Spin right round baby

Spin Doctor is In.

I officially start teaching my spin class tomorrow afternoon at the Y. I taught for about 10 years until I got too busy and then had surgery. I feel like it's time to get back in the saddle. Not to mention the fact that it's such an awesome fat burning activity.  For those of you who have never taken a spin class, it's a great way to lose some body fat.  The classes range from 30 minutes to 45 minutes to 1 hour.  For you newbies, start with a 30 min class if they have one and if they don't, just leave at 30.

Spinning or cycling in some gyms is a "workout at your own pace" type of class.  There are some instructors who like to yell and get up in your face but most are there to help and motivate you, not scare you crap out of you.

Spinning takes a while to get into.  The first time if you can last 20 minutes you are doing great.  Really.
I'm not kidding.  After a while you will find your endurance getting better and better.  The first few weeks suck.  After that you will pulling on the spandex and heading to class.  (No.  You don't have to wear spandex.  But you will want to when you're sporting that new body!)

The spinning Yogi

I teach twice a week and then take 3 other classes so I get 5 days of cardio in. I am doing yoga at least 3 times a week. It's the right balance of cardio and strength training. I know, I know yoga isn't the first thing you think of when someone says strength training but it really is.  Trust me.  The amount of body and core strength you have to have in order to perform these postures is amazing.  Plus sometimes people fart. You try holding that in when your stuck in a "downward facing dog."  Face it, farts are funny.

Seattle to Portland

Seattle to Portland

I am thinking about doing the STP this year as well. The STP is a 200 mile bike ride from Seattle to Portland. The problem is that it's next month...ouch. 2 days of 100 miles each. I'm not sure if my ass can take that not to mention my quads and back but I'm willing to try.

Do run run run Do run run

Race For a Soldier

Running is something else that I need to get back into. I would like to run a half marathon this fall. I lack the motivation to get out there and just do it. I've been told that you just have to get out there and run, the first 10 minutes is the worst but than after that it's cake. I think I may find a running club.

You are who you hang with.

Your friends are making you fat and lazy is an interesting article about the kind of people you hang with and how they affect your health. I really like the idea of clubs. They provide motivation and inspiration.  Plus you get to hang out with alot of like minded people. Fitness people are always good people to hang with because they reinforce positive behavior.   I firmly believe your fat friends make you fat. That's bad news for fit people. No they are not holding you down and putting food in your mouth.  It's a negative behavior.  Good news for fat people is that fit friends can make you fit. No they aren't tying you to a treadmill. It depends on who decides to adopt the other's lifestyle habits. 

I'm not saying don't hangout with overweight people.  I'm saying that people who don't hold your love for fitness can make it hard for you to make healthy decisions.  You have to make sure you are making healthy choices and try not to make anyone you're eating with feel less than.  Do your thing.  Don't apologize for it.

It's been good to talk about health and fitness tonight. Tonight is just mostly rambling but it's cathartic.   It's been a rough few days around Seattle and Albany, GA and it's good to get back in the saddle and ride into the sunset.