Kicking off the intensity blitz was everyone's favorite walkout pushups. For me, this is a killer for the shoulders when I have to navigate my clumsiness and extra body weight in this awkward position. I'm always hearing a lot of groaning when Brian includes this in his repertoire! I am probably at the head of the class. :)
Some other pleasures that were included for the upper body were bicep curls, military presses, triceps, and planks. We did a variety of planks, one of my favorite being the spider planks.
We included some bicycle crunches for a little zip. And on one of the circuits we did lateral raises with the exercise bands.
Look at the muscle groups we hit today! Awesome! I always marvel at the well-rounded components of any camp that Brian constructs. At Adventure, under our "construction manager's" tutelage, we are learning to rebuild and construct our bodies, brick by brick, into our own personal masterpieces. Watch it now! We all are gonna become glam babe magnets! ;)
We also did some multi-function movements, like the dumb bell lunge rotations that worked both the abs and legs. I especially like this exercise because it gives my abs a great workout when I focus on my stomach muscles and not let momentum do the work.
Its also fabulous because it is a 2 for 1, and lunges have historically been challenging for me. In the past with other trainers, I always injured my quads or hamstrings that took over a year to heal when I did multi-body exercises. Attaining the ability to do this without injury is definitely a winning feat for me.
This is just another reason for me to acknowledge how much stronger and fitter I am becoming from Adventure! This camp is simply "the place to be" for women who want to adopt the lifestyle of fitness, and reap the results from doing the work. All the work!
Now, as good as the upper body workouts are, they can't compare to the brutality of the lower body combinations, especially when many of the leg exercises are comprised of an aerobic component as well.
And for a Monday morning workout..........Ohhhh, what were you thinking, Brian?! O-M-G! LoL! ;)
I notice he never pussyfoots around on Mondays, but I wouldn't be mad at him if he did. It takes me a little longer to start up my engines than some of these younger puppies playfully frisking about! ;) (LoL) I need "ease-in" time, baby! Oh, Lordy! It ain't easy getting older! (lol) Whew!
Well, Brian did not spare us any slack, but I was up for the challenge. He may often come into the camp with a warm smile and friendly greeting, but I never mistake his personal charm with a charming workout! His workouts are never charming; they are unequivocal monsters!! His charm just makes them more palatable.
How can such an engaging person create such monster workouts, I ask myself?! Heh-Heh! This is the mystery and dichotomy of Brian Schiff! The man doesn't play when he he's out to accomplish a goal. Beware of this master in disguise! :) He will literally work your butt off in the studio. I can testify for that! :) Yup, the inches are melting off, one by one.
'Course, I know all you other fellow campers working with Brian's other team trainers are feelin' me too. The activity plan comes from our "Main Man" so we all get the same crucifying treatment, but I can't testify for anyone else's charm factor. I have had the delight of working with the Velvet Hammer. She likes to come in with her sledgehammer and break bodies with one clean swipe! Yikes! Hee-hee!
Ahhh.....that "Velvet" is no fuzzy, wuzzy!
'Nuff said. With the lower body exercises, we did everything from wall sits, wall runs, side squat raises, and burpees with jumping jacks. Ouch! Those burpees are a blood bath! They are the authentic boot camp warfare, military style! What do you think?!
What else did our trainer beckon our bodies with? How 'bout squat jumps, one-legged squat jumps, single squat raises,and one-legged wall sits for those who really want something to cry about?!
Oh "Mary, Mother of God", the class was dying' with those one legged wall sits! "Star", attempted to do one of them with a crossed leg because she likes to challenge herself. However, Brian pointed towards some of the fit elitists, and he admitted the tougher version entails holding a leg straight out and maintaining the position.
What!! Are you kidding???! (lol) My legs are getting bombed just holding the position deep and low!
This one-legged stuff really ups the ante! We did lots of that today. It is something I am coming to gleefully anticipate because as tough as they are, they are so awesome for balance and working all your muscles, especially the stabilizing muscles. I have observed that 95% of us need help with rounding our total fitness with better balance. Me included.
And of course, there is never a workout that doesn't include our coach's all favorite "pulsing".
I looked over to Amazing Grace and whispered, "Brian really gets in to that pulsing action, doesn't he?"
"Oh, yes......he LOVES to watch us pulse", she laughed.
Ahhhhhh.........its all about the pulsing! Pulsing squats, pulsing lunges, pulsing triceps, pulsing biceps, and even pulsing wall sits! Imagine that! LoL! They dance in my nightmares at night! (lol)
Folks, its all in the pulsing as Brian offers no mercy in tearing down the old and building the new. Soon, we are all gonna pulse ourselves into being glam-babes! ;) Just sit back and enjoy the burn, as he chisels us with his torch!
We were all blabbering with those pulsing wall sits. Hope we will be alive long enough to enjoy our chiseled figures! :)
Finally, as the workout came to an end, I had a chance to talk with a couple of my buddies and check in on what some of us are doing outside of boot camp.
A few of us are doing an extra boot camp on Saturdays to give us a little edge. I try to do this once or twice a month. And it will kick butt when you do 6 days a week!
Others seem to be doing a good bit of running on their own time outside of class. "Star" is one of them racking up miles almost daily, yet admits its much harder in the cold. She has advised it requires being more prepared!
The "Little Rocket" has stated that she has taken it inside on the treadmill. She's one of the BiG Dogs and training for races is a familiar activity for her. She will do several short runs encompassing 5 miles or less, and one day a week will do an 8-10 mile run.
Some profess they are going as much as 5 -8 miles a day. Wow-wee! That's a hefty schedule for beginners and whether beginner or advanced, you deserve many accolades for having the stamina, dedication, and resilience to muster such a consistent schedule!
I, too, have been doing a little running, but must admit the cold weather does not entice me to do something that I am still finding my way to love......especially when it is cold, wet, dark, and dreary. I think when my breathing problems resolve themselves and I can let go of my anxieties, it will be a new day for me and my running. I often work on the elliptical trainer for my extra cardio time.
However, I find this running phenomenon utterly fascinating and perplexing, because I have been to many exercise groups and classes and never have I seen so many new people decide they want to take up running. Perhaps its the magic of exercise and the group camaraderie at Adventure that drives us to a new level!
That's all for today folks! Thanks for kickin' it with the pinK tiger. We got a new day comin' tomorrow, so keep the energy torched!
the pinK tiger
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