Half Marathon Training BEGINS!

Hi there! - yes that is a photo of Mount Everest above!

Today was day one in my upward climb for building myself up to handle longer runs.
The Walt disney World Wine and Dine Half Marathon will be held in Orlando -with a firework start at the ESPN Wide world of Sports -TEN PM RACE START!!!!! 
- with a magically lit night time run through Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios and finishing at Epcot! There will be a finish line party and Epcot will be open until 3 am . .  but I'm not sure how hippy skippy I'll be after the half marathon to be zooming around Epcot in the middle of the night watching my adoring fans -- AKA my family eat.

I am so very super thrilled about this race!!!! It will be so fun and entertaining to run through disney things at night!! OHHhHhHH I need to start planning my perfect running outfit LOL!!

- Anyway My goal is to run this in a faster time than my last half  - which was the Iron Girl Clearwater. .  . read my blog below. . .we are taking torrential downpours and two massive bridges toward the end of the race . .  LOL Disney is a flat course and from what I hear everyone plans on zooming it. . .but then gets sidetracked stopping for photo ops with Disney Characters LOL!!!

I wish I had someone to run this with me as I think it would be such a fun experience to share. . . But everyone I know who is a runner is either a lot faster than me and I would feel guilty slowing them down . . or they don't want to shell out the super high Disney prices.

As of right now the race is 80% full. I've reminded my friends but. .  .sadly I don't think they will hop on the trail with me!! Boo HOO!!! I guess I will just have to lug along my iphone for pics (so you know it REALLY HAPPENED!!)  and look forward to my darling husband Matty, my Mom and Dad - who will be waiting for me at the finish line!!!

Today was not a push it crazy style run - easy pace. . feeling strong - lots of gas in the tank, just getting my feet wet again after taking some running time off and playing around more with barbell classes, cardio dance classes and Zumba etc -- everything but running outside in FLORIDA LOL

3 miles
31 mins.

My plan is to run easy three times a week doing 3-4 miles then have a long run on either saturday or sunday starting with 6 miles then moving up to 8 - then 10  then drop back to 5 then up to 9 then 12 then down to 8 then 14 over time. And somewhere incorporate a speed day.Kind of staggering my long runs to be up and down each week so its not this crazy shock. I'm not stuck totally on that specific schedule, that is just a rough outline I've come up with right now to my approach.

I don't know how much to cut back on all the other stuff I'm doing. I really enjoy body pump and zumba . I really want to focus on improving this.

- I am not by nature a runner. My body is more suited for dance or swim. It takes a lot of major suffering to do this  -- but maybe thats why I like it. . . it makes me feel like I can accomplish anything. It makes me feel like I belong in this world of hearts beating and pouring sweat.
I love that bone tired feeling when I lay in bed and stretch my legs out and feel deliriously sleepy!

alright - take care . .
Min

Minda, Matt, Teddy Bear and Tuscan

Just a quick few pictures of my mini family! Just married November 2011!

The Bikes Barbells and Babes - Oh MY!

Hello Party People!!!!
 - It has been a little while since my last post. I had to really settle into some new ideas with regards to workouts and nutrition.
I'm very much into Body Pump, Spin Class and the Elliptical machine lately! This is this underground shift the past few weeks in comparison to the past few months of kind of stagnating. Though I am working out diligently - obsessively?, I needed to really up the ante. I adore my zumba classes because I just LOVE to dance!!! - Unfortunately it won't blast my body to the level of fitness I am aiming for.

As a feature of joining Lifestyles Family Fitness Gym - you get two free sessions with a personal trainer. Session 1 we talked about my goals and did a basic assessment. My trainer Tania, said its obvious i'm very motivated to work out- and now I need to focus upon nutrition. I have a VERY difficult time eating in the morning and drinking enough fluid throughout the day. . . I've changed this and my body is jump starting into action better. - I also am taking her advice to ustilize more of the machines on the floor.
- She told me shes seen people who'd bodies have never changed - in 6 years! even though they go to all the classes and never miss one, week in and week out. - She said if I want to change my body to get out of those classes.
- I find that super difficult as  I love the classes and feel challenged by them , but I can tell by adding a couple extra machines to my work out - My body is shifting!! Hrmmrmrmrm!!! Something to explore!!
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The second session with Tania, was all bout learning the machines. I've got an awesome list of machiens to work on a- and I"m not so intimidated by the machines or the big burly guys on the floor.

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The above picture is me setting up for body pump!! we use barbells - and the benches and mats are for when we do chest presses and tricep push ups - and then regular press ups and abs.

