Make Your Move

When I go to the pool on Tuesdays, there are lots of kids there for the practice session before recreational swimming.

Yesterday, one of the coaches from some organization approached me. You look good in the water, she said. I almost fell off the bench. Water competent? Yes. Looking good? Never dreamed of it.

Yet another coach wanted to talk to me. They volunteer at some agency and he thought I would make a good teacher for shorties. I'm all kind of flattered but don't feel competent to teach anyone to swim...

No kettlebell today and it felt strange. Pulled out a new DVD, 10 Minute Solution: High Intensity Interval Training*. I'd already done two segments and decided to check out the other three. 

There are about eight exercises in each segment. In HITT 101, enjoyed the frog jumps and bear crawls. In my notes, I wrote that frog jumps were better than burpees.

Imagine my surprise when I got to HIIT Explosion and Lisa Kinder calls for single leg burpees. Nothing ups the ante like a single leg burpee. 

I found myself enjoying the suicides which I used to do when I played basketball and I also like the donkey kicks.  For donkey kicks, you plant your hands on the floor, kick both feet in the air, pop back up, raise a knee (touch it) and then repeat with the other knee.

Donkey kicks are intense but I got the same sense of exhilaration that I get from doing fire hydrant pose in yoga. 

During Upper Body HIIT, I liked the body pendulum exercise. Taxing but fun. The rotational planks kicked my butt.

I also enjoyed surfer burpees. Again, taxing but the logistics of the surfer burpees are easier for me to manage than a "strict" burpee.  In Ab HIIT, I liked the ab hammer; you clasp your hands together, pull them over your head, rise up then hit the nail on the head. The ski ab exercise was exhausting and the bear tucks will make you want to growl. 

By the time to you get to the plank punch, you'll totally embrace it because at the end of the ab section, you'll want to lash out and punch something.

By the way, I dare you to HITT the play all button and do the five segments at once. As the Pointer Sisters would say: Make your move.

*Disclosure: I received this video without charge.

Just Bounce It

Looking for something to do this afternoon? What about ab work? I used to avoid ab work but, now, I embrace it and since I do it more often, it doesn't hurt as much seem like such an onerous task.

I tried out Best Belly Blasters, a compilation of previous 10 Minute Solution DVDs, and made a few notes along the way.

Six Pack Ab Attack

Boot Camp like...

For instance, after getting into an elbow plank, you then have to crawl through the mud during said elbow plank.

The segment was tough and I had to modify certain tasks but I liked it.

Waist Slimmer

Felt like I should have earned a spot in a Cirque du Soleil production attempting some of the moves in this one. And, if you don't know it, I reallyreallyreally like Cirque du Soleil but who doesn't?

And, by the way, I so want to do what this woman is doing.



If I were in Seattle, I'd take a class. Please also note that clipping articles and saving them for a year is also how one becomes a mini-hoarder...

Belly Fat Burner

This segment left me with one question: Plank Bounce...Really?

You know me -- I felt the plank bounce and did it anyway.

Dancer's Abs

I'm not a huge dancer but it's nice to do something different even though I felt coordination challenged which is always ironic because I don't think that I'm uncoordinated -- maybe I'm just not graceful. I suspect that a lot of people will like this segment for the belly dance/Bollywood-like portion of the program.

Pilates Perfect Abs

Love the overall exercise in body control and the breathing and barefootedness of it all reminds me of yoga.

Bikini Belly

No mat but choreography required for this segment. You'll also get your cardio groove in during this one.

Slow And Deep Breathings or Month-End Review, May

I was going to say that my vow to stretch went out the window but since I did more yoga, I'll say it's an even exchange. Well, it's not really even. An hour of yoga trumps 10 minute stints of stretching and is almost as good as a massage. Although with massage, I never feel as if my abs have been worked over.

Slow and deep breathings -- that's what my yoga instructor likes to say especially when we're doing warrior poses. Does a good warrior possess the ability to get into battle stance, breathe deeply and assess the situation? Maybe battle is engaged in after one's neck has popped a couple of times which is the sound my neck made at least twice when we made slow circles with our heads this evening... And what's battling got to do with it anyway?

