Thursday, February 26, 2015

Helllloooo Walter!

Walter is back.

Which is fitting based on my new love of Breaking Bad.

But my Walter is less welcome (but just as disruptive). I have a swollen thyroid again. A goiter. My body functions have slowed to a crawl. I am gaining weight for no reason, I am constantly exhausted and cold. My mood swings are… well, let’s just say I thought for sure I was prego (I am NOT). I can feel Walter pressing on my throat when I swallow, when I breath… he feels like a glob of something blocking my throat. I thought it was a lingering chest cold, but its not. It’s Walter.

What did I do to piss him off?? I have no idea this round… I started drinking a lot of Green Tea, for the health benefits (and delicious taste), but stopped when I read (and remembered) the affects it has on the thyroid. I started drinking a replacement shake for breakfast and lunch to help with my calorie intake and increase the vitamins/nutrients going in to my system, which made me feel like a super hero for a few days, but may be the culprit. So I gave that up too…

Now Walter is big enough to stretch the neck of my t-shirt.

I called the doctor to get a requisition to have my thyroid checked, but I have to wait for that in the mail (if they agree to send it). Now I know, I should GO to the doctor, but he is an hour away and I don’t have any time-off in the new position, not until July. I can’t go to a walk-in for this, because they’ll just send the referral to my doctor.


Friday, February 20, 2015

Meal Replacement


So I started taking a meal replacement twice a day. Its convenient and affordable. It makes me accountable and offers ALL of my daily nutrients (with minimal calories). I have never felt better (more to follow), but it tastes terrible and the texture is like sludge. 

Thomas wanted to try it. 

This is what he thought of it.

Enjoy!

Tuesday, February 17, 2015

Body COMBAT kicked my ass.



And I liked it.

Vanessa and I tried a new class this week, one we thought previously cancelled. We kicked off our short week with Body COMBAT at 5:45am on Tuesday morning. The class description promises to leave us totally unleashed. That is completely accurate.


There is no equipment for this class, it’s all calisthenics… jumping, punching, skipping, thrusting, kicking and no lunges. #win

The music is perfectly tailored to the moves, the instructor grunts and yells with each movement to keep you going and entire class burns. It may have trumped Step as my favorite class.


Ding!

Monday, February 16, 2015

I heart Speed Step!

I went to class on Sunday, because I love Step and have faith the class will get better. I wasn’t a huge fan of the new release… it was athletic step, and constantly pausing for lunges, squats and burpees. It’s my main cardio class of the week and I don’t want to stop, plus I freaking HATE lunges.

But this Sunday we did Speed Step and Party Step. It’s quick and dirty, fun and flirty.

I left sweaty and satisfied. Finally.


It’s going to be a GOOD week.

Sunday, February 15, 2015

Zumba with Kat

I tricked Kat into spending Valentine’s Day with me at the gym.

Sneaky, sneaky.

Kat is my favorite. She is Ian’s fiance, really she is the reason we tolerate Ian, the big goof. She makes him better… in fact, she makes us all better. She is sweet and thoughtful (she handmade me a Valentine that inferred she would ‘do me’ as a Valentine’s Day gift. It’s thoughtful, because I would love to get ‘done’).

Kat is also working towards a weight loss, get fit goal. We share fit-bit battles and protein shakes. We share everything… except my love of working out. So, this weekend I called my guy (yup, I have a gym guy) and set up a free pass for my good friend class, like a time share all we have to do is listen to a little speech about buying a membership, which isn’t happening, but we appreciated Kelly (the Aussie) and her giant smile.


How did I lure Kat in?? With Zumba. Its even fun to say. It takes no skill (don’t worry I will retract this statement later, but this is my thought process BEFORE class) and no heavy lifting. It’s a great entry class, plus how much fun would it be to shake your ass with a bunch of older ladies?? (the class is typically filled with 60 plusers who are killing the ALL of the moves. I can only hope I am that fit at 65).

We dressed all in black, hide at the back and waited for the class to start. It was going smoothly until this feisty little latino sniffed us out as newbies and came to introduce herself… she was the instructor. She told us to do our best, try to keep up and when in doubt just dance. Seems easy.

No.

