Merry Christmas! I hope everyone had a joyous holiday! Mine was interesting! This was my first Christmas on my own in 13 years. I didn’t have a huge family dinner to get ready for. I didn’t have the planning and decorating. In a way it was sort of sad. I didn’t even put up a Christmas tree this year.
It was my first lesbian Christmas!! I thought Santa would bring me rainbows and things! Just kidding! It was my first Christmas where I wasn’t stressed about the fact it was Christmas! I made an apple pie for the girlfriend and tacos and went to her house. We watched movies, I napped, we ate, I napped, we watched movies and ate! And then we went to Chinese food! It was amazing! There was no tension, no complaining about family members, no worrying if the nephews liked my Christmas presents, nothing!
I did get the greatest Christmas present this year though! I know it sounds sappy, but this amazing girl I’ve met! She brings out this big stupid grin on my face when I see her and makes me so damn happy!
Rainbows and fractures
Sorry it’s been a bit quiet on the blog front. I have been off skates for about three very long weeks since I fractured my hip during a fall at practice. I have about three weeks of off skate time left and I am aching to get back on my skates!
More on the war front:
Recently I came out to my friends and family as a lesbian. I have been married for 11 years and I have a daughter who I worked very hard to get pregnant with. However, I have not felt right in my own skin. I have known for a few years that I was interested in women.
When I joined derby, I never expected to meet a woman who I would be willing to throw away my safety net, jump on the high wire, and just start going. But then I met, we will call her DB. There was something about this woman and I knew instantly that I had some connection with her. One day at practice she flirted with me, as she does with everyone, and I knew I had to have her. Long story short, we’ve been together for almost two months.
In those two months I have rediscovered myself. It feels like there has been a damn in my mind and that damn has broken free. I want to write again. I want to make beautiful objects. I want to feel sexy and alive. The best part is, I don’t want to this for her. I want to do this for me! Sure she reaps the benefits, but I am doing it for me!
More on this topic later, but SURPRISE! this blog had been taken over by a roller derby loving, nerdy adventuring, book reading lesbian!
Quick update
As most everyone around has pretty much figured out, derby has taken over my life. I spend 2 hours a day, 4 days a week on the track. When I am not on the track, I’m thinking about derby. Granted some of that may be due to the fact that every time I move, I feel every muscle in my legs.
The thing I did not expect when I joined my team was the therapeutic release it would give me. When I don’t think about what I need to be doing, I skate like shit. When I overthink, I skate like shit. There is a perfect balance of thought and effort that need to be on the track.
I am currently going through a separation from my husband of 11 years. It is the best thing that could happen to is. However, you can just flip a switch in your brain and stop those feelings and thoughts. My team has helped me, supported me, and loved me every step of the way. I don’t think I could do this without them!!
Oh and parting thought…I’ve lost 15 pounds!!
Lessons learned in the past 16 days
In the past two weeks I have found a new side of myself. I have discovered a new passion and a new love in my life! Going down that road I have learned some life lessons.
1.) I have discovered a competitive nature I didn’t know I had, not only against other people but against myself. This sounds like it would be beneficial to growth and all that, but it has lead to some serious frustration on my part. I want to be where everyone else is, speedily skating around the track, learning to block and hit, etc. Instead, I am this timid skater who is going to be an easy target on the track.
2.) I overthink things WAY too much. Last night during practice, I was told to focus on my coach. I did and holy shit! I was skating! The moment I went back to thinking about what I had to do, on my butt I fell!
3.) Derby isn’t a hobby! It is a sport but more than that, it’s a lifestyle and baby, I’m hooked. I wake up barely able to move because I am using muscles I didn’t know I had and my first thought isn’t “what am I doing?” my thought is, “when the hell do I get to practice?”
4.) The girls on my team aren’t teammates. They aren’t friends. They are family! I have never walked into a group of people and felt so welcomed and loved! There are girls on this team who know exactly what I am feeling. We have similar stories. We get each other. I know if anything was to happen on track and off most, if not all, of these girls would have my back!
So maybe isn’t life shattering news for some of my readers but it is important to me. I have finally found a place where I belong. I am accepted 100%! No one thinks I am weird. I don’t have to hold back. I can be myself. I can cry, scream, cuss and shout and as long as I get my ass back up and try again, I am going to make my spot on this team.
