The Grater

I worked out today.  It wasn't much, just the Biggest Loser Cardio Max video.  And no, I didn't even make it all the way through.  It was a 20 minute video, but after the twenty-eighth lunge or so, I pretty much gave up and tried to do crunches.  My crunches are pretty lame, but that's beside the point.  

Here's the point.  I haven't worked out in a long time. When I haven't worked out in a long time, I always push myself too hard on that first workout, and I end up feeling a little sick.  So I got all red-faced, nauseous, and while breathing hard, I told the girls (who were "working out" with me in the garage) to get inside, because mommy needs ice water, fast!  The girls know by now that when they see a red, sweaty mommy face, she means business.   So we rushed inside, where I lay on the cold tile floor for a few minutes to stop myself from really getting sick.  Which worked!  I didn't get sick.  

So, after my full recovery, I totally logically decided to make some homemade macaroni and cheese.   This is not only a ridiculous decision for the obvious reason, but it's also crazy since my kids won't eat my mac 'n cheese, they only want the orange stuff from the box.  But I continued, undeterred by this knowledge....toward my doom.

I knew the video had wiped me out somewhat, but I had no idea how much.  That is, until I pulled out the cheese grater.  My recipe called for an entire pound of sharp cheddar cheese.  Usually I buy the pre-grated cheese to save time, but I'm a frugal mom these days, and the huge log from Costco was a better deal.  

I started grating, and my right bicep started burning almost immediately.  "This is crazy!" I thought, I can certainly grate cheese!  But then the burning continued, and got worse.  So I stopped.  And took a picture of my progress.

I knew I could finish, and it was almost like I could hear that cardio instructor on the video encouraging me to "Keep moving!"  I picked up that wedge of cheese and pushed it down the side of that grater with grit and determination!  No grater is going to get the better of me!  I'm tough.  

It turns out, I am tough.  Even though my right bicep is now a full 1/4 inch thinner around than my left, it was the price to pay for shredded cheese. Sadly, after all of that effort, the kids still didn't eat it.  And even more sadly....that leaves more for me.