The 3-day challenge: 3 spin classes in 3 days

This weekend I decided to challenge myself by planning to take 3 spin classes in 3 days. As you might know  from reading this, I have mixed feelings toward spin, especially at my fancy gym where everyone has their fancy spin shoes. The  decision to take 3 days of spin was made based on a number of reasons:

1. wanting to do something different on this long holiday weekend
2. the boy missing having access to spin classes due to free gym in his apartment building
3. 5-day guest pass my gym provided me with to give to a guest in January
4. wanting to get into better shape and track my results on my Polar F7, and
5. having someone to take class WITH for the first time

We weren’t sure if we would be able to actually make it all 3 days. Every time I would say how excietd I was, the boy would say, “I don’t know if we will actually go all 3” etc, etc. And due to my SmartPill test, I knew my short-term health would be deteriorating during this time. So we decided to play it by ear and do our best.

Saturday: 11:00 Spin Class – SUCCESS! My max heart rate reached 197, and I burned a whopping 448 calories! It was HARD, but I felt great! However, I realized I pushed myself too hard and didn’t pace myself well. Now I knew to work on that. After Spin I did elliptical for 40 minutes – definitely an intense workout session. But there was a huge reward at the end – spa treatments! I got an 80 minute hot stone massage. It was my second time having this type of massage, but my first time using the spa at my gym. I LOVED it. I am always amazed at how fast time goes during a massage. It was the perfect ending to my intense workout session. I felt amazing after — so relaxed, so happy, so refreshed. Then we had a nice nap followed by a delicious dinner at Eighty One.

Sunday: 11:15 Spin Class – another success, but not as much as Saturday. I was feeling VERY tired and lethargic that morning, probably due in part to the restrictions placed on me during the SmartPill test. On top of that, I didn’t eat enough for breakfast. I purposely didn’t work as hard during the class, although it was a pretty good class except for the music which sucked. The music makes such a big difference in spin — it can really make or break the class. I had a max heart rate of 187 and burned 408 calories, but I just wasn’t feeling as great. I showered,rested in the sauna and felt like crap after. I looked drained and colorless, but my favorite meal helped cheer me up – Banana Hazelnut Stuffed French Toast from Comfort Diner! Mmmmmm. Then back to bed for a much needed nap! We had plans to go to the movies to see Milk that night, but I just wasn’t up for it.

Monday: 12:30 Spin Class – SUCCESS! The class was great, the music was not great but not the worst and I finally got better at pacing myself! During the 6-minute climbs, I didn’t let my heart rate get to the high 180s/low 190s until minutes 5 and 6. The class went much quicker this way and I definitely made the most of my workout! I burned 415 calories with a max heart rate of 192. I felt great! Monday was another great day in the long 3-day weekend.

This morning (Tuesday – Inauguration Day!!) I woke up to find that my SmartPill monitor was off – the test is over! Later I will bring the machine to the doctor. I don’t know if he will have a chance to read my results today or if I will have to wait. I am very excited to learn what the test proves. I know it will show something for reasons I will not discuss here. But it will give at least a bit of insight into where my problem is. I can’t wait.

I am thrilled that I took 3 spin classes in 3 days – I hate Spin a little less, know how to better navigate my way through the session, know how to adjust my bike. I still have to choose a bike beforehand that already has the foot saddles installed, but I made a decision: If I take Spin regularly for the next month, I will invest in my own pair of Spin shoes. Big committment, I know, but we will see how I am doing a month from now! I like that for just 45 minutes I get such an intense workout. I also like that I can control how hard I work. The boy has his own spin shoes and says they make a big difference, so we’ll see.

More updates to come when I get the results from my SmartPill test – I hope!