Derby Girl or Flailing Giraffe
Two weeks ago today I embarked on a new adventure, renegade roller derby. I have wanted to play derby for years, but I was the kid in the skating rink who was sickened when they told everyone to clear the rink because I was always at the farthest point from the rink exit and was clinging to the wall for dear life.
However, at the Tucson Comic Con I met a group of amazing women told me that I didn’t need to learn how to skate, they would teach me. I just needed to show up on Monday. So Monday I show up with shiny skates, protective gear, this cute little helmet! I spent the next two hours clinging on to my coaches arm and falling on various body parts.
Fast Forward two weeks and I am no longer needing to hold on to someone to skate. I am falling less, but still falling. I have lost almost 8 pounds and gained about five new bruises. I get so extremely frustrated I throw my gear and scream profanities across the track, pick it all up, gear back up, and get back up. I have even cried, which is not something I like to do in public. I am not at the level the other girls are, but I remind myself (ok the entire team reminds me) I have been skating for 2 weeks! And it’s been the best damn two weeks!!
Cheesy Garlic Bread Monkey Bread
Lately I’ve been trying to serve fresh bread with dinner. I got a bread maker for my birthday last year and I love being able to make bread with ingredients I can pronounce. Well today we planted our herb garden with a very crabby five year old! So needless to say, I forgot to get the bread going. With the hubs and daughter at ballet, I searched Pinterest for a quick bread idea. So the following was inspired by ideas on Pinterest and really driven by the fact I didn’t have the necessary ingredients for the original recipe!
Cheesy Garlic Monkey Bread
1 can of Grands biscuits
5-7 triangles of Laughing Cow garlic and Herb “cheese”
1/2 stick of butter
2 tablespoons of garlic
Heat the oven to 350 and place the butter in a bunt pan. Stick the pan in the oven while the oven is warming up. Meanwhile, cut biscuits into quarters using a pizza cutter or whatever you can fid to cut said biscuits. Roll each quarter out with a rolling pin (or do it my way and mush it out with your fingers) put 1/8-1/4 of a triangle of cheese in the middle of each biscuit quarter and pinch closed. Pull the bunt pan out and add two tablespoons of garlic to the melted butter (I just realized you could throw the garlic in with the butter in the very beginning). Add the biscuit pockets to the bunt pan and bake for 20-25 minutes until golden brown. Allow to cool for a few minutes and invert onto a pan! Enjoy!
Yes! I know this is neither clean or healthy, but it sure is yummy!!
The Best Day of Your Life!!
Wall and Exercise Ball Workout!
This morning while lying in my nice warm bed I began my morning ritual of checking out Pintrest. Cruising through all the pins of caramel brownie bacon cakes with extra bacon added, Chevron painting Ideas (I thought that was a gas company), and R2D2 Mittens (I totally want a pair) I discovered this little gem! I looked at the clock and thought….hmm 5:30 a.m.? Not too early to get up and get moving. I can do a quick, easy workout and take a shower and have plenty of time to shower, put on makeup, throw in my contacts, do my hair, make breakfast and be a super mom! Or I can turn off my phone, roll over, and go back to sleep in my nice warm bed. My newly blown up exercise ball was calling my name from the bathtub (don’t ask!) and so at last I got out of bed.
Exercise ball back stretch
My exercise ball was nice and cold from its overnight stay in the bathtub. I warmed up with a 1 minute back stretches, mostly because I wasn’t quiet awake.
Push ups with exercise ball
As the cold began to seep into my back, I rolled over and 20 push ups with the exercise ball. Starting with your bell on the ball, walk yourself out with your arms until your lower legs are supported. Take a moment to balance yourself. Lower yourself down, bending your elbows. Return to the start position by straightening your arms. I love these because you have to use your core muscles to maintain your balance on the ball. Thus, I find myself squeezing those core muscles as I lower myself towards the ground.
Leg Lifts
I finished the exercise ball routine off with a leg lift move I think I may have invented this morning (after searching for an image to share I found out I am not that cleaver). Basically after my push ups I rolled back onto my belly, lowered my arms onto the floor. With my weight resting on my forearms and the ball under my belly I raised both legs. I kept them raised for 30 seconds and then returned to a start position. I did three reps of these.
