Working on Fitness

This week a good friend and I decided we were going to hire a personal trainer.  Usually any time of gym membership or fitness project makes my wallet much leaner than my body, but I continue to try.

We went to Catalyst Fitness, which is a huge and amazing place.  My friend belongs but the real reason was that I met the owner and could not help but notice she has the BEST defined arms I have ever seen.  I want them on this body.  Although defined muscles may take more than the regular lifting of wine glass to lips, I was willing to try.  It was late in the day when we got to the gym and simply walking in made me tired.

It's not like I am in terrible shape.  My husband and I take a spin class every weekday morning at the Bike Or Bar.  It is loud music, flashing lights and the BEST instructors in all of NY state.  I usually leave there soaked in sweat.  I also try to do 2 days of Hot yoga - which I love.  So you would think that I could at least get through a little fitness class at a gym.  Not so.

My friend and I met our trainer Sebastian.  Very tall, very fit, very cute.  You know the kind of person you want to impress a bit.  Instead of putting together a program, he had us join his TRX class.  Frankly it didn't look too bad.  A couple of straps hanging from a station and you just kind of suspend yourself.  How hard could it be?

We positioned out mats and started by laying on our backs, putting a foot in each strap and then flipping over.  Yes I said flipping.  I haven't flipped since I was a toddler.  Now I am on my my palms with my body in the air, my feet in stirrups and after 20 seconds I AM EXHAUSTED.  That was the first exercise and the easiest.  So much for impressing the cute trainer.  We were on our hands, our heels our toes.  We were pushing and pulling and bending.  None of it was easy and our trainer may have realized it because he offers us a water break.

Exhausted to the point of delusion, we walk to the water fountain.  On the way, I start feeling a bit better until I walk directly into some piece of exercise equipment, jabbing me in the stomach and making me trip.  Surely no one say that - although my friend has trying hard to hide the hysteria.  What the hell am I doing here?

After 1 hour, I am wiped out.  I thought I would be better at this and now I just feel weak and even more in need of a trainer.  Next week he booked us for an 1 1/2 so he can test our fitness - apparently lying flat on the mat breathing heavy didn't give him a clear indication.

I could quit and just deal with things the way I am especially because it has been three days and my legs are still sore.  But I will not.  You see my twin sister recently lost 60 pounds and can do 100 push ups.  My best friend recently lost 20 pounds and looks awesome in a tight size 4.  Where does that leave me?  I will tell you.  It leaves me visiting Sebastian and suspending my self in this TRX nightmare.

Win or Lose It's How You Play the Game

Remember your parents telling you that it doesn't matter if you win or lose, it's how you play the game.  I just keep thinking about how the presidential election game was played this year and how maybe some campaign managers didn't get their mom's message.

If you know me or have ever read my blog, you will know that my candidate did win and of course I am happy about that. I have many friends who had and have very different views, opinions and favorites. Those people are educated, aware and involved.  I respect them and value their opinions.  We were able to have conversations which brought to light differing opinions and approaches as well as taught me a few things.  No my mind was not changed nor do I think I chanced their minds.  But we are all better off for having those discussions.

That's not how I feel about the candidates.  The debates were devoid of truth and facts, simply littered with opinions and attacks disguised as truth.  The NY Times published a fantastic Op Ed piece by Thomas Friedman today that really made me realize what a disappointment this process has become.  My son will be eligible to vote in the next presidential election, what will that be like?

Did you happen to see the news piece that focused on a campaign to scare voters into thinking they were not legal to vote?  Billboards were established in low income, under educated neighborhoods stating voter fraud was punishable by a $10k fine and 3 years in jail.  Those neighborhoods were blanketed with mail pieces claiming that if these folks voted they would be doing so illegally.  Now I am sure some of these people were probaly not registered, but what was the purpose of these tactics?  Obviously to not have this "group" perform their civil duty.  I get that this was not a political sanctioned move but the brain child of some overly zealous Romney supporters..not that the overly zealous Obama supporters couldn't have come up with a similiar move.  But when you look at what the candidates are doing, can you be surprised that their supporters are following suit?

Regardless of whether your candidate won or lost, it is time to get together and support our political leaders - that means the president, the senate and the congress.  Yes express your difference of opinion and yes financially support those who you want to see in power.  But do so with civility not with emotionaly jabs, damaging lies and a reluctance to work together.  As cheesy as it may sounds, we are after all Americans.

 

Determination

This weekend my husband and I went to see a body building competition.  Never would we have ever thought to do this in the past, however I good friend of ours was competing.

When she first told us, we thought she had gone crazy.  What close to 50 year old women, with multiple children would want to put her body on display?  Or even to put the effort into building those muscles and refraining from the things we all like wine and desserts?

After seeing her on stage, we could not be more impressed.  She looked amazing! Lean muscles dripping with confidence.  She strutted across that stage and she deserved every bit of applause she received.  I think she looked better than most of the 20 somethings competing.  But it wasn't so much the body building as it was the fact that she put her mind forward to do something, something extremely difficult demanding determination, persistence and will power.  She did it.

It seems we rarely see that determination and dedication any more.  How many times do we hear or even say " I'm going to ..." and then when it gets too difficult we quit with some rational on not enough time or not the right time or why bother.  Our friend is an inspiration.  We should all feel the need to look at ourselves and pick a challenge.  Most importantly to follow through on that challenge.

Congrats to my beautiful, determined friend.