This photo above is my amazing Beyond Yoga SWAG BAG!!! I won about 600$ worth of items from a facebook promo! How exciting! I love my pink  crops and striped tank the most! The other two tanks were too small for me and I gave them to my friends who love them!! Yay! Swag for all!
- If you know anything about me, you know I ADORE activewear! it is more than just having something functional to work out in - it is the mindset too! The mindset of - YOU CAN'T BEAT ME DOWN! I'M GONNA SURVIVE THIS WORKOUT!!! . . . even if I finish last!
lol.

Anyway - As the summer heats up - and YES it does heat up more than what it is currently here in SUNNY Florida .. . .  I find myself hiding more and more indoors for my workouts. I know if I want to be tough and really kill it this fall to improve my half marathon time - I NEED to get my ass outside and run outside. . . . hrmmm
I will be working on that!
 Til next time!!!! - xoxox
Min

Back Track and Zumba Fitness!

I've been focusing a lot on form while in my Body Pump class. I'm starting to notice my weights are feeling lighter than usual. I will have to shift from med/small plates to med/large plates on the barbell. Though today I was feeling super strong in the arms and chest - I was feeling weak in the legs. I was also feeling very off balance. I really enjoy my body pump/zumba days - as all the hippy hippy shake em up  dance moves force me out of my robot linear movements ie - run-cycle. I used to FLY through all kinds of sexy latin moves on the dance floor. Now though I feel clunky and odd. I think it is important for all over body wellness to not be a one trick pony.  Dance feels so good to me.

Since hurting my foot on that recent run, I've backed off considerably. The swelling has gone down on the top of my foot and I got a pretty pedicure with shimmering gold polish! I'm hoping to get back out for a quick 3 miles tomorrow after class. - Class meaning, I'm up at USF to move forward in my degree seeking endeavors!

There is a Crew Team that the Uni is trying to build up as this locations single awesome school sport. I talked to the club President about joining them and he was so very positive. Looks like I will be running with the team and doing ERG work outs. (those stationary rowing machines!)

Alright - more later! see you!

Flat tires and sweat bands

Hi there party people. Well. . . looks like I busted a tire. The top of my right foot has this painful bruise feeling lump on it. All of my googling self diagnosis has landed me with the finishing conclusion that I either put on too many miles for my feet to handle - I laced my shoes too tight - or my shoes are ill fitting .. . or i'm doing too much high intensity cardio.

Either way - I need to chill for a few days. It is a shame because I really love running along the forests edge each morning. - Yes I live on the edge of a forest. There is a long stretch of back road near my beautiful home, and though there are times I don't like the long drive I have to make to go shopping or visit friends, - I really love this aspect. Peace and quiet. Peaceful country. . . or swamp.

I've been trying to run more outside as mentioned previously because I became such an indoor girl and was freaked out at the half marathon of the humidity.
This morning I decided to just go out and do two miles easy and then go all out in the RPM 54 spin class with the girls.

Around the last quarter mile I suddenly felt heroic! I was jammin' down the road happy as a clam - feelin' strong! Lovin' life! Breathing the humidity as if it were crisp clear mountain air!! Then BLAST. Something felt odd. Like I wanted to crack my foot but it wouldn't pop over. I went to spin an could feel this occasional weakness in my knees - like an odd sort of buckling. When I got home later and removed my shoes and socks I noticed a lump on the top of my right foot just at the base of the second toe. Its deep down though - not surfaced a lot. It feels like a hard bruised mini egg. Ice- tiger balm. . .and chill.
I really don't want to chill out. I look forward to my morning adventures. every day its different- every day I'm taken to a new place of feelin' fine! When I miss work outs - heads roll!

Anyway speaking of heads. I'm really into sweat bands. I have several but I won't wear them out in public yet. They never stay on my head!! I want so bad to look cool in a sweat band LOL. I see all these cute girls with their cone heads that hold sweat bands and I'm jealous!!. . .Though I was jealous . . I must admit - I am no longer! I've found that my round head can hold a sweat band . . but in a different way. It is more of a Red Sonja or Princess Leia style - More of a Pocahontas - More Karate Kid - More Rambo!!
Behold!

