Columbus

Chariots of Fire

2010-01-04T19:52:00.013-05:00

As I progress through camp, it just seems to get better and better. I love Adventure Boot Camp for so many reasons. I need the structure and accountability, and I need the expertise and discipline I receive from it. But more than anything, I need the inspiration it infuses in my spirit. Today was no different.

Though we worked on various balance & cardio exercises, the toughest of all the circuits and exercises at Camp for me, the highlight was definitely the chariot run. It forced us to go full speed and work mighty. It was the most intense aerobic activity to date that we've done indoors. It cranked up the heart rate and got our blood pumping. No time to be fat in this camp!

I worked full throttle as my partner "Sweet Buttercup" and I competed against the other teams. It reminded me of those "Rocky" movies when he goes into the elements to train amongst nature. Such an inspiring movie! The best part for us was that we we had like minded fellow campers trying to push themselves at full throttle, too. The energy was infectious. The inspiration was overflowing.

Being in the midst of this camaraderie, loyalty, friendly competition, and high spirits, it made me realize that inspiration can move mountains. Inspiration can change lives. So even when you think you can't take another step, inspiration will give you the power to keep stepping.

The camp was robust with the cheering and excitement of taking on this challenge. In a sense we were all chariots ablazed with fire.

In the movie, "Chariots of Fire", there were two protagonist runners who competed in the 1926 Olympics. One was running for the glory of God. The other one was running for the elimination of prejudice. They ran not so much for the sake of running but to prove something to the world.

We may all have our own reasons for "running", but surely one of those reasons is to prove something to ourselves. We are here to prove we can be whatever we choose to be, and accomplish whatever our burning desires drive within us.

We may run as a group, we may run in solitude. But there is much going on beneath the surface within us that incites the passion of the human spirit. This intangible continues to propel us even when our spirits meet the darkness and we think we are out of hope. We are not.

And so, with all of us working as mighty as we could running the chariot runs, we were surrounded by the infectious energy of our friends. The Star, Little Rocket, Amazing Grace, Sweet Buttercup, Mighty M, Sleek&Chic, Blazing B, and many others propelling each other to keep aspiring towards our goals of being the persons we want to be....the persons we deserve to be.

When I pull back the layers of an activity like our chariot runs and contemplate the significance of such an innocent act, the depth of its persuasion is monumental. We need only to let it fill our spirits. It is "Inspiration" moving us.

The chariot runs in Adventure Boot Camp set my heart on fire! I looked around, and if ever I thought I couldn't go another step, I was reminded of the truth running all around me. Just one more example of how powerful Adventure Boot Camp is, even outside of the realm of exercise. Every day there is a new lesson to be learned, or one that needs to be revisited.

If there is one thing I have learned from my trainer, coach, my fitness comrades and supporters at Adventure, it is that all of this is a mind/body experience. And Adventure Boot Camp is very much a minuscule of the World we live in.

Ohhh! Let us celebrate every day at Adventure BC, comrades, and realize the possibilities! It is truly ours for the taking! It is "Our Adventure, Our Body, our Life"!

This is the pinK tiger........

......for the love of Adventure Boot Camp.....for the love of life.....for the fire it inspires in all of us.

Where's the Beef?

2010-01-04T16:41:00.013-05:00

I must say, Brian was wired for rare form when he constructed our workouts for the week. "Mind Blowing"! And always "Body Blowing"!Its just a matter of time before he transforms me from a cute pot of beefaroni into a heavenly cup of tenderoni! Sweet!

After our grueling workouts last week and "Brian's Designer Death Camp" yesterday, I just knew we had hit the hump and now we could settle in for some smooth sailing at least for the rest of the week. Although every single Adventure Camp class titillates and challenges our mindsets and physical stamina, I was looking forward to experiencing that sweet spot.....the "Ahhh" moment when I could delight in conquering the learning curve, and feel masterful over my exercise.

Not! No time to rest on our laurels! Its always the time to push on, and its later than you think.

Never underestimate The Brian coach when he decides to tweak the program for the phenomenal finale! And baby, our Brian did not disappoint!

This day consisted of Plyometrics. It was Double Duty Heavy Steel "Hard"! This was an all body workout using nothing but our own body weight for resistance. Sounds simple enough, unless you got some serious weight to heft.Its simple math folks. The more weight you got, the more resistance you gotta heft! And Brian's little trick bag full of contorted positions laid it out with utter royalty. This day had to be the "Queen Mary" of all camps!

One of my favorites was the tricep dip performed from the floor. It was a killer, as we all grunted and groaned in unison, including moi! I know Brian served that one up just for me as my Christmas present! ;) He's gonna make sure I get my Michelle Obama arms yet.

Other tasty morsels Brian served up for our upper body included a variety party bag of push-ups. (Yeah, its always a party at Adventure!)

One type required us lifting each leg in the air alternately while performing it. Oh my God! That's like rubbing my tummy and patting my head, navigating strength and balance simultaneously.

This little turkish delight has got to win the best multi-tasking exercise of the year! As I see it, I'm strengthening my chest muscles, firming my glutes, and playing Princess Balance all at the same time! What a little gem. I sure hope this will get better with time and practice, what do you think, comrades?! Oiy!

The other pushup involved rotating the hand positions. I do enjoy this exercise because I don't have time to think how brutal this could be if I was on my toes instead of my knees. Still, its working all the chest muscles and is so divinely perfect for enhancing an uplifted feminine torso. I'm game for that. ;)

Killer Mode really took hold when we worked our lower body. Gotta say, Brian pressed the button on the intensity as he incorporated butt-kicking moves like the one legged squats, one legged deadlifts, pulsing bridges, lunges, and my very favorite like the "King of Pop", the Deep Squat a la Brian! Whooh! What a repertoire for one day!

All of these are killer, but the deep squats got my vote. Listen to this: We performed 5 deep squats and then held for 5 seconds. Then.....Repeat! Repeat! Repeat! My thighs were screaming at me. They also had a few words for our fav trainer if you know what I mean. ;)

Yowzy! I was cryin' "Mama Mia" before it was all over! Another little death camp back to back. ;)

Brian rounded out our program today by using some exercise "toys". We got to do staggered push-ups on a step, side hurdles and ladder agilities, and then the very Best of Show were the exercise bands.

Oh, baby! We were working our legs and glutes real tough with those bands. Red bands, blue bands, black bands, they were putting a fire on our buns! That night I saw them flashing before my eyes, coming for the "fat attack"!

I can only imagine that with such glorious pain and torture, we all will earn those prized killer quads similar to the ones the Velvet Hammer sports! That will be the 1st prize! Go Velvet! ;)

And the 2nd prize will guarantee nearly full extermination of all saddle bags, droopy booties, and jiggly around the knees. Hey hey! Bring it on, Sir Brian!

Today was simply an incredible workout. It was so challenging, I had to whisper to our coach, "You are kickin' our ass today! Do you know that?"

"You think so?", Brian smiled with a twinkle in his eye and the innocence of an angel. Well with a face like that, I could have put wings on him. :) Even if my muscles are scorching mad at him, gotta love this angel. Hee-hee!

So did I really think his workout was all that? Oh yeah! I did, and so did my comrades around me. We all agreed this was one of our coach's finest surprises. Who would have ever thought that this camp of plyometrics was a workout for Ironman!

"This is hard", I heard one camper sigh under her breath. Indeed it was!

Yet, could we really expect anything less? This was just another average, creative, incredible day at Adventure Boot Camp conjured up by that mysterious mischievous angel!

With the way that angel has been hacking the machete at our storage sites, I will soon be looking at myself in the mirror and asking, "Where's the Beef?!" ;)

And baby, for that day, I can't wait!

The pinK tiger.......

....gettin' lean & mean!

Death Camp by Brian

2009-12-20T17:52:00.009-05:00

It was another day at Adventure, but little did I know this morning I would be blitzed by a near death experience I've never known before. For the first time ever, I would be walking through the doors of a Death Camp fashioned by our "Top Gun", Brian. ;)

Yes! Did you hear what I said? A fitness Death Camp that was like "death by design!" This was a cardio/ ab workout day. How can one fitness director be so colorful and creative in his torture drills? Oh my, he really can! (lol) ;) Just listen! :)

We started with drills on the ladder and cones. This was suppose to be a warm-up, but it was a full-blown workout for me this morning. He kept us hopping, and there was no time for loitering or strolling between sets! We were moving at a speedy enough clip that I could hardly catch my breath. This was interval training at its best. Somehow, it seems like the intervals are a little longer these days. What do you think?!

Giddy-up! Yep, I found myself working at full power to keep up. I guess I was still trying to catch up from being torched by Brian's "All-American Tough Love" workouts last week! Yeah! My resiliency for recovery likes to take its sweet time, so I was waiting for my body to catch up with my mind and spirit! (lol)

Yet, even though Brian bombed us with some very mighty workouts through the week, the "Velvet Hammer" came along on Friday and inspired herself to put the final touches on these masterful workouts. Umm, like whip cream on top of the sundae? Like I said in my prior blog, I thought I saw a vampire, and she squeezed a little more blood out of that turnip! :)

By Saturday, she simply couldn't resist sweetening the deal with just a little more hard core fantasia! There came the cherry and nuts to finish the deal. Wow! :) What a team player, huh?! (lol)

By last Saturday, I felt like an exhausted duck ready to hobble back to my nest.

So today, I could only wonder, "Brian, where's the love?" (lol)

"Show us some love!" He wasn't gonna hear any of that silly stuff! It was "tough love" for today, baby! (lol) And he held his ground!

I had to assume.........we were ready to turn the corner on this last month of Transformation, and he knew we were contending with all the temptations of the holidays. Of course he's gonna ramp it up! All for our own good! ;)

Aw, Brian you are so special! :)

So "Death by Brian" was imposed and strictly enforced for our benefit. When you have the propensity to gain weight, it doesn't take much. So the best way to handle this is to "start depositing money in the bank early, so when you need to make a few unexpected withdrawals, you aren't gonna go bankrupt".

Of course I am talking about pre-burning future calories so we never have to face a gain of more than 2-5 lbs at any point in time, even when we eat more than we should on a holiday or at a party. Its called planning for success. And this is what our lead trainer was helping us do for ourselves.

However, our trainer has told us in more than one email, sometimes we are winning if we can just sustain. Hold ground for a minute, then continue forward on our journey. This is not defeat. This is winning long-term.

Why is it so imperative to adopt such an attitude? Because many people can lose weight with the excitement of outside stimuli, rewards,when things are new, and the compliments and attention of many embellish us. But one day that will end. As people get used to seeing you at your new weight, it will no longer draw the attention and excitement as it does in the beginning.

Then it will be day by day monotony, and maintaining will come from the rewards of fitness, internal affirmations, and personal self-esteem. It will come from the habits we have developed for a long term healthful lifestyle. You ain't gonna keep that fantastic figure without being able to pace yourself and maintain reasonable expectations.

Maybe this is the time of year where for sure, we can continue to lose weight and inches, and make strides , but maintaining is not a failure either. We got to look long term. This is a process, not a quick fix race. Fitness and healthiness is a life long endeavor. Sometimes we can miss the forest for the trees.

So Brian ramped it up to give us that little extra winning edge! He gave us a chance to deposit a few extra bucks in the bank to protect us for the future. He is teaching us what we need to do around holidays to avoid our pitfalls. God bless that Brian! A death camp to die for. :) Heh-heh!

As for me? I think "Death by Chocolate" sounds like a better idea! (lol) What you think?!

Enough about the chocolate! Let's get back to business. After our little "warm-up", we started on our ab work. One of our ab exercises included planks....regular and plank twists. I have found my abs getting stronger and looking toner with the fantastic ab work we do. It is a process that has required time and much patience, but more than anything else, it requires faith. Trust the process! Now my abs are beginning to wake up and whisper to me.

Other ab work we did consisted of chop squats, penguins, ab rotations with the weights, and some exercise band work. One of these was the side torso, and we also did crunches with our partners holding the bands taut above our heads. This was a new one, and it was incredible. Trying to get my shoulders up from the floor was a feat!

However, the parts that took me to the gas chamber were his aerobic choices. Oh baby, The Brian did not leave anything out today that had the capacity to kill! :) We did variations of speed skater, wall taps, and jump squats. There was spit hops, step ups on the blocks, jumping over the orange cones, and running between cones, and even side line hops over the cones! We were also blazed with some mountain climbers to really get the metabolism blowin'!

To make sure there was certain death, we campers were presented with a treat of knee highs alternating with speed squats. The minutes felt like hours as I tried to stay alive going full throttle. I don't remember how many alternating cycles we did, but they were blastin' the fat! Brian took me to my threshold!

His workout was so noteworthy, that some of the campers wailed, others mumbled, some whimpered and groaned, and still more laughed as they tried to pick up their crumpled, dying selves from the floor! Heh-heh! What a sight to see! Most of us were all in this together, struggling to survive this work camp!

I laughed and teased some of my comrades to work a little harder to get there! "Come on, Amazing Grace, move it on out!"

"Hey, "Sweet Little Buttercup", step it up!"

Yes, the spirits were high and we all were elevating ourselves to meet the standards and expectations of our trainer. It seems we really can do more than we think we can.

Our trainers and coaches are our motivating forces of nature in our fitness world. Even more, they are like our angels, reminding us to be mindful of our choices and encouraging us to do what we know we are suppose to do.

I know I was uttering to myself that this was a death camp that was unmatched! But then "Sweet Little Buttercup" passed me going to one of the exercises, and then I heard it:

"Uhhh, (sigh) this is a death camp", she proclaimed incredibly as she curled and crumpled her mouth in disbelief, before rolling her eyes and breaking into a chuckle!"

"You got that right," I laughed!

Ha! I knew I couldn't be imagining this all myself! That was too rare and hilarious! Whether she had heard me talking to myself or she came up with it herself, for certain, I was not the only one that knew in my heart of hearts, this was "Death Camp by Brian" and he held us prisoners for one hour with no escape hatch. (lol)

Yup. Probably the best and healthiest imprisonment I've ever had!

And what can we all learn from our experience with our lead trainer? Get ready for more! As we enter into the last week of Transformation Contest, our loyal coach is gonna turn up the heat! The fire is gonna be a'blazin! :)

Be prepared for more exciting adventures in Death Valley led by our commander in chief and his fitness team!

the pinK tiger..........

.....looking forward to more "sudden death" experiences in "Death Valley"............:)

Pulsing Ourselves Into Glam Babes!

2009-12-20T14:04:00.010-05:00

I always look forward to Brian's "All Body" workouts, because they rock! And today was no different. It simply exhilarated all my body and senses.

Kicking off the intensity blitz was everyone's favorite walkout pushups. For me, this is a killer for the shoulders when I have to navigate my clumsiness and extra body weight in this awkward position. I'm always hearing a lot of groaning when Brian includes this in his repertoire! I am probably at the head of the class. :)

Some other pleasures that were included for the upper body were bicep curls, military presses, triceps, and planks. We did a variety of planks, one of my favorite being the spider planks.

We included some bicycle crunches for a little zip. And on one of the circuits we did lateral raises with the exercise bands.

Look at the muscle groups we hit today! Awesome! I always marvel at the well-rounded components of any camp that Brian constructs. At Adventure, under our "construction manager's" tutelage, we are learning to rebuild and construct our bodies, brick by brick, into our own personal masterpieces. Watch it now! We all are gonna become glam babe magnets! ;)

We also did some multi-function movements, like the dumb bell lunge rotations that worked both the abs and legs. I especially like this exercise because it gives my abs a great workout when I focus on my stomach muscles and not let momentum do the work.

Its also fabulous because it is a 2 for 1, and lunges have historically been challenging for me. In the past with other trainers, I always injured my quads or hamstrings that took over a year to heal when I did multi-body exercises. Attaining the ability to do this without injury is definitely a winning feat for me.

This is just another reason for me to acknowledge how much stronger and fitter I am becoming from Adventure! This camp is simply "the place to be" for women who want to adopt the lifestyle of fitness, and reap the results from doing the work. All the work!

Now, as good as the upper body workouts are, they can't compare to the brutality of the lower body combinations, especially when many of the leg exercises are comprised of an aerobic component as well.

And for a Monday morning workout..........Ohhhh, what were you thinking, Brian?! O-M-G! LoL! ;)

I notice he never pussyfoots around on Mondays, but I wouldn't be mad at him if he did. It takes me a little longer to start up my engines than some of these younger puppies playfully frisking about! ;) (LoL) I need "ease-in" time, baby! Oh, Lordy! It ain't easy getting older! (lol) Whew!

Well, Brian did not spare us any slack, but I was up for the challenge. He may often come into the camp with a warm smile and friendly greeting, but I never mistake his personal charm with a charming workout! His workouts are never charming; they are unequivocal monsters!! His charm just makes them more palatable.

How can such an engaging person create such monster workouts, I ask myself?! Heh-Heh! This is the mystery and dichotomy of Brian Schiff! The man doesn't play when he he's out to accomplish a goal. Beware of this master in disguise! :) He will literally work your butt off in the studio. I can testify for that! :) Yup, the inches are melting off, one by one.

'Course, I know all you other fellow campers working with Brian's other team trainers are feelin' me too. The activity plan comes from our "Main Man" so we all get the same crucifying treatment, but I can't testify for anyone else's charm factor. I have had the delight of working with the Velvet Hammer. She likes to come in with her sledgehammer and break bodies with one clean swipe! Yikes! Hee-hee!

Ahhh.....that "Velvet" is no fuzzy, wuzzy!

'Nuff said. With the lower body exercises, we did everything from wall sits, wall runs, side squat raises, and burpees with jumping jacks. Ouch! Those burpees are a blood bath! They are the authentic boot camp warfare, military style! What do you think?!

What else did our trainer beckon our bodies with? How 'bout squat jumps, one-legged squat jumps, single squat raises,and one-legged wall sits for those who really want something to cry about?!

Oh "Mary, Mother of God", the class was dying' with those one legged wall sits! "Star", attempted to do one of them with a crossed leg because she likes to challenge herself. However, Brian pointed towards some of the fit elitists, and he admitted the tougher version entails holding a leg straight out and maintaining the position.

What!! Are you kidding???! (lol) My legs are getting bombed just holding the position deep and low!

This one-legged stuff really ups the ante! We did lots of that today. It is something I am coming to gleefully anticipate because as tough as they are, they are so awesome for balance and working all your muscles, especially the stabilizing muscles. I have observed that 95% of us need help with rounding our total fitness with better balance. Me included.

And of course, there is never a workout that doesn't include our coach's all favorite "pulsing".

I looked over to Amazing Grace and whispered, "Brian really gets in to that pulsing action, doesn't he?"

"Oh, yes......he LOVES to watch us pulse", she laughed.

Ahhhhhh.........its all about the pulsing! Pulsing squats, pulsing lunges, pulsing triceps, pulsing biceps, and even pulsing wall sits! Imagine that! LoL! They dance in my nightmares at night! (lol)

Folks, its all in the pulsing as Brian offers no mercy in tearing down the old and building the new. Soon, we are all gonna pulse ourselves into being glam-babes! ;) Just sit back and enjoy the burn, as he chisels us with his torch!

We were all blabbering with those pulsing wall sits. Hope we will be alive long enough to enjoy our chiseled figures! :)

Finally, as the workout came to an end, I had a chance to talk with a couple of my buddies and check in on what some of us are doing outside of boot camp.

A few of us are doing an extra boot camp on Saturdays to give us a little edge. I try to do this once or twice a month. And it will kick butt when you do 6 days a week!

Others seem to be doing a good bit of running on their own time outside of class. "Star" is one of them racking up miles almost daily, yet admits its much harder in the cold. She has advised it requires being more prepared!

The "Little Rocket" has stated that she has taken it inside on the treadmill. She's one of the BiG Dogs and training for races is a familiar activity for her. She will do several short runs encompassing 5 miles or less, and one day a week will do an 8-10 mile run.

Some profess they are going as much as 5 -8 miles a day. Wow-wee! That's a hefty schedule for beginners and whether beginner or advanced, you deserve many accolades for having the stamina, dedication, and resilience to muster such a consistent schedule!

I, too, have been doing a little running, but must admit the cold weather does not entice me to do something that I am still finding my way to love......especially when it is cold, wet, dark, and dreary. I think when my breathing problems resolve themselves and I can let go of my anxieties, it will be a new day for me and my running. I often work on the elliptical trainer for my extra cardio time.

However, I find this running phenomenon utterly fascinating and perplexing, because I have been to many exercise groups and classes and never have I seen so many new people decide they want to take up running. Perhaps its the magic of exercise and the group camaraderie at Adventure that drives us to a new level!

That's all for today folks! Thanks for kickin' it with the pinK tiger. We got a new day comin' tomorrow, so keep the energy torched!

the pinK tiger

I Think I Saw a Vampire

2009-12-15T22:46:00.012-05:00

Good Morning World!

Wow! Brian left us something to remember him by, when he designed today's workout. He created a routine that included the shoulders, legs, abs, and cardio. My shoulders were still cryin' from Tues, and my abs, hips, and legs were moaning from Wed. My legs felt like they had worked out every day this week with 50 lb. weights. I was really tired. It took all my discipline to come in today, and I fell asleep twice on the snooze button.

But as always, unless I have no way to get to camp, I am compelled to come and fulfill my promise to myself, and maintain accountability to Adventure. I can't stand it when I miss my boot camp.

Now today's workout was even deeper. Brian decided to floor it! Naturally Brian's partner in crime, the Velvet Hammer, was put in charge to decimate our enemy Mr. Fats. This was gonna be an outright war, folks! Something about her told me she was out for blood.

I knew I was in trouble as soon as I walked through the door. Her eyes were shiny and gleaming; she looked like she was a cat that just finished gulping a mouse for dinner when she caught my glance. :)

She appeared to be such a sweet little thing! Yet I saw something deep in her eyes that warned me that this human/ creature was craving blood as her eyes danced with mischief! Yikes! What the heck have I got myself in to??

I had to rub my eyes several times as I imagined fangs growing from the sides of her mouth as she smiled and tossed her head back, laughing. Huh?! In fact, I think I saw a vampire peering at me from behind those bright black eyes!

It was! It was! It was a vampire I saw hiding under her golden blonde hair and fair skin. I swear!

At that moment, I decided I better get a move on before she sank her fangs in me and got a taste for my blood! ;) As far as I could tell, the Velvet Hammer was going to suck a little blood from all of us before it was all over.

We started off on the ladder as a warm-up and then did circuits that included lots of intense work, including some deadlifts and cardio.

Some of the things we did for our shoulders included the shoulder push up, reverse lunges with shoulder raises, and doing the exercise bands to work the trapeze muscles in the shoulders.

The shoulder push up is always a goodie, and most of the time you're gonna hear a lot of huffing and puffing, groaning and mumbling cause they are so tough! Our routine was strenuous, and highly effective.

But you know what, warriors? Actually I am thrilled. I have begun to notice in the mirror that my deltoids are beginning to rock! Ever so slightly, they are shaping into some really nice mounded curves. My transformation is beginning to take form. Wow-wee!

For the abs, there was no reprieve! We did spider planks, penguins, russian twists, chops, ab crossovers, and a pose typically used in yoga. We also had the opportunity to choose our ab exercises at least a few times. I usually like to do the bicycle crunches best, or some form of the plank.

This had tremendous variety, and I felt all my muscles working to failure. Think about how svelte we are gonna get! Look at that repertoire! What a premier ab routine!

This is another area in which I am beginning to see some changes. I still have a layer of padding to burn off, but my upper abs are getting toner, and I notice this when I get dressed in the morning. Whoo-hoo! When I take off another 15 lbs, I am gonna have some glam-abs and feel like a rockstar!

Then of course, there was a generous amount of cardio that required us to work our legs. And work we did! This was when I really believed our vampire was circulating the floor for blood! We did everything from wall taps, to squat jumps, knee highs, and wall runs. We did lunges that nearly killed me. I focused on every muscle group, making each rep count. The best in the batch was the squat sits. I even held a weight to make it that much better, and it was lethal!

As a last encore, the Velvet Hammer treated us to a "quad burnout". You know she loves those treats!! Yep, and this was serious, folks. We did each of the exercises in this group on one leg. Awesome for balance, but extraordinary for taxing the muscles that had to stabilize our weight.

Both my quads and glutes were blowing up after our sergeant buried us with that one. But I would give a million dollars for a set of quads like the Velvet Hammer! ;)

This workout had me psyched. The Velvet Hammer didn't disappoint. It was an extraordinary workout, and the combination cardio and leg sets were the bomb! They set my muscles on fire!

Finally near the end of our camp, I shook myself out of my vivid daydream, rubbed my eyes again, and realized that I was physically intact. I had not transformed in a walking zombie. No blood could be found at the camp. Wow! Everyone else appeared normal too.

As much as I anticipated the Hammer's fangs to pierce my skin and draw blood, I later realized it was simply a figment of my dazzling imagination.

When I woke up from my daydream, it was just our hard core drill sergeant deadpanning with glee. No fangs! I guess she really was not that vampire creature out to collect blood. Whew! Thank Goodness!

