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By kilax, December 31, 2009 5:33 am

We all want to know – how much exercise do we really need each week? How little can we get away with?

There was an interesting (although VERY confusing) article on the Well blog covering this topic yesterday.  The article stemmed from a study done in Scotland that concluded you only need 20 minutes of exercise a week to increase your contentment. Okay, but how much do you need to be healthy?

That’s more difficult to define. The article went into a discussion about “MET” minutes, which are “Metabolic Equivalent of Task” minutes. Huh? Apparently  you need 500 of those as week, and they vary based on what you are doing for exercise and how intense it is. For example, running at 6 mph is a 10-MET activity. So if you run for 60 minutes, that is 600 MET minutes. So, you’re done for the week then? Confusing…

Has anyone heard of this MET mumbo-jumbo before? How do you decide how much to exercise a week? Do you have any exercise goals for 2010?

I aim for at least 30 minutes a day, but usually go by how I feel. If I am in the groove, I will keep going! If I feel like crap, I won’t work out at all.

A few other interesting points from the article (repetitive, but interesting):

According to the Physical Activity Guidelines report, “It has been estimated that people who are physically active for approximately seven hours a week have a 40 percent lower risk of dying early than those who are active for less than 30 minutes a week.”

Interestingly, they did not find that exercise beyond a certain point conferred significant additional health benefits. Instead, the “dose response” for exercise, the committee found, is “curvilinear.” In other words, people who are the least active to start with get the most health benefit from starting to exercise. People who already are fit don’t necessarily get a big additional health benefit from adding more workout time to their regimens.

You do not necessarily have to divide your exercise time into daily allotments, either. Existing “scientific evidence does not allow researchers to say, for example, whether the health benefits of 30 minutes on five days a week are any different from the health benefits of 50 minutes on three days a week,” according to the activity guidelines. Do what suits your schedule.

Meme time! Leah, Gelareh and Holly have all tagged me for the “7 Random Things About Me” meme. Thanks, ladies! Click “more” to read on…

And of course, Happy New Years Eve! Enjoy your evening and be safe!

Continue reading 'How little exercise can you get away with? / 7 Random Things About Me meme'»

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By kilax, December 25, 2009 6:01 am

Happy Holidays Everyone!

My family does a holiday photo each year (you can check them all out here). They usually have a funny theme, but this year, we actually took a serious photo to send out.

Anthony, Me, Steven, Mom, Nicholas, Dad, Thomas (baby) Nick, Courtney (SiL) and Christina

Don’t I have a gorgeous family (if I do say so myself)? I am happy we took these*.

The original Ilax clan

I get to spend today** with my other family – Steven’s parents and brother! They snuck in (from Kansas City) just before the ice storm and I am happy to be celebrating the holiday with them in our home this year! We’re so lucky that they were able to come out and share the day with us. It’s so nice to slow down and relax for once.

However you spend the day, I hope it is wonderful! Leave me a comment telling me your favorite part of the day!

*Even though, uh, it was 25 pounds ago
**I will see my family in January

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By kilax, December 16, 2009 4:17 am

There was an interesting article about bad gift-giving and how it can be straining on marriages this Tuesday in the Wall Street Journal. I found it humorous, but also, disappointingly sexist – both for men and women.

The article gives the classic examples of “bad” gifts given to wives from their husbands – vacuum cleaners, over-sized sleepwear, cooking pots, golf clubs, etc. Those stories are always good for a laugh or two.

But I felt like the whole article made men sound like thoughtless idiots who don’t listen to their wives, think twice about what they are getting them, or care if they are given a “bad” gift. It made women sound like they are overly emotional about receiving a “bad” gift, elusive about what they want, and the perfect gift givers.

Well, I always say “stereotypes are stereotypes for a reason,” but come on*. I know this isn’t true in our relationship. Since we’ve been together (7 years) I have not been able to get Steven the “perfect” holiday** gift. First it was an XBox. Then a printer. Specialty items for the Saab. A nice watch. A Garmin. So on and so forth. Run-of-the-mill things. How do we measure the worth of a gift? By the excitement of the person opening it? By how much they use it? How much they talk about it? If they thank you?

Steven has given me amazing, thoughtful gifts. Probably the most amazing was the first thing he ever gave me – a handmade box for holding my drawing pencils. He made that!

So, I am not anti gift-giving or saying I am awful at giving gifts, but… maybe it’s not all that important, in the long run. Maybe it’s not something worth getting upset about. Maybe we should just be excited when someone was thoughtful and generous enough to get us something. You can tell when it is sincere and from the heart, not matter how good or “bad” it is.

What do you think? Are these gift-giving stereotypes true?

*I would love to see this article include some examples of same-sex relationships as well. I wonder what the gift-giving stereotypes are there.
**Steven, it doesn’t help that your birthday is THREE days before Christmas!

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By kilax, September 1, 2009 5:30 am

Today is our two-year wedding anniversary! Happy anniversary Steveno!

