Days 257-262: Listen Up, You Have The Answer

First off, I apologize for the lack of posts that I have had lately.  If you have ever planned a wedding and decided to build a house at the same time, then you understand!  I just got back from a week-long trip of wedding planning and shower having in Columbus, Ohio and have been really spent.  My body is telling me to slow down before I launch into the six-week before our wedding/work your ass off workout/diet plan.  So, here is my easy breezy last week of sweating.

Day 257:   Saturday was the day of my bridal shower and I was STOKED!  I went down to the trusty hotel gym treadmill and went to town.  I ran four miles in 35 minutes (which is fast for this tortoise).  I quickly went back to the room to prep for the family fun that was about to happen.

Day 258:  Saturday night two of my bridesmaids went to the Counting Crows concert with me in downtown Columbus.  We eventually met up with my cousins and stayed out until 2 a.m.  It made me realize that I am so happy to be growing up and crossing over into the married world/leaving the bar world behind.  Staying out late really took it out of me.  After some sleeping in, my friend Sara and I walked around downtown for 30 minutes before heading back to the hotel.  Next, my Mom and I went out for some retail therapy.  We walked up and down Polaris Mall for an hour.   I am counting these walks as my sweating.  Totally acceptable after showers and concerts 🙂

Day 259:  Monday afternoon I had my final dress fitting and met with the caterer/wedding coordinator to get all of our ducks in a row.  After that, I came home and hit the treadmill for an hour.  I walked/ran and talked on my phone.  I tried to make it as enjoyable as possible since the heat outside was making it next to impossible to run outdoors.

Day 260:  I got home in the late afternoon on Tuesday and setup my home yoga flow station.  It was very much-needed.

Day 261:  Yesterday I went for three different 30-45 minute walks while catching up on emails and work.  I could feel my body telling me to relax and it’s the only thing that sounded okay.

Day 262:  Today is the last day I am giving myself the permission to rest from intense workouts.  Tomorrow the bridal ramp up is on!   If you know of a great workout in Denver that I have not tried, please send it my way and I’ll try it out. So what did I do on my last day of easiness?  I walked again for an hour.  I truly believe that if you learn how to listen to your body, it will give you all the answers that you need.  Craving protein?  Eat eggs.  Need a break?  Take a walk.  Listen, listen, listen.  Your body will thank you and work better than ever.

 

Days 253-256: Home Sweet Home

Day 253: On Wednesday I went back to Bonza Bodies for a quick “kick my butt and make me feel as good as possible before I go to my bridal shower” workout.  Not only were the circuits really intense, but I was paired with the human form of She-Ra, which made me feel like I had to keep up.  In my mind, I was, from the glances I caught in the mirror of us, I was not.  Sometimes I prefer my mind, it’s a nicer place than the mirror 🙂

Day 254: Thursday morning I had to be up at 3:30 to catch my flight back to Ohio.  Once I landed in Columbus I had family picking me up and a schedule packed so tight that I was not sure I’d remember to breathe.  So I decided on a rather strange workout for the day- speed walking through the Chicago Midway airport for an hour during my layover.  With a coffee in one hand, my phone in the other, I dodged hundreds of people while trying my best to look as though I was running late for a flight.  Sometimes ya just have to fit it in where you can…

Day 255:  Yesterday I woke up, grabbed my sneaks and headed down to the hotel gym.  Sidenote: have you ever noticed how big hotel gyms look in pictures?  Then you get there and they are the size of a large bathroom.  Well regardless of size, our hotel has the coolest treadmill I have ever seen.  I took advantage of it by running two quick miles and then planking, pushup’ing and doing situps until it was time to meet our wedding DJ.

Day 256:  My Mom and I had a great plan of going to my old high school and having her walk the track while I ran and did a bleacher workout.  Unfortunately, my old stomping grounds locks the track up now if it’s not being used.  So our quick backup plan was to walk up and down Hard Road for an hour while talking about our old lives here.  It’s amazing what comes up when you’re back home.  Now, onto the bridal shower with lots of awesome family and friends.  #homeiswheretheheartis

Days 250-252: Vipr’s

Day 250:  lululemon athletica in Cherry Creek celebrated their new store opening this Sunday by closing down the streets and hosting an inspiring yoga class led by Billy Potocnik with DJ Roger Martin-Pressman (both awesome instructors from Pura Vida).   I settled myself in next to a woman who practiced with Billy on a regular basis and prepped for a nice easy Sunday flow.  I was so so very wrong.

