day 1 of 21 (Treena Glover)

Hello, my name is Treena Renee Glover and I am one of the producers of the show; Self Portrait. In the taping of our show, the other two producers (Falechia & Bonita) and I committed to working out for twenty-one days straight. Simple repetitive tasks typically require a time frame of twenty-one days to condition the body and mind into forming a habit.

So....day one of twenty-one

The producers and I took a break from the taping of our show to actually exercise. We covered a two mile stretch; sprinting, jogging, power walking and doing some calisthenics. Calisthenics are exercises designed to develop muscular tone. I didn't mind the Calisthenics so much and I actually enjoyed the power walk...but when we did several mini jogs and did a sprint...I felt like my chest had opened and someone was beating it with pots and pans. Chicago, by the time we made it back to our starting point...we were all surprised to learn that we were out there exercising for over an hour.

When we wrapped up, I tried to hurry and meet up with a friend at Bar Louie...but as it turned out we had to reschedule. So...I decided to go and get a pedicure instead. I go to this great little nail place in a shopping mall right off of 87th Cottage Grove. I typically wait for one particular lady to do my pedicure because she's the only one that wont rub your skin on your heels so rough until it bleeds. Okay...Okay...that happened once to another lady sitting beside me getting a pedicure. I decided at that moment that I would be a loyal customer to only one person. My loyalty has paid off...because I get a lot of freebies. I've been loyal to Kham Chhi (I think that's her name) despite the language barrier for over a year now.

Now...let me explain the reason of my pedicure. I do Hapkido (a form of Martial Arts) in the evenings with Total Martial Arts (TMA). I prefer to be barefoot (the other option is specific martial arts shoes) when I am practicing this AMAZING art form. Well... the very first day I walked into a martial arts class (I did TaeKwonDo off and on for a year; Hapkido only for a week) I took off my shoes only to discover I had crazy nail polish splattered all across my toes. Yes, Chicago I was sporting the art work of my six year old foster daughter. My toes looked CRAZY, and though I felt uncomfortable, I decided I was going to continue on in the class anyway. That's what we have to do in life...push on...even when we find reasons not to. We also learn and then change our behaviors to accomplish what we want.

So....once a week I am going to Kim Chung (I'll ask for her name again one day) to get a pedicure. She always asks "you want design on toe" and a year plus later I am still saying no, Karma Chae I don't like the designs on the toes.

When I finished my pedicure, I had extra time before my Hapkido class so I decided to get a manicure. I told her no fake nails, only clear polish, don't cut my cuticles, shape my nails all the way down (long nails hurt in Hapkido) and give me a hand massage. Kym Chap picked up some red polish and said you want color. I said no (language barrier again), and that's okay about the manicure. I LOVE ME SOME KARMA CHIE (my nail lady). SHE AND ME WILL NEVER PART...O LA CHI LA LA (beat from color purple) FOREVER WILL SHE HAVE MY HEART...O LA CHI LO LO.

Anyway, with time still left to spare and feeling hungry I called a friend to meet up with me at Subway for a quick bite to eat. LADIES...LISTEN UP...If a man is really into you...he will stop whatever he is doing, break down windmills, run marathons, and jet from the other side of the world if you call and say "Hi, do you want to have a quick bite to eat with me?"

Now, my friend that cancelled (and me tell the really real) is just 'not that into me'. And that's fine. I love him anyway, because he is an EXCELLENT friend.

Shoot...(I don't curse), I looked at my cell in Subway and noticed it was almost 7:30pm. I said goodbye to my friend and raced with breathtaking speed to my Hapkido class. I walked in the door right at 7:55pm; enough time to change quickly into my hapkido uniform.

My martial arts class began right on time. Master Lee is the instructor. We went through routines of stretching, various kicks and punches and some hardcore exercises (ya'll aint seen a push up until you've seen a Hapkido student do it). Then we broke up by groups based on our belt color. I'm a white belt; remember I began this particular form of martial art only a week ago. I was by my lonesome the first few times when we got to this part, but a very nice man named Bridges kept coming to me to assist me. I think he likes me. He said I have great legs and that they were strong so I need to push harder and higher when I did my kicks. Or maybe he just saw me by my lonesome and wanted to keep me company. He seems to be a very nice man.

