Forza: The Japanese Sword Fighting Workout

I joined a new class at the Y last week. It's called "Forza". It's based on the Japanese style of sword fighting and is a continuous moving, but no-impact exercise. Forza in Italian means "strength". Not sure why they gave the class an Italian name, being JAPANESE sword fighting and all, but it works.

Forza was developed in the last ten years. It was recently shown on the Today Show.

Workout based on samurai sword training

It's a great workout and my while my instuctor, Cliff, is just getting started teaching this class, it's been a blast. I love the strength I feel in the workout and the concentration it requires. I can't be thinking about anything else other than the class. It clears my mind of the other crap going on in my mind and I leave feeling empowered and energized. I actually want to workout MORE after the class is over.

Watch out, people. Swordfighter, buttkicker Ellisa is on the loose!!

Better today!

I don't quite feel 100% yet, but I'm feeling better, that's for sure. I made it for dinner and tea last night and I'm so glad I did. I was also able to meet up with Tiffany to celebrate her official passing of the bar exam. I'm thrilled for her and couldn't be more proud!

Today is "weigh in Wednesday" for my small group of friends who are trying to get fit together. Imagine my surprise when I got on the scale this morning at a 4 lb. loss from Friday! WOW! I thought I'd gained all that weight this weekend, but it must have been the PMS. Whatever it was, I'll take it.

I'm still not feeling well enough to make it to the gym. This cold seems to have settled in my chest and now I'm coughing a bit. I hope it doesn't take hold and that I can shake it soon. Today I need to catch up on some cleaning and laundry. Payton has school and we'll just be hanging out this evening. I think I'll head to bed after Top Chef instead of staying up later. I need a few extra hours of sleep.

Sick.

Why is it that I only get sick when I have something good going on??

Last night when I was going to bed, I could tell I was getting sick. I even told Matt "I'll be sick tomorrow." Sure enough, I woke up with a raw throat and a massive headache. Matt was kind enough to get me some Tylenol and let me sleep until 10am, but he had to work this morning so I couldn't sleep as much as I needed.

I was supposed to go to the zoo with Jennifer and Lorene and their kids today. It's such a beautiful day for it too. I'm really disappointed. Then tonight I'm supposed to meet some friends for dinner and a tea tasting at a new teahouse in the area. I'm not cancelling those plans yet. I'm hoping by 6pm I'm feeling better.

Payton just told me that since Max is down for a nap, if I wanted to lay down, he would read stories to me. That sounds like just what I need.

Back on the wagon!

Well, as of last week, I'd lost 15lbs since mid-January.

I've been really good at watching what I eat and charting it all on http://www.sparkpeople.com/ I love that site! It's so helpful and they have great tools for exercise and eating well. But this past weekend, we went to my inlaws. And it was Matt's Grandmother's 75th birthday. This family does very little low fat anything. Granted, I love to eat that way too, but it's hard to make smart choices. I did have veggies, no dip, hamburger without a bun, just a very tiny spoonful of cheesy potato casserole and some fruit. But dang. The guacamole. And chips. And pita. And hummus. then cake. oh the cake. oh. Did I mention they're Polish? Translate that to "drinkers". I had a BIG rum and diet coke. Then later that night I had an Amaretto Sour. I tried so hard to be good...so hard...

But alas, when I stepped on the scale this morning, I'm up 2 lbs. I hoping that's all that shows from my weekend. I have made great smart choices all day today and I hope to continue through the week. It's just hard. When I'm PMSing I want things like fries and chocolate and beer.

Ahh!! BEER!! Remember my pledge to myself, and you, to go alcohol free for the month of April. I did succumb to one beer around the 20th of the month, but it was a light beer. Does that matter? Probably not. But I feel good about it!

Wish me luck this week!! I'm trying to get back down to that 15 lbs loss.

