Saturday, November 14, 2009

Ruling Out And Nixing

It took me forever to set foot outside. I wondered what I would do today since my thighs are sore. I ruled out bicycling and climbing stairs. I also nixed swimming because I've been using my arms quite a bit.

I tested out Simple Slimmer, a segment on 10 Minute Solution: Fat Blasting Dance Mix. I didn't really dig it but I want to try out other routines to see if there is something that I might like.

After dancing, I decided to do some old-fashioned outdoor walking and, because it was so nice outside, I went to a basketball court to shoot some hoops.

If you're wondering, shooting hoops burns 349 calories per hour and has other benefits as well:

Shooting - baskets (basketball):

One of the most enjoyable ways to stay in shape, improve agility and muscular strength is by shooting baskets. Shooting baskets simulates the offensive aspects of regular basketball play and requires the player to use depth perception, flexibility, fast reactions and a cunning game plan to avoid being foiled by defensive players.
Overall, it was just nice to be outside and engaged in something unstructured and nice, also, to be unplugged. Of course, my arms are a bit sore now.

Skee-Lo's I Wish

Friday, November 13, 2009

24 Hour Fitness

I decided to get a seven day pass to 24 Hour Fitness and chose the Arnold, MO facility since it has a pool.

I didn’t know it but the 24 Hour Fitness closest to me is a 24 Hour Fitness Active and the one in Arnold is a sport type. I would love to see a Super Sport or Ultra Sport 24 Hour club. The sport one is happening and I can only imagine what kind of toys the ultra sport one possesses.

The immediate downside of choosing the Arnold location is that it is about 20 miles away -- quite a bit of travel time when your fitness regimen is already like secondary employment.

Plentiful -- that’s how I would describe 24 Hour Fitness Sport. It’s like a huge freakin’ playground with a full length basketball court, weight machines for as far as the eye can see, a saltwater pool, whirlpool, sauna and steam room. It’s well worth the $31.99 charge per month. For a few dollars more, you can have access to all clubs across the country.

There’s plenty of cardio equipment and plenty of lockers. The locker room, by the way, has two flat screen televisions along with ample showers and the locker area is so spacious that you never feel crowded.

I got beside myself last night and hit the rowing machine, StairMaster, basketball court and pool.

The warning on the rowing machine had me cracking up:

Abuse of the chain can cause injury. Really?

I’m not much of a class person but I did participate in a water aerobics class. The instructor didn’t rock my world like the one and only Combat Judy that was at Bally’s but it was sufficient. I really dug the bicycle maneuver. You take a noodle and ride it the length of the pool. I also liked the boxing moves: jabs, uppercuts, etc.

Why do people claim that their pools are heated? 24 Hour's pool was chilly just like the others.

On any given day, it was so nice to hit the pool then the whirlpool followed by a warm shower with oatmeal lavender soap provided by 24 Hour. I kept thinking that a dormitory would make 24 Hour Fitness the complete experience because all I really wanted to do was hit the bed instead of drive home especially after the warmness of the whirlpool.

I do have to say that the employees are persistent, um, stalker-like. I told them, at the beginning, that I belonged to another club (minus the contract) and that I was looking at other facilities. I received call after call about appointments I had made (not). Two other friends also signed up and they received the same stalker treatment.

You have a great club, 24 Hr Fitness, but there’s a fine line between salesmanship and harassment.

Thursday, November 12, 2009

I Was Ray Allen

I rowed, climbed, swam and I was Ray freakin' Allen. I was hitting so many three pointers that I shrugged à la Michael Jordan. I want someone to vote for me so that I can participate in the NBA's All Star game -- the three point shootout, please.



I did layups to burn more calories and felt like the joggler. Maybe because the joggler's been on my mind since I spotted him in Forest Park.

I had a funky fitness adventure y'all but, dang, I just got home and I am the fitness equivalent of intoxicated.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

$60 For 60

One of my friends surprised me with a gift of $60 on the occasion of my having lost 60 pounds.

Go buy yourself some workout clothes or something, she said.

Friends rock.

So, I did -- buy myself an item of workout clothing. I went to Walmart and got a Danskin Now top because you can never have enough workout clothes especially when your regimen prevents you from getting around to doing the laundry which reminds me of this old joke I heard.

If you leave the laundry in the hamper long enough, the clothes become clean again.
Yucky, I know.

There are lots of people who deplore Walmart but I have to say that Walmart was the one place that I could find workout clothes in my size without having to take out a loan.

When I was larger, I would be so disappointed to go in The Sports Authority or TJ Maxx, for that matter, and not be able to find anything in my size as if larger people didn't exercise.

By the way, I told my friend that I cannot wait to lose 70 pounds.

Monday, November 9, 2009

I Want Muscles

Kudos to Amy for dropping 300+ pounds. I definitely need to start hitting the weights. I don't want to be this ripped but I want some bulk...



It's so my fault that I now have this Diana Ross song going through my head. Videos have certainly come a long way since this one was made.


Saturday, November 7, 2009

A Jillian Michaels' Motivational Moment (Bravery Required)

Jillian, one of The Biggest Loser trainers, is pushing Amanda out of her comfort zone by demanding sprints of undetermined speed when Amanda has a meltdown. What's funny is that Jillian's speechifying usually gets to Amanda and she tells Jillian "shut up, please."

You are not failing here; you quit. There's a difference between quitting and failing...

You know what Amanda, it's gonna require some courage. It's going to require a little bit of bravery...

It doesn't mean that you're going to be fearless. You need to move through the fear...

Well then, step on the treadmill and make it count...

You're capable...

You make it happen. You don't wait for life to happen; you make life happen...

Life doesn't work that way. You've got to pull it together and make a choice right now; if you walk away, you are choosing.

Pull yourself together and we're going to do this one step at a time.

After Amanda walks away, Jillian mutters:

Why are these contestants so freaking difficult this season?

When Amanda talks with Jillian again she apologizes for walking out on her but Jillian lets her know that she walked out on herself.

Friday, November 6, 2009

Comic Strip Relief