A runner lifting weights!

I detest lifting weights. My idea of a good workout is to build up a sweat while getting my heart rate up and enjoying a lot of good scenery… or at least watching some CNN at the gym if it’s a treadmill run. The last time I lifted weights was 3 years ago when my only work colleague was a body builder type who convinced me to try it. Sure, I was sore. But I hated going there… repetitions, sets, the unspoken gym Etiquette, and of course, being the only girl in a room full of mirror-watching boys.

However, I realize that lifting is a necessary evil to truly be fit and prevent injury. Though I ran a marathon a few months ago and recently went hiking in Peru, I wouldn’t say I’m in the best shape of my life! I can’t even do a push up! So I hired a personal trainer to decrypt all those machines for me and help me get over my IT band syndrome.

The first meeting was great! We sat down and I went through my goals, which is primarily to get into a routine that will get me back into military shape. After officer training school 2 years ago I can say that was the best shape of my life- and I want to be able to repeat my personal best physical fitness test numbers (sit ups, push ups, 1.5 mile run).

Then he took me through numerous machines and wrote down how much weight to use, how many repetitions, how many sets. When my knee would begin to hurt, he’d find another machine that wouldn’t aggravate my IT band. After a few months of living with this injury, there is a notable difference in my quad strength!!

And now today after doing the same routine of legs, arms, abs, stretching, I found it much easier to do the sets. It hasn’t even been a week with this being my third time lifting and I’m already noticing that it’s easier to regain my balance while getting out of the car, I have more force when opening a door, or when bending over to the side of a chair my abs can handle it

Plus this is a better gym than the one I was at 3 years ago (Loyola’s gym is Amazing!!) and I have a lot of friends who work out there too. Which is different for a runner who’s used to working out solo… and it’s kind of nice. Not so boring. Maybe I can do this! Hopefully I can show off when we have our second meeting tomorrow.

“For the record: Strength training before, not after, cardio is better for your heart, reports a study in the Journal of Applied Physiology. Japanese researchers found that participants who lifted before running had more flexible arteries and improved blood flow after eight weeks, compared with a run-then-lift group (who experienced no such improvement). Why? Lifting can increase blood pressure, which stiffens arteries. Running afterward releases chemicals that cause the arteries to dilate and lower blood pressure, says Robert C. Scott III, M.D., Ph.D., senior staff cardiologist with Scott & White Hospital in Temple, Texas.” – Women’s Health Magazine March 2008, page 28

 

Back to the U.S.A.

Getting back home was highly anticipated and yet different… I feel like I literally fell off the face of the earth! What is this “Juno” phenomenon? Oh, the Superbowl is tomorrow? And the democratic primaries… how the candidates have degenerated into schoolchildren!!!! Airport CNN is incredible!!!!

In a way, I have nearly gotten a glimpse of perhaps how the rest of the world sees us. We like things the way we like them… and if we don’t get it watch out!! Northern Americans loooove their independence and freedom of choice. Choice. That means Diet Coke anywhere you want it and a domestic beer to match.

Another way we are different is that -say a sales tag reads “$10.99.” At the register, you don’t question that. But in South America, you immediately try to bargain down before you even know what the price tag reads. “Well… I saw this for 8.99 at the counter just down the street.. what do you say to that?” Thereby positioning yourself to get a deal. In the U.S., bargaining is an underutilized and underappreciated money saving option.

Despite our lack of haggling, I love the U.S. with our low-fat options and get-it-now attitude. We are a culture of go to the gym and be healthy or else get lipo for the same effect. It’s fantastic! Only now do I see how incredibly demanding consumers we are, and now I can appreciate that in myself. Whereas in Peru I was fine with waiting in line for 1 hour to save 2 dollars, I find myself getting irritated after 2 minutes at the post office. Self checkout is another amazing technological advance to our culture. And the options in cell phones!! My Verizon Wireless new Chocolate has tons of options for wallpaper plus I have yet to meet another person with the same phone… p.s. Having a cell phone is amazing… once I tried to turn mine on again after a two-month withdrawal and use text messaging, I had to stare at my phone for a while before figuring out where the “on” button was.

Seriously, I love this country. Sure, we overpay for tons of stuff… groceries, clothes, hotels… but you get what you pay for. A motto to live by. When shelling out five bucks, I know that it’s worth it. I also know that a taxi cab to O’hare should cost around $30 if I’m lucky and it takes me 40 minutes to get downtown via the Eisenhower after 6 PM (including finding a parking spot) and that I can trust Mexican food here is authentic Mexican food… guacamole means I want my damn guac with chips and salsa!! In five minutes or I’ll be asking for it again!!! Get it to our table Now!  And what happened to our beers, we ordered 3 minutes ago!!

 

It can’t be Christmas, it’s 79 degrees!

Here on the other side of the world, I realize how much I gauge time passing by the changing of seasons. Hot summer days and fireworks mark the end of another school year. When the leaves start to change, I look around and think “huh, I’m a year older!” And not a year has passed that I don’t look outside the window to appreciate winter’s first snowfall.

But in Bolivia, it’s all kinds of crazy! I’m standing in my flipflops at the supermercado shopping for some Coke and see Santa on the label. “Gosh, that Coke must be about 6 months old!” I think to myself… before realizing that Oh yeah, Christmas is days not months away!

Celebrating the holidays is different when you’re outside the U.S.A. As there’s really no giant shopping malls, there have been no repetitive Christmas songs to torment me, no joyful elevator music greeting me as I enter stores, and the radio is full of thug-type reggaeton music. While in a taxi, we passed a small town square with a gigantic line weaving around the park benches. I asked the driver what was going on, and he said “To see Papa Noel.” Of course! No mega malls, so sitting on Santa’s lap happens in the park! Genius!

Being in South America, Channukah doesn’t make much of an appearance, but we celebrated it at our house with some latkas and gugel (hope I spelled that right Yuna!) Someone brought out a guitar and sang some songs, but I think most of us forgot about Christmas… no carols even in our own house.

To be honest though, I really don’t miss the hype. Christmas is my favorite holiday because I enjoy spending time with my family and sharing going to midnight mass, a big holiday feast, popcorn and movies by the fireplace. The American culture of shopping and materialism haven’t invaded my Christmas season this year, and I’m liking it!

I will, however, admit to missing one thing: 24 hours of “A Christmas Carol” on TNT. There’s just nothing like watching Ralphie get his official Red Ryder BB gun over and over and over again