My Thanksgiving Lesson

Thanksgiving has come and gone, and I must say that it was a challenge for me. I didn't have the usual problem people have with a holiday that surrounds itself with plenty of yummy food, and lots of family and friends who might take me off course. It was perhaps just the opposite.


Most people have to overtly discipline themselves to watch what they eat when the Thanksgiving Feast comes. It offers many tasty selections with the encouragement to eat a second helping, and maybe a third. It must be even more difficult for someone who has more than one family to visit, and needs to eat a little at both meals to be gracious.


But by the same token, it is just as difficult to deal with holidays when you have no family to be part of; when life's circumstances create a situation where you belong nowhere and have only yourself. There are probably many people who have no place to be, more than you might think, and yet luckily we have friends who usually take us in.


However, we can never take this for granted, and it is truly a gift when a friend opens their heart to invite us in from the cold. It is something that none of us single people without parents or family can ever expect. Each year anyone of us may feel like an adult orphan. We may never know from one year to the next where we may end up for the holidays. That is simply Life. Life can change on a dime and take you somewhere you never imagined you'd be.


Yes, when our friendly or arbitrary invitations fall through, and our friends can not accommodate us for whatever reason......there can be a myriad of emotions that flood our system regardless of the brave and positive front we try to put up for ourselves. Sometimes feelings of loneliness, sadness, grief, or just boredom can make it difficult to eat clean on those days, whether you have a feast or not.


Grief likes to knock on the door on holidays and take us back to the wounds and the pain we experienced when we lost our loved ones. I have lost many important people to death on my earthly journey, including both my parents, a husband, 2 very close friends (one being my best friend), and 1 boyfriend. Unfortunately I don't have children.


Grief somehow reminds your heart of your loss even when you don't want to go there. And it seemingly operates with the accuracy of a computer. Anniversaries and holidays can be very tough and they are triggers. Sometimes it can take years to heal enough so that a holiday can once again be a joyous occasion.


As I get older, I have come to realize that loss will accelerate in my life as I age, and I need to accept and learn how to deal with it. It never gets easy. The holidays are a poignant reminder.


These emotions can be powerful and really set you up if you aren't prepared. It was that way for me. When my invitation fell through with a long loved friend due to their own family issues, I found myself wandering to the cupboards frequently through the day to fill the emptiness in my heart. It was almost like being on auto-pilot.


The good thing was that I didn't give in to my temptations just because I searched and rummaged the cupboards and the refrigerator. In fact, it was interesting to watch myself do this!


Instead, I tried to preoccupy myself with something else and took a couple of walks to do something positive. I left text and phone messages to my friends wishing them a wonderful Happy Thanksgiving, because one of the most important things I've learned on my journey of being alone, is that being pro-active in thinking of others can be the saving grace. Grace can begotten more from giving than in receiving. It can be the lifeline that gets your mind off yourself.


I did surprisingly well on Thanksgiving, fighting the urge to piece and nibble. However on Friday, I had walked through the stores for hours, and I got hungry. I went to the grocery to buy some healthy foods, but impulsively picked up a small package of mini cookies on the way out from the cash register. It totaled about 400 calories for the little bag. And it was really a little bag!


The most unfortunate part of that erratic decision was that I didn't even eat them in a manner which constituted enjoyment. I opened up the package to taste one, and then mindlessly ate them all in the car on my way home. My mind was a million miles away in the five or ten minutes it took to munch on them. Before I knew it, I looked down and like magic, they were all gone. Not a very satisfactory way to consume such a high caloric treat!


It reinforced to me that we can slip back to our sabotaging ways before we even know it.


It also reminded me of a book I once read years ago, called "Feeding the Hungry Heart". It took the perspective that food usually isn't the problem. For most women who have problems with eating correctly (when we know what to do), we sometimes use food to fill the emptiness in our hearts. It can be a very sobering thought to pull yourself from denial and admit your heart is hungry for something it is lacking.


I was disappointed in myself, but I admit that eating correctly when under emotional duress can be problematic for me. So I will take a page from Brian's notes, and make this another lesson that I can use to learn going forwards. As he has often taught us, we have a choice on how we respond to life's events. We can choose to live life with courage and thank God for our blessings. Life is so much sweeter when you choose to live with gratitude in your heart.


No, I did not do Thanksgiving weekend perfectly; yet I have chosen not to berate myself because I was less than perfect. I will get back on my horse and keep riding. I am grateful for all the years my friends have cared for me, and am fortunate that there has been only a handful of holidays I've ever spent alone. I even want to say thank you to the Rocket for offering me an invitation with her fiancee and his family just the day before Thanksgiving. Always so thoughtful and caring......that's the Rocket. Next year I might take you up on it sweet friend! :)


The lesson for me? I will be prepared next time for the unexpected. I will be prepared for Christmas whether I spend it with friends or by myself. I will have Option B in place. I will have an activity planned, volunteer for the Salvation Army, and cook a healthy meal for myself regardless of what the rest of the world is doing. I will be prepared to succeed. I will celebrate myself. And I will find delight in my own company.


And isn't that the best Christmas present any of us can give to ourselves? A demonstration of self love that doesn't waiver under any circumstances.


It will be a happy day to return to my Adventure family and get back in the routine that I am so very grateful to have in my life. For me, my "Thanksgiving" comes 5 days a week, not just once a year! That's a lot to enjoy!


the pinK tiger....
......its always Thanksgiving for me!

It All Adds Up

It was Abs and Cardio for today, baby! Yeah, get that cardio goin' for the Thanksgiving food festival. Brian is great for giving us a chance to do a little "pre-burn" on our calories, so as tough as cardio can be for me, I knew I needed this one!

We had some terrific ab work that consisted of planks, russian twists, bicycle crunches, the penguin, and the chop saw. I know I need to ramp up my ab work, because the last few times I was not able to do as much as before. I use to do crunches on my stability ball a few times a week on my own time, and I have neglected in doing so. Every little thing we do really does add up.

It reminds me of that old cliche.....you don't know what you miss till you lose it. Same goes for all those extra little things we don't think about. I used to have to walk back and forth 3/4 mile to work each way, everyday and never considered it part of my exercise. But the weight started creeping when that little extra ended.

Our cardio was killer, because we did lots of great things for our legs as well as for our heart and lungs. We did figure 8 cones, step ups, line jumps, speed squats, and frog jumps.

The most challenging was running the large circle doing the fartlek method. I ran by myself, and though I was trailing, my breathing wasn't too bad. It wasn't until the last stretch that I had to slow to a walk.

The "Gold Star" said she had run 5 miles without stopping last night with a friend. She admits, running with someone makes all the difference in the world. I don't really have a running buddy on my side of town, but it sure sounds like something worth pursuing, even if I have to go online to find one! Does anybody know of any forums I could join to find a running buddy? Would appreciate any suggestions.

The morning ended with a little Nutrition Support group to pump a few of us up with a little motivation for the holidays. One of the subjects that came up was how difficult it is to stay on task when you are out of routine such as traveling. Work travel is also difficult if you spend all day in the car going from one client to another, and have neglected to pack a healthy lunch.

Eating in restaurants for all your meals can be disastrous. And unfortunately all you see on the road are places to eat! So even if you weren't thinking of eating something naughty, that ice cream shop just showed up around the corner.

It is more difficult to control you environment when you are on the road. Yes, I can attest to that!

