"Success is not built on success. It's built on failure. It's built on frustration. Sometimes its built on catastrophe." - Sumner Redstone
It's been a while since I talked about my training at Jo Dumont Fitness Training (http://www.jodumontfitnesstraining.com/). I started with Jo on July 7, 2010, and have been I think a pretty consistent feature in the gym since then.
My Monday includes a personal training session with Jo and let me tell you, she is worth every penny and to be truthful, it's not even that many pennies for what you get out of the workout. For that hour, you get Jo Dumont's undivided attention in a private space. The workouts are harder, and she is more demanding about how you do the exercises. For me, however, it's not just about the exercise, it's about having that one on one support and sometimes, even that one on one laughing that comes with finding out just how uncoordinated I am!
I have also continued to attend circuit classes, hard core classes, running classes and most recently, a flex class which featured cardio kick-boxing. Completely different from the kick-boxing style that I am used to, cardio kick-boxing also provides a mental workout which tells me that at 37 years old I still don't know my left from my right.
What is never missing from my gym experience, is the feeling of community that you get when you walk in the door. Everyone you meet is welcoming and ready to help. There are people in the gym that I feel like I've known forever, even if it's only been 70 days.
You should come and check out JDFT, you'll be glad that you did.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
September 14, 2010
"Sometimes it's the smallest decisions that can change your life forever." - Keri Russell
Dear Reader:
I feel compelled to apologize for the chaos which I have called my life for the last 9 days. It is this chaos that has prevented me from being diligent in my posts. Somewhere between work, Grade 1 starting up, and working out, I don't think I've stood still. So for those of you that so often frequent my blog and comment, I thank you and give you my word that I will try harder to post more reliably.
So, for those of you who don't know. I have been estranged from my family for one year and three months. For the record, the decision to cut ties to one's family is not something that I encourage and it took a lot for me to finally decide that enough was enough.
I grew up in a Norman Rockwell painting, until I reached the age of 12. You see, I have an older brother that got into a lot of trouble at school and otherwise - but oddly enough, he was always the golden child in our family. My brother also had the gift of being the only grandson to my grandfather and the first born in our family, which just made him untouchable. I honestly think that he was the original 'Teflon Don" because nothing ever stuck to him. There were a lot of events leading up to my decision to be "done" with my family. They are tales far too long to bore you all here, but if you ever feel like hearing them, come have a coffee with me.
What I do want to share with you, however, is how this decision, however large or small, made such an impact in my life. After 37 years, I can finally breathe without worrying that I am being pleasing or displeasing, I don't need to worry whether or not I am successful in their eyes or that I make the proud. No more competing with the perfect child. (insert exhale here).
Of course this also changes my own parenting philosophy. I only have one child, I never wanted more than one (unless it was a boy and then I'd have to try again). But with my daughter I am unapologetic for her independence and free spirit. We are team, she and I, and we work well together. She has every bit of my love and there is nothing that I won't do for her. I don't measure her against any standard or any other child, she simply is my little girl as perfect as she can be. Perfect for me.
Now I know that none of us are perfect, and I don't hold my daughter in an ivory tower. We are fallable, her and I, but it's how we move through this life together that makes her such a perfect fit for me.
It makes me wonder what she'll say in 31 years....
Dear Reader:
I feel compelled to apologize for the chaos which I have called my life for the last 9 days. It is this chaos that has prevented me from being diligent in my posts. Somewhere between work, Grade 1 starting up, and working out, I don't think I've stood still. So for those of you that so often frequent my blog and comment, I thank you and give you my word that I will try harder to post more reliably.
So, for those of you who don't know. I have been estranged from my family for one year and three months. For the record, the decision to cut ties to one's family is not something that I encourage and it took a lot for me to finally decide that enough was enough.
I grew up in a Norman Rockwell painting, until I reached the age of 12. You see, I have an older brother that got into a lot of trouble at school and otherwise - but oddly enough, he was always the golden child in our family. My brother also had the gift of being the only grandson to my grandfather and the first born in our family, which just made him untouchable. I honestly think that he was the original 'Teflon Don" because nothing ever stuck to him. There were a lot of events leading up to my decision to be "done" with my family. They are tales far too long to bore you all here, but if you ever feel like hearing them, come have a coffee with me.
