Snippets

I know it's rude to listen to those that are around you talk about what's going on in their lives but sometimes it's too hard not to listen. Like, the other day I was walking down the street after a successful term at the gym, minding my own business. It was late in the afternoon on a fairly busy city street when I heard this, "Yes, he faked his death and is now living in Mexico somewhere." I was so intrigued I wanted to turn around and follow the ladies to see if they were talking about what happened on their favorite TV show or someone they knew. What would you have done?

Ouch!

I have mentioned probably too many times how I am a regular at my local gym. Well, today I am so sore but, in a not so bad way. See, yesterday I had my second experience with kettlebells, see above. These are basically cast iron balls with a cast iron handle, the smallest one weighs 8 kg (or a little less than 18 pounds).

These are weights you can swing, circle, carry, etc. It is quite a workout especially when using them to do squats. I understand there are lighter versions that you can do all kinds of training with but my gym does not yet have those lighter versions.

With all this extra work I should be in shape just to partake in all the holiday eats!

This Makes the News?

I was at the gym yesterday afternoon watching the televisions (I rarely listen, I find it kind of entertaining to just watch and make up what people are saying). The teles have the usual mix of something for everyone, music videos, a talk show (like Tara or Oprah), sports, sitcoms, and, at least one channel always tuned to, CNN.

I am looking around at the various teles and settle on CNN for a bit. As I am on the elliptical trainer building up my cardio fitness I watch the ticker at the bottom of the screen, Obama visits with White House, something about Pakistan, Iraq, etc., then it passes by, "World's Ugliest Dog Dies".

I wait for the ticker to circle and I see it again, now that is news? And CNN News at that? It must have been a slow day in the news, which I guess isn't necessarily a bad thing.

Stinky Gym Clothes, What!?!

A couple days ago I was dutifully enjoying my cardio work out on the Cybex Arc Trainer (if you don't know what that is it's kind of a cross between an elliptical machine and a stair stepper). My favorite Arc Trainer is directly in line with a window that is perpetually open with only one tread mill separating me from the fresh air. I watched but did not listen to the several televisions mounted around the gym per usual and then I began to smell an odd aroma. A couple of seconds passed and what I thought to be an aroma turned, well, disgusting. I peered around the gym and smack in front of that open window directly in my line of fire was a person who had just jumped onto the treadmill that stood between that open window and me. That person on that treadmill must not have washed their gym clothes for an entire year or maybe even more. The stench of urine, sweat, or whatever else made my stomach turn. It was completely and utterly vile! I cannot imagine how the person wearing those clothes could not know that they smelled. Don't get me wrong, I understand that the gym is typically not full of fresh and fruity smells, but come on! I wash my gym clothes between each use, it's not that difficult.

I got to thinking that maybe gyms should institute a clothing smell test and if you don't pass you cannot workout. Can you imagine the protests of the front desk workers?

100 Pushups?

By now you probably know that I work out often for release of the stress of everyday life. Today, I ran across a website that promises anyone can attain the goal of completing 100 push ups without a any rest in between sets. Check it out, I'm tempted to try it myself so look for my follow up post in a few weeks.

Yoga Heat

I started taking a yoga class several weeks ago, actually I can thank my cousin for the thought but, I have really been enjoying the classes. There is something very cleansing, in more ways than one, about the class. I love the permission given to not think about anything else but your breath, and the "embrace and release" philosophy of all the thoughts that you cannot keep quiet. In this crazy life we all live, I'm sure you know exactly what I mean. Oh, and did I mention that it helps you become more limber or in some cases maintain your limberness. I was about as flexible as a dried out twig, now however I am about as limber as a half-dried twig, and in only a few weeks, so it definitely helps.





I am, in no sense of the word "granola" and I really enjoy the practice although I will admit that after years of high impact aerobics classes, the slower paced, inner-self focus did take a little getting used to. But, if you have not tried it, I encourage you to give it a try for a bit and see what you think. It really is a great workout with a relaxing twist.

Gymalicious

I made my daily trek to the gym today. (I am trying to be religious about going to the gym because I finally decided that my children are way to old to use twin pregnancy as an excuse.) I am at the point where I am seeing some results and I miss it enough when I don't go that I wish I went. So, I digress!

I charge through the door and hand the desk attendant my card, grab my towels and am off to the locker room to change. As I round the corner on my way to change, I see a younger woman with a midriff top and low lying sweats standing on the gym floor with her compact open applying her blush! Okay, I'm not that young and would not be caught dead or otherwise in a mid riff top at this point in my life, see above for reason, but I am not jealous. Even in my super hot single days (that may be a little over stating the truth but) I did not care that much what I looked like at the gym, and even if I did I would not be caught giving up my secrets.

What is it about the gym that brings out the best in us?