We also talked about running in the various events around town. I mentioned in another post, it seems that running in the marathons and holiday fund raisers is the rage with many of our campers! So buddy up and try one for the future! It would definitely be more fun than going by yourself. Its the camaraderie that makes it so worthwhile and awesome!

Wednesday will be our last workout for the week, fitness warriors. This will be a total body workout, so hope Brian will bring it home to us!

See you tomorrow. The pink tiger will be kickin' it with you!

the pinK tiger

Gotta Get a "Toby"

It was Monday morning and a new camp. Today we began our last segment of the Transformation Contest, our 3rd month. I saw lots of new faces this time, and that is awesome! I am all for spreading the joy, the habit of fitness, and the incredible sense of accomplishment you will reap when you come everyday to camp and start seeing the results! Its like a ripple effect. It will even mesmerize the people around you who don't take camp. That is exactly how powerful Adventure BootCamp seems to be! Your friends, coworkers, and family will see what you are doing and start creating a physical routine for themselves. I have heard it from many of our star campers! So now is the time to set the example for others and yourself. Spread the joy!

It was great to be back at camp. I had been sick with the flu and pneumonia and didn't get a lick of exercise or activity. I was the true bed potato! So I don't have to tell you how hard it was for me to set the alarm and start this day off.

But it was fun catching up with my buddies and how they did from last camp, as well as learning how they kept it together during off-week. The "Gold Star" came through with another 12lb weight loss. The fat just seems to be melting off of her! Yet she has worked hard for that. She runs 3x out of camp in the evenings and is cross training with other sports.

She is also watching her diet folks. She told me she really wanted something salty the other day. A bag of corn chips was whispering in her ear! Hee-hee! Now, I know I'm gonna eat at least a few if they are hanging out "up close and personal" like that within eye sight! Like I said before, I get visually stimulated.

This little lady decided she was simply to unwilling to record those calories in her iPod, so she licked the salt off a couple and then pitched them. Is that discipline or what?? Don't think I could do that with chocolate.

I asked another one of our seasoned veterans what she did to stay in shape during off-week. She always looks so fabulous, toned, mean and lean, and for me its a good thing to learn what successful people do to maintain. She did a lot of walking, worked out in a gym, and spent time with her cocker spaniel "Toby". She got lots of additional exercise walking with her dog, and it reminded me of how much more active I was when I had a dog that liked the outdoors.

I had a Wheaten Terrier, and we would go out in snow blizzards, pouring rain, whatever it was. It was sometimes below zero, and my dog and I would brave the elements. My wheaten really loved the snow the most, and loved to go swimming in the water. I would make extra trips to the park just to please her.

I took her to my father's farm on the weekends so she could run to her heart's delight. She would love to chase the cows. She was my baby, and I would do anything to make her happy. In the process, I was always on the move and was in great shape.

When I lost my last dog in 2005 to a brain tumor, I didn't have the heart to replace him. I grieved for months. It hurt my heart bad.

As I pondered my past and chatted with the Blazing B, I thought maybe it might be time for me to get a "Toby" for myself. Now some of you might not be in to caring for a dog, so your "Toby" might be something other than an animal. But anything that can give us pleasure, and an extra little boost to get out there and move, is worth having as an adjunct to hard core exercise. I have a friend who loves to dance, and for sure that is her "Toby"!

I think I am gonna have to get me a "Toby", and yes, it will probably be a dog. So friends and readers, get yourself your own "Toby" and watch your results start to multiply! Time to get our "Toby" on!

Our first day at camp was a workout for the total body. This was my first workout since my last camp. It was so tough to start over again after losing my momentum. I guess getting a full workout was just what I needed. We did all kinds of wholesome things, like squat jumps, line jump overs, chest flys, tricep kickbacks, and bicep curls. We also did some rows with bands from the trees. And we did some cardio which included some running.

Our cardio was comprised of running around the loop at 60 sec. intervals, and I was just too happy that the "Star" encouraged me to run with her. I didn't have a lot of confidence to run so soon after having pneumonia. I didn't want to hold her back from getting her best workout. But just like a first class trooper, she told me, "Come on, you can do it. Its only for a minute. Come on!" And there I went!

Thank you "Star" for being such a great fitness buddy!

As I performed our circuits, I watched Brian float around like a butterfly to attend to all our newcomers and those who needed some help with their form. Its one thing that always amazes me about our coach, because he is as attentive today as he was when I experienced my first camp with him more than a year ago. I love to know that I have a trainer that has such high standards for himself and for us. He cares about us getting the most from our time at Adventure, and checks us out to see if we are motivated, having a good time, and working as hard as we can within safe limits. Letting our form slide is not an option to him either. And I have experienced many trainers that are too tired to care.

Kudos to all our fabulous trainers that keep us straight!

Form is one of the most important elements in getting a high quality workout and it will have a tremendous impact on your results.

Ok, fitness warriors, this is Thanksgiving week, so let's make the most of our week at Adventure! And think about the "Toby" you are going to incorporate in your lifestyle. I know with all those beautiful High Definition televisions and Theatre Systems out there to lure us in to being obese couch potatos, we gotta get a "Toby" on our side. Rock on!

the pinK tiger.......

An Angel on my Shoulder

Today was test day and I wanted to do well for my Mile Run. My muscles had been tight, sore and cramping the past week after tough guys "Vin Deisel", "Dirty Harry", and "Blondie" had paid us several visits last week! Don't you just love those bad boys?! I do! They always "make my day"! :)

And here, they came all wrapped as one! You know who I'm talkin' about! LoL! ;) There's no dispute who reigns as king in this BootCamp when he wants to be "Bad"! ;)

After all that excitement, I needed to give my body some TLC, so I decided to do a solid 1.25 hours of stretching after the Michael Jackson music fest yesterday to limber up and relax my body. It helped alleviate the pain enormously. This would be more advantageous to my upcoming Mile Run than more jogging.

If you have pain from your workouts, take the time to engage in a full body stretch as an activity of its own. It will help immensely.

We first got tested on our push-ups. I did not improve, but I managed to hang in with 84 for my count. I was pleased with this number. Time to kick it up a notch by alternating some "boy" pushups with my present form.

Next came the real challenge for me, the Mile Run. I had brought an iPod hoping some music might relax me, but it was not functioning properly. "The Star" dextrously worked her little hands like mad to help me get my iPod together so that I could have music for my mile; something positive to focus on other than my anxiety or breathing. What a great buddy! Luv u girl!

I was thinking of "Charisma" before the whistle blew. She and I had paced each other on the last test and had come down that stretch together, neck to neck. Unfortunately she needed to do the mile test in advance and therefore was set to run the course by herself. She came up to me afterwards and said she missed not having me run with her, because it had been a great help keeping her on target.

We had really helped spur each other on for that race. This time she didn't have that advantage working for her. And neither would I.

It validates for me the significance of working out or running with a team buddy. A friendly competitive spirit between two comrades naturally evokes the best performance in both parties.

Today it was my turn and I was wishing she was here. I tried to take solace in my little iPod. I guess this was going to be my little running buddy. :)

As we lined up, Brian threw us another one of his famous curveballs. :) We were going to run this mile in the opposite direction with hopes that it would dislodge any mental obstacles we might be harboring. Good ole' Brian! :) He is too much fun! He really is!

This new revelation had many of the campers looking at each other in bewilderment and some were worried, because most people get antsy when you mess with their routine. :) They might even growl. Grrrrr.

