Candy free?

Every Halloween, I end up eating lots and lots of candy.  Why?  Because it's there, plain and simple.  I'll start with my favorite, a Reeses cup, and end up eating anything I can get my hands on (including those gross peanut butter taffy things - you know, the ones in orange or black wrappers -  that are so stale they must have been manufactured before I was even born).  

Honestly, if I could stick to just one piece, especially something not-as-bad-for-me (dark chocolate, perhaps), it wouldn't be a big deal...but that is never the case!  This year, it'll be different.  I'm putting it out in public that I'm not going to eat ANY candy on Halloween (or after...I'd better state that, too, or I'll end up just postponing my usual Halloween sugar binge to the next day!).

I'm hoping my own kids learn better self-control than I ever did.  I try to help them by setting limits on how much of their Halloween candy they can have (one piece per day, usually).  So far, it's been successful; by mid-November, they've forgotten it's there, and I can toss what's left.  When I was growing up, I was in control of my own candy; I kept it in my room and ate as much of it as I wanted, whenever I wanted.  The candy ran out quickly, but my cravings sure didn't!  

This year will be different than every previous year.  If I can make it through Halloween without having a single piece of candy, that'll be awesome!  

What the...???

Asa and I went to the Attack/Pump combo and CXWORX this morning.  I have been focusing more on running lately (I did an 11-mile run yesterday with no knee problems - woo hoo!), so I have been letting Asa go to the morning Attack class on Tuesdays instead of me.  It's probably been about four weeks since I did Attack, and it showed!

The new Attack release has some great music, but the "what the...?" title of this post refers to the moves.  I felt like the most uncoordinated person in the world trying to do tracks 4 and 9 (the plyometric and power tracks), both of which involved tuck jumps.  Tuck jumps have never been my friend, but this was insane!  In track four, you go from a quadruple-pulse lunge on the right leg to a tuck jump and immediately into a quadruple-pulse lunge on the left leg.  I need to work on this move for sure!  The tuck jumps are back in track 9, this time in a slightly easier format.  Emma, Christen, and Lauren just look so freakin' athletic and powerful doing them - it's awesome to watch those women, and I'm pretty sure that's what I did...just stood there and watched them because I was tuckered out, so to speak.  Of course, this may have had something to do with the fact that we went out to a Halloween party last night and I had one or two (or five) drinks...I was pretty dehydrated this morning!  I really liked track 5, which has a new way of doing tricep pushups.  It was tough, but I felt pretty successful at the end of that track.

The new CXWORX is also really challenging.  Track two is always my nemesis, and it's no different with this release.  I'm fairly certain I'll have sore abs tomorrow (a feeling I actually love, since it's proof I'm working hard!).  I'm never sure what tube to use in that class; green feels too easy but red feels too hard.  Anyone else have that issue?  

LAUNCH!!!

It's Launch weekend! Enjoy all new music and all new choreography in classes this weekend!

Since October is breast cancer awareness month, wear pink to class. Also, SWAT is accepting donations (suggested: $1 per class) to go to a local family dealing with breast cancer.

I tried out the new Pump this morning. It was fun - no huge surprises, but definitely some devilish little things thrown in to change things up (like the marathon session of bottom half reps at the end of the squat track!).

Enjoy the new releases!!

Going to Distance

Congrats to SWAT people Scott VanLoo (member) and Christen McCool (instructor) on running the Detroit marathon today! Christen finished in 3 hours and 19 minutes - WOW! I'm not sure of Scott's time on this one, but he's speedy too!! You are both fitness inspirations.

Did any other SWAT members run the Detroit or Grand Rapids half or full marathons?

Redemption

After posting last night about how I've been slacking on my workouts, I knew I had to get my butt in gear. This morning, I had to be at school by 5:50 am to chaperone a field trip to State Honors Choir auditions, so I set my alarm for 3:40 am.

The rain was coming down when the alarm went off, and between the warm wool socks I was wearing and the snuggly 4-year-old who'd crawled into bed with us sometime in the night, I was quite cozy.

I managed to limit myself to one push of the snooze button, and I was out the door by 4 am. I had a slow 4 miles around the neighborhood. I'm developing a nasty chest cold, and my body and lungs ached with every step, but I'm still glad I ran!

