Sharing an email I received from a fantastic woman.  Hip, cool, smart, fit, fierce! I asked her if I could post her message and she said that I could, if I believe her ramblings would mean anything to any of us.  (Hmmm...Rowe's Room is all about ramblings anyway, isn't it?)  I wanted to post it because, first and foremost, I would never have thought she would relate to the challenge I'm facing.  She surfs, she cycles, she swims, she is the epitome of athleticism (and being skinny)! Not that my misery loves company (okay, sometimes it does), but just shows us all that we all have our own little (and not so little) battles with ourselves.  Might not be about trimming down (big example - Miche's battles with his hardship on bulking up), might not be about eating less (there are those lucky ppl out there who "just can't seem to put on weight"), might be about wanting more "me" time, or more "together" time - we all have something that just displeases us about our lifestyles, our habits, okay, our bodies (or faces).  We all have something.  It is just a relief and nice reminder that even the people we view as "ideal" have their "stuff" to rant about.  And, it's great to collectively be able to joke about them or ramble on about them every so often!

How to age gracefully, my friend "M" says below.  I think the first step has been made - let's laugh along the way!!  That's more attractive and graceful than frowning and fretting.  Besides, I don't want to spend my $700 win on botox!  (Okay, that's another blog posting waiting to happen.)  Just sayin!

Perhaps,  the reason  why I've fallen in love with Zumba more than I expected to do so is because of the fact that it brings so much "gracefulness" to working out and to fitness.  I don't mean it in such a way that we are all so super graceful dancers at Zumba!  From what I've seen, experienced for myself is that there is a side of me that Zumba just brings out even for the one hour I'm doing it.  That side of me that is free, young, fun and yes, happy! For one hour, I have permission and reason to just dance in reckless abandon.  That one hour when I am not "mamma" nor "asst to the chairman" nor 47 years old.  We all know that our surroundings/environment/roles in life dictate and shape how we behave and carry ourselves.  But at Zumba, I have every reason to! No one is there to judge, and we take on the attitude of "there is no wrong way, just "your way."  If that is not "grace" then I don't know what is! 

So, M...thank you for letting me post your message.  Please keep reading and maybe your next comment will be directly on this page!  I'd love that.

(On the $700 bet front - today has been a good no-snacking on bad stuff day! Woo-hoo!)
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"hi rowe... hey gorgeous momma, how are you?

i took a look at your blog...and i will say, it hits so close to home in so many ways.  you are a gal after my own heart...athletic, smart, fitness minded....everything is good until perio-menopause steps in...what????  i am young and invincible, right?  um, but my body is not syncing up with my mind the way it did when i was in my 20's....suddenly, i find myself hit with a bod that is not the one that i was so well acquainted with in my 20's and 30's....really???  everything s-l-o-w-s down and does not recover the same as it once did in my teens, 20's, 30's and (god bless you, all the way to my early 40's)...i am not happy (at all!!) about it, but our bodies do change as we reach perio menopause and beyond....

that is the blog i want to follow....the one for women like us, that take care of our bodies above and beyond, and yet where o where is that range to age gracefully?  we need a forum for when our bodies begin that foreign (and most heinous) stretch of change....how do we move gracefully through this time???  

m. "

The $700 bet - slip slidin' away.....

I stepped on the scale last Friday for the weekly weigh-in.  Not to my surprise, I was at 130 lbs.  I was hoping that the kick-butt cardio kickboxing class I took on Wednesday would have made up for the no workout on Tuesday.  I was hoping that the run with Holly on Thursday, would erase the pop chips I ate, not once, but twice that day.  I was dreaming that the bloating from all that salt I ate, and the monthly cycle we women go through, would magically not matter on Friday.  I am sounding like Wimpy ( and certainly feeling like one!) in Popeye cartoons aren't I?  ("I'll gladly pay you Tuesday, for a hamburger today.")