Yup. We were going to get a chance to see what we could do "blindfolded", with our memory compass dismantled.

We took off and true to the experiment, I could not gauge or compare myself to the other runs. But I found my breathing distressed early on and it made me anxious. I did not know how I was going to even break even with my current record. I just didn't want to face my coach at the finish line with a significant deterioration in my time.

About half way I started to slow down to a speed walk, gasping because I could not get enough air in my lungs. I thought I was dying. I was wheezing and hyperventilating even as I reminded myself to breathe slow and deep.

Then out of the blue came an unexpected voice from behind me like a guardian angel on my shoulder:

"Don't you stop! You can do this! Look at you.....you're kickin' my ass! You keep going! Don't you dare slow down! You are gonna do this!"

Hee-hee.......Wow! It was "The Little Rocket" lifting me upwards and more, motivating me to create new limits for myself. I was so distressed with my respiratory challenges that all I could say was, "ok"! :)

It was amazing how she came from behind to help me like the spirit of Hope. Just knowing she was running on my heels, I was compelled to keep going. Just do it! The thought came to mind, "Trust the Rocket. She's one of the BiG Dogs. She is an experienced runner. Believe her.

Sometimes when we have trouble pulling the trigger on something for ourselves, or not sure we can trust ourselves, we can sometimes find the courage and strength to go beyond our perceived abilities for someone we care about. Our greatest supporters, mentors, or coaches can carry us until we can carry ourselves; believe in us till we can believe in ourselves. For a beginner, it can mean everything.

I was incredibly touched that my comrade thought of me, cared enough to give me a piece of her energy and inner resources during her own challenge....... just to help me! What a heart! Her sense of awareness and empathy for others took my breath away. What a beautiful person.

This "angel" gave me the courage to keep pushing my limits, and for 2 more times she cried, "You can do this! Keep going! Don't stop!"

I wanted to give her a hug and thank her; it brought a tear to my eye. But I couldn't stop.........I had to keep running!! :)

When I came to the finish line and Brian announced my time @ 10:24 minutes I was delighted with joy! I was really proud of myself. I had shaved 11 seconds off my time!

After the race, I looked for the Rocket; I couldn't wait to give her my heartfelt thanks. "You are the Best! The best! You deserve an award for the inspiration and encouragement you give to others."

And I meant it. From deep inside.........I meant it.

Yes! On this race, she was my champion. She was my angel. Thank you Little Rocket, for your selflessness and your beautiful heart. :)

And my buddy "Star?" She increased her mile by a whole minute! That's outrageous! Hee-hee! Did you get that?!

Those are the rewards you earn when you run 4 miles 3x a week over and beyond BootCamp:)

Good job, "Star", and well deserved. I am still hoping that someday I can break free from my breathing problems so I can run free and up my own game.

The remainder of our camp consisted of some awesome plyometrics and tubing circuits. We did a series of planks that included moving side planks, pulsating planks, and getting up and down from a straight plank. We also did mountain climbers, split hops, chop squats, and shoulder push-ups for a little aerobic intervention. :)

Our tubing circuit worked us over with biceps, lateral raises, my favorite all endearing tricep kick backs, and back rows. As always, those tubes will give you an extraordinary workout. I have seen some very fitness conscious people create awesome definition and tone with these bands that even surpass some dumbbell work. Just another reason to love these circuits.

What a day! This workout was going to blast and chisel our figures into femme fatales! :) We had one more day left for the month and then we needed to set our sights on our 3rd and final stretch of the Transformation Contest!

There was still time for a dark horse to come from behind and take the jackpot! We all remember the story of the turtle and the hare. And we can revisit the Kentucky Derby for proof that many times there is an unexpected winner at the end of the race.

So take one day at a time, and make a plan for Off-Week. What will you do to prepare for your success? Put in more cardio? Take an extra boot camp class? Create a food diary? Try a body cleanse? This time, make it work! :)

Hope all you fitness warriors are coming back next month for more fun and adventure! With Brian, Kim, and the rest of his stellar team of personal trainers, you know the fun has just begun!

DON'T MISS IT! :)

See ya next bootcamp!

yours truly,

the pinK tiger

Shoot Me Over The Moon

It was Tuesday night, and I was suffering with so much pain I didn't think I was going to be able to make Boot Camp in the morning. My legs were throbbing, and the sciatica pain running through my glutes was unbearable. Muscle spasms exploded along my back and, stiffness permeated my neck. I was a mess. I took some Alleve, but it did nothing to reconcile the pain. In addition, I had been traveling all day through southern Ohio and had not caught up on my rest. I was tired.

What to do? I would have to wait till morning and hope things would change through the night.

The alarm rang off at 4:00am and I was exhausted. I got up and sat on the edge of the bed and said to myself, "I don't think I can make it today. I think I may need to take a break. I am utterly spent".

I went to the bathroom and the throbbing had stopped, but I felt the inflammation with my sciatica and subsequent nerve pain was engulfing me. I wasn't feeling good, not at all. Too much activity and too little rest had left me in a very compromising position.

Next, I sat at the end of the tub and asked myself what I should do. I felt like I was beating myself up. But I didn't want to give up boot camp today.

Who came to my mind? My trainer, Brian. I also thought of a couple of my comrades, Little Rocket & Star. Without a doubt, it was the accountability factor that struck the deepest chord with me. As much as I was ready to give it a rest today, I thought of Brian and my commitment to him and this boot camp. I thought of my commitment to myself. Which choice would cause me the least amount of emotional or physical pain?

I decided to keep putting one foot ahead of the other. Get to the camp, and if I could only go through the motions of each exercise, I would let Brian know. At least I would have fulfilled my responsibility.

The good news was that this would be upper body day. So other than the shoulder work, I would not be aggravating the pain through my legs and glutes. I could take it easy on my shoulder exercises.

I stumbled in a little late. The camp was doing warm-ups with the ladder, but thankfully I had missed it. There was something else that caught my attention. By the grace of God, this was going to be a festival of music showcasing Michael Jackson and Prince! This was a miracle! :)

Oh my God! Was this a dream, or did I need to pinch myself???!!!! If there was ever a time when I needed the inspiration and upbeat rhythms of Michael, it was now. Brian must have read my mind.

The "Gold Star" teased me: "Your boyfriend's been waiting for you!" ;)

Huh? My boyfriend?

"Yeah", 'Star' piped! "He was here before you got here! You know, Michael!" LOL :)

And there it was! The sounds of Michael, under the stars and the light of the moon! It was all I needed to get me through this very challenging day! It was better than a shot of morphine! :)

I pulled together my crumpled spirits, and decided "this was it"! How could I not feel good under the circumstances! :)

I looked up at the stars and smiled, "The Universe must reward us when we try hard to do the right thing, step up to the plate, and we need something extra to pull us through".

As the workout began, I realized that this was not going to be an easy day. We did lots of circuits for the upper body that was interspersed with some cardio. And the cardio also included lower body work like squats.

The first circuit included walk-outs, (talk about double duty tough!) power squats, bicep/military press combo, and the chop saw. Wow! What a lineup! How did I ever survive that??! :) I did!

We also did various sets with the bands that included pullbacks, rows, bicep curls, reverse flys for our deltoids and a front lateral raise with the bands too. The bands will trick you. I heard all the strongest from the camp wail "Oh Lordy" with those bands! LoL!

