Random stuff from the past week

So, after a long day of working (yes, today is Saturday and I had to catch up) I figured I should do something personal and so I'm writing a blogpost.

The only problem is this - I cannot remember what in the world I did this entire week except work. So, I'm resorting to whatever pictures I took off my camera a few days ago.

Highlights from the week include, because I suddenly remembered as I was loading photos:

• HEAT - Really hot, muggy and soul sucking ....but, you didn't know it until after it happened. We were over 100 many days and apparently it had the impact of 120 degree weather on some of them. I love humidity, but must have locked my knees talking/videotaping a neighbor and almost collapsed on the steps. Yikes!
• Pentagon Visit - Had a meeting at the Pentagon for the first time in a couple of years. Wow, the new renovations aren't that amazing, but did you know that they have a Best Buy now? Inside the Pentagon? They do have fast food places and other shops, but for some reason the Best Buy threw me off. As well as the broken escalator going UP on one of the days of blasting heat. I felt like I was supposed to become part of special forces or something. If they need some good walkers and endurance swimmers...I would probably apply. Oh wait, I'm not of age. (-:
• Mobile - I've been immersed in all things mobile lately for work. So, if you have any great ideas feel free to send them my way. I'm leading up our mobile initiative with a special focus on mobile learning. iPads, Galaxy pads, etc. are changing the learning game. Pretty cool.
• Captain America - apparently it was pretty good. I sent my husband off to it by himself so that I could do the all things mobile (see above) work I needed to get done. Sometimes I get so bored knowing how the movie ends through the previews.
• Oatmeal Cookies - the cure for using food storage that is out of date is to make multiple batches of cookies. Ok, but don't cook them all. Just freeze the dough after one tray goes in the oven. This is how to handle cookie addiction, right? Too high of a level of effort to cook the next batch to make it worth the regular sneaking.

Contrary to the look of this picture - I am not 9 feet tall. This picture proves that I did go to the pool to swim laps and the piles behind me indicate that I did some de-junking and have to run to the Goodwill. Yea!

My personal/work friend got married and had a second reception down at the chapel grounds near Mt. Vernon. Congrat to Andrea!

Loved Andrea's dress. Had a unique flair to it.

Day 1 - the real start to removal

So, today was the real day #1 of my "removing excess baggage" week. This past weekend was prep, warm-up, or pre-test, if you will.

I've made a schedule...which is, of course, on my other computer. So, I will post that later.

However, I'm off to a great start!

Interested in details?

5:15 a.m. Alarm rang. I swiped it to turn off mode. After all, I was making a greeting card in my dream and I had to go to sleep for a few minutes to finish this virtual card. Weird, yes? But, I often have to go back to sleep for a few minutes to get closure to my dreams.

5:25 a.m. Guilt and getting up.

5:30 a.m. Walked to the gym. Loud morning - birds chirping, bugs buzzing and a few stray squirrels running about.

5:38 a.m. Signed in and lifted weights for 40 minutes. Treadmill for 12 minutes. Only three people at the gym and no one on duty. This could be my new favorite time!

7:00 a.m. Got home and started to do work for an hour. After all, I have to keep up while I'm out which is why I'm never gone too long.

8:00 a.m. Prayers, scriptures, and a little nap.

9:00 a.m. Conference call with someone from another government agency. It went on for an hour and I had to be engaged the entire time!

10:30 a.m. Excited and nervous. I am a camelon of colors right now and am VERY nervous about being seen in a swimsuit after a year out of major sun and jelly legs. But, dressed in the suit and swimming shorts anyway and walked back down the hill to the pool.

Ahhh, what a wonderful stroke of luck! A secret happiness came my way. At 11:00 a.m., I walked out to the pool deck and there were three senior citizens there to swim their laps and one lifeguard too busy inspecting her own belly button ring to really worry about me. Plus, one look at her and I knew that I'd have to take care of my own life if it became endangered in the 3.5 feet of water.

As luck would have it, the entire neighborhood decided not to come to the pool until noon! So, I had a full half hour of laps before one woman decided I was her new best friend and we basically did water aerobics across the pool as we talked. I was able to get my last half hour in when she left and five minutes drying in the sun was enough for me. Sunbathers and kids floated in as I floated out...