With a round head - the sweat band stays on if you wear it ON the forehead and not just as a headband. I think it looks rad! Though many would disagree. . . I'm going to rock these sweat bands because I'm tired of my eyes burning with the sweat that pours into my eyes! I had to change my facial moisturizer to pure organic jojoba oil because other moisturizers would just burn my face and eyes as soon as I began sweating. I'm someone who NEEDS moisturizer. I feel naked without it. Trust me I've tried nearly every kind of lotion and potion. The thing I love about jojoba oil is that it acts like part of your body. The skin and eyes do not fight it!

I only wear the jojoba oil for indoor workouts - there is a part of me that revolts against the idea of greasing up to run in the sun!!
Alright - signing off for now, I will keep you updated on my foot progress. <3

Building Blocks

I heard this is what Mile 23 looks like. As a non runner trying desperately to run with the gazelles, I can only imagine what mile 23 would feel like. Now that I've recovered from the half marathon "experience". . . yes. . .that is what we will call it . . an EXPERIENCE! LOL. I was silly to not have trained much outside prior to the Iron Girl Half. There was a teeny tiny race - several years ago where I actually won a gold medal for my age group. I beat a skinny girl and stood there in the first position for my cheesy medal and couldn't be happier! - We chatted a bit after the race and she said she trains on a treadmill inside - at that time I was always running outside and used to the heat humidity and pavement.

Not this time LOL. I'm such an AC lover! I love sweating in the AC!!!!! I really enjoy spin classes, which are super challenging --- but somewhere in the back of my mind I remember that spinning classes were supposed to be saved for easy days.  - I love taking Zumba and Sh'bam! I love BODY PUMP and BODY ATTACK!!! Body ATTACK is 30 mins of pure hell actually where the resting pace is . . .RUNNING. We are doing all kinds of high cardio non stop all out jacks and jacks and burpees and pistol squats - mountain climbers . . . and then she says ok run it out and you think . . oh YES- oh YES now we just run thank you thank you .. . .HAH!

I've been taking Total TONE classes and something called BENDER BALL. I'm telling you . . . I did everything except put in longer miles for that half marathon. . ..  I did run - but it wasn't to the extent it should have been.

I've officially signed myself up for the Walt Disney World Wine and Dine Half Marathon on November 10,2012.
 This should be interesting as it is a night race that begins at TEN PM! I've never run even a 5k that late! I think Anna will sign up for the half- with Joe and Jackson going for the 5k. Shaun says shes in for the half. I'm hoping Lara will register - and Matts' Dad would like to run it too. He is a  zippy guy at 64 years old!!

I'm planning on increasing my speed by doing 90 seconds on 90 seconds off 10 times. These workouts really suck. But they get better as weight comes off of me.  Then I would like to do 5ks in the summer to keep me focused and aiming for something. -
- I would like to do a workout where I start at a certain pace for 3 miles - increase speed for 3 miles, decrease speed 3 miles and increase 3 miles.  I'm hoping this will help me break things down better and also try harder to stay in a better place.
I don't want to just go out there and DIE.

I've always been a Nike Pegasus girl. I got these cute nike frees recently with the intent of wearing them just for the dance classes at the gym . . but they were so bendy and weird I just don't feel happy in them. I started out with Mizunos but once I built some leg strength up I moved out of those particular ones which had a lot of stability. - Pegasus has always just been my great friend. . never lets me down. . . But for some reason I decided to run the half marathon in Nike Structure Triax 13. I realize thats an older model but I got them a while ago with the intent of wearing those for my first long run . . so away they hid for years until it was time for them to shine! My feet were hurting so bad at the end of the race - there were no blisters, I put vaseline between my toes and on all the rub spots in the morning before heading out to the race start. . .But I really should have worn my Pegs! Worst experience I had with shoes was Gel Kayano by Asics. Lost a couple tonenails with those suckers.. My second toe is longer than my big toe on both feet, after spending 16 weeks running with a group with the kayanos. . . I realized I was just messing myself up with those shoes! ANyway - that was a long time ago.
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Okay - I'm not worried about not being able to do this. I know I can. It is just a matter of preapring well this time. I have 6 months. 6 months to peel weight off and speed up. 6 months to get myself in gear. I know I will do better. I'm just having a hard time focusing on when and what to run. Now that the Florida sun is starting to beat down - I either have to get up earlier or stop going to my fun dance classes and run at that time instead.

- Either way I will keep you posted!

Iron Girl Clearwater Half Marathon April 22,2012

One of my long time dreams has been fulfilled. To complete a half marathon! Now that I am a few days away from the race, I keep thinking to myself . . . What was I thinking????? This was very difficult for me at this stage in my life. Carrying extra weight and not fully trained for it, I signed up 2 months out and kind of DOVE right into a 13 mile road race that not only was outside. .. instead of indoors cushy cardio. . . It was also an adventure of wind, rain, hills and bridges.