The toughest part of the camp was running with 3 of the fastest BiG Dogs, including the Blazin B and Little Rocket, doing figure 8 runs and other cardio enjoyments! :) We were moving so fast it literally took my breath away. Why I chose to challenge myself with the best when I was half dead coming into camp proved to me the strength of mental determination and positive reinforcement. We can overcome so much if we decide and we are positive.:)

This was not only an extraordinarily "mad" tough workout today, but it was the most fun day I could ever remember! :) Brian was clowning with the MJ music and even bobbed his head and shook his cute little bootie for us! :) Heehee! He was wearing his white work gloves, which I had never noticed before.

I was smiling and having so much fun I couldn't think of the pain I was experiencing. It seemed to temporarily vanish. As we were running from one set to another, I whispered to Brian, "You took my heart today with your playlist. Now you need to take off one of those gloves to maintain the authenticity of the Michael tradition!"

I promised him I would sew sequins on his glove for next time. :)

He just laughed. He was pumping us all up, especially the campers who seemed to lack a little luster and energy by pointing out that this music was simply "Feel Good" music! How could anybody be dragging with music like this?

I simply had to agree. This music made me so happy I came to boot camp this morning and didn't give up on myself! It seemed to even release my natural painkillers and endorphins in my body. The debilitation seemed to recede at the moment. Yet, music has always been a tremendous healer for me.

I pondered with Gold Star how disappointed I would have been if I had missed this day.

"I can't believe I almost didn't come! I would have kicked myself for the next 2 camps if had I missed this day", I cried.

Has there ever been a camp devoted to Michael Jackson and Prince?Not to my knowledge. It was the best surprise, the best reward I could have ever had! :)

And what is the lesson we can learn from this, friends and fitness warriors? You never know what kind of surprise or reward you will get at the Adventure BootCamp! Whether it be a free shopping spree for t-shirts, gift cards for creating the best Halloween costume, or a playlist of music that ignites your fire and heals your pain............Brian is full of great surprises! So don't miss camp!! :)

For me? Brian, you can shoot me over the moon anytime with that Michael Jackson playlist! You had my heart! :)

And what else? Well.......maybe the Universe rewards us after all with a little miracles from time to time. I know it did today! :)

Signing off with the pinK tiger........

(.....moonwalking.......)

"Baby Got Back" Burn-Off

How bad do you all want Adventure BootCamp?! What are you willing to do for it?

I will go the distance and do whatever it takes in my power. This morning I proved it. I left Zanesville a bit before 4AM just to be here. Is that dedication or what?! :) I think so! It even pushed up my self-esteem a few notches!

I only got a couple of hours sleep, but the sacrifice was worth the reward. I kept my commitment to myself and I burned that much more fat.:) It was not easy to do considering that we were going to work our lower body and abs today. It was not easy considering that I was feeling run down and my body was beginning to feel a pervasive pain spread throughout my joints, muscles, and spine.

But when did anything that could change your life come easy?

We did all kinds of fabulous things in these circuits. "Baby Got Back" and my fully padded backside was going to get chargrilled today! :) One circuit included bicycles, lunges, jumping across the line, and then running after each circuit.

Now just think of that! These are some powerful moves that are movie star worthy. These are exercises you can find the most diligent athletes performing; Definitely not for the faint at heart; Definitely not for the prima donnas who just want to say, "Darling, I do exercise class in the mornings". :)

As we continued, Brian progressed us to a higher level of intensity when he directed us to work at the curb. We did a circuit of side lunges, reverse back lunges, side shuffles, and planks rotating the torso to the opposite knee.

As we did the lunges, Brian crouched over to me and exclaimed, "this is the best exercise to really work the glutes and burn the fat off the buns!"

"Oh, yeah?" as my ears perked up. Keep talkin' coach! Tell me more! :) Now you got me pumped! That man knows how to motivate me! :)

I went at it fast and furious when he told me this was a great bun shaper that would make these overly generous babycakes of mine sweet, tight, and tender! This was intense. I could feel all the muscles up and down my legs working, and the muscles in my glutes exploding. This is why I come to boot camp!

During our moments of recovery, I took the opportunity to talk up "Amazing Grace", because her success in this program has really impressed me. I remember when I first saw her last year......she looked great! I had checked her out on the testimonial page at Adventure's webpage, and she had totally transformed herself. It was an amazing success story. Her picture was worth its weight in Ft. Knox gold.

Now a year later, she looked even more awesome! I had been watching her, and noticed the subtle changes to her figure that had refined itself over time. It was not "in your face" drastic, but it was notable. She was looking more and more streamlined, tight, compact, and tiny. I have to simply marvel at her smooth legs that seem banished of any cellulite! :)

Unfortunately, my mother didn't bless me with such an attribute! LoL! :)

"Amazing Grace" said she had not lost any more additional weight since last year, but dear friends and readers, her shape was still improving and making appealing changes.

It just goes to prove that Adventure BC will continue to shape up those girly curves even when you think your work is done.

I also asked her about her eating. She told me that she started out with Weight Watchers and thus far, her eating was solid and under control. She comes to bootcamp a few times a week, but not every day.

This is what I call a true testimony of success. We all know how tough it is to lose, but to maintain your weight and improve your shape for this length of time deserves a gold cup!

I can't even imagine how exhilarating it would be to rid my world of yo-yo dieting and all the accompanying weight changes, and physical morphs that have been part of my life. :(

Amazing Grace asked me if I was still running after class? Indeed I have, especially this week. I want to practice so I can do well in my timed mile. But it also preps my stamina up to do other cross training that can burn more fat! Running is really important, even if I don't do it everyday.

All the more reason why our next physical component was exactly what I needed. To enhance the burning effect to the max, Brian had us partner up and take turns running back and forth to the middle line 2x. We each did this for a total of 4x.

I got to run with the "Gold Star" and this was perfect for me. I decided that I would sprint this as hard as I could. This really winded me, and I could hardly catch my breath. Yes, I could have jogged leisurely back and forth to complete the exercise, but these are the times when I am going to make the most of my time at Adventure and build my skills, stamina, and power while I have the advantage of that group "effect".

There is also the benefit for me to be working out in front of my coach and trainer. Brian is a huge motivator for me. I have a great sense of gratitude for him because he is the person who cares about my success, and works hard to help me achieve my dream. I want to succeed for both of us. Its been a partnership after all!

I would think it would make a trainer's job very challenging to deal with people who only sputter out half hearted efforts and do not take themselves or their trainer seriously. For me, it is important that my trainer, whether Brian or Kim, know he/she is not wasting their time and effort on me. So it motivates me to work that much harder. :)

For any of us, we need to know what "turns our lights on" and set ourselves up with those motivators around us. It could be running with your greyhound dog, Max, :) but whatever it is, identify it and place it in your proximity, and your tool box. Then "squeeze the juice" on that baby whenever you have the chance to use it! :)

I don't know about you, but I'm gonna catch every drop of juice from Brian and my group of Dublin Adventurers! :)

I love them, and I love what they do for me!

When the day ended, I decided to force myself to do a little bit more to burn that "baby backside" even though I was tired and depleted of energy. I know the best time to do anything extra is "now", when I am already doing it. So I practiced jogging a mile after class, and then went to the gym and worked on the cross trainer for about 20 minutes.

That's if for today folks!

....does the "pinK tiger got back"?......

