"Wogging"

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Well, friends...In the interest of jumping right in to this plan I have concocted to fit into my bridesmaids dress, I decided to go for a run (or a walk/jog hybrid that I like to call "wogging") with my eldest daughter yesterday.

Now, in my family, there are a few runners.  Real, honest-to-gosh RUNNERS.  Some of whom have offered to run with me in an effort to help motivate.

First, there's my Mom.  My Mom, who's ability to imitate the Energizer bunny (she keeps going..and going..and going) strikes fear into the hearts of my children when she asks if they want to "join her for a jog".  The woman runs 5 miles a day, all year long.  Neither rain, wind nor snow will keep her from her morning jog.  My eldest has joked that she can't even keep up with her on her bike (except she's not joking).

Clearly not an option.

Next is my hubby.  His legs are a million miles long (OK..he's 6'2"..so not a million.  But when you're 4'11", it sure seems like it.)  He ran track in high school and his endurance is impressive.  Add to that the fact that he thinks it's helpful to run behind me and push my back with his hand shouting "keeeep going!  Just  to that sign!!  It's not much further!!".  Last time I ran with him, I got such bad vertigo he had to carry me home..not one of my proudest moments.

VETO.

Finally, there's my oldest daughter.  She's 13, and while she's 5" taller than me and an athlete, I figured I could ground her if she runs too fast..(I kid!..sort of..)  As it turns out, she was a great running partner.  She was encouraging, but not demanding, and she taught me some neat tricks (like, if you're having a hard time catching your breath, you can raise your arms above your head to expand your lungs and breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth.  It works!!)  I got a little dizzy towards the end of our run, but I'm feeling encouraged.

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This evening..we tackle yoga ;-)

Hugs and Smooches,
D

Pin up Plan Challenges

Size 2/4 me with assorted adorable cousins and BFF's  (It probably bears mentioning that the year was 1996 and I was 21..)

2012 - Size 8/10 me.

This post began it's life as a whine-fest about how disappointed I was to not be in a smaller dress size for my trip to Disney.  (Not that this should come as a surprise.  I don't like to be uncomfortable.  I DO like food.  Kind of wrecks havoc on any diet and exercise plan ;)

Then, as I worked my way through "I just want to feel better", "I miss my dancer's body" and "I need to find the motivation to change" something started to dawn on me.  I don't really mean most of these things.  They're just the things you say.

I pride myself on being pretty comfortable in my skin and the truth is, I like the way I look now better than I ever have.  I'm not afraid to take risks, I've settled into a style that's all my own and I have a certain quirky "me-ness" that I wouldn't give up for any amount of weight loss.

That's not to say I want to stagnate.  I'd like to have more energy, and just like I change my hairstyle/color to suit my personality, I'd like my outsides to fit the aesthetic I have of myself in my mind.  Slightly healthier, just as curvy, (an inch or two taller would be nice...but I suppose we can't have it all ;)

So instead of subjecting you all to a blog post riddled with "I wish" and "I hope", I will tell you I have downloaded several healthy cookbooks to my Kindle, along with some neat yoga, running and dance books (and maybe a self improvement book..or a hundred.  I can't help it, they're my guilty pleasure!) and that I plan to continue down this road of building a better Danielle while loving the Danielle I've got :-)

Hugs and Smooches,
D

Pin up Plan Calendar Girls - Betty Grable

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"The practice of putting women on pedestals began to die out when it was discovered that they could give orders better from there." - Betty Grable

Betty Facts

• Betty's legs were insured with Lloyds of London for $1,000,000.
• She was the #1 Pin up Girl of the WWII era.
• Her legs were considered the ideal proportion: thigh (18.5") calf (12"), and ankle (7.5")
• Between the years of 1946-1947, Betty Grable was the highest paid American woman, earning $300,000 a year 

 Betty Movies 

Pin Up Girl

My Blue Heaven

Dolly Sisters

How to Marry a Millionaire

 Betty Books 

Betty Grable, The Girl with the Million Dollar Legs

Betty Grable, The Reluctant Movie Queen

 

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Pin up Plan Workout for Betty Grable Legs:

Hugs and Smooches,
D

The Pin up Plan Workout

I once read that you should write down all the activities you found the most joy in as a child and try to work them into your adult life.  (I'd love to source that little bon mot for you, but I'm afraid I'm a self-improvement book junkie and at this point there are all sorts of little jumbled bits of wisdom floating around in my brain that I can't quite place ;)

Gil Elvgren

I've decided to apply this to the workout portion of the Pin up Plan.

So..what did I love to do as a child...

Gil Elvgren

• Hike and climb trees - I spent 2/3rds of my day in the woods when I was a kid.  I loved exploring, building forts and planting flowers.  I had a backpack full of field guides (I had every Audubon book ever written on trees, plants, mushrooms and birds), snacks, and a sketchbook.  Doesn't that sound fun??  
• Dance - I was born into a family of dancers.  I started my first dance lessons at 2yrs old.  I danced my way through my childhood and into my teens, which was when my grandmother retired.  Then I became a cheerleader and danced some more.  In my 20's I got my dance fix by going out to clubs with my girlfriends two (sometimes three) nights a week.  At some point, after having my first child, I stopped.  Clubs did not feel appropriate for a new mother and there did not seem to be another venue for me to "get my dancing out".
• Swimming - I grew up on a lake, so we spent a good portion of our summers in the water.  I loved (and still love!) being at the beach.

Gil Elvgren

Now..how to apply these to the Pin up Plan.  My objective with this workout is not to become "skinny", but to create a more defined shape.  I have the bare bones of a 50's silhouette (A bust!  A waist!  Hips!!), but I would like to create a stronger hourglass shape by narrowing my waist, and shaping up my shoulders and bottom half.  Toned, but not muscular.

Hiking will be a great way to tone my lower half.  We are lucky enough to live close to a few mountains, so I have some weekend adventures planned with the kiddos.  I've also purchased some pilates and ballet workout videos and books, along with some fun burlesque workout videos.  I plan to fit in a ballet style workout two times a week and try a new video once a week (an excellent way to build up your "core" muscles and create a defined waist!).  It's a little cold to start swimming in the lake, but there's a pool at the YMCA near my work that will do nicely!  Swimming will help to keep my muscles lean instead of bulky.

What about you?  What did you love to do as a child and how can you work it into your life now?

Hugs and Smooches,
D