Still, the Velvet Hammer did squeeze the blood from our workouts........fangs or no fangs! Gonna have to watch her folks.

After getting such a premium workout, I was psyched enough to run 1.5 miles after class on Friday. Little by little, I am trying to increase my distance and stamina. And I am succeeding.

Tomorrow is Saturday. I missed our Monday workout, so I owe myself one. I guess I will come in tomorrow for more blood curdling action via the Velvet Hammer! Hope you'll be there! Nothing like getting "Hammered" on the weekend! ;)

the pinK tiger..........

.....gonna get "velvet" hammered..........

p.s. And I did! I was "velvet hammered". She tanked me! (L0L)

Deciphering the Silver Lining in Our Journey

2009-12-15T20:28:00.013-05:00

Hello Friends!

Did you survive our best friend, Dirty Harry yesterday? Heh-heh! He came in with an encore, didn't he?! Ole' Mr. Fats didn't have a chance against our champion lawman on his quest to obliterate the bloat! Heh-heh! Sure glad I'm on his team.

We are approaching the end of our 2nd week, though it seems like we just started this month. I guess time flies when you're having fun and beginning to see your own transformation take shape, however slightly or dramatically.

Today was the last workout with The Brian until next week. We are going to lose him for tomorrow because of a convention he needs to attend in Las Vegas. As much as I miss Brian on those rare occasions he is gone, I think its absolutely fabulous that he is going to learn more up to date stuff regarding physical therapy & fitness that all of us will benefit from. It is vital that a leader in fitness and physical body training maintain continuing education to stay current and thrive on the cutting edge. And besides, there is nothing better than a smart coach!

I must say I was still extremely sore and tired from yesterday's workout! It was a monster, but I worked it as hard and intense as I could. Brian has mentioned in some of his emails and blogs the importance of recovery and knowing your body's threshold. I believe I am working up to that edge, but not getting stupid about it. Sometimes we can be addictive about exercise and not know when to back off. That's when injuries, feeling burned out, and even feeling a little melancholy can begin to surface.

However, I am delighted to realize some of the results from my hard work. My legs are one of my weakest body parts, so to be able to increase my weights and maintain my form is very satisfying. I am able to do things I could not do when I started at Adventure. However slow my results are coming, I can actually do full lunges, squats, jump, and do bunny hops that were totally impossible when I was a newcomer at Adventure BC.

Today Brian had us work on our chest, back, and arms. I always enjoy working my chest, and especially my back. Its time to annihilate those little pockets of flab that have suddenly redistributed above my bra strap! Arrrh! Things start changing as you get older, and I never know what I'll find when I wake up the next morning. Its not exactly a treasure hunt, friends, but its always a surprise when its something you've never seen before!

Some of the exercises we did to carve into some of that extra cushioning were figure 8's, line stepovers, pushups with our partner, and chest presses with the bands. Even though this was not a cardio day, we do a little just to keep the blood flowing. ;)

We did a nice variety of arm exercises, too, that included concentrated curls, cross-over curls, regular curls, and the all favorite tricep exercise with the bands. Brian helped me a couple of times to get my form correctly, and I always appreciate that immensely.

Though the triceps still remain elusive for upping my weights, my biceps continue to get stronger and stronger. I have gone from 5 lbs to 8 lbs, and now use 10 lbs. On part of the sets, I am able to handle 12 lbs weights.

Isn't that awesome? These are just more quantifiable measurements that prove to me that Adventure Boot Camp works!! Not only that, but I have had a few people come up to me and say I look like I've lost weight. Oh, it is so mighty nice to hear that! All I got to do is keep it up!

Although we are in the midst of a contest, I have not personally embraced this experience as a race. For some, it gives them an adrenaline rush. For me, I like to compete against my own record. I am quite content at making consistent, permanent, progressive strides towards improvement. I do not feel defeated in the least that my pace and weight loss changes are not as dramatic as my neighbor's or any other camper thus far. I need to stay focused on my own journey. Inch by inch, step by step, the pink tiger is winning with herself and making her own dreams come true!

How did I learn such patience and acceptance? Age and maturity, my dears! I have found that our expectations can be the root of our misery, resentment, unhappiness, and anger if they are not in keeping with you and the situation at hand. I have learned as I've grown older that there are things you have to accept, and some of them are the speed in which your body will change, able to exert itself, and recover. Our resiliency may slow as Mother Nature winds us down. The important thing is to fight back and stay on top of the mountain! This is no time to lose ground.

My body's ability to process changes has vastly changed since I was in my twenties and thirties. It has changed even more since I passed 52. Whether I like it or not, this is where I am, so I might as well enjoy the ride.

Expectations, whether positive or detrimental, can be our grace or undoing. I intend to keep my expectations high, but reasonable and appropriate. What you can accomplish in a month when you are 25 is way different than what you can achieve in a month when you are 55.

I hope all my friendly competitors and warriors out there will find their own understanding and silver lining in their experiential journey too!

Tomorrow we will be enchanted by the delectable Velvet Hammer! I know it will be a gritty workout, so get ready for the slaughter! Brian has worked up a routine for our shoulders, legs, and abs that should be awesome, and push me to my edge and threshold that much closer!

Regarding shoulders, our last shoulder routine on Tuesday was smoking! I'm still fatigued from that workout. And we did a lower body circuit on Wednesday that took me over the moon! Doing shoulders and legs in the same monster workout with a bunch of planks and crunches will certainly get my freak on! Bring it on!

I know the Velvet Hammer will delegate for Brian in a big way and make him proud. Are you up for the challenge? You know Brian doesn't say goodbye without a going away present! ;)

The pink tiger will be checkin' you out. Be there!

the pinK tiger......

....gonna get ready for the "Hammer".....

Dirty Harry Returns for Retaliation

2009-12-11T11:49:00.013-05:00

Hello World!

Things are heating up at the Adventure Boot Camp! Today we had the most awesome routine there could ever be to gain that svelte, toned body. We did a mix of circuits that worked our lower body, abs, and of course, we got a generous dose of cardio that was out to blast that fat away!

Not only that, but our Dirty Harry returned to retaliate against the fat that makes us miserable! He wasn't playin' around. As experienced today, there was nothing he wouldn't do to get even with the enemy! :)

We did an intense variety of squats and lunges as the main features. Lots and lots of pulsing, folks! Yeeh-hah! You know what that does to your muscles and bum? My legs and glutes didn't forgive me OR Dirty Harry for about 5 days! Couldn't walk or even bend over, but I was lovin' it. I'm gonna trade these Big Mac buns for a pair of sweet babycakes! Just watch the transformation.

Some of the squats that were ordered to obliterate the enemy were squat jumps, one legged squats, sit squats (against the wall), and our all favorite pulsing squats. Was this Squat Heaven or what? Think about that. That's a lot of solid work that was ramping up the fat burn before the holidays.

I think as Brian once again morphed into our favorite vigilante against the enemy, he decided to announce to our unwanted guest "Ole Fats," that he was no longer welcome to inhabit any of the Adventure campers. He narrowed his eyes and looked at the enemy, real cold blooded like. If you know Dirty Harry you know he was itchin' for the opportunity to say those three little words! If Ole' Fats knows whats good for him, he better get out of Dodge now. Pronto! LoL!

Wasn't a pretty picture, folks. Do you think this valiant fat fighter was taking the shot gun approach? Yeah, baby. Poor Mr. Fats didn't stand a chance against The Brian! He was gonna get blown away on this day!

I'd say this was a hostile takeover.

In addition to the squats, Mr. Fats was eradicated with a full circuit of lunges, step ups, jumping over cones, and other cardio and leg exercises. To make certain that our detested visitor was not welcome, our crusader bombarded all that jiggly stuff in the middle with great ab work like side planks, push downs, and side bends. It was awesome!

By the time our hard core lawman blew the smoke from his gun, nodded, and drew a slow smile as he called it a day, I felt like I had The Special Reinforcement Unit from the Rangers surrounding all the pockets of jiggly that didn't stand a chance on this day!

I had chosen to up my intensity and picked up my higher weights, alternating between 8 & 10 lbs. Oh, baby! 3 hours later and through the rest of the week, I was sore, achin', and incapsulated in majestic pain! It hurt so good. I swear, it must have been Dr. Feelgood that left me his calling card.

Now, because the energy was high, the endorphins were kickin' in, The Star and I decided to run the mile for practice. As you know, Star has been running quite regularly, but I was grateful that she offered to run with me now, because, friends, it really does make a difference!

She set her watch and we leisurely ran the distance to complete in 9:34 minutes! Is that right? It just keeps getting better and better! Now all I got to do is hire someone to run with me when Brian times us for our final Mile Run! Hee-hee!

So this was my glorious day on this Wednesday, feeling confident that inch by inch, I was gonna make my way to the top. Nothing gonna stop this pink tiger! As long as I had plenty of patience, determination, support, and reinforcement from my allies, I was gonna win this war against Ole' Fats.

And with Dirty Harry on my side? It wasn't gonna be a pretty sight. Oh, not at all World. Before he swaggered out the door, he just crumpled up his mouth, pulled out his shotgun and mumbled under his breath with squinted eyes, "Go ahead....make my day!"

Ole' Mr. Fats should have known better. ;)

Until next time, this is............

......the pinK tiger...........

......gettin' ready to blow smoke from her gun, too!

Mr. Mellow on the Loose

2009-12-08T21:35:00.008-05:00

The pinK tiger is back! And today, December 1st, was a great day to start my morning with Adventure camp because this was my Birthday. Oh, wow, the years keep rolling. I am beginning to understand how people really become confused keeping track of their age, because they simply stop counting! Lol!

When I came inside the fitness studio, there was a very subdued vibe going on. I didn't know what it was at first, but soon I knew.

Our healthy vibrant coach had been whacked by the flu, cold, whatever you could imagine, and he was indeed subdued. I felt so sorry for him! Its one thing to do a solitary, quiet desk job when you feel like crap and just want to pull the covers up over your head. But this job required you to put forth personality, converse with a roomful of women, and demonstrate exercise options! That requires a load of inner emotional resources that sometimes doesn't feel accessible.

I don't know about anybody else, but it was another testament to the dedication, the very personal loyalty that Brian brings to his job and to us as his clients. I only hope I can reciprocate equal loyalty and dedication to him by how hard I work in camp.

Today, Brian had designed a program to work the shoulders and chest. Believe me, it was unbelievable! LoL! One exercise we did was to lay on our side and tuck our arm towards our chest, and do a side push up. It was an exceptional workout for our shoulders!

We did some wall push-ups for the chest which I liked, and ran against the wall for some cardio.

Within about 20 minutes of the class, Sleek&Chic looked at me and said, "Wow, Brian's really mellow today, isn't he?"

Ah, yeah, he was not his usual dynamic, charismatic self, but I'll tell you what! Mr. Mellow kicked it up a few notches BiG time, regardless! He wasn't going to let us slack because he couldn't go full throttle!

Brian had us do a series of exercises going back and forth from high knees, to speed squats; High knees, then speed squats; etc.

Oh My God! Mr. Mellow is ramping it up and killing us! This was one of the most intense shoulder workouts I can remember doing. And he was floorin' the cardio portion with his special designer mix!

Well, what can I say? I sure hope you feel better Mr. Mellow, but what have you got in store for us when you're ready to do somersaults?!

Oh.......... My........... God! Then "The Brian" will be on the loose! :)

Mr. Mellow, you put this little tiger through a hard core Birthday workout that I will never forget. Gonna get some sexy and shapely shoulders. Can't wait till tomorrow!

the pinK tiger......

......lovin' that Mr. Mellow........

Gone Fishin'

2009-12-08T19:45:00.010-05:00

I missed my 1st Monday back from Thanksgiving and I was bummed. Transportation problems can put a hiccup in your resolve. When I went to my car very late Sunday night, I was surprised to find a profoundly flat tire! I had no spare, and no one to help me. There was nothing I could do but call AAA in the morning.

The most unfortunate aspect of this time sucking incident was that today was the day for the Timed Mile and pushup count. As Brian has said, its all about accountability. Accountability is one of the pillars of success. We need it to keep us self-responsible. Accountability is very important to me because I believe how we "do" accountability is a reflection of our character and credibility. For this reason, guilt and anxiety gnawed at me.

However, I wanted to drop these nonproductive negative emotions from my response. I thought about the emails that Brian has consistently sent us that teaches us that though we may have to accept the situation, we can change our response to that situation. For me, that means I need to make lemonade out of lemons! I wanted to take this untimely mishap and spin it on its face. I was going to make something positive out of this aggravation.

The first thing I needed to do was get my mind right. So I thought. My most positive redeeming consolation was that on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, The Little Rocket, The Star, and I went around our mile path for practice and a little fitness bonding. Friends and readers, this was the very first time I was able to jog the entire mile without stopping! This was one of my milestones and I did it! Whoo-hoo!

Yes, I got winded, but with the great company and conversation that buoyed me, I was distracted enough to pull it off! We never timed our mile, but I have to believe there would have been some improvement in my mile run had I been timed. Ummmm..........success is so sweet.

I also decided to resolve this issue with my car once and for all. I was not going to miss another camp because I had not planned going forwards. With my car becoming frequently disabled due to ongoing flat tires, I broke down and bought 2 tires to replace the ones that kept causing me so many problems. Hurrah! Hopefully I will never miss another camp due to flat tires! Though the money was a real crunch for me, I decided it was time for me to set myself up for success regarding this matter; not failure.

Afterwards, I did my own version of a makeup class by incorporating cardio and resistance training like we do in camp. I worked on the elliptical trainer for about 35 minutes. Since I started camp, I have increased my intensity by 6 levels. I am close to being at my personal best about 3 years ago. I try to do something similar to the fartlek system on this. I alternate the highest resistance I can for about 30-40 seconds, then come down for about 2 minutes, maintaining a good heart rate.

And then what did I do next?

Hark!! I did my own little version of "Brian's Mini Monster Camp"! Hee-hee........well, you know..........it could never replicate our fitness guru's intensity and imagination for torture, but it worked in a pinch!

I did a succession of various squats, lunges, planks, and crunches, and push-ups. Then I took my exercise bands and did lateral raises, bicep curls, and seated rows.

I alternated with an interval cardio medley that featured more lower body work, including speed skater, line jumps, knee highs, and split hops. Whooh! It got my heart rate up!

I finished off with my favorite tricep kick-backs, skull crushers, and bent-over rows.

Not bad huh?! All I needed was to have a DVD of Brian instructing the camp through an entire workout. I could have popped that baby in the DVD player, and voila! Brian's smiling face and watchful eyes would have motivated me to even kick ass some more!

Then if I was lucky, I might have found some of those special high tech glasses to wear that would have made it seem like he's right there beside me in the room! Better than 3 D! It would have been a virtual reality experience for real! That is the wave of the future, so I know "the Brian" will be on the cutting edge! :)

Though I would have definitely preferred the real deal, it still felt fabulous. Like all great leaders, Brian has taught me to lead myself in his absence. One of his most significant gifts to us if we are listening, looking, and paying attention, is that he hasn't just brought us a fish for dinner. He has taught us how to fish and get our own food. How wonderful is that! Except, it just "ain't" as much fun going solo as when we all get to go fishing together as a group!

So for today, I decided to work some of that positive thinking and do things that could turn my day around to be a great day. Yes, maybe this car problem was a blip in my camp accountability, but now I have removed that obstacle from my future. And it provided me a practice run and demonstration of what I am capable of doing based on all those awesome fishing lessons I've learned from my coach and trainer!

I think I maintained accountability to myself and that made me proud. I know if Brian & Co. had witnessed my "Brian's Mini Monster Delight", they would have been proud to see how well they have taught me!

Well, that's all for the pinK tiger for now. The tiger's got to keep her groove on! Baby, I got fish to fry! :)

the pinK tiger......

.........fryin' lots & lots of bass, perch, walleye, etc............

My Thanksgiving Lesson

2009-11-29T23:23:00.017-05:00

Thanksgiving has come and gone, and I must say that it was a challenge for me. I didn't have the usual problem people have with a holiday that surrounds itself with plenty of yummy food, and lots of family and friends who might take me off course. It was perhaps just the opposite.

Most people have to overtly discipline themselves to watch what they eat when the Thanksgiving Feast comes. It offers many tasty selections with the encouragement to eat a second helping, and maybe a third. It must be even more difficult for someone who has more than one family to visit, and needs to eat a little at both meals to be gracious.

But by the same token, it is just as difficult to deal with holidays when you have no family to be part of; when life's circumstances create a situation where you belong nowhere and have only yourself. There are probably many people who have no place to be, more than you might think, and yet luckily we have friends who usually take us in.

However, we can never take this for granted, and it is truly a gift when a friend opens their heart to invite us in from the cold. It is something that none of us single people without parents or family can ever expect. Each year anyone of us may feel like an adult orphan. We may never know from one year to the next where we may end up for the holidays. That is simply Life. Life can change on a dime and take you somewhere you never imagined you'd be.

Yes, when our friendly or arbitrary invitations fall through, and our friends can not accommodate us for whatever reason......there can be a myriad of emotions that flood our system regardless of the brave and positive front we try to put up for ourselves. Sometimes feelings of loneliness, sadness, grief, or just boredom can make it difficult to eat clean on those days, whether you have a feast or not.

Grief likes to knock on the door on holidays and take us back to the wounds and the pain we experienced when we lost our loved ones. I have lost many important people to death on my earthly journey, including both my parents, a husband, 2 very close friends (one being my best friend), and 1 boyfriend. Unfortunately I don't have children.

Grief somehow reminds your heart of your loss even when you don't want to go there. And it seemingly operates with the accuracy of a computer. Anniversaries and holidays can be very tough and they are triggers. Sometimes it can take years to heal enough so that a holiday can once again be a joyous occasion.

As I get older, I have come to realize that loss will accelerate in my life as I age, and I need to accept and learn how to deal with it. It never gets easy. The holidays are a poignant reminder.

These emotions can be powerful and really set you up if you aren't prepared. It was that way for me. When my invitation fell through with a long loved friend due to their own family issues, I found myself wandering to the cupboards frequently through the day to fill the emptiness in my heart. It was almost like being on auto-pilot.

The good thing was that I didn't give in to my temptations just because I searched and rummaged the cupboards and the refrigerator. In fact, it was interesting to watch myself do this!

Instead, I tried to preoccupy myself with something else and took a couple of walks to do something positive. I left text and phone messages to my friends wishing them a wonderful Happy Thanksgiving, because one of the most important things I've learned on my journey of being alone, is that being pro-active in thinking of others can be the saving grace. Grace can begotten more from giving than in receiving. It can be the lifeline that gets your mind off yourself.

I did surprisingly well on Thanksgiving, fighting the urge to piece and nibble. However on Friday, I had walked through the stores for hours, and I got hungry. I went to the grocery to buy some healthy foods, but impulsively picked up a small package of mini cookies on the way out from the cash register. It totaled about 400 calories for the little bag. And it was really a little bag!

The most unfortunate part of that erratic decision was that I didn't even eat them in a manner which constituted enjoyment. I opened up the package to taste one, and then mindlessly ate them all in the car on my way home. My mind was a million miles away in the five or ten minutes it took to munch on them. Before I knew it, I looked down and like magic, they were all gone. Not a very satisfactory way to consume such a high caloric treat!

It reinforced to me that we can slip back to our sabotaging ways before we even know it.

It also reminded me of a book I once read years ago, called "Feeding the Hungry Heart". It took the perspective that food usually isn't the problem. For most women who have problems with eating correctly (when we know what to do), we sometimes use food to fill the emptiness in our hearts. It can be a very sobering thought to pull yourself from denial and admit your heart is hungry for something it is lacking.

I was disappointed in myself, but I admit that eating correctly when under emotional duress can be problematic for me. So I will take a page from Brian's notes, and make this another lesson that I can use to learn going forwards. As he has often taught us, we have a choice on how we respond to life's events. We can choose to live life with courage and thank God for our blessings. Life is so much sweeter when you choose to live with gratitude in your heart.

No, I did not do Thanksgiving weekend perfectly; yet I have chosen not to berate myself because I was less than perfect. I will get back on my horse and keep riding. I am grateful for all the years my friends have cared for me, and am fortunate that there has been only a handful of holidays I've ever spent alone. I even want to say thank you to the Rocket for offering me an invitation with her fiancee and his family just the day before Thanksgiving. Always so thoughtful and caring......that's the Rocket. Next year I might take you up on it sweet friend! :)

The lesson for me? I will be prepared next time for the unexpected. I will be prepared for Christmas whether I spend it with friends or by myself. I will have Option B in place. I will have an activity planned, volunteer for the Salvation Army, and cook a healthy meal for myself regardless of what the rest of the world is doing. I will be prepared to succeed. I will celebrate myself. And I will find delight in my own company.

And isn't that the best Christmas present any of us can give to ourselves? A demonstration of self love that doesn't waiver under any circumstances.

It will be a happy day to return to my Adventure family and get back in the routine that I am so very grateful to have in my life. For me, my "Thanksgiving" comes 5 days a week, not just once a year! That's a lot to enjoy!

the pinK tiger....
......its always Thanksgiving for me!

It All Adds Up

2009-11-29T22:32:00.005-05:00

It was Abs and Cardio for today, baby! Yeah, get that cardio goin' for the Thanksgiving food festival. Brian is great for giving us a chance to do a little "pre-burn" on our calories, so as tough as cardio can be for me, I knew I needed this one!

We had some terrific ab work that consisted of planks, russian twists, bicycle crunches, the penguin, and the chop saw. I know I need to ramp up my ab work, because the last few times I was not able to do as much as before. I use to do crunches on my stability ball a few times a week on my own time, and I have neglected in doing so. Every little thing we do really does add up.

It reminds me of that old cliche.....you don't know what you miss till you lose it. Same goes for all those extra little things we don't think about. I used to have to walk back and forth 3/4 mile to work each way, everyday and never considered it part of my exercise. But the weight started creeping when that little extra ended.

Our cardio was killer, because we did lots of great things for our legs as well as for our heart and lungs. We did figure 8 cones, step ups, line jumps, speed squats, and frog jumps.

The most challenging was running the large circle doing the fartlek method. I ran by myself, and though I was trailing, my breathing wasn't too bad. It wasn't until the last stretch that I had to slow to a walk.

The "Gold Star" said she had run 5 miles without stopping last night with a friend. She admits, running with someone makes all the difference in the world. I don't really have a running buddy on my side of town, but it sure sounds like something worth pursuing, even if I have to go online to find one! Does anybody know of any forums I could join to find a running buddy? Would appreciate any suggestions.

The morning ended with a little Nutrition Support group to pump a few of us up with a little motivation for the holidays. One of the subjects that came up was how difficult it is to stay on task when you are out of routine such as traveling. Work travel is also difficult if you spend all day in the car going from one client to another, and have neglected to pack a healthy lunch.

Eating in restaurants for all your meals can be disastrous. And unfortunately all you see on the road are places to eat! So even if you weren't thinking of eating something naughty, that ice cream shop just showed up around the corner.

It is more difficult to control you environment when you are on the road. Yes, I can attest to that!

We also talked about running in the various events around town. I mentioned in another post, it seems that running in the marathons and holiday fund raisers is the rage with many of our campers! So buddy up and try one for the future! It would definitely be more fun than going by yourself. Its the camaraderie that makes it so worthwhile and awesome!

Wednesday will be our last workout for the week, fitness warriors. This will be a total body workout, so hope Brian will bring it home to us!

See you tomorrow. The pink tiger will be kickin' it with you!

the pinK tiger

Gotta Get a "Toby"

2009-11-29T20:47:00.005-05:00

It was Monday morning and a new camp. Today we began our last segment of the Transformation Contest, our 3rd month. I saw lots of new faces this time, and that is awesome! I am all for spreading the joy, the habit of fitness, and the incredible sense of accomplishment you will reap when you come everyday to camp and start seeing the results! Its like a ripple effect. It will even mesmerize the people around you who don't take camp. That is exactly how powerful Adventure BootCamp seems to be! Your friends, coworkers, and family will see what you are doing and start creating a physical routine for themselves. I have heard it from many of our star campers! So now is the time to set the example for others and yourself. Spread the joy!

It was great to be back at camp. I had been sick with the flu and pneumonia and didn't get a lick of exercise or activity. I was the true bed potato! So I don't have to tell you how hard it was for me to set the alarm and start this day off.

But it was fun catching up with my buddies and how they did from last camp, as well as learning how they kept it together during off-week. The "Gold Star" came through with another 12lb weight loss. The fat just seems to be melting off of her! Yet she has worked hard for that. She runs 3x out of camp in the evenings and is cross training with other sports.

She is also watching her diet folks. She told me she really wanted something salty the other day. A bag of corn chips was whispering in her ear! Hee-hee! Now, I know I'm gonna eat at least a few if they are hanging out "up close and personal" like that within eye sight! Like I said before, I get visually stimulated.

This little lady decided she was simply to unwilling to record those calories in her iPod, so she licked the salt off a couple and then pitched them. Is that discipline or what?? Don't think I could do that with chocolate.

