Pumped up

It was just like any other BODYPUMP class over the past three months.

I got there 15 minutes early to help set up, passing out plates, bars and clips. I talked to my co-instructor Corey and said hi to C. I went to the bathroom, got a drink of water and took a deep breath. When the clock struck 6:15, Corey went through set stance and I hit play.

It was time to work.

And like the other classes, Corey led the warm-up and taught the back, bicep, shoulders and lunge tracks while I took on squats, chest, triceps, abs and cool down. My BIC Band still acted as a makeshift way to keep the microphone in place. I still dreaded the twisting mountain climbers. My old jokes abounded: I reminded participants that the third time's the charm for round three of tricep extensions, and I called super slow squats a gentle way to wake-up the legs as I always do.

But somethings were different.

♦ I lifted more weight. Three months of at least twice-weekly PUMP classes has left me stronger and more toned than ever. I still have to be mindful that a class is not my workout and my the bicep track is challenging but I can lift like the guys ... who are new to class.

♦ I didn't get lost in the choreography. You might think this is a given but it's been almost two weeks since I taught in front of people, and it's easy to forget things if you don't listen to the music regularly. I missed a couple of coaching cues but nothing that anyone would have noticed. The real gain is that I didn't let it flummox me.

♦ I had no fear. I used to have scripting sheets and my guide, which I would obsessively read before a class. I would listen to the music non-stop all day and talk myself through the class on the drive to the gym. I could feel the anxiety fill my body as I went through the preparation each day. Call it familiarity with the class or adaptation but I wasn't scared. Not even the slightest. I've taught by myself twice now (in addition to numerous team teachings), and those experiences really showed me that if I am confident and have fun, participants will have fun. They certainly aren't going to obsess over the fact that I missed a coaching cue or told a bad joke the way I did. Why should I?

♦ Perhaps the most important way this class differed from others is that it is, more than likely, the last one I have someone up there with me. This day could be the very last time I was teaching a class as a trainee.

On Saturday, I will attempt a second taping of a class and, assuming it goes well, the DVD will be shipped off to Les Mills for assessment. It takes up to eight weeks to find out whether I passed officially but beginning July 28, I will be taking over the Saturday class at the gym. At 8:45 a.m. each weekend, I will be in front of the studio guiding participants through all 10 tracks. I can tell corny jokes for an entire hour. I will be paid to work out.

And that, ladies and gents, is awesome.

Weekend warrior

It all started with a missed workout. Actually, it started with a blog challenge. Wait. No. It started with an email. Or the discovery that the gym where I took boot camp.

Shit. I don’t know where it started. All I know is I showed up at the gym at 8:30 Saturday morning and didn’t leave till 11.



After boot camp finished up in December, L and I were excited to learn that the gym was going to offer Body Pump in the new year. I know this class isn’t new to about 90 percent of the world but Tumble X is only the second gym in the area to offer the class and the other one is about a half-hour drive. Arg.



This week was our second class and let me tell you – I was excited. It’s challenging and fun all at the same time, and I find that my competitive spirit helps me push a bit harder than I would at home.



It’s just hard not to feel hardcore and not want to work when you are lifting a barbell and weights. Of course, sometimes like my stomach, my eyes were bigger than my muscles.



There were a couple tracks where I had to stop in the middle and reduce the weight. Just gotta give myself a place to work up to!



After class, it was time for Zumba.

Now let me tell you a little bit about myself. I am not really a dancer. Sure, I move on the floor but I usually reserve such activities for times when I can consume alcoholic beverages. L had wanted to try it, though, and I’m all about giving things a whirl.



And I’m glad I did. It was a lot of fun though it was clearly evident that I’m no Zumba superstar. I spent a good part of the class following L’s advice: when in doubt, move your hips. Of course, that’s how I got myself into trouble …



Anyway … 45 minutes of Zumba later, and we had finished two classes.

While two fitness classes in one weekend is more than enough exercise, I still had a run to fit in.



I am training for a yet-to-be determined spring race, and I’m following a run less, run faster approach. As the runs are about quality not quantity, it’s important not to skip one.

Even if it’s 7 degrees.

The weather Sunday morning was against my principles (aka the 10-degree rule) but there was no wind and a lot of sun.



And Denali was on my last nerve. God, that dog gives me a reason to run even if I don't want one.

We logged  6 snow-covered miles, and I felt surprisingly good. I had tried to keep the pace on the slow side as it was a "long" run but Denali kept it honest. (I think I watched too much of the Olympic Trials yesterday.) Thankfully (and surprisingly) my body responded, managing a 9:38 average - a pace that hasn't been seen much, if at all, since I had Miles.

It was a perfect way to wrap up such a movement-filled weekend.

Wait.

Scratch that.

Shopping at the mall and getting two pairs of sweats and a new workout tank ... for $24 total ... was the perfect way to end my weekend.