What I do want to share with you, however, is how this decision, however large or small, made such an impact in my life. After 37 years, I can finally breathe without worrying that I am being pleasing or displeasing, I don't need to worry whether or not I am successful in their eyes or that I make the proud. No more competing with the perfect child. (insert exhale here).
Of course this also changes my own parenting philosophy. I only have one child, I never wanted more than one (unless it was a boy and then I'd have to try again). But with my daughter I am unapologetic for her independence and free spirit. We are team, she and I, and we work well together. She has every bit of my love and there is nothing that I won't do for her. I don't measure her against any standard or any other child, she simply is my little girl as perfect as she can be. Perfect for me.
Now I know that none of us are perfect, and I don't hold my daughter in an ivory tower. We are fallable, her and I, but it's how we move through this life together that makes her such a perfect fit for me.
It makes me wonder what she'll say in 31 years....
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Saturday, September 4, 2010
"Learn the art of patience. Apply discipline to your thoughts when they become anxious over the outcome of a goal. Impatience breeds anxiety, fear, discouragement and failure. Patience creates confidence, decisiveness. and a rational outlook, which eventually leads to success." - Brian Adams
I have had so much in my head the last couple of days. That sort of "full-brain" feeling you get when you have too much inside and not place to really let it out? So, I apologize if today's blog is a lot like diarrhea - never ending and not very pleasant.
I did interval running the other day - this comes on the heels of telling Jo that I need to work harder to lose weight. As I've mentioned, I trust Jo completely and have given my body and what mind I still have left, to Jo for the purposes of turning my body into the machine that it was made for. So, when Jo says "Shelley needs to do intervals," that's what Shelley does - and the only thing I learned about intervals is that I hate them, and I need to do more of them.
It was during these runs that Amanda asked me about what was in my bucket list. I had no idea what a bucket list was. Apparently, a bucket list is a list of things you do before you "kick the bucket". (nice). Interestingly enough, I had actually made a list of 50 things to do before I died, I just didn't know that there was an official urban name for such a compilation.
I wrote this list when I was 17 years old. For you mathletes, that was 20 years ago. Why don't we see how I have made out with my "bucket list"
I have had so much in my head the last couple of days. That sort of "full-brain" feeling you get when you have too much inside and not place to really let it out? So, I apologize if today's blog is a lot like diarrhea - never ending and not very pleasant.
I did interval running the other day - this comes on the heels of telling Jo that I need to work harder to lose weight. As I've mentioned, I trust Jo completely and have given my body and what mind I still have left, to Jo for the purposes of turning my body into the machine that it was made for. So, when Jo says "Shelley needs to do intervals," that's what Shelley does - and the only thing I learned about intervals is that I hate them, and I need to do more of them.
It was during these runs that Amanda asked me about what was in my bucket list. I had no idea what a bucket list was. Apparently, a bucket list is a list of things you do before you "kick the bucket". (nice). Interestingly enough, I had actually made a list of 50 things to do before I died, I just didn't know that there was an official urban name for such a compilation.
I wrote this list when I was 17 years old. For you mathletes, that was 20 years ago. Why don't we see how I have made out with my "bucket list"
- Finish university - I never completed university. After drinking my way through the first month of post-secondary education I came to the realization that I wasn't ready to be in university (mental note: remember to tell others that if you aren't ready to go to university, don't go.) For ther record, I did go back and get my diploma in Business Admin, which has served me well.
- Get Married Before I'm 25 - I was married 9 months before my 25th birthday.
- Have 2 Children Before I'm 30 - I had my first and only child at age 30.
- Live on an Island - I lived on Grand Cayman Island for 6 months when I was 20.
- Learn to Scuba Dive - I am a PADI certified diver (oops, expired now)
- Become a Fighter Pilot - God bless Tom Cruise in Top Gun, but I am not a figther pilot.
- Drive a Formula 1 Race Car - There's still time while I still have my driver's licence.
- Date Someone Famous - I dated Eric Flaim, world champion speedskater from the US Olympic Team, Gizmo Williams - Edmonton Eskimo's Fame (hey, he used to be hot), and JR Phillips and very yummy first baseman for the SanFransciso Giants.
- Don't Die a Virgin - see #3 to know that I had sex at least once.
- Play an Organized Sport - I have played soccer, slo-pitch, and became a competitive kick-boxer.