I asked another one of our seasoned veterans what she did to stay in shape during off-week. She always looks so fabulous, toned, mean and lean, and for me its a good thing to learn what successful people do to maintain. She did a lot of walking, worked out in a gym, and spent time with her cocker spaniel "Toby". She got lots of additional exercise walking with her dog, and it reminded me of how much more active I was when I had a dog that liked the outdoors.

I had a Wheaten Terrier, and we would go out in snow blizzards, pouring rain, whatever it was. It was sometimes below zero, and my dog and I would brave the elements. My wheaten really loved the snow the most, and loved to go swimming in the water. I would make extra trips to the park just to please her.

I took her to my father's farm on the weekends so she could run to her heart's delight. She would love to chase the cows. She was my baby, and I would do anything to make her happy. In the process, I was always on the move and was in great shape.

When I lost my last dog in 2005 to a brain tumor, I didn't have the heart to replace him. I grieved for months. It hurt my heart bad.

As I pondered my past and chatted with the Blazing B, I thought maybe it might be time for me to get a "Toby" for myself. Now some of you might not be in to caring for a dog, so your "Toby" might be something other than an animal. But anything that can give us pleasure, and an extra little boost to get out there and move, is worth having as an adjunct to hard core exercise. I have a friend who loves to dance, and for sure that is her "Toby"!

I think I am gonna have to get me a "Toby", and yes, it will probably be a dog. So friends and readers, get yourself your own "Toby" and watch your results start to multiply! Time to get our "Toby" on!

Our first day at camp was a workout for the total body. This was my first workout since my last camp. It was so tough to start over again after losing my momentum. I guess getting a full workout was just what I needed. We did all kinds of wholesome things, like squat jumps, line jump overs, chest flys, tricep kickbacks, and bicep curls. We also did some rows with bands from the trees. And we did some cardio which included some running.

Our cardio was comprised of running around the loop at 60 sec. intervals, and I was just too happy that the "Star" encouraged me to run with her. I didn't have a lot of confidence to run so soon after having pneumonia. I didn't want to hold her back from getting her best workout. But just like a first class trooper, she told me, "Come on, you can do it. Its only for a minute. Come on!" And there I went!

Thank you "Star" for being such a great fitness buddy!

As I performed our circuits, I watched Brian float around like a butterfly to attend to all our newcomers and those who needed some help with their form. Its one thing that always amazes me about our coach, because he is as attentive today as he was when I experienced my first camp with him more than a year ago. I love to know that I have a trainer that has such high standards for himself and for us. He cares about us getting the most from our time at Adventure, and checks us out to see if we are motivated, having a good time, and working as hard as we can within safe limits. Letting our form slide is not an option to him either. And I have experienced many trainers that are too tired to care.

Kudos to all our fabulous trainers that keep us straight!

Form is one of the most important elements in getting a high quality workout and it will have a tremendous impact on your results.

Ok, fitness warriors, this is Thanksgiving week, so let's make the most of our week at Adventure! And think about the "Toby" you are going to incorporate in your lifestyle. I know with all those beautiful High Definition televisions and Theatre Systems out there to lure us in to being obese couch potatos, we gotta get a "Toby" on our side. Rock on!

the pinK tiger.......

An Angel on my Shoulder

2009-11-23T19:34:00.012-05:00

Today was test day and I wanted to do well for my Mile Run. My muscles had been tight, sore and cramping the past week after tough guys "Vin Deisel", "Dirty Harry", and "Blondie" had paid us several visits last week! Don't you just love those bad boys?! I do! They always "make my day"! :)

And here, they came all wrapped as one! You know who I'm talkin' about! LoL! ;) There's no dispute who reigns as king in this BootCamp when he wants to be "Bad"! ;)

After all that excitement, I needed to give my body some TLC, so I decided to do a solid 1.25 hours of stretching after the Michael Jackson music fest yesterday to limber up and relax my body. It helped alleviate the pain enormously. This would be more advantageous to my upcoming Mile Run than more jogging.

If you have pain from your workouts, take the time to engage in a full body stretch as an activity of its own. It will help immensely.

We first got tested on our push-ups. I did not improve, but I managed to hang in with 84 for my count. I was pleased with this number. Time to kick it up a notch by alternating some "boy" pushups with my present form.

Next came the real challenge for me, the Mile Run. I had brought an iPod hoping some music might relax me, but it was not functioning properly. "The Star" dextrously worked her little hands like mad to help me get my iPod together so that I could have music for my mile; something positive to focus on other than my anxiety or breathing. What a great buddy! Luv u girl!

I was thinking of "Charisma" before the whistle blew. She and I had paced each other on the last test and had come down that stretch together, neck to neck. Unfortunately she needed to do the mile test in advance and therefore was set to run the course by herself. She came up to me afterwards and said she missed not having me run with her, because it had been a great help keeping her on target.

We had really helped spur each other on for that race. This time she didn't have that advantage working for her. And neither would I.

It validates for me the significance of working out or running with a team buddy. A friendly competitive spirit between two comrades naturally evokes the best performance in both parties.

Today it was my turn and I was wishing she was here. I tried to take solace in my little iPod. I guess this was going to be my little running buddy. :)

As we lined up, Brian threw us another one of his famous curveballs. :) We were going to run this mile in the opposite direction with hopes that it would dislodge any mental obstacles we might be harboring. Good ole' Brian! :) He is too much fun! He really is!

This new revelation had many of the campers looking at each other in bewilderment and some were worried, because most people get antsy when you mess with their routine. :) They might even growl. Grrrrr.

Yup. We were going to get a chance to see what we could do "blindfolded", with our memory compass dismantled.

We took off and true to the experiment, I could not gauge or compare myself to the other runs. But I found my breathing distressed early on and it made me anxious. I did not know how I was going to even break even with my current record. I just didn't want to face my coach at the finish line with a significant deterioration in my time.

About half way I started to slow down to a speed walk, gasping because I could not get enough air in my lungs. I thought I was dying. I was wheezing and hyperventilating even as I reminded myself to breathe slow and deep.

Then out of the blue came an unexpected voice from behind me like a guardian angel on my shoulder:

"Don't you stop! You can do this! Look at you.....you're kickin' my ass! You keep going! Don't you dare slow down! You are gonna do this!"

Hee-hee.......Wow! It was "The Little Rocket" lifting me upwards and more, motivating me to create new limits for myself. I was so distressed with my respiratory challenges that all I could say was, "ok"! :)

It was amazing how she came from behind to help me like the spirit of Hope. Just knowing she was running on my heels, I was compelled to keep going. Just do it! The thought came to mind, "Trust the Rocket. She's one of the BiG Dogs. She is an experienced runner. Believe her.

Sometimes when we have trouble pulling the trigger on something for ourselves, or not sure we can trust ourselves, we can sometimes find the courage and strength to go beyond our perceived abilities for someone we care about. Our greatest supporters, mentors, or coaches can carry us until we can carry ourselves; believe in us till we can believe in ourselves. For a beginner, it can mean everything.

I was incredibly touched that my comrade thought of me, cared enough to give me a piece of her energy and inner resources during her own challenge....... just to help me! What a heart! Her sense of awareness and empathy for others took my breath away. What a beautiful person.

This "angel" gave me the courage to keep pushing my limits, and for 2 more times she cried, "You can do this! Keep going! Don't stop!"

I wanted to give her a hug and thank her; it brought a tear to my eye. But I couldn't stop.........I had to keep running!! :)

When I came to the finish line and Brian announced my time @ 10:24 minutes I was delighted with joy! I was really proud of myself. I had shaved 11 seconds off my time!

After the race, I looked for the Rocket; I couldn't wait to give her my heartfelt thanks. "You are the Best! The best! You deserve an award for the inspiration and encouragement you give to others."

And I meant it. From deep inside.........I meant it.

Yes! On this race, she was my champion. She was my angel. Thank you Little Rocket, for your selflessness and your beautiful heart. :)

And my buddy "Star?" She increased her mile by a whole minute! That's outrageous! Hee-hee! Did you get that?!

Those are the rewards you earn when you run 4 miles 3x a week over and beyond BootCamp:)

Good job, "Star", and well deserved. I am still hoping that someday I can break free from my breathing problems so I can run free and up my own game.

The remainder of our camp consisted of some awesome plyometrics and tubing circuits. We did a series of planks that included moving side planks, pulsating planks, and getting up and down from a straight plank. We also did mountain climbers, split hops, chop squats, and shoulder push-ups for a little aerobic intervention. :)

Our tubing circuit worked us over with biceps, lateral raises, my favorite all endearing tricep kick backs, and back rows. As always, those tubes will give you an extraordinary workout. I have seen some very fitness conscious people create awesome definition and tone with these bands that even surpass some dumbbell work. Just another reason to love these circuits.

What a day! This workout was going to blast and chisel our figures into femme fatales! :) We had one more day left for the month and then we needed to set our sights on our 3rd and final stretch of the Transformation Contest!

There was still time for a dark horse to come from behind and take the jackpot! We all remember the story of the turtle and the hare. And we can revisit the Kentucky Derby for proof that many times there is an unexpected winner at the end of the race.

So take one day at a time, and make a plan for Off-Week. What will you do to prepare for your success? Put in more cardio? Take an extra boot camp class? Create a food diary? Try a body cleanse? This time, make it work! :)

Hope all you fitness warriors are coming back next month for more fun and adventure! With Brian, Kim, and the rest of his stellar team of personal trainers, you know the fun has just begun!

DON'T MISS IT! :)

See ya next bootcamp!

yours truly,

the pinK tiger

Shoot Me Over The Moon

2009-11-22T22:23:00.006-05:00

It was Tuesday night, and I was suffering with so much pain I didn't think I was going to be able to make Boot Camp in the morning. My legs were throbbing, and the sciatica pain running through my glutes was unbearable. Muscle spasms exploded along my back and, stiffness permeated my neck. I was a mess. I took some Alleve, but it did nothing to reconcile the pain. In addition, I had been traveling all day through southern Ohio and had not caught up on my rest. I was tired.

What to do? I would have to wait till morning and hope things would change through the night.

The alarm rang off at 4:00am and I was exhausted. I got up and sat on the edge of the bed and said to myself, "I don't think I can make it today. I think I may need to take a break. I am utterly spent".

I went to the bathroom and the throbbing had stopped, but I felt the inflammation with my sciatica and subsequent nerve pain was engulfing me. I wasn't feeling good, not at all. Too much activity and too little rest had left me in a very compromising position.

Next, I sat at the end of the tub and asked myself what I should do. I felt like I was beating myself up. But I didn't want to give up boot camp today.

Who came to my mind? My trainer, Brian. I also thought of a couple of my comrades, Little Rocket & Star. Without a doubt, it was the accountability factor that struck the deepest chord with me. As much as I was ready to give it a rest today, I thought of Brian and my commitment to him and this boot camp. I thought of my commitment to myself. Which choice would cause me the least amount of emotional or physical pain?

I decided to keep putting one foot ahead of the other. Get to the camp, and if I could only go through the motions of each exercise, I would let Brian know. At least I would have fulfilled my responsibility.

The good news was that this would be upper body day. So other than the shoulder work, I would not be aggravating the pain through my legs and glutes. I could take it easy on my shoulder exercises.

I stumbled in a little late. The camp was doing warm-ups with the ladder, but thankfully I had missed it. There was something else that caught my attention. By the grace of God, this was going to be a festival of music showcasing Michael Jackson and Prince! This was a miracle! :)

Oh my God! Was this a dream, or did I need to pinch myself???!!!! If there was ever a time when I needed the inspiration and upbeat rhythms of Michael, it was now. Brian must have read my mind.

The "Gold Star" teased me: "Your boyfriend's been waiting for you!" ;)

Huh? My boyfriend?

"Yeah", 'Star' piped! "He was here before you got here! You know, Michael!" LOL :)

And there it was! The sounds of Michael, under the stars and the light of the moon! It was all I needed to get me through this very challenging day! It was better than a shot of morphine! :)

I pulled together my crumpled spirits, and decided "this was it"! How could I not feel good under the circumstances! :)

I looked up at the stars and smiled, "The Universe must reward us when we try hard to do the right thing, step up to the plate, and we need something extra to pull us through".

As the workout began, I realized that this was not going to be an easy day. We did lots of circuits for the upper body that was interspersed with some cardio. And the cardio also included lower body work like squats.

The first circuit included walk-outs, (talk about double duty tough!) power squats, bicep/military press combo, and the chop saw. Wow! What a lineup! How did I ever survive that??! :) I did!

We also did various sets with the bands that included pullbacks, rows, bicep curls, reverse flys for our deltoids and a front lateral raise with the bands too. The bands will trick you. I heard all the strongest from the camp wail "Oh Lordy" with those bands! LoL!

The toughest part of the camp was running with 3 of the fastest BiG Dogs, including the Blazin B and Little Rocket, doing figure 8 runs and other cardio enjoyments! :) We were moving so fast it literally took my breath away. Why I chose to challenge myself with the best when I was half dead coming into camp proved to me the strength of mental determination and positive reinforcement. We can overcome so much if we decide and we are positive.:)

This was not only an extraordinarily "mad" tough workout today, but it was the most fun day I could ever remember! :) Brian was clowning with the MJ music and even bobbed his head and shook his cute little bootie for us! :) Heehee! He was wearing his white work gloves, which I had never noticed before.

I was smiling and having so much fun I couldn't think of the pain I was experiencing. It seemed to temporarily vanish. As we were running from one set to another, I whispered to Brian, "You took my heart today with your playlist. Now you need to take off one of those gloves to maintain the authenticity of the Michael tradition!"

I promised him I would sew sequins on his glove for next time. :)

He just laughed. He was pumping us all up, especially the campers who seemed to lack a little luster and energy by pointing out that this music was simply "Feel Good" music! How could anybody be dragging with music like this?

I simply had to agree. This music made me so happy I came to boot camp this morning and didn't give up on myself! It seemed to even release my natural painkillers and endorphins in my body. The debilitation seemed to recede at the moment. Yet, music has always been a tremendous healer for me.

I pondered with Gold Star how disappointed I would have been if I had missed this day.

"I can't believe I almost didn't come! I would have kicked myself for the next 2 camps if had I missed this day", I cried.

Has there ever been a camp devoted to Michael Jackson and Prince?Not to my knowledge. It was the best surprise, the best reward I could have ever had! :)

And what is the lesson we can learn from this, friends and fitness warriors? You never know what kind of surprise or reward you will get at the Adventure BootCamp! Whether it be a free shopping spree for t-shirts, gift cards for creating the best Halloween costume, or a playlist of music that ignites your fire and heals your pain............Brian is full of great surprises! So don't miss camp!! :)

For me? Brian, you can shoot me over the moon anytime with that Michael Jackson playlist! You had my heart! :)

And what else? Well.......maybe the Universe rewards us after all with a little miracles from time to time. I know it did today! :)

Signing off with the pinK tiger........

(.....moonwalking.......)

"Baby Got Back" Burn-Off

2009-11-22T18:21:00.024-05:00

How bad do you all want Adventure BootCamp?! What are you willing to do for it?

I will go the distance and do whatever it takes in my power. This morning I proved it. I left Zanesville a bit before 4AM just to be here. Is that dedication or what?! :) I think so! It even pushed up my self-esteem a few notches!

I only got a couple of hours sleep, but the sacrifice was worth the reward. I kept my commitment to myself and I burned that much more fat.:) It was not easy to do considering that we were going to work our lower body and abs today. It was not easy considering that I was feeling run down and my body was beginning to feel a pervasive pain spread throughout my joints, muscles, and spine.

But when did anything that could change your life come easy?

We did all kinds of fabulous things in these circuits. "Baby Got Back" and my fully padded backside was going to get chargrilled today! :) One circuit included bicycles, lunges, jumping across the line, and then running after each circuit.

Now just think of that! These are some powerful moves that are movie star worthy. These are exercises you can find the most diligent athletes performing; Definitely not for the faint at heart; Definitely not for the prima donnas who just want to say, "Darling, I do exercise class in the mornings". :)

As we continued, Brian progressed us to a higher level of intensity when he directed us to work at the curb. We did a circuit of side lunges, reverse back lunges, side shuffles, and planks rotating the torso to the opposite knee.

As we did the lunges, Brian crouched over to me and exclaimed, "this is the best exercise to really work the glutes and burn the fat off the buns!"

"Oh, yeah?" as my ears perked up. Keep talkin' coach! Tell me more! :) Now you got me pumped! That man knows how to motivate me! :)

I went at it fast and furious when he told me this was a great bun shaper that would make these overly generous babycakes of mine sweet, tight, and tender! This was intense. I could feel all the muscles up and down my legs working, and the muscles in my glutes exploding. This is why I come to boot camp!

During our moments of recovery, I took the opportunity to talk up "Amazing Grace", because her success in this program has really impressed me. I remember when I first saw her last year......she looked great! I had checked her out on the testimonial page at Adventure's webpage, and she had totally transformed herself. It was an amazing success story. Her picture was worth its weight in Ft. Knox gold.

Now a year later, she looked even more awesome! I had been watching her, and noticed the subtle changes to her figure that had refined itself over time. It was not "in your face" drastic, but it was notable. She was looking more and more streamlined, tight, compact, and tiny. I have to simply marvel at her smooth legs that seem banished of any cellulite! :)

Unfortunately, my mother didn't bless me with such an attribute! LoL! :)

"Amazing Grace" said she had not lost any more additional weight since last year, but dear friends and readers, her shape was still improving and making appealing changes.

It just goes to prove that Adventure BC will continue to shape up those girly curves even when you think your work is done.

I also asked her about her eating. She told me that she started out with Weight Watchers and thus far, her eating was solid and under control. She comes to bootcamp a few times a week, but not every day.

This is what I call a true testimony of success. We all know how tough it is to lose, but to maintain your weight and improve your shape for this length of time deserves a gold cup!

I can't even imagine how exhilarating it would be to rid my world of yo-yo dieting and all the accompanying weight changes, and physical morphs that have been part of my life. :(

Amazing Grace asked me if I was still running after class? Indeed I have, especially this week. I want to practice so I can do well in my timed mile. But it also preps my stamina up to do other cross training that can burn more fat! Running is really important, even if I don't do it everyday.

All the more reason why our next physical component was exactly what I needed. To enhance the burning effect to the max, Brian had us partner up and take turns running back and forth to the middle line 2x. We each did this for a total of 4x.

I got to run with the "Gold Star" and this was perfect for me. I decided that I would sprint this as hard as I could. This really winded me, and I could hardly catch my breath. Yes, I could have jogged leisurely back and forth to complete the exercise, but these are the times when I am going to make the most of my time at Adventure and build my skills, stamina, and power while I have the advantage of that group "effect".

There is also the benefit for me to be working out in front of my coach and trainer. Brian is a huge motivator for me. I have a great sense of gratitude for him because he is the person who cares about my success, and works hard to help me achieve my dream. I want to succeed for both of us. Its been a partnership after all!

I would think it would make a trainer's job very challenging to deal with people who only sputter out half hearted efforts and do not take themselves or their trainer seriously. For me, it is important that my trainer, whether Brian or Kim, know he/she is not wasting their time and effort on me. So it motivates me to work that much harder. :)

For any of us, we need to know what "turns our lights on" and set ourselves up with those motivators around us. It could be running with your greyhound dog, Max, :) but whatever it is, identify it and place it in your proximity, and your tool box. Then "squeeze the juice" on that baby whenever you have the chance to use it! :)

I don't know about you, but I'm gonna catch every drop of juice from Brian and my group of Dublin Adventurers! :)

I love them, and I love what they do for me!

When the day ended, I decided to force myself to do a little bit more to burn that "baby backside" even though I was tired and depleted of energy. I know the best time to do anything extra is "now", when I am already doing it. So I practiced jogging a mile after class, and then went to the gym and worked on the cross trainer for about 20 minutes.

That's if for today folks!

....does the "pinK tiger got back"?......

......(stay tuned for the upcoming Monster Brian burn-offs..........:)

What it Takes to Win

2009-11-20T18:56:00.013-05:00

I was tired today. Traveling all weekend, I did not have a chance to rest, and subsequently could not recover from last week's workouts. I was hanging on as tight as I could, because I couldn't bear it if I had to miss any Adventure workouts. : ( But it was going to be a challenge. I could feel my body beginning to burn out, and my spirits beginning to dull.

However, the one thing I have always been able to trust is the positive energy that permeates me when I hit base camp, and settle in to my Adventure home & family. I soon dismiss the fatigue that is dragging me down, and choose to push it from my consciousness. I elevate myself to the goals I want to accomplish and let this happy energy saturate me. Its nothing that I have to force. Its a natural fit.

I think it is important to recognize those elements around us that can empower us to reach new heights. Does it not tell us that whatever it may be, "this works"? Our bodies and spirits intuitively know "this" is healthy and it feeds our life force. Adventure BootCamp is one of those healthy spaces for me that encourages me to thrive. It nourishes my well-being and my body. :)

By the same token, I try to be aware of the people, places, or things that can deplete me and strip me of my vitality. Our bodies so often talk to us, and we do not listen. Sometimes jobs, situations, and people can make us tired. Sometimes they can make us fat. Occasionally they settle in our bodies as pain. If we pay close attention we will recognize the drains that feed on us like parasites.

Our bodies will guide us and teach us to embrace what is good for each of us. And sometimes, they can even knock us on the head when we get too much of a good thing!

I know there are stresses in my world that will take me off my game if I let them. Work is one of them. A couple of relationships is another. And lack of rest is at the top of the list. I woke up this morning thinking about what changes I needed to make that would be empowering. Its my time; it time to win for "me".

It was a warm morning. I approached camp with that tired lack luster and physical fatigue weighing me down. Yet somehow I bounced back for today. Brian had created a program of cardio and arms, and there was plenty of variety. I had no time to think of anything but to get with the program. :) Before I knew it, the endorphins kicked in! Whoopee! I love it when Mother Nature determines its time to give me a natural high! :) Heehee!

We did our first circuit that included skull crushers, and a choice of burpees or step ups among our goodies. As you can see, when we are doing cardio other than running, we do lots of leg work to get our heart rates up. Included on some circuits were squat jumps and mountain climbers, squat thrusts and other lower body exercises. This has been paramount in helping me build leg strength and power. :) My legs burn so bad at the time, but slowly and surely I have been able to do more and more in my workouts and daily activities. Its so worth the pain! :)

We also used exercise bands to work our triceps and biceps. Yup! Lots and lots of tricep work. I always laugh when Brian gets us to do double duty on those chicken wings! :) But shapely toned arms are the signature of youth and fitness, so I'm in. :)

Our cardio circuits were awesome today, too. They were difficult for me because there was no lollygagging between sets. I tell you, Brian is progressively ramping it up, and we are going to be the glorious benefactors of this hard work!! :)

One of our circuits included running sprints to the line, and skipping back to our starting position. This was meatier than you might think!I was pressing my pedal all the way, and treating this as a Fartlek circuit.

We also worked with the cones and ran medleys in teams of three. I worked with my Pink Challenge team and they had me gasping for air! "Sleek&Chic" is always a beast to run behind! :) lol!

And those doldrums that were loitering around me? Adventure BC kicked that baby to left field. :) Haha! A little tough love can do wondrous things.

So this was our Monday morning and we had plenty to anticipate in the next days ahead before we performed our one mile run and push-up count. We were now turning the last corner on our 2nd month of Transformation. This was it!

We still have the choice to finish strong, even if we have made some mistakes along the way. For me, I need to stay focused, maintain my rest, and keep positive forces close to me. I also need to be cognizant of those negative influences that attempt to distract me or take me off my course. Sometimes those forces can be very seductive.

What about you, friends and Transformation warriors? What are your thoughts as we prepare to enter into our final month? Who are the people that will empower you to come away as a winner? What will distract you from your focus and hinder you from being your best? We have choices we need to make.

Perhaps.......we can think of our Transformation Challenge as an assignment, a personal study in deciding to live our lives with purpose and deliberation.

What will we come away with at the end of the day? It isn't magic, folks. Winning is a decision, not an accident. Come on now......let's get it on! Let's pull each other up and let's win together! :)

Ok, Bravehearts......get ready to "c h a r g e"...........!

1 down; 4 to go! :)

the pinK tiger.........

(.....pacing the pace.....)

Pink: Not For Girly Challenges

2009-11-19T17:42:00.018-05:00

Today was really special to me. With only 2 hrs of sleep last night after hours on the road, I still wasn't going to give this day up. I could sleep when I got home after camp. This was the day for the Pink Survivor Challenge. It was important. But who knew what to expect? I thought it would be the same as the Amazing Race; I was in for a little surprise. :)

We gathered in the fitness studio as Brian designated teams. I was on a dynamite team with "Gold Star" and "Sleek&Chic". We called ourselves "the Pink Wolverines". I knew having competitive teammates would improve our odds to win the challenge. After coming so close last month to winning the Amazing Race, I was psyched to win this game.

