Step One: Admitting You Have the Problem

So, I’ve become quite a TV workout junkie. First it was New York City Ballet. Then Namaste Yoga. Now it’s All Star Workouts. My DVR is busting at the seams with enthusiastic instructors and workouts that don’t involve running, cycling or swimming. The other parts of my body love it.

And I’m totally sore today.

I used to laugh when I saw commercials for All Star Workouts as I fastforwarded through the breaks in Namaste Yoga. The set is chock full of bright colors and people looking like they’re having way too much fun. But as I was searching for Namaste last week, I found an All Star episode for yoga. And then another one for ballet. And one with Masala Bhangra.

Granted, neither the yoga nor ballet episodes were true to those disciplines’ forms (I don’t know enough about Masala Bhangra, but it was a fun time), but the workouts themselves were butt-kickers. In fact, the ballet episode incorporated weights and bands for a super ballet experience. My triceps and upper back can attest to that.

The episodes are pretty cheesy, and I’m surprised I’m admitted my new thang to anyone but myself (I sneak in my All Star workouts before Neil gets home… but I guess he’ll know now), but you have to give props when cheesy works. Either that or I'm really tired right now.

Well, I needed to even out my upper- and lower-body soreness, so I headed to the rec. center today for a spinning class and a ride on the elliptical. Both have worked well for my left leg, which just hasn’t felt fantastic lately (not worse, just achy from time to time). It’s high cardio impact, but low pressure impact on my legs. Besides, it’s the off season: I finally have time to heal. And learn to ride a bike.

But all this All-Starring and spinning and ellipticaling has wiped me out. I spent most of the day doing freelance work at Susan's (making pretty things in Flash) in Kent while my car was getting fixed at Fred's Automotive next door. And as I sat cradling my pot of white peony tea away from my computer, I swear, I almost nodded off at least twice. So, I think I'll go nod off in a more appropriate place. Like this too, too comfy couch I'm.... zzzzz....

Spinning, Eating and Resting

Here’s to everyone who extols the virtues of spinning: last week I took to the cycle and spun my way through a low-intensity class and surprisingly no soreness, but a little fatigue in my legs. I can definitely see how spinning warms and strengthens your muscles for cycling, even if I don’t know how it feels to ride a really great bike. Yet.

The instructor at the rec. center led us with oldies, and as I only almost wiped out 3-4 times, I was still able to lip-synch to “Build Me Up, Buttercup.” What a good song. It’s funny, though: I absolutely pushed myself much harder than I should have. But pump up “Beat it!” or “YMCA” and I’ll pedal my heart out.

One of the only downsides (except for offending my sundry left-leg issues) was that my legs felt like jell-o as I wiggled my way up to the third floor for my 12:30 class. Spinning ended at noon. As I sat through the 1.5 hours of class, I tried to kick my legs around and keep them warm. I imagined myself getting up at the end of class and my legs just collapsing beneath me. I would think that.

My legs weren’t sore at all and they never hurt, but they just felt tired and energyless from Wednesday through Saturday. In fact, I hit the road on Thursday morning for an outdoor run and five minutes into it I had left-leg pain. I stopped running immediately and walked four miles. Walking felt fine and I didn’t feel any residual pain in the days that followed. But I did feed myself some ibuprofen to ward off the swelling demons.

For the remainder of the week I stuck to low-impact exercises, including yoga, weights and eating. In lieu of the challenge of Turkey Trot, I cooked my first Thanksgiving dinner this year. And the days leading up to it were filled with recipe-testing and ingredient-snacking. It can get tiring. Lugging around the extra 50 pounds of pies, cakes and fondue I packed on this week should be tiring as well.

So, it’s only fair that I give this installment the Iron G Chef treatment. Thanksgiving 2007 at the G household included:

• Mussel-and-spinach bisque
• Curry-roasted butternut squash and chick peas with cilantro-spiked yogurt sauce
• Mashed potatoes with horseradish cream
• Indian-spiced turkey breast
• Cranberry sauce with spiced pumpkin seeds
• Sweet potato tart with white chocolate ganache
• Chai-spiced caramel fondue
• Boston crème pie

My favorite was the Boston crème pie, which Daniella made and which I ate all weekend long. She also cleaned much of my post-dinner apartment when I passed out from cook’s exhaustion. Thanks, girl!

Now a new week begins. I have to slow myself back into some regiment, which should really include more swimming and less excuse-making about it being too cold to go swimming (it’s only getting worse). But at least I have spinning on my list now.