My chest seized up almost immediately after the gun went off. I could feel the humidity choking me off and all I could think about was WOW. . . Shaun needs to take off because I know exactly what kind of run this will be! Shaun is my friend from high school who also ran this half marathon as her first!!

After 4 miles I eased up into a steady pace of relaxing into the task ahead. My mind shut off and I became one with my environment. It is what I love most about running while I hate everything else while I am doing it!! Miles 5-9 seemed to just blur into each other except for the first bridge. I felt like one of those characters in the Perfect Storm film. . . . Lone body leaning into the wind and rain! HAH.

The rain and wind eased up around mile 9 and the second bridge into my last 5k. This is when I felt my body start to betray me! My calves were balling up and I felt clumsy and disjointed.
- Never did I think I would give up . .. I just felt so beat up. It was around this time a wacko found me and would not stop chattering in my ear. - This woman was RADIO RENTAL - she was COLGATE DENTAL!!!!  (completely mental). If I had more gas in my tank I would have ran fast and far away . . .but alas. . .I was stuck listening to her truly odd yammering.

I didn't want to be walking while crossing the finish line.  so I ended up hitching my legs out to the side and pushing myself across the line.

It was great to see Matt there at the other end smiling. It meant the world to me Matt was there.

 Everyone seems to be running for something. . Running for Cancer, Running for Surviving Cancer, Running for saving Animals, Running for Whatever . ..  Not me. I am doing this because I must. I don't know why. It just has to be. I know this is very important and I'm not sure why. - I only wish I was 10 years younger and starting this. . . again. Who knows . . maybe I can do this for another 30 plus years. There were 67 year old women finishing the half marathon faster than me!

I will say it was a fantastic experience. The race was well appointed and the roads blocked off with cops and volunteers all over. There were water/gu stops all along the way - nearly every mile. I did not enjoy the hills and bridges. Though I enjoyed earning my IRON GIRL title and getting my medal. . . I do not think I will do another Iron Girl Event if it is held at Clearwater Beach again. If I do. . .maybe it will be a final half or something. . . those bridges were just horrid!

I think I know why I do this. I do this because it makes me happy. I like the solitude of these types of non team sports. I like the road - I like my bike - I like that nothing else matters, that I'm free and moving through space. I like that I have nothing and belong to no one. It makes me so happy. It is a point of focus and no one can spoil that aspect. Not even my bad choices, not anyone elses judgement. It is a place I feel the most physical pain - and the most mental peace.

Today was the first day I worked out after the half - its been 2 days of rest and I felt a nice bike ride would put some life back into me. 8 miles down the road - it was fantastic.

I've registered for the Disney Wine and Dine Half Marathon for November 10 in Orlando. This should be interesting as it is a 10pm race start through 3 theme parks. I'm going to really hustle up to make sure my race is a lot faster.  It should be, because Disney is nice and flat! I'm going to focus upon dropping weight and doing intervals over the next several months.

So there it is -- Iron Girl. . . Lets get this going. Time to set my sights upon Disney! It looks like a lot of fan fare.

The TEAM

The TEAM.
This is how my great friend and I refer to our fitness efforts. Yes I said friend and not friends! It is just the two of us who have dedicated ourselves to extreme lifestyle changes that include working out as if it were our jobs! I personally don't know of anyone else who would join this TEAM and actually complete the grueling regimen.  . . Mondays Pure Barre am and Spin cardio pm, Tues,insane cardio, weds Pure Barre am, spin cardio pm, thurs insane cardio, fri Pure Barre am, spin cardio pm, sat strength and tone am, spin cardio am, sun day of rest. . . .but probably sign up for a Pure Barre class. . .. .

-I had thought I was committed all the way before!! HAH! Actually I know this is not a forever schedule. . . my classes at USF begin in MAY, so I can dedicate myself to something truly all over the place for just a little while longer.
Long enough to establish SPIN as my new lifestyle component.

