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Ebbs and Flows

You might remember that a few months ago I was addicted to working out. Really obsessed. And then I had my knee injury and things just kind of trickled off… I would work out every now and then, take a Core Fusion class here, go to the building gym there, but it was never constant. I would go days upon days without doing a single eksusis. I wasn’t too down about it since my weight didn’t go up and I knew the rut wouldn’t last forever anyway. This is because of something the boy and I discussed about working out:

It goes in ebbs and flows.

You’re basically either in a phase of working out all the time, loving it, craving it, missing it, wanting it — or you’re barely working out at all and not really missing it! We both go through these phases and I’m sure many of you do as well.

Well, I believe I have exited the ebb and am back into the flow!

I had the opportunity to work out at a VERY cool boutique gym on Sunday. I am going to provide an official review later this week or early next week with more details, so I won’t go into it much now. But that experience is what pushed me back into the flow! Not because of yesterday’s workout alone (although it was wonderful) but because of what happened after.

At the end of yesterday’s workout, I made another appointment with this gym for 2 more trial sessions on Wednesday! More info on that in my review too — but let’s just say I am MAJORLY looking forward to my Wednesday evening workout. So feeling the workout euphoria from how great yesterday’s was, combined with my excitement for Wednesday, started to set me back on the path to the flow.

But.

Working out on Sunday and Wednesday hardly a flow makes. (Is that a sentence?) Yesterday afternoon I had planned to go for a run with the boy, but because of the unexpected cardio aspect of the gym workout on Sunday I was tired and just wanted to bask in the sun while he ran. So that is what I did, but while I was laying there enjoying the practically summer weather (still not QUITE hot enough), I was wondering if I should have just sucked it up and went on the run.

It is summer. My knee seems okay. I wanted to be able to run outside. If I wait longer, I will lose the warm weather opportunities to run outside.

But laying directly under the sun felt so nice. It was the first time all summer I’ve done this and that is another thing I don’t want to miss out on! I knew I made the right decision in not going for a run, but I decided I would go for a run — early in the morning on Monday. I actually wanted to get in another workout before Wednesday.

My friends, I was officially on a flow.

Which brings us to today. I woke up at 6 am (something I have not done in a long time to workout) and went outside for a morning run on the river. It felt very strange for me to be doing this since I had planned to run outside in the mornings all summer long; plans that dissipated after my clear inability to run due to a knee injury. I figured running was just not something my body could do. But then I tried running last week and felt great, and I wanted to do it again. So this morning I did.

  Running Cartoon

As soon as I started running, it felt different than all my other runs. It didn’t hurt. I don’t mean my knee or any other joints, I mean that feeling in my chest. I had no problem breathing and no ribcage cramp. It felt easy and pleasant. I began to understand that all the blogs I read with girls who run long distances all the time feel THIS way when they run. The chest pain is not universal. No wonder people can run marathons. No wonder they love running and do it all the time! The fact that I ran first thing in the morning before eating really helped too. It felt great to run without the weight of the food jumping around.

For 15 minutes I felt great! It was the easiest, smoothest, freest (word?) run of my life (of all, like, 5 of them). About 15 minutes in I spotted a water fountain and stopped for a sip. Shortly after I resumed running, that old ribcage cramp resumed. Same spot. I didn’t know if it happened because it happened, or if my drink of water brought it on? Is that possible, could drinking water have caused the cramp? Maybe just a coincidence. Let me know if you know if water can cause cramps!

It hurt but I ran through it, remembering my last run where the pain eventually went away. My run became much harder at this point. It stopped being easy, free. It was no longer painless. I started having trouble breathing and feeling overall chest pain/weakness. Sigh. I kept going though since I wasn’t even at my halfway mark yet! I reached the end of the loop and turned back around, slightly disheartened to know that I had just as much to finish as I already ran. But I went on, pressing into the cramp with my fingers when I could. The cramp eventually stopped hurting but the ease of the run never returned. It remained difficult to the end, when I ran back up the ramp to the street and then I was DONE!

Stats

Time: 32 minutes (didn’t pay attention to the seconds)
Miles: ~2.82
Avg HR: 179
Max HR: 195 (uphills are HARD!)
Calories burned: 319

I felt GREAT! Yes, it became difficult during the run but for almost half the run it was amazing! And for the entire run I experienced absolutely no knee pain or hip pain! I CAN RUN!!!