Enter Retraction: Zumba is freaking hard. I have no hips and I don’t know how to move the little hips I do have. My feet don’t cha-cha, kick ball or change. They walk or run. I can’t find the beat and after 20 minutes I am sweating, panting and looking to Kat for help. She looks much the same way and we both fall into a fit of giggles, which only gets a stern look from the feisty Latino, who’s hips must detach, because the way she is wiggling is unholy, sexy as hell, but completely unholy.

The class is ‘done’ 5 times before it actually ends and we run out before the feisty Latino can get to us.


Ding!

Friday, February 13, 2015

Spinning in the dark



I love spinning.

That’s a lie.

I hate spinning.

I thought I loved spinning.

I wanted to love spinning, but its all a lie.

I love Kerry.

I miss Kerry.

Kerry was my spin instructor at my old job, I would duck out at lunch to catch her class. I would get sweaty and feel ‘spent’ afterwards. She had killer music and I regularly stole her playlist PLUS she let me create a playlist for a special class, that’s the relationship we had. Spinner and Spinnee. It was a good set-up, but it lead me to believe that I love spin. I don’t.

Friday morning I woke up early and thought this was a sign that I needed to go to the gym, I was 2 sessions short for the week (my aim is 4 per week). I rolled out of bed, popped my pills, slid into my jogging pants and rolled out the door with an apple in my hand.

This is my spin bike. 

I got to the gym nice and early. I found the SPIN room, which was in total darkness, but full of people. I slipped on a bike in the back and attempted to ‘set it up’. I couldn't get my feet to line up, my legs were too bent or too straight. My bum hurt and the handle bars were always the wrong distance away, but the class was starting with or without me. The music was great… booming, loud and upbeat. The instructor was good… lots of energy and clearly very knowledgeable. But there was something lacking… our instructor although very chatty offered little instruction. I couldn't keep up with the changes, because I didn’t know they were happening. I couldn't keep up with the pace, because my bike wasn’t set up (don’t worry I am FULLY aware that I am out of shape and that had a lot to do with not keeping up).

I left the class feeling annoyed… not sweaty and spent.

My new plan… lure Kerry away from my old gym and find her a home right here in Burlington. Her parents are already here and it could be great.


Kerry, please. 

Friday, February 6, 2015

History of Hot Yoga

The History of Hot Yoga… or more accurately MY history with Hot Yoga.


 It all started 7 years ago. I was living in Kingston, working out at the gym every night (I didn’t have cable and I didn’t have friends, so I would run on the treadmills and watch my favorite shows). I wanted more, my boyfriend at the time was a complete jerk and constantly made comments about my big butt (a real jerk). I wanted to drop weight and I wanted to do it quickly, this is all before I understand being healthy was better than being skinny (weird, right?). I had heard about Hot Yoga and thought I could use all the sweating to lose some pounds fast (keep in mind at this time I was 40lbs lighter than I am now, but miserable). I roped in my girlfriend who had similar issues and we headed to the brand new studio in the heart of downtown.

Gah.

It sucked. She left with a bloody nose, I threw up and had a headache for a week, but dropped a pound so went back from more. It was like a sweat lodge, I can’t imagine it being that healthy back then, I think the practise was new enough that no one noticed the terrible conditions. I had also never done Yoga before in my life. I remember hating every class, but bragging that I did Hot Yoga. I had issues back then.

Then I found a place in Toronto on the Danforth, I only went twice because it was crazy intimidating. This place was a standalone Yoga bar that took the Yoga lifestyle VERY seriously. To the point of no cellphones in the building. I remember going in the dead of winter and having to take the subway, because I didn’t have a car. I remember standing outside, sweaty and cold trying to call my scumbag ex to pick me up, because I had gotten yelled at by the Yogi for trying to sneak a phone call. There were no shoes in the entire Yoga area, not even reception. You had to ditch your socks and shoes at the front door (the entry level of the two story building) and go up the winding staircase in your barefeet. I also remember the other people at this Yoga bar (I am calling them Yoga Bars because it makes them sound more fun than they actually are) they were conventional Toronto Hipsters (which I know is wrong, but they were exactly as you expected Hipsters to be, they all dressed the same, wore their hair the same and carried the same stank face… way to be original ‘hipsters’). I wasn’t one of them and they made me feel it. In the class I was able to ignore the sideways glances, because I didn’t have traditional yoga gear. I was in sweat pants (for SWEATING) and a tank top.

