Day 4+: Morning Person Plan

I bet you are wondering what happened to my perky morning self. I am apparently very good at getting out of bed at 7 and making it to work on time. Which is better than getting out of bed at 7:15 and being late. Baby steps...

So for now I will take this blog back to its roots and discuss fitness. For the past year there has pretty much been none, zilch, zero, nada. I believe I have mentioned this before, but going to school plus working kind of cuts into other plans. I know, amazing people can do it all. But they probably don't love to cook dinner from scratch or have clean houses. Priorities. (This is not to imply that I have a clean house by any means. But I did eat lots of fabulous dinners.)

So now that I am taking back my evenings, I was ready to jump right into my workouts schedule. Or rather, sort of sidle up to it, glancing furtively to avoid eye contact. Here is how it went.

Sunday, I went to the gym and rode the stationary bike a bit, plus did some upper body and core. Monday, I went to the gym and rode the stationary bike some more. You will note that I am sort of just playing around on the bike. Which is nice. I am catching up on my reading. Tuesday, I had to do all my Christmas shopping so you know how that goes. Thus we get to today.

Today, I left work and, right before I hit the on ramp, I heard that the freeway was particularly backed up. I cut out of the developing line and realized that my new route was taking me right by the gym. I was not originally planning to go to the gym, but I figured that it must be a sign. After all, my gym bag was in the car, all ready with the (oops) clothes that I had worn to the gym the previous two times. Whatever. I went on in and did my 20 minutes on the bike, enjoying my book tremendously and particularly appreciating that my iPod, which is in the fritz, decided to work.

Maybe it was the iPod or maybe I am just crazy, but when I hopped off the bike, I somehow ended up on the treadmill. And started running. This treadmill is planted right in front of the mirror. (Why do they do this?) Today I enjoyed it in particular because:

1. I didn't remember to grab a hair band so mine was all hanging and immediately got insanely frizzy and sweaty.
2. I am so pale that I turn bright red when I run. BRIGHT SPLOTCHY RED.
3. I was wearing a sports bra that is more suited to biking and not that supportive. I do not enjoy watching my boobs flop all over while running.
4. I noticed for the first time that my cheeks actually jiggle when I run. The ones on my face. My bright red, sweaty ones. Though I assume my other cheeks were also doing their fair share of jiggling - luckily the treadmill controls blocked my view of THAT!
5. And to top it all off, my gym clothes kind of smelled. The mirror didn't tell me this, but I knew you would want to know because it really enhanced my run.

At one point, I could no longer stand the lank mass of hair on my neck and twisted it up into a knot. It stuck there with no outside assistance. Having my arms raised like that pointed out that maybe it was not just my clothing that were scented.

But, against all odds and to my complete and utter shock, I thoroughly enjoyed my 1.5 miles on the treadmill. This was not all spent running. Oh no, the running bursts were limited to two minutes with "stop the barfy feeling" walking breaks in between. But the fact that there was any running was simply awesome. When I was done, I'm pretty sure my endorphins were in high gear, having been in retirement for so long. I felt fabulous! I took my sweaty self over to the mat and even did my stretching (Coach Steve would be so proud). Then grabbed my stuff and strutted out to the car.

So there you have it. Gross but happy. Time to make dinner.

Day 3: Morning Person Plan

Slight improvement today. Got up at regular time, got ready quickly and made it to work by 8:35 even with traffic still heavy. So basically am at the exact place as before the plan began. Except really tired. As in so tired that in the shower I couldn't remember if I had done the conditioner yet and had to feel my hair to try to determine if it was softened or not. Couldn't tell so just did more conditioner. Bonus - hair was not static-y all day.

But the real indication that you were not full awake in the morning is when you realize halfway through the day that your undies are on inside out. Just sayin'.

Day 2: Morning Person Plan

Forgetting to set my alarm is NOT part of the plan.

I refuse to talk about it!

Day 1: Morning Person Plan

I am working on a new scheme. I need to become more of a morning person. See, there has been a change in my schedule. I am back to working full time at my fabulous job and next semester I will only be in class one evening a week. No more three day a week class until 10 and not being able to fall asleep until after midnight. Not when I need to be fresh and alert first thing.

Usually I sort of drag out of bed at maybe 7:15. Maybe. And I need to be at work by 8:30 - half an hour away. Just not the best plan. Also, there have been alleged rumors that I am not exactly the nicest person until maybe 10 am.

So, I will be forcing myself into the role of perky morning person. Starting today I will be waking up extra early so that I will get tired in the early evening and thus reset my internal clock. Here is how day 1 has gone.

4:30 am - MV's alarm goes off. He snoozes. Me too.
4:45 am - Ari sits on my hair. Just a few pieces. Have you ever had a cat sit on just a few pieces of your hair. Well, it hurts. Get the cat to move. He thinks this is some version of petting and purrs.
5 am - MV gets up. He is perky.
5:20 am - I get up. I am not perky. I give Tully a little pet. He doesn't want me to stop so he reaches out to catch my hand. With his claw. Now my hair and my finger hurt.
5:30 am - Not sure what people actually do at this time of the day. Maybe a bit of computer work.
5:35 am - Check Facebook. It is populated solely by teachers. Perky teachers.
6 am - Remember that my clothes are in the washer. Transfer to the dryer. Sit on the couch and stare into space, anticipating how lovely it will be to put on dryer-fresh warm clothes.
7 am - Get in shower.
7:45 am - Warm up car. Should be leaving for work due to nasty icy roads, but car looks sort of like a cupcake still and needs to thaw.
7:50 am - Cut apple wedges and piece of cheese for breakfast. Microwave Udi's GF Chocolate Muffin. Wrap in paper towel and put in coat pocket. This might sound like a bad idea, it even did to me at the time but I still did it. Actually, it was brilliant! So WARM AND TOASTY in my pocket and stayed warm until I wanted to eat it later in the car. Might not want to try with a crumbly muffin.
8 am - Leave for work. Poor car still is not warm. I am, due in part to muffin warmer.
8:20 am - Begin over 20 minute drive of the half mile long parking lot between Campbell Hilton exit and ramp to I-75.
8:25 am - Begin nodding off. Seriously overcome by tiredness. Prop open eyelids but wonder if I could possibly catch a little nap before the traffic moves.
8:45ish am - Yeah, totally late for work, but actually beat many people. Roads were crap.
9 am - I think I will go for the regular tea today...decaf seems like a bad idea.

Thus commences my second day as an Events and Promotions Coordinator and my first day as a Perky Morning Person. Actually, was so busy I forgot to be sleepy. Or maybe it was the tea.

10:30 pm - Gosh am I awake! I am so completely perky. It is like I have a second wind. Maybe I will do some dishes. Or the laundry. Or run a marathon.
11:15 pm - Or just go to bed. Good night all!