Here's how I took care of business this month -- popping and all:

10 Minute Solution: Kickbox Bootcamp

Basic Training, 1 x

10 Minute Solution: Tone Trouble Zones!

Stretching, 2 x's

Bicycling, 2 x's



Give Me 10!

Fat Blasting Cardio, 1 x

Lawn Mowing, 3 x's



Personal Training With Jackie: Power Circuit Training

15-Minute Upper Body Circuit, 3 x's

Total Body Circuit, 1 x

Rock Climbing, 7 x's


Swimming, 7 x's


Walking, 14 x's


Yoga (Gentle), 4 x's




What about your May?

Month-End Review, March

Now that my arm and hand have healed, there are no limits on what I can do. I'm happy to be lifting weights and rock climbing again and I can't wait to hit the pool this weekend. You really don't miss your water until... Here's how I stayed active in March. I hope that you moved a lot in March as well.


10 Minute Solution: 5 Day Get Fit Mix

Cardio Kickboxing, 1 x

10 Minute Solution: Rapid Results fat burner

Power Sports Drills, 1 x

10 Minute Solution: Kickbox Bootcamp

Basic Training, 1 x

10 Minute Solution: Tone Trouble Zones!

Total Body Tone Zone, 1 x

Bicycling, 2 x's


Give Me 10!

Fat Blasting Cardio, 4 x's

Upper Body Sculpt, 1 x

Yoga Stretch & Flex, 1 x

Personal Training With Jackie: Power Circuit Training

15-Minute Upper Body Circuit, 6 x's

Rock Climbing, 9 x's


StairMaster, 1 x


Supreme 90 Day System

Chest and Back, 1 x

Swimming, 3 x's


Treadmill, 3 x's


Walking, 13 x's


Wii Fit Plus, 8 x's


*I received Supreme 90 Day System without charge.

Month-End Review, February

February was short but not entirely sweet. I'm looking forward to losing the cough and feeling energetic again...I went to the traditional gym one time. I need to hurry up and get over this notion of the gym being my security blanket because I'm just wasting money.

Here's what I did in 28 days:


10 Minute Solution: 5 Day Get Fit Mix

Cardio Kickboxing, 1 x

10 Minute Solution: Hip Hop Dance Mix

Hip Hop Basics, 1 x

10 Minute Solution: Tone Trouble Zones!

Sleek and Sexy Abs, 1 x

Give Me 10!

Fat Blasting Cardio, 3 x's

Upper Body Sculpt, 2 x's

Lower Body Firmer, 1 x

Core Makeover, 1 x

Yoga Stretch & Flex, 1 x

Personal Training With Jackie: Power Circuit Training

15-Minute Upper Body Circuit, 8 x's

Personal Training With Jackie: Xtreme Timesaver Training, 1 x


Rock Climbing, 6 x's


Swimming, 2 x's


Treadmill, 1 x


Walking, 6 x's


Wii Fit Plus, 11 x's



How was your February?



*I received 10 Minute Solution: Hip Hop Dance and Give Me 10! without charge.

Month-End Review, January

I considered getting a Women of Rock Climbing calendar, thought about making my own and, ultimately, took Gingersnapper's advice and followed through on making my own calendar; it's not exclusively filled with rock climbing photos but an assortment of action shots. My Publisher and Shutterfly both ran free calendar promotions -- so cool.

I set a modest goal of doing, every other day, Jackie Warner's 15-Minute Upper Body Circuit on the Personal Training With Jackie: Power Circuit Training DVD. I didn't quite get that done but I'm satisfied with the eight times that I did do it.