The next round was when I moved to Acton with Richard. For the first time in my life I had expendable income and 50lbs to lose (I was prepping for our first vacation together that involved going to North Carolina with a group of beautiful Motorcycle girls). I found a little spot in Milton inside the Kicks for Kids building. It was a tiny little room, but the yoga was hot and so was the instructor. He was handsy too… happy to help ‘correct’ a pose with his strong Yogi hands. I ended up bringing a crowd to that venue and we shut the place down, literally. It shut down and relocated. I remember loving that class, he would play rock music and talk through the workout, which is VERY anti-yoga, but very entertaining. It was 90 minutes of pure sweat. It was tough, but reasonable. I could do it. I always left feeling so good, the night classes helped me sleep and worked on my tired achy muscles.

I didn’t go back after the shutdown, Michelle had moved away, Mike and Angie weren’t available anymore. My hot yoga dreams fell apart.

I wouldn’t make it back to Hot Yoga until we were settled in Burlington. Now I had never looked at the different types of hot Yoga, because there are several from Moksha to Bikram. I just wanted hot and sweaty. When we first settled in Burlington I was trying to lose another 30lbs in preparation for the wedding, there is always some reason I am not happy with my body and trying to fix it. It’s exhausting and honestly I hope to get to the point that I don’t care. Actually that I don’t have to care, because I am flawlessly fit, because I am a registered Personal Trainer with my own bootcamps (dream big). So I found Some Like it Hot. It was a yoga studio based in a recreation centre. It was ok, I signed up for the 20-day trial and went twice a week. I think at this point I started dragging Cassy along with me. She is naturally fit and beautiful… and bendy. She killed it in these classes.

Some like it Hot seemed amateur, which I understand the irony based on my own amateur status, but I like the places that take Hot Yoga uber seriously. I did like one of their classes, but that was mainly for the instructor, she was great and lived the life in a harmonious way, which sounds odd, but she wasn’t the least bit pretentious (a typical character flaw of the very fit… but I can’t say I wouldn’t be a bit Pretentious if I successfully lost 80lbs and walked around in a body with sculpted muscles etc.)

My original take on SOME LIKE IT HOT 

I didn’t continue on after the trial. Cost is always a factor and I had a few more Trials to abuse. I next went to Kula, which I had done once before in Oakville… which was my first mistake. Oakville is full of wealthy people that are naturally fit, they wear name brands and aren’t very welcoming to outsiders (or poor people like me). I did there 30 days for $30. Cassy did the trial with me. We went to every type of class offered from Yoga Cross (pilates/yoga/Cross Fit), and insane with weights and lunges) to Detoxifying Yoga, Bikram to low impact. This studio was smack in the middle of serious and fun. I loved the classes and the location, but after the trial costs shot up to $25 a session, which didn’t work on my wedding budget. Back track to the detoxifying yoga… what a GREAT class. I don’t always believe in the continuing affect, does my liver really care about how I stretch, but to be harmonious I tried this class, we wrung out our organs, flushed our livers and stretched our hears and I did feel better afterwards, different, relieved. If only the timing had been better, it was a tricky class to get to.


Then Kula was bought out and replaced with Be Yoga, same location different Mantra. They added suspended yoga, which I still haven’t tried. I went to several drop in classes, but never fell in love with any of them or the instructors, which is SO important to me. And now I was doing yoga for the stretching not for the potential weight loss. I was in a different head space.

Then I got pregnant and Hot Yoga was done. You can’t elevate your temperate when pregnant it can cause birth defects, especially if you are not practising regularly (The class I took in Oakville was taught by a VERY pregnant and VERY flexible yogi).

After Thomas I returned to Be Yoga for a Mommy and me class, but that resulted in him being tethered to the wall, because he was too mobile and constantly tried to escape to harass other babies. I didn’t love the class or the cost.