Last week a college friend asked if I felt like my relationship with Steven was any different since we’ve been married. I think she was referring to the way we act around each other. And really, that isn’t any different. We’re still big goobers all the time.

But there were small subtle changes in how I feel. I feel more comfortable, secure and complete. Not comfortable in a “I can wear sweatpants now!” way, but comfortable in a “I have someone who’ll always love me for who I am” way. Not secure in a “I didn’t trust him before” way, but secure in a “We’ll always take care of each other, not matter what” way. Not complete in a sappy “You complete me!” way, but complete in a “I have partner in crime for life!” way.

There is something about knowing you always have someone else to count on that is really comforting and reassuring. It’s a good feeling.

Sappy sappy sappy!

• Photos of the wedding here
• Photo slideshow here
• Awesome photographer’s website here
• Special wedding song here

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By kilax, December 11, 2008 8:27 pm

It’s really weird, starting a new job as Mrs. “Steven’s Last Name.” In fact, I haven’t become fully accustomed to it yet. As my new supervisor was introducing me to people on Monday, I just introduced myself as “Kim.” Only when they asked for my last name did I give it, after thinking about it for a split second. (It’s necessary to know the last name of the “Kims” – there are 4 or 5 others on my floor!)

I didn’t exclude Steven’s last name out of insult… I just really haven’t gotten used to it yet (well, obviously, if I am still calling it “his last name”). We got married in September of 2007, but I didn’t change my name until October of 2008. For various reasons. So, it’s a recent development.

Now it is almost 100% changed. The passport and a few various subscriptions and rewards cards remain. Ilax is now my middle name. Goodbye, Marie. (Sorry, mom)

So, having a “new” last name kind of adds to the fun of starting a new job. Because starting a new job is kind of like a chance to start over. You can be whoever you want! You can leave behind your bitchy ways (unlikely), be less of a goober (very unlikely),  quit it with the potty mouth (I’m trying!), work harder (not a problem, heh), be more social (also not a problem, HA!), etc. You get the idea.

I like that having a new last name means NO ONE from work knows about my website. If you search for my first name and Steven’s last name, it takes a long time to get to me. And the first correct hits are my 5K results. Ha! Anyone is welcome to see those! There is one post I wrote that reveals my last name, but I made it private.

Why do I desire to remove my “new” last name from public search? So that I can start to be a bit more candid here. I don’t plan to bash people I work with. In fact, I don’t plan to write about work at all.* I just want to be able to say I feel upset about things, like my problems with food, and not worry that my boss read it and thinks I’m a super weird-o. It’s a relief.

You know, it’s hard not to tell people about your blog. When they say “You ran a 5K as Santa? Are there any pics?” You want to say, “Yeah, go to www.ilaxstudio.com!” But, I won’t be saying THAT anymore. I’ll get used to it. It will be worth it.

So far, I am having a lot of fun my first week at work (hmm… is it a good thing to say you are having “fun” at work?!). My old office had 15 people on a full day, but the floor I work on now has almost 100 people. And we have at least 3 other floors in my building. It’s really fun to meet new people, share your interests, and discover their personalities.

I am in a training group, so there are a lot of social activities. Also, with it being the holidays, we have a lot of social events going on – 3 parties next week! And I even volunteered to help bartend at one. I also volunteered to help load the “letters-to-santa” gifts into the cars for delivery tomorrow. Yes, I like to get involved.

I can tell I am going to like the work, and the complexity of it. And I already know quite a bit about it because my previous employer was a contractor for where I work now (the naked truth comes out!). Of course, it being my first week, I am still filling out paper work and settling in. But I will let you all know how it goes. I really appreciated everyone’s support on Sunday’s post! It made me feel great!

*I work for the government now. Anything mentioned about work is going to be SUPER SUPER SUPER GENERIC. P.S. Did I tell you that I work just a few floors under Mr. President-Elect, Barack Obama?

What is with the two annoying super-long posts in a row? A-N-N-O-Y-I-N-G!!!

Comments (14)

By kilax, August 18, 2008 5:37 am

Our one year wedding anniversary is two weeks from today – on September 1st (Labor Day).

We haven’t planned anything to celebrate, besides the tradition of eating the top of our wedding cake, which has been sitting in our freezer, in plain site for so long, I am surprised I have not devoured it already.

What I’m (we’re, really) wondering is, do people following the anniversary gift-giving traditions? For example, the “traditional” gift for one year of marriage is paper, and the modern gift is clocks. Does the wife actually give her husband something made out of paper – tickets, a painting, whatever – or a clock, watch, etc.? Yeah, it’s a silly question, but it must be tradition for some reason.

What did you do to celebrate? Or what would you do?

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By kilax, August 16, 2008 11:09 pm

Steven and I just finished watching Definitely, Maybe. You could probably guess that I put it on our netflix list, but we both liked it.

The story is about Will, who is going through a divorce when his 10-year old daughter Maya questions him about how he and her mother met. Will tells Maya the story of three women in his life – his college sweetheart, his best friend, and a talented writer – and leaves it up to Maya to guess which is her mother.