How did your weekend shape up?

How the mighty have fallen

Move that body: 3.28-mile run

My run, it just wasn’t meant to be today.

This morning, just before heading out, Miles swung his arm and knocked a glass from the counter and straight to the floor. On the way down … BAM!

Glass.

Hit.

Foot.

Ouch.

Hurt.

I was worried for a moment that it would be broken or I’d forever walk with a limp but it’s barely bruised. Good thing for Mark, I was going to blame him. (You don’t think I’d blame the baby, do you?)

Then there was Denali.

Sweet old Denali. I bet you think I’ve forgotten about him. Yeah, he probably thinks the same thing, too.

Anyway … we could barely get started before he had to go to the bathroom. This happened three times. THREE.

And then there was the fall. And I’m not talking about the glorious event that turns my street into a beautiful show of gold and red. Nope. I’m talking about somebody – I’m not naming names … because there are no names to name – making me trip about a half-mile in. I’m not quite sure what happened but I think my left ankle turned, causing me to fall on the right side of my body at which point I flipped onto my back.

It. Hurt.

A lot.

I paused my Garmin (duh) and laid there on the sidewalk for a minute … or three. It was funny – a number of cars drove by and not one stopped to see if I was OK. I don’t know – it just seemed sad to me.

I managed to get up, walk a bit and realized I could run home to clean up before finishing up my run.

My only real injuries were some road rash and a knock to my pride.

Good news, though, my BIC band didn’t budge through out the ordeal. I’m not sure they will want to use that as a marketing strategy but couldn’t hurt. Ha! Couldn’t hurt. Get it?

OK. I’m going to go watch “Dexter” now and keep my bad jokes to myself.

How is your weekend shaping up.

Love it or leave it

I love having a treadmill in the basement. I do. It allows me to run anytime I have a chance - day or night, rain or snow, sleeping baby or no sleeping baby. It's quite convenient, that thing.

But I'd much rather leave it in a corner somewhere to die a slow rusty death. So I can do other things - like run outside or hang out with "The Big Bang Theory" and my husband whom I hadn't seen all day. Stupid teaching. Stupid parent teacher conferences.

I am a stickler for training plans and do love running so, last night, I opted to leave Mark upstairs with a wide-awake Miles and hop on that treadmill to get in 4 miles.

It lasted 3 miles. Well, Mark lasted 3 miles at which point he came downstairs and pleaded with me to help with Miles. It seemed my lil guy needed a little ... umm ... well ... OK, I'm just going to say it - boob action. My son needed boob action to go to sleep. He didn't care that they were sweaty or gross. Me? I'd leave the sweaty boobs for another day.

Other things I'm loving ... and choosing to leave.

Love it: My sparkly new BIC Band. It's so super cute.

I plan to wear it tomorrow for the W.O.O.F. so you can see it in all its glory then :)

I've been a fan of these type of athletic head bands for two years, ever since I picked up a Sweaty Band at Bob Roncker's in Cincinnati. They look great, they don't slip and they don't hurt my sensitive wittle head. I seriously wore my BIC Band as a fashion accessory at work and didn't have to tug it off until the car ride home. I was also impressed that the sparkle didn't get everywhere. You know what I mean - you buy a birthday card with glitter and you end up looking like me at prom, circa 1998.

Leave it: Fiber One brownies.

Fiber One tries. Oh, do they try, but a 90-calorie brownie does not exist. Not one that tastes good, at least. I've tried two varieties - both times hopeful for a deceivingly decadent treat - but was disappointed in the texture and aftertaste.

Love it: My new Road ID. I had been wanting to get some sort of ID for Miles when he is out in the BOB with me. In the event of an accident (God forbid), EMS workers would see my ID and know who I am and who to contact. Crap, they would even know Denali's name. They wouldn't know, though, who Miles was or how old he was (something I think is important at this point). So I ordered a new band, and I put information for Miles and me. Genius! I also picked the Slim ID this time around (I have an elite), and I like it a lot more. You just pull it on and go. (I ordered a medium and it's a bit loose on my tiny wrists.)




Leave it: Daylight savings time. I was so excited when I moved to Indiana seven years ago that I wouldn't have to switch my clocks. And then the government got involved and things changed. Stupid government. Stupid change.

I am sure a lot of you are excited for that extra hour of sleep but ... yeah. I don't think Miles will quite grasp the concept. So instead of being up at 5:30, we'll be up at 4:30. Ugh. I guess it will give me extra time to get in my 7-miler before meeting my friend at the mall.

Love it: The Peppermint Mocha is back at Starbucks.

::swoon::

Even better, there's a sugar-free version this year! A grande has 130 calories and 1.5 grams of fat compared to the regular version, which has 410 calories and 15 grams of fat. Thank you, Starbucks, for answering my pleas.


What are you loving right now?