Archive for January, 2010
Spinning Tunes
There are some heavy hills in this week’s ride, kids. Hit ’em hard!
1. Toxic — Britney Spears (3:20)
2. Makes Me Want To Pray — Christina Aguilera (4:10)
3. Dominos — The Big Pink (3:48)
4. Stranded (Haiti Mon Amour) [Live version] — Jay-Z, Bono, The Edge, Rihanna (4:27)
5. I Do Not Hook Up — Kelly Clarkson (3:20)
6. No Woman, No Cry — Bob Marley & The Wailers (4:08)
7. Sing Along — Blue Man Group feat. Dave Matthews (3:26)
8. Green Light — John Legend feat. André 3000 (4:44)
9. LoveGame — Lady Gaga (3:38)
10. Miss You — The Rolling Stones (3:35)
11. Funhouse — Pink (3:25)
12. Clint Eastwood — Gorillaz (3:45)
13. Let It Be — Jennifer Hudson feat. The Roots (3:53)
Where’s Kim?
Hi everyone! In my out-of-the-gym life, I’m starting a new job this week, so there are some interruptions to my teaching schedule while I figure everything out. Please bear with me, and please be nice to my subs! I can’t wait to get back to working out with you!
Thursday: 5:30 a.m. Ready To Race! small group training, followed by 6:30 a.m. Step Blast at Feminine Fitness
Keep up the good fight!
Lotus Just Got A Lot More Luscious
Courtney, one of the cool chicks who frequents this blog, sent me this story earlier today with the note, “You need to do this.” After reading the article, I think I just might take her advice. The New York Times‘ piece starts off talking about a yoga class followed by a scrumptious dinner that participants nosh while sitting on their mats, but it later examines many of the ways American yogis make each other feel bad about what they will and won’t eat. While I understand the purists’ viewpoints, I fall much more firmly on the side of those who love both pranayama and a good porterhouse.
But that’s just me. What do you guys think? Leave a comment and let us know!
Testing The Watchers Waters
If you’re curious about what goes on at a Weight Watchers meeting or if you’ve been thinking about joining but don’t want to commit just yet, February is your month. The company is hosting free open houses at participating locations from 1 to 4 p.m. every Saturday during the month. Leaders will be around to answer questions and talk about the program, they’ll help you calculate your body mass index (if you want them to) and MOST IMPORTANTLY, there will be raffles and giveaways. Who doesn’t love free stuff? For a list of participating centers, click here or call 1.800.480.6767.
In my opinion, WW is a fantastic program that really teaches you how to live healthy (and still have fun!). It has helped me get where I am today; maybe it can help you?
Kicking It Old School
I must be a fitness psycho psychic. Just last week, I was praising the much-mocked Fill-in-the-body-part of Steel series from the early 1990s. In comparison to today’s much-higher-budget workout DVDs, those tapes look downright shabby. And the tush-floss leotards and shiny leggings worn by the instructors are a bit off-putting. But the moves contained within are still some of the best ways to tone your buns, abs or arms. Every once in a while, when I want my butt kicked, I pop the Buns Of Steel tape into the VCR — yeah, I still have a VCR — and go to work. I can always feel it the next day.
Little did I know that while I was having my fitness flashback last week, Her Royal Cardio-ness Jane Fonda was preparing to get back into the home-fitness realm. The San Francisco Chronicle reports that Fonda, who looks pretty great at 72, will begin taping new workouts in the spring. “We will film them in mid-March,” says the actress, who made working out at home chic in the ’80s and ’90s. “Mine will target an audience that has been left out, my age group and the (baby) boomers. I want to get to people who have stopped working out or never did.”
I think it’s clear what we have to do, Haulers. Just pull your legwarmers out of the attic…
An Organic Incentive
Whole Foods — the only grocery store where I can spend $50 before I even pick up a basket — is offering its employees higher percentages of discount if they meet certain health guidelines. The New York Daily News reports that workers whose body mass index, blood pressure and cholesterol levels measure up can earn up to 30 percent off their grocery bills. (Regular employee discount is 20 percent.) Now if only Whole Foods would offer their customers the same incentive!
