Back to Boot Camp

Oh Boot Camp. We had over 180 new campers take advantage of the Free Sampler Camp offer and a bunch of repeaters stepped up to get back to boot camp a week early.
Of course the first day back the cold snap brought us some sub 40 degree weather, but it was dead still, no wind. Upper body day warmed us up pretty quickly. Mean Rachel was noticeably absent. To be fair she didn't sign up to start a week early, but still SOMEONE said they were training for the Capital 10K and SOMEONE is not at camp. ahem.

Today, leg day. I conveniently forget to do lunges while I was on break from boot camp. Apparently, this makes for jelly legs at camp. I will say that writing this at 4:30pm a good ten hours later and my butt hurts. Just sitting here. It's all right though. I feel, well, glad to be moving. I will work out on my own without camp but I don't push myself like I do at camp.

All in all, glad to be back at camp, oddly glad to feel sore.

Piano Run

Some of you know that I take piano lessons, which I feel is good exercise for my fingers. I have chubby fingers. Well, the exercise for my fingers part is not true but I do have chubby fingers.

On Friday night when I was having dinner at Waterloo Ice House, I couldn't help but notice that there was some sort of video footage running on CNN showing a young girl with a piano and they were giving out awards for the CNN "Heroes" of 2007. I made a mental note to look up the show later because I was curious as to who was getting an award for being a hero with a piano.

Since I have been on a 12 month news purge, I apparently have missed some actually interesting news bits like this one. An 18 year old girl named Kayla Cornale from Ontario developed a science fair project a few years ago linking piano keys with letters of the alphabet in hopes of helping teach autistic people. Her cousin was autistic and Cornale noticed how the girl was talented at memorizing lyrics of songs and connected with the piano. So she put a letter on each of the main 26 keys of the keyboard and started working with her on how to "spell" words by using the sounds of each key. She also designated some of the lower keys on the keyboard to make chords of emotion, so her cousin could express her various emotions.

Long story short, it worked and her cousin started to actually learn how to spell and could figure out the alphabet. It's really pretty incredible how it seems like such a simple idea, but one that is so very innovative.

Who knew a science fair could be so worthwhile. My foam-ball solar systems certainly never made any difference.

What I Learned This Week

I feel like this was a really big week for me.

I feel stronger. Hm. Well, that might have something to do with the 3,542 push ups I did. Or perhaps the 2,173 lunges. Whatevs. I feel strong and empowered this week.

I feel like 2008 I am really going to take by the horns. I think I committed to doing the Master Cleanse for 10 days in January last night. Which I feel like I could pull off, if so inclined and my social calendar allowed.

I feel good about myself. There is nothing like sculpted arms to make a girl feel good about her body, am I right?

Once, Twice, Three Times as Sore

This weekend, as I explained on my own blog, I made the terrible decision to double up my work outs. I obviously didn't think that one through. But the choice was made and I'm a bit of a strange bird when it comes to certain things, so on Monday morning I dragged myself out of bed for 100's Part Un.
Fortunately McD revised the 100's to "I Love the 80's" which is kind of weird because no one actually loved the 80's and no one actually loves the I Love the 80's workout.

(If that last sentence made no sense, I can explain: I have zero brainpower left in me currently)

I made it through I Tolerate the 80's and then went to "work" and tried to use my arms. My coworkers always know when I go to boot camp because I hobble around like Nostradamus. By 5:30 (that's PM, not AM), it was time to change and go to Part Deux. I changed at the office and then came to the terrifying realization that in my half-asleep stupor when I was packing my bag, I'd forgotten...socks.

I have one coworker who is...well, for lack of a better word, he's a push over. And he knows it, so I can say it on here. So I went over to him - "Maaaaattt..." Matt turned around from his computer and looked at me, knowing I wanted something. "Can I have your socks?"

I think he was just glad I wasn't making him fix the copy machine or get down something heavy from storage, because he said "You really want my socks?" and started untying his shoes.
So we turned them inside out, I asked him a few questions regarding foot hygiene, and then put them on. Putting on damp socks is like putting on a wet bathing suit - just. plain. disgusting.