The furry ones have left the building

Back in December, friends of mine, Stacey & Tim, told us that they were moving to Las Vegas for Tim's job. He's a golf pro and golf is a year round thing there, not quite so seasonal like it is here, and they had a great opprotunity there. I couldn't blame them, but I was upset that they were leaving.


A few weeks later, I got a panicy text message from Stacey that no one could take care of their two "boys" (cats) while they were looking for a place to live and they couldn't take them with them yet. Some plans had fallen through and they were looking for some ideas on my part. My only idea? Bring them here!! Everyone here loves pets and I knew my boys would get along well enough with their cats, so it would be fine.


So mid-January, Tim & Stacey came by and dropped them off. It took Marble three days to really adjust, but Garner was right at home here. Slowly, they found their way around the house and made themselves comfy. They claimed the back of my loveseat as their own and we really fell in love with them; even if they did weird things like eat my plastic bags and drink water from the fish's bowl.



It didn't take long for Maxwell to realize they were living toys. He would chase them around the house calling "kieee-caaa" (read: kittie-cat). Garner, the spunkier of the two, loved the attention and would come down to the boys sometimes just to get hugs and kisses from them. Marble tended to mind his own business, but he could be pursuaded to let Maxwell lay on his big belly sometimes.


Their stay was extended a few times while Stacey & Tim found the *right* place, but that was no issue for us. Then a few weeks ago, Stacey messaged me to say they had found the house. I couldn't be happier for them!! But I knew my little guys would miss those kitties.


This past Saturday, I had to take them to the vet for their health certificates before they could fly to Vegas. When I loaded them in their carriers, Maxwell had a fit. He was so upset that I had locked the kitties away and then when I took them out to my car, it got worse. Good thing Matt was home to tend to Maxwell! He was so happy when I returned a few hours later with those furry guys!


Then Monday came. Their day of flight. I had their carriers out to make sure the paperwork was right and everything was proper before we left. Maxwell was curious and decided to test the carriers out.

Eventually, we had to get Maxwell out and load up the cats. Payton, being a mature "big boy" now, understood that they weren't coming back and gave them kisses and said goodbye. He knew all along that they were "Aunt Stacey" & "Uncle Tim" 's cats and they were going to have to leave. Unfortunately it wasn't so easy for Max. He gave them kisses and waved...but once I picked them up and took them out of the house...well, he wasn't happy. I'm surprised you didn't hear him screaming for the "kieee-caaa".

I think all memories of the furry visitors have faded from his mind. He hasn't asked for them or even really looked for them since I came home. But now, Matt and I miss them more than we thought we would. We're not running out and buying a cat (or a dog) but it sure was nice to have some company around here.

The birthday continues...

I have an amazing group of friends that meet with our five year old children (and any kids born after the five year olds) every Thursday. We've been meeting since the oldest were one year old. We've watched each others kids grow, change and mature. It's been a great experience for me and great for all the kids, but especially the moms!!

We always celebrate the kids birthdays together and yesterday was Payton's day. We had everyone over for lunch where the kids made English Muffin Pizzas and I made a great pasta and veggie dish for the moms. After lunch, the kids played, the moms had tea and eventually we had cake.

Payton, being so oblivious to gender specific things, picked a pink cake. (I love that he doesn't identify things as "boy" things or "girl" things. I don't want him to think he can't do something because it's too girlie OR that a girl can't do something because it's for boys.) So we had funfetti cake with strawberry frosting with sprinkles. He loved it.

Payton had really wanted to go bowling, so after everyone had their cake, we loaded up. He bowled an amazing 36, with bumpers of course. He was upset that Rose (and everyone else) beat him, but I promised we'd go back soon so he could practice and get better.

After bowling, everyone went home. We came back to our house and cleaned up a bit and then played and had dinner. Later we went to the Y and I had an amazing workout in a Japanese Swordfighting Class I've registered for. Came home, and everyone went to bed. Apparently somewhere along the line, I forgot to put the cake away. This is what I found this morning after I finished in the bathroom...

It's amazing how fast he climbed onto the table and start in on it!!