1:00 p.m. Lunch and errands.

4:00 Barnes and Noble - to go through one hour of emails (that was one of my goals) and to get out of the house. Not that I was in it at all today.

5:30 p.m. Dinner, which was mostly watermelon ...on this almost 100 degree day. 111 with the heat index I suppose.

6:00 p.m. - Cleaned the refrigerator. Ok, so it isn't very full and it is already clean so it took all of five minutes. This ended up being a goal for today and a very short family home evening activity. Ha. Start small, right?

The day isn't over yet, but I've exercised three times (remove excess weight), deleted emails (remove excess info), and cleaned the refrigerator (removed excess food).

Now, tonight I just have one more goal - scan for two hours. Scan photos, old photo album pages, etc. That will take care of the "remove excess paper" goal.

I promise not to write a long winded post like this the rest of the week, but wanted to show that I started off the day well and stuck to the plan and still allowed some wiggle room for other fun.

Fat Camp and Scanning Mania

So, on Saturday my husband and I "got our house in order." Since we didn't take a honeymoon (yet), there was a room full of plastic cartons to go through. Now there are only 5-6 which will be tackled at a later date.

Part of getting it all in order made me realize that I got the most important goal accomplished this year (marriage), but have neglected some of my other goals.

So, this summer now has new focus - Fact Camp and Scanning Mania.

I am letting my husband have the extra bedroom as an office. Part of that "offering" was giving up the closet where I kept my journals, scrapbooks, supplies, etc. To light a fire under my own rear, I put all of the closet contents in my dining room.

I know - messy, eye soar, crowded, inappropriate. And that is exactly why I did it. It will force me to go through each carton, scan the contents and then throw some of them away.

Along with this project, I need to lose weight. I've been sitting about 10-11 hours a day lately. It is crazy. It messes with your metabolism. It makes the weight near impossible to get off.

Sooooooo.....we made up our own fat camp posters last night. We'll be doing all kinds of exercises overe the next three months and focusing on eating better.

I am going to take a week off from work mid-July just to ensure July is a bionic month. That same week will include two or three hours of scanning a day so that I remained balance in my goals.

I'm kind of excited. Around Thanksgiving every year I typically take the week off just to do projects and such, but I've never done it in the middle of the summer.

This year I've actually wanted to have a summer and so this is one way that I'll get it!

So, I'll show periodic updates to these two items just to make sure I'm reporting out to cyberspace on process.

I can't wait!

New Years - a moment of reflection 45 minutes in to a better year

It is dark out and quiet. I've turned off the tv because the mediocre performers on Dick Clark's show were polluting all the good ideas I had at the gym earlier this evening. Yes, my resolutions are "rolling resolutions" and they don't start today. However, those resolutions that continue to roll over multiple years have now become a priority.

Here I am in the dark, in my bed, and on the laptop. I cannot sleep. I want to pursue all ideas now and feel hope of their success in this 2011.

In some ways, I feel like a bit of a failure this year. So much work and most didn't work out the way I planned.

I only lost 10-15 pounds. I still have no self control with cookies. Even bad cookies run across the room into my mouth. They pester me from distance places.

I stayed at my job, in a role I created, though I thought I'd leave for bigger and better things. Should I say that here? Not a problem. I've said this for a couple of years at work and no one believes me.

I'm still single.

My debt didn't go down, but my 401k went up. Not a lot of good that does right now. Golden handcuffs don't seem so golden, aye?

Friends had big issues. I helped a few and not others.

My soul despaired and went through lessons I had to learn.

But, like all tunnels, there are bright lights in the distance.

Yes, bright lights.

Humility
Humility was learned. Humility I didn't know I needed.

