Down Time...

Bonjour!

When I read this post by Andrea over at Cous Cous & Cork Wedges here I totally sympathised and empathised!  I commented that she was definitely not on her own in her predicament! I have not felt myself this week - it's been a weird one to say the least and in my case I reckon hormonal imbalance has gone to a whole new level - I wonder whether to blame the beast that is perimenopause (blogger doesn't like perimenopause!).  Apologies if that's too much info but hey - it comes to all us girls in time and can apparently precede the actual 'event' for up to 15 years in some cases! Oh joy!

You know when you just feel overly anxious - I guess is the word? Everything seems like an insurmountable task,  the usual routine of getting the kids up and off to school, the decision of what to cook for dinner, the multitude of tasks waiting to be actioned. You know when you just don't know where to start, even if you had the energy, everything is a bit foggy, everything gets to you and all you want  to do is sleep and cry ... at everything - I mean what is going on there?  Yes the kids are growing up far too fast but I couldn't even talk about it or look at baby/toddler photos of them last week without bursting into tears. And then you get mad with yourself because you're aware that there are so many people out there in a much worse position.  It was actually a relief (if that's the right word) to go into work - login to my computer, make a start on my work and not have to think about anything else - I felt calmer for it - whether this is a coincidence I don't know. I went to the gym last night and it did me the world of good - the equilibrium and endorphins that had been sadly lacking started to come back and I felt relatively 'normal' again - if only I could bottle the stuff and save it for a 'down day'! And on the way back this tune was playing on  my Pete Tong CD and it made me feel happier ...

Modjo - Lady...

I don't know - what do we do eh? What I need to do now is not spend my 'normal' time worrying about when my next 'down' time is going to occur!  Big thanks to my hubby and family and friends for putting up with me! And hope you didn't mind me sharing!

How have you been feeling this week? What do you do to alleviate your 'down' time?  What's your favourite happy track?

Jen x

Pumping Up!

Bonjour!

This week I managed to get down to my Body Pump class for the first time this year after a spell of several weeks!  Hubby was working away, then Christmas got in the way and then I couldn't get into the darn class after Christmas - in fact all the classes I usually attend are brimming - funny how people flock to the gym in January!

So ... there I was the other night ... brandishing my bar during the bicep track complete with puny weights to match my equally puny frame, watching my little muscles trying to get a bulge on - remembering the bloomin' pain!  My upper body is not my strongest point when it comes to muscle workout (my abs are pretty useless too actually!) and I have to remember to stand correctly with back straight, shoulders down and relaxed (as much as you can in these situations!) and core strong to support the whole shebang!  I'm reassured by my teacher - who incidentally is tiny, smaller than myself and yet can lift what seems like the weight of an ox - that the burn I feel in the centre of my calves whilst performing our lunges is a good thing ...!

I'm not naturally strong or flexible but despite all the pain/burn malarkey I bloody love it - I do! I love the toning and strengthening that comes with it - although the task of trying to stop my bottom going south at my age is getting increasingly difficult - must do more squats!  Exercise, challenging though it is at times, gives me such a buzz that very often after this class I've told the teacher I'm on such a high I just want to bounce out of the class and go straight onto a club! There's a lot to be said for those old endorphins! Anyway ... as we're on the subject of pumping ...


Technotronic - Pump Up The Jam

Yes I was jumping around to this in smoky nightclubs since it's release in 1989 - and yes I bet some of you weren't even born ...! Good grief doesn't it get you going? Once a pumper always a pumper I guess!

Do you like a bit of Body Pump? What's your favourite exercise?

Jen x