Some people might have seen not having socks as an opportunity to skip out on the evening class. But I knew no one would believe me if I said I forgot my socks and I couldn't wuss out on my first day of two-a-days.

Tomorrow I have another round of two-a-days and will be bringing a bag to work with me again. When I was in 4th grade I forgot my homework at home one day. When I called my mom at work to see if she'd bring it to me, she told me no and said "I bet you won't forget it again."

Tomorrow I will not be forgetting to pack socks.

Prison Break

On Monday I went to the evening boot camp, since I was more awake (thank you sugar free Red Bull, my hero) and also since it wasn't as cold. Also I had accustomed myself to sleeping until 11:30 AM every day over the Thanksgiving holiday.

We started with a challenging post-Thanksgiving push up/plank/squat thrust/mountain climbers circuit (made even more difficult with half a pumpkin pie in your stomach) and then had "interval" runs in between. I was just glad we weren't doing the Ring of Fire again because I still maintain it gave me a cold last time.
For our second interval run, McD announced we were going to be doing a prison run which is one of the few boot camp exercises that actually sounds as difficult as it is. Which is testament to how tough it is.

A prison run is basically where you put your hands behind your head and then you take off running as if you just busted out of Pelican Bay Maximum Security Prison. Which may not sound hard, but running without your arms is kind of like swimming without your legs or playing the piano without your hands. Rather difficult and, in this case, aerobically challenging. From now on I am going to refer to the Indian Run as the Chain Gang Run, in an effort to create more truth in advertising.

When we got done with the run, we started up some more circuits, most of which I've quickly forgotten in a sort of Stockholm-syndrome cycle that I go through post-workout. I do remember McD saying "You guys were all so talkative before the prison run!" No one responded, just various gasps and Hail Marys from the crowd. "What happened?" McD continued. "What happened to chatty?"

Had I not been utilizing every ventricle of my heart to pump blood to my shoulders at that moment in time, I would have responded "I think Chatty got shot escaping from prison."

Just Beachy

My family heads down to the Texas coast for Thanksgiving (and pretty much any other four-day weekend we can get, as we are all displaced second-generation New Zealanders and feel a call from the ocean daily). This year the weather hasn't been the greatest -- cloudy, cold and blustery. But we still have managed to pack several hours worth of walking on the beach, which is way more interesting than strolling around Circle C on the weekends. There are seagulls to observe, the sound and energy of the waves propelling you forward and also people-watching with the rest of the tourists making their way up and down the beach. Yesterday we actually saw someone swimming in the ocean (the water temperature is about 66 degrees but it's 41 degrees outside and WINDY! You do the math!).
All of this beach walking got me wondering about whether it is better for your health to walk on a beach -- it seems more difficult to walk in the sand, bracing yourself against the wind. I found this entry on DiscoverWalking.com about the benefits of walking on the beach:

Aside from the beautiful view of the ocean and the great people watching there are many benefits of walking on the beach. Walking in sand requires a greater effort than walking on a hard surface. Your muscles and tendons will work harder as your foot moves around.

Walking at a slower pace requires more effort than walking fast or even jogging. Walking in sand requires 2.1 to 2.7 times more energy than walking on hard surfaces. Jogging in sand uses1.6 times more energy than jogging on hard surfaces.

For most of us burning calories is one of the benefits of any exercise. One the primary benefits of walking on a beach is that you will use 20 to 50 percent more calories than you would walking at the same pace on a hard surface.

So this is good news for me, especially after all of that pumpkin pie I ate yesterday and the mimosas I have (and continued to) downed.
Although I don't know that anything will save me when the alarm goes off at 5:09 AM on Monday and it's time (yet again) to do the mile run.

Just Add Water

I know that you all thought I was going to wax on about The Bachelor today, but I am not that shallow of a person. I have ambitions and goals and higher purposes in life other than just blogging about the Bachelor. No, really, I do. But boy is Brad Womack a tall drink of water. Speaking of water, has anyone reminded you lately that you need to drink plenty of water? Here are some reasons why:

75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated. (This likely applies to half the world population.)