Here's what else I did:


10 Minute Solution: 5 Day Get Fit Mix

Cardio Kickboxing, 1 x

Power Yoga, 1 x

10 Minute Solution: Fitness Ball Workouts

Lower Body, 1 x

Upper Body, 1 x

10 Minute Solution: Kickbox Bootcamp

Basic Training, 1 x

Fat Burning Blast, 1 x

10 Minute Solution: Rapid Results: fat burner

Low Impact Fat Blaster, 2 x's

10 Minute Solution: Tone Trouble Zones!

Sleek and Sexy Abs, 1 x

Stretching, 3 x's

Total Body Tone Zone, 1 x

Personal Training With Jackie: Power Circuit Training

15-Minute Upper Body Circuit, 8 x's

40-Minute Body Circuit, 1 x

Power Yoga, 2 x's


Rock Climbing, 9 x's


Shoveling Snow, 1 x


Swimming, 5 x's


Treadmill, 2 x's


Walking, 1 x


Wii Fit Plus, 26 x's


I hope that you started 2011 with a bang. I'm all ears...



*I received the Power Yoga DVD without charge.

Sexy Photos of Older Ladies

It's Friday -- Return of Frivolity Day. To mark the occasion, I thought I'd chitchat about stats which are kind of like an accident for me. I see an accident and know that I should keep my eyes on the road lest I get into a rubbernecking-induced fender-bender.

I have a love/hate relationship with information and technology. Once, when I got a ticket, I got postcards from lawyers wanting to represent me in traffic court. Really?

And I still don't know how I feel when someone calls me back after I've decided not to leave a message.

Occasionally, the search stats amuse me and remind me of things I've been preoccupied with:

i got japanese peppermint oil in my eye what do i do

calories burned belaying

pickles and pinapple to lose weight

san diego "sausage king" preservatives

calories in hanuta mini

roadkill helper

drea go

eye

is moritz ice cubes gluten free

sexy sticktoitiveness

are nickers and gravy ways real

the unjustly punished child by sharon olds

"bored with the pathetic story" "it bores me"

10 minute solution картинки

"massage my own feet"

sexy photos of older ladies upper body

Gratuitous Embellished Sexy Photo of Older 'Drea's Upper Body in Oiselle Shirt Scored from MizFit

sexy yoga body

I like the simplicity of Drea Go. If I ever change the title of my blog, I think I have the name. I'd also consider Sexy Yoga Body even though I don't do that much yoga.


Any interesting phrases in your stats?

Year-End Review OR Haven Found

Looking at this review tells me that I've fallen out of love with the gym. It was cool when I first joined about two and half years ago because I was able to jump-start the weight loss that had plateaued with just walking. Now, I feel like I'm wasting money by going to Cardio and Muscle Class once a week. Although, in the last few weeks, I've been trying to hit the gym more often.

In addition, December marks my one year climbing anniversary of sorts. While December of '09 was not the first time that I climbed, it was when I started climbing consistently and stopped having pre-climbing jitters. I could have never imagined how the rock climbing gym would become such a haven.

Here's how things went down in 2010. I hope that your year was equally productive. Did you find yourself relying on one activity over others? See you on the flip side of 2011 where I plan to rock steady...

