#47: A Sisterhood

When I was in my undergrad at WSU, I found the women and gender studies (WAGS) program and knew it was going to be interesting and something that I could really get behind. It is only offered as a minor so I jumped on board. I started with a class called Power, Privilege and Gender and I think that really changed my world. As my undergrad career went on and I faltered about the choice of majors I entered with, my WAGS minor stayed strong. I got the opportunity to study race and class on the most amazing travel study trip ever on the island of St. Croix in the USVI. I will never forget that trip and what it taught me. I took Feminist Theory, Feminist Political Theory and a field experience class where my friend Jaci and I created women-focused programs for students living in the res halls. Every class taught me something new. They taught me to be analytical and how to really think about the world around me and how I fit in. They taught me how to be strong, opinionated and confident. I know I wouldn't be the woman I am today if it weren't for the WAGS program.

So of course when I found out that WAGS was celebrating its 20th anniversary on campus this week, I had to come for the festivities. I couldn't make it to the Feministing.com panel on Wednesday (check out the website though, it is so current and covers so many issues and topics you might not otherwise hear about from your regular news networks). I was here Thursday for the founders panel luncheon where the handful of professors who started the WAGS minor spoke about their experiences. One of those professors actually sued our university and the MNSCU system for women faculty on campus to be paid equally with their male counterparts. I had no idea this happened and it was amazing.

Later in the afternoon, we had an alumni panel. I didn't want to sit on the panel because I really didn't think that anything I was doing in my life after graduation had anything to do with WAGS. Boy was I wrong. I happen to be in a situation in one of my classes that fit into the discussion perfectly and it was at that moment yesterday, looking around at all the amazing women who surrounded me on that stage (some I knew, some I just had the pleasure of meeting) and looking out at the audience at current students, faculty and some of the founders, I realized I was a part of a sisterhood of sorts.

I felt so comfortable being part of this group even though I wasn't very active in WAGS in college due to other commitments. Everyone was so friendly and attentive and genuinely interested in what each other had to say.

It was an amazing feeling.

Add this to the reasons I love Winona State University so much. I wouldn't have had this experience any place else and I realize now how unique and important it was to my growth and identity.

So if you ever have the chance, take a women's and gender studies course. I promise it will be thought-provoking and eye-opening and hopefully you'll learn something in the process.

Peak 10: Week Eight

I'm done!  I'm sad to say it but I'm done!

After our final workout on Thursday, I almost cried due to relief and also sadness that a small chapter of my life is over!

I will wait to post my final results when I get my pictures and info from Erin.  The good news is that it was worth getting up at 6 a.m. today to go to Bring It! for my final fit test.  It was early but the results were pleasing.

What's next for me, you ask?

TCO is starting a running club that I've decided to try out.  One of the physical therapists is going to be in charge and work with everyone in the group to modify and make the best run for each of us.  My knees suck but I'm going to the first run just to see how it goes.

I'd also like to find something that involves kicking.  Right now I am considering Tae Kwon Do because I know a TKD master and all... otherwise maybe I'll find a good kickboxing class.  I'm not sure yet.

Erin told us today that this is our new starting point- how we feel today is our new zero and it should only go up from here.  If someone asks us to play a sport this summer, we should do it (sand volleyball, here I come).  I plan to spend a lot more time outside this summer wearing shorts and being active.  I'm excited.  It should be good.

Anyway, I'll post again when I get my final results so you can see how awesome this was for me!  I can't wait to go from here.  I may have fallen off the "clean eating" wagon a bit today (first time I ate Panera in 2 months then I had gourmet donuts for dessert) but I'm back on tomorrow... or Monday.  :)

Peak 10: Week Seven

1 more pound down!  And my goal for the week is to lose 3 more.

On Tuesday, I did all the moves all the way through for the first time in seven weeks.  That means all of the kicks, all of the mountain climbers, all of the punches, all of the weight lifts.  It was an accomplishment to say the least.

On Wednesday I went to Zumba and kicked its ass.  The last time I went to Zumba was before I started Peak 10.  This time was awesome because the moves were easy (if not a little hard to catch on to with the choreography) and I felt great.  Then I did some reading and stayed for yoga.  