......(stay tuned for the upcoming Monster Brian burn-offs..........:)

What it Takes to Win

I was tired today. Traveling all weekend, I did not have a chance to rest, and subsequently could not recover from last week's workouts. I was hanging on as tight as I could, because I couldn't bear it if I had to miss any Adventure workouts. : ( But it was going to be a challenge. I could feel my body beginning to burn out, and my spirits beginning to dull.

However, the one thing I have always been able to trust is the positive energy that permeates me when I hit base camp, and settle in to my Adventure home & family. I soon dismiss the fatigue that is dragging me down, and choose to push it from my consciousness. I elevate myself to the goals I want to accomplish and let this happy energy saturate me. Its nothing that I have to force. Its a natural fit.

I think it is important to recognize those elements around us that can empower us to reach new heights. Does it not tell us that whatever it may be, "this works"? Our bodies and spirits intuitively know "this" is healthy and it feeds our life force. Adventure BootCamp is one of those healthy spaces for me that encourages me to thrive. It nourishes my well-being and my body. :)

By the same token, I try to be aware of the people, places, or things that can deplete me and strip me of my vitality. Our bodies so often talk to us, and we do not listen. Sometimes jobs, situations, and people can make us tired. Sometimes they can make us fat. Occasionally they settle in our bodies as pain. If we pay close attention we will recognize the drains that feed on us like parasites.

Our bodies will guide us and teach us to embrace what is good for each of us. And sometimes, they can even knock us on the head when we get too much of a good thing!

I know there are stresses in my world that will take me off my game if I let them. Work is one of them. A couple of relationships is another. And lack of rest is at the top of the list. I woke up this morning thinking about what changes I needed to make that would be empowering. Its my time; it time to win for "me".

It was a warm morning. I approached camp with that tired lack luster and physical fatigue weighing me down. Yet somehow I bounced back for today. Brian had created a program of cardio and arms, and there was plenty of variety. I had no time to think of anything but to get with the program. :) Before I knew it, the endorphins kicked in! Whoopee! I love it when Mother Nature determines its time to give me a natural high! :) Heehee!

We did our first circuit that included skull crushers, and a choice of burpees or step ups among our goodies. As you can see, when we are doing cardio other than running, we do lots of leg work to get our heart rates up. Included on some circuits were squat jumps and mountain climbers, squat thrusts and other lower body exercises. This has been paramount in helping me build leg strength and power. :) My legs burn so bad at the time, but slowly and surely I have been able to do more and more in my workouts and daily activities. Its so worth the pain! :)

We also used exercise bands to work our triceps and biceps. Yup! Lots and lots of tricep work. I always laugh when Brian gets us to do double duty on those chicken wings! :) But shapely toned arms are the signature of youth and fitness, so I'm in. :)

Our cardio circuits were awesome today, too. They were difficult for me because there was no lollygagging between sets. I tell you, Brian is progressively ramping it up, and we are going to be the glorious benefactors of this hard work!! :)

One of our circuits included running sprints to the line, and skipping back to our starting position. This was meatier than you might think!I was pressing my pedal all the way, and treating this as a Fartlek circuit.

We also worked with the cones and ran medleys in teams of three. I worked with my Pink Challenge team and they had me gasping for air! "Sleek&Chic" is always a beast to run behind! :) lol!

And those doldrums that were loitering around me? Adventure BC kicked that baby to left field. :) Haha! A little tough love can do wondrous things.

So this was our Monday morning and we had plenty to anticipate in the next days ahead before we performed our one mile run and push-up count. We were now turning the last corner on our 2nd month of Transformation. This was it!

We still have the choice to finish strong, even if we have made some mistakes along the way. For me, I need to stay focused, maintain my rest, and keep positive forces close to me. I also need to be cognizant of those negative influences that attempt to distract me or take me off my course. Sometimes those forces can be very seductive.

What about you, friends and Transformation warriors? What are your thoughts as we prepare to enter into our final month? Who are the people that will empower you to come away as a winner? What will distract you from your focus and hinder you from being your best? We have choices we need to make.

Perhaps.......we can think of our Transformation Challenge as an assignment, a personal study in deciding to live our lives with purpose and deliberation.

What will we come away with at the end of the day? It isn't magic, folks. Winning is a decision, not an accident. Come on now......let's get it on! Let's pull each other up and let's win together! :)

Ok, Bravehearts......get ready to "c h a r g e"...........!

1 down; 4 to go! :)

the pinK tiger.........

(.....pacing the pace.....)

Pink: Not For Girly Challenges

Today was really special to me. With only 2 hrs of sleep last night after hours on the road, I still wasn't going to give this day up. I could sleep when I got home after camp. This was the day for the Pink Survivor Challenge. It was important. But who knew what to expect? I thought it would be the same as the Amazing Race; I was in for a little surprise. :)

We gathered in the fitness studio as Brian designated teams. I was on a dynamite team with "Gold Star" and "Sleek&Chic". We called ourselves "the Pink Wolverines". I knew having competitive teammates would improve our odds to win the challenge. After coming so close last month to winning the Amazing Race, I was psyched to win this game.

As Brian read the directions, I still "didn't get" that it was going to be quite distinctive from any of the other games we've played. Our coach had ramped it up ten fold! This was boot camp rugged. This was hard core for fitness soldiers. Ha! That's what I'm talking about!! Heh-heh! :)

It was arduous, merciless, "kick some ass" pure, and for all those drill sergeants out there........you just got dethroned!

Even the Velvet Hammer would have to pass her crown on this one.:)

I had to give this class the #1 Spot in the Top 10! :)

I never anticipated that we would be required to work so hard when we were asked to wear pink! :)

We did many of the exercises as prescribed on the Amazing Race, but this camp required us to sprint for our assignments, while the rest of us were doing constant brutal torture things like pulsing squats, tricep dips, prisoner lunges, shoulder presses, burpees, or diamond push-ups! All my favorites, and Brian didn't forget a one of them. :) I love you Brian! Hehee!

There was no letup. No breaks! It was interval training at its best, and maybe it even included the Fartlek system, because we had to force up our pace on our assignment runs. The fitness guru pulled all the best challenges & goodies for each body part and incorporated it in the Pink Survivor Challenge.

Then we were rewarded from our hard work with a stupendous surprise at the end. ;)

I tried to take a breather once or twice, but every time I did, the Brian was right there. You know he has eagle eyes, don't you?! :) No way anybody gonna fudge on his watch! :)

Finally I couldn't resist and had to ask, "Where's the sugar? Did you leave the "suga" at home, Brian", I quipped! "You're killin' us! "

He smiled. "Pretty good workout, eh?" ;)

And how! No complaints here!

I could surely taste the medicine today. The Velvet Hammer would have to forfeit her crown! :) Hee-hee! I knew I wouldn't feel the full effect to my muscles till the end of the day. And boy, I was feeling it when the lactic acid made its presence known. :) I was hobbling around like an old war horse. :)

With all the running this camp required, I was truly exhausted. My lack of sleep kicked it up a notch. And I was with 2 teammates that were 25-28 years younger than me. It was a grand feat to keep up with these diva warriors; I felt privileged to work out with them. This was what it was all about: coming together as teams and giving up all the heart and guts we could muster to accomplish something that would leave us with so much self pride and esteem.

At the end, Brian rewarded our physiques with the task of plank suicides. He directed us to do them half way down the parking lot, and it was the 1st time I ever did them.

