This is a program taken from http://hundredpushups.com/ Initial Test: Push ups:  10 Squats:    110 Week One, Day One Push Ups Set 1:  6 Set 2:  6 Set 3;  4 Set 4:  4 Set 5: as many as possible (min 5) 7 Did it.  Push ups are not easy for me.  Yikes. Squats Set 1:  19 Set 2:  19 Set 3;  19 Set 4:  24 Set 5: max (min 27)  41 Squats are easier.  Now off to stretch!

alfheimr
I hope that you have an awesome day, you totally deserve it.  You are the best friend anyone could ever have and I love you bunches and bunches!

The new Body Positive Newsletter is up at http://budurl.com/bpn930

This week we are highlighting Golda Poretsky, a Health at Every Size Wellness Coach, and some really awesome body positive things that have been in the news lately.

Don't forget to appreciate your awesome body today!

This week's newsletter features Lesley and the Fatsionista LJ community!

If you are interested in checking out the newsletter just click here!

At long last the first Body Positive Newsletter is finished!  To view it just go to www.budurl.com/bpn909

Check it out!  Join the mailing list!  Tell your friends!

Woo Hoo!!!!!!!!!!!!

(I think I may have set a record for number of exclamation points used relative to the number of other characters in a post, please excuse - or join in on - my exuberance)

!

I had a dance lesson today during which I got my new waltz choreography.  This is significant because I don't really like waltz and for the first four years of my dance career I had a waltz that I hated.  Then last year Rowdy choreographed a new waltz for my then-partner and me that I really loved.  I was finally getting into waltz, enjoying dancing it and feeling good about it.

My partner and I broke up and now Rowdy is learning all of my routines except the waltz - I get the same waltz that everyone else has.  And I hate it.  The choreography is difficult to do but not interesting to watch (which typically means that the judges don't give you any credit for doing it and it scores really low).  I find the routine boring and it doesn't show any of my strengths because it was choreographed for people who can't do what I can do.

I'm thinking that I'll just get a long black dress with no embellishments and hope nobody notices me when I'm dancing.  And that's sad, because I always want people to notice me when I'm dancing.  I've asked him repeatedly and he said that The only solution that I can think of is to dance Waltz with another instructor.  That is tricky on a couple of fronts.  First, it will royally piss Rowdy off but that won't be a first for us.  Second, it means that instructor will HAVE to be at the same competitions as Rowdy or I won't be able to compete for the all around since waltz is required and that could be a scheduling nightmare.

I'm going to have to bring this up to him again and he's probably going to be pissed but thinking about doing this waltz just makes me feel miserable and I 'm not paying this much money to be miserable.

Buffy Sing-a-long is happening September 19th in Houston.  Anybody want to road trip?

http://www.swamp.org/buffy

Finished doing the postcard labeling part of my client project around 7 today.  Tomorrow I buy stamps and finish the project - awww, I guess I'll have to sit and watch more movies :)  Wanted to go see the new Harry Potter but couldn't find anyone to go with (pout).  Instead I was uber-productive.  I went grocery shopping, cleaned the house, did my laundry, made a sheppard's pie from scratch (including from scratch mashed potatoes).  Upside - super yummy casserole goodness.  Downside - my house smells very strongly of garlic.

I also started on a tax project that I am working on for a client.  

This was a generally and specifically awesome weekend.  I feel mighty!!!!!

One of my clients has a last minute postcard labeling and stamping job that he asked me to do.  That means that I have an excuse for sitting around and watching movies.  Woo Hoo.

Think I'll start with Stage Beauty and see where it goes from there.

Just crazy right now!  I have had to shut down one of my two businesses because of a policy change, change the business model of my second business, have broken up with my boyfriend, am moving and my dance company has had two awesome performances.

The biggest thing I'm working on right now if filling my June 30th Renegade Organizer Workshops.  The details are below, if you are in Austin (or want to come here on the 30th!) and you're interested, let me know and I'll give you a special "reads my LJ" discount :)


Renegade Organizer Workshops:

I'm cleaning out my closet.  I've got clothes from 22-28, bras from 44B to 44D, and shoes in 8 Wide.  You can see pictures here

Discounts for multiple items, prices are negotiable.  I am willing to mail the items to you if you prefer. Happy shopping :)

You can see photos here: http://www.budurl.com/clothesforsale

( List of clothes with descriptions here! )

Hi Lj Peeps!

As I've mentioned, I started a new non-profit called the Body Positive Dance Company.  We are a professional dance ensemble who prove that dancers come in all shapes and sizes.  Our goal is to provide people of all sizes with the opportunity to have fun moving their bodies in completely body positive environments, as well as to advance the principles of Health at Every Size.  We do this through performances (you can check us out in our first ever performance here!)   Dance classes which we teach every Saturday, and community workshops. 

Obviously this is something I really believe in and we need some help to get rolling.  The start-up costs for getting incorporated, getting 501(c)(3) status, rehearsal space etc. are going to be about $2,500.00.  Eventually we'll get some corporate sponsorships, but in these beginning stages we're hoping that individuals who are believe in what we are doing will help us out.  That's where you come in.  If you are interested in helping,  just  Click Here!  and enter the amount you would like to donate.  Every little bit helps!  For more information about the team or the classes, just go to www.danceswithfat.org.

If you wanted to re-post this that would be awesome.

Thanks a ton!