10 Minute Solution: 5 Day Get Fix Mix

Cardio Kickboxing, 1 x

Power Yoga, 8 x's

10 Minute Solution: Belly, Butt and Thigh Blasters!

Better Booty Camp, 1 x

Belly Flab Fighter, 1 x

10 Minute Solution: Dance Your Body Thin!

Ballet Sculpt, 1 x

Cardio Dance Party, 1 x

Dance Toner, 3 x's

Get Fix Club Mix, 1 x

Smooth and Sexy Moves, 4 x's

10 Minute Solution: Fitness Ball Workouts

Firm Flat Abs, 3 x's

Total Body Fat Burner, 2 x's

Upper Body, 6 x's

Ultimate Stretch, 7 x's

10 Minute Solution: Kickbox Bootcamp

Basic Training, 1 x

Fat Burning Blast, 3 x's

10 Minute Solution: KnockOut Body!

Knockout Body Blast, 1 x

Fierce & Fabulous Abs, 1 x

10 Minute Solution: Quick Sculpt Pilates

Core Conditioning, 1 x

Buns and Thigh Sculpter, 1 x

Standing Pilates Sculpt, 2 x's

Strength and Flexibility, 3 x's

Total Body Toner, 2 x's

10 Minute Solution: Rapid Results fat burner

Cardio Max, 3 x's

Extreme Intervals, 1 x

Low Impact Fat Blaster, 1 x

Power Sports Drills, 5 x's

Rapid Results Kickboxer, 1 x

10 Minute Solution; Tone Trouble Zones!

Sleek and Sexy Abs, 4 x's

Stretching, 66 x's

Total Body Toner 1 x

Adaptive Motion Trainer, 2 x's

Arc Trainer, 1 x

Basic Yoga Workout for Dummies, 3 x's

Bicycling, 40 x's


Boot Camp Class, 1 x

Cardio and Muscle Class, 34 x's

Car Washing, 1 x

Crunch: Candlelight Yoga, 5 x's

Drills to Make You Sweat Class, 1 x

Elliptical Trainer, 1 x

Lawn Mowing, 11 x's

Muscle Works Class, 1 x

Personal Training With Jackie: Crunch-Free Xtreme Abs, 3 x's

Personal Training With Jackie: Power Circuit Training

15-Minute Lower Body Circuit, 1 x

15-Minute Upper Body Circuit, 24 x's

40-Minute Total Body Circuit, 5 x's

Abs Only Circuit, 1 x

Personal Training With Jackie: Xtreme Timesaver Training, 3 x's

P90X

Ab Ripper, 2 x's

Cardio X, 2 x's

Raking Leaves, 2 x's

Rock Climbing, 84 x's

Rowing, 1 x

Shooting Hoops, 4 x's

Stair Climbing and StairMaster, 21 x's

Step and Interval Class, 7 x's

Swimming, 48 x's

Treadclimber, 3 x's

Treadmill, 27 x's

Walking, 83 x's

Walking Pilates, 1 x

Wii, 63 x's

Yardwork, 2 x's

Yoga for Weight Loss, 1 x

Zen to Den: 20 Minutes Yoga, 1 x

Month-End Review, November

Just got back from the pool. Normally, Tuesday belongs to Kate but since my quads and legs, in general, are still tender from this situation, I took it to the water --a fitting choice in more ways than one since I was crabby and teary. I wanted to swim until my arms couldn't move anymore and I wanted to float the length of the pool.

One of the best things that happened this month was a feeling of being in sync while doing the front crawl; the breathing has been better and I worked my way back up to 25 laps.

And, oh, I got back on the treadmill for the first time in ages. It was strange hitting the machines after a long hiatus.

And one of the best things tonight? I feel renewed -- after swimming, floating, taking a hot shower with ginger and bergamot soap and pushing the boundaries of the speed limit.


Here are other things that invigorated me:


10 Minute Solution: Fitness Ball Workouts

Ultimate Stretch, 1 x

Upper Body, 1 x

10 Minute Solution: Tone Trouble Zones!

Stretching, 4 x's

Cardio and Muscle Class, 2 x's



Personal Training With Jackie: Power Circuit Training

15-Minute Upper Body Circuit, 3 x's

Personal Training With Jackie: Xtreme Timesaver Training, 2x's



Raking Leaves, 1 x



Rock Climbing, 7 x's



StairMaster, 1 x



Swimming, 4 x's



Treadmill, 2 x's



Walking, 4 x's



Wii Fit, 17 x's


What did you find renewing this month?

Month-End Review, October

As you all might have guessed by now, I kinda like looking back at the month that was. When I exercise, I note it but I'm usually surprised by what activity I engaged in the most.

My one-two punch was rocking climbing and Wii activities. While rock climbing burns a lot of calories, you don't spend a lot of time on routes; significant time is devoted to safety checks and, in our case, yakking.

I have a feeling that Gingersnapper will back me up on a few inclusions in my exercise tally. Yeah, I'm including the time I hand-washed my poor pollen and sap-saturated car and my stint raking leaves.

And, to tell the truth, raking leaves engaged my glutes more than Pilates or squats. There was also the added bonus of feeling like I was in one big Zen garden. Hope the neighbors didn't mind me singing somewhere in the vicinity of the top of my lungs...