Wall Bridge
Then I moved on to the exercises I discovered on Pintrest. After looking at the pictures and reading the description of these wall exercise that do NOT involve squats, I said piece of cake! Well that piece of cake will really show you how you really should stop eating so much cake! These compose five exercises. You do 10 slow, CONTROLLED reps of each move. Start the wall bridge. Lie on back with butt against wall, arms at sides, knees bent, and feet planted 3 to 4 feet up wall. Exhale and peel lower and mid back off floor, keeping shoulder blades down, so body forms a nearly straight line from chest to knees. Hold for a deep inhale, then exhale and slowly roll back down.
Windshield wipers
Next is the Windshield Wiper position. From Wall Bridge starting position, extend legs straight up against wall so body forms an L. Inhale and slowly lower left leg down wall like a clock arm toward 9 o’clock; exhale and return to start. Repeat with right leg, sweeping toward 3 o’clock. Continue to alternate legs until you’ve completed all reps.
Toe Reaches
The third exercise utilizes the Windshield Wiper position. These are toe reaches Return to Windshield Wipers starting position, hands on belly. Keeping abs tight and chin tucked slightly toward chest, lift head, shoulders, and upper back, reaching right hand toward left foot. Lower and repeat reaching left hand to right foot. Continue to alternate until you’ve completed all reps.
Wall Scissor
Next comes the Wall Scissor. From Toe Reaches start position, bend knees to plant feet on wall. Peel back off floor, keeping shoulder blades down, and step feet up wall so body forms a diagonal line from feet to chest. Bend elbows and support lower back with hands; keep shoulder blades, upper arms, and head on floor. Lower left leg toward head as far as you can, keeping both legs straight and abs tight. Return to wall and lower right leg. Continue to alternate until you’ve completed all reps.
Knee Presses
Finish up with Knee Presses. Lie on back, butt against wall, knees bent, and feet planted 3 to 4 feet up wall. Peel lower and mid back off floor and cross left ankle over right knee. Squeeze butt and front of thigh to press left knee toward wall. Do 20 pulses, then lower body and repeat on opposite side.
After I was done I felt pretty proud of myself! When I got up I realized just how much these work your legs, abs, and lower body! For more advanced or easier ways to perform these wall exercises and for video, check out the original website here!
Weight Loss Challenge Update
I am happy to report that despite everything that has been happening over the past week, I have still managed to drop 4 pounds! My daughter has contracted some type of plague and has been running a fever, vomiting, and have nuclear green, glow-in-the-dark snot coming out of her nose! It hasn’t been fun to deal with and since she has been home from school, I am totally off track with my exercise. We won’t go into the fact that the past three or four nights I have resorted to “fend for yourself” dinners. However, I am drinking a lot more….water and tea….and I am taking my vitamins regularly. I have noticed a major improvement with my cravings and my energy level is much higher!
So that is why the blog has been a little quite this past week, but never fear. Starting next week you will see more recipes, motivational quotes, and much, much more!! I hope everyone is having a fantastic week!!
If you haven’t had a chance to check out my Personal Trainer’s webpage, go!! She is amazing!! For only $30 a month you get 24/7 access to a personal trainer, personalized training and meal plans, and someone to be accountable to while still being flexible and working out at your own pace!! Make sure to tell them that Kimberly Mangan referred you!!
http://www.fitandflourishing.com/2013_HEALTHY_REVOLUTION_.html
Fit and Flourishing Personal Training
Fit and Flourishing Personal Training
I am now a recruiter for Fit and Flourishing Personal Training!
Fit and Flourishing is an online program that is run by a certified personal trainer and certified nutritional consultant. She is also a weight loss surgery patient so she is experienced with Bariatric surgeries and procedures. Every week she gives you workout plans and meal plans for you to follow. You have access to her 24/7 and she is amazing about getting back to you with any questions or concerns you might have. The program costs $30 a month which includes both the personal training and meal plans. You get the first two weeks for free. She sends you a questionnaire to find out what your likes and dislikes, goals, etc are. You don’t need to have a gym membership and you can do your workouts whenever is best for you. Basically you have the flexibility but also you have the accountability.
Let them know that you were referred by Kimberly Mangan!
From Fat-u-lous to Fabulous!! 