Southern Writing

February progress report

I've been doing a lot of writing for the St. Pete Times, so that is going well. I redesigned my blog earlier, and I'm going to make some modifications to some general blog things like the categories.

I haven't submitted the paperwork I need to get my passport, and I haven't traveled anywhere this month (but, I'm going to be in Orlando for Megacon).

The big reason I'm posting a progress report is my resolution to be more active this year. Until today, I've earned a big "F" for fitness.

I sit at work nine hours a day, three days a week with only a ten minute walk on my lunch break. On my days off, I'm driving around like mad and writing like mad, so I alternate between sitting in my car and lying while typing in my bed most days.

I've done two or three yoga sessions and taken a few walks in the last two months, but other than that, there's been no physical activity to speak of. Worst of all, I haven't even gone out dancing.

Since I've started writing for the Times, I've eaten at my mom's two or three times a week. This means more meat, fat, salt, and sugar have been added to my diet than I've experienced since 2000. On top of that, I drink about two cups of coffee with sugar and cream every day I'm at the office. And, when I go out, I've started drinking sodas again. And, fast food has been sneaking back into my diet, although it could be worse. A few years ago, I was at Taco Bell or Burger King three or four times a week. Now, my bad fast food choices usually consist of Chipotle (too much sour cream, cheese, and guac, but I stay vegetarian) and Byblos, a local pita place (where I usually eat falafels with lots of veggies, garlic sauce, and a thinned yogurt sauce).

I've also been frequenting Starbucks and the local chocolate store.

All of this has resulted in me feeling uncomfortable in my own skin for the first time.

My response for all of this is to start Gym-a-Thon '09. I am going to check out four or five gyms in my area and make a decision some time next month about where I'd like to land.

Tomorrow I'm starting a seven day free trial at Shapes Total Fitness, an all-women gym a few blocks away from my house. There is also a Shapes moving in next to the Pasco office for the Times, so Shapes is one of the front runners in this competition, thanks to its proximity to my house, my day job, and my writing gig.

Shapes also advertises on its website that staff members call and email members when they haven't shown up for a while, which is another draw. And, on the website, they are advertising a $24.95 stimulus package for these hard economic times.

Resolution addendum and Mr. T in my kitchen

Okay, Mr. T isn't really in my kitchen. But, his FlavorWave Oven Turbo is. My stepfather bought it for me for the holidays and I have to say, it's a lot easier to cook with (I haven't burnt anything yet) and it's a breeze to clean- I just wipe down the glass bowl and cooking racks and I'm done. Chicken turned out a little chewy, but it's better than the burnt skin I usually deal with when I cook it in my convection toaster oven. (My studio does not have a real oven.)

I have a joint addendum to my resolutions from yesterday.

I would like to start exercising 30 minutes a day and either join a gym or my local JCC. Both have their advantages, and I can't figure out which is more important.

With the JCC, I will have an instant community which I think will help me keep on track. I have a tendency of seeing people at the gym as scary gym people instead of regular folks who just want to keep up with their fitness goals. I would also have access to cultural events like special dinners and guest lecturers as well as a number of clubs, like the JCC book and travel clubs.

Unfortunately, the JCC is a bit of a drive, and while if I made connections with people at the center who could keep me on track I'd be likely to make fitness classes and the like, if I don't make those connections I will have membership dues for a service I don't use.

If I do get a gym membership, it will probably be a Shapes membership. There is a Shapes opening up nextdoor to the Pasco Times office, so it would be convenient for me to go in to the office and the gym two or three times a week. As a freelancer, I have access to a couple of desks and computers to work on if I decide to go in, so a Shapes membership could ultimately help my health and career. I was also reading on their website that they make a habit of contacting members who haven't made it into the gym in a while, and they have a number of locations I can choose from, so it is a bit more accessible. I also really like the Super Target on the way back to my house from the office, so I'm starting to lean towards joining Shapes. The downside is I might get intimidated, and I'm thinking Shapes might be more expensive.

I expect to take advantage of free trial memberships in the next few months.