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Archive of ‘Exercise’ category

Spinning, SmartPilling, Restaurant Weeking and Seattling

Yesterday I did spin for the 4th day in a row! Everyone is right — it really is addicting, even though I hate it while I’m there! For some reason I can’t wait to go back and do it all over again. I’m especially glad I did this last night, since it was a teacher I never tried before and it was seriously the best spin class of my life (I have taken spin a bunch of times at a few of the gyms I have belonged to. Last night when my heart rate got to the 190s, it wasn’t because I was pushing myself, it was because I was having fun. It made me think about why this instructor was so much better than the others. In other words, what makes a good spin instructor?

1. Happy to be there – this guy was HAPPY to be teaching this class
2. Cameraderie – he was friendly with the students and knew the regulars well
3. Interaction – throughout the class he was walking around the room interacting with us. He saw my HRM and said “Very good!” This made me happy! Another time he came up to me and told me to relax my shoulders (something I always have a hard time doing). I enjoyed the personal attention.
4. MUSIC – SO important. It was obvious he carefully selected his playlist and each song fit what we were doing at the time. During a particularly fast sprint, the music was a fast drum-beat that made me want to go FAST. During climbs the music became more motivating, and, well, climb-like. Downhill, same thing with the fast beats. I was disappointed on Monday when the playlist was the same as the Sunday one – since they were different teachers! This guy brought a little Macbook with iTunes open and obviously cared.
5. Motivating – he was so motivating in everything he said, he really got the class excited and involved
6. Not boring – Instead of three 6-minute hills, he split it up into hills of varying lenths
7. Pushed us to work harder – Instead of instructing us to lower our resistance after each hill, he instead encouraged us to NOT touch it at all! I didn’t typically follow this, but it was nice that he was pushing
8. Funny – he was a funny guy, using intermittent spanish words
9. Helpful – before class started he asked if anyone needed help with their bikes, pedals, etc. Normally when I approach a teacher before class to ask for help they are less than friendly about it. This guy actually offered help! But now I know to sign up for the bikes with foot saddles on, so I was all set. Good to know for next time though. 
10. Really seemed to care that we all have the best spin experience possible

Overall, a really great class! And no wonder — look at the instructor’s website!

“Pablo Toribio was featured in New York magazine’s Best of New York issue as the Best Spinning Instructor in NY 2005. He also was featured as a top instructor in Time Out New York magazine and Resident magazine and appeared on NY1 News, ABC Prime Time Live and other features.”

Sara over at EatFabInNYC also had a great spin teacher last night at her gym! The teacher really makes a difference.  Now I can’t wait to take his class every Tuesday! I am leaning more and more towards getting spinning shoes.

In other news, I brought the SmartPill monitor to the doctor yesterday. It only takes the doctor a few minutes to upload my results and read them, but I don’t know how busy he is and when he will actually get around to doing it. His office told me a week, but I really hope it’s sooner – I am DYING of curiosity. I do believe this test will provide some insight.

On a brighter note, it is NYC Restaurant Week! Tonight I am going to Japonais and tomorrow to China Grill. Very excited… just hope my tummy is okay… always a worry. But, I will enjoy myself and avoid the foods I know will bother me the most.

I am going to Seattle to visit my brother Matt Matt, his girlfriend Mallory and their puppy Santana in a few weeks! I am very excited about it because ever since my brother moved to Seattle to work for the Man I don’t get to see him much (and by the Man, I mean Bill Gates. Obv.). The last time I was in Seattle, Santana hadn’t moved in yet. She was taking a long holiday at Mallory’s parents, so I am VERY excited to play and cuddle with her! My brother belongs to a really nice gym, but I don’t think I will get to go because of time constraints. Maybe if it isn’t too cold out I will attempt my first outdoor run?

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!

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