As Brian read the directions, I still "didn't get" that it was going to be quite distinctive from any of the other games we've played. Our coach had ramped it up ten fold! This was boot camp rugged. This was hard core for fitness soldiers. Ha! That's what I'm talking about!! Heh-heh! :)

It was arduous, merciless, "kick some ass" pure, and for all those drill sergeants out there........you just got dethroned!

Even the Velvet Hammer would have to pass her crown on this one.:)

I had to give this class the #1 Spot in the Top 10! :)

I never anticipated that we would be required to work so hard when we were asked to wear pink! :)

We did many of the exercises as prescribed on the Amazing Race, but this camp required us to sprint for our assignments, while the rest of us were doing constant brutal torture things like pulsing squats, tricep dips, prisoner lunges, shoulder presses, burpees, or diamond push-ups! All my favorites, and Brian didn't forget a one of them. :) I love you Brian! Hehee!

There was no letup. No breaks! It was interval training at its best, and maybe it even included the Fartlek system, because we had to force up our pace on our assignment runs. The fitness guru pulled all the best challenges & goodies for each body part and incorporated it in the Pink Survivor Challenge.

Then we were rewarded from our hard work with a stupendous surprise at the end. ;)

I tried to take a breather once or twice, but every time I did, the Brian was right there. You know he has eagle eyes, don't you?! :) No way anybody gonna fudge on his watch! :)

Finally I couldn't resist and had to ask, "Where's the sugar? Did you leave the "suga" at home, Brian", I quipped! "You're killin' us! "

He smiled. "Pretty good workout, eh?" ;)

And how! No complaints here!

I could surely taste the medicine today. The Velvet Hammer would have to forfeit her crown! :) Hee-hee! I knew I wouldn't feel the full effect to my muscles till the end of the day. And boy, I was feeling it when the lactic acid made its presence known. :) I was hobbling around like an old war horse. :)

With all the running this camp required, I was truly exhausted. My lack of sleep kicked it up a notch. And I was with 2 teammates that were 25-28 years younger than me. It was a grand feat to keep up with these diva warriors; I felt privileged to work out with them. This was what it was all about: coming together as teams and giving up all the heart and guts we could muster to accomplish something that would leave us with so much self pride and esteem.

At the end, Brian rewarded our physiques with the task of plank suicides. He directed us to do them half way down the parking lot, and it was the 1st time I ever did them.

Whoo! Yes, folks, that's exactly what it was.......suicide! :) We were saved by the bell so to speak, because as I was ready to drop from muscle fatigue, it was time to go.

I must say that these are the workouts that I most adore. They are fun, innovative, crushing, and I crave them. They keep shocking my body out of its lull, and teach it what it is capable of doing! The timeliness of these killer workouts are perfect, because I couldn't do them every day, but alternately they are fabulous! It takes me 3 days to recover when we do something of this intensity and magnitude, so rest is an imperative part of the process.

I think that with all the pink I saw around me, we made a significant contribution for the Susan Komen Benefit. Brian really got us to work for it; what do you think, comrades? :)

I heard all those groans and sighs so I know I wasn't the only one!

It seems to me that working out/running to benefit a charity is a winning combination. Just like fitness and exercise, this is an awesome habit to create in our lives. We can even celebrate it like a holiday we do a few times a year.

Wow! This is just one more gift that Adventure has given me....the awareness that I can help myself, train to get fit, and make that time count for others by donating to a charity foundation. I am likin' it! :) It is so much more rewarding than dropping a check in the mail! :)

This little pink tiger is gonna try to catch a couple of hours of snooze when she finds her way home. Then it is off on the road again.

We are quickly approaching the end of our 2nd month for the Transformation Contest, so live each day deliberately. And make each choice count. I think Brian gave our workouts some extra credit with today's Survival Challenge! :)

He inspired me so much with this workout I was on an adrenaline high. I practiced my mile after camp.

Catch up with you next week, all..............:)

the pinK tiger

(.....this workout was Grrrrreat!....:)

Jelly Belly Be Gone. Poof!

2009-11-19T15:27:00.007-05:00

So much going on today, where do I start? This was Killer Ab day, and as we move deeper into our Transformation Contest, Brian is ramping up his program. So when the fitness maestro calls them "killer", he means "killer"! :) We're gonna be in for a lot of fun trouble! :)

I am here to testify and validate, that this is exactly what we got. Although he incorporated some cardio, this was all about melting our jelly bellies. :) We did an impressive assortment of circuits that included his favorite "plankers": side, straight, and moving. Thank God he didn't ask for the "reverse planker" :) He makes it look like a "breeze in the hammock" when he does it, but believe me, its a devil! :)

Then there was the bicycle, throw downs, chops, and Russian twists. Did I leave anything out? What do you think? Was Brian comprehensive enough in his variety?! :) Let's vote on it, gang! Heh-heh.......

Going at a slam-bam pace, my abs were crying and even failed me. I was wondering at times if Brian forgot to make mouth to mouth contact with "Trusty Whistle"! :) Ahhhhh..........that whistle has a sweet sound if I must say.

I was surprised at my performance, because my abs seemed weaker than usual. Or maybe, this day of circuits was more intense and meatier than usual. I know I was tired. As I mentioned before, rest is one of those things I need to prioritize if I am going to sustain my groove.

Last night was the first time I've been out to party in months, but it was a much needed reprieve from work. It was so worth it. Its the work that's been chipping away at me for this month. Sometimes it is difficult to say "no" at work, but for the sake of health, we need to keep a balance and be our own advocate. :)

Yet even if fatigue wasn't a factor, the cardio portions were kickin' and didn't include a gentle stroll in the park, either. We did all those great things that get our heart rates up like jogging in place, jumping jacks, and our very, very favorite............those splendid mountain climbers! :) Ahhhh, gotta love them!

Not to be discouraged! This is exactly what we all need. Its what I want! :D

Brian, bring it on!!! You can bring your Dirty Harry to camp and I'll be waitin' for you! :) I want you to kick my butt! :) And I know you can do it. (hee-hee!)

I want it because you are gonna work me harder than I will probably be able to work myself. However, there are those amongst us that are setting a new bar. The "Gold Star" said she wants to train for the triathalon coming in the fall. She is going full throttle, folks, so if you're not doing anything out of boot camp and you want to seriously compete in the Transformation Contest, better get your booty in gear cause this little dynamo is going to check us all in the dust! :)

This is the 2nd camper friend I know training for a triathalon. It seems as I look around me, women at Adventure are reveling in their athleticism. It may simply be the marvelous influence that the Adventure Family and training team have on us, and we begin to gradually evolve in this healthier creature. :) It seems more and more campers are runners or converting to be runners. It must be the sign of the times. :)

This is fantastic for those of us who get motivated by working out along people who are ambitious and a few steps ahead of us. I may not get the results as quickly as I see others are getting, but this is a process. Trust the process. Do what you're suppose to do and you will win this game! It is that simple! :)

Or is it????? : ) ( hee-hee! ) Well, the food factor can be the snag. :(

So at the end of the day, Brian announced our Nutrition Support Group to be held at Panera. It was a great meeting. There was 6 of us that attended and we shared some of our food struggles, as well as offered some worthwhile suggestions for learning how to become "Master of our Food Domain". :) heh-heh!

Some of the ones I noted that were especially helpful:

1) Start the day with a high protein breakfast. Create a vegetable white egg omelet that's got a basketful of your favorite veggies and just enough egg to keep it together. For me, I like to mix 1 whole egg with 2 additional egg whites. It ups the flavor a little, and I like to get the minerals and vitamins from the yolk. Excellent protein and fiber!

Some of us shared notes, and found that eating cereal and fruit can sometimes leave you hungry sooner than later. Also, going without breakfast sets you up to eat more in the afternoon than a healthy, substantial breakfast. We decided there is no reason to fear eating breakfast if its wholesome.

For those who don't like breakfast food, it doesn't have to be traditional breakfast food. Think outside the box! You can try anything you enjoy even if it is traditional dinner food. It could be salmon, beef, lean cabbage rolls, or a Lean Cuisine spaghetti entree.

2) Write the food down in your food diary before you eat it! This has got to be a mandatory commitment if you want the food diary to really work for you. As "Star" has mentioned, once you put it in the diary and you see how many calories, fat, sugar, carbs you are adding to your graph, maybe it won't be so appetizing and you will eliminate it before it does its damage. She said she freaked on many occasions when she entered it in her IPod and discovered the caloric content for a food she was ready to put in her mouth.

3) If you have an IPod, you can download an app that will do all the calculating for you. Pretty sweet! Its been great for me to get some of this techie advice from my buddy! :)

4) Think twice before you eat within 3 hrs of bedtime, especially carbs. Carbs are best consumed during the part of day when you need energy. I have checked with many friends who say missing that late snack or carb dense dinner will put you ahead of the curve, even if only a couple of times a week.

5) Think about creating a menu for the whole week and buy your groceries accordingly. For me, if I wing it through the week and don't know what I am going to eat for the day except what happens to be around, I am leaving myself vulnerable to the devil of temptation. Plan. What is that old cliche?

"If we don't plan to succeed, we plan to fail"?

6) Cooking one day for the whole week, i.e. Sunday, can really put you ahead of the game! You can freeze what you've made, and then essentially have healthy convenience foods at hand.

7) I am also going to suggest that having hard boiled eggs on hand is a great snack that might save you in a weak moment.

Well, that's all for today, folks. Tomorrow will be another brutal day, as it will be our Pink Survivor Team Challenge. I wouldn't miss this for anything!!! If it is anything like our Brian's Amazing Race Challenges, they are the best of the best workouts, and rate #1 on my Top 10 List!

Ok, warriors, remember to wear pink! Brian has offered to make a $1.00 donation towards Breast Cancer research if we wear something pink. So don't forget!! This is a generous offer on his part. Let's make him proud.

You know I won't forget to wear pink......... cause I'm already in the pink................

...I'm the pinK tiger............... :)

....let's go do it!

Music, Fun, & Friendship With the Adventurers

2009-11-18T19:57:00.016-05:00

For all who missed our social evening out, you missed a really cool time. We came out to support Brian's cousin who played the guitar in a little bar in Dublin. The music was rockin' and the company was smokin' ! :) It was one of those rare opportunities when we got to meet each other in a different dimension other than BootCamp.

It was great to see each other dressed for casual fun and mixing on a social level. Some people had a whole different image from the one they show at camp. Got to admit, there was some glam women out there! :) I was proud to be part of the group!

"Amazing Grace" wore a stylish sweater and a hint of makeup and she was beautiful and elegant with an air of mystique. "Shaker Girl" was sexy and sensual as she moved her body to the music with rhythm and soul. That girl got her beat down! :)

Sitting up and center was one of our top pint sized warriors who wore orange and looked as brilliant as a gem. Orange is a difficult color to wear, but there was no doubt that this little blonde was wearing the color; the color wasn't wearing her. Fabulous! :) Her eyes appeared like little sapphires reflecting with the splendor of stars in the midnight sky. :)

Then there was "Gold Star" pretty as a portrait. She wore a little makeup to showcase her features, and the contrast between her blue eyes, fair skin, and dark hair was gorgeous. She had that movie star look! :)

I even saw one of my favs with her husband......she looked cute as a button and she even showed pictures of her twin daughters. Wow! They were simply darling and they looked just like her. Got some good genes there, little lady! :)

There were many Adventure starlets I didn't really know, but got to meet and greet. I don't know about anyone else, but it was the perfect opportunity to deepen the bonds with current friends and create new friendships with those we only recognize from a distance.

You know how we all are at camp........we tend to stake out our little spot and stay there almost religiously? Cool, but we probably missed out in knowing the whole group of cool people on the other side?! Hello! :)

When I looked around, this would have been a man's paradise had any Dublin men known that this little bar tonight would have been comprised of probably 90% women! And not just women off the street, but the illustrious Adventure BootCamp Adventurers who take pride in getting shapely and staying fit! :)

As a matter of fact, one of Brian's friends who used to be a physical therapist said he was perplexed and amazed at this predominant female crowd. He wondered, "who were all these women and where did they come from"? He was dazzled when I said, "Why they all come from Adventure BootCamp.............. compliments of Brian Schiff! :) Hee-hee! I loved it! :)

He laughed and smiled, and said, "Heh-heh, I should have done something like that.....head up a bootcamp or exercise business. Brian always did have a way with people. I'm not surprised you all came out for him!" :)

Yes indeed. Brian was the consummate socializer and host to all of us as he moved between the tables and greeted us warmly, conversing a little with each of us. He even took the pictures!

Even if you never stepped in a bar before, it was a very comfortable place to be and there was a wonderful sense of belonging. No one was left to hang out and dry. :) It was just an easy night out in a neighborhood bar.

It was pretty exciting to me to be one of the Adventurers. We could be our own celebrity group. We're so hot, we're steaming! How much cooler can we get! We are like Fire & Ice! :)

Just as Brian promised, we got to have a drink at a Happy Hour price, and relax amongst the fellowship that was ours.

Although some of Adventure members stayed till about 11:00 pm or a little later, I left about 10 PM, tired and ready to call it a day. I just wished I could have held on a little longer. Heard that one of our favs, "Shaker Girl" got up on the stage and did a little singing. I always did think she had the makings of a rock star! :) Without a doubt, this spunky lady is our mascot. :)

Next time Brian sends out an invitation for the evening, hope you ALL will be there! Time to shake it up, guys! Sure wouldn't want you to miss out on the fun.

And "Velvet Hammer"? That includes you! We missed you there. : ( We were asking about you. Hey, it would have been cool with me even if you came in with that mask. :) (ha-ha!)

What can I say, its always a party when you make it with the Adventurers from Adventure! :)

See you at the next company function?! Heck, it might even be fun to think about doing a "roast" for Brian and his fitness crew! Something to ponder..............................;)

the pinK tiger......

(....evolving into her own social butterfly...)

"Go Ahead, Make My Day"

2009-11-18T17:27:00.016-05:00

I have to admit that this pinK tiger is pretty pleased with herself. It seems that the more Brian and Adventure BootCamp challenges me, the more I challenge myself. After our workout yesterday, I went for a 2 mile jog/walk to up my ante! Afterwards, I went on the cross trainer for 30 minutes.

Its an interesting phenomenon because I am tired and my energy reserves are not at peak, and yet I want so much to make the most of my time here at Adventure. It can be tough because I've been doing extensive work travel and have not gotten much rest. But if I've got the heart to do it and I'm not injured, I am compelled to push a little harder. Yet, in all fairness, I gotta give some of that credit to my fellow comrade, "Gold Star". Her own hard drive to succeed encourages me to always ask myself before I put down the sword, "Can you go a little more?"

Coming in to this Wednesday workout was me playing BraveHeart, because Brian had shoulders and legs on the menu. He never messes around with those leg days. He must transform into Vin Diesel or a young Clint Eastwood when he designs these workouts. I can even see his eyes narrowing like "Blondie" in "Good, Bad, & Ugly" when he writes them out! LoL! :) Hee-hee! He must be chuckling to himself mumbling a la Dirty Harry, "I'm gonna make your day!" :) LoL

After yesterday, my glutes were screaming. They were tight and stiff. I really questioned whether I could handle a leg workout today. But no one is gonna find the pinK tiger saying "no can do" when the time comes to do these thoroughly engaging exercises and the fitness master is standing before me! ;)

We did a lot of goodies today for the legs, one of Brian's specialties being his medley of squats. Oh Lordy, we did lots and lots of squats! One circuit involved performing 10 squats, holding it for 5 seconds, then another 10 squats and holding it.....etc. Should I call it the Squat & Hold? :) It went on like that for the entire 10 minutes of torture. :) My legs were pulverized as we finished up with pulsing squats and Brian's heartwarming variety of lunges.

Ha! You know, "Baby got back" is goin' to be a thing of the past if I keep hangin' out with this fitness torture master! :) How bout for you? If a muffin top is your problem, it will surely melt away with these groovin' aerobic and large muscle workouts.

I could hear the campers sighing, moaning, groaning. This was murder! Brian was declaring "WAR" on our storage sites, and we knew it! I couldn't resist limping up to him and muttering, "You're killin' us, Brian!" :( Hee-hee!

That ole' Brian just gave up one of his mischievous smiles, narrowed his eyes, and kept on going! Didn't even blink an eye. Can you imagine that??? ;)

We also did some great shoulder work, one being the most taxing of all, the shoulder press. Love those, Brian! That takes some incredible energy, and I am all but ready to collapse from exhaustion.

Wow! Squats, pulsing squats, shoulder presses., lunges; Cold blooded Brian!........ "Go ahead, make my day"! :) You got me talkin' to myself again. You'd think I had a bluetooth stuck in my ear with the way I'm babbling with myself before, during, and after, and even spicing up my own little conversation with a few colorful words! :)

As amazing as our leg and shoulder workout was, the lunges, squats, and shoulder press were not necessarily king of this day. There was a cardio portion that was absolutely a max-out. And when Brian incorporates cardio on leg day I get hammered. Today was no different.

He incorporated his Fartlek system which is running at a good pace, but then forcing it up, and then bringing it down again. Killer! I don't know how many minutes we did this, but this is pure killer! This really forces the participant to dig deep if you want to earn the rewards that come with this activity.

Well, no grumbling here! This is why we hire this man. If we could do it ourselves we wouldn't be here. Although I will admit, he's been ramping it up, don't you think? :) Heh-heh! I love it! My partner in crime at camp seemed to agree.

"Its your fault", she teased in her typical good-natured and playful disposition. Well, I must admit, I sometimes enjoy playing the friendly instigator ! :)

Thank goodness the "Gold Star" jogged with me. She kept me moving and kept me paced just right. I even accelerated my speed at those magic moments when Brian blew his whistle.

Near the end of the circuit, I told the Star to keep going; I had to walk. "Dirty Harry" had effectively gotten my best. Yup, he maxed me out with nothing to spare! :)

I was so exhausted at the end of this camp, that I went home to bed and tried to catch up on some sleep before traveling to Zanesville and Beverly this afternoon.

It was an awesome day, and it ended with a reward. Brian was requesting that we all come out tonight for a little music and socializing, and we could get Happy Hour prices to make it worth our while. :)

Hey, now I know why he worked us out so hard. Its what I would call the Pre-Burn. Whatever beer we drank tonight wouldn't have a chance of making itself at home on any of our bodies. We would have already burned it up. Whoo-hoo! :) Now we could party in reason without the guilt! :)

I knew there was method to your madness, Brian! You simply made my day! :)

We'll see you tonite, comrades. :)

the pinK tiger.........

(....transforming herself into a social butterfly......)

The Princess of Balance

2009-11-14T23:09:00.008-05:00

I missed our 1st Monday workout for November because I had to have my car repaired. Whaa! I cry like a baby when I miss my favorite "morning feeding"! :(

But worse yet, it felt like I hadn't worked out for a month. This was my Monday morning, as "Starr" so aptly pointed out to me. No wonder I felt out of step with myself.

But it was Tuesday now.......and this was a day we ALL needed! It should be a requirement for completing each and every BootCamp. Thus, I will designate this day as one of the Top 5 days of the month in terms of value.

We all want to lose weight. It seems like the #1 reason I hear when I ask "what brought You to Adventure BootCamp?

In the quest of losing weight, we also tone and firm our imperfect bodies, lose inches, increase muscle, and maybe even improve our running speed. Yet, one of the pillars of fitness that is often neglected and missed, is "balance". As I get older, I realize that balance is a skill that we need to make as our very best friend if we are to thrive in our golden years. Even as a young warrior, if you don't use it, you will lose it. Trust me on this, all you pretty young things! I have had the advantage of being at the end of both spectrums. :)

So I came into BootCamp this morning and it didn't take me long to realize that this was going to be a special day. I had to smile and give a nod to Brian, because he is all about balance in everything he does and the very way he lives his life. (Read the emails, folks! :) So of course he would not fail to bring this to the performing stage of our fitness game and serve up a very balanced program as well! :) Its one reason I trust Brian and and his team trainers to give me the best holistic and integrated fitness program in central Ohio.

We did a series of balance exercises alternating with cardio. This was like a baked potato loaded with butter, sour cream, and bacon bits. :) Lol! It was yum-yum. Hee-hee, this day was loaded with it all :) Isometrics, balance, cardio, buns of steel, and whatever else you could imagine. And it was no joke! I knew others were thinking the same thing as I looked around.

98% of the campers were sighing, muttering to themselves, and giggling as we did an assortment of balance lunges, balance squats, and especially the one legged squats. WoW! What a brain teaser! This not only got your brain thinking, but what a premium toner for the legs! My legs are gonna get beautiful with this one, friends! You all gonna be jealous. LoL :)

Stabilizing my weight on one leg was not only refining my balance skills, but...oiy.....ouch! : ) I got a heap of weight to put on one leg, so this was isometric weight training at its best. This was really working those thighs as much as a "leg" day. Brian: hitting 2 birds with 1 stone! You go, Brian!! :) LoL!

I want to talk about theses particular balance exercises because more than any of the other ones, I could feel these in my hamstrings, glutes, quads, and abdominal muscles. It was comprehensive! I love to watch Brian demonstrate them, because he has such agility and strength in his balance, and makes it look so easy. :) Yeah right! I told you he was the master illusionist! :) But he also demonstrates how it should look when we do it for ourselves.

I looked around me and saw that nearly the entire camp, from the sweet 20's through the tried and true 50's, were waving like flags, shaking and trembling like an overfilled washing machine trying to negotiate this feat of doing the "one-legged wonders"! LoL! Who would know it could be so challenging folks? :)

We were cutting up and enjoyed watching all the distorted positions and shapes we saw our comrades crumble in to, but at the same time, my thoughts were moving in another direction. This is something I never thought much about as a young person, but lack of balance is the primary reason that older aged people fall and break their hips. Most of the time they will end up in nursing homes and never fully recover. I can think of countless examples, some very close to me, where within 2 years they die. Serious business folks. And yet, the young and flexible campers had little edge over us more seasoned queen bees! :( Somewhat of a scary thought, friends.

Something to think about, don't you think? The good thing, is that it is never too late. Its all about practicing the discipline and form. We just need to be consistent like anything else we want to achieve.

This great workout continued as we took our cardio breaks, until Brian used his creative finesse to make working hard even more fun! He devised a competition where we all had to close our eyes, stand on one leg, and compete against each other to crown the winning camper who could last the longest without faltering or touching the ground.

This was great fun putting it in a competitive format, yet it should have given all of us a real eye opener to where we stood with ourselves. There were several campers who held on good, but only one came forth as the clear and uncontested winner of this contest. I will call her "Princess Balance" :) She stood calm, steady, centered, and strong as a Great Oak tree that never wavered in the wind. She was beautiful and dignified in her calm. She won both contests for each leg. You are awesome, "Princess Balance"! :)

When Brian announced the winner who won by such a long shot, I made a point to check out who this phenomenal balancing act was. :)

I later caught up with our "Princess Balance" and her secret was yoga. She had learned to balance and center herself through lots of yoga through the years. She giggled and laughed when I approached her. She didn't seem to think it was anything.

"Oh, its not so much. Just take a yoga class and you can do it, too!"

One of the most charming things about this particular lady is her gracious deportment and humbleness. Yes, Princess Balance, I want to practice this skill and become good as you! :) It might not require yoga, but it sure would be a good way to go. :) You are an exquisite example of what one can do with yoga and practice.:)

Well, comrades, what do you think? I am sure there are many who take yoga, and I got to tip my hat off to you. If it can do for you what it has obviously done for our special young winner and her sense of balance, then steady as she goes! The results in this contest were stunning.

For the rest of us, including me.......we each need to give birth to our own "Princess Balance". This is vitally important, and I hope you hear the pinK tiger mewing at you. :) I am only too happy that Brian includes this in our program, and I hope he will include more to come.

It was awesome!

Like I said, it sure was a "Legs of Steel" workout too! ;) My muscles tightened up so much they went spastic! Hee-hee!

Catch you tomorrow. Next time the pinK tiger closes her eyes, she won't necessarily be cat napping. :) Figure it out.

the pinK tiger

Our Halloween Week & Costume Workout Party

2009-11-13T22:35:00.012-05:00

Well, folks, we are turning the curve on the last week of October and time is flying by. My blog has gotten behind schedule because of work travel that has left me grappling with a serious deficit in sleep, and a few physical ailments that have unfortunately made themselves at home in my life as a consequence. Sometimes when they get triggered, the comprehensive pain and fatigue will take me off my stride and attempt to disempower me. Often times it takes everything I got just to get up in the morning.

But my difficulties is not how I want to identify myself or live my life. So enough of that! Just bear with me if you can, friends and readers, and we'll keep movin' right along......... looking forwards, not backwards.......to more fun and ongoing goodness at Adventure BootCamp. :)

We had 3 great workouts ending our Halloween week. On Wednesday, Brian pumped us up with a total body workout that was awesome. Those total body workouts are something else! Thats what the "Trifecta Workout" was all about and it kicked my #@$ for more than a week later. :)

So 'nuff said! It was Killer, but I managed to hobble home, treat my muscles with a little TLC of rest and ice packs, and prep myself for the final 2 days.

