Laura Lohr

Not Just an Alliteration

How I Cancelled the Gym Membership and Lost Weight

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We have less than a week before we head to New York for BlogHer and to Boston for fun. There are many things to be done: laundry, bills, organizing, shopping, and fifty other things that I cannot even think about. Finally, after months and months of planning (The planning actually started when the last conference ended, in all reality!), we are headed to the East Coast. I cannot wait to meet with friends, talk about blogging, take in a Broadway show, and vacation with Mr. Bear and Allie. I cannot believe it has been a whole year since BlogHer!

One of the biggest things I wanted to do before heading to BlogHer, was to lose a lot of weight. Well, that did not happen. I did not lose a lot of weight, but I did lose some.

It has been sort of a dream of mine for a long time to have our very treadmill. Going to the gym has not been very realistic, as every time I put Allie in Kids Club, she comes home with some sort of plague. The room has no ventilation and the bathroom is completely disgusting. It smells so bad in there that I have gagged each time I have gone. Evidently, they do not empty the Diaper Genie often enough because it is not doing its job. There is no change in cleanliness from visit to visit. Mr. Bear finally put his foot down and said he does not want Allie there anymore. Finding time to run outside, without a kid in tow has proved to be more and more difficult over time. The problem with owning a treadmill? Where to put the damn thing?

We found a great deal on a gently used treadmill on Craigslist and finally I have my very own! It has made it difficult to say, “I don’t have time.” “I can’t.” “What should I do about Allie?” Now, no excuses. That is where I have been for the past three weeks and I am proud to say I am sticking to this—sort of. I think one of the reasons it is so easy to find a great treadmill for a great price is that they become clothes racks. I have been determined not to let this one become a clothes rack here. It has not been as easy as I thought it would be, however. There are many excuses to let it sit, unused.

After some success, this past three weeks, we finally dumped the gym that we have paid monthly on since 2004. I shudder to calculate the cost of that. That is 8 years! I could have bought a new treadmill a year for that! We no longer have the pool to swim in, which is likely for the best. The pool was not much better than the condition of the Kids Club facility. Ick.

I set up a “TV shelf” in front of the treadmill for my laptop. My strategy for the treadmill has been to catch up or start all the TV series I have always wanted to watch, but never had time. I am ashamed to admit that I have been watching, “The Hills” after getting hooked on #RetroMTV in the mornings after dropping Allie off at daycamp. I am currently watching, “Drop Dead Diva” and I think it is an adorable show. I am loving Netflix right now and so is my shrinking waistline!

I am nursing a bum knee from the marathon training earlier this year. I am alternating running or jogging and walking. I am completely out of shape and feeling it on every workout. My weight is down and I have lost the same 9.5 pounds I have gained and lost since January. That is something, right?

A New Chapter. New Opportunities.

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A little less than two years ago, I went to a pre-BlogHer meet-up with other local San Diego bloggers. I was nervous about going to the meet-up. I was nervous about my first time at BlogHer. I had been blogging for more than five years at that point and had few meet-ups with friends I had met online. For me, meeting people from online “friendships” was still a bit taboo. What if these people were creeps? What if they thought I was a creep? My anxiety was running high. I bribed Mr. Bear to come with me to the meet-up. I was afraid I might need him to rescue me.

Mr. Bear was reluctant to go. He had a long day at work and coming to this “blogging thing” was not something he really wanted to do. He was on the fence about blogging. He was not quite sure why I was so mesmerized by putting my whole life on display, nonetheless, he supported me because it made me happy. Happy wife, happy life, as the saying goes.

Hours later, I had made many friendships. I met many women I felt I had a connection with and those friendships have blossomed throughout the past two years. Mr. Bear never had to rescue me that night. In fact, he practically had to drag me away. Furthermore, the results of that meet-up and the blogging opportunities that followed changed his mind completely about this “blogging thing.”

Months after BlogHer, a friend I had met at the BlogHer meet-up posted on Twitter about a part-time opportunity at the publishing company she works for. I applied for the position. I got the position. It was only supposed to be a part-time, temporary position for three months. I have been there for over 18 months now. It was surreal! I got my first job since I became a mom on Twitter. It was awesome!

Next week, this opportunity will end. I was well aware when I got hired that this position could end at any time. With budgets, my own skill limitations, my time constraints with wanting to be at home when Allie gets out of school, and numerous other hurdles that could arise—this opportunity could be 3 months or 6 months, but likely not forever.

In the past 18 months, I have learned so many new things. I knew very little about marketing. I knew very little about publishing. I knew very little in many areas that I now know significantly more about. I have had a lot of things happen personally during that time, including health issues and various other challenges. I have learned many skills in balance and planning, as being a working mom has had its own share of obstacles. I have loved these experiences, by virtue of the growth I have seen in my life professionally and personally. I enjoyed my job and the people I have worked with. I have loved learning new things and developing new skills. When you want to market your websites or business, it is better to ask SEO firms and experts from North Gold Coast.

We leave for New York City and BlogHer next month. I know that new opportunities await with the networking I will do. Sure, BlogHer is parties, swag, and fun, however I will never approach another conference or meet-up the same again. There are friends to meet, connections to make, and grand possibilities ahead. It is all about the people. You never know what these fabulous experiences may offer. Two years later, I have many friendships from BlogHer 10 and the pre-BlogHer meet-up.

I walk away from this chance meet-up with a multitude of blessings: friends, job opportunities, new skills, a discretionary income, and no regrets. While I am sad to see this chapter end, I know in my heart there is something new on the horizon and I am anxious to see what is waiting for me.

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