Bootcamp 6 mo later

6 months ago I joined Iron Will Bootcamp. 6 months ago I couldn't do a pushup, a squat or run 20 feet.  None of us could barely get through the warmup. We kept coming back, we swore, we grunted, sweated, spit (on accident while working out) and kept coming back.

About 2 months ago we all broke through and now we can push ourselves to finish, we can go until we feel that burn in out lungs. I can run an entire mile without stopping. Due to my injuries and arthritis in my hips, lower back, neck, shoulder and elbow I physically couldn't run.

Just to get through the first 3 months of camp I had to take a mild muscle relaxer and pain pill...I don't advise it, but I had to make a change in my physical self.

I  have lost 12 lbs. Ive lost 3 inches on waist, 3 in off my hips and even an inch off my thighs.

There are 5 of us that come regularly. One girl lost 22 lbs!

We sweat like animals, but laugh non stop

 I can do a real pushup!

 I dislocated my shoulder a few months back...it's almost back to normal but I wear a non-narcotic pain patch that also holds it in place...pops sometimes 

 Ok our instructors 9 year old daughter works out with us...she kicks our ass in everything

 At this point my butt and thighs are screaming for me to stop...burning!!! I am holding a 15 lb kettle bell.

 We I first started on the boku ball, I couldn't balance at all I would end up pushing it aside and doing it on the floor

 these are stars, they suck and I hate them...inches inches inches

 every mon wed and fri 5-6 pm $10 a class

TJ and Cal do the tough men training inside,,,TJ threw up on the way home friday. Hard freakin core for them.  With the boys it's around  $100 a week (for all 3 of us) total, but its so worth it. 

I can move, like really move...I had trouble walking down the block before

Now I have muscle

Anyone interested in joining let me know

Bootcamp

TJ and I signed up for a 6 week boot camp at Iron Dragon Innovative Training Facility in Lomabrd. The class meets every M-W-F from 5:30 - 6:30 pm.

It is a get down and dirty gym. They train professional MMA fighter's (mixed martial Arts)

web shots from Iron Dragon website

I have too many ailments, that working out at my healthclub just wasn't working. I would just end up in muscle spasm Hell!

The instructor Mick is great, he motivates and the stuff we do....anyone can do. We do a lot of core strengthing circuits which keeps everyone moving. There are about 8 of us in the class...TJ, another teen and the rest of them are in my age bracket.

My body is riddled with arthitis and the best thing is to work out and keep moving. It hurts like HELL, but a good burning hurt.

I may sign TJ up with a personal trainer after bootcamp to get him back into chiseled shape

Today kicked my ass, we ran on the prarie path for the last 1/2 hr. I did a walk fast/run slow type of deal....by the end I was walking and wanted to faint. Blood sugar plummeted ...nothing like getting into your car and shoving 5 mini NestleCrunch bars down your throat. No I am not diabetic...I have been tested for everything sugar related. I just have a fast metabolism and I didn't eat enough dinner.

2 classes down and 16 left. I may weigh and measure myself tomorrow and see if anything changes  by the end of camp

Wish me luck!

My 1 st official photo...awe

I received an email from the Lombard Fire Dept with a link to the village website. Yay Me!

We have a new Lombard Fire Department Chief and I was very honored to be asked to shoot Chief DiRienzo's official photo

me...a hot mess

So for a solid week I've been driving in the god awful heat with my top down. It's just too hot for my air to keep up with a cloth roof. On Friday the 6th I drove to work 25 miles, then drove to Long Grove 22 miles. I was absolutely soaked by the time I got there...I mean soaked. I grabbed Cal and Karrick (they were there for a week plus)  a full computer, flat screen, the Wii, some toys and their luggage. All of this in my tiny car. While driving to Lombard, right passed Woodfield I noticed my gas gauge said 10 miles til empty. I would make it to the next exit or so I thought....sweating like a whore in church on Sunday, I continued driving....within 2 miles my car just ran out of gas. FUCK!!!! It's a 112 with heat index, I have 2 kids in the car and I fucking run out of gas? I coast to the shoulder and park. Ca l and I tried to find a gas station via our phones but it was too sunny and too loud on 53. I decide to walk to find a station. I grabbed Karrick and left Cal. 45 min later I return empty handed , but almost delirious from the heat. I carried Karrick part of the way and kept him in any shaded areas while walking. I called 911 and they send a State Trooper. He takes 1 look at me and puts all of us in the squad to cool off. He gets warm water bottles from his trunk for us to drink as he calls for back-up and the 2nd trooper has gas...Booyah!

I start laughing...yes laughing because this whole thing is just ridiculous. I have a invisible sprinkler pouring water down my head  so I use Buttercup as my sham-wow to constantly dry off. 