Monday of last week started off wonderfully, as always.  Expectations were high of myself.  Taught my Monday evening Zumba class and salsa'd, cumbia'd, samba'd,  hip-hop'd up a sweat and took the heart rate up.  Tuesday came around, didn't even imbibe in champagne and cupcakes at Firefox Five Release Day at work.  Holding steadfast.  Miche called me to say he only had one client that afternoon and that switched my mindset to "stay home" kind of evening with family.  No workout.  No regrets though - I had such a great time being an audience to the little luvvies' impromptu performances.  It was so nice to not rush that evening, to not hurry them up, to just sit on the porch and watch them play, dance, sing.  The weather was perfect for just a time for us to "be."

Wednesday found me craving salt, sweet, salt, sweet.  One small bag of pop chips.  Deliriously and deliciously evil!  Bloat and blow up feeling, so quickly.  As if the sodium in that bag grew like gremlins in my pooch.  Okay, no worries...going to try out Nikki's cardio kickboxing class after work.  Cardio off this pop chips party in my belly feeling.

Thursday - that wonderful feeling of DOMs!  Soreness on the shoulders, soreness on adductors, soreness on lower back and glutes!  Yes!  Must mean that I seriously did damage to those pop chips.  Hey, why not treat myself and have another one today?  Besides, I'm going to be running  in the evening, PLUS, it's my first day of the cycle anyway and I'm already retaining water!  Uh huh...the kind of thinking that this chomp-chomp queen musters up each time.  The run...was so sore from cardio kb that the run was quite sad (but had wonderful company at the run, I must say).

Then Friday rolled in.  I was expecting it.  The scale would not go the right direction.  There it was...back to 130.  The opponent was quite gallant about it - reminded me that a pound, during the cycle, is not horrible.  I think he's trying to brainwash me so that I'll let my guard down!

Pop chips..I love you, I hate you. 

Team Rowe - I need your comments...I need your rah-rahs on this page!  Come out of the woodwork and support!

The Men In My Life

In honor of my dad, the man of very few words (except on paper), I have this to say: Thank YOU for the many long hours we shared silences together, only needing to "be" to become. In honor of my husband, whose ability to smile and find joy in everything: THANK YOU for seeing the good and the light in me, even when my silences can be loud and painful. Happy Father's Day to the two of you, one watching over me from somewhere and everywhere, one loving me and our family in any and every way.
- by Rowe Hoffer on 06 19 11

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The very first man in my life who showed me the importance of exercise and fitness was my father Col (and Atty) Diosdado Garcia Lapina.

The man I chose, choose and will always choose to spend my life with, the man who takes fitness to levels I never thought was even possible, my husband Miche Hoffer.

What a lucky girl I am to have (had) you in my life to inspire and challenge (and in Miche's case, to try and beat me on the bet).

From  Rowe's Room, growing up, it was usual to wake up to the sounds of my father hitting the punching bag at 6:00 am, the speed ball work, the jump ropes for quick feet.  All these, after he had already done his 4:30 am run of about 4 to 5 miles (sometimes, in bare feet).

Dad lived to 92, the only times ever having been hospitalized in his life were from an appendectomy in his 50s, then when he was 86 (when we realized he had diabetes -for decades!), then finally at 92 when his body was just plainly tired.  Even after his first serious diabetic seizure when he was "gone" for several seconds, after he had recovered and was able to walk about, I would find him doing wall pushups out in the front yard or doing punching moves.  He even talked about starting up his law practice.  LOL.

My girls, Ynez and Kajsa (aka Little Luvvies), have grown up to hear, see and know exercise as a lifestyle.  Thank goodness for our fitness gym being on the premises of our home.  They have been living a life of  our clients, classes every single day.  They have no questions about why we exercise, all they know is that people do.  In turn, as early as 3 years old, these girls have known what pushups, core work, pull ups are, among other things.  I pushed them around in their double strollers at our Monday and Wednesday Circuit classes around the Stanford sports complex as early as 4 months old.  They would then crawl around on a blanket at the end of the sessions when it was time for core work and stretches.  They know the layout of a track like it was their own yard, having watched Miche for years, every Sunday, training young athletes.  Now, it's not unusual for them to get on a lane each and do laps around (Ynez can actually go a full 400 meters without stopping).

