly innocent looking kaleidoscope, and
looked through. "Wow, take a look at this!" I probably said. Izolda
took a look, and a few more, and excitedly showed me different things
she was seeing, and it really was incredible. It was quite expensive
too, but she decided to buy it for herself for her birthday when I said
I'd pitch in for it. It has three holes you can look through, and if
you go
here
and click on the 6th kaleidoscope that looks green on the outside, and
run your mouse over the picture of what you see when you look through
it, you'll get a good idea of what this one looks like. I'm glad she
got it, I love looking through it too.
We went back to Carmax and Izolda waited for me because we were going
to go to lunch. The car is still under warranty so there was nothing to
pay, and I joked with the guy that I was going to check the window and
if it didn't work I was coming right back. He said he'd come out with
me to the car, and he did. I turned on the car and tried the window;
nothing happened. We were both surprised. He went back in and said the
mechanic didn't realize this was a return visit and thought the part
still needed to be ordered. They had my car for 2 1/2 hours and didn't
do anything! They got right to work on it and Izolda and I went to Ruby
Tuesday's - it's nearby and they have a salad bar. By the time we got
back the car was ready. After driving home I went over to Iz's and we
went for a brisk walk in the woods. It was a lovely day for it.
On Friday Thom called and said his kids wanted to see us. We didn't
have any other plans, but we left a bit late and went to dinner at
Veggie Garden and then went over there. They were watching a kid's
movie (The Rescuers Down Under) but we enjoyed it too. After we played
with the boys for a while, they went to bed and we watched another
movie with Thom (Kingdom of Heaven).
On Saturday we went to the Renn Fair ('cause we're
White and Nerdy).
Lori went too. We met Renee and Alex there, and wandered around and saw
Hilby. He was most excellent and
hilarious! We saw Izolda on her short break from reading Tarot cards
for people. RnA and Izolda met up with us at Red Robin after the Fair
was over for dinner, and we had a lovely time.
On Sunday we went running in the morning, rock climbing in the
afternoon, and to a cookout at Charles and Lisa's in the evening. So
that was a great, active, fun-filled day. I climbed a rock that had a
section that is rated 5.8! I'm glad we've started climbing again. I
hope we keep going. We're becoming fitness freaks again! WaaaaHoooo!
meta-metabolism
J:
The problem, as I see it, isn't that my metabolism "slows down" as I
age. This implies a vague extension of the knowledge that my activity
slows, my reactions slow, my speed slows, etc., as my aging body
methodically breaks down.
My metabolism, if anything, improves as I age. Over time our
bodies actually become more efficient at breaking down food and storing
the energy. This means that I burn about 150 fewer calories per day
than I did 20 years ago, if I'm just sitting around not doing much.
Unfortunately, if I really am sitting around all day not doing
much, my body is very efficiently storing the unused energy into fat
cells. But I can't really blame my metabolism for doing a better job,
and I certainly can't blame my metabolism for my weight gain. 150
calories is a pittance compared to the hundreds of extra food calories
I frivolously store every day, with little intent to convert the
potential energy into muscle or miles.
If the problem (getting bigger as I get older) only had to do with an
aging metabolism, it could be easily solved: I would eat 150 calories
less per day than I did twenty years ago. That's one small candy bar
less; no big deal. But I already eat much less than that. The real
problem—after much honest introspection—is that I am less active.
Twenty years ago I burned at least twice the energy I do now— I ran,
walked, climbed, lifted, stretched, and played. I didn't have to think
about exercise or schedule it in, it was simply a part of my life.
I'm hoping I can bring some of that younger personality back again.
When I watch children, I notice that they are in constant motion; they
make little physical games and challenges for themselves practically
every moment they are awake. It's that mentality, the play
mentality, that I'm searching for, and once I get a good hold of it I
intend to secure it deep within my spine. I will program myself to
exercise and play without consciously willing it. At least that's the
plan...
:-j