Whoo! Yes, folks, that's exactly what it was.......suicide! :) We were saved by the bell so to speak, because as I was ready to drop from muscle fatigue, it was time to go.

I must say that these are the workouts that I most adore. They are fun, innovative, crushing, and I crave them. They keep shocking my body out of its lull, and teach it what it is capable of doing! The timeliness of these killer workouts are perfect, because I couldn't do them every day, but alternately they are fabulous! It takes me 3 days to recover when we do something of this intensity and magnitude, so rest is an imperative part of the process.

I think that with all the pink I saw around me, we made a significant contribution for the Susan Komen Benefit. Brian really got us to work for it; what do you think, comrades? :)

I heard all those groans and sighs so I know I wasn't the only one!

It seems to me that working out/running to benefit a charity is a winning combination. Just like fitness and exercise, this is an awesome habit to create in our lives. We can even celebrate it like a holiday we do a few times a year.

Wow! This is just one more gift that Adventure has given me....the awareness that I can help myself, train to get fit, and make that time count for others by donating to a charity foundation. I am likin' it! :) It is so much more rewarding than dropping a check in the mail! :)

This little pink tiger is gonna try to catch a couple of hours of snooze when she finds her way home. Then it is off on the road again.

We are quickly approaching the end of our 2nd month for the Transformation Contest, so live each day deliberately. And make each choice count. I think Brian gave our workouts some extra credit with today's Survival Challenge! :)

He inspired me so much with this workout I was on an adrenaline high. I practiced my mile after camp.

Catch up with you next week, all..............:)

the pinK tiger

(.....this workout was Grrrrreat!....:)

Jelly Belly Be Gone. Poof!

So much going on today, where do I start? This was Killer Ab day, and as we move deeper into our Transformation Contest, Brian is ramping up his program. So when the fitness maestro calls them "killer", he means "killer"! :) We're gonna be in for a lot of fun trouble! :)

I am here to testify and validate, that this is exactly what we got. Although he incorporated some cardio, this was all about melting our jelly bellies. :) We did an impressive assortment of circuits that included his favorite "plankers": side, straight, and moving. Thank God he didn't ask for the "reverse planker" :) He makes it look like a "breeze in the hammock" when he does it, but believe me, its a devil! :)

Then there was the bicycle, throw downs, chops, and Russian twists. Did I leave anything out? What do you think? Was Brian comprehensive enough in his variety?! :) Let's vote on it, gang! Heh-heh.......

Going at a slam-bam pace, my abs were crying and even failed me. I was wondering at times if Brian forgot to make mouth to mouth contact with "Trusty Whistle"! :) Ahhhhh..........that whistle has a sweet sound if I must say.

I was surprised at my performance, because my abs seemed weaker than usual. Or maybe, this day of circuits was more intense and meatier than usual. I know I was tired. As I mentioned before, rest is one of those things I need to prioritize if I am going to sustain my groove.

Last night was the first time I've been out to party in months, but it was a much needed reprieve from work. It was so worth it. Its the work that's been chipping away at me for this month. Sometimes it is difficult to say "no" at work, but for the sake of health, we need to keep a balance and be our own advocate. :)

Yet even if fatigue wasn't a factor, the cardio portions were kickin' and didn't include a gentle stroll in the park, either. We did all those great things that get our heart rates up like jogging in place, jumping jacks, and our very, very favorite............those splendid mountain climbers! :) Ahhhh, gotta love them!

Not to be discouraged! This is exactly what we all need. Its what I want! :D

Brian, bring it on!!! You can bring your Dirty Harry to camp and I'll be waitin' for you! :) I want you to kick my butt! :) And I know you can do it. (hee-hee!)

I want it because you are gonna work me harder than I will probably be able to work myself. However, there are those amongst us that are setting a new bar. The "Gold Star" said she wants to train for the triathalon coming in the fall. She is going full throttle, folks, so if you're not doing anything out of boot camp and you want to seriously compete in the Transformation Contest, better get your booty in gear cause this little dynamo is going to check us all in the dust! :)

This is the 2nd camper friend I know training for a triathalon. It seems as I look around me, women at Adventure are reveling in their athleticism. It may simply be the marvelous influence that the Adventure Family and training team have on us, and we begin to gradually evolve in this healthier creature. :) It seems more and more campers are runners or converting to be runners. It must be the sign of the times. :)

This is fantastic for those of us who get motivated by working out along people who are ambitious and a few steps ahead of us. I may not get the results as quickly as I see others are getting, but this is a process. Trust the process. Do what you're suppose to do and you will win this game! It is that simple! :)

Or is it????? : ) ( hee-hee! ) Well, the food factor can be the snag. :(

So at the end of the day, Brian announced our Nutrition Support Group to be held at Panera. It was a great meeting. There was 6 of us that attended and we shared some of our food struggles, as well as offered some worthwhile suggestions for learning how to become "Master of our Food Domain". :) heh-heh!

Some of the ones I noted that were especially helpful:

1) Start the day with a high protein breakfast. Create a vegetable white egg omelet that's got a basketful of your favorite veggies and just enough egg to keep it together. For me, I like to mix 1 whole egg with 2 additional egg whites. It ups the flavor a little, and I like to get the minerals and vitamins from the yolk. Excellent protein and fiber!

Some of us shared notes, and found that eating cereal and fruit can sometimes leave you hungry sooner than later. Also, going without breakfast sets you up to eat more in the afternoon than a healthy, substantial breakfast. We decided there is no reason to fear eating breakfast if its wholesome.

For those who don't like breakfast food, it doesn't have to be traditional breakfast food. Think outside the box! You can try anything you enjoy even if it is traditional dinner food. It could be salmon, beef, lean cabbage rolls, or a Lean Cuisine spaghetti entree.

2) Write the food down in your food diary before you eat it! This has got to be a mandatory commitment if you want the food diary to really work for you. As "Star" has mentioned, once you put it in the diary and you see how many calories, fat, sugar, carbs you are adding to your graph, maybe it won't be so appetizing and you will eliminate it before it does its damage. She said she freaked on many occasions when she entered it in her IPod and discovered the caloric content for a food she was ready to put in her mouth.

3) If you have an IPod, you can download an app that will do all the calculating for you. Pretty sweet! Its been great for me to get some of this techie advice from my buddy! :)

4) Think twice before you eat within 3 hrs of bedtime, especially carbs. Carbs are best consumed during the part of day when you need energy. I have checked with many friends who say missing that late snack or carb dense dinner will put you ahead of the curve, even if only a couple of times a week.

5) Think about creating a menu for the whole week and buy your groceries accordingly. For me, if I wing it through the week and don't know what I am going to eat for the day except what happens to be around, I am leaving myself vulnerable to the devil of temptation. Plan. What is that old cliche?

"If we don't plan to succeed, we plan to fail"?

6) Cooking one day for the whole week, i.e. Sunday, can really put you ahead of the game! You can freeze what you've made, and then essentially have healthy convenience foods at hand.

7) I am also going to suggest that having hard boiled eggs on hand is a great snack that might save you in a weak moment.

Well, that's all for today, folks. Tomorrow will be another brutal day, as it will be our Pink Survivor Team Challenge. I wouldn't miss this for anything!!! If it is anything like our Brian's Amazing Race Challenges, they are the best of the best workouts, and rate #1 on my Top 10 List!