I don't know whether sports and athletics will be something they'll do, or whether they will have theater in their system (like I did).  We will leave that up to them.  They have the good fortune, just as Miche did, to have two parents who are supportive and will not deny nor discourage them from trying things.  Whatever it is that they choose to pursue, whether it be athletics or theater or I don't know,  animal husbandry (couldn't think of anything else to say), one thing is for sure - that they are starting off with a strong understanding of the fact that everyone MUST exercise (in however way, shape and form).

The $700.00 bet - one week later

Weigh in day today: 129 lbs.  Okay, at least that's towards the right direction on the scale, no?

Thank you to all of you who posted comments on this blog page.  If you are reading this on my blogger page, I would so love to have you post here vs on the FB page.  You see, I leave this page open all day, every day!  Each time I hear the call of Pop Chips all the way from the 2 snack areas at work, I just look at my post and your comments and I get jolted to the fact that, holy crap, I just publicly announced my dress size!  Nervous laugh.  There is something to be said about baring it all (remind me about that when I've won the bet and won't be too depressed to remember the days of South Beach and Paris shoots) to hold you accountable for your actions (in my case, the chewing action).

So how did it go this week?  The one major thing that I removed from my eating habits (plural in a huge way) the past week was the snacking after dinner.  That was the hardest for me as for the past year, the logging on at night to do some work triggered off the munching and typing.  They just went hand in hand.  Clicking of keyboard, crunching of chips or whatever I find (with kids in the house, there is always bound to be something to munch on).

It was tough, it felt like something was definitely missing from the evening's routine.   To keep me from giving in, I started going to bed earlier than ever, I'd be in bed by 10 pm!  So, two good things happened -  no snacking and getting a good 8 hours of sleep!

Did I have any slip ups on the night snacking? Yes.  One night (tonight actually).  6 pieces of these yummy yogurt candied fruit thingies that the girls got on their Double Blessings Day from a friend at school.  Why did I slip?...who knows.  Maybe the one pound less fooled me into thinking that I could afford the sugary treats?  Maybe because of the disappointment that my Friday night, which I was so ready to get to and spend at home after a long and stressful work week ended up being the sh!t$?  Maybe PMSing...maybe all of the above.  Regardless, none of the above should become permission to fall back into the nasty habit, I know.  I KNOW...but...but..but...

So, after a week of working out everyday, of not snacking at night (cept for tonight), the scale went below 130.  Was hoping for more than that, but I know at my age, it's going to be one long, bloody, painful Iron Man.

Speaking of Iron Man, my opponent is doing extremely well and has gained 2 lbs.  So come on Team Rowe, keep the postings of comments coming please?  Let me have something to read and serve as reminder of the fact that there is no backing out of this!

Thank you for reading...and posting.  Thank you for the handful of private messages letting me know you're out there, with your own weight challenges too. 

So, this is no longer just my Iron Man. I share it with so many of you!

Thank goodness that tomorrow morning means 2 hours of Zumba.  I could pretend to feel sorry for myself for that but the truth is, 2 hours of Zumba is heaven to me.  So, 6 yogurt yummies...you will be burned off tomorrow morning.  Now to just remember NOT to imbibe at lunch (just cuz I had 2 hours of exercise in disguise).

Good night, yes...I am tempted to have just one more .....so best to close up shop and head to bed.

Ciao (not chow)!

The $700.00 bet

Age: 21.  Weight: 90.  Dress size: 2petite (no muscle, just thin, no idea about endurance).   Activities: Partying.
Age: 25.  Weight 95.   Dress size: 2petite (no muscle, but lots of endurance).  Activities: tennis (lots)!
Age: 30.  Weight: 100.  Dress size: 4petite (toned, not muscular, great endurance).  Activities: tennis, beach volleyball, grass volleyball,  indoor volleyball, high impact aerobics.
Age 35: Weight: 100.  Dress size: 4 (toned, more muscle, great endurance).  Activities: beach volleyball, grass volleyball, indoor volleyball, hiking Yosemite trails, partying (tsk-tsk).
Age 40: Weight: 123.  Dress size: 4 (toned, muscular, strong..as in squatting 135 lbs for 3 sets of 10 to 12, no kidding!).  Activities: kickboxing, weight-lifting, Circuit training. Workout warrior!
Age 41. Pregnant with twins.  Weight at end of term: 175 lbs.  Dress size: could only wear Miche's sweats. Activities: NONE - bedrest on 1st and last trimester.
Age: 42.  Weight (a week after delivery): 123. Dress size: 6.  Activities: feed, burp, change/clean babies for first 3 months.  Circuit training slowly comes back after.
Age: 44.  Weight: 125.  Dress size: 6 (toned, strong, muscles are back except for the twin aftermath tummy! Still, for a 44 year old mom of twins, no complaints!).  Activities: running, Circuit, weight lifting.
Age: 47. Weight: 130.  Dress size 8.  Un-f..-believable.  Activities: Zumba (lots).  Eating (lots, more than Zumba can cure).  Cocktails (yep, kinda lots too).