In 37% of Americans, the thirst mechanism is so weak that it is often mistaken for hunger.

Even MILD dehydration will slow down one's metabolism as much as 3%.

One glass of water will shut down midnight hunger pangs for almost 100% of the dieters studied (in a University of Washington study).

Lack of water is the #1 trigger of daytime fatigue.

Preliminary research indicates that 8 to 10 glasses of water a day could significantly ease back and joint pain for up to 80% of sufferers.

A mere 2% drop in body water can trigger fuzzy short-term memory, trouble with basic math (Ed. Note: This explains EVERYTHING), and difficulty focusing on the computer screen or on a printed page.

Drinking 5 glasses of water daily decreases the risk of colon cancer by 45%, plus it can slash the risk of breast cancer by 79%, and one is 50% less likely to develop bladder cancer.


COKE

In many states the highway patrol carries two gallons of Coke in the trunk to remove blood from the highway after a car accident.

You can put a T-bone steak in a bowl of Coke and it will be gone in two days.

To clean a toilet: Pour a can of Coca-Cola into the toilet bowl and let the "real thing" sit for one hour, then flush clean. The citric acid in Coke removes stains from vitreous china.

To remove rust spots from chrome car bumpers: Rub the bumper with a rumpled-up piece of aluminum foil dipped in Coca-Cola.

To clean corrosion from car battery terminals: Pour a can of Coca-Cola over the terminals to bubble away the corrosion. (Ed. Note: I have actually done this with a golf cart battery several times and it works really well. Kind of fun, like pouring soy sauce on a snail.)

To loosen a rusted bolt: Applying a cloth soaked in Coca-Cola to the rusted bolt for several minutes.

To bake a moist ham: Empty a can of Coca-Cola into the baking pan, wrap the ham in aluminum foil, and bake. Thirty minutes before the ham is finished, remove the foil, allowing the drippings to mix with the Coke for a sumptuous brown gravy. (Ed. Note: I don't think McD would endorse this on the nutrition plan.)

To remove grease from clothes: Empty a can of Coke into a load of greasy clothes, add detergent, and run through a regular cycle. The Coca-Cola will help loosen grease stains.

Coke will also clean road haze from your windshield.


FOR YOUR INFORMATION:

The active ingredient in Coke is phosphoric acid. Its pH is 2.8. It will dissolve a nail in about four days. Phosphoric acid also leaches calcium from bones and is a major contributor to the rising increase in osteoporosis.

To carry Coca-Cola syrup (the concentrate) the commercial truck must use the "Hazardous Material" place cards reserved for highly corrosive materials.

The distributors of Coke have been using it to clean the engines of their trucks for about 20 years!


Now the question is, would YOU like a glass of water or Coke?

Actually, I'd just like a Brad Womack please.

And You Thought I Was Mean

Last weekend I went to the Xtreme Fight Championship (XFC) in San Antonio, Texas at the AT&T Center. It's kind of ironic that when I was a kid, you couldn't say the word "blood" around me without me bursting into tears, and now I find myself sitting cageside within inches of giant men (and women) punching each other. Either way, I never turn down the opportunity to get a free media pass and possibly bump into Tony Parker.

If you thought boot camp made you sore, just try to imagine this for a second: Climbing into a chain link cage and staring down someone who probably would be better suited for breaking a coconut open with his bare hands. That coconut will soon be replaced with your skull.

All in all, if you like action or just enjoy being at an event where it's completely appropriate to shout out "Go for the groin!" then you'd enjoy mixed martial arts fighting. I took a short video of one of the fights, between Kenny "The Italian Hit" Trevino and Kyo Gregoire. Trevino ends up knocking out Gregoire in the 2nd round and winning. If you're interested, you can read my (entirely too long) recap on the XFC Fight Blog.

Don't Sweat the Skirt Stuff

If you were at Race for the Cure, you might have noticed McD sporting what is known as the Skirt Sports. Evidently the newest exercise gear phenom is something as simple as a few extra inches of spandex (since when isn't that a good thing). To the right is an example of one of the Skirt Sports styles -- the Gym Girl Zebra, found here. This would be great if you occasionally go running down the strip in Las Vegas.

