Monthly Archives: March 2010

Assessments

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Today I had my first fitness assessment at the new gym (aka The One I Dumped Cable For) and I was feeling a bit apprehensive. When I think “fitness assessment,” I think calipers and measuring tape and electrodes and other scary torture devices. Luckily, none of these things were involved, and my friend B. was able to put my mind at ease a bit, since she’d had her assessment at the same gym just a couple of months ago.

This assessment was gloriously caliper-free, although it did involve some awkward measuring-tape scenarios. I found out my resting heart rate, blood pressure, body fat percentage, flexibility, and whatnot. Basically everything is great except for the few pounds I still have to lose. The guy told me if I lost about 10 more pounds, my body fat percentage would be in the right range (which was what I had thought myself, based on BMI charts, but it was good to have that confirmed). Not too bad. My resting heart rate and blood pressure are apparently excellent! Go me.

I take a distinctly nerdy pleasure in this, feeling as I often do the desire to ace every test. Note to self: school was over three years ago. Chill out! Nonetheless, I’m happy to hear the good numbers — I take them as a sign that my recent fitness endeavors are improving things on the inside and not just the outside.

After hearing about my recent half marathon and seeing my numbers, the trainer helped me devise a strength training plan (we both agreed I have cardio taken care of, with my running and biking) and I’ll get to go in and learn all the moves next week. We’re doing some free weights to make it more challenging, and some strength building for all the muscles around the knee to help prevent any further runner’s knee issues. Suh-weet. I can’t wait to get started!

So, my big exciting plans for spring break? Well, I think I’m going to try a bunch of new classes at the gym. Don’t be jealous now! Before that can happen, I’ve still got to wade through the pile of grading I seem to have amassed. Hmm. Too bad I can’t just slap a blood-pressure cuff around those things and score them instantly.

Oh yeah, and after all that, I suppose I finally have to watch The Hurt Locker now.

A Bunch of Blather, and also, Oscar Opinions?

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Well lookee here, it’s almost the end of another week. I have been so ridiculously busy for the past several days that I have had both everything and nothing to say over here, as is so often the case. I swear, I always have the most excellent ideas for posts and then they just never happen! Grading time is here, with assignments piling back up on my desk anew every time I successfully hand some back to my classes. One does feel not unlike Sisyphus with this sort of thing.

I can’t really complain, though, as I do like my job and I have good news in hand about summer employment (one regular lit course, one in the special summer program I so loved teaching last year), a very positive annual review, and exciting plans for fall semester, which I’ll maybe say more about later. Things are busy, yes; things are great.

The weekend is looking good, too: I’ve got plans to attend Saturday yoga at my shiny new gym, which is so fancy I can’t believe it, and then I’m going to Sunday brunch at one friend’s house and an Oscar party at another! An Oscar party! I’ve never done that before! I wonder if it’s a dress-up occasion? I kind of hope it is, but I should find out first, shouldn’t I? No need to show up in my Target-brand finery if everyone else is going casual.

Speaking of the Oscars, what do you guys make of it this year, with the expanded best picture category? I haven’t seen all of the nominees yet, but I do have one thing to say: If frakking Avatar wins best picture, I will have to cut someone.

Thoughts?