Thursday came cardio and ab work. Oh my God! So soon? I was tired as tired could be, but when it came time to giving my all, that's exactly what I did. One of the toughest circuits for me on this day was running the ladder. I decided that I would run behind "Sleek & Chic" and the Little Rocket. Oh, Lordy! This was truly an adventure, because it was late in the week and my reserves were all but spent.

Well, "Sleek & Chic" led the way, and it took every ounce of my stamina to keep up. She was a beast! Yeah, I have to call her "The Beast" on this round because I was thoroughly challenged! I'll have to remember how ferocious she can be with her speed when I choose who I'm running behind next time! :)

But truthfully, I was really proud of myself for taking the high road and pushing myself to my max. If I can do that 90% of the time, then I will deem the pink tiger successful. :)

Of course, Friday was the day to anticipate! Brian encouraged us all to come in costume and the best costume would win a $25.00 gift card. How great is that? I've never been exactly creative with costumes, but I decided it would be a blast to dress up as Brian! ;) Star gave me some suggestions, and even designed the T-shirt and brought the baseball camp. She even drew artistic sideburns on me for the full, authentic effect! Thanky Starr! :)

Of course the thing that came to my mind was, how was I going to duplicate Brian's legs in a pair of shorts? Ha-ha......:D

Let's face it.......the man's got some nicely proportioned, aesthetic limbs.....don't you think? :) And they seem to maintain this nice golden tone. How does he do it? Not fair a man could look that good in a pair of shorts. Ok........he looks damn good in a pair of shorts! What can I say? ;)

No Brian......I "ain't" mad at you! LoL! ;)

Me? I got legs so white they look like they belong to a Polar bear, and should be nicknamed, uh...........never mind. :( LoL!

Oh well, no problem, according to the "Starr"; just wear some tan pantyhose with "them thar" shorts and maybe I can come close. Hee-hee........Right!

The only thing that came close to me masquerading as Brian was my prop; I had a whistle. U know we love his trusty whistle! That was about as close as I got to resembling our Adventure coach. :)

Starr came as Superwoman lookin' cute in her costume and red lipstick, and we had a country bumpkin roaming our camp too. The indisputable winner was one of our very cool campers who came as Richard Simmons. I'd like to call her "Charisma". Oh, that was a creative costume and it was a hoot! With a few personal effects, she claimed Richard Simmons......from the crazy hair, to his itty bitty shorts, to his leg warmers! It was fabulous! Great job, "Charisma". :)

The other best in show came as a Mac Daddy and old school pimp in an orange suit draped with large, gold jewelry. Yeah, baby, it was old school! :) The only thing he was missing was a big gold tooth and a fedora hat with the plume dancing in the wind! :) Hee-hee! Now who would that be? Take a guess, friends, readers, and fitness warriors! Our one and only.............:D

After we enjoyed the festivities of our Costume Party, we got to work with another killer total body workout. The workout was chock full of variety, fitness props and toys, and our own bodies we had to haul for our cardio sprints. Make no mistake, I might have thought this was going to be a relaxing party day, but it wasn't! I put my time and perseverance in! :)

At the end of our Halloween week, Brian and his assistants celebrated the "Trick or Treater" with some refreshments. Homemade pumpkin spice muffins! Mmmmm! They were wholesome and healthy, and they tasted GRR-R-E-A-T!

Wow! How much fun can you hope to get in a fitness camp! Brian always comes to Adventure with a sense of fun and you almost feel as good as being a kid again! I loved the costume dress-up and delighted in the muffins......I mean.......those muffins were probably made from our own pumpkin patch! What do you think?! :)

And then.......as I was packing up my mat and fitness gear, I saw the ugliest face come out of the studio. Yikes!! What IS that???

Umm.....Is that a man or a woman? Dang, that face is ugly! It was a surreal experience. Could we be in the Twilight Zone again, or maybe Dark Shadows?

Opps! Wait a minute. Is that a real face or a mask? Ha-ha! What?? That was our own "Velvet Hammer" in Halloween mask! :) Whew! Thank goodness for small favors. Just a little bit scary folks! What a treat to see Kim in Halloween protocol. Thank you Kim, for gracing our party with your extraordinary beauty! ;) lol!

It was a great way to end a hard week of camp, and an awesome month of workouts! Sometimes it is so important to learn to laugh and play like a kid again and not take ourselves so seriously. It is as essential and significant as anything else we try to do to keep ourselves well balanced, stress-free, and mentally healthy.

Yet, as much fun as Friday was, a new month was upon us, and it was time to get back on the saddle and start riding hard! Holidays would be coming up which can derail us, and the Transformation Contest was surging on with no time out. Time to step it up, Fitness Warriors! :) I'll catch up with you next month.

the pinK tiger.....

.........on the loose..........

A Bit of Adventure is Like Magic

2009-11-13T20:16:00.010-05:00

It seems that Adventure BootCamp has been amping up the workouts. :) Oh, yeah, Brian, you aren't messin' around, eh??!

The last 3 camps have been exceptional. Exceptional.......meaning challenging, exciting, novel, and kick ass "mad" fun! I have hardly recovered from the "Friday, Saturday, Pumpkin Workout Trifecta", and now Tuesday comes and we are doing cardio and abs. Not for the faint hearted! This is tough, folks, getting tougher!:) My body is screaming for a break, but I am compelled to keep pushing it. Why? Because I want to feel proud of my physique in the worst way. It will be freedom in the grandest sense as I continue to reach my goals and finally get to a place where I can look in the mirror and say, "Eh......Look at that! Not bad for an old lady!" :)

For me, it will be like walking out of an invisible self imposed prison of frustration and shame, and reveling in my authentic self and its subsequent joys. I will be free to be me! Because who I see in the mirror is not the woman I want to present to myself, or to the world. I have a much happier memory of myself and how I felt in my own skin. This is not the real me, and I don't choose to accept less than my best self.

Therefore, when I don't feel good about myself, I begin to hide and build walls. It primarily manifests itself on an emotional basis, but it often takes place on a physical plane as well....I sometimes will isolate.

Yes, friends, when I try on 2 or 3 pairs of jeans and can't get them up my thick thighs because I wore them 20 lbs. ago, I am not inclined to hit the social scene. Hee-hee! :( Even if I can wiggle up in them to the final test......ah, the zipper.......but I look like a sardine crammed in a can, it ain't gonna make me feel very confident! And I love feeling fit and pretty! :) Come on girls........isn't it the bomb??!!! :) Nothin' better in the world than feeling like you are at your best and you can hold your own! Nothin! :)

So as difficult as it may be to keep up the pace, I find so much strength in my fellow campers (and quite a few of them too) for different reasons that keep me centered. The Little Rocket will keep me running and positively inspired. She won't even let me say aloud "I can't". And "Sleek & Chic" will totally get me to crank it out when we do figure 8 runs or sprints! :) Dang, that girl is Bionic Woman! (hee-hee!)

Watching the veteran "Blazing B" handle her workout with A+ form, stamina, and grace, propels me to try the toughest options available, keeping my form solid and tight, and looking forward to a time when my overall workout and effort at camp will resemble hers! She is a phenomenal role model that is steady as she goes.

And then there is the "Gold Star" who's determination and discipline is very contagious. She approaches all the tough stuff with a sense of humor but is very exact in her strategy to win The Transformation Contest. She makes me aware of how every little choice I make in my day, whether activity or food, needs to be counted for. No freebies here, unless lettuce or celery! :)

I must say, she is keepin' this little chickadee on the move with all that youthful energy. She reminds me of how hungry and driven I was in my younger years to achieve my goals. And if I had it once, I can get it again. No way I'm gonna wuss out on a competitor of this style when keeping pace with her keeps me on target! :) You gotta say to yourself, "if she can do it, I can too!"

So many others have left an impact on me as well. As I continue to blog, I will mention all the different gifts I get from other Adventure Campers, too! With that said, I hope the above examples will get you to think about all the inspiration and lessons around you. One of them might be the lucky charm that unlocks the mystery and instills the solution for a problem area you might have been struggling with that keeps you from winning your game.

Yup, cardio is always a tough day for me, but when it becomes incorporated with an abundance of squats and leg work, then I know I am working at full throttle. As sore as I was, I hung on! Brian treated us with some pulsing squats, speed squats, and sit squats. God Bless him! :) He's another one that makes me laugh and smile inside, so at least the pain is palatable! :)

Ohhhhh.........it hurts just to think about that medley of squats! Talk about a double whammy! Doing the leg work as part of the cardio work hits 2 birds with 1 stone and I get to double dip the results! Whoo-hoo! And as odd as this may sound, it is one of the classes I love the most, 'cause I know I wouldn't possibly do it on my own with the consistency that Adventure gives me. Being in a group environment, you gotta rise up to the occasion no matter how tired or sore you are!

While I was struggling with my sore legs, a few others around me were glowing in the ab work. Hee-hee! Moans, groans, giggles, and good natured grumbles! Oh, did we have a workout for our abs! We did it all from planks, bicycle crunches, throw downs, and Russian twists. Brian ordered us everything off the menu! :)

Brian has always incorporated "diversified", his version of Asset Allocation for the Body! :) So interspersed within a variety of ab circuits and legwork was some ladder work. The ladder footwork was great because it gets my heart rate up to speed, and it teaches me agility and sharpens my reflexes. As I've gotten older, this is essential to keep up!

We also jumped over hurdles and cones. What can I say? Is this not an incredibly well balanced workout that hits all the high marks? I couldn't have put it together better myself, Brian! :) ha-ha!

End of the day, I kept kickin' it up! I ended the camp with a 2 mile walk/jog. From there I went to the gym and did another 25 minutes on the Cross Trainer.

Don't think I would have been inspired to work that hard without the camaraderie and inspiration of Adventure and my camper friends. The Transformation of the pinK tiger is working its way from the inside out. Its like Magic! :)

Comin' up............more Adventure BootCamp that only gets better! :)

the pinK tiger ........

.....ready to pounce to the next level.......:)

Slammin' It in The Great Pumpkin Patch

2009-11-03T23:16:00.007-05:00

Who'd have guessed that such sweet, orange pumpkins could create such a grueling workout? This was creativity at its best!

As all the campers situated themselves at camp, all eyes were turned towards the little pumpkin patch that Brian had created for our pleasure. :) Yes, curiosity and inquisitive imagination were flowing at a pique. What could he possibly have in mind for us to do with all this orange fun? :)

Brian had provided us with pumpkins of multiple sizes and shapes, and I couldn't wait to get my hands on one of those little "Mr. Happy" pumpkin heads! Which one would be mine? It was like picking your favorite horse at a riding stable before any of the other kids could get to it!

We were going to do a lot of different things with these little orange friends, and Brian wasn't trading down from his usual tough and fun workouts. I always know when he's got me good because I have problems getting up from a seated position the next day! Hee-hee! And he didn't fail us today either! He designed a total body workout that was slammin' awesome! :)

Such as it was with this orange delight, as we played in Brian's homemade pumpkin patch. The first circuit we did involved working our legs, core and using the Pumpkin like a medicine ball. This was much tougher than you might anticipate. There was some weight with this little fella, and it worked everything simultaneously. One set that really worked the glutes divinely was doing the chop squat, and then coming up with the pumpkin overhead. It was murder! It even worked the chest muscles because of how the little devil had to be held!

I looked over at the Gold Star and blinked. " Is this for real, I whispered to her?" "This is really, really hard", I managed to express between my breathless groans.

She giggled and continued to laugh. Oh my God....this was too funny, almost hilarious! Getting down with that pumpkin challenged all of us and it was amazing! All along I cried to my friend that I still had not recovered from Friday and Saturday workouts that nearly killed me. :) I was so stiff, sore, and tight, but I wasn't gonna let my pumpkin down!

As we continued to do an assortment of creative exercises with our orange friend, campers were giggling with delight, laughing, and groaning! Legs, back, core and abs...... it was all a challenge. It was heavier than you might think, and alerted my muscles that I was doing something different here. Some of my favorites which I found to be authentic killers was using the pumpkin during the walking lunge, the shoulder press, and a chest press. One of my favs in the camp, "Blazin' B" was getting very ambitious during those walking lunges, and worked her orange ball like a military press. Awesome! I tried, and it was all I could do to keep moving and try to duplicate a little chest press with it! :) We also used it doing a back row which was very effective. I grabbed the little stub and held it like a barbell. :)

By the end of the workout, I was feeling great, my body happy and very tired. This was something else! (hee-hee!) I got a phenomenal workout that surprised the heck out of me! I enjoyed it so much, that I went out and got a pumpkin to work out with me at home. I still have him and I call him Henry. :)

So all you slackers that missed this workout for whatever reason, you missed an original class that I deemed a true inspiration! :) It made me realize that if you can pick up a big ole piece of fruit like a pumpkin and work your muscles till they cry for mercy, you can always be innovative and find something in your environment that will do the job. Its just about how bad you want it! :)

This was a slammin' workout! It was so original, so fun, that I was thankful that Brian designed something new and innovative to keep the workouts fresh and motivating. Sometimes when the body gets tired, you can be in danger of burning out. I was near that point after the killer combo workouts from Friday and Sat.

I think one of the great things you get out of the Adventure BootCamp, is that it teaches you to create your own "little pumpkin patch" no matter where you are! So how 'bout you? Are you gonna create a little pumpkin patch of your own? :)

Thank goodness for little pumpkins. :)

the pinK tiger.........going orange......

Beef It Up With a Double Whammy, Acid-Rock Workout!

2009-11-03T04:19:00.017-05:00

A few of us from the Dublin AM BootCamp decided it was time to beef up our physical activity by doing an extra workout on Sat. I was still plenty sore from Friday's camp with Brian, after doing a fabulous mix of lower body and abs after our mile run. My glutes were tight and throbbing in pain, and they wanted to go on strike. I had pushed myself to my outer limits, and my muscles were tired and aching.

Still, I wanted to keep going as hard as I could without burning out. The Gold Star said she was coming out for an extra workout, and that was like an invitation to join the party for me! :) If I had not risen to the occasion, I would have been looking at the clock wondering what kind of great fat burning treats the Star was getting for her Transformation, that I turned down.

On schedule for today was the Total Body workout configured by Brian. These workouts and his cardio days are the most challenging for me. Kim, one of his lead trainers affectionately known as our "Velvet Hammer", was going to facilitate the class.

What I didn't know at the time I signed on, was that I was going to walk into the Lion's mouth today, folks! LOL :)

I thought I might breeze through this as a supplement workout, because I had given my all to Brian for the week, and he was killer, especially for my lower half. :) Star agreed that she, too, was really sore from that mighty workout yesterday as well. So we compared battle scars and knew that today was going to be a fun challenge! Thank goodness I had a few of my familiar comrades around to buffer the workout explosion!

We set up our gear, and socialized for a minute. New friends and campers always interest me. I met a regular Sat. camper who told me she decided to join Adventure because she was desperate to get in shape and she knew she needed to do something drastic. She simply didn't want to stay this way any longer. Isn't that the truth? I don't either. She was a lady who came to BootCamp immediately after work to get herself in the shape she envisioned. People are tired after work, so I know she is really committed.

When I go around camp and ask our campers what brought them here, I have come to believe it is courage that brings them. It takes courage to come in these camps for the first time, turn your lifestyle upside down, and admit you need something more than magical thinking to make your dreams come true.

Sometimes it takes something greater than ourselves. Usually, we need a drastic change in our daily routine to kick start us to make a lifestyle move. And most of all, we need solid direction, expertise, and lots of support! :)

Which has me thinking: Just as foolhardy or risky as it may be to invest in the stock market without a financial adviser, it is likewise foolhardy to invest in your fitness health without an advisor who can motivate you and get you the results you want! :) A fitness coach has seen a lot of "portfolios" or bodies, and various levels of motivation. It takes an expert to determine where you are and what you need to win this game. As far as the pinK tiger is concerned, the fitness expert you choose is just as important as the doctor you choose. Not all doctors are equal; and not all fitness advisors and coaches are equal. Pay attention to their credentials. :)

As we began, Kim blew the whistle and started us up with a no nonsense approach. We went through the warm-ups and then we started to break it down. This was one tough workout! It left me breathless. My heart, spirit and motivation was very present, but my body was screaming, "Give me a break already!"LOL :)

I knew my body was fatigued because it wasn't moving as fast and strong as my spirit wanted to go. Bending around those cones seemed like I was moving in slow motion with lead in my shoes; tripping over the ladder every now and then told me my body didn't want to cooperate, and my reflexes were sluggish.

Dang! When double packed with yesterday's workout, this was gonna be a double whammy that would surely test my mettle! :) Oh, baby, this was no playtime! Lol!

When we got to our succession of squats and lunges I was working at total capacity. Kim transformed herself into the "Velvet Hammer" when she looked at some of us who weren't holding weights for this circuit. She didn't say much; she simply motioned for us to get out the heaviest weights we could handle safely and responsibly. She wasn't about to let us wimp out on ourselves or her.

This little kitten was getting ready to roar like a lion! :) I could see it in her demeanor and dark shiny eyes! (hee-hee)

Oh, Lordy! Time to suck it up! I clutched a pair of 8 lb weights which were the heaviest I ever did with this circuit. My legs were churning to mush as they quivered like jello. After all, we had worked out our legs and lower body yesterday, and I was still attempting to recover from those Killer reps Brian sweetly bestowed upon us! LoL:)

At this point Kim quickly unzipped her jacked with a deadpan expression, and on her shirt were black bold letters that revealed the true nature of her position "Drill Sergeant!" Uh huh! She got that right! :) All right sweet Kim! ;)

The group had to chuckle! One thing about the Adventure BootCamp.....you always get a dose of humor to ease the pain! lol:)

We moved on to a diversified mix of other circuits that hit our shoulders, back, triceps, and abs. We used all the workout toys that included the exercise bands, cones and ladders.

As I bustled through all these exercises, I was very aware that though Brian wasn't here, the distinctive flavor of this workout had his signature written all over it. :) This challenge today was definitely a gift from our coach! :)

So what made this day different? Lots of things. The campers were different, and as I've said in my other blogs, each of us brings to the camp our own energy and personality. Its almost like mixing chemicals in a science lab. Add or remove any particular person or chemical within the mix, and you will have invented a new chemical, or actually a new aura and dynamic, floating in the air! :)

Another thing was the time of day. We Dublin warriors work out in the bright moonlight and under those heavenly stars. The sunlight was very welcoming, but it gave a different feel to the workout.

And then the most important variable was the facilitation. All these nuances and little changes can take you out of your comfort zone and challenge you in a new way. The personality of the coach may not change the intensity of the prescribed workout, but may change your perception of your workload.

For today, my muscles were really cooked, and it seemed like we were flying through these circuits with less recovery time between circuits. Was it my imagination because I was fatigued? It surely provided an exceptional cardio workout, because there seemed to be no time to walk or dally around between the stations! It was Run, Baby, Run! LOL!

The drill sergeant's whistle would go off regardless of whether you were in place or not, and the group waited for no one! Hee-hee!

Hey, we were with a drill sergeant who captured our imaginations with her dry sense of humor. :) The kitten that roared was like a real BootCamp sergeant! :) Who could not love this?

Still, I had to ask myself why this workout seemed so tough?All of Brian's workouts are incredibly wicked if you amp up your intensity. Then I realized that...... sometimes a little sugar with that medicine can make you forget how terrible that medicine tastes! :)

Hee-hee! The Velvet Hammer will quietly challenge you to work your hardest, and you just know you gotta meet the expectation. :) She is all business and quite the taskmaster folks! It is great fun, but you know you are workin' your a%# off ! :)

Brian slips a little sugar under that medicine with a clever charm and humor, and even though you work at a slammin' throttle, your perception might be,"This is so much fun; it doesn't even hurt!" :)

Ha ha! :) That's until a couple of hours later. By the next day......Giddy-up! Your body is talkin' to you!

True, "The Man With the Plan" is every bit as tough as the "Velvet Hammer" but he is a master of illusions! :) LoL! Its almost like magic. :)

Yes I like that sugar. That medicine tastes so good you don't even know how hard you're workin' until later! :)

I specifically remember one of my comrades telling me one day that the workout was "kinda' easy today"; by the next day it was a different story! Oh, she was sore for a week after making that preliminary assessment :)

And I was too, right along with her. :)

If there is any trainer that I envision coming to the camp with a bag of "trick or treats", you know who comes to my mind first! Hee-hee! ;)

Fellow fitness warriors, this was an extraordinary combo to play out, and it was a Double Whammy Intense! Whether it is the additional workout at the end of the week, or the unique flavor and style that each trainer brings to the camp, it will kick your butt! (LoL)

Packaged together, the accumulative effect is Killer with a capital K! Lol! :)

I liked the challenge and intensity so much that I will try to do it every other week or so. I will need some weeks to recover.

So listen up fitness addicts. It you want an Acid-Rock Workout that challenges you in all directions.....and got you goin' in all directions (lol)...... give yourself a chance to workout with both trainers! If you are working out with a different trainer in Brian's team, I'm sure you are getting the same great workouts, but come on Sat. and check it out! It will certainly be another opportunity to blow you off your customary groove and thrust you into the Twilight Zone! :)

Finishing the week with an extra workout is the bomb! What a great way to get your weekend on, with no regrets and guilt-free!

And remember! If you are in for the Transformation Challenge, this is one way to beef up your strategy to get ahead of your component! We are coming around the corner in a very short time, so no time to snooze! :)

So come on and join the fun with the pinK tiger & friends! We'll be sure to save you a space for the Sat. Acid Rock BootCamp Party! :)

the pinK tiger.....

.....6th time is a charm....

purrr...mash....purrrrr :)

How Sweet It Is!

2009-10-27T21:16:00.011-04:00

This was the day the pink tiger had been anticipating. I had already faced one of my fears....getting weighed and measured after a long road trip. Now it was Phase 2. We would get timed on our push-ups and mile run. I didn't have great expectations, but I did keep a positive mindset. The Adventure BootCamp was nudging me to face myself and my fears. And more than a few times.

One of my concerns was my breathing and how it seems to close up. I talked with a friend who dealt with asthma and suggested I try a little Vicks around my nose. I doused some of the ointment around my nose and breathed in slowly. Maybe it would help a little.

I also thought about Brian in his Marathon Race, and how he handled the pain in his leg that could have taken him down if he let it. That's when I asked myself, "What would Brian do?"

I find for myself that if I have had little experience in a situation that frightens me, the most positive effective thing I can do is to envision a role model that I respect and admire handling the same situation. He already showed us what mind over matter can accomplish! I just needed a plan for what I would do when the gasping and wheezing began to disable me. I also thought about what Brian had told me regarding pacing, and deviating the stride if need be. He said sometimes changing or tweaking a small detail can have a substantial effect if you find a problem developing.

We gathered at the base camp and were timed and measured on our pushups. I did more than I ever have, probably because my adrenaline was maxed out thinking about the mile run. I pumped them out as fast and furious as I could. I increased at least by 35%. Fantastic! Now, I will need to start doing them deeper, slower, and progress to the standard men's pushup even if I begin with only 1. That's the plan! I also want to incorporate more of those heavenly diamond patterns that usually kick me to the curb! :)

We all filed into the building to mark our numbers on our chart, and then we gathered for the run. Brian threw us for a huge surprise, especially me, when he announced that anyone who did the mile in 12 minutes or less last camp would have to join the running group.

Of course, it didn't register that this would include me, until "the Gold Star" said, "Karen, that's you. You ran less than 12 min. last time!"

My pupils dilated and my eyes got very black. Gulp! I started stuttering to myself. Me? I'm gonna run with the Big DoGs? But I'm not ready. I'll probably be making everyone wait on me as I trail in from the opposite side of the world! LoL :(

I got a little scared. As much as Brian has said that we must believe in ourselves to succeed, I was just flabbergasted. The good thing was that I didn't have much time to ponder it. Campers were getting on their mark. I situated myself towards the back of the pack near "star" and took a deep breath. There was at least some comfort that we would start off together.

The whistle blew and the Big DoGs were off and running. I didn't think about how fast they fanned out in front of me; I just tried to stay focused on my intent. "Gold Star" was moving along the side of me and then I lost her when she moved up towards the sidewalk. I could feel my breathing tighten up a little, but I focused on working through the discomfort. I pretended that I wasn't really running. I was walking......walking on air.....walking on a cloud! Serene, peaceful, easy.

One of the campers I noticed was running close to my speed and we would go back and forth taking a nominal lead. I didn't know her, but for this race, she seemed familiar. She was running and resting at about the same intervals as me. I decided I would use her as my pacer, and not let myself lose sight of her.

My breathing got a little testy at times, but I was working through the discomfort and thought about all the things that would give me mental strength. I thought of Brian in his Marathon, I thought of "the Little Rocket's" smiling face and her proclamation that "I can do this"! I thought of the "Gold Star" and her steadfast determination and competitive resolve, and all the support she and others had given me. I wasn't gonna stop now!