Nice?  Yes.  Easy?  Far from it.  I am estimating that there were over 100 chaturangas in the 75 minute class, along with crow, side-crow, birds of paradise and something called a “crocodile,” which scared me too much to try on a cement street with new veneers.   Although it was incredibly challenging, I realized it was the most fun class I have ever had outside.  I was able to tune out the sounds of the streets, the comments of my neighbors and the dirt all over my mat in order to get deeper into my practice.

It reminded me a lot of when I wait for things to be perfect before I make a move.  The noises, wind, smells of nearby restaurants and my filthy mat were far from perfect, but it did not keep me from practicing my heart out.  It made me realize that things do not have to be perfect in order for the experience to be great- it’s the experience itself that holds perfection.

Day 251:  Yesterday my friend Sarah and I started the day out with a five-mile walk in Washington Park after a stop at Washington Perk.  I am starting to sound like a broken record.

Onto something new…

After months of relentless coaxing my friend/newest enemy/Bonza Bodies owner, Jamie Atlas, finally convinced me to take one of his classes.  He started off the class by asking me when I was getting married and followed that by a “good, we still have time” comment that made me want to throw my newest workout instrument, the vipr, his way.  Noooo, well kind of.

The class is like a bootcamp on steroids with a little bit of Australian humor sprinkled on top.  We did an hour of circuit work using trx-like bands, viprs (video demo here)  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWuD7D1IdUw, railyards, planks with sliding weights, squats, sandbells, running, more planks and lots of other things that I have partially blocked out of my memory.  I was sweating more than I sweat in a hot yoga class and woke up numerous times last night after rolling onto sore body parts.  In short?  The class was fantastic and I am hooked and hoping that the intensity of the class preps me even more for our wedding in two months- to the day.  #backfatisnotafriend

Day 252:  With an incredibly sore body, I decided on another long walk.  I walked for an hour this morning before it got too hot out and plan on pulling out the TRX a little later in between clients for a quick pick-me-up.

*A note for Ohio readers:  On Thursday I will be back in Columbus for five days and am looking for workout partners.  If anyone is interested, please shoot me an email! 

Days 248 & 249: Sacred i

Day 248:  Yesterday was one of those days when nothing sounded like a fun workout.  Do you ever have those?  If you don’t, then you can’t be human.  I decided to ride my bike to and from work and tag on an extra mile on both ends.  I also cut my break short and walked for 15 minutes.  Lastly, in between cleaning up our apartment, I threw in some jumping jacks, planks and push-ups.  So what was my workout?  I’m still not sure, but I did as much as my lackadaisical workout attitude needed.

This has absolutely nothing to do with my blog,  I just felt that it was my duty as a blogger to share this awkward 20 something awesomeness with the blogosphere. A few days ago I started watching the HBO show Girls and it has changed how I feel about relaxing and watching the toob.  In fact, I am trying to write this post really quickly so that I can squeeze in another episode before walking to work.

Day 249:  A few nights ago I had the honor to meet Diane Sieg, www.dianesieg.com  at a lululemon charity event.  After I startled her with my almost abrasive excited question, “Are you Diane Sieg?” we chatted up a storm about how we both went to Indiana University, love yoga and life coaching because it makes us grow.  She then invited me to join her yoga class at Sacred i http://www.mysacredi.com/index.html  today which primarily boasts “regulars.”  I was so in.  So in that I got there 20 minutes early and tried to keep myself busy by playing with yoga blocks and striking up a conversation with any willing practioner around me.

Diane opened up class asking the question, “do you remember what it felt like to fall in love?”   Heck yes I do, and I am not sure there is a better question in the world to bring me to a happy place.  Here I was, jammed into a small studio with 28 strangers around me and my mind and my heart immediately opened.  Mike…eyes….first kiss…his embrace…two weeks…”I know I love you.” Deep breath.

“Now, that love doesn’t always stay that intense or we would never get anything done.  After awhile that love takes commitment.  As does your practice.  Commit to love your practice on your mat.  Choose something you love about yourself and love it today.”  Today I loved how the second I walked into an unfamiliar studio I felt right at home.  I loved how my body moved without thought and my lungs breathed deep into my memories of my relationship.

After class my yoga partner during inversions asked, “see you next week?” as though our one flow by each other  now meant we are the newest addition to a “regular” Saturday class.   A comment like this usually scares me, but today, I knew that my newest friend was right.  I’d see her next week and hopefully many more to come.  #yogabliss

Days 246 & 247: Memories and Blisters

Day 246:   I am finally feeling back to normal and full of life after the six-day friend bender last week.  Refreshed, I wanted something to truly kick my butt…and Core Power Yoga’s Sculpt class with Tara, truly did just that. The studio boasts a steamy 95 degrees (or somewhere around there) and is a perfect combo of cardio, strength and balance.  She even blared some TOTO “Africa,” which gets me amped like no other.