Job
I did stay at my job. I very good job in a bad economy. A position I created myself. A position where I learned that I am the strategist, the coordinator, the puppet master, the implementer and ....not the numbers keeper. A position that requires me to create entire strategies and plans out of nothing and I find that I LOVE that freedom! I haven't moved mountains (yet), but I've been managing some pretty big initiatives and helping an organization through culture change. Changing from old school rigid thinking to implementing new approaches for capturing and sharing knowledge. Uncomfortable approaches for some. My approach isn't perfect, but we are further along than we were last year by a long shot and gaining a lot of buy-in. Plus, I've been able to work with some great forward thinkers along the way. So, why was/am I trying to leave?

Good Gifts
I'm learning to give good gifts. Truly giving. Some giving hurts because they are truly from the heart and take a piece of me away from me. But, I see the wisdom and depth it gives my soul.

Pivotal People
Certain people were there for me at pivotal moments. They helped me help myself...if only through listening as I verbally worked through a problem, or to say "it will be ok" or "I have full confidence in you."

Exercise
Exercise is a key element of my life. No matter what I weigh, I exercise at least five days a week, if only a long walk. This year had many, many, many walks. Many were at a local battleground park where I could think and see the horizon. Sometimes I was quiet with my thoughts and other times I listened to scriptures, books, music or podcasts. All helped increase my knowledge and open my spirit to the possibilities that we sometimes forget are there.

Voices, or lack thereof
More than ever, this year, I learned to tune out all the voices at important times and listen to the one voice that mattered - inspirations from Heaven. My soul trying to figure out what my Heavenly Father wanted me to do with different situations, with moments, with goals and with my life. I experienced more than ever "pure intelligence flowing through me" and "inexplicable joy" in isolated and overpowering moments. Those are the moments that carried me through moments where I could feel nothing.

Relationships
I learned to love some people at church and work that I didn't love before because I allowed myself to reach out OR I accepted their reaching out to me. How beautiful to re-realize and understand that cycle of giving and receiving love, gifts of the heart, etc.

Entrepreneurial
Finally, I've pursued some of my entrepreneurial ideas. One idea was to promote other entrepreneurs, which is a fairly common practice by now, but I'm ok with that. Another is a company I set up six years ago, but couldn't move forward on because it was a conflict of interest. Now I'm moving it forward in different ways. I'm starting some other side work that will hopefully grow larger as I devote more time to the efforts.

Religious and Spiritual
Many people separate these out, but for the most part I put them in the same bucket in my head. Either way, I've grown in all kinds of areas related to understanding the core principles of my religious beliefs, but also learning and growing in other spiritual ways. I've found that my love for reading about psychology, marketing, customers, innovation, learning and related topics help me understand scripture better because I develop better mental models to take the information into my brain in the way I need to use it. And, I continually learn that God loves Rebecker....much, much, much.

Miracles
I continue to experience and witness miracles. And, hope for more to come.



So, perhaps last year was more light than tunnel than I realize. Or, more likely, once you get closer to the light some of the darkness falls behind and seems smaller.


This probably should have gone into my personal journal (and it may well be added), but sometimes it helps to publicly expose trips down memory lane because it can make us accountable to ourselves and others.

Here's to a great new year in 2011!

It will be a great one ....just like how all the others ended up being ...after I forgot the details. (-:

RebeckerX90

You've seen it on the infomercials and you've had friends that have lost TONS of weight on it. I've been tempted to buy it. It is the extreme mix it up exercise program that comes with all the typical DVDs, stretch bands, special diet recipes, etc.

Know what I'm talking about? P90X sound familiar?


Well, I'm doing my own. It is called the "RebeckerX90." It costs no money, but it takes the general principles of P90X (from what I gather while on my treadmill seeing the infomercials) and is tailored to me - my day, my mood and my life.

The RebeckerX90 is basically my plan for me and I'm putting it for all the world (at least the three people who read this blog) to see so that I continue:
- Lose 30 pounds in 90 days.
- Walk every day - sometimes twice
- Weights - 3x a week
- Swim Laps - 3x a week
- Yoga - 1x a week
- Dance - 5x a week - this means just dance for five minutes each day to a favorite song. Ok, so perhaps this goal will turn into a half an hour of Zumba.
- Bike - 2x weekly - once I fill up my bike tires
- Stretch - 5x weekly - yes, I'm counting this on here because it makes me feel good.
- Hula - 1x weekly - from a video I have in my front closet. It's all in the knees.