- Travel to Africa - trip still pending.
- Back Pack Across Europe - really? do I still want to do this?
- Work in Australia for a year - missed the mark there, not sure that I can actually work in Australia now.
- Act in a Movie - While I didn't get to act in a movie, my dog broke his leash and together we ran into the set of "Viper" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viper_(TV_series)) which was being filmed in downtown Calgary.
- Write a Novel - subject matter still pending. I'm not sure the memoirs of Shelley classify as a book, but I've met a lot of people in my life who have said "Hey, you should write a book"
- Leave this Small Town - I basically left this small town, traded it for city life and then realized that I liked small town life without "living" in it.
- Be a Contestant on a Game Show - I'll take "Game shows that Suck Ass" for $200 Alex. (maybe next time I'll get out of the qualifying rounds).
- Watch an MLB Baseball Game in Every Stadium - I watched the Blue Jays play the Texas Rangers on August 27, 1997. In Toronto.
- Watch an NHL Hockey Game in Every Arena - I have seen hockey games in Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver and Phoenix.
- Go to a Live Car Racing Event - I watched the Vancouver Indy in 1998. Richie Hearn may have been the cutest, kindest, worst driver ever. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richie_Hearn)
- Be the Lead Singer in a Band - Sadly, I don't think fronting as Joan Jett and the Blackhearts in a Karaoke version of "I Love Rock and Roll" counts.
- Get a Tattoo - I have a butterfly on my wrist - more to come.
- Dye my Hair - I haven't seen my natural hair color since 1997.
- Make out with a Woman - since I was unable to define what this meant 20 years ago, I am unable to actually comment on whether or not I was successful.
- Ride an Elephant - Shrine Circus, circa 1994.
- Swim with Dolphins - June 26,. 2010.
- Have Sex in a Public Place - while this was accomplished sometime around 1992, I would like to point out that this behavior actually disgusts me a great deal now.
- Have Sex Somewhere Illegal - remembering that I wrote this at 17, I had no idea that number 27 and number 28 were actually the same. That said, I can say with some authority that while not a public place, sex in a Huey on a military base south of the border is somewhere illegal.
- Own a Car - I didn't own my first car until I was 24 years old.
- Meet a Political Figure - Ralph Klein was really more of a pear-shape.
- Meet a Sports Figure - Rich Franklin, Jason McDonald, Richie Hearn, Greg Moore, Stuart Hendley, Mark Tewksbury, Darren Warden, Curt Harnett, Keyvan Jenkins, Eric Lindros, Joe Juneau, Melissa Hollingsworth, Linda Blair, Dan Henderson, Will "The Thrill" Johnson (not such a thrill) Pee-Wee Smith, George Gurgel, Eric Flaim, Lynk Gates, Kevin Lowe, Wayne Gretzky, Kurt Browning, Dave Snuggerud, Doug Flutie, Jeff Garcia, Herm Harrison, and of course, JR Phillps.
- Meet a Movie/Film Star - Jason Priestly, Chad Michael Murray, Brian Austin Green, Kevin Costner, Criss Angel.
- Meet a Famous Singer/Songwriter - The Band "Helix", the Band "Platinum Blonde", Bon Jovi, Rob Thomas (Matchbox 20). Bryan Adams, Justin Timberlake (jury is still out on that one, can I trust a drunk stranger in Vegas?), Mark Anthony, Jennifer Lopez, the boys from Calle.
- Adopt a Foster Child - it's never too late, right?
- Take Up the Drums - It is much too late for that.
- Climb Mt. Everest - yeah, right.
- Start a Charity - maybe someday.
- See an Aztec Temple - not yet.
- Invent Something - anything
- Become a Teacher - nope.
- Throw out the First Pitch at a MLB Game - sang O Canada at a Triple A Game
- Make My Parents Proud - I don't know if that's ever attainable (that's a different day, different blog)
- Be Very Rich - while I'm sure that at 17 I meant money, I have come to appreciate that richness comes in many different forms. (I suppose that's what everyone who isn't filthy rich says).
- Become cool - do we ever get to be cool?
- Become a Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader - What was I thinking?
- Marry Someone Famous - I may have had enough brushes with famous to know I wouldn't have chosen any differently than I did for myself.
- Grow Breasts - Success!