I'll be spending a total of 6 hours on a school bus today, and I would've been totally restless and miserable without a workout first. Now, because I burned off some energy, I'm only slightly miserable on the bus. Plus, if the students complain about how early they had to get up, I'll just tell them about my morning and that'll stop them.

;-)

Rainy Days

Oh, rainy days...rainy mornings, specifically. I haven't made it out of bed in the morning to get to the gym or go running since Monday! It just feels so good to snuggle in bed under a warm blanket and next to a warm hubby. It's not even like I'm going back to sleep...I lie awake and play on my phone, waiting until the last possible second to get in the shower!!

I'm in a rut. Somebody come over and drag my butt to the gym, ok?

Scrumptious Soup

Today, using a recipe from one of my college roommates, I made healthy, savory soup that is perfect for a fall dinner.  Even the kids ate it (under no duress...well, maybe a little, since they knew soup had to come before they got any of the cookies that were waiting)!  My dad, stepmom, and sister were over for dinner too, and there were still plenty of leftovers for us to freeze for a future meal. This makes a great main dish, but it would also be a wonderful appetizer or side dish at a holiday gathering!

Ingredients:

1 large butternut squash, peeled and cut into 1" cubes

1 - 1.5 granny smith apples, skinned and diced

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 onion, diced

3-4 large carrots, peeled and chopped into 1' pieces

1-2 teaspoons curry

2 quarts vegetable broth

1 cup apple juice (optional)

1 6-ounce container of plain Greek yogurt (optional)

Salt and pepper (optional)

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.  Coat a cookie sheet with cooking spray and place chopped carrots and squash on it.  Bake for about 40 minutes, then broil on low until the squash and carrots start to brown.

Turn the stove on medium.  Put olive oil in the bottom of a soup pot.  Add 1-2 teaspoons curry powder (I used two) and the onions; sautee until the onions are translucent.  Add the broth, apples, squash, and carrots.  Bring to a boil for about 20 minutes (the apples will plump when it's ready), remove from heat, and use a mixer to blend it until it's smooth.  

At this point, you can add the optional apple juice and yogurt. I added both of them to sweeten the soup and cut the curry flavor a bit so my kids would like the taste, but I sampled it before adding those, and it was still super yummy. 

Optional Topping:

4 tablespoons sour cream or Greek yogurt

1 teaspoon curry

2 teaspoons horseradish

I didn't make the topping, so I can't give you any pointers on this one!

What Now?

On Saturday, I ran the "Eight and Eat" fun run in Otsego. As the name implies, you run 8 miles then chow down (pancakes - they even had gluten free ones!). All the proceeds from the run go to Girls on the Run.

It was the perfect day for a run. The air was crisp and cool, and we were treated to views of the beautiful fall foliage that always makes me happy I call Michigan my home. I knew a lot of participants- some from SWAT, some from my theatre activities, and some from school (one of my 7th grade students ran all 8 miles!). There were syrup shots and beer shots at the water stations (and, as a bonus, Gangnam Style on constant reply with the water station attendees doing the dance). I ran with two good friends of mine, and I thoroughly enjoyed the conversation. We were sticking to the method of 4 minutes running and 1 minute walking.

I was the timekeeper, and 6.5 miles into our run, I called for our next walk break. As I slowed my gait, something happened and my right knee completely buckled and shooting pains went up and down my leg. I hobbled along for another couple tenths of a mile, then I was rescued in a car driven by the Gangnam dancers.

I was in pain, but more than that, I was completely pissed off. There had been no indication that my knee wasn't doing well before that point, and I'd done a practice 8-miler the week before that to make sure my body could handle it. Joke's on me, I guess.

Of course, I ate the pancakes anyway.

I've jogged a couple times since then with no big problems, just some soreness. I'm wearing a knee brace and an IT band strap all the time, and I got a foam roller that I'm using on my legs (to the point of tears - seriously, the foam roller is painful!!). I am going to see the sports med doc again next week, and I'm going to request an MRI to make sure I don't have any tears in the meniscus.

Right now, I'm back on the arc trainer at the gym. I mean, literally, right now, as I'm writing this. I'm barely working up a sweat, but I feel like I can't push myself because I don't know exactly what's going on inside my knee.

On the Eight and Eat run, my friends and I were talking about Borgess Run Camp, and I told them I was debating trying the marathon training. Until my knee buckled, I think I'd convinced myself to at least give it a shot.

