People…People Who Need People…

There are times when you just can’t believe who you are thankful for. Yesterday, during my workout at the gym, I didn’t think I was going to make it through. Then my iPod, set on shuffle, starting playing “On The Floor” sung by Jennifer Lopez with Pitbull (the rapper, not the dog) going on about “that badonka donk is like a trunk full of bass on an old school Chevy.” Being 51, I can appreciate my, uh, badonka donk being compared to a Chevy trunk. Yep, that’s me, the 1959 classic model, a little care worn but she runs like hell! Still, if the heavy driving beat of that song hadn’t come on when it did, I know I would have just melted away into a puddle of sweat “on the floor.” I have to remember to send Jennifer a thank you note.

While I really am thankful for fast paced music that gets me motivated, I’m not feeling the love for People magazine. They kind of got on my last nerve last week. I was talking with my girlfriend about my last blog and how all the stars have physical trainers and she told me that People had an article on “How to Get Summer’s Rockin’ Bodies.”  The article went on to tell how Taylor Swift, age 21, Katy Perry -26, Rihanna -23, Britney – 29 and Beyoncé – 29, had achieved such “rockin’ bodies.”  Four out of the five had their TRAINERS explaining what they did. Well shut my mouth. (Go ahead; I assure you many have tried.) Think about it for a moment. Who usually buys People magazine? I really can’t see Angelina and Brad going over it and saying “Oh yeah, we simply must get Katy’s trainer over for tips.”  People is a wonderfully entertaining ESCAPE from most of our realities, but I can’t take it realistically.  Sure, I go to a gym where trainers are available and I do what I can, but I don’t have the luxury of a daily two hour workout with my own hunka-hunka trainer.

Like I said last week, I wish I had people, not the magazine, but people like trainers, cooks, meal planners, maids, social assistant, nanny and a chauffeur. Geez, the problem is, if I could have just one, which one would I choose? The trainer is tempting, especially if he looked like George Clooney. I could work with that. Still, the cook and meal planner are more up my alley. I wouldn’t have to cook, and therefore I wouldn’t be tasting the food while I’m cooking. Less in, less on the old Chevy trunk. That would free up so many hours in a day. Plus, I wouldn’t be going into the ole grocery store and making those “emotional” purchases. “Mommy, please, we haven’t had Ho-Hos in ages!” The maid? I really need to just nix that one. With a two-story home the stairs are my own personal elliptical. Now the nanny is tempting, think of all the things I could get done! I could even find the time to actually make my playlist for my time at the gym! Seriously, I don’t begrudge celebrities the people they have to help them out. Besides, if I could have the trainer, the cook, etc., you can bet I’d at least try my hand at all of them.

The honest to goodness truth is that yesterday worked out just fine with only the assistance of my iPod and my husband. He went to the gym with me and he motivates me every day, whether I like it or not. He’s been on a really strict workout schedule for the past three months and it’s nothing short of inspiring. He’s up at 5am; he hits the gym, comes home, showers and helps me get the kids out the door to Band practice and Mother’s Morning Out for the little one. Yesterday he took the day off just to hang out with me and help me get back on track. Ya know what? It was fun. There we were, two red-faced, sweaty, middle-aged, regular people, and we were having fun trying to get fit. So Britney and the others can have their trainers, I think I already have the best people, and, uh, J.Lo! 

If you could pick your “people,” who would it be? The trainer vs. the cook? Why?