On Thursday, I freaked out about school and psyched myself out enough to skip Peak 10.  Luckily, I did actually get homework done when I stayed home so it was productive, I just feel bad for letting it happen.  School is catching up to me and not in a good way.

This morning at the cardio class, I made it all the way through which was difficult because I am sick and it is kind of hard to breathe on a normal basis let alone with a chest cold.  But still, I was there and I managed to make it through.  

One more week.  Two more weights classes and then our final fit test on Saturday.  Then we get rewarded with bagels.  Ha. 

I stopped by the Vera Bradley store tonight and all of my old coworkers told me how great I looked.  I really don't see a change but I look at myself every day so its nice to hear that other people see a difference with my working out!  

I'm excited to be done in a week but at the same time I really have enjoyed this class!  

Peak 10: Week Six

This week did not start well for me.  After a frustrating day at work on Tuesday, I went to Peak 10 and Erin told me I was doing a couple of the moves wrong.  I appreciate that she is there to help each of us succeed and overcome our individual issues.  Mine is posture.  I couldn't do dead lifts or squats correctly.  She showed me what I should be doing right and a couple of stretches to help the squats.  I was super frustrated after class.  I don't like to struggle.  I don't deal well with constructive criticism, even when I know its for the greater good.  I was displeased.

I woke up Wednesday morning determined to make a change.  I finally took the step to "eat clean" as Erin calls it and cut out all the processed foods I've been eating.  I had a kale, blood orange and grilled chicken salad for lunch.  I had chicken and asparagus for dinner.  Fruits and veggies are once again my only snacks.  On Thursday I had granola and milk with protein powder for breakfast, more kale and chicken salad and asparagus for dinner before Peak.

Thursday night Peak went so much better.  I'm still having issues with some of the moves like the push ups but I've never been able to really do a push up well so I'm not as frustrated about that.  I figured out the squats on Thursday.  I did okay with my dead lifts.  I felt so much better.

This morning when I weighed in, I was 1 pound lighter on the evil scale (Erin calls it the scale of doom because she knows its not 100% accurate but its what we started with so its what we're using).  They just installed a medical-grade digital scale so I checked myself on that and I weighed 3 pounds less than the scale of doom.  Erin high-fived me.  She said the medical scale is our true weight so I'm feeling a lot better about that.

This morning before I went to class I took this picture.

I wore all Under Armour clothes to work out today and thought, when did I become an athlete?  It wasn't until this week that I actually have been sore after workouts and made the changes I needed to.  I became an athlete this week.

Two weeks left!  Only one more full week with cardio and then the last week we'll do our fitness post-test instead.  Crazy.

Also, because I forgot to post this last week, here is the video that was on Twin Cities Live about our class!  I cannot embed the video so check out this link.

Peak 10: Week Five

Not much change this week other than the fact that new parts of my body keep hurting.  Left hip, right hip, right ankle, two parts of my left knee.  Such is the life of a person who exercises, I suppose.  Also I gained a pound.  Still not following the diet.  Bleh.

I went to a yoga class last week and loved it.  I found the right instructor so I'm pretty happy about it.  Of course I can't go this week because of snow today and cupcake baking on Wednesday but it'll work out next week.

I got to see my trainer at LA Fitness when I went to yoga.  We've been texting occasionally but I actually saw him and chatted with him on Wednesday and that made me happy because I miss him.  He is the reason I'm doing this Peak 10 thing so basically, I think he's great.

I'm trying to figure out what to do after Peak 10 is over now.  Bring It! has added some "Peak Performance" classes three times a week.  I'll probably do that for the first block of classes.  Either that or I'll just do various classes at Bring It!  Who knows.

Perhaps the best part of this week is that I have inspired my mom to start classes at Bring It!  They're doing a cool bunch of classes for teachers in my mom's district.  She said that I've been coming home with so much energy that she wanted to do the same.  I'm pretty excited for her.

Here's to three more weeks ahead!