Something I Would Never Ask Marisa

Went looking for pants and brown shoes and, of course, I ended up in the active wear section.

When I saw this Nike shirt, I knew that it was a question that I would never pose to Marisa.

Went to select a kettlebell but Marisa said that there was no need. She had everything ready for our pyramid workout.

Pull-Up (On Bar or TRX), 10 x's
Heavy Swing, 10 x's
Alternating V Sit-up with 8 lb Medicine Ball, 10 (each leg)
Squat Jump, 10
Bulgarian Bag Swings, 10 (each direction)
Snatch, 10 (per arm)
Squat, 10
Push-up, 10
Plank (knee to elbow), 10

***

Pull-Up (On Bar or TRX), 9 x's
Heavy Swing, 9 x's
Alternating V Sit-up with 8 lb Medicine Ball, 9 (each leg)
Squat Jump, 9
Bulgarian Bag Swings, 9 (each direction)
Snatch, 9 (per arm)
Squat, 9
Push-up, 9
Plank (knee to elbow), 9

Well, you get the picture. We made it to the four rep point precisely when class was slated to end.

During the workout, I put my mat down for the push-up station and Julia asked me if it was okay if she used my mat. I told her yes and she said I'm thankful for Andrea.

Later on Julia told me that she was going to need a sip of water at some point. It was a workout that I felt invigorated by so I kind of bulldozed through it. I think that when I'm faced when this kind of workout, there is part of me that doesn't want to stop because I don't know if I'll be able to resume the workout.

I kept glancing at Marisa's whiteboard but didn't really study it so Julia caught me off guard when I heard something that sounded like ass to grass (squats). Marisa thought I might be offended but Julia straightened her out -- She's not offended. Julia was on a roll tonight.

After kettlebell, I soaked for a bit and caught up on magazines that have been accumulating in a wicker basket. I read a short article (Health, October 2013) called Sports Bras Don't Have to Hurt. What caught my attention is LaJean Lawson's credential. She's a leading expert on breast motion. Didn't know there was such a field.

On My List

Took a warm, deep space stretch yoga class at the studio that I'm trying out. At one point, we had a leg extended -- foot flexed stretching the quad then we moved that leg over, rested on the edge of the foot while holding onto blocks placed at the side of the body; mmmm, the mother of all stretches for the IT Band. It was an intense class but yummy. I enjoyed the heat. Plus, some maneuver helped to ease my ongoing knee tweak. And, oh yeah, gotta get me one of those green balls to roll out muscle knots.

Probably should have saved the deep stretch class for today. Went to kettlebell after taking off last week for birthday festivities. Marisa didn't name the workout but it should have been called The Filthy Fifty.

50 Two-Hand Swings
50 Push-Ups
50 Snatches
50 Triceps Dips
50 Mountain Climbers
50 Clean and Presses
50 Hand-to-Hand Swings
40 "V" Sit-Ups
40 Around the Body with a Catch
40 Alternating Lunges etc. etc. etc.

I think triceps dips are on my list, right behind burpees, of things that make me wince. After the dips, I was dragging and didn't feel like I had it in me but when I saw Princess Tiffany, Julia and Jessica Rabbit gutting it out, I didn't dream of stopping which is why I keep going to kettlebell class. I need instructor and peer pressure at least once a week.

What Are You Saving Your Energy For?

Walked into the workout area and Julia, with a spirited look, nodded toward the newbie who was in "my" spot. I feigned revenge.

My magic spot opened up and I was glad because I like the energy there...

Marisa was in an interesting mood -- in the way that she guided us through class and her thinking out loud about the need to set fitness goals for herself... Our workout was interesting as well but I felt like we didn't swing a lot.

The workout, in part:

Russian Step-ups, 60 seconds

Hand-to-Hand Swing, 60 secs

Russian Step-ups

Halo, Squat, Triceps Extension

Russian Step-ups

Figure Eight with Catch and Lunge

Step Up, Step Down (i.e. Russian Step-ups)

Snatch

Step Up...

Cleans....

At some point, Julia said I'm so over these step-ups...but she dug deep especially after Marisa asked What are you saving your energy for?

Jessica Rabbit (for her speed with doing triceps dips etc.) is now doing strict pull-ups. We all oohed and ahhed over her lats and arms. Well, Marisa does most of the ahhhing over Jessica's arms which made me mock ooh and ahh over many things that Jessica did which made her laugh and it's pretty easy to make her laugh. She cackled like crazy over my Cirque du Soleil maneuver with a medicine ball.


I sabotaged myself though because it's hard to laugh and swing a kettlebell at the same time.

Ball Slamming and Whatnot

Went climbing yesterday and there's that part of me that wants to be sorrowful that my climbing is not what it used to be then Patti pops into my head. What are your climbing goals? Do you want to be active? Do you want to have fun? Check, Patti, check...

Also, even though I get the occasional resistance while climbing, my tweaked knee feels better after tackling the walls. Go figure.