At one point I glanced at myself in the mirror and realized that I was running through the motions, but that my mind was so far away…in Vail with my 12 favorite friends, celebrating love and friendship.  I’d start randomly smiling and try not to laugh.  I’m sure I looked like the crazy person in the corner.

Freshly made good memories were the best way to get through a painfully hard class.  What helps you get through your hard workouts?  Do you listen to your breath or drift away to a shining memory?

Day 247:  When my clients give me excuses why they do not work out, I make sure to call them on it.  I don’t like excuses one bit….especially mine.  However, today, I had two big ones called “blisters.”  Last weekend my dancin’ shoes really did a number on my feet and they stubbornly do not want to heal.  Regardless, I wanted to get out and run.  I bandaged up my feet, tied up my new sneaks and headed out.  I made it 40 minutes before I had to call it quits.

I guess those good memories from yesterday made a longer lasting impression on my heels. #blistersmeanfunhappened

Days 240-245: Moves Like Jagger

Day 240:  On Thursday my friend Emma from Pennsylvania was in town and we went for an hour-long walk in Washington Park before picking up four more friends at the airport.

Day 241:  Written by friends Stacy Kotorac and Julie Beltz:  

Packing for Betsy’s bachelorette party was a bit like packing for a boot camp taking place during spring break.  I found that the quantity of luon and workout clothes in my suitcase was equal to the quantity of “real clothes” but a girl’s gotta be prepared for whatever the bride-to-be had in store.

Thursday night’s marathon, always-happy-hour at the Ruby Tuesdays near the airport made me think that for a moment maybe, just maybe, Betsy would go for a weekend of full indulgence and count aggressive and enthusiastic eating as a workout.  She proved me wrong at 7 am Friday morning as us East-coasters were stirring from the jet lag and she was confirming our workout for the day.  We went to a class at Core Power yoga which, although not very strenuous, proved to be the perfect medicine to cure whatever altitude/jet lag struggles were underway. After the class we quickly plowed into our weekend! Little did we know that marathon walks, hiking, flips on a trampoline at 10,000 feet, laughing until our abs ached, and some very skilled (sarcasm) dancing would fill the rest of the weekend.  It was the perfect mix to celebrate Betsy!

Day 242:  Written by my best friend, Amber Sevitts:

I hate working out.  I know that, for a lot of people, it’s not the highlight of their day but those people say things like “I feel so good when I’m done” and “I have so much energy”….. not me.  Even on the way out of the gym, I’m just waiting for someone to make my day.

But, there are few things that I wouldn’t do for Betsy so I threw on my favorite TV watching, er, I mean workout pants, skipped the sunscreen (epic fail) and tried to chug water to balance the bottle of wine I drank the night before…. and the bottle of champagne.

This was the plan…. Walk to the gondola, take the gondola up, do a “20 min hike/walk” around at the top and then walk down.  I was looking forward to doing a nice tuck and roll down the mountain.

Here is what really happened:  We walked an hour to the gondola (I think this actually should have qualified as a workout but….), we did ride it up (although even sitting there got me winded… blame it on the altitude) and then we hiked at the top.  It wasn’t very far (maybe a mile round trip) but it was steep and the gaggle of gals I was with weighed in at about 500 pounds cumulatively and were all in great shape.  I mostly walked by myself so everyone couldn’t hear me hyperventilating and only stopped when there was so much dust blowing at me that I thought I was having an asthma attack (sidenote: I don’t have asthma).

After that Betsy did some serious trampoline jumping with a backflip or two included and, judging by her breathing, that was more of a workout than the hike.  I’d just eaten $21 worth of concessions food so I opted out of the trampoline for obvious reasons.

And, although not part of the official workout for the day, Betsy and I danced like we legit had the moves like Jagger for most of the night.  I know this because that is what I texted to my boyfriend at least 3 times that night.  He also got a picture of an elephant.  No pictures of that workout are allowed to be posted though.

Overall, I was definitely sweating and didn’t smell great so it counts as a successful workout!

Day 243:  After we all proved that we had moves like Jagger, surprisingly, I was not feeling too hot.  Seven of the thirteen girls left that day and the remaining six went to Washington Park for another hour-long stroll.