- Become Pretty - I really hated how I looked at 17.
- Forgive Nicky D For Being Such a Bitch - Now that Nicky D is Nicky T, I can affirm that once a bitch, always a bitch and there's not much there to forgive. Apparently 19 years out of high school doesn't change much.
- Be Someone People Want to Be With....
Friday, September 3, 2010
"Do not let your fire go out, spark by irreplaceable spark, in the hopeless swamps of the approximate, the not-quite, the not-yet, the not-at-all. Do not let the hero in your soul perish, in lonely frustration for the life you deserved, but have never been able to reach. Check your road and the nature of your battle. The world you desired can be won. It exists, it is real, it is possible, it is yours" - Ayn Rand
It's not very often that I write with a specific person in mind. But today, if not by some request, I am writing a blog of retraction. Amanda (and you know who you are - and if you don't, it's not Amanda that I run with, but Amanda who needs to run with me) this one's for you.
Running sucks. I maintain my stance on this. The concept of running in one direction to turn around and run back still baffles me in logic alone. But here is why, despite my ridiculous dislike for running, I continue to hit the pavement.
Running actually works. There is actual physical success that comes from running. I will clarify to say that running is not my drug of choice (I think that's why god invented Malibu Rum (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malibu_Rum). I am never going to be the girl that gets excited at the thought of entering a race, or goes out for 36km runs every second day. That's just not me and maybe it's not you either, but that's okay - I am here to tell you that we don't need to be that person. We just need to commit to going out one or two days a week to get our "cardio on".
Since starting with JDFT I have run at least 10 times - scary, I know. The part that is even scarier, is that I have chosen to seek out Amanda (who is in charge of the running class), to ask her to run with me on days that aren't scheduled classes. In doing these runs, here is what I have accomplished:
1. I can now run 8km.
2. I can run for 10 minutes at a time (15 on my treadmill)
3. My cardio is vastly improved.
4. My ass is starting to look amazing.
5. My legs are starting to show visible muscle.
And those are only five reasons that I can come up with right now that tells me that despite not liking something, running is actually good for me. (I'm pretty sure someone told me that about Brussels sprouts - once).
So, Amanda, in writing my retraction/not retraction. I still don't like running, I don't get it, and sometimes my motivation to go is in the toilet, but I'm doing it, gratefully, because I sense there is some success behind it.
With that in mind, I am going to issue my first ever JDFT Challenge: "Amanda, I challenge you to run with me three times in the next two months."
It's not very often that I write with a specific person in mind. But today, if not by some request, I am writing a blog of retraction. Amanda (and you know who you are - and if you don't, it's not Amanda that I run with, but Amanda who needs to run with me) this one's for you.
Running sucks. I maintain my stance on this. The concept of running in one direction to turn around and run back still baffles me in logic alone. But here is why, despite my ridiculous dislike for running, I continue to hit the pavement.
Running actually works. There is actual physical success that comes from running. I will clarify to say that running is not my drug of choice (I think that's why god invented Malibu Rum (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malibu_Rum). I am never going to be the girl that gets excited at the thought of entering a race, or goes out for 36km runs every second day. That's just not me and maybe it's not you either, but that's okay - I am here to tell you that we don't need to be that person. We just need to commit to going out one or two days a week to get our "cardio on".
Since starting with JDFT I have run at least 10 times - scary, I know. The part that is even scarier, is that I have chosen to seek out Amanda (who is in charge of the running class), to ask her to run with me on days that aren't scheduled classes. In doing these runs, here is what I have accomplished:
1. I can now run 8km.
2. I can run for 10 minutes at a time (15 on my treadmill)
3. My cardio is vastly improved.
4. My ass is starting to look amazing.
5. My legs are starting to show visible muscle.
And those are only five reasons that I can come up with right now that tells me that despite not liking something, running is actually good for me. (I'm pretty sure someone told me that about Brussels sprouts - once).
So, Amanda, in writing my retraction/not retraction. I still don't like running, I don't get it, and sometimes my motivation to go is in the toilet, but I'm doing it, gratefully, because I sense there is some success behind it.
With that in mind, I am going to issue my first ever JDFT Challenge: "Amanda, I challenge you to run with me three times in the next two months."