I won’t overdo it. I’ll run once or twice a week. I love being able to do it in the morning. It was so so so so so much better running on the path while it was basically clear. On weekends I am navigating through bike riders (and hoping not to get run over), other runners, walkers, rollerbladers — going in both directions. This morning I dealt with none of that. At 6:20 am the paths are clear! And the weather was perfect, gorgeous but not at all hot. There were more people on the path on my way back (they were going in the opposite direction) but at my time it was pretty empty. I loved it!

I was so excited about my morning’s run that I signed up for a 5K!

I will be running the Komen 2009 New York City Race for the Cure. My mom had breast cancer when I was younger (she is completely OK now) so it is a cause has a lot of meaning for me.  I never did a Komen event before. A few years ago I volunteered at Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk in Queens (I was one of the people cheering the runners and walkers on!) and last year Missy and I did that same walk in Manhattan. Now that I can actually run I am very excited that I can contribute in this way — and get a chance to practice my new abilities!

I JUST signed up so I don’t even have any donations yet — but feel free to contribute! I would really appreciate it and it is obviously an important cause, as I am sure you all know at least one person who had to deal with breast cancer. You can donate to my personal fundraising page here.

Missy signed up as well and Melanie might too, and then we can start an official team! If you want to join our team and participate in the run, let me know!

I have a lot to look forward to in September! The 5K, U.S. Open, Snow Patrol at the Beacon, anniversary, who knows what else!

I love the flows! But you know what? I learned that ebbs are not such a bad thing, and certainly nothing to get down on yourself about! If your body needs a rest, it needs a rest. A few weeks or even a couple months off is not the end of the world, and when you feel strong enough to workout hard again, you will. You don’t need to feel guilty (as I have in the past) for going any amount of time without regular workouts. Do what you can when you can, and it will all ebb and flow naturally. It happens to everyone. I will no longer fear the ebbs. But I will embrace the flows more than ever — and treat my body right during them. No overdoing it, no injuries, no pushing myself too hard. We only have one body and we have to treat it as best we can.

Charity Marathon

And for now, I am excited for Wednesday and then to be able to tell you about my fantastic workout experiences this week.

And I have a free 3 day guest pass at another gym, where they have this machine that I want to try! Have you heard of a treadclimber??

TreadclimbTreadclimber

 

I got the guest pass a couple weeks ago but it doesn’t look like it expires. I think next week sounds like a great time to use it! Plus I have about 7 more Core Fusion classes left in my package — and 2 Physique 57 classes coming up! I got an email from them with a special offer — 2 classes for the price of 1. That is a BARGAIN at Physique 57! Those 2 classes are scheduled for July 30 and August 10.

Let’s enjoy the flow!

I Heart Core Fusion

Last night Missy and I went to the opening of Exhale Spa at the Gansevoort Hotel. They are offering free Core Fusion classes for the first two opening days. I love Core Fusion so I jumped at the opportunity to go twice for free! I never went two days in a row because I am usually so sore after one day, but I couldn’t pass up a free class.

    Gansevoort

The spa itself looked gorgeous. The locker room, on the other hand, was not up to par. Perhaps I am spoiled from the humongous locker room at the Central Park South location, but there were barely any open lockers. Missy and I got there early and were able to get lockers, but most of the people in our class had to pile their bags in the classroom. I was surprised to see that there was only one shower stall, since there are constant Core Fusion classes and a small gym where you can work out. After navigating through the other changing people, we discovered that there was no toilet paper. And then we discovered that while there was mouthwash, there were no little cups to put it in. I was disgusted that the hairbrushes were sitting in a communal bin and not in one of those sanitary brush things. Not that it will affect me, curly girls can’t brush their hair! (btw I am loving my curls from doing the curly girl routine)

Our class was taught by Fred and Elisabeth, husband and wife and creators of Core Fusion! They are the people in the DVDs if you’ve seen those. They both have incredible tight bodies and are really just the nicest people. Fred asked everyone to introduce themselves to him and he was very understanding when I told him about my injuries and my need to modify some exercises.

I was surprised to find that there were no mirrors in the room! I don’t mind at all, I just didn’t expect it. It was cool because it meant there was no “front” of the room. We faced different directions at different times depending on where Fred was standing. It is funny when I talk about Fred because for years and years I had a dance instructor named Fred. He also started a company, the dance company I used to go to! All these Freds.