Spinning Tunes
I mixed a few old favorites with some new stuff — thanks for the awesome suggestions guys, and please keep them coming! — for this challenging but fun ride.
1. Murder on the Dancefloor — Sophie Ellis-Bextor (3:51)
2. Love Sex Magic — Ciara feat. Justin Timberlake (3:40)
3. Back in the Day Song — Know One (2:56)
4. Holding Out for a Hero — Frou Frou (3:21)
5. Back To Life — Soul II Soul (3:48)
6. C’est La Vie — B*Witched (2:53)
7. Gone ’til November — Wyclef Jean (3:24)
8. I Like To Dance — Hot Chelle Rae (3:00)
9. All Good Things (Come to an End) — Nelly Furtado (5:41)
10. Fight Night — Battlestar Galactica season three soundtrack (2:31)
11. Magnificent — U2 (5:24)
12. Blowin’ Me Up (With Her Love) — JC Chasez (4:20)
13. Who Says — John Mayer (2:55)
Where’s Kim?
Let’s sweat! Here’s where I’ll be for the rest of this week:
Tuesday: 7:30 p.m. Body Sculpt at Excel
Wednesday: 8:15 a.m. Spinning at Feminine Fitness; 7 p.m. Intro to Step, followed by 7:15 p.m. Step I at Feminine Fitness
Thursday: 5:30 a.m. On The Attack small group training *LAST SESSION* followed by t6:30 a.m. Step Blast at Feminine Fitness; 6:30 p.m. Cycling Basics at New York Sports Club Butler
If you’re not a member of the gyms listed but would like to take a class, let me know and we’ll get you a guest pass. See you there!
Shop Talk
I know it’s January, annual month of cutting back and taking stock… like when I was knee-deep in closet clutter a few weekends ago and called out to The Boyfriend — who was watching TV in the living room — in my despair, “I am NOT allowed to buy any more workout wear. I have enough!” and then the pile of sweaters that I had carefully sorted and folded fell over into a giant heap and I almost cried? And I really meant to stick to that plaintive cubby confession?
Yeah, not so much. All it took was a payday, a lunchtime trip to T.J. Maxx and a clearance rack to make me break that particular resolve. Ah well, you can’t win them all. And while I can’t find an online picture of the comfy pink Prana workout top I scored for $5, I will share with you this pretty one I am now lusting after, thanks to a visit to the company’s site.
Not like I needed to look that far — not when Steph, one of the cool chicks who visits this site, was sporting this cute number at this morning’s Spin class. She sweated a lot and still looked hot: the hallmark of good gym wear.
But seriously. I’m done buying stuff for a while. Seriously. I mean it.
Spinning Tunes
This week’s Spinning playlist, hot off the Spinner! I tortured my Monday morning class with 40 seconds high effort/20 seconds low effort intervals and they really delivered — must’ve been the music. (heh) All songs available on iTunes.
Aouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!
- Even Better Than The Real Thing — U2 (3:41)
- Loba — Shakira (3:10)
- Upgrade U — Beyoncé Feat. Jay-Z (4:33)
- Bad Romance — Lady Gaga (4:55)
- I Want You — Paris Hilton (3:12)
- Take On Me (De Lorean Radio Mix) — Ammonia (3:13)
- My Life Would Suck Without You — Kelly Clarkson (3:33)
- Drum Trip — Rusted Root (3:45)
- When I Grow Up — The Pussycat Dolls (4:05)
- Bonito — Jarabe de Palo (4:14)
- Love Lockdown — Kanye West (4:31)
- Get Right — Jennifer Lopez (3:51)
- Hard — Rihanna and Jeezy (4:11)
- Whataya Want From Me — Adam Lambert (3:47)
- If It Kills Me — Jason Mraz (4:34)
I’m always open to hearing what gets you into the zone when you’re working out. Post a comment and let us know, and it just may show up in a future playlist!
Haul Buns 