Anyway, Bridges wasn't in class today, but I wasn't lonely at the part we sectioned off because we had a new student. Another white belt!!!!!!! YIPPEE!!!!!!!!! I spent the entire group time showing the new white belt how to do certain kick combinations. That was cool, helping somebody else. Plus I'm this nerdy student when it comes to learning. I actually go home and spend hours trying to gain an even deeper understanding of what I just learned. Each day I learned something new in Hapkido I'd go home and have my children practice with me.

Ten minutes before class ended Master Lee said something in Korean and I didn't know what he said. So someone else, Kristina (she was very kind in helping me in class too) told me he wanted us to move to the back of the room for test time. I had never experienced 'test time' in hapkido so I didn't know what to expect, but I felt certain test time would not be for me. I'm only a week old in the class.

Master Lee called someone and I was AMAZED at what this student was doing!!! This particular student, forgot his name showed me how to put my hapkido belt on correctly. I found out he was a year plus old student to this particular martial art. We all clapped and I wanted to whistle with excitement, but I contained myself.

Then Master Lee said "Treena". Wha!!?? I looked to Kristina, like "What do I do?" Kristina motioned me to stand up, so I did. Master Lee said something in Korean and I knew from watching the other man, that I should bow down. Master Lee screamed fighting stance and I did it perfectly...screaming....KIYAH!! Then he said something one...and seeing as how I only learned two kicking routine combinations...I understood perfectly well that he wanted me to execute it which I did. Then I moved quickly back to my sitting position on the floor, which made everyone chuckle. Master Lee said "Treena where you going?" So I went back. Master Lee asked me was I nervous and I'm never nervous being the center of attention...but I answered yes, because I was confused about what was happening at that exact moment.

Master Lee then said something else in Korean two...and I was clear that he wanted me to do the second kicking routine combination. As soon as I was done I did the fighting stance (as is always instructed when finishing the combinations)...but this time I remained rooted to the ground. I was going to not move EVER until he told me my next command...or I had to go to the bathroom or something. Master Lee then smiled at me and said "Good Job" then he pulled out some red coiled ribbon and gave me my first red strip on my white belt.

I was soooooo happy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I didn't even know I was testing today! We then cooled down, met in our end of the class circle and Master Lee screamed "Treena KIYAH five times" So I said "KIYAH" the class said "KIYAH" then I said "KIYAH" then the class said "KIYAH" and so on until I got to five. Master Lee did our ritual closing 'WHO IS THE BEST?' We respond "WE ARE THE BEST."

I then raced out of there to hurry home. My mother watches my children 3 nights a week for me at my place and I don't like to keep her out late at night any longer than necessary.

On my drive home, I called three very important people to tell them about my red strip on my white belt.

So...Day 1 of 21 I exercised for over two hours, and our goal is only 30 minutes for the next twenty-one days. I also drank eight cups of water, which is nothing for me. I'm usually consuming ten to twelve cups of water...easily.

I ate a well balanced breakfast; oatmeal with raisins, one apple, half a blueberry muffin and four cups of water. I drank two cups of water one hour before breakfast and two cups of water an hour after breakfast.

I didn't eat like I should for lunch. I only had fruit and two cups of water.

I had subway for dinner; tuna on a 6inch honey oat bread. My toppings were spinach, tomatoes, banana peppers and jalapeno peppers. I also had mustard, salt and pepper on my tuna. I drank this delicious pomegranate tea with mango. I didn't even know Subway sold that. I split my chips with my friend and ate half of one of his cookies.

I drank two cups of water after my Hapkido class.

Until Day Two...please remember that whatever happens in your day, choose to respond in the manner most beneficial to your well being.

Treena Renee Glover
Producer and Co-Host of Self Portrait
selfportrait@rocketmail.com