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Thursday, September 2, 2010
“The size of your success is measured by the strength of your desire; the size of your dream; and how you handle disappointment along the way.” - Robert Kiyosaki
It is now official. There is no apparent medical reason for my weight gain. Despite placing all of my proverbial eggs in this basket it is now clear that the only solution is to work harder than I have been working to lose the weight that I want to lose.
This is disappointing in a way - not that I am looking for the "quick fix", but it would have maybe been hopeful to discover that there was a reason that I continued to gain weight, despite working out no less than 4 times a week for the last two months - which I will point out has already exceeded any record of consistently working out that I have ever held (save for cheerleading of course, but even that was only 2 days a week plus games).
Nonetheless, work harder, be more positive, stay focused, believe, live strong, just do it. Any other catch phrases I should be using?
It is now official. There is no apparent medical reason for my weight gain. Despite placing all of my proverbial eggs in this basket it is now clear that the only solution is to work harder than I have been working to lose the weight that I want to lose.
This is disappointing in a way - not that I am looking for the "quick fix", but it would have maybe been hopeful to discover that there was a reason that I continued to gain weight, despite working out no less than 4 times a week for the last two months - which I will point out has already exceeded any record of consistently working out that I have ever held (save for cheerleading of course, but even that was only 2 days a week plus games).
Nonetheless, work harder, be more positive, stay focused, believe, live strong, just do it. Any other catch phrases I should be using?
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
"Be what you are. This is the first step toward becoming better than you are." - Julius Charles Hare
I applied for a new job on the weekend. The job I applied for is the same job that my boss has, only 30 minutes in the other direction - so instead of being an employee, I would join her peer group.
This is a big step for me and I'll tell you why. For the last 18 years I have worked as an Administrative Professional (for you non-PC's - secretary). I have always wanted to do office work, in fact I started working in our school office when I was still in school. There is something that this many years later I still find rewarding about walking through the aisles at Staples and finding just the right sticky notes (don't ever buy the yellow ones). But more importantly, I have learned the inner workings of whatever business I have been in and become successful in supporting business owners, vice presidents, presidents, directors, CAO's, you name it. I didn't have to start at the bottom as a receptionist and work my way up. I started somewhere in the middle as a secretary working for the owner of a small oil and gas company. My experiences there set me on a very successful course. I have built an entire career on the concept that I would work harder than anyone to make my boss look good. I have always wanted to be in a position of knowledge visa vie authority without actually being in charge and, for the most part, I have managed to position myself that way.
So why this change? Why now? I don't know, bored maybe? Ready maybe? I think a little bit of both. I love the work I do, but I'm not particularly challenged by it. I have spent a lot of years working for some very dynamic individuals (and some slightly less than dynamic) and learned a lot about what kind of manager I want to be. I feel ready to take on a new challenge and see what comes from that.
Of course I'm really transparent about this sort of thing. I told my boss that I was going to apply for this new position....perhaps being transparent is only good for ghosts.
I applied for a new job on the weekend. The job I applied for is the same job that my boss has, only 30 minutes in the other direction - so instead of being an employee, I would join her peer group.
This is a big step for me and I'll tell you why. For the last 18 years I have worked as an Administrative Professional (for you non-PC's - secretary). I have always wanted to do office work, in fact I started working in our school office when I was still in school. There is something that this many years later I still find rewarding about walking through the aisles at Staples and finding just the right sticky notes (don't ever buy the yellow ones). But more importantly, I have learned the inner workings of whatever business I have been in and become successful in supporting business owners, vice presidents, presidents, directors, CAO's, you name it. I didn't have to start at the bottom as a receptionist and work my way up. I started somewhere in the middle as a secretary working for the owner of a small oil and gas company. My experiences there set me on a very successful course. I have built an entire career on the concept that I would work harder than anyone to make my boss look good. I have always wanted to be in a position of knowledge visa vie authority without actually being in charge and, for the most part, I have managed to position myself that way.
So why this change? Why now? I don't know, bored maybe? Ready maybe? I think a little bit of both. I love the work I do, but I'm not particularly challenged by it. I have spent a lot of years working for some very dynamic individuals (and some slightly less than dynamic) and learned a lot about what kind of manager I want to be. I feel ready to take on a new challenge and see what comes from that.
Of course I'm really transparent about this sort of thing. I told my boss that I was going to apply for this new position....perhaps being transparent is only good for ghosts.
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