I guess I'll talk to the doctor next week and ask his opinion; until then, I'll keep taking it easy. Sigh.

FEATURED MEMBER: Beverly

This week's Featured Member is Bev.  She's been around the gym a while, and she tries lots of different things.  She keeps a healthy sense of humor about being healthy.

Tell us a little about yourself.
Hi my name is Bev  and I enjoy being in motion.  My interests involve bicycling, hiking/walking, being with and helping people, travel and just going out and getting lost... Getting lost by bike or in the woods always leads to an adventure. 

What is your usual weekly workout routine?
My typical workout routine starts on Tuesday with RPM followed by Zumba. Wednesday I train with Amanda to gain strength, improve my posture, and to work out other dysfunctions.  This is followed by cardio of some sort.  If there is gas left in the tank, I finish the night with CXWORX. Thursday is combat night and light strengthening.  Friday is an off day.  Saturday we jump start our weekend with super RPM and Pilates.  Sunday is body day starting with flow and finishing with combat.  
Monday is a day off or an hour with Kris Anthonsen for a massage.

What are your go-to snacks and meals?
All food is fair game.  LOL!  Quite often during a bike ride or a workout routine I will have food fantasies of spaghetti, tuna fish sandwiches, chicken noodle soup, cookies, and pancakes.  Bring it!  Lol

How do you balance being active with the demands of your daily life?
Balancing work and the things I enjoy takes a bit a discipline and a tremendous sense of humor to roll with all of the demands on our time and energies.  In the large picture of things, I have made exercise a priority because it is such a healthy outlet.

What is a fitness or healthy living goal you have for yourself?
My personal goal is life balance and to continue to heal/ strengthen shoulder issues to promote my ability to return to endurance bicycling.

What do you like about being a member at SWAT?
 Love the Les Mills classes, working out with friends, training with Amanda Kurtz.  The knowledge of the instructors and personal trainers makes it a wonderful experience that takes my fitness to a higher level.  
Besides, it is a place I can yell, whoot it up without getting arrested or medicated (or at least I haven't yet). 

What is your favorite class at SWAT?  Why?
Ooh tough question... Favorites are RPM, Combat, Zumba, BodyFlow and Pilates  

Do you have a person who is your healthy living/fitness inspiration?  Who and why?
Another difficult question... Morgan Larson was the first person at SWAT to have a huge impact on my fitness.  Amanda Kurtz and Kris Anthonsen have taken me to a new level and of course the friendships with Julia, Orlando and Cynthia is a value beyond words. 

Anything else you’d like to say?
Waa Waa Waa Yeaaah
Life at SWAT is fun

FEATURED MEMBER: Kaley

This week's Featured Member is Kaley.  I've seen her around the gym a lot, and Asa sees her in a lot of the classes he takes and recommended that I feature her.  Like most of us, she's super busy but carves out time to stay active!

Tell us a little about yourself.
I have two very busy kids (3 yrs. and 6 yrs.) who keep me running everyday.  We enjoy being outside and spending lots of time with our family and friends.  I'm just starting my second year working at Portage North Middle School and I am loving every second of it! 

What is your usual weekly workout routine?
Normally I try to do Pump 3 times per week and Combat 5 times per week.  When I get the chance to do the other Les Mills classes, I do them as often as I can.  I also enjoy running and lifting when I have the time. 

What are your go-to snacks and meals?
One of the snacks I always have with me are almonds and dried fruit.  I also eat a lot of yogurt with fruit mixed into it.  My number one favorite thing to eat is ice cream!

How do you balance being active with the demands of your daily life?
I rely on my set schedule.  After work I pick up my kids from school and head straight to the gym.  This way I have no excuses not to go.

What is a fitness or healthy living goal you have for yourself?
My main goal is to just feel good.  The time I spend at the gym is the only "me time" I get.  This is the place I can relieve stress and not think about anything that's going on during my day.  I turn my brain off for an hour and relax while I workout.

What do you like about being a member at SWAT?
I love the Les Mills classes!  I spend most of my time at SWAT doing the group fitness classes. 

What is your favorite class at SWAT?  Why?
I really enjoy all of the classes I've tried but will always love pump and combat.

Do you have a person who is your healthy living/fitness inspiration?  Who and why?
I am motivated by the other members and instructors all working hard around me.