You know how you just click with some people? Fellow kettlebeller, Julia, is one of those folks that I click with and we both think about napping before kettlebell. Analysis anyone?

Marisa was more than ready for us and had stations set up.

Today's workout -- for one minute of action and 30 seconds of rest:

Station 1........Squat with two kettlebells (or one heavier kb)
Station 2........Push-ups
Station 3........Alternating V Leg Sit-up with Bulgarian Bag
Station 4........Roll Out with Ab Wheel
Station 5........Burpees
Station 6........Triceps Dips
Station 7........Heavy Swing (35 or 45 lbs)

During the first round, I went with 45 pounds because Princess Scientist Warrior Tiffany went in front of me and I didn't want to let her down but I didn't have the stamina to swing 45 after the first round.

Station 8........Slam Ball (20 lbs).

Marisa said that she can always tell when I'm slamming the ball by all the noise that I'm making. I love ball slamming -- especially by hump day.

After three rounds of squatting and whatnot, the other women worked on pull-ups but I declined, stretched and resisted the urge to nap in front of the industrial fan.

The Princess Is A Beast

Comfort is no test of the truth. Truth is often far from being comfortable. My yoga quote of the day by Swami Vivekananda.

It's good to be reminded of discomfort on kettlebell day.

Slept well last night as I usually do after swimming. Guess the water gradually rocks me to sleep but not just sleep -- a solid, restful one...

Did my usual I don't want to go to kettlebell internal whining then got myself in gear.

2kb = double your fun. We did this sequence for a while -- all for 45 seconds:

Jump rope (with imaginary ropes)
Two-hand swing, two kettlebells or one larger one
Squat
Snatch
Press

Repeat...

I enjoyed doing the alternating kettlebell clean and seesaw press. I also enjoyed working out next to Princess Tiffany. She's been out of town for two weeks but totally owned her workout including the double snatches portion of the program. Tiffany handled those kettlebells so beautifully that I wanted to stop and take a picture. The Princess is a beast.

Julia and I don't normally join in for pull-up practice but we did today. As we we walked to our cars, Julia said I'm proud of us.

The Six-Letter Word

Ninety five degrees today but 82 tomorrow. It was the perfect time to hit the pool but, no, I just had to go to kettlebell practice. When Chip said I hope this workout is not for us, I was sure that the list on the whiteboard was meant for Marisa's other clients but I was wrong. My first line of defense is usually denial in case you're wondering...

Modified Circuit:

10 Inchworms with Push-up (Instead of Burpees)
25 Two-Hand Swings
9 Inchworms..
30 Two-Hand Swings
8 Inchworms...
35 Two-Hand Swings
7 Inchworms...
40 Two-Hand Swings
6 Inchworms...
45 Two-Hand Swings
5 Inchworms...
50 Two-Hand Swings

I absolutely do not care how long it took me to finish but Marisa kept track. It took me 17 minutes to inch my way through that circuit. Erin and Princess Tiffany came late and still finished before me and they didn't modify which meant that they started out with 30 burpees. Julia did a semi-modified workout and had to leave early because she got nauseous.

I swung with a 12 kg kettlebell then switched back to a 10 kg when we did a minute of cleans and presses, snatches, etc.

As I looked at those burpees on the whiteboard, I thought about the pool and wondered about my decision-making skills.

Finishing

Texted Marisa to let her know that I would not be attending kettlebell class on Wednesday and would see her Saturday.

Marisa: (Princess) Tiffany has xyz and Liz has and Meghan...you might be the only one.

Me: I don't want you to give up Saturday for me. I'll catch you Wednesday.

Marisa: Come to class! It's what I do!

Me: A silent damn...

I never want one-on-one kettlebell practice with Marisa who is first-class but...

I barely get myself together in time and remind myself that I am not a morning person and that's okay. When I get to Marisa's, Julia is there. I don't remember her but she used to swing at the place that closed, feels like a badass when she practices kettlebell and has lost 60 pounds.

We start off doing jumping jacks then we pick up our kettlebell for 10 two-hand swings. We do mountain climbers then get up and do 10 right hand swings then 10 burpees with a push-up and a tuck jump and that just saps my energy but I move on to:

10 Swings, R
10 Swings, L
10 Rows, R
10 Rows, L
20 ATB (Around the Body) with a catch and lunge

At some point, we go back to single arm swings for one minute -- way too long if you ask me. We also get in 10 bottom up presses and 20 squats.

We do planks from the TRX and I'm still not sure how Marisa gets in and out, when she demonstrates, with no assistance. Also don't know how people work out quietly. I am noisy and I sometimes protest too much but I don't care because it gets me through the workout.

We check out the battle ropes for a minute -- doubles -- 10 x's; singles -- 10 x's; outs -- 10 x's.

We do core work with a medicine ball. Then we do a straight arm plank, right side and left side planks, a forearm plank and, to end the workout, we squat while holding the medicine ball out. I drop my ball before time is up and Marisa tells me to finish it out and I do.