10 Minute Solution: 5 Day Get Fit Mix

Power Yoga, 1 x

10 Minute Solution: Rapid Results: fat burner

Cardio Max, 1 x

Power Sports Drills, 1 x

10 Minute Solution: Tone Trouble Zones!

Stretching, 4 x's

Bicycling, 2 x's


Car Washing, 1 x


Cardio and Muscle Class, 3 x's


Lawn Mowing, 1 x


Personal Training With Jackie: Power Circuit Training

15-Minute Upper Body Circuit, 3 x's

Raking Leaves, 1 x


Rock Climbing, 9 x's


Swimming, 5 x's


Walking, 9 x's


Wii Fit Plus, 16 x's

* * *

Route/Rock Climbing Tally for Oct. 31st and it was scary y'all:

Kristin's Farewell, 5.8

Life in the Pack, 5.8

Billy Goat Chips & Life in the Pack, 5.8 (Combination i.e. rainbow climbing)

Where the Beer Flows Like Wine, 5.8

Now, That's More Like It!, 5.9 (See Below)

Photosystem, 5.9

Six Week Warrior, 5.9

Slammed, 5.9 (Attempted)

How was your October?

Month-End Review, September

Because my hands always want a book in them, I was looking through old Jet magazines at my aunt's house when I saw this quote in the June 2010 issue:

The most important muscle in your body is the heart. It deserves your primary consideration. - Dr. Ian Smith

My list of activities is short this month. Looks like I was pulled outdoors by the nice weather...


10 Minute Solution: 5 Day Get Fit Mix

Power Yoga, 1 x

10 Minute Solution: Tone Trouble Zones!

Stretching, 10 x's

Basic Yoga Workout for Dummies, 2 x's


Bicycling, 4 x's


Cardio and Muscle Class, 3 x's


Lawn Mowing, 1 x


Personal Training With Jackie: Power Circuit Training

15-Minute Upper Body Circuit, 2 x's

Rock Climbing, 6 x's


Swimming, 2 x's


Walking, 14 x's



What did your September regimen look like?

Month-End Review, August: The Saga Continues

It's hard to believe that a month ago I was doing the Month-End Review from Las Vegas. A month ago, wow...

Today marks the 62nd day that I've exercised without skipping a beat. I hadn't planned on going that long but I continue to see milestones and, well, I find it hard to stop.

I was reading around the blogosphere and saw a post over at The Great Fitness Experiment about exercising too much. I swear, it's hard to know what to do at times. It's like those studies that say that coffee is bad for you then there's some discovery about the miraculous healing powers of coffee.

Patti, my dear belayer, said that she didn't see anything wrong with exercising every day -- as long as you mix things up.

I faced a tough decision a few hours ago. There was my usual Tuesday Cardio and Muscle Class, rock climbing and swimming on the table. It was a nail-biter but I went with swimming (miss you ladies of Cardio and Muscle; miss you Patti) because I felt like it would be my last opportunity to swim outdoors. I knew that the water would be chilly too because it never reached 90 degrees and temps are headed downhill from here. I'm glad I went swimming since it was so peaceful.

Here are other decisions that I made this month:

10 Minute Solution: 5 Day Get Fit Mix

Power Yoga, 1 x

10 Minute Solution: Fitness Ball Workouts

Ultra Stretch, 1 x

Upper Body, 2 x's

10 Minute Solution: Quick Sculpt Pilates

Strength and Flexibility, 1 x

10 Minute Solution: Rapid Results fat burner

Extreme Intervals, 1 x

Low Impact Fat Blaster, 1 x

Power Sports Drill, 2 x's

Rapid Results Kickboxer, 1 x

10 Minute Solution: Tone Trouble Zones!

Stretching, 9 x's

(I love stretching with props.)


Bicycling, 4 x's



Cardio and Muscle Class, 3 x's



Crunch: Candelight Yoga (Energizer), 1 x



Lawn Mowing, 1 x



Personal Training With Jackie: Power Circuit Training

15-Minute Upper Body Circuit, 2 x's

Rock Climbing, 12 x's (approximately 106 routes)



Step and Interval Class, 1 x



Swimming, 8 x's



Walking, 7 x's



Yardwork, 1 x



Zen to Den: 20 Mins Yoga (Exercise TV with Jennifer Galardi), 1 x


How was your August?



Disclaimer: I received 10 Minute Solution: Rapid Results fat burner without charge.