RebeckerX90, like PX90, means mixing up the different workouts and sports. However, unlike PX90, I'm not being extreme. I'm just going to do it regularly.

I've already been following most of this the past few weeks and have lost over 10 pounds. I need to lose another 40! So, this has already past the habit point.

About my diet? Well, not going to change that too much either. I bought V8 juice for the first time in years the other day, does that help?

P.S. Did you see my "to do" list above? I did pretty well last week, didn't I? My bike tire is still flat and so I couldn't ride it and Saturday I had to clean the church and accompany someone and so I couldn't swim. Plus, doesn't the entire world go swimming on Saturday? I have no interest in swimming with the world.

38 minutes

I would like to announce that I am the premier recipient of the "I ran 38 minutes without stopping" award.

This award was just created by me, in honor of me, and as a motivation for me. Very selfish, by design.

I've never run 38 minutes straight in my life!

I can out walk anyone you've ever met. In fact, I should probably raise money (I'd like to say for a cause, but could I do so to pay off personal debt?) by walking across the country. I absolutely love walking for sure pleasure, exercise and deep thinking.

However, running is strangely invigorating (and sweaty) as well.

I haven't lost a pound through my efforts. However, I can assure you that I am solid muscle, with two inches of a protective muscle layer lining that is a little flabby. You may call it "big boned," but it's just a protective layer and I'm actually medium boned. I have no genes to blame, only companies that make really good cookies.

Anyway, here's hoping I can get up to 40 minutes of sheer running.

Oh, and keep track of your exercise and buy yourself a medal at the appropriate intervals at http://presidentschallenge.org .

Presidential Challenge - Bronze Medalist

Congratulations to me! I am officially a bronze medalist in the President's Challenge. (http://www.presidentschallenge.org/)

Now, let me explain a little more about this great race.

Really, you just log in the points for whatever exercise you did each day and when you reach 20,000 points you hit bronze medal status. At this point you can keep going to 45,000 points to get a silver medal and then on to a gold medal for even more points.

The funny thing is that you have to order your own medals if you want them. So, being a little needy in the feeling rewarded department, I decided to send the $15 in to receive the conglomeration of medal, certificate, ribbon and lapel pin shown below. I do have to say - it is worth every penny! Soon I shall be donning an exercise outfit and going to stand on the Lincoln Memorial steps for a photo shoot just so I can look like I'm some kind of Olympic medalist.

Sad for me, but high self-esteem builder for everyone else, I have not lost a single pound through all this exercise. However, it has provided much needed stress relief. Plus, I get to feel a sense of completion on something which I rarely get to feel nowadays.

Note: I was pleased to see that the Presidential Champion medal was at least "Made in the U.S.A." Of course, who knows where it was really made, but at least they got the stamping right. I've seen these blunders on presidential type things before and this was a smart non-blunder.

Having enjoyed many an intramural sport in my college years, I have somehow bypassed the joy of getting medals that hang around your neck. I will admit to wearing this around the house for an hour or so.

Who would have thought that such a cheap ribbon and piece of metal would make one feel so good?

Again, it's the simple joys that bring out the secret happiness in all of us.

So, congrats to me and hope you take on the challenge too!


Of special note is the fact that they didn't even put my name in the "Presented to" field of the certificate.

Ah well, I will conduct my own signing and photo shoot for this endeavor. One must create their own false media frenzy at times.

Mile 1.68

slow, but steady progress.

Mile 1.65

I tried to go 5.0 MPH for the first time today. At some points I went down to 4.8, and at others up to 5.1. Surprisingly, this is just the "medium" level on the President's Challenge.

Over time, I guess I'll be able to go faster, but for now I'll stick around the 4.8-5.1 miles per hour point. Plus, the person downstairs would probably appreciate that. I'm assuming I will actually have to go over and use the gym treadmill soon because this could get pretty annoying for the neighbors.

Mile 1.55

Mile 1.5

It took 20 minutes, but I did run the entire time.

Mile 1.2

Progress.