So a few things have happened between 44 and 47 (now).  Injuries that keep me from running at the pace and distances I did at age 44, falling in love with eating (anything at all times), and of course, getting older.  I'm not going to say less time to work out, however true, it is what it is and I manage to carve out as much time as I possibly can.  Besides, I would not trade being a mom for the body I had pre-kids, even if it means not being able to workout 3 to 4 hours a day like I used to.

The $700.00 bet with Miche - shook hands over the dinner table tonight.  The deal is that I lose weight and he gain weight. It's pound per pound.  Whoever has more, wins.  The bet is super hard for each of us.  Had it been the other way, that I win by gaining weight, it would be a sure shot.  I can outeat my 6'3 Viking hubby on any given meal.  However, he loses weight when he does not work out.  I gain a pound if I sit for two minutes.  He struggles to finish his plate of food.  I am thinking of what to eat next while I am still eating my food.

My mom would be so confused about this state of love affair I have with eating.  You see, up until I was 18 years old, I so disliked to eat.  At 1st grade, when all my friends were having lunch at the school's quad, I was in my mom's car, being fed hot lunches, prepared fresh by my mom (an exceptional cook) every day.  She, along with the driver and my "yaya" (nanny) would come to my school every day at lunch to make sure I eat.  When that became too painful to do (from both sides), she put me into the "half boarder" program and I had to eat lunch every day with the nuns of my school, at their cloister.  Man did that suck.  I can't remember how long I was there for, but most likely, even the wrath of the nuns did not help in my gaining any weight as I most likely did not eat even with their threats or guilt-trips.


Up until a year ago, it was not so bad that I had this "affair" with eating.  I kept thinking, as soon as I'm back to the kind of running I was doing, I'll be shedding pounds easily.  Here's the thing, the nagging pains are constantly with me that I don't know if I'll run THAT way again.  And here's the even worse part of it, instead of me curbing the amounts of food I gobble up each day because I'm not getting the same intensity of calories being burned, I even doubled up my eating.  Mental isn't it?

So, those of you who say (and thank you, bless your kind hearts!), "you look great!" and "wish I look like you at 47"..... that's all very much appreciated.  I love hearing that and it does make me not feel so "too far gone."  However, I know what I am capable of being (and I'm not "reflecting" to Age 30 either), realistically, at this age.  I know the state I am in is not because of "I'm 47" or "I've had twins" or "I'm injured."  The sad, basic truth to all this is that I need to EAT less, and eat well.  No, not starve myself by whatever diet du jour is out there  (so not the way to sustain), but just to break my patterns and habits of snacking at all hours I'm not asleep!  Literally, I'm like pacman (and no, not Pacquiao), my mouth is chewing at each step of the way!

Tomorrow morning, we weigh in.  And the tracking begins.  6 months of pound for pound competition.  Iron Man, pshaw.....that's nothing compared to what I have to endure.  The thought of the snack walls at Mozilla, filled with pop chips in that zesty barbeque flavor, the bags of Pirate's Booty, the vats of Peanut Butter M&Ms and Rolos...all for the taking any time of the day!

$700...cold cash, in my pocket.  That'll come in handy for when I shop for a hot, little number of an outfit to add to my future new closet!  A closet full of, right now, cute clothes that don't fit right.  So, the question is, will they fit right again and I get the $700?  Or do I pay Miche the $700, and I spend 5x that amount for bigger clothes for my new closet?

Let the games begin....