The goal is to really amp myself into these cardio workouts to drop weight. I hit my 100 Pure Barre class attendance mark. They took my photo, I signed the Barre, they posted it on Facebook . . . .and BLAH I don't look like someone that has taken 100 super hard classes!!Sure I look better than when I first started . . but I'm just not there yet. If adding cardio doesn't drop the rest of this weight . . then I just don't know. I am perhaps the biggest fit person I know! LOL

So the TEAM signed up at Lifestyles Fitness in Venice Florida. We built our schedule which has us working out a minimum of 2 hours 6 days a week, and we attended one spin class so far which is said to have burned 800 calories. I absolutely LOVED spin!  Our instructor Rick was a lot of fun and his music was awesome. They turn off the lights in this room filled with 28ish bikes and put on black lights! hahah!! I like the lights off- I can just sweat and melt myself to oblivion and not care what I look like and just pedal my ass off into the darkness.
Tomorrow is Monday and this will kick off our first official week with the new schedule. I will keep you posted with regards to our progress!

- live long and prosper
Min

Cardio

Hello Party People! My last message to you was ringing in the New Year!! Much has moved along in the past month and a half-ish. January saw me making the realization that Pure Barre is just simply not enough for me. I think it is fabulous for someone who just needs to tone it all up to be a super perfect babe. . But me? I need cardio! I know under this amazing belly I have a fabulously toned set of abs just waiting to reveal themselves LOL!!!


SO, Here we go, pushing forward. It has mostly been Pure Barre, but with interjections of very intense cardio, from jogging then moving into skipping rope intervals, to now Bob Harper Ultimate Cardio Body home DVD. I really love skipping rope, - in a love hate kind of way that is. It is so very demanding and gets my heart racing within minutes. I like that I can just skip away in my house rain or shine, and there is a joy in knowing I'm not paying an arm and leg for this activity, as my Pure Barre is ultra spendy.
I've also been watching my calories via an iphone app called myfitnesspal it is really awesome, with a food data base and a progress chart, diary, also the ability to "friend" people. You don't see what they eat, but you can see if they did their work out and give support and cheers etc.

It is a WHOLE NEW WORLD since I've started really paying attention to what I eat. I never eat more than my allotted calories to lose 2 lbs a week. I've lost 15 lbs so far and I bounce back and forth on a couple lbs which is frustrating. I eat pretty clean, no sodas, no breads or sugars. I drink almost exclusively water - except in the morning I MUST have my coffee. MUST MUST. i've given up everything else in the world I will not give up my coffee with cream. Even removed splenda from it . . but not the cream!

I have tried to incite some excitement about working out and eating clean with my friends. A few of them are interested - but mostly I feel alone on this trip. Trip meaning, issued a fat blasting sugar free fabulous february. There were a couple girls that wanted to cut out sugar from their diets with me for the month of february and work out. We all took our measurements and weight jan 31. After one month of working out and cutting sugar we will measure and weigh again! - I've measured last night and found I'm down an inch in teh waist and hips already YAY!!! - Wish the scale would reflect all this hard work. I'm so frustrated with this aspect. I feel like I'm just sloggin through mud, day in and day out, trying to burn and control myself to health. It is depressing when the scale doesn't move or clothes just don't get loose and replaceable.

I have several reasons for wanting to lose weight and be healthy.
1. to live a long time
2. to feel that great feeling of being fit
3. to feel beautiful outside as well
4. to wear a pair of jeans and a tank top or t shirt with no muffin top
5. to be a total babe!

So you can see the reasons range from legit to totally shallow! Which I think is fine. I love working out - I love that it is a big part of my life and also that I've inspired Matt to work out more too.

I told him straight up, I am going THIS WAY  - it is up to you if you want to go or not, but nothing will stop me. This is the life I am going to lead. I want health and fitness , i want to feel my potential that vital joy you can only really get through physical exertion.
You know what I mean if you have ever had a massively mind blowingly hard workout!

Pure Barre I love for the fact I am in a routine of doing a physical activity in the morning that makes me do push ups and planks and arms and abs. If only it could help me with a cardio workout too!!! - I'm having a hard time adjusting to adding cardio - it always just blasts me out of the water. I go to pure barre the next day with dead legs and feeling totally wiped out. Some people think I am going to pure barre too much! - 6 days a week - but I was going 7 days a week. I'm actually finding a happy place going 5 days a week. If I can bust out more bob harper work outs - I think I will start seeing the actually results I REALLY want. Smaller jeans - flatter tummy.
- Right now I am SO strong. Stronger than I've ever been. PB is giving me the ability to use my body weight to work myself. I like having this body strength! Its always something right?
So I've got the toning under control and I a calorie counter and food police hawk. - I'm slowly adding in skipping and bob.  HOw can I convince myself to live with more bob?? - its so freaking hard!! LOL.