I went as long as I could and then I even accelerated for a brief distance, trying to implement the tidbits Brian told me. The breathing was difficult, but not insurmountable; I could still breathe. And there was something inside me that simply didn't want to quit. I was compelled to push myself all the way. It was the desire to succeed. But it may have been the Fear of Failure as well. Fear can be a powerful motivator, too. I couldn't stand the thought of approaching Brian at the finish line with a much slower time than the last camp run. I had no intentions of embarrassing myself.

As I went around the bend, there again appeared my new running mate. She kicked it up and moved in front of me. I decided I was going to keep up. We each took turns taking the lead, and then we took off for the finish. I was gasping, I was tired, but I kept my eye on the ball.

She pulled ahead of me but I maintained her pace, and was right behind her! Giddy-up PinK Tiger! Make your move! Don't you even think about slowing down now!

At the last turn I tried to sprint with everything I got and finished right up behind her. When Brian announced I had finished in 10:34 minutes I was in disbelief! I had improved by 34 seconds! Whoo hoo! :)

Celebrate, celebrate! Dance to the music!!

My running mate and I gave each other a high five and it was the best feeling I could have ever had! Oh, how sweet it is!:)

Brian looked back at me and said, "And you said you couldn't do it! Good job, Karen!" He gave me a big smile. That was the cherry on top, baby! :)

My comrades came up to me and asked how I did. They must have seen the joy in my face. All those days I practiced running after everyone left camp finally paid off; maybe not last camp but this camp! It might have taken my body longer to process my improvements, but without a doubt it was worth every single minute of hard work and sacrifice!

With that said, I have to give kudos to my "inspiration team", because they were living in my mind every day I got up to practice my runs. They gave me the hope to believe I could do this. And their example motivated me to strive for myself. Thank you, friends! You're the best! :)

I checked in with the "Gold Star" and she also succeeded in improving her speed. Yet, being a true competitor of her self, she was a little disappointed that she didn't show a more significant change. She also had worked long and hard to get her win.

I knew how she felt, because last time after all that practice time, I only best my time by 11 seconds. She had encouraged me to pay attention to my success, my improvement, as modest as I might have thought it was. Now it was my chance to give back to "star" and remind her she's in this for the long haul! Bit by bit she's making her way to the top and she's a champion! She gained in the right direction. Now is a good time to pick up the profits and keep going!

I believe that most gains in life are not made in a straight line. It takes on more of a spiral effect. Weight loss seems to work the same way. It may go up and down a few pounds for awhile, moving 2 steps forward and 1 back. You may not lose anything for weeks, and then it all falls off. :)

Part II:

The rest of the hour was a workout that targeted the lower body and the abs. I was on such a cloud I can't even recall all the circuits Brian directed us through, except I can tell you the leg work was totally awesome. We did some of the gold standards of squats, power squats, speed skater, splits, and maybe something similar to a lunge. I always love to watch one particular camper do this repertoire, because she has such extraordinary form and she jumps and moves with such power and gusto it sometimes awes me.

She is one of the Big DoGs of the camp, and I have always admired her. She runs fast like a blaze, and her effort is never less than 110%. I would like to call her "Blazing B".

I doubt very much if she even realizes that I watch her, but I do. I watch her form, her workout ethic, and which options she chooses. Her power squats are serious! I look at her powerful, toned legs, and tell myself, "I want 'them' legs"! LOL :)

So when Brian directed us to do leg lifts, fire hydrants, and other fun things that made my legs "scream, scream, scream", I looked over at this cool, strong lady and followed her legs. My thighs and buns were burning with a vengeance, but she kept working in perfect form without hesitation. Guess, if I want her strong, powerful legs, I'm gonna have to work for them! :) But I was cryin'! Believe me, I was hurting! LoL :)

By the end of the BootCamp my muscles could hardly move. The abs got a great workout too, but the only thing I could feel was my poor achin' _ _ _ ! :)

Not to be discouraged however! The Star and I decided we were going to come in on Saturday and beef up our efforts for a wham-bam double duty workout! Little did I know that whatever soreness and muscular fatigue I was feeling now, wasn't even the half of it! :)

Tune in to the next blog to read just how intensely effective Brian's super workout was on this Friday, combined with his all body workout on Saturday!! Friends, you've got to give yourself a chance to experience this double whammy at least once! :)

the pinK tiger will see you there!

Could You Be the Crown Jewel in Hiding?

2009-10-27T17:11:00.016-04:00

It was Thursday, and the day to work our upper body. Yup, we had an excellent workout! We did various circuits, some that included walk out push-ups, monster tricep dips, and even power squats and step-ups for a cardio push. We got to end with a cardio run after each set.

I was delighted that "the gold star" deliberately and decisively chose to run with me at each interval! You're the best, Girl! Let's get it on! :) What a difference it can make when a comrade is willing to take you under their wing and push you to their speed and endurance. She runs at a faster clip than me, but manageable. I wanted to run a new pace and for these short intervals I was successful. As I said in one of the last blogs, nothing is better for your success than to pair yourself with someone who can do a little more than you, run a little faster than you, or carries the mindset of a pit bull with lipstick! :) Ha! I knew you'd get a chuckle with that one!

The power of a working partner that elevates you to perform at your personal best is just tremendous. I hope all of you fitness warriors will find someone you can hook up with to periodically re-pace yourselves, and re-calibrate your new abilities. Just like "the Little Rocket", "Gold Star" has had a dramatic impact in my desire to run and use it as a predominant training tool. The additional benefit too, is that she is starting fresh with running like me, and so our beginning goals are more closely matched, and our spiral climb to the top somewhat comparable.

For today, one of the circuits Brian had us do involved a series of shoulder and bicep exercises at various stations with the exercise bands and dumbbells. This time, I thought I must be getting stronger, because it was the 1st time I used 8lb. weights for the military press. Giddy-up! :) However, hours later my shoulders ached and I was sore. That's a good thing! Thank you coach! :)

The exercise bands are creepers, I must say! Sometimes you don't realize how hard your muscles are working until later. Doing these succession of exercises in this interval format really can blow those muscles out of the water! :) I've always marveled at Brian's ability and expertise to position and time these exercises in the perfect order that gets the maximum burn. There is certainly deliberation in his sweet madness! :D Give it up for the Top DoG! Whoo-hoo! :)

We in the Dublin AM camp know Brian has a great sense of humor too, so he always likes to throw in a few killers, and for this day it was definitely the walk-outs. There was plenty of grunting, heaving and laughing! Our trainer had me muttering to myself again. Its murder, I tell you! Murder! :)

While I was muttering, the "gold star" laughed and laughed, making the best of this opportunity to feel the burn.

The other famous goodie that I knew Brian would eventually feed us were the tricep dips. Oh...my.....as always it was brutal! I have to laugh when Brian targets the chicken wings, because he doesn't ever monkey around. I always see this gleeful sparkle in his eye come to life, and an ornery smile spread across his face when he's ready to whammy us! Hee-hee, it makes me laugh! :) Gotta laugh cause I "ain't" gonna cry. Besides, this healthy pain can be managed with a little humor! My triceps are simply having a love/hate affair with Brian. LoL! He never lets them down! (hee-hee!)

I heard campers around me audibly dying with these tricep killers so I wasn't the only one. I have no doubt that his other fabulous trainers are gifting you in the other camps with the same sweet torture!:)

I really try to watch my form on these dips, because they are much more difficult to perform when you keep your entire body still and isolate your triceps to lift and lower your body weight. That's when they become another Brian Monster Special! LoL ;D

So.........are you going through the motions of a tricep dip or are you doing the Brian Monster Special?!! The pinK tiger is gonna be watchin' you all! :) And me? I am getting myself ready for when he ramps up the dip to a pulsing dip and it evolves into a true dedicated monstrosity! :)

In between the tricep dips we did a circuit of cardio that included power squats, steps ups, and running back and forth from the middle line. This again is a little surprise that Brian slipped in the set. It may be cardio, but dang......we sure are working those legs too, huh? Double the pleasure, double the pain, eh?! LOL!

I did fairly well with these shorter runs and was happy that I got a chance to run with the "Gold Star". It was great, because its wonderful to have a workout partner. She lights me up when we work our goals and aspirations together.

One of our last activities was something that brought back memories of a childhood game called "Tag". It was fun, playful, and yet it served the special purpose of practicing agility and sharpening our reflexes. Actually, it was great! More adults should learn to let go and just be playful. It was fun to watch many of us laugh and giggle like little girls again, and evoke that tender childlike spirit.

Playing together, working together creates bonds that can have a very healthy effect on our psyche. If there is anything I wish I could impress upon my fellow fitness warriors, it might be that I hope all of you will empower yourselves by giving of yourselves to another. It is a very fulfilling gesture. It can give you a fantastic "high", and you will get back more than you give.

Maybe every now and then, take the time to lift the person next to you. What an incredible opportunity to impact someone who might really be looking up to you. They may watch you and say to themselves, "I want to be just like her! I want to be as good as any other Big DoG that's really got their groove on! And the newer members who are working towards that goal but who have the mindset of a champion? You got even more to give! I know I got one givin' to me and she is unequivocally AWESOME! Her gift is every bit as significant as that of a Big DoG and she has been a precious jewel to me. Do you suppose YOU could be the jewel for someone in your camp? Come out of hiding and show yourself for the champion you really are. :)

Tomorrow is "the Day"! We have the mile run tomorrow, and its all I'm thinking about. I really want to do well, and I'm crossing my fingers. I want to improve and succeed for me, my trainer/coach, and for my supportive teammates. I have only run a few times in the last 2 weeks, and cardio conditioning doesn't maintain on its own. But I am not afraid to know where I stand, because the truth will be my teacher.

When camp let out, I was filled with motivation. I stayed over to practice my run and familiarize myself again with the sights, smells, and feel of the terrain that I would race. After that, I will do about 35-40 minutes cardio on the elliptical.

That's it for the PinK tiger! Let's go hit that mile run tomorrow and make our coach and our sexy selves proud! :)

the pinK tiger......

.....on the run!

The Brian Monster Special x 2

2009-10-25T19:39:00.008-04:00

This Wednesday was a monster day as Brian amped up the workout. I think he is determined to get us in shape, and give us the chance to see what we are capable of doing. :) Perhaps he is of the mindset, "No Fitness Warrior Left Behind?" LoL. ;)

There "ain't" no way you can't lose weight and get fit under his tutelage. I bet all the rest of his drill sergeants are the same way. I know the Velvet Hammer doesn't monkey around. :)

All I can say is that if you or I don't get what we want out of this BootCamp, we must not have wanted it bad enough. Brian and his team are doing their job; are we doing ours? Be honest.

I need to ask myself that often, because complacency is a sneaky, shady enemy. I may think because I show up at camp everyday, and eat decently with only a few indiscretions, I am doing all I can to win this war against the fat. But in my heart of hearts, if I'm not pushing through my pain, mental obstacles, or fatigue, I'm not doing all I can to improve myself and really get better! I'm just coasting.

Brian started us out with the ladder as our first slated activity. One thing I've learned about my body, is that I need a substantial warm up time to super perform my workout. I never needed much as a young person, but that has drastically changed now. I actually need a pre-warm up. I should walk a good 10 minutes before I can comfortably start a jog as my warmup. Yup, the ladder work was kickin'!

Another fabulous activity was running the cones in figure 8s. I had another terrific chance to experience what a powerful influence teamwork and camaraderie can do. I was running behind 2 Big DoGs; one was a young, sleek colt in front....I'll call her "Sleek & Chic"... and then there was "The Little Rocket". "The Little Rocket" was tearing around those cones like a Formula 1 at the Indy. It was all I could do to keep up. She and the colt were pushing me at full throttle! Dang, these women are fast! :)

The power of working with someone faster & stronger than you is no joke. I always deliberately push myself to my perceived full capacity, but this was really kickin' it up the next level! ; ) Its something to think about if you are striving to break through your plateau. Next time we form lines, think about the line you choose. Maybe we already do, huh? :)

Thank you, Lil Rocket for your inspiration. And kudos to "Sleek & Chic" in front for setting the pace. You sure do got a pace, girl! :)

We did some heavy duty ab work, too. My abs are stronger than some folks, but on this day they were crying "mercy, mercy"! They were aching deep inside and it was a delicious sensation! I noticed many other campers were feelin' it, too. Brian directed us to perform the standard goodies including crunches, the bicycle, and using a weight overhead. These came in rapid succession that caused that delicious muscle failure.

Finally Brian announced that he had "a special" for us, and I smiled and held my breath. "Got to be some planks", I whispered to "Gold Star". Sure enough we were treated to a moving plank, where we had to move up and down while holding the plank on each side. It was a monster to do after that full succession!

I heard "Gold Star" laugh and giggle next to me and she literally couldn't stop. I think she found it amusing that any exercise could be so tough! :) I was struggling my own self, too. I was wondering if Brian had forgotten to blow his trusty whistle! :)

With all the various cardio circuits and demanding ab work, the day just would not have been complete without The Brian Monster Special. What would that have been? It was those "suicides", back and forth between the parking lines, in triplet form. It was a kick ass cardio routine that really pushed the envelope! :) I was coming to the end of my stamina when Brian encouraged me to "keep it going".

Encouragement is a powerful motivator for me just as music is. There's just nothing that feels so good when your trainer sees you need that extra kick and provides it for you. Brian you're my main man when it comes to fitness! :) And your cardio is all killer!

As we performed this interval run a few times I got winded. Yet, even though I trailed in last with this circuit, I heard cheers and encouragement from the sidelines by all the other campers, including my inspirational team. What a great team of women! We do it for each other.

This was a tough day for me at Adventure, and that's exactly why I loved it! At end of camp, "Gold Star" talked about the various runs that were coming up around Thanksgiving, and said she was thinking about doing the Turkey Run."Little Rocket" had some ideas of her own for the After Thanksgiving races around town. It is awesome to see how one positive step evokes another. Then it starts building on each other.

"Little Rocket" is also doing some preliminary training for a triathalon. Talk about motivation, inspiration, and thinking big! This fireball does swimming lessons after BootCamp and then runs 5 miles in the evenings! Determination and that "can-do" attitude is what it's all about. And its contagious, too!

Brian and even Kim have mentioned that if we really want to transform ourselves, we need to work it beyond the camp. Myself, I have been doing some additional cardio work on the elliptical and also practice jogging a few days a week after camp. Still, maybe training for a race, no matter how small, would make a huge difference in transforming my physical prowess, capability, and my confidence too.

How 'bout you, fitness friends? Are you doing much out of camp, and if so, what works for you? Would love to hear your suggestions and comments, because we are all in this together, aren't we?

I don't know about you, but I want to be in the winning circle. My comrades above are both winners - one is a semi-new member, and the other a veteran marathon runner. To keep company with such champions can be very potent to my own success. With my friends' encouragement and support, I may want to do more than get fit and trim.

Transformation Warriors, you heard it first from the pinK tiger! These are 2 competitors to watch for in the winning circle.

Go Dublin AM, Go! :)

(....got the PinK tiger purrrrrin'..........)

The Power of Friendship & Camaraderie

2009-10-22T23:42:00.009-04:00

My first day back at camp was on Tuesday. I was still very tired, and my muscles were tight from all the driving. My bones even seemed to creak. Yeah, even though I did some strength training in the room with exercise bands and my own weight, I had not performed a solid, vibrant workout since 11 days ago.

I was anxious to get started again. Getting back to Adventure was like "coming home" again. It also contained all the tools I needed to flourish. Here, I would have a leader to coach and advise me, a structured group workout with the positive energy of many "like" souls wanting to accomplish the same goals as me, and my favorite teammates who were my friends and real inspiration.

The first comrade I came up upon was "Star". My what a welcome sight. She told me she held title for one of the 3 most improved campers last month. Way to go "Star"! You go girl!! :)

I asked her how her off-week had gone, and it seems she has been kicking it up a notch! She said she was including more out of camp running....as much as an extra half hour, 5 days a week, to maximize her time and accelerate her weight loss. This is one tough lady, and she is focused. She has made up her mind that she is working this BootCamp to win the Transformation Contest. With "Star", there is this quiet, competitive resolve within her that almost seems unflappable. And she said that she made up her mind to change her eating habits, and she is doing it. Yes. As simple as making the decision to make every bite count.

Wow! So much for excuses. I knew the first day I met her she was a "star" and had star quality. I think its time to upgrade that to "the Gold Star". :)

So listen up fellow competitors of the Transformation Contest! We got a semi-new member who is biting at our heels. She reminds me of a pit bull who "ain't " gonna let go of this one! :) hee-hee! I will bet my money that "the Gold Star" will be one of the top 3 finalists, and may very well take the gold medal home. A whole year of free Adventure BootCamp? That's like Olympic Gold, baby! :) I think I would be on a nonstop euphoric "high" if I could ever claim such a prize!

What does this do for me? Well, high time to amp up my own strategy. Time to get it on for Moi! If she can do it, so can I, dang it! :)I am thus reading all of Brian's emails again on goal setting, and writing my own down. It may even be time to share them with someone I trust and respect, and even admire; someone who's opinion of my credibility matters.

"The Gold Star" made a comment that I have professed the entire time, but hearing it from her only solidified it. She said, "I have made up my mind to give it my all, because I don't want to be coming to BootCamp 5 months from now, still working on the same pounds I did when I first arrived". That makes sense!

Now is the time to take action when everything is in place for success to happen. All the stars are lined up. I know "the Gold Star" doesn't want to squander her opportunity, and neither do I. Do you??

As we started our BootCamp, the opening itinerary included a jog around the parking lot . Brian gave us a chance to implement a technique that would increase your speed if you worked it. It requires you to amp up your speed and recover, with 1:3 proportions. Its the same as interval training, but you're amping up your speed on the jog or run more than your standard pace. To get fast, you have to train fast. Duh! Otherwise, you just keep getting more of what you've been getting.

For me, I don't typically train fast. My internal clock is simply a moderate pace, so attempting to move at lightening speed doesn't come natural or easy. But that is exactly what I want Brian to do for me.....to push me as hard as I can take and to help me create a new rhythm and inner clock for myself. This is why a dedicated trainer such as Brian is so valuable to me in my quest to win. He has me doing things I'm not quite ready to do on my own.

I went around the parking lot, and tried to implement this technique as long as I could without gasping. This was tough, because I feel I'm going good by just jogging. Now I need to speed up my jogging as well! My breathing was heavy, but I was able to go around the full circle without stopping. I would estimate that I lost about half of my little gains in my off week without cardio work. It doesn't discourage me.

The next thing at task was a routine for the day that would include chest, back and arms. I didn't do too badly with the upper body, maybe because I had been using the exercise bands even if only a few minutes most of the days. Still, I felt like rubber. I couldn't feel my triceps. They had momentarily disappeared. But I know Brian will be feeding my triceps plenty of treats for my Michelle Obama arms before the week is over! ;)

How about the diamond pushups? I love them because they can really kick my #!$%! :) Heh-heh! Needless to say.... I was having a time handling them this go round. I will need to work hard this week to get myself up to speed. Thank goodness our bodies have a memory, eh?! The following day my chest was really, really sore.

This is the beginning of a new camp and a new slate. I am determined to put all the components together for my best effort yet. I want to taste the sweetness of success.

I was further encouraged because as camp ended, "the Gold Star" and I talked about meeting out of camp once a week for a run. I know running with this determined and focused lady would incite me to accelerate my own game. This new member is on her way to becoming one of the Big DoGs. And I want to join the ranks with her! :)

Brian had mentioned to me that working out with someone better or more advanced than you pays great dividends. It is the best thing we can do to improve ourselves. How very true. We, as humans, tend to gravitate to the bars we set, and yet they can be unconsciously determined by the level of goals and aspirations of those who surround us.

You've heard the old expression, "Birds of a feather flock together?" It seems that this is the case with fitness, nutrition, business, and anything else that matters in this world. We tend to position ourselves accordingly. Hang around ambitious people, and we too, will elevate ourselves to that plane. Hang around slackers and we start becoming complacent and may begin to lose our edge.

About this time "the Little Rocket" came my way. "Little Rocket" is one of the Big DoGs I really admire. She is positive, strong, decisive, and an exceptional motivator. I look at her and have to smile. Very big things do come in small packages, and she is expansive in her outlook. The Little Rocket lives life large and on her own terms. I'll take a page from her notebook any day. She provides a camaraderie and a contribution to me and other fitness warriors at Adventure that is invaluable.

So it was great to see "the Little Rocket". But then she totally dropped the bomb on my preconceived beliefs of myself. She said, "Why don't you train for the Cap City Marathon coming this May? If you start training now, you could run that race."

My eyes just got big. Huh? What......me??? You're playin' with me, right?! I have never run or competed in a race in my entire life! I'm not exactly in the Spring season of my youth and I have respiratory difficulties running one mile. My body has never even experienced such a thing. I have no frame of reference for it. Blah, blah, blah.....lol!

We continued to talk and shared with Brian on his marathon run. I wanted to know how he overcame the pain coming up in his leg with his soleus injury in his calf, that had totally taken him off the road more than once. How does someone get the mental toughness to override the fear of an injury possibly disabling you from continuing the race? What do you put in your head when you are feeling those warning pains or ready to drop, and how do you manage that fear and pain? Brian hurt himself so badly that he couldn't even run for a few weeks prior to the race. Yet he still went out there and did it. That takes guts!

So I wanted to know some of his techniques for training....especially for improving my running time. One of his answers to me was "speed training". I enjoy learning from the best, and I came away realizing that a 1st rate trainer can give you expertise and direction that is priceless. Each individual trains differently, and a 1st rate premier coach will know how to build a custom individualized program based on your composite. That means assessing the physical abilities or limitations correctly, and getting inside the person to work with their mental framework and motivations, too.

Wow! Its amazing that I would even consider such a venture as a race, but I think if I had a mentor and training partner to help me navigate the process, it might just be a very thrilling adventure to achieve. Think of the sense of self-fulfillment you would experience! This would force me to practice mental toughness and discipline, push through my comfort zone. I could totally reinvent myself and see myself in a new dimension!

And the by product? Well, with all that running.......I gotta be slimming down! :) It would be "bye, bye bootie"! Love it! :) Something to think about.

"Little Rocket" and I also talked about forming a casual nutrition support group. This would be a fabulous adjunct to the BootCamp and outside workouts. What do you all think? Comment on this blog or let us know.

As I got in my car, I had a lot to think about indeed. Breaking out of our self imposed prisons can be a mind blowing thing! And to succeed takes more than just wanting it. It takes commitment, a plan, and plenty of support. With Adventure BootCamp I have learned first hand the power of "more than one". I am so grateful for all the positive support I get from my friends at Adventure, and equally appreciative that our lead coach is willing to share his knowledge, expertise, and experience in and out of camp.

Some of you push me to think big.....live big. Sometimes it takes someone else believing in us in the early phase, before we can take the torch and believe in ourselves. "The Little Rocket" has made such an impact on me.

The strength of camaraderie and a collective spirit is a very powerful thing.

For all of you and me who have this extraordinary opportunity to be in Adventure BootCamp, let's take advantage of all the tools and rich resources it has to offer. The friendships I have formed in Adventure are precious, because we all are a very select group. We are a group of women who is willing to get up before sunset, or take our free time after a very long day of work, and get fit and transform our bodies. It makes me beam to think about it! :)

When you think of the masses of people who choose to do nothing more than walk the dog as their best exercise, you know what I'm talking about. I think Brian got a view of it at the Circleville Pumpkin Festival. :) Hee-hee!

So the pinK tiger wants to thank each of you that makes the commitment to come to BootCamp. You are GREAT! Even though I may not have had the pleasure to know you or converse with you personally, it really matters every day you come. You are part of that aura that makes the energy in Adventure so awesome! If you think you are not missed when you can't make class, you are so, so mistaken! Each of us is making a significant impact on at least one person whether we know it or not. They just might not tell you! ; )

Let's all buoy each other up and rally ourselves for what we want! We have the power to make this BootCamp any and every thing we want. Let's make it work for us. It is the "power of us"!

Let's make it the Greatest Adventure BootCamp that ever was!

Its the PinK tiger......

.....rearing to roar like a lion! :)

What I Learned on Off-Week

2009-10-22T21:37:00.005-04:00

Hello Friends, Fellow Fitness Warriors, and Readers,

The PinK Tiger is back! It seems like a long time since I wrote a blog, so my creative process is a little stiff today....just like when you don't exercise for a week and then come back the first day. Oyyy. Not walking quite as straight. Not quite as smooth as when you are in the groove and got some momentum behind you. :)

But allow me to give you a quick update: My off-week was consumed with 12-15 hr days traveling and working in Flint and Grand Rapids, MI. With no days off, I didn't have much time to exercise and it was a struggle to eat clean. Fatigue got its grip on me and as I've mentioned before that is my demon. I need to avoid fatigue at all costs, because it will take me down faster than anything.

Has anyone ever heard of HALT? In the recovery communities, it stands for Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired. These are the danger zones that can take us off course if we get too deep in any of these quicksands. So if you are feeling any of these emotions, brace yourself and get hyper vigilant about your environment, triggers, and people who might take you off your stride. Uh huh, you heard me right. I read it in the newspaper and Brian sent us an email.....Your friends and associates can have a huge influence on whether you are fat or not, too! Hmmmm. Yet the worst culprit is just plain ole isolation. I had an abundance of that on the road.