And now finally I have come to today, well yesterday. I joined Goodlife fitness. I joined because I love Goodlife, because I love their classes, but the thing that pushed me over the top was the new Hot Yoga studio. I could incorporate Hot Yoga into my weekly routine without the added cost (I know I am cheap… I have mentioned cost a dozen times in this post, but Hot Yoga ain’t cheap). Now I just had to figure out when to go. There was a Friday morning class, a 6am start time, which meant a 5am alarm (you have to sign up 30-minutes prior to class), but knowing how I typically felt directly after class, I didn’t think a morning class would work. I also worried about time to prepare. I have learned you need to fully hydrate before the class (and during and after, but before is what will get you through the class) and you can’t go in hungry or full. It’s a small window of opportunity to get it right. A 6am class means I am eating a light breakfast at 5am to be ready, that is  A LOT of commitment on a Friday. My other options were Saturday/Sunday, but that would pull me away from Thomas and make me miss the only Step Class I can make it too in a week (which Step is STILL my favorite class). The last option Thursday. TV night. I already hit the gym at 6am for a Body Pump (which I love) could I really do 2 intense workouts in ONE day? Only one way to find out. I headed to Hot Yoga last night after a rushed daycare grab, dinner and dress. I ran to the gym, barely hitting the 30-minute pre class mark. I then changed and sat in the ‘waiting room’ for 20 minutes (that system needs to be revised). Finally we were let into the Hot Room. Whewf. It was hot and smelly. The immediate impression was this was NOT a serious class. I found a spot at the back, (or what I hoped was the back. I had been screwed before with setting up and then finding out I was at the VERY front of the class). I unrolled my mat, laid my towel down, set my blocks to the side and stripped off my socks and pants (yes, I wore shorts. In Public. On purpose. In Canada). I watched as gaggles of girls skipped in, giggly. I watched as guys sauntered in and scoped out the prime location, based on the women next to them. I laid down in Shavasna and started on my breathing. It was hard to concentrate with all the chatter and it dawned on me, I might have become a Hot Yoga snob. I would cringe if someone pulled out their phone while they were in studio. Gah. It occurred to me I have become ‘one of them’. The class starts to fill up and the stragglers start to make everyone shift and shimmy to make room, which is a HUGE pet peeve of mine. I got here on time and got myself all settled and then you’re going to run in late, and demand I move? It is the same way I feel about going to the movies. Don’t ask if I can move over one seat, because you want two seats together and the previews have already started. I am settled and happy. Screw you. Whewf, lost my mantra for a second.

So the class starts and it filled with every type pf Yoga goer. The hard-core, yoga fanatic who doesn’t wear enough clothes or deodorant. It’s usually an older woman in  just a bra. She usually looks angry. The Chubby girls, whom I used to be ‘This is the best way to drop quick weight, right?’.The Yoga Jock, a buff guy that has added yoga to his routine, because his muscles are tight. The Yogi, although female Yogi’s happen, they are harder to pick out. This type is usually a ripped guy, with his ponytail in a bun. He’s beautiful to look at and you can bet he understands Karma Sutra. The Yoga Snob, ‘I do yoga. What do you do?’ this is usually a fit girl, dressed head to toe in Lululemon  with resting bitch face. The Yoga-Hippy, this is the best Yoga persona. They are there because they love yoga, love the world and love you. They are smiling in their tie-dye shirt.

The smell in the room is terrible and the floor creaks, but I am being picky and after the above I think I have the history to be a little picky. Not that either of those things will stop me from going back.

Than our Yoga-Hippy instructor walks in. She is like a pixie floating around us. She starts speaking to us in a whisper asking us to be present, to feel our breath. The next 60minutes cruise by, I can keep up with the class and it feels good. I feel good. I am holding poises, stretching through and surprising myself.

I am reminded that I love hot yoga, that stretching and meditation is just as important to a workout regime as cardio and strength. I am relaxed and at rest. I can even get past the smell of the sweaty guy beside me who keeps making eyes.

I drift out of class after 60 minutes and feel at ease.

I freaking love hot yoga. I slept like the dead last night and now I am just trying to work out how to achieve that yoga high EVERY week.


That is my complete history of Hot Yoga… its been a crazy ride, but I am glad I have the experience. I would like to believe I am the female Yogi. I love the class, understand the lifestyle and look cool even in a 101 degree room.

Namaste.

Ding.



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Thursday, February 5, 2015

Michelle

This post is about Michelle. My amazing friend who has been on my workout train for as long as I can remember. Today, Michelle married her best friend. She is a beautiful soul and I wish her a beautiful life. They loaded up all the friends and family they could cram on to an airplane and headed for Mexico. Under the beautiful topical sun with waves crashing in the background they said their I do’s. Squeeee! I love weddings… I hate that I missed this one, but we did sip champagne last night, in honor of the Rogers and the start of their new life together.