Karrick with a look of horror on his face throw his hands up and asks in a very stern voice

 "what are you laughing about?" I had no idea. The trooper tells me he is calling 911 for an ambulance as he thinks Im not acting right.. 

All the while I keep thinking "I have a giant 75th birthday party for my dad in less than 24 hrs and really?! I don't have time for this. Ambulance comes and asks me to get out of squad

2 paramedics grab an arm and support me walking to the ambulance...I am now super dizzy and my fingers and lips are tingling. I can't catch my breath and continue to rain sweat on everything.

Once in ambulance I am packed in ice packs, IV, heart monitor, blood pressure and glucose level are all checked. 

They take me, Cal, Karrick, the luggage, computer, Wii and my camera bag all in ambulance to Alexian Brothers ER.

My body temp is high, blood pressure is high and still sweating. They take a bunch of blood to make sure toxins haven't been released into my muscles. That comes back normal except my potassium is low. They give me supplements, keep ice on me, IV and monitor temp and BP.

All I can worry about is..the party, I have so many things to finish up for my dads party. I need to go and go home now! A few hours later I return to normal...tim shows up from downtown. My wonderful brother in law picked up my car on the side of the road. The equally wonderful trooper waited with my car and key til Brian got there (otherwise towed at 180 bucks)

I had Heat Exhaustion 

Arrow marks where we stopped...look around not a freaking gas station for miles!

this was me

My hero's to the rescue....

Unfreaking-believable how in Gods name do I get heat exhaustion ? 

Ex lifeguard  and ex paramedic...just insane! almost a sin

family and Thanksgiving

 Tim's brother Mike and family came in from Colorado for the week. My niece Kristin and her fiance Jack came in from Boston. Jack is from England and they met at college in Boston. It was a great week and loads of fun. My sister in law Chris is the blond version of me. After the few months I've had it was great to just laugh. I set my timer on the camera to capture all of us...clearly I belong behind the camera. My right arm was injured (unable to move or use.. ridiculous pain) so I couldn't even do my hair or readjust my scrunchie. Below I prematurely started cheering at the success of the timed pictures (there are at least 4 more like it)

The rope swing on the hill was a huge hit

 Karrick and Fergie snuggling 

I tried super hard to get my other 2 nieces over for a total grandchildren picture but was not successful

My new toy

I got the most amazing camera equipment for my birthday, my favorite being the new

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro Lens    that just came out

Holy cow it is freakin amazing! I haven't had time to watch the CD to figure out all the features and settings, but I'm sure these pictures will be the worst I ever take which is pretty good. It is hard to keep my hands steady that close up, but I also got a new tri-pod which is just a pole so a "uni-pod?" It's hard on the the side lines to use the tri-pod...the shot is gone by the time you get the legs set

Some other camera add-ons made for one spectacular present

Thank you so much honey!!!!!

My visual art debut

 Yesterday I headed downtown to be part of a visual art film project being shot at the

Tri-beca Flashpoint Media Arts academy. Can I just start out by saying....this six story film/art/music/animation school is so freakin cool, decorated with breathtaking and interesting artwork. I almost wish I was super artsy so I can go here. I want to go back and take photos of it all. I loved the vibe I got while being there. I'm usually on the waiting room end of all things artistic.

My kids agency Lily's Talent Agency gets requests for the non-actor/model...the real life person. Finally one came along that was made for me. An artist had an idea to do a visual art piece using real moms. The piece   

"It is meant to grant a sense of well-being and kindness ie. a corrective emotional experience"

The goal is to have this film displayed in Contemporary Art Museums .

I was brought to the studio and put in front of a green screen for a good 30-40 min. I spoke and I even sang a song....YES I DID! 

My kids would be mortified. When I was done the artist/director "Tim" told me I did great and even used the word "excellent". Then Tim walked me out (from the 6th floor to the first) uh huh,  sure did! okay he was going on a break, but whatever...

While we were walking, he of course mentioned my kids very unique and cool names AND he complimented me on my "wonderful smile that just LIT UP THE SCREEN!"  Lit up the screen, people...yeah, ME!

All I'm sayin is, "Julia Roberts, watch your back!"

I drove home with my box of chocolates, small monetary wage and parking fee paid for...on Cloud 9.

Hopefully this man's dream becomes a reality and I don't end up on the "cutting room floor" see I even have the lingo down.

It was fun and I was nervous as HELL. When I got to work this morning I received an email from the

 cinematographer that I originally set up the appointment with. I will copy and paste his email

"thank you for helping us out on this film.  I heard your warm Irish smile lit up the screen.  much appreciate your time."

A STAR IS BORN people....just sayin