Susan Boyle from Britain's Got Talent, you are my hero!

Unbelievable and inspiring performance of a song I thought that I was completely sick of.  Just amazing.

My dance team, Body Positive Dance, had our debut performance after only a month of rehearsal.  You can check it out here!

Enjoy!!!!

You know how sometimes it can take a while for a dream that you have to come true and sometimes it happens right away?

On December 9, 2008 at 11:25pm, I decided to stop thinking about teaching dance classes for bigger bodies, and having a performance team (which I had been doing for a couple of years) and make a few posts around Live Journal to see if anyone might actually want to take them.

Three months and 4 days later, not only are the classes going strong but it is the night before the performance team's debut.  And let me be the first to tell you, they are incredible. 

We originally planned to debut on June 7th so we are pushing hard to get the choreography.  I gave them difficult choreography - it's fast and intricate, I gave them really tough partner stunts, and they just learned it.  I created a precise walk on, bow and walk off sequence, and they just learned it.  I got really specific about foot position and hand position, and they just learned it.

After the performance I'll post the video, but for now let me say that when we finished the trick and all six people slammed the floor at the same time during our VERY FIRST full music run through, it was like my whole dream came together right there.

I cannot begin to express my gratitude to the members of the class who come and, through sheer force of will, create a space for us all to love and respect our bodies in a culture where that seems like an impossible feat.

And I know I will never be able to express what it means to be part of a group who are willing to put themselves out there to prove that dancers come in every shape and size.

Thank you!  Thank you!  Thank you!

Join us tomorrow from 8-10pm at the Dancing for Dachshunds fundraiser  Watch some dancing (maybe dance a little yourself) and support the Central Texas Dachshund Rescue as they try to find homes for wayward little dogs!

Last Years Cholesterol Test:

Act 1:
Doctor:  Step on the scale.
Me:  Why?
Dr:  To get your weight
Me:  How is that relevant to a cholesterol test?
Dr:  If you're overweight that can contribute to high cholesterol.
Me:  (laughing hysterically) IF I'm overweight?  Doesn't this job require that you have decent eyesight?
Dr:  (not amused) Step on the scale.
Me:  No thank you.
Dr: Look...
Me:  Move on.


Act 2
Dr. Takes blood pressure (116/70)
Dr: Take 3 more times
Me:  My blood pressure is typically about 117/70, is there a problem?
Dr:  I doubt these results.
Me:  You took it 4 times, are you typically incompetent at this?
Dr:  Let's move on.

Act 3:
Dr:  What drugs are you taking.
Me:  None
Dr:  You should consider a Statin Drug
Me:  Shouldn't we take the test first?
Dr:  If you insist
Me:  In fact I do
Dr. does blood test
Results:  Chol 170 (goal is less than 200), HDL 49 (goal is more than 40), Triglycerides 119 (goal is less than 150)
Me:  According to this chart, my results are "Exceptional" even for a thin person, right?
Dr. I doubt these results.
Me:  I'm leaving now.

Paid over $200.00 for the experience (I'm self-insured)


This Year's Cholesterol Test
Went to People's Pharmacy in Austin, they are so completely awesome!!!!!!!!
Olivia greeted me pleasantly, did the test.
Results:  Chol:  169, HDL 51, Triglycerides 118
Olivia:  This is exceptional, you are great!
Me:  Thank you so much for being so pleasant and not give me the "Hey, you're fat speech" before you did the test.
Olivia:  People have done that?
Me:  Yup! Doctors.
Olivia:  They must have felt silly when they saw the results.
Me:  Nope, they doubted the results.
Olivia:  Huh?

Paid $35.00 for the experience.


The morals of the story:

• People's Pharmacy Rocks
• I'm a morbidly obese (DEATH FAT!!!!) very fit professional athlete with a blood panel that is Exceptional!
• I've only been to the doctor 5 times in the last 5 years (for routine physicals) so I guess my fat ass isn't too much of a DRAIN on the healthcare system
• There are probably lots more like me
• Suck it, Fat Police

I recently saw this picture in a magazine and thought OMIGOD they sell fat Barbie, I want to buy a fat Barbie.
( Fat Barbie!!!! )

It turns out it's actually an anti-obesity ad (Oh Noes, DEATHFAT IS COMING FOR YOU!!!!).  The tagline of the ad is "Keep obesity away from your children".  There is another one with a fat superhero and one with fat pirates. 

I think it's a bit irritating but it's mostly just bad advertising.  What is the primary take-away?  Are parents meant to look at this and think "Oh no, little Johnny could grow up to be a fat pirate!"  Or are you not supposed to buy your kids toys that represent  people with bigger bodies - oh, wait, these toys don't exist.  You can, however, purchase a Barbie Doll whose proportions are actually physically impossible to achieve, that ought to be great for your daughter.

And what do they mean "keep obesity away?"  Obesity isn't like a big giant ball of fat that chases after your kids that you swat away.  What the crap?

And can we Please PLEASE  for-the-love-of-all-that-is-holy PUHLEASE be for health instead of against obesity?  I'm not a thin woman covered in fat.  I am a fat woman and so the war on obesity is a war against me and others who look like me.  We haven't had a ton of success in wars against stuff lately, how about we try a push for what we want?

At least this gave me a really cool new LJ Icon.

Here are some pictures of me dancing, and one of my Kung Fu Panda impression.   Doodle away (and thanks!)
( Peektures )