Exhale Gansevoort

At first, Fred sounded just like he does on the video! It was strange! But as class went on he sounded more like a person than like a video voice. The carpeting was really nice. Since it was the first day of the studio, Fred was still trying to figure out where to stand and all. We started with pushups, and luckily girl pushups were allowed. My favorite CF teacher insists on long form pushups only, which I am afraid is bad for my shoulder. After the pushups I expected a long and painful plank, but that did not happen! We picked up our hand weights and did exercises using them for awhile, longer than in most CF classes I have taken. I like that, I always want to do arm weights more.

When we finished the arms and the accompanying stretch, we moved to the barre for thighs. The class was PACKED and we were squished at the bar, but it was totally doable and not bad at all. Thighs burned, as always. Here is my issue with the thigh burning:

– When my thighs are burning during these moves and my legs are shaking uncontrollably, I get frustrated. I can’t get the most out of the move and I have to keep stopping. I feel embarrassed when the instructor sees and more so when I look around the room and no one else is shaking.

– When my thighs are burning and my legs are not shaking, the workout is extremely challenging and painful. I typically don’t stop during it, and I embrace the pain. It sucks, but it goes quickly and before I know it, we are done.

What I have discovered after taking a bunch of CF classes is that it depends on the specific thigh moves the instructor chooses. Because of this, I have stuck to one instructor who I absolutely adore. While her workout is super challenging, I am always able to do the thigh portion without shaking — and feel very sore the next day.

My legs were not shaking in last night’s class. Phew.

But it was very difficult. When we finished thighs and performed the requisite stretch, we moved on to the tush. We began with standing splits, and because I’ve taken this class so much and know my body, I ran to the side of the room where I made sure to notice the yoga blocks were stored. I grabbed two and used those to support myself during this move. I am not at all flexible and cannot touch the floor on my own during this move.

We moved to the barre for a series of challenging butt moves. They were similar to others I have done, but more intense. More reps, more positions, more challenge. After that stretch it was time for abs and core. There was no clock in the room which threw me off at first because I always need to know how much time has passed and how much is left, but I got used to it since the class flew by so quickly.

We sat against the wall under the barre and did the eksusises where we hold out legs in front of us and try to lift them off the floor. I suck at these. I can’t lift at all! Then everyone had to put their legs up and hold them and do stuff in that position, which I can’t do since my legs don’t straighten as a result of having no flexibility. I did what I do in ever CF class — hold a nice long stretch on each leg individually using the band. I always feel left out during this because I am just sitting there while everyone else is doing the exercise. It also upsets me that I am usually the only one in a group of many who can’t do it. Last night there was one guy in the room, and he couldn’t do it either.

Then we moved on to the floor and Fred told us to get into a forearm plank position, but quickly corrected himself and advised us to take our C positions instead. I wasn’t sure what was going on and why there were no planks, but I was NOT complaining! I hate planks and my shoulder hates them too. We then did a long, strenuous ab series in the C position. It was very hard but I am usually able to get through it. Next thing I knew, class was over and we were in savasana. I look forward to this moment in every class. I also look forward to using the band to stretch my leg to each side. It feels so good, it is the best stretch.

I really enjoyed my experience at the new Exhale, especially with Fred and Elisabeth. It was Missy’s first Core Fusion class and she loved it, which made me happy. Tonight we are going back for round 2! We will be sure to get there very early again to secure lockers.

Another thing I like about the new Exhale is their Wellbar selection. These are relatively inexpensive, short mini treatments. The Blemish Banish and Luscious Lip treatments sound great to me, and I would love to try them at some point. I wish my Central Park South location would offer that!

I plan to try my new popchips flavors this week, so stay tuned for my review! I just got the email about the upcoming NYC Restaurant Week, of which I always love to partake! I have been working on a professional website for myself, which has been very exciting. Between work and the website, I’ve been overwhelmingly busy. I basically completed the site though, so I am excited about it. I am just trying to make it through to the long weekend! I want to relax, eat good food (without overdoing it!), enjoy the sun (if it’s out) and attempt another run.

And now I leave you with a picture of Santana passed out on the couch in her dress. It is a very tough life, that of a puppy:

santana dress cutes

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