Michelle was the drive behind my love of Hot Yoga. It all started back in Georgetown, before we all escaped. Michelle and I loved our lives, but wanted to work on our bodies, we wanted our curves to match our beautiful attitudes. We wanted to get fit and we were going to do it together. We made a pack, it started with Hot Yoga. We would get our sweat on as often as we could. I remember cramming into the Milton studios for Power Yoga with Dennis (that was NOT his name, but will work, he kind of looked like a Denis). He was a deliciously fit, 30 something guy that liked to touch and we were all OK with it. He would ‘correct our pose’ by running his strong hands across our backs, our re positioning our hips… it meant you wanted to have bad posture, because he would source you out.

We dragged as many friends as we could to that class. Than Dennis bought the place and shut it down. Thanks Dennis. Can I also say that hipster, Yogi Dennis drove a dually?? It was a confusing time.

We didn't attempt another Hot Yoga class because this is when Miss Michelle has the opportunity to move to Calgary. I remember she hummed and ha’d at the chance, it was terrifying to leave everything she’d ever known and we talked about it a lot. Can I say how thrilled I am for that she chose to go? I miss my workout buddy, but look at the life it has brought her… a handsome new husband, an adorable pup, a new home and a handful of new friends. I am so proud of her.


When the wedding planning started we sync’d up our fitness routine again. We created a group on BBM, the fitnessners. We lured Angie in too… these girls wanted to be bikini ready for the wedding! (I did too, but knew I wouldn't be laying on a beach anytime soon). We would converse all week with tips, tricks and struggles. Every Monday we would share our results… Michelle lead the charge with a great loss. This bride was looking fine! The Fitnessners didn't make it all the way to the wedding, BBM crashed (Let go Blackberry, Let go). But Michelle did report in a week before the wedding and she had lost 40lbs! That is amazing!!

I can’t wait to see pictures of my gorgeous friend rocking a wedding dress.

Love you, girl!

Cheers to you, a beautiful girl inside and out!

xo



Monday, February 2, 2015

Breaking them in

I missed this morning... If you're in the GTA you know why. If not, we got 2ish feet of snow over night. 



I woke up, saw that and thought 'not worth it'. Which is a relief considering I spent the first 55minutes of my day in a snowbank, before calling it quits, walking away and going to back to bed. Luckily Richard was stuck too, which meant Thomas had the day off with me. That kids' a good time!! 

We played all day, which is the best exercise that isn't. And most of the reason I hit 10,000 steps before 3pm.

We tackled the 4 foot snowbanks, I even lost Thomas once, when he dove right in.


He would have spent all day in the snow, but his little cheeks wouldn't have it.



I could have slacked off today, but after I put Thomas down for bed, I headed to Goodlife to break in my new sneaks.

Under Armor is such a different ride, they are confining and sturdy; not what I am used to from my Nikes. Honestly they're adorable, but my wide feet ache right now.

Why? I just ran on the elliptical for 65minutes. I didn't go in with a plan, but thought I would stop when I was done. I hit 'play' and took off. It felt great. I love the freedom of no where to be, no schedule... Something this Mama hasn't felt in a LONG time.

I tried using my fitbit to track my exercise, but it failed *sad tuba* it only allowed me to track running or waking, it froze half way through and stopped tracking. It said i burned only 18 calories during the 35 minutes it did track and I only got 11 active minutes. Hmpf! 

I did hit 15,000 steps, my biggest day so far! Woot!



Now I'm off to bed. Another big day with Thomas tomorrow.

Xo


Sunday, February 1, 2015

Step

It's Sunday and a fresh week. I went to step this morning, for the new release. It was an athletic step release and i didn't love it. I am a power step kind of girl, 3 or 4 basic steps, but going hard and fast, with all the 'ups', but this new release had a lot of  'Dance-ish' moves and I had to pause to catch them. By the time I got caught up and up to speed, we were on to a new move, but plus they had us pause for squats and lunches.

I understand the all over workout, but Sunday is my cardio. I want balls out cardio, I want to kill myself for 60 minutes. I don't want to do strength. I do strength during every other work out.

Hmpf.

But on the PLUS side... I got new shoes today. At the recommendation of my husband I bought Under Armour Shoes, and keeping in line with my previous post... they support Breast Cancer. I don't know how, or what that means, but they have a pink ribbon on them. Fancy!

And as an added excercise that isn't, we went tobogganing today! It was SO cold, but Thomas loved it (and so did I).

xo