Anatomy of a Bicyle

I have been riding to work on my bike lately, and my hubby has been very helpful in getting my bike back to working order.  I have learned how much I do not know about bikes lately.  So here is a picture of a bike, broken down a bit, for those like me who do not know all the parts and things that need to be cleaned tightened or adjusted as time wears on your bike.

Over the Fourth of July weekend my hubby and I biked around Santa Cruz, and I found a bike shop that was very helpful in getting his seat completely fixed after I found I was missing a piece.  If you are ever down there and need assistance with bikes, check them out Bicycle Shop.

I have now learned how to change tires and replace bike seats.  Next on my list of things to do is install a bike rack, but that may prove to be a bit more difficult.  I own a mountain bike,  not really something that is set up for all the commuting comfort attachments.

Now I ride my bike to work, but my hubby was not so excited for me to begin doing this.  A long time ago, in a far away land called Salt Lake City, I had a few accidents.  It seemed like once a year I had some form of brush with death, okay maybe it wasn't that bad each time, but the car wreck was pretty dangerous.

I ruined my bike and then proceeded to crash with my mother's bike. Now to be fair, although I did have a rash of wreck way back then, I've been wreck free for years now.  I've also not ridden my bike for a while, but really I'm not nearly so reckless as I was back then.  Honest.

so there might be some cause to worry about me and bikes

in my defense it was a long long time ago

I still feel bad about ruining my mom's bike

I think I ran into the car on this one, and ended up under their back tire. I'm still not sure how I got out without being hurt.  My current bike needs to have it's front wheel straightened out a bit as well, but it's nothing like this one.

Of course I've been dreaming of a new bike, and this is one that I've been looking at.

Belleville WSD - Trek

2012 Allant WSD - Trek

These two bikes are nice, and have bike racks.  It would be so much nicer to have bike racks so I can use it for grocery shopping as well as commuting.  There are dreams, and then there are plans you make in order to make your dreams come true. I'm slowly on my way there.  Maybe one day I'll have better news than to report that I have not gotten into a wreck but have a brand new bike.  It would be nice to have a real one, a nice one than my old Walmart Mountain bike thing, although I'm pretty sure I still won't be able to just let go of it, as long as it works I'll be keeping it around.

7300 WSD -Trek

So, for now I will learn how to take apart my mountain bike, replace things, clean chains and all of the maintenance things I had never learned before. I'll also take extra care in not getting run over so that my hubby won't worry to much about me, you know, being crushed under someones tire.  I really should get my brakes checked out first though.

Cardio Cabaret, Burlesque Style [1/3] - Yoga Booty Ballet Live

Here is part one of three parts to this video. I found it on YouTube of course. This is one of my favorite work outs, it's not to high impact on the Cardio, but it's fun and sassy. Everyone has different levels that they begin at, and progress to and everyone is motivated by different things. These two motivate me, and I like that. Yoga Booty Ballet can be purchased through Beachbody.com, and through Amazon, amoung other sites on the internet.

Find the things that motivate you, and embrace them. 

My little love affair with Pilates

Working out, this is not necessarily a new challenge, but one I keep changing in my routine. I like to mix it up a bit, I get bored easily.  But there is one area I have needed to focus on, my abdominal area, this whole region seems to have issues.  I was told that yoga would help me in this area, but I have only done a little bit of yoga.

I've noticed that the only thing that has worked to change my stomach at all is Pilates.  I add the work outs into whatever other routine I'm doing and at least do the 10 minute one every day (when I'm being good, last week was not a banner week for me and work outs).

Okay, so there are one particular lady’s videos that I get, because I like them and they are effective.

Ellen Barrett, she is not a drill instruct type, but she does keep me motivated.

I have four of her crunch videos the one I use daily is the Crunch Pick Your Spot Pilates, there are four 10 minute work outs: Belly, Buns, Thighs, Total Body

The Belly, as you can imagine, is the one I focus on.

I also do the Crunch Fat Burning Pilates, Crunch Burn and Firm, and the Crunch Super Slim down

Ellen Barrett

I have also done the Yoga Booty Ballet from Beach Body, and they have similar moves, but I used them in conjunction with one another so I'm not sure how well they would do on your stomach without at least the 10 minute Belly work out.

Sit ups, leg lifts, and all of that stuff just have not given me the same results.
So go ahead and get moving.  I am a firm believer that any exercise you will do on a consistent basis, is good.  If you give up, get hurt, or get bored you are not doing yourself any favors.  Find what you love,or will at least do, and begin there, then maybe later on you will want to add more things in, but at least you are doing something now. 

Lime, the taste of summer

I love the taste of lime, and I love fish tacos, so the combination is just fabulous.  Lime infused water, Tilapia on corn tortillas with shredded cabbage.  The first time I made this I used Lemonaise on the tortilla.  I have since decided to use coleslaw dressing for the second batch.  I might not use any sauce except squeezed lime the next time I prepare these.  There is really no other prep to this dinner, and I love it.

So, dinner was fun and the work out was a beast.  I will have to post reviews of all my work outs some time.  Today's work out was new, and it really pushed me beyond my comfort level.  Brazil Butt Lift is tough, and he believes in squats, as many of my work outs do, but this guy takes it to a whole new level. 

So, that's the goal.  To get back to my normal size and be lifted and toned.  hmm...soon I will be adding Zumba routines into the mix. 

My work out buddy had better not say that I'm not working her out enough.  Between these two the only reason some one would not get a good work out is because they did not put their whole effort into it.

Summer in all it's glory is here, and halfway through, if you haven't gotten your beach body yet get started and have a great one going into the fall. 

Walking buddies

I read an article in WebMD about exercises and some of the things that help you stick to your routine, having an exercise buddy was one of those incentives.  I have a friend I walk with, she and I discuss our lives and we both get a good walk.  We started not knowing each other real well, and now we share many details of our lives I never would have shared in class where I had originally met her.  This last week though I felt horrible, because even after making plans to walk I came home and fell asleep, completely forgetting our walking appointment.  She is very forgiving, and I am grateful.
I was thinking though, there are many people out there in the world, and many people who tell you they are your friends, but they don't stick with you, and others who never really talk about friendship they just practice it.
So, I say we toast to friends, those who practice it.

 

Here is a picture of the group of ducks that have hung out on our front lawn all spring.  That girl is popular.

Love Peace and Yoga Booty Ballet

"Yoga May Help Fight Depression" - this WebMD article was encouraging and inspiring, not because of what is said really, but because of what it confirmed.  I was told that Yoga would be good for me to include in my daily routine, along with doing some Sumi-e painting at night.  These both have positive benefits for my health, exercise and helping me stay focused.  I tease my hubby but there are more times than not that I'm the one that needs to focus in our relationship, it's just odd when he gets sidetracked and I remind him to get back to center.  I need him to be centered, since I most definitely am not.
All of that to say I will have to start up my Yoga-Booty Ballet again.