The story made me think about when Steven and I first met and what a wonderful start we had to our relationship.

Yes, it brought back all those warm fuzzies, that I feel I must share with you.

I met Steven the Friday before I started my freshman year of college. We were at the same Frat party (reluctantly drug there by friends) and two completely random people introduced us to each other. Steven ended up walking me back to my dorm and (aww) asking me for my number. He promptly called me the next day to invite me to watch a football game at a friend’s house.

You know when you immediately get that feeling about someone? That there is something intriguing about them, and you want to spend more time with them? You’re giddy and happy and excited and nervous all at the same time? It was like that.

It was my first week of college, and already I was thinking, “when will class be over so I can see him?” We both went away for Labor Day weekend, and the whole time, I was thinking about him. I remember telling my parents about this new “friend” I met. I called him immediately when I got back to school.

Steven was a senior and knew a lot about the town that I didn’t. It made me feel special when he would take me to places he liked – like this coffee shop, where we would “study,” which really means we stared at our books for awhile, then would start talking and flirting, and sitting closer to each other on the couch.

I had so much fun getting to know him, finding out his interests, sharing our pasts, being coy with each other…

… it just brings back a smile to my face. I wonder if there is a way to recapture that mystery, intrigue and excitement of first getting to know someone. Even thinking about it now makes me feel that kind of contentment.

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By kilax, June 9, 2008 5:55 am

I had so much fun Saturday night with Kevin and Diane + company (Red Robin + bowling! My two favorite things!) that I actually feel a little sad. I wish I could see them more often.

And I wish… I had more friends out here. Don’t get me wrong! I love spending time with Steven. We were in a long-distance relationship for 4 years, and every moment together feels like a blessing. But sometimes it’s nice to talk (together) to new people too.

We’ve gone out with people we’ve met at work, but you know what that means. As soon as either of us get different jobs, those relationships will likely deteriorate. It’s just the nature of the beast.

I find myself reaching out to new people I meet, and I’m not sure if I am being outgoing in making a new relationship or pathetic.

A few weeks ago, we went bowling early Saturday morning, and there was a person next to us bowling alone. We started talking, exchanged phone numbers, and she invited us to join her bowling league (on a separate team)… so we did a few weeks later.

Also a few weeks ago, we met someone during the townhome association meeting who lives in our neighborhood. On Friday, he was driving by our house with his wife and young daughter and saw me outside (with Data, on his leash). He stopped to say hi, and we ended up visiting for about an hour and a half. We even gave them a tour of our house. (And wow, I have never seen such a well behaved 2.5 year old! This gives me hope!)

I think I am just being friendly, but I have thought so much about how I need to make new friends that I’m worried I am being weird. Well, weird in that aspect! How am I supposed to make new friends outside of work… if work is the only place I ever meet new people?

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By kilax, May 6, 2008 5:54 am

Now that it’s been mentioned in both the June issue of Glamour and Marie Claire, I have to say something about it.

Open Marriage.

Jenny Block (not to be confused with “Jenny from the Block”) had an affair with a woman three years into her marriage. Instead of divorce, Block and her husband decided to have an open marriage – staying together, but also dating other people. She recently wrote a book about it – Open: Love, Sex, and Life in an Open Marriage.

I don’t think this is completely ludicrous or unreasonable. It may actually solve (or cover up) some issues that married couples have.

But I know this is not for me. And probably never will be.

I’m not possessive and I’m not jealous, but I don’t like to share… my husband anyway!

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Today’s Idiom: Hobson’s choice – no choice at all

We’re given Hobson’s choice when we go out to eat with Steven’s grandma – there is only one restaurant she will go to.

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By kilax, March 6, 2008 5:51 am

Oops.

Steven emailed me on Monday with the Subject: Happy Anniversary! He then proceeded to tell me that our 6-month anniversary was last Saturday, March 1st, but he forgot to say something.

I actually had to look at a calendar. And count the months off on my fingers. Twice. It doesn’t feel like it’s been six months since we got married!

Half-year milestones probably become less and less significant the longer you have been with someone. But for me, along with the acknowledgment of six happy months of marriage, this milestone is a reminder to take life more seriously.

I often have this “I am so young, I can do it later attitude.” This attitude’s a little bit different from procrastination, because I still do all the things I need to get done on a daily/weekly/monthly basis. The things I am talking about “doing later” are some of my life goals. (Yeah, now that I think about it, I am kind of just repeating Monday’s post)

I was specifically planning on beginning to study for the ARE (Architect Registration Exam)  and LEED exam (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) after the wedding. Of course, my excuse before the wedding was that I was so busy making all these decisions that there was nothing else I could focus on. Now what’s my excuse? What have I been focusing on for the last six months? How does time slip away from us like this? It really kind of worries me, how my weeks are a blur of work, and my weekends are me trying to have some fun, but catch up on chores and sleep. I really don’t want to live my life in a blur.

Anyway, I’ll make sure I remember the 1.5 year milestone, and I’ll definitely remember the 1 year mark! We’ll just see what I have accomplished by then.