Month-End Review, June

What was new this month?

I got a friendly e-mail from Groupon that my time at The Heights recreation center was coming to an end. I was able to use a different machine, the treadclimber, and I also shot hoops which I haven't done in ages. I really enjoy sinking baskets and chasing the ball around. The actual tossing of the ball doesn't burn many calories but you have to shoot baskets as if no one is watching or something like that. Right?

I also did more yoga this month than I've probably ever done. Frankly, it was necessary after Kate's Cardio and Muscle class on Tuesday.

Here's the exercise breakdown for this month:

10 Minute Solution: Tone Trouble Zones!

10 Minute Stretch, 4 x's

10 Minute Solution: Quick Sculpt Pilates

Standing Pilates Sculpt, 1 x

Strength and Flexibility Pilates, 1 x

Total Body Toner, 1 x

Bicycling, 7 x’s

Cardio and Muscle Class, 5 x's

Mowed the Lawn, 1 x

Personal Training with Jackie: Power Circuit Training

15-Minute Upper Body Circuit, 1 x

Rock Climbing, 5 x's

Shooting Hoops, 4 x's

Swimming, 4 x's

TreadClimber, 3 x's

Walking (with bouts of jogging), 7 x's

Crunch: Candlelight Yoga, 4 x's

I continued to enjoy the view and trek from the isolated portion of parking lots.



Thanks again to Gingersnapper for reminding me of bonus exercise.

Did you realize your June goals? Do anything different?

Free-For-All or Month-End Review, May

I enjoy taking a look back at the month that was. Now, this enjoyment typically refers to exercising but, in all honesty, there were other non-exercise joys.

And you are enjoying your exercise, aren't you? Exercise is the icing on my cake, the non-fat cream in my coffee, the full moon in my sky, the water underneath my boat and the wind beneath my wings. Okay, it also makes me quite goofy...

I usually have a couple of set days for a certain exercise; otherwise, it's a free-for-all. I'm in Kate's Cardio and Muscles class on Tuesday and rock climbing on Saturday or Sunday unless I'm lucky enough to get in extra climbing.

I didn't go to Cardio and Muscle since my girl Kate was on vacation. I took this opportunity to shake up the routine. I also plan to kick things into a higher gear. Gingersnapper had this post about getting in extra exercise that resonated with me. She talked about how the back of the parking is seldom populated and the irony of trying to find the parking space closest to the gym door was not lost on me. Now, you'll frequently find my little Mazda at the far end of the lot. Join Gingersnapper and me at the back of lots?

Here's how I got physical this month:

10 Minute Solution: 5 Day Get Fix Mix

Power Yoga, 1 x

10 Minute Solution: Dance your body Thin!

Dance Toner, 1 x

Smooth & Sexy Moves, 1 x

10 Minute Solution: Tone Trouble Zones!

10 Minute Stretch, 6 x's

10 Minute Solution: Quick Sculpt Pilates

Buns and Thigh Sculptor, 1 x

Standing Pilates Sculpt, 1x

Bicycling, 13 x’s


Mowed the Lawn, 3 x’s

Personal Training with Jackie: Power Circuit Training

40-Minute Total Body Circuit, 2 x's

15-Minute Upper Body Circuit, 3 x's

Rock Climbing, 4 x's

Rowing, 1 x

Stair Climbing, 5 x's

Step Interval Class (with Stacey), 1 x

Swimming, 4 x's

Treadmill, 2 x's

Walking Outdoors, 6 x's

Yardwork, 1 x

How was your May and what are your plans for June?

Rip Van 'Drea

I went rock climbing and didn't know how it would go since I wrecked my body during a five day span. I took it easy on Thursday and Friday and I was hoping that I would be feeling up to speed.

Well, I could only do the simplest routes (5.6) with ease. I tussled with every other route and I was even getting tired of myself asking for takes.

On the other hand, Patti must have eaten multiple bowls of Wheaties (or new Wheaties Fuel) because she was feeling it. She has wanted to tackle this one 5.9 route that is lead climb only. This guy, Jeremy, actually climbed and left the rope so Patti got a chance to climb it and she almost made it to the top; it was a valiant effort, I tell you. I think Patti did a total of nine routes including one bouldering route. She later revealed her secret: at least three cups of coffee before climbing.