Ok, warriors, remember to wear pink! Brian has offered to make a $1.00 donation towards Breast Cancer research if we wear something pink. So don't forget!! This is a generous offer on his part. Let's make him proud.

You know I won't forget to wear pink......... cause I'm already in the pink................

...I'm the pinK tiger............... :)

....let's go do it!

Music, Fun, & Friendship With the Adventurers

For all who missed our social evening out, you missed a really cool time. We came out to support Brian's cousin who played the guitar in a little bar in Dublin. The music was rockin' and the company was smokin' ! :) It was one of those rare opportunities when we got to meet each other in a different dimension other than BootCamp.

It was great to see each other dressed for casual fun and mixing on a social level. Some people had a whole different image from the one they show at camp. Got to admit, there was some glam women out there! :) I was proud to be part of the group!

"Amazing Grace" wore a stylish sweater and a hint of makeup and she was beautiful and elegant with an air of mystique. "Shaker Girl" was sexy and sensual as she moved her body to the music with rhythm and soul. That girl got her beat down! :)

Sitting up and center was one of our top pint sized warriors who wore orange and looked as brilliant as a gem. Orange is a difficult color to wear, but there was no doubt that this little blonde was wearing the color; the color wasn't wearing her. Fabulous! :) Her eyes appeared like little sapphires reflecting with the splendor of stars in the midnight sky. :)

Then there was "Gold Star" pretty as a portrait. She wore a little makeup to showcase her features, and the contrast between her blue eyes, fair skin, and dark hair was gorgeous. She had that movie star look! :)

I even saw one of my favs with her husband......she looked cute as a button and she even showed pictures of her twin daughters. Wow! They were simply darling and they looked just like her. Got some good genes there, little lady! :)

There were many Adventure starlets I didn't really know, but got to meet and greet. I don't know about anyone else, but it was the perfect opportunity to deepen the bonds with current friends and create new friendships with those we only recognize from a distance.

You know how we all are at camp........we tend to stake out our little spot and stay there almost religiously? Cool, but we probably missed out in knowing the whole group of cool people on the other side?! Hello! :)

When I looked around, this would have been a man's paradise had any Dublin men known that this little bar tonight would have been comprised of probably 90% women! And not just women off the street, but the illustrious Adventure BootCamp Adventurers who take pride in getting shapely and staying fit! :)

As a matter of fact, one of Brian's friends who used to be a physical therapist said he was perplexed and amazed at this predominant female crowd. He wondered, "who were all these women and where did they come from"? He was dazzled when I said, "Why they all come from Adventure BootCamp.............. compliments of Brian Schiff! :) Hee-hee! I loved it! :)

He laughed and smiled, and said, "Heh-heh, I should have done something like that.....head up a bootcamp or exercise business. Brian always did have a way with people. I'm not surprised you all came out for him!" :)

Yes indeed. Brian was the consummate socializer and host to all of us as he moved between the tables and greeted us warmly, conversing a little with each of us. He even took the pictures!

Even if you never stepped in a bar before, it was a very comfortable place to be and there was a wonderful sense of belonging. No one was left to hang out and dry. :) It was just an easy night out in a neighborhood bar.

It was pretty exciting to me to be one of the Adventurers. We could be our own celebrity group. We're so hot, we're steaming! How much cooler can we get! We are like Fire & Ice! :)

Just as Brian promised, we got to have a drink at a Happy Hour price, and relax amongst the fellowship that was ours.

Although some of Adventure members stayed till about 11:00 pm or a little later, I left about 10 PM, tired and ready to call it a day. I just wished I could have held on a little longer. Heard that one of our favs, "Shaker Girl" got up on the stage and did a little singing. I always did think she had the makings of a rock star! :) Without a doubt, this spunky lady is our mascot. :)

Next time Brian sends out an invitation for the evening, hope you ALL will be there! Time to shake it up, guys! Sure wouldn't want you to miss out on the fun.

And "Velvet Hammer"? That includes you! We missed you there. : ( We were asking about you. Hey, it would have been cool with me even if you came in with that mask. :) (ha-ha!)

What can I say, its always a party when you make it with the Adventurers from Adventure! :)

See you at the next company function?! Heck, it might even be fun to think about doing a "roast" for Brian and his fitness crew! Something to ponder..............................;)

the pinK tiger......

(....evolving into her own social butterfly...)

"Go Ahead, Make My Day"

I have to admit that this pinK tiger is pretty pleased with herself. It seems that the more Brian and Adventure BootCamp challenges me, the more I challenge myself. After our workout yesterday, I went for a 2 mile jog/walk to up my ante! Afterwards, I went on the cross trainer for 30 minutes.

Its an interesting phenomenon because I am tired and my energy reserves are not at peak, and yet I want so much to make the most of my time here at Adventure. It can be tough because I've been doing extensive work travel and have not gotten much rest. But if I've got the heart to do it and I'm not injured, I am compelled to push a little harder. Yet, in all fairness, I gotta give some of that credit to my fellow comrade, "Gold Star". Her own hard drive to succeed encourages me to always ask myself before I put down the sword, "Can you go a little more?"

Coming in to this Wednesday workout was me playing BraveHeart, because Brian had shoulders and legs on the menu. He never messes around with those leg days. He must transform into Vin Diesel or a young Clint Eastwood when he designs these workouts. I can even see his eyes narrowing like "Blondie" in "Good, Bad, & Ugly" when he writes them out! LoL! :) Hee-hee! He must be chuckling to himself mumbling a la Dirty Harry, "I'm gonna make your day!" :) LoL

After yesterday, my glutes were screaming. They were tight and stiff. I really questioned whether I could handle a leg workout today. But no one is gonna find the pinK tiger saying "no can do" when the time comes to do these thoroughly engaging exercises and the fitness master is standing before me! ;)

We did a lot of goodies today for the legs, one of Brian's specialties being his medley of squats. Oh Lordy, we did lots and lots of squats! One circuit involved performing 10 squats, holding it for 5 seconds, then another 10 squats and holding it.....etc. Should I call it the Squat & Hold? :) It went on like that for the entire 10 minutes of torture. :) My legs were pulverized as we finished up with pulsing squats and Brian's heartwarming variety of lunges.

Ha! You know, "Baby got back" is goin' to be a thing of the past if I keep hangin' out with this fitness torture master! :) How bout for you? If a muffin top is your problem, it will surely melt away with these groovin' aerobic and large muscle workouts.

I could hear the campers sighing, moaning, groaning. This was murder! Brian was declaring "WAR" on our storage sites, and we knew it! I couldn't resist limping up to him and muttering, "You're killin' us, Brian!" :( Hee-hee!

That ole' Brian just gave up one of his mischievous smiles, narrowed his eyes, and kept on going! Didn't even blink an eye. Can you imagine that??? ;)

We also did some great shoulder work, one being the most taxing of all, the shoulder press. Love those, Brian! That takes some incredible energy, and I am all but ready to collapse from exhaustion.

Wow! Squats, pulsing squats, shoulder presses., lunges; Cold blooded Brian!........ "Go ahead, make my day"! :) You got me talkin' to myself again. You'd think I had a bluetooth stuck in my ear with the way I'm babbling with myself before, during, and after, and even spicing up my own little conversation with a few colorful words! :)

As amazing as our leg and shoulder workout was, the lunges, squats, and shoulder press were not necessarily king of this day. There was a cardio portion that was absolutely a max-out. And when Brian incorporates cardio on leg day I get hammered. Today was no different.