Mile 1.1

Yep, I ran 1.1 miles today.

Progress. Very small, but progress.

Mile 1.0

I would like to officially announce that I have added another exercise to my workout repertoire. This would be something called "running" and I think I've tried it about three times in my life - besides basketball games.

On Monday I ran .25 miles on my treadmill. On Tuesday I got up to .40, Thursday all the way to .51 and today .75 on the treadmill and about 1/4 of a mile outside. 1.0 miles!

Tomorrow I will stick with the 1.0 mile so as not to progress too too fast. That has been my mistake with weights in the past. I will still walk and lift weights. It's part of "lifestyle changes" as well as doing the Presidential Challenge (http://www.presidentschallenge.org) for work.

No difference in my weight yet, but helps the attitude and gives time to have good ideas.

Here's to Mile 1.0 and I'm hoping to get up to 10 miles by the summer.

Inspiration for this? I saw only one night of the biggest loser show this year and it was the night when the participants went home for a week and they had to run a half marathon. They all did it and I figured if they could...so could I.

Mile 10.0 here I come!

Mile .25

Today was the start of me running. I was inspired by the Biggest Loser show that had the losers go home for a week. As part of that week they had to run a 1/2 marathon. Seeing people that weighed even more than I do running that distance inspired me!

So, here's to a very small start. I'll mark my progress as I go.

Knees

My knees are hurting a little bit today and it reminded me of an email that my Dad sent out to the family a week or so ago.
__________

The other night I found myself in a very reflective mood, to the point of a few tears. And what, you might wonder, brought me to this point. Well, it's pretty simple -- my aching knees.
Since my trip to Albuquerque, New Mexico to watch Brett play in the U. S. Collegiate Rugby semi-finals. During my trip I read the "South Beach Diet" book and was basically struck with the fact that I needed to do something about weight, and thus about what I eat. At the same time Rebecca was reporting her success in reducing her cookie & cracker intake, so I began to think more seriously about the issues of diet, weight and food intake. And then I heard of Chris' success in reducing his weight & size too. So, after thinking more about the book, and what its basic message is, I decided to try something I had never done before -- diet!

The first step was to realize that the enemy of weight loss can easily be summarized as "5 C's":
Cookies, Cake, Candy, Crackers, Cream (ice)....

There are other culprits too but that is a long list. -- bread and pasta -- are also atop the list. Other key elements of such a program are exercise, portion control, eating regularly, etc......there are others, but you can probably list them all.

I won't ramble more with a poorly organized speech, but you get the idea here --------- IF you, any of you, are over-weight I URGE YOU TO SERIOUSLY CONSIDER DOING WHATEVER IT TAKES TO LOSE WEIGHT. If you don't your knees will KILL you when you reach 55, or 60, or 64. I don't know what your age will be, but -- the extra weight you carry today will ruin your knees tomorrow. Take it from a living testimony -- me. Part of the reason for my sobering experience the other night was my imagination running a bit wild with the possibilities for my future. If I have bad knees, how will I finish my temple service? Will I be able to go on a mission? Will I have to use a cane? How about artificial knees? Wheelchair? How am I going to work through the debilitation in my knees that I am suddenly beginning to feel more intensely? etc...
So, that's it ---- for the sake of your mobility and the ease of your future years, P L E A S E do whatever it takes to get your weight under control. It doesn't matter what reason you use in your private mind to justify yourself.

By the way, this is for everyone to think about.....I hope.
This message could probably be better written with more thought, but I need to tell you this before we leave tomorrow morning. Think seriously about it.
Love, Dad

Cookies Anonymous - 28 days clean!

Yep, I haven't eaten a cookie in 28 days. I've even cut back on peanut M&Ms until the weekends. With a little more walking everyday, some yoga (about 15 minutes a week - it's kind of boring), and lifting some weights...I've trimmed off about 8-9 pounds. It's a good start, but at 6 feet that doesn't amount to much.

I'm just very proud that I got this far. The most amazing thing is that I'm not tempted to have one. I suspect it has something to do with a pre-occupied and stressed mind, but that will be in another blog entry.