I came home from climbing, ate lunch and was thinking about what to get into next but I just couldn't keep my head up. I lay down and got up about four hours later. The sun had gone down and everything. So much for my theory that I'm not much of a napper.

I like the way I looked in my new workout top today ($7.99 at Marshalls).

Note to self: do not purchase anymore workout attire for awhile.

Or, shall I say, I like the way my upper body is coming along? I've basically developed it doing the upper body portion of 10 Minute Solution: Fitness Ball Workouts and with rock climbing.

Who knew a collar bone was underneath there?

Inhale To Recharge

I overdid it in the last five days. My body is sore and my intuition was to do yoga.

I broke out my Basic Yoga Workout for Dummies DVD which I've done a few times. I've never gone to a yoga class so I feel like I don't know what I'm doing at times. Despite that, I opted to do the intermediate level since I've done the beginner level several times.

The intermediate level is twenty minutes long as opposed to hour-long at the beginner's level. I forgot to, like, deliberately breathe at times but I hung in there. I liked the point in the DVD when Sara Ivanhoe says:

Inhale to recharge.
Exhale to relax.

After Basic Yoga..., I also did the stretch portion of 10 Minute Solution: Tone Trouble Zones! What can I say? My body feels taut.

I know my body doesn't look like this during downward facing dog. Also, is your body supposed to shake when you do that pose?



This woman's symmetry is amazing.

Sock Shortage

As I was packing my gym bag, I noticed a sock shortage. I finally put together a pair but couldn't believe that I was down to the undesirables i.e. the mismatched along with the ones that need to be darned.

I have about 30 pairs of socks but most of them are currently residing in the hamper. You know what that means? Yes, I need to buy more socks. Of course not. I have enough irregular Nike socks with the swoop in the front and/or back and my real gems -- comfortable Champion socks that I found at Big Lots.

I thought about taking back-to-back classes even though my glutei are quite sore. I didn't nix the idea completely until I saw that the class, Drills to Make You Sweat, was packed. The step platforms made the space even more compact so it wasn't as bearable as the crowded Cardio and Muscle that I took yesterday.

Despite the sore glutei and tender hamstrings, I hopped on a StairMaster and went for 47 minutes (six for cooling down). I climbed 141 floors with an average level of five.

My goal is to, eventually, stay on the StairMaster without stopping for 60 minutes.

When I got home, I did the stretch portion of 10 Minute Solution: Tone Trouble Zones! As always, stretching felt very good and I already feel less sore.

For Dinner? Leftover Senegalese Peanut Stew that I made on Sunday. There was a whole lot of chopping going on but it was totally worth it. A clichéd symphony (cayenne, cloves, garlic & ginger) of flavors, I tell you.

Dust Yourself Off And Try Again

I went out of my way to go to a bigger branch of my fitness club, negotiated my way through the locker room maze, searched locker after locker until I found an empty one, changed clothes and went into the main room and not a single machine was available. Not one AMT, EFX, ARC Trainer, Treadmill, StairMaster, elliptical trainer, stationary bike etc. Sigh.

I headed back into the locker room and decided on a new plan. If I get off at 5, don't even bother going directly to the gym. Go home or go do something else but go to the gym later. Only, I didn't feel like trekking to the gym again. Not this day.

As I pulled out my DVDs, Aaliyah popped into my mind.

And if at first you don’t succeed
Then dust yourself off and try again
You can dust it off and try again, try again
Cause if at first you don’t succeed
You can dust it off and try again
Dust yourself off and try again, try again (and again)

I selected four 10 Minute Solution segments. If I had been in the gym, I would have exercised longer but, you know, vive la différence and dust yourself off.

The Forgotten Joy of Props

I had a notion to go to the gym but it's so cold that the thought of bundling up and exposing myself to single digit temperatures was just so unappealing. Today is rock climbing day and I usually pair rock climbing with a stint on the treadmill. Since rock climbing was slated for 4:30 p.m., I decided to do some 10 Minute Solution stuff in the morning.