Day 244: Yesterday I squeezed in a quick 30 minute run after I dropped off my last few friends at the airport.  It took every ounce of energy in me to complete after the best (and the most inappropriate) weekend of my adult life.

Day 245: With my body still on the mend from dancing for two days straight with three-inch heels on, I decided to take it easy and do a home yoga flow.  Perhaps I’ll be healed by tomorrow.

Days 237-239: Single Sweats

Day 237:  On Monday afternoon Michael and I went to the Denver Athletic Club for a 90 minute sweat sesh.  Mike started with free weights and eventually retreated to the pool and I tackled the treadmill ended up with some weights.  For the first time in four years I did some squats with a barbel and weights.  Can you tell this type of working out has become foreign to me lately?   I think I even let out a loud grunt at one point.  It felt awesome to become acquainted with the weight room after many-a-years away.

Day 238:  Yesterday I went to Core Power Yoga for a sculpt class at 7:15 a.m. for an hour of toning, cardio and yoga.

Day 239:  Today marked the beginning of my bachelorette party weekend.  My first friend, Emma, came to town bright and early.  Unfortunately, with the tornado warnings and hail the size of my cat we have glued our butts to the couch for the rest of the night.  However, I did manage to get in an hour of lifting and 30 minutes of cardio at the DAC this morning.

Next up?  Four gal pals come in tomorrow, followed by eight more on Friday.  I am hoping that my friends will take over the blog writing for the weekend and fill you in on all the sweating that will be going on in Vail.  WHOO HOO!!!!!

Days 233-236: Calf Muscles: Signed, Sealed, Delivered

Day 233:  It’s becoming apparent to me that I need some help with time management.  Lately, I feel stressed all the time due to lack of hours in the day.  I am guessing that 99.9% of the world can relate to this.  I would love to hear any time management suggestions and how you fit in your workouts on those days.

On Thursday, the only workout that I felt I had time for was to ride my bike to and from work.  Round trip it takes me 40 minutes, which feels like a nice workout for a normal day, but since I have tried to ramp up my workouts lately, I felt as though that was a bit of a slackjob.

Day 234:  On Friday morning I woke up at 6 a.m. to fit in a TRX workout in my family room/dining room/kitchen.  If you’re wondering why there are so many slashes, then I invite you to come check out our 550 sq ft two bedroom apartment!  I hit walls, couches, tables and cabinets with every TRX workout I complete.  Have I mentioned how excited I am for our soon-to-be house to be built?

Day 235:  Yesterday I helped out at the Great West Insurance tent at the American Heart Association Walk and gave away some on the spot coaching tips. It was an awesome event filled with people so full of life.  At one point, I even got to coach Peyton Manning!  Well not really, but I did see him from ten feet away (see picture above).  Same thing, right?   After six hours there I went to work at lululemon for the next seven hours and used my bike as my form of transportation to help me squeeze in a workout on this packed day.  I also spent 30 minutes wandering downtown at 6 a.m. for a cup of Joe, can I add this in as a workout?  Seriously…

Day 235:   I just got back from the Denver Athletic Club and my body is so happy with the workout I was able to complete.  I have not run in quite some time, so I figured I should try out the ol’ IT band on the treadmill before heading outdoors.  The treadmills at this gym are actually touching mirrors.  Have you ever run while staring at yourself for the whole time?  I’m not sure I have.  It’s  an eye-opening experience.  Try it out, I bet you’ll be more impressed with your body than you think.

As I was pounding away at the hamster wheel I thought back to five years ago when a rather mean ex-boyfriend told me that my calves had “zero definition or muscle.”  Three days after that comment, I threw half of a Subway sandwich at him and asked him never to contact me again.  All rational people have their irrational moments- that might have been mine, but his meanness deserved a little chicken teriyaki to the head!

Fast forward five years, add in some experience with a good man, 236 consecutive days of working out and  a running mirror at the DAC and what do you get?  A Betsy with a sense of body pride that has never been felt before.   I saw muscles that I never knew existed in my legs and there was even a rather large muscle bulge protruding from my calf.   There have been many things that I have been proud of throughout this challenge, but seeing the results in my body has become my favorite part.  I was tempted to ask the man behind me to take a picture of me running on the mill, but I thought he might try to get me kicked out.  I did promise some readers that I would post some more body pictures along the way and I will get there…I still promise.

After my three-mile run I spent 30 minutes on the elliptical, followed by an hour of weight lifting and arm work.  Don’t you just love taking your time at the gym?  What a luxurious day to finish out a busy week.