Anyway I need to sleep - Pure Barre in the Morning!! Maybe I should do my cardio afterwards so I have Sunday to recover from the agony and be a little fresher to start all over monday.
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ok sorry for the dull ramblings. I just need to get my thoughts right. I'm swimming in possibilities.
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My friend wants to do the Disney Marathon 2013. . . . I said I would do this with her, I really need to build my miles up . . but thats another story - and I've got a year to do it. . . . really it should take 6 months.
 This is the plan - spend until july dropping weight - then july to december building mileage up slow and safely. January run the marathon.
- should be super awful training for this in the summer . . . but I'll just get up earlier !

End of 2011 and Falling in love with Pure Barre

It is December 31st right now. As many people I ca not help but trip back through time to think what I was up to this time last year. How have I changed? How have I stayed the same? - Have I improved myself any? Have I dropped the ball?

I would have to say 2011 was an intensely life altering year for me HAHA> For one I got married! Talk about a major life event! Along with spending a month in the Philippines and moving into a new home - all while trying to jet boost my tiny small business forward.

Needless to say, my business took the back seat in everything. though I am still in love with it and want to propel forward, I really needed this time to just settle in.

I was not as trim as I had hoped to be for my wedding day but I tried to look as well as possible! - just one month before the wedding my good friend introduced me to Pure Barre. This is a low impact work out that uses a lot of muscle fatigue and small isometric movements to  "Lift Tone Burn". I've been attending classes religiously since October 25,2011.
And when I say religiously . . . I mean DAILY. MAYBE missing a day here or there due to things like "thanksgiving day" "christmas day" LOL and tomorrow "new years day".

I'm honestly sad when it is closed, Pure Barre has become such a point of happy focus for me each morning. What is it about this class that gets me so hooked?  I get up early each day to leave my house by 8am, to make a stop at black gold coffee roasters for my favorite americano - then hit the interstate to drive up a few exits and then travel allll the way back towards 41 to be infront of the PB building around 9am.
I sit there and play with apps on my phone while drinking coffee and enjoying life for a few mins then head in to put my keys phone etc into a cubby and put on my black grippy socks. This is a part of the pure barre (pb) work out attire. They ask you to wear yoga style clothing, no shorts,  and these little grippy socks.
I grab a resistance tube, a little playground style ball and a pair of 2 lb weights.Then look for an open spot on the floor. each class has a max capacity of 20 people. And each class is usually really full!!

We start with a warm up of knee ups, crunches, planks different hand positioned push ups and some body roll ups into a full sit up. Next come the arms with the weights, and those are really difficult! After several sets of many repetition arm movements we move into doing what is usually a very cruel thigh workout!! two sets for each side - then a seat work out. In PB there is no ass or butt - it is your SEAT!! or your PB Ledge! For a while i had no idea what the instructor was talking about when she was talking about the pure barre ledge. haha . I kept hearing PB LEG - what?

Anyway My favorite seat workout it the pretzel because it works all the way up the sides of your body into the muffin top area.
Two seat work outs both sides -- then we move into abs. The first set is really long and has us working from our lowest operating point. A lot of these movements are very small controlled movements where you are literally moving maybe only an inch. The idea is to be already at your limit and then push further from there. 
After several sets of different position abs we do what they call "back dancing" - ya right?!! I was like HUH too.
Anyway it is a nice extension for your back and also a chance to burn out your seat one more time while doing bridges.
I've always felt the stretching in the class was too short! maybe I'm just lazy? but I always thought you didn't really benefit from a stretch unless it is 30 seconds long!  The class stretches feel more like power stretch moves to release what you have just done.

Then class is over we wipe down equipment and all leave int his haze of fatigue. the first day of this class I had already signed up for the 99$ new client special where you can go to unlimited classes for a whole month. I thought WELL if I don't commit myself to it I won't go back!  I am glad I got the new client special because that first class was pure torture. I must have had my mouth open in a silent scream the entire time!

In fact the entire first week was massively painful and filled with uncomfortable sleepless nights from tossing and turning. I could barely even assume whatever position they were asking of me.  Soon though my body started to adjust, I could push myself deeper and stronger into the specific positions in class. It took me one entire month just to be able to hold the 90 second plank for the whole time.

This was a breakthrough moment for me because I could never hold my body - pull my body or just use my body at all in any type of manner. It was apparent I was building muscle in my body and it felt so good to move through space!!

After 2 months of pb I've lost several inches from bust waist and hips.  I've added in some light jogging to boost my weight loss and now I'm seeing even more results. .

Anyway - I will have to pick up more later on my pb journey. how exciting! Happy New Year all!