Regarding my exercise, I brought my exercise bands and I did some resistance training in 15 minute segments; morning and evening when possible. I didn't have much chance for cardio, except to take a few brisk walks around the parking lot compound. Because of the traffic, I only tried to jog 2x on the weekend. It will be interesting to see if I lost much conditioning when I get tested for the mile run on Friday. I tell myself, "not to worry". If I have lost the small gains I made, this will be a sure fire test to prove what happens when I take a week off from training my lungs! :) I can make this into a learning opportunity....eh Brian? :) lol

The food factor was another matter. I was fortunate to stay at the Residence Inn at the Marriott. I had a small kitchen. I didn't have time to cook, but it was very handy all the same. I ate lots of eggs, scrambled, poached and hard boiled. I loaded the fridge with lots of yogurt, and I brought my Isagenix for shakes and quick on the run meals. I ate a few good salads made with vinegar and olive oil. I also ate apples when I craved something sweet and crunchy.

The other days I mostly ate fresh turkey from a place next door that carved it whole every day. It was called Turkey Hill. I did very good the first 7 days. The last 3 days were marginal. I stumbled on a place that made hand made ice cream - more than homemade! And that was when I was faced with making a choice.

I walked away from it the first day. On the 2nd day, I hesitated a long time before I decided to go for it, but it was a decision not born of "out of control" eating. I simply wanted to try it! :) So I got myself a one dip cup. And yes folks! If you have an epicurean taste for ice cream, this was some delectable stuff! Yum, yum!

Fine. No problem in enjoying an occasional, scheduled treat. I didn't even go over my calorie limits. It was the next day when things were getting frustrating with people and work, and I had to kill an hour with nothing to do, that my mind started wandering towards Uncle Ray's. I was doing lots of business in the neighborhood of Uncle Ray's Ice Cream and that is when I made an impulsive decision that didn't feel good. Yes, it had to be the very best, most sumptuous ice cream I ever ate in my life! The first dip was worth every calorie, but not the second. :( I knew I was racking up trouble.

After that, as I was trying to locate a few clients, I happened to find my way into the Historic Village of Fenton, and saw a craftsman hand make these chocolates. The people were going in this little shop in masses. What could be sooo good? I tried 3 chocolate samples that were extraordinary. Another impulsive decision. But at least I didn't go back! Yippee for me!

I think I made excuses for myself after I gave in to the 2nd treat of ice cream. It goes back to that mindset , "when we work extremely hard, and are very stressed, alone, tired....can't we reward ourselves with something we enjoy once in awhile?"

It reminds me of that cliche that says: "Don't judge a character when things are going well. Judge a character when things are going bad." Same with temptation. Sure its easy to say no when there is no temptation!

For me, I saw first hand when I was taken out of my ordinary habitat, that visual cues are real triggers for me. Watching other people enjoy food can also whet my appetite. I almost sound like Pavlov's Dog don't I? LOL :D That is just how easily programmed any of us can get without even realizing it!

The good news was that I never once stopped at a fast food restaurant, no matter how hungry I got. I managed to primarily sustain on eggs, yogurt, turkey, whole wheat English muffins, and Isagenix shakes.

Fast forward to the first thing that I was facing when I came home; the scales and measuring tape at the hands of Kim......... to be recorded and posted on the bulletin board! I was petrified that I had gained lots of weight. This was a moment I dreaded more than you can imagine! I have issues with my body anyway, so I just wanted to hide under the covers and pretend I didn't have to do this. Something called Denial wanted to rear its familiar head. But I knew I had to suck it up and face the consequences.

Well, not so bad, folks! :) I was actually quite pleased considering that it is an accomplishment if I can lose anything. I've struggled with significant thyroid problems since beginning menopause which has definitely contributed to the challenge of losing weight.

But guess what friends! I lost 5 lbs and an inch off my booty! Hey, hey!! I've lost 2 inches off this overly abundant, bootylicious backside since I started with Adventure, so I was thrilled! :D Psyched is more like it! I knew at that point if I had eaten clean the whole time, I might have seen a 7lb loss in one month! That is simply beyond awesome!

Of course, there is always the chance that the weight gain is lurking in the shadows, but won't show for another week or so. But it is quite a motivating thought to think of the possibility of a 7lb loss, and all the more reason to tighten up my food game! No more pennies in the blue jar this segment of the Transformation Contest. We are in a new month, baby, and the slate is clean! :)

When I look back at my "out of" Adventure BootCamp experience, I learned some valuable lessons and got a chance to test myself. I know I am not ready to be thrown out of the nest quite yet. I need to stay where I am and continue to practice new behaviors so they become 2nd nature. I held on quite well for the majority of the week, but I am still taking baby steps. I think one obstacle I need to overcome is my old identity with food. Food has had more power over my life than I care to think about, but having power over food almost feels like an out of body experience. It doesn't quite feel like me yet, but wouldn't it be just awesome???!!! I plan to get familiar with that experience! :)

One thing I can say is that the tools I used did keep me on track for the most part. I just didn't have enough of them. I kept a basic food diary, and I had some basic good foods available in the hotel. I made use of healthier substitutes. I had apples, and I made myself cocoa with skim milk with a teaspoon of sugar when I was craving something sweet. It was very satisfying for me at the end of a hard and cold day.

What I didn't have was a support system, an accountability partner, or a structured exercise class. I looked all over for a gym but none were accessible to me.

So how 'bout you? How did you do on your off-week? Hope you will also reevaluate and assess your success and failures as equal teachers that will give you your answers. As Brian has always said, "Failures are opportunities to learn".

Tomorrow is a new day. The pinK tiger will see you in camp! :)

the pinK tiger.....

....ready to paw her way to the top! :)

The "Mother" Day!

2009-10-12T00:55:00.008-04:00

Wow! The time has come and gone so fast, and it seemed like yesterday when I blogged about my 1 minute mile last month. I had decided that I wanted to really work at this part of my training, and chose to prepare by practicing my jogging.

Now, a month later, the "Mother" Day was here again! (lol) I came to the camp with some anticipation and unsteady nerves. I turned up the music in my car on the way over, and I breathed deeply and slowly to relax my breathing and warm my lungs. Still, I noticed a little anxiety creeping into the picture ever so slightly.

There were not as many warriors today but that is usually the case when we are timed for the mile and pushups. I jogged around the parking lot to warm up for the warm up! Yes, it gets that way sometimes! (lol) :)

Brian told us to prepare for our first fitness measure which were the push-ups. I was not intimidated by them, but wondered how well I would progress. I pushed them out as fast and furious as I could at the end. And guess what friends and readers.....I improved! :)

Whoo Hoo! I don't have the numbers before me, but I think I improved by about 20% . :)

Next came the "mother" of my challenges! :) This was what I was waiting for. I had just practiced my running on Tuesday, and had gone further than at any time before slowing to a walk. This was promising! I knew I had improved, but whether I could handle my self-imposed pressure......that would be the moment of my truth.

We got in our groups and I noticed "Star" was getting her IPod ready. I asked her if it helped. She said she had been practicing her jogging too and had her music loaded so she knew exactly how much time she had left to break her previous record. Very clever, that "Star"! :)

Brian blew his whistle for the walkers and we took off. I took off feeling confident, but noticed I started to have trouble just past the usual spot; about 2.5 minutes in the run. I could feel my lungs locking up and my breathing getting heavy. How could this be? Just the other day I had gone as far as the 2nd curve without stopping. This was going to be a challenge if I wanted to improve my record.

"Star" was out in front and I paced myself behind her for most of the time until we turned the 2nd curve. I slowed down and had to walk. Then, it wasn't long before I got back to my jogging and passed "Star" during her walking phase. She had taken her 1st running break almost halfway through our course.

I kept going as long as I could, but I was struggling. I was on my last leg when the breathing got so difficult and my energy was waning. I was still jogging but I was slowing down, and was just about ready to go into my walk, when "Star" came from behind and said, "Come on, keep going! You can do it!"

Wow! It was just that little encouragement that kept my legs moving even though my energy was quickly dissipating. I was so touched that she would care enough to inspire me. I have no doubt that she heard my labored, wheezy breathing. She had asked me before whether I had problems with asthma with vigorous exercise.

So I managed to go a good bit longer until I slowed down to a walk. Not for very long however! As I prepared to start up my jog again, out of the blue came the "Little Rocket" who sailed past me, but not until she ran beside me for a few seconds. I was so focused in trying to slow my breathing and pace myself I hadn't even noticed. All of a sudden the sound of my heaving was broken by the Rocket's voice: "Don't stop now! You can make it! Keep it going!"

Well, I couldn't ask for more! :) That felt great! One of my favorite "big doGs" took a moment to give me a mental boost and that got me excited! My heart was smiling for the encouragement and the camaraderie my new friend gave me. We were really teammates. From both a new member and a big doG, I was filled with inspiration! With the support from "Star" and the "Little Rocket", I kept going until I finished and did not break my pace. I felt I had pushed myself as hard as I could on this day, on this event. And I had so much gratitude for my fabulous comrades who looked out for me.

Well, the pink tiger improved the timing a little bit, but obviously this was going to be a long process. I made an 11:o6 mile, which was a 17 second improvement. For all the practicing it seemed so insignificant. But I won't take myself there. It was an improvement. I think if I can overcome some of the performance anxiety I suffer, I might progress a little easier. Little Rocket came up and asked me how I did. Always, this lady will come to me with a positive spin, and reminded me that "it IS improvement"!

I was thrilled for "Star"! She told me she had improved my more than a full minute! Yahoo "Star"! You are truly a champion for making the most of this opportunity at Boot Camp! And you are an inspiration and a motivator just as much as the more seasoned camper! I am so proud of you! :) You are definitely someone to follow. :)

I would have thought that the testing would have been the highlight of the morning, but not so fast! Brian came out with a few surprises that no one expected! :) One of the memorable workouts he created for the first time ever was his "suicide abs" with the triple killer! (lol) Whew! Now that was innovative! We paired off with one of us doing ab exercises while the other one did the running. At each running interval, the other partner had to choose a different ab exercise. This time however, Brian increased the running distance to include 3 sets at a time rather than 2. That extra set was killer! Pure killer! And yet every one of us completed our running sets. The last one to come in got a great dose of encouragement, cheering, praise, and clapping! Now that's what I call a champion! :) Got the guts to keep going until the end, and then come back for another day of boot camp! I love this place and the people who choose to be part of it! :)

Wow! What incredible camaraderie and consideration for all our fellow warriors! It could have been just as easy for the campers to pick up their mats and leave the site after they completed the suicides. But we all stayed to support our last champion! This is the stuff that just fills my soul! :) The support and camaraderie in our group had grown and developed immensely since the first day. It was beautiful.

Is there any question why I leave Adventure Boot Camp so euphoric and vitalized every morning that I come? It truly is my "Breakfast of Champions", and nourishes me from the inside out! :)

Then, Brian announced he had a surprise for us. Well, I must admit I thought he would have another workout "treat" for us! :) But never estimate "the Brian"! He's got it goin' on!! He surprised all of us who had come to testing with a private shopping trip in his fitness studio! He pulled out a box of t-shirts from a few previous camps! :) :) :) All different kinds and colors. Wow! Could there be anything better to delight the hearts of women than a free shopping event?? lol :)

Well, the t-shirts didn't last more than 5 minutes. It was a great moment, I've got to tell you! Rummaging through that box resembled a group of kids tearing in to their presents on Christmas morning! The squeals of joy were proof that Brian is a master at creating Great Moments at the Adventure Boot Camp! Thank you, Brian. You hit the spot big time! :)

We all meandered off to our cars, thrilled with our treasure. What a dynamite way to end our first month of Adventure Boot Camp and Transformer Boot Camp! This had to be the best group that I have ever worked out with. The energy was simply awesome! I hope this group knows that the pinK tiger appreciates you all so very much.

Friday included a full workout and awards that named the "Most Improved".

I was very unhappy that I had to miss this very important day of camp due to business travel. This was a special day because this little ceremony celebrates the hard work we have done, and acknowledges the super stars! :) But most of all, it offers closure to a group of morning fitness warriors that has come together every week to get fit and sleek. :)

There are special bonds that are formed. And when a camper doesn't show up for camp or chooses not to come back, you really miss them. :( Every single member makes a difference to the overall aura and success of the camp experience. I know I am going to miss this group very much.

Coming Next: 2nd month of Transformer Boot Camp and many more exciting challenges! Can't wait! The 1st order of business will be our assessments to measure our weight loss, inches, and new fat percentage after this 1st month Then we start anew. Hope to see you all there fitness warriors! :)

This is the pinK tiger signing off..............

Squeezing the Juice

2009-10-12T00:19:00.006-04:00

We did a great workout on Wednesday. It was hard. We worked on our legs, chest, and back, and it seemed we didn't stop long enough to even catch our breath.

I was still quite sore and stiff from the Amazing Race. Doing the leg work today was another opportunity to dig deep in my soul and ask myself what I really wanted. How much did I want it! When Brian offered the easier options to the tougher one, I tried to go as long as I could with the advanced options. He put together some meaty medleys of squats and lunges that made my legs burn and nearly fade to extinction. :) lol

At one point, I was near exhaustion and muscle failure and didn't think my legs could push out one more power squat. They were trembling and were quickly cooking down to mush. (lol) But Brian cheered me on, pumped me up, and told me to "kick it out"! I always seem to squeeze a little more juice when my fitness coach is there to encourage me to dig deep! :)

We also did some awesome chest exercises, especially the diamond pushup. That works! :)

The surprising thing today was that while may of the campers including myself were heaving and groaning at the workload, the morning went fast as lightening! Perhaps we're getting gritty! We are developing some true grit along the way after all!! :) lol

When it was time to stretch, a few campers remarked almost simultaneously, "Is it already over and time to go?"

I guess time goes fast when you are having fun; Fun at Adventure Boot Camp that is!

Tomorrow is the day to look for. Our month of camp is coming to an end this week as unbelievable as that is to contemplate. So we will be tested on our pushups and 1 minute mile.

I have worked hard at preparing for this day. I've practiced running about 3-4 days a week to try and condition my lungs, and build up my power and stamina to improve my numbers. I will be happy with any improvement, as long as I am moving in the right direction.

I hope all you campers out there will take a deep breath, move past your fears and discomfort, and join us tomorrow. If the pinK tiger can do it, you can too! :) Getting a base point measure that will qualify your fitness level is just another tool you can put in your toolbox! :)

See you tomorrow fitness warriors!

the pinK tiger

What Are U Doin' With Your Toolbox? (Part 2)

2009-10-11T22:30:00.005-04:00

In part 1, I spoke of creating a toolbox. The toolbox contains all the skills, knowledge, and support that any of us may need to set up ourselves for success. Each of us will have a different toolbox based on our strengths and weaknesses, and what our triggers may be.

As I mentioned before, I want to change my ways that defeat me. Now is the time to practice using those tools on the weekends and between boot camps while I am still at Adventure. Now, because I have the energy of the group, the support of my special friends at camp, and the smarts and experience of my Adventure camp leader. Brian creates a structured environment with all the components in place to form a new habit, a new lifestyle, and a new body if we want it. And if we falter, he will give us the motivation and juice we need to get back up on our feet, but also the opportunity to learn from our mistakes. Just like a fledgling, better to fall while I'm still in the nest and got a safety net to catch me, before I do too much damage too myself! :( (lol)

This is fertile learning ground for me, because here and now I can learn to navigate my life with all the temptations and challenges that have taken me down in the past, and still have the structure of Adventure to keep me centered. Therefore, when I have to leave for vacation or can't continue with my boot camp and trainer, I will have my fitness routine in place, and my eating under control.

So what tools will I include in my box that I know I need to succeed? Here it is:

1.) After losing so frequently with the food factor, one of the tools I am going to include is a food diary. This is essential for me to stay on track. I've tried it before and it helps me significantly. The downside is that is can be very time consuming. And that in itself can cause me stress if I don't have the time! Its all a balancing act, isn't it. :)

2.) I am going to find substitute foods that can satisfy me without causing me a total nosedive. Taking away foods that I enjoy will leave a hole. An unfilled hole is far more dangerous when I'm shaky, than a filled hole.

3.) I am printing all emails and pertinent articles that Brian sends us and put them in a 3 ring binder. So much of what he sends nourishes the mind and spirit, and teaches us to create the mindset of a successful person. I need to read often to keep my motivation up and stay focused. I want it handy; Not filed away in the computer.

4.) Based on the group experience of strength and camaraderie of Adventure Boot Camp, I realize that I need to create a system of accountability and support regarding my workout and nutrition. I have a friend who is working to achieve the same fitness and nutrition goals. We are going to check in at least every other day. But even with that, I need to be in a structured exercise group with others. My friends in Adventure Boot Camp are so fabulous and have inspired me more than they know.

5.) I need rest. Fatigue is a demon for me. It is the loose link in my chain and can trigger disorders I fight, as well as leave me in an emotional pothole. I have trouble accessing my energy, and fatigue will blow me out of the water.

What I have learned from Brian and his other premier trainers is "everything I need to succeed". They are not talking to hear themselves. Its time to use the tools I've acquired throughout my life and the ones from the Adventure team.

So what are you doing with your toolbox? Do you know what tools you need to succeed? It might take time to learn and practice using the knowledge we have, but it can only get better and easier. For me, the food factor is one of the most challenging issues I face when I am emotionally spent.

If there are any readers willing to share what they do to overcome their food vices, fatigue, or anything that has the power to cause self sabotage, I would love to hear from you. Perhaps by working together, we can accomplish what we struggle to achieve by ourselves.

the pinK tiger.....

dusting off the toolbox! :)

What Are U Doin' With Your Toolbox? (Part 1)

2009-10-11T21:01:00.006-04:00

Tuesday was a very rainy day and it required us to go inside Brian's fitness studio to complete our workout. It was another great workout as usual, but today I was more consumed with the other piece of the puzzle that can make or break one's success at transformation: The food factor.

The blue jar got filled with a few more pennies over the last several days, because I succumbed to my worst self-sabotaging habit that often comes between me and the home run....eating under duress.

This first weekend of October, I had experienced tremendous inner stress as I battled the demands of work, traveling for 12 hrs a day, exhaustion, and losing my best friend to cancer. I caved. I went back to the same ole' standby that I have used frequently in my life when I feel overwhelmed, stressed, tired, or grieving a loss.

I want this page in my life to change. It brings me so much pain and hurt when I work so hard at achieving a goal, exercise with discipline and commitment, and undo all my efforts because I make a few hasty food choices that I enjoy for mere minutes. :(

Remember when Brian emailed us and told us how we can not expect success if we eat up all the calories we lose following boot camp? It doesn't take much. Maybe a Starbucks Latte and its all gone. For me, its just a few sweets that add up to an extra 250-400 calories a day.

Brian also gave us information on how tricky the appetite is. Our bodies will find a way to feed it. Visual stimulation, or the scent of cinnamon rolls baking can have a powerful force on our brains that regulate hunger and appetite. It may not effect some people, but it surely effects me. How about you?

So how does it break down for me? I need to take these failures and use them to create a new strategy for success. There will always be an occasional setback, but I need to take what I know that sets me off and have a plan to shore myself up against these temptations.

I call my self knowledge and the resources I need to succeed as my "toolbox". My toolbox contains all the things I need to succeed with my nutrition and exercise components. I need to succeed at both to get what I want.

One great thing to have in my toolbox is a personal trainer or coach that is a leader within themselves. I say that, because a leader will teach me to lead myself, and motivate me to pick myself up after a fall. In my case that would be Brian. Based on my experience with some of his other trainers, they also are very capable people who can arm you with what you need to succeed.

Brian is a leader, and in his capacity he teaches us to lead ourselves. That is a very powerful gift if you are willing to accept the responsibility! What we learn at Adventure BootCamp, we can implement out of camp. It reminds me of when my siblings and I were young adolescents learning to etch out our own identities. Our parents taught us, supported us, and cushioned us as we spread our wings and learned to navigate life on our own. It was such a crucial time, because we had the confidence to make mistakes, knowing that we would be cared for and tucked back into the nest before learning our next lesson without horrific consequences. They provided us with a safety net and the wisdom to help us grow. Then we took those lessons and applied them when we were finally on our own and ready to fly.

In my experience with Adventure BootCamp, Brian leads us to look at our lives holistically, and presents us with the same kind of support for our nutrition and fitness goals. He gives us the tools we need to succeed. He nourishes our mind, body, spirit by teaching us how to keep a winner's spirit, a positive mindset, and how to navigate the minefields of eating and exercise. He gives us the formula in every boot camp and every email and article he writes. Our we paying attention? The longer I live, the more I realize that to be a successful person, I have to take a holistic approach. Everything is connected to everything else, and success breeds success.

As a young person I use to listen half heartedly when my parents or an expert would advise me to do something. Sometimes I would get stuck doing things the same way because it was comfortable or habitual, and I convinced myself that it was just how I was. It took hyper vigilant effort to change even if there was a better way.

Now, I listen to every gold nugget of wisdom offered to me, because it will give me that extra edge to finding success. Time is really too short to dilly dally around with half commitments.

So that toolbox Brian has offered us? I'm going to use it. What are you going to do with your toolbox? Check out Part 2 for what the pinK tiger has included in her toolbox to make the Transformation!

the pinK tiger

An Amazing Day at the Races

2009-10-11T19:31:00.005-04:00

It was Monday and today was going to be the "Amazing Race" day. We gathered in pairs and set out to win a race constituting of numerous exercise sets that were highly challenging. The 1st pair who could execute and finish these fitness drills, would win a prize. And I love prizes, especially if it means promoting my fitness and weight loss with the Brian Schiff team! :) There was a winner for 2 divisions: one for the walkers and one for the runners.

This day brought out the best in all of us; it required us to work with speed, strength, efficiency, competitiveness, and good showmanship. Yet, for all the great mad fun I had, I was extremely sore and was hobbling around the next few days. I love a workout that lets me feel it. The Amazing Race....... talk about a total body workout!

Brian designed a program today that was hot as a firecracker. There was such variety, it must have taken him a good piece of time to set the exercise stations up. He even hid a few of the bands and tubing which prompted us to go on a treasure hunt while we were running/walking quickly between each station. We used the bands, tubes, dumbbells, agility cones and ladders, and our own body weight. One of my favorites was the walking lunges. They hurt like crazy but I desperately want to toughen up and strengthen my legs. I always appreciate doing balance and agility work as well. My other favorite is the ab work.

I don't remember who the winners were, but I did remember when Brian once told us that you can win a contest, race, goal by inches. You can also win by seconds. My partner and I were runner ups with the walkers, and we literally lost by fractions of a second. Fractions I tell you! We approached Brian simultaneously but just as Brian turned his torso to mark off another contestant's completed exercise, there I stood knowing that I did not win the contest. Although I had finished long before the winning team, I needed to wait for my partner to finish her jumping jacks. At stake was a free workout for the off week. That was worth busting my buns for! :)

Ah well. This is when learning to be a gracious loser comes into play. Partners are partners. As far as I was concerned, I was a winner when I completed this awesome, challenging workout for the day!

What is the only thing I wish? I wish we could perform this Amazing Workout twice a month rather than once. It really requires me to dig deep and move fast. I don't typically exercise with speed, especially weight training, so it is a valuable addition to my workouts.

I rather doubt if many realized how hard we worked when we were having such a ball! Maybe I will perform a simplified version of Amazing Race at home once a week just to keep me on my toes and break up the monotony. What a great way to apply what I have learned. You can take the pinK tiger out of Adventure Boot Camp, but you can't take Adventure Boot Camp out of the the pinK tiger! (lol) Heehee! :)

Yeah... just another classic example that there is always something to learn and experience at Adventure Boot Camp!

The Velvet Hammer Strikes With Treats

2009-10-04T23:11:00.006-04:00

It was Friday. This was going to be the day for the "Amazing Race" and it's my favorite activity with Adventure BootCamp by far! But the rain was pouring so hard outside, that we had to take it inside. Amazing Race would have to wait for another day. However, that decision didn't effect the awesome workout we had.

Brian was gone on business, and in his place was Kim, one of his premier trainers. And yes, folks, she was premier! She had a little different flavor than Brian, but all the same, it was smackin' tasty. She was all hard core, with a smile and a twinkle in her eye. :) She seemed to have a little ribbon of mischief in her too! :)

We did a great assortment of exercises that worked our legs, back, arms, abs, and some cardio to kick it up. Running against the wall is always a fabulous one, but I enjoyed the medley of exercises as well, as we filed into teams. I was working at full endurance, and nearly maxed out. Kim is the type of trainer that you want to work your best. You know she's got it! The lady is like a velvet hammer; Soft and pretty, but hard like a rock! :) It was great fun to have Kim onboard for our Friday workout. :)

But the best part was the leg work. I always know when I come out of Adventure Bootcamp because my booty is talkin' to me! (lol) We did a variety of squats and lunges and the entire program was very meaty.