He incorporated his Fartlek system which is running at a good pace, but then forcing it up, and then bringing it down again. Killer! I don't know how many minutes we did this, but this is pure killer! This really forces the participant to dig deep if you want to earn the rewards that come with this activity.

Well, no grumbling here! This is why we hire this man. If we could do it ourselves we wouldn't be here. Although I will admit, he's been ramping it up, don't you think? :) Heh-heh! I love it! My partner in crime at camp seemed to agree.

"Its your fault", she teased in her typical good-natured and playful disposition. Well, I must admit, I sometimes enjoy playing the friendly instigator ! :)

Thank goodness the "Gold Star" jogged with me. She kept me moving and kept me paced just right. I even accelerated my speed at those magic moments when Brian blew his whistle.

Near the end of the circuit, I told the Star to keep going; I had to walk. "Dirty Harry" had effectively gotten my best. Yup, he maxed me out with nothing to spare! :)

I was so exhausted at the end of this camp, that I went home to bed and tried to catch up on some sleep before traveling to Zanesville and Beverly this afternoon.

It was an awesome day, and it ended with a reward. Brian was requesting that we all come out tonight for a little music and socializing, and we could get Happy Hour prices to make it worth our while. :)

Hey, now I know why he worked us out so hard. Its what I would call the Pre-Burn. Whatever beer we drank tonight wouldn't have a chance of making itself at home on any of our bodies. We would have already burned it up. Whoo-hoo! :) Now we could party in reason without the guilt! :)

I knew there was method to your madness, Brian! You simply made my day! :)

We'll see you tonite, comrades. :)

the pinK tiger.........

(....transforming herself into a social butterfly......)

The Princess of Balance

I missed our 1st Monday workout for November because I had to have my car repaired. Whaa! I cry like a baby when I miss my favorite "morning feeding"! :(

But worse yet, it felt like I hadn't worked out for a month. This was my Monday morning, as "Starr" so aptly pointed out to me. No wonder I felt out of step with myself.

But it was Tuesday now.......and this was a day we ALL needed! It should be a requirement for completing each and every BootCamp. Thus, I will designate this day as one of the Top 5 days of the month in terms of value.

We all want to lose weight. It seems like the #1 reason I hear when I ask "what brought You to Adventure BootCamp?

In the quest of losing weight, we also tone and firm our imperfect bodies, lose inches, increase muscle, and maybe even improve our running speed. Yet, one of the pillars of fitness that is often neglected and missed, is "balance". As I get older, I realize that balance is a skill that we need to make as our very best friend if we are to thrive in our golden years. Even as a young warrior, if you don't use it, you will lose it. Trust me on this, all you pretty young things! I have had the advantage of being at the end of both spectrums. :)

So I came into BootCamp this morning and it didn't take me long to realize that this was going to be a special day. I had to smile and give a nod to Brian, because he is all about balance in everything he does and the very way he lives his life. (Read the emails, folks! :) So of course he would not fail to bring this to the performing stage of our fitness game and serve up a very balanced program as well! :) Its one reason I trust Brian and and his team trainers to give me the best holistic and integrated fitness program in central Ohio.

We did a series of balance exercises alternating with cardio. This was like a baked potato loaded with butter, sour cream, and bacon bits. :) Lol! It was yum-yum. Hee-hee, this day was loaded with it all :) Isometrics, balance, cardio, buns of steel, and whatever else you could imagine. And it was no joke! I knew others were thinking the same thing as I looked around.

98% of the campers were sighing, muttering to themselves, and giggling as we did an assortment of balance lunges, balance squats, and especially the one legged squats. WoW! What a brain teaser! This not only got your brain thinking, but what a premium toner for the legs! My legs are gonna get beautiful with this one, friends! You all gonna be jealous. LoL :)

Stabilizing my weight on one leg was not only refining my balance skills, but...oiy.....ouch! : ) I got a heap of weight to put on one leg, so this was isometric weight training at its best. This was really working those thighs as much as a "leg" day. Brian: hitting 2 birds with 1 stone! You go, Brian!! :) LoL!

I want to talk about theses particular balance exercises because more than any of the other ones, I could feel these in my hamstrings, glutes, quads, and abdominal muscles. It was comprehensive! I love to watch Brian demonstrate them, because he has such agility and strength in his balance, and makes it look so easy. :) Yeah right! I told you he was the master illusionist! :) But he also demonstrates how it should look when we do it for ourselves.

I looked around me and saw that nearly the entire camp, from the sweet 20's through the tried and true 50's, were waving like flags, shaking and trembling like an overfilled washing machine trying to negotiate this feat of doing the "one-legged wonders"! LoL! Who would know it could be so challenging folks? :)

We were cutting up and enjoyed watching all the distorted positions and shapes we saw our comrades crumble in to, but at the same time, my thoughts were moving in another direction. This is something I never thought much about as a young person, but lack of balance is the primary reason that older aged people fall and break their hips. Most of the time they will end up in nursing homes and never fully recover. I can think of countless examples, some very close to me, where within 2 years they die. Serious business folks. And yet, the young and flexible campers had little edge over us more seasoned queen bees! :( Somewhat of a scary thought, friends.

Something to think about, don't you think? The good thing, is that it is never too late. Its all about practicing the discipline and form. We just need to be consistent like anything else we want to achieve.

This great workout continued as we took our cardio breaks, until Brian used his creative finesse to make working hard even more fun! He devised a competition where we all had to close our eyes, stand on one leg, and compete against each other to crown the winning camper who could last the longest without faltering or touching the ground.

This was great fun putting it in a competitive format, yet it should have given all of us a real eye opener to where we stood with ourselves. There were several campers who held on good, but only one came forth as the clear and uncontested winner of this contest. I will call her "Princess Balance" :) She stood calm, steady, centered, and strong as a Great Oak tree that never wavered in the wind. She was beautiful and dignified in her calm. She won both contests for each leg. You are awesome, "Princess Balance"! :)

When Brian announced the winner who won by such a long shot, I made a point to check out who this phenomenal balancing act was. :)

I later caught up with our "Princess Balance" and her secret was yoga. She had learned to balance and center herself through lots of yoga through the years. She giggled and laughed when I approached her. She didn't seem to think it was anything.

"Oh, its not so much. Just take a yoga class and you can do it, too!"

One of the most charming things about this particular lady is her gracious deportment and humbleness. Yes, Princess Balance, I want to practice this skill and become good as you! :) It might not require yoga, but it sure would be a good way to go. :) You are an exquisite example of what one can do with yoga and practice.:)

Well, comrades, what do you think? I am sure there are many who take yoga, and I got to tip my hat off to you. If it can do for you what it has obviously done for our special young winner and her sense of balance, then steady as she goes! The results in this contest were stunning.

For the rest of us, including me.......we each need to give birth to our own "Princess Balance". This is vitally important, and I hope you hear the pinK tiger mewing at you. :) I am only too happy that Brian includes this in our program, and I hope he will include more to come.

It was awesome!

Like I said, it sure was a "Legs of Steel" workout too! ;) My muscles tightened up so much they went spastic! Hee-hee!

Catch you tomorrow. Next time the pinK tiger closes her eyes, she won't necessarily be cat napping. :) Figure it out.

the pinK tiger