I chose to do three 10 Minute Solution segments, including the Ultra Stretch on the fitness ball. I had forgotten how good props feel. I love doing cardio with a fitness ball and stretching? Oh my. I love when you're practically doing a backhand stand with your back curved around the ball. Nirvana, I tell you.

Check out what I mean by nirvana at 0:36:



Although I had pre-rocking climbing jitters, I had a good outing. I don't know why I still get jitters seeing that I've been many times now; plus, I enjoy it.

It's so frigid in The Lou that the water in the fountain at Upper Limits
was frozen. It was almost unbearable climbing without the good stuff. I had water in my car but I didn't feel like getting dressed again and exchanging one pair of shoes for another so I just sucked it up and climbed while parched.

I tried a new 5.8 red route today with not much success. I wanted to see if I could make it over the arête, at least. I tried about four times. Patti was giving me tips: hip into the wall, reach with the left hand, foot over here which made me flash back to swimming: blow out all of your air, chest down, oxygen deficit, one goggle out of the water...Ironically, Saturday used to be swimming day.

I asked Patti what was the most routes she had done in one day. She didn't give me a number but did say that one time they had spent four hours at the gym and that you do get your second wind which reminded me of Run Fatboy Run where Dennis hits the wall but breaks through it.

You Should Be Drinking Not Climbing or Month-End Review, December

One of my friends was taunting me by waving a bowl of Hershey's chocolate in my vicinity; she, essentially, beckoned me in a voice that said chill out about the sweet stuff.

I decided to retaliate in my own little way and asked her if she wanted to go rock climbing after our half day at work. She looked at me in horror when another associate actually voiced his horror. You should be drinking not climbing. Oh well, to each his or her own.

Plus, the taunter failed to realize that Hershey's would not make me cave. Kinder Bueno? Yes. Hershey's? No...

As I was belaying for Jessica, one of the Upper Limits folks came to give us the countdown to closure. What? We thought the gym was closing at 4 p.m. instead of 2 p.m. Can you say rock climbing interruptus?

Before I left the gym, though, I was able to make it up the 5.8 Face Plant route. So, I'm able to climb that route on every other outing. Ha.

I headed to the bank with the intention of going from there straight to the gym and squeaking in because, clearly, I hadn't worked out enough but, dang it, I didn't have my tennis shoes.

I headed by the house, ate a few Wasa crackers and hummus and headed back out. When I got to the gym, there were no signs about early closure and I was told that there would be no early closure. Hmmm, I could potentially play Biggest Loser contestant and really get my exercise in today.

When I got to the locker room, I discovered that I did not have my MP3 player. Ironically, I did not have the energy to put on my street clothes and go back to the car to retrieve my tunes. I blame my misplaced MP3 player on too many bags: bag with rock climbing gear, bag with work gear and another gym bag with my regular workout stuff. I did a little self-talk and told myself that I could gut it out for at least 30 minutes without the television or music. Almost the whole time, It Takes Two, was on loop in my head. It's all the fault of that goofy little flick, The Proposal.

Here's how things played out this month. I deliberately set aside more time for stretching which felt good...

10 Minute Solution: Fitness Ball Workouts (Upper Body), 1 x

10 Minute Solution: Kickbox Bootcamp (Fat Burning Blast), 1 x

10 Minute Solution: Tone Trouble Zones! (Stretching), 3 x's

10 Minute Solution: Yoga (Flexibility and Relaxation), 1 x

Adaptive Motion Trainer, 3 x's

Crunch: Candlelight Yoga, 1 x

Drills To Make You Sweat (Class), 1 x

Rock Climbing, 6 x's

StairMaster, 3 x's

Stationary Bike, 1 x

Step and Muscle (Class), 3 x's

Swimming, 6 x's

Treadmill (with bouts of jogging), 14 x's

Best sound of the day: Primal screams from a female lead climber as she made an ascent.

Honorable mention: Me. I'm told that I was making Serena Williams-like sounds going up the Face Plant route.

Phrase of the day: Amazonian Toes -- a male to his female friend after a discussion about rock climbing shoes.


And the song of the day?????????