Yet, nothing could have surprised me more than when this slender, fit trainer ended the workout with what she called "treats"!

Treats! We've heard that before! :) Do you suppose they might feed us chocolate this time? I mean, it is Halloween month. ;)

So, what have you got for me Kim? Show me what you got? We already had the honor of partaking in Brian's sweet treats from a previous workout! (lol) Hey, they couldn't be any tougher, than his "plankers"! :)

Heehee, I was gulping when she rattled off the treat list; A tsunami of squats that included 20 seconds each of regular squats, speed squats, pulse squats, and jump squats.(or squat sit)

About this time I was blabbering to myself. Kim demonstrated for us and made it look "oh so easy". What a little powerhouse. It was fun to watch her, especially doing the jump squat. A select few of the campers attempted to do these jump squats, but were abandoned early on by some of the best of us.

We campers struggled, grunted, and laughed, and 60 minutes later I knew I had experienced a phenomenal workout. Of course I had to ask Kim: "Were those Brian's treats?" Just wondering if he left us with something to remember him by, as I was chuckling to myself.

Kim replied, "No....those are mine."

Oh my God! I had the best laugh. If there was anything I can say about Friday's treats, it's that Kim is one tough little cookie! And an awesome delight at that. :)

Thank you for leading us in a superior workout, Kim. :) I hope we can have you again!

the pinK tiger

Michelle Obama, Move on Over

2009-10-04T21:43:00.009-04:00

Wednesday was a killer workout for arms and abs. Brian came armed with his whistle and goody bag, and he was going to kill us with sweetness. :)

We first performed a medley of bicep curls and triceps, and bent rows, using dumbbells, rubber tubing, and our own personal body weight. This was challenging! These exercises tested both endurance and strength, and took me to muscle failure. Yeah, Brian always gets me on those triceps! :)

The campers and I were begging for relief. :) That's a good thing! I was done. And excited too!

Though my triceps are still in need of "Brian's Specials" (lol) and in need of extensive attention, I am getting stronger in my biceps. I have begun transitioning to the 10lb weights. I can't do it on all of them, but I can complete a few sets with them. I can even see a little bicep bump popping up! In fact, I believe I'm gonna have Michelle Obama's arms in another 5-6 months! (lol) Heehee! :) Sweet! Brian does NOT mess around.

Our ab routines were outstanding. We did clusters of crunches, bicycles, oblique work, etc, and they were also designed in a repetitive fashion to create muscular failure. I actually enjoy the ab work for the most part, because I am at a point where I am good enough to enjoy most of the exercises. I am able to feel my muscles working rather than laying out like a wet noodle.

But again, I have learned that nobody can underestimate Adventure Boot Camp and what the trainers will add for a little spicy mix. In my case, Brian has got a very creative mind. ;)

So here came the best part. Brian announced that the last round of exercises would be the "plankers". Plankers? Is that an affectionate term? Sounds a little too endearing to me. :) When he started calling them "plankers" I knew we were headed for "trouble", and he was going to pull something out of his sweet little goody bag other than chocolate! :)

Yikes! Wasn't that something like those "treats" he rewarded us once before as we completed our tough morning in boot camp? You know how it goes; treat the muscles not the appetite?! (lol)

Well, Adventure BootCamp is ALWAYS fun, but today had to be the trifecta! Brian concocted a game in which we arranged ourselves in a circle and our mission was to hold the plank for as long as it took for the entire circle to go around and answer his question. Then the next question; and the next. Of course, if someone couldn't think of an answer, the longer we had to hold the plank. Whew! That could be a long time if the campers wearn't wearing their speedy thinking caps. (lol)

The first question was: "Who was your first kiss?" Oh my, now we're going back in history. Most of the women rattled off quite quickly until we came to a camper that hesitated. Someone was stumped for an answer. We were dyin'! We cried out for the camper to just "make something up"! We still had half the circle to go around, and we were still holding Brian's "planker".

The response was quite charming. "Her father". Ok. That is so sweet that I'll take my goodies with the pain. :) It was worth the wait.

The questions became more sophisticated, so obviously we were progressing into longer plank holds. This was torture!(lol) Hee-hee! What a sight to behold. And all of us did exactly what we were told. Didn't see one camper get up and say, "I "ain't" gonna torture myself"! :)

Finally I was wondering if I had any abs. I didn't feel anything. (until the next day! :) We went through a few more questions and then it was time to stretch.

Brian mentioned that next time we could do some storytelling as a way to keep the "plankers" dear to our hearts. Now I can just imagine it: not only will we be scrambling our brains to think up the story line on the go, but Brian will probably instruct us to do those reverse planks to amp up the fun! (lol) Hee-hee. Brian, you got a mischievous and naughty bent! :)

I have to say this was a great twist on the "treat bag". I can't wait to see what other games will come our way. I just know that whatever he puts together, I'm gonna have abs of steel and some sleek, sexy arms with cut triceps.

Michelle Obama..........move on over! Here we come! :)

pinK tiger with the firm paw

Gimme' Some Michael with My Fitness Edge!

2009-09-30T21:34:00.013-04:00

Tuesday morning provided a cool crisp morning to get our hustle on at the Adventure Bootcamp, but my body was slumping out. I knew it the moment I woke. I just didn't have that bounce in my step; I was dragging.

Yet, as sluggish as I was feeling, it never entered my mind to miss bootcamp. In fact, now more than any other day, I needed to workout the cobwebs in my tired body and sagging spirits.

And so it was. I hit the coffee pot and a few spoonfuls of thin cream of wheat, and I was on my way.

I pulled out my mat and did a little preliminary jogging/walking and realized that indeed I was carrying a ball and chain on each leg. My breathing was short and labored as well. I wondered why my energy level was so sapped. It frustrated me that it could decide to be so arbitrary from one day to another...like it had a mind of its own.

Well, the Universe must have been smiling down at me and knew what I needed, because I was going to get rewarded for my efforts.

Most of you who have tuned in to my blog know that music is a powerful motivator for me. And at the top of the list is Michael. Michael Jackson, that is! His music infuses me with a desire to dance, move, and get my game face on! :) It doesn't matter how bad I feel, Michael gets my juices goin'.

So when Brian opened up the camp with a Michael Jackson song, I was ready to orbit! I was thrilled and getting pumped! I said, "Alright!.....gimme' a litttle Michael"!

"Star" was stretching with me and laughed. She told me about an event she had attended at a restaurant or private party last week, and they played a Michael Jackson tune. She said someone got up and started to dance. This in turn inspired a waiter to hand them a white glove! We know the rest of the story! :)

WoW! I should wear a white glove and pass a few out to all the campers who like to get down with Michael! That would be too, too fun! Training with one white glove! (hee-hee!) :)

(sequined, of course!)

So Brian really made me the happiest camper there with his selected playlist today whether he knew it or not. It was a "Michael Day" including some great Prince tunes added for a kick. It was exactly what I needed considering Brian upped the ante with a hard core cardio blitz! It was phenomenal. So phenomenal that I thought I was "Dead Man Walking" on death row! All that juicy, tasty music? I thought it was gonna be my final meal! :) lol!

Brian's program comprised of intense circuits of interval training that required us to use speed, power, endurance and strength. We used agility ladders, rubber tubing and a mix of power lunges, power and pulsating squats, shoulder work, and my all time favorite, tricep dips. I can always guarantee that Brian will go after those triceps with a vengeance! Lol! I think he loves to hear us moan and groan, because we were doing a lot of that! :) Yup, he even had me talkin' to myself again! (lol)

This was the kind of workout that didn't leave much time for additional rest. We needed to hustle to the next station between sets. There were about 6-8 stations, and we went from one to another without any further explanation or demonstration. Its the kind of workout that can really shake "yo" body up if you've gotten complacent with your routine.

I must say, it was amazing how I worked to full capacity just using my own body weight integrated with cardio sprints. Brian had me pushing my fitness level to the edge. Oh, how I appreciated this! I know my body was very, very confused with all this mixed up acitivity. I was working.....working hard. and though the air was still quite chilly, beads of sweat profusely collected around my forehead and all up under my clothes. My heart rate was up!

All I can say is, thank goodness for Michael! And thank goodness that Brian chose the music that inspired me to keep going. Even though I was struggling, this music that permeated in my heart was telling me to "giddy up" and I was working as hard as I could. My legs may have felt like rubber, but my inner desire was flaming.

Ys, as difficult as it was for me to access my power and endurance, some of the other campers were going strong in their stride, and seemed to be up to the task. Some were maximizing their abilities, yet others looked like they were hardly breathing hard.

Did it make me feel bad that I seemed to be lagging behind most of the team? Of course not! It made me realize that I was in the exact place I needed to be, and working out with a varied mix of fitness levels that inspired me to keep going! It made me realize why this Adventure training camp is called the Fitness Edge. The programs are truly designed to give you an "edge" in your athletics or fitness, depending on how sophisticated your goals may be. In this case, the campers who had been training with Brian for awhile certainly had an edge over me! LoL! ;)

So when I looked around and saw this, I knew it was only a matter of time before I would be able to implement the same "fitness edge" for myself. Whoo-hoo! Yepir! Brian got that name right!! :)

So how did this pink tiger end her workout for the day? Not slumping back to the car complaining how tired and weak she was. I decided to get tough with myself and kick it up a notch. I decided I was going to go for a nice easy jog and practice for my 1 minute mile. I knew I needed further conditioning, and not another day later.

Of course I got a little nudge along the way from the "Little Rocket" when I had told her I was struggling through today's cardio program. She came over to say goodbye and smiled, and only said one thing: " Are you going to practice your running today?"

Uh.....yeah! Even though I felt like "dead man walking" and Michael was my last meal on death row, (hee-hee!) I wasn't going to stop now. I was going to walk away today victorious within myself, and I was going to go the extra mile to get what I wanted. Michael had my heart primed for the challenge. I just needed to make use of all that great motivation and squeeze a little more juice out of this fruit! :)

And that's exactly what the pink tiger did. Between some great music and a little encouragement from a comrade, I was able to empower myself, keep my eye on the ball, and take it a little closer to my fitness edge. I was........

.......Off and runnin'.......

this is the pinK tiger.....see you at the "edge"!

p.s. "giddy on-up"! ;)

"Breakfast of Champions!"

2009-09-27T20:50:00.011-04:00

Well friends and readers, I really got the chance to test my desire, determination, focus and grit today. I was dead tired this Friday morning, and even as I continued to push the snooze button a couple of times, I kicked myself out of bed.

I sat at the edge of the bed and said "I am so tired. Can't I just take off one little day?" (Yeah, Brian will get you talkin' to yourself sooner or later!") Hee-hee! (lol)

I was contemplating the effort it was going to take to get my bootie in gear. I sat there for about 5 minutes. I was really wrestling with myself. Then I decided to just make one move. Get up!

First thing I did, was drag myself to the coffee pot. That's always a good start. From there, I just put one foot in front of the other and kept going. I was navigating on about 2 hrs of sleep and this was hard. Well, "suck it up"! Now you get the chance to prove yourself. :)

How did I push myself through this mental obstacle and physical fatigue? The first thing that came to my mind was the music. I was going to miss the music which always gets my spirits soaring! I didn't want to miss it, and I even wondered what Brian would bring in his playset. Even if I couldn't go full throttle today, I still would come away knowing I had disciplined myself and did the "right thing". We know what the right thing is, don't we?

I also imagined how I'd feel if I crawled back under the covers and turned off the light. By 7:00 am I would have felt guilty and lethargic and would have forced myself to wear a big red "S" on my chest for "Slacker"! If I had to take a nap, take it after Bootcamp, not before!

I also would have wondered, "Why did I give up my "breakfast" this morning? The most important and powerful nourishment of my day!

With that, I dug deep inside and threw together my provisions, grabbed a piece of toast and scurried out the door. It was 5:02 am and I was already running a few minutes late. Well, the Universe was testing me today! I had another chance to make excuses for myself and cower back to bed with my tail between my legs!

As I pulled my car onto the street, something didn't feel right. And there it was....my tire was nearly flat! I must have run over a nail the evening before. I could not drive in its present condition.

At this point, I'm thinking I don't want to walk into that camp 20 minutes late! Its like wearing a neon sign in orange letters, "SLACKER" ! What tiger wants to draw that kind of attention to themselves, especially a pink tiger?

This was another moment of truth and I was confronted with another choice, another chance to practice the person I wanted to become. I focused deeply into my heart and asked myself, " Is this the person you want to be? Someone who quits or bails out because it gets a little difficult or embarrassing? Or do I want to be a person who commands a strength of character and will do what it takes to succeed?" Then I thought about those emails Brian sends us, one egging me on this morning called perseverence.

Well, hey...this was about me. This was my bootcamp and I could treat it as a fluff or I could take it as serious business! What did I want to accomplish for myself? Would anyone remember the next hour or the next day that I came in late to bootcamp? Would I remember how I let myself down? This was my practice ground for getting mentally tough and clean with my thinking and mindset. I wasn't going to throw away this opportunity no matter how embarrassed I might be.

By succumbing to a lazy mindset, I would be demonstrating to myself that these obstacles had more power to run my life than I did.

No thankyou! Gonna take my power back and if I can only work the bootcamp for 1/2 hr., "Half a loaf is better than none". I will also be able to start the day with pride. So after using a little air and "fix a flat", I was on my way, racing at high speed!

The camp was in the midst of their circuits, and this was leg day! I tried to enter the camp discreetly through the back. Just as I carried my essentials to a spot, a Michael Jackson tune welcomed me. Oh sweet! Now how could the timing be any better than that unless Brian is a mindreader? (lol) Maybe next time he might play for me "Off the Wall"! ;)

I forgot about my embarrassment and let the music pump me with energy!

The camp was beginning a new circuit requiring a partner, and I might have thought, "Oh God...I'm the odd man out and have no partner because I wasn't on time", but today I got to call myself "Lucky".

Brian with his sharp eagle eyes noticed immediately that I had entered camp and had no partner, and came over to assist me. This is the royal treatment! How much better can it get than that?? The BiG DoG himself....the owner and Leader.....was not going to let one soul go without the support and tools necessary for a first rate quality workout, and that included moi! : ) (lol)

Brian trotted over to me and got me started, greeted me with a smile, and never once embarrassed me for being late. That is something I can really appreciate, especially when I expected the worst.

Of course a couple of my good buddies joked with me and laughed! Lil' Rocket looked at me and said "Slacker, where you been?" Hee-hee! I should have known! :)

Hey, the pink tiger may have missed 20 minutes of Bootcamp but I still got a great workout for my legs, and my "Breakfast of Champions."

Breakfast? Does Adventure Bootcamp serve up breakfast every morning? You got it! Every morning I go to Bootcamp I get "breakfast" for my body, mind, and spirit. I start my day with a positive foundation that will propel my day with a focused mindset, positive mood, and an energized body. I leave with a cheerful gaiety in my heart. And I have a little more faith in my own power to make things happen for myself.

I am now nourished...inside and out...to begin my day as my own Champion. Breakfast of Champions? That's gotta be the Adventure Bootcamp at the Fitness Edge!

Game On!! :)

this tiger "ain't" no fool! : )

the pinK tiger

You Can Have Your Cake & Eat It Too

2009-09-27T19:37:00.006-04:00

Another day at bootcamp, but for this Thursday we were spared the elements. It was still very humid and muggy but it seemed to cool off slightly. I limped over to "Star" (yeah, my thighs were still cryin' from yesterday!) and mentioned the air was still a little thick today. She replied, "You got that right! But hopefully it will be better than yesterday." She experienced the humidity and heat within the enclosed space a little oppressive and predicted it might have been more difficult to tolerate than the rain might have been. Well, whether its the rain or the humidity, we got the grit, we got the grit! :)

Rain was not going to beckon on us this morning. But it didn't matter. My legs and buns were reminding me what an awesome workout we had yesterday, and I had to admit, " I sucked it up" big time. :) I was sore, sore, SORE! The lactic acid had made its home in my muscles and the weather had provoked the arthritis in my lower spine. I felt stiff and needed to limber up. Thank goodness that Brian always gives our bodies sufficient time to warm-up before hitting the heavy stuff. He always designs the program in a progressive fashion so we perform the meatiest and intense circuits in the last half of our workout.

I was also thankful that today would entail some cardio, shoulders, biceps and back, with a little agility training thrown in to fatten the mix. My legs would have a chance to recover.

We did all kinds of fun things today, and though the air made breathing uncomfortable for me, my muscles began to limber up. We did some interval running in groups which I always like, because it forces me to acclimate my physical conditioning to include sprinting and explosive work. I once read that we have both fast-twitch and slow-twitch muscles, and its important to train both types. I believe the power and explosive work is part of the formula that keeps our bodies young. So as much as it hurts and I think I'm going down for the count, I am so, so grateful for these circuits because I would never do them on my own.

Brian blew the whistle and we were off running back and forth to the designated lines. The Little Rocket launched from her pad first. I have to give her kudos, because she is a great teammate. She always cheers her team on, and if she notices someone in the next team struggling to keep up ( such as me!) she will throw a word of encouragement my way, and a high-five too! I have seen her reach out to others and praise them for their efforts. At the end of that circuit, Lil' Rocket smiled and said, "Good Job! Now you're running with the BiG DoGs!"

Well bless her heart. I have a quite a journey to follow before I get to run with the BiG DoGs! :) If anyone at Adventure Bootcamp is ever awarded Best Team Player, I hope it goes to the Lil' Rocket. :)

We went back to the base camp, and Brian directed us in our upper body workout. I am steadily improving, friends! I got to increase the weight for my back, shoulders, and mixed the weight for my biceps. I am seeing qualified improvements in my strength and stamina, and it is just so exciting to experience myself breaking through my threshold! I have not been able to accomplish this with other trainers or myself for the last 3 years.

Of course we never have a camp that doesn't include mad fun and a "little hot sauce" to crank it up! As I've mentioned before, Brian uses music as a great motivator to help us push ourselves and to create great camp camaraderie! So the song of the day was by "Twisted Sister". Yeah, the gang was chanting, "We're not gonna take it anymore! We ain't gonna take it!"

Brian always knows how to milk the fun out of each session, so he would cut the music and we would sing those lyrics! If I didn't know better, I would think this "ain't" know workout! This is another party at the Adventure Bootcamp, led by that Brian Schiff!! (lol) ;)

(I have to admit, I'm having a little fun playing with Brian on this blog!)

Yeah, it was a grand workout party! I looked around and a few of the campers with rhythm couldn't help themselves; they were shakin' their booties, while others continued to sing as the music changed artists.

Well, I think I'm gonna have to nickname our leader "Dr. Feelgood" because he sure knows how to make my body feel great in and out of that bootcamp, and he sends my energy and happy spirit to orbit! (lol) :)

Hee-hee! At end of bootcamp, I was so energized I decided to practice my jogging a little, 'cause I'm determined to improve my mile. As I took off on my jog, "Amazing Grace" and "Shaker Girl" asked me what was up, and then cheered me on! :) Thank you for your thumbs up and support, camp friends! :) Your encouragement really does make a difference, and I need all I can get! You are a reminder of where I want to be.

This fat cat is gearing up to get lean and mean. And what better place than at Adventure Bootcamp where I can work as hard as hard can be, but have the time of my life doing it? Its called: " You can have your cake and eat it too!"

And ohh baby, you know I love that cake! ;)

I'll catch up with ya next time!

the pinK tiger

Bring on the True Grit, BraveHearts

2009-09-27T17:44:00.007-04:00

It was another hot and sticky morning at the Adventure campsite, and the clouds were dark and ominous. While I was unrolling my mat and setting up, I heard a few of the campers whisper, "Sprinkles! It feels like rain sprinkles! It's gonna rain!" There seemed to be a little apprehension in the air.

Me? I was thinking, "Oh Boy! Bring it on! Now we're getting real bootcamp weather! The kind of weather that will encourage the elements to test and challenge our true grit!" Yep! Like in the movies or the military! Yahoo! We might have a chance to really squeeze our bootcamp mettle if those clouds break! :)

The notion came rushing to my mind when I remembered a TV newscaster who came out to feature our camp in June 2008. The newsman who came to the scene was downright blown away and flabbergasted when he saw a whole troop of women battle it out in the pouring rain without blinking an eye. They were like soldiers out there, baby! :) Many of our morning warriors with us today participated in that clip. And one of them was a REAL soldier that went to war a decade earlier! Talk about authenticity! She even got to talk on TV and giver her perspective. I call her the "Shaker Girl" because she always shakes things up around the camp and is mad cool fun! She's kinda like our mascot! : )

The rain was an accident that day, and at first the filming was going to be canceled for another time. But the show went on, and it was the best thing that could have ever happened, because it showed off the "BraveHearts" in each and every camper that day! If you have never seen this feature, send an email to Brian requesting it, and perhaps he can send you a link.

Yeah, this is the stuff that makes life romantic and imaginative, and creates memorable experiences. This would be a fun, cool experience! It might even wake that lost child within us.....that curious little being in us who was always excited to try new things, unconventional things.

I remember when my brother, sister, and I begged our parents to let us run and play in the rain, so we could splash in the puddles and catch raindrops on our tongues.

Ahh, well, sometimes life can steal away that spontaneous sense of wonder. I hope I never lose the spirit to work and play "outside the box", and I hope I can push off "the aging mindset" for as long as I can. : )

Happily, I wasn't the only one who wanted to test my mettle. My buddies "Star" and "Special K" were up for the task as well, as you will see.

As we were contemplating the weather, Brian approached the base camp with his trusty whistle and megaphone, and got us moving with a warm up. This was what I would call my "essential" day. We were going to work our legs and glutes. I don't know about you, but my bootie can get all the help it can get! (lol) Hee-hee! ;)

I always love the leg routines Brian designs for us because they work!! As much as they make my thighs scream "bloody murder", I've already noticed my legs and glutes getting a little stronger, and a little more toned. In fact, I was able to fit in a pair of jeans that was too tight 5 weeks ago! : ) How's that for progress! Can't wait to get my sexy glam on! :)

When we progressed to our 1st or 2nd circuit, the rain decided to invite itself to our party. Brian being the consummate and intuitive gentleman that he is, noticed that the rain might disturb a majority of the campers and suggested we take it inside. We began to carry our weights into the fitness studio when "Star" exclaimed she wanted to continue the workout outside. At that point "Special K" mumbled the battle cry under her breath: "Just suck it up!" We all laughed! That was too great! (lol) :)

Well dang..... she was right! I wanted to "suck it up" too!

Well dang.....I sucked it up anyway! (lol) hee-hee! :)

It may not have had the glamour of the rain, but Brian had it going on inside, and it was a killer! I could hear all the whining and whimpers around me, including my own! Brian led us through a variety of tough-love cocktails comprising of lunges, squats, leg lifts, and other juicy selections. My favorite was squatting against the wall and holding it for 40 seconds. I was begging for Brian to put the whistle in his mouth and just...."Blow"!! Please.....blow... the... whistle...

Now!!! :( (lol)

I pressed hard and focused. This was an exercise in getting my grit on! My legs were shaking and trembling. He got me to muscle failure. Oww that hurt!

Ok! I like this! There's plenty of opportunity to "suck it up" right here in the fitness studio. This had to be one of the most challenging classes yet, and the circuits were explosive. My thighs were never gonna forgive Brian Schiff! In fact, he got them talking to each other. (lol)

Of course the music was on par as always. It wasn't long before the camp broke into a chorus and sang "Whip It" while we were torturing ourselves with these spicy tough-love concoctions. I knew he hit another home run with a fabulous program today when I looked around and saw that most of us were cryin' the blues, yet laughing and singing with exuberance.

When camp came to an end, I hobbled to the car with my weights, and noticed the rain had stopped. No more sprinkles? Still, I hope that one day my fellow warriors will check out the fun of doing bootcamps in the rain. It might even allow a little of the "kidjoy" to surface.

What do you say mighty morning warriors? Can we give it a shot for the sake of True Grit and BraveHeart? If the Bootcamp of 6/2008 can prove they are soldiers of fitness, maybe its time for us to strut our stuff too, baby! ; )

Comin' from the cat's meow.......

pinK tiger

Let the Pot Simmer!

2009-09-24T21:58:00.020-04:00

Hello friends, readers, and fitness warriors!

Before I start my next blog there is something on my mind I want to share. I would just like to say that our Adventure Bootcamp Morning Warriors have got to have the most phenomenal energy and camaraderie of any camp I've ever been with! Its the best! It is always F-U-N, no matter rain or shine.

(And we did get some rain today!)

I might add that there is also a wonderful chemistry between our campers and our "much loved" Brian (*smile*)....our Life Coach, Teacher, Trainer, and Leader. Yeah, he's our man! : ) As hard as he directs us to work, he has a cool and charming sense of humor that always has us laughing at the moment of truth! It sure helps with the pain! (lol)

Plus, I always get a charge when I watch him demonstrate those burpees and jump squats! He is so light and agile, I think he must have been a butterfly in his former life. : )

But the most important part of all? Brian genuinely cares about each