I've always avoided skirts not because I don't like them but because I find them rather awkward to get around in -- and when it comes to exercising in a skirt, no one's interested in pulling a Britney while doing bicycle crunches. But a rather inventive triathlete by the name of Nicole DeBoom came up with the idea to take your typical running shorts and turn them into a skirt, keeping the inside lining the same. The result is a more feminine style when running and working out. So if you're trying to pick someone up at the co-ed class, this is your golden ticket!

Since Race for the Cure, I saw a News 8 report on the Skirt Sport product line and also heard about the Skirt Chasers 5K which was held last weekend in Austin. Basically it's a 5K where women get a head start on the men and see who wins. For now, skirts are the new shorts.

While you won't see me in a skirt unless I'm knocking back a vodka soda at The Marq while simultaneously making eyes at The Bachelor and motioning for him to call me, I think it' a great sign of the times that the female demographic is being targeted as a powerful influence on the work out apparel market.

I Just Want A Runner's High

I came across this news story today, about a recent study that found that a "runner's high" can be good for your heart. I'm sure everyone's heard of the infamous runner's high: the heady, king-of-the-world feeling you get sometimes during or after finishing a run. According to studies, your brain releases chemicals called endorphins that make you feel happier and euphoric.
I guess I have no choice but to believe in the legend of the runner's high -- I sure as heck feel euphoric when I stop running. But that usually has more to do with being able to collapse on the ground and breathe again and less to do with endorphins and my brain synapses. I know that during a run I never feel euphoric. In fact, my mind thinks of the opposite when I run like "If that car hit me, I at least wouldn’t have to run the rest of this mile," or "Why on earth am I doing this?" I certainly have not experienced a runner's high while actually running, and if I ever did, I would immediately assume that I had gone unconscious. The only true runner's high I get these days is from watching a Nike commercial while eating a bag of Doritos.
So knowing that, I have to find other ways to entertain myself while running. A lot of people like to listen to music while they run and sometimes I do too. But I also get kind of frustrated with carrying the albatross of an MP3 player, especially if a song I'm less-than-thrilled with comes on or if I want to skip to another song. It seems like such a huge effort while running to press the fast-forward button on an iPod -- as if that's going to knock off seconds from my world record-breaking mile time. Instead while I'm running I often try to meditate to the point where I no longer feel like I'm running and am curled up in my bed under the blankets. I haven't fully achieved this yet, but don't worry, I'll let you know when I do.

Pop a top and give me twenty!

So this is my kind of news! A recent study has shown that drinking beer after a work out is better than water. I knew I was on to something!

Check out the article here. An excerpt from it:

The study was conducted on 25 students of Granada University by Professor Manuel Garzon.

They were asked to run on a treadmill under stifling temperatures of 40 degrees Celsius / [104 degrees Farenheit] until they were close to exhaustion.

Their hydration levels, concentrationability and motor skills were later measured by the researchers.

While half were given two half pints of Spanish lager to drink, the rest were provided water. Both groups were then allowed to drink as much water as they wanted.

Professor Garzon said the rehydration effect in the students who were given beer was slightly better than those given water.

The article goes on to say that the carbon dioxide in beer helps quench thirst more quickly, while the carbohydrates replaced the calories lost during exertion.

Perhaps Gatorade will be coming out with a new GatorBeer?
We can only hope.

This Is NOT A Test: The Fitness Assessment

MeanRachel actually made it in to class this morning. I am very impressed. There was the threat of a personalized "you haven't been to boot camp in a while" circuit if she opted out of today's Fitness Assessment, so lo and behold she ran!

For those of you that don't know aka New Campers, please note: This is not a competition. Well, unless you compete with yourself which is completely fine. The fitness assessment is just a way for you to gauge your progress as you go through camp.

At the start of camp you will do an initial body composition assessment (aka: measurements) and a strength and stamina assessment (aka: The Fitness Assessment) which is a combo of different exercises. Yea, no one enjoys getting on the scale but its just a number. Seriously, you may not like it but you can look at it and then kiss it goodbye and we'll work on getting you as far away from that number as we can. As for the exercises you'll see them again after the Assessment and I'm certain that you will improve.

After that we have THE MILE. Not to make it scary or anything...just know that the most important thing is to keep moving! I bring my ipod on mile day and am currently listening to "What I Like About You" by The Romantics, "Pump It" by Black Eyed Peas, and "Beware the Boys" by Panjabi MC. As for pace, don’t make the mistake that I did when I started of trying to hang with the girls in the front. By all means push yourself but if you have never run a mile or like me last year had not run a mile since high school gym class, don’t try to pace yourself out with the girls in front. Find a pace where you can keep it steady, breathe and keep running until you get to the end. If you have to walk, walk. But catch your breath and run again, even if it’s just the last stretch. Then you can collapse in the parking lot. Just kidding. See you at camp!

Introducing... General Bloggery

Somehow I have managed to miss tonight's episode of The Biggest Loser which I was thinking about writing about tonight. I've managed to spend a considerable amount of time Google chatting with MeanRachel who swears that she will be in class tomorrow regardless of the fact that we are having the Fitness Assessment and she only 'tolerates' running. It's funny that she doesn't like running because, in fact, she runs faster than me. She says its because she wants to get it over with as quickly as possible, but I'm sure she's looking for the under 8 minute mile.

Why so much chatting about MeanRachel? Well, we have a deal. She comes back to camp and I let her shamelessly plug her website. Oh and she's going to run the Race For the Cure with us. (You should too... or at least give me ten dollars) Oh and she'll guest blog here! Ladies and Gentlemen, our general bloggery mistress, the purveyor of the "The Pencil" work out move: MeanRachel.

Deltoids: The Other White Meat

As a contributor to this new fitness blog (which will rank up there with "windsurfing" and "calculus" on the list of "Things I Thought I'd Never Be Associated With"), I plan on representing the following boot camp demographic:

1. The person who values sleep even more than a pint of chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream and believes that being awake at 5:30 AM is only for Diane Sawyer, the paper boy and creepy opossums.
2. The person who checks off the "I promise not to drink for 4 weeks" box when signing up for boot camp while simultaneously crossing your big toe with your pointer toe and thinking "Pshyeah-right."
3. The person who has a limited knowledge of cooking, let alone cooking healthy foods, and by "limited" I mean "nonexistent."

Welcome, MeanRachel Demographic. I will be your voice on this blog.

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My history with Austin Adventure Boot Camp starts, as most sagas do, on a dark and stormy night...at 5:30 AM. I started boot camp in January 2007, exactly one week prior to The Ice Storm of 2007 (those of you in Austin at the time will remember what I am talking about). To this day I don't remember why I enlisted, but I think it was some sort of impulse buy, like purchasing a lip gloss at the check out counter at Sephora because it has nice packaging. I'd lived a relatively active lifestyle by default up until 2006, as I rode horses for a living. This meant I was always moving, lifting, sweating and walking.

In March of 2006 I hurt my back and to make a long story short, I went from a very active career to a desk job. My one form of exercise, riding horses, I could no longer do physically. I spent several months recovering and by the end of the year, just before I signed up for boot camp, I'd been feeling restless and frustrated with sitting inside all day.

My first three days at boot camp were almost comical. Not only was it twenty-four degrees outside, but I was also waking up, putting on four layers of clothes, and then rolling myself out my door to go attempt to exercise. I spent most of the first week thinking about how cold I felt which in hindsight probably took my mind off how exhausted and weak I was.

For whatever reason, I kept going back. Week after week, month after month. I never missed a single day (definitely the key to staying in the camp is not allowing yourself to skip a day) and managed to whittle my mile time down from 11:15 to 7:37, a feat I hadn't even accomplished in high school track.

I took a couple of months off this summer, when it felt like I was exercising in a sauna. But now that the weather has turned, I'm planning on heading back. I don't expect to do it cheerfully (my name is MeanRachel after all, what did you expect?) but I will "tolerate" it (no one will ever let me live that line down).

Keep an eye out for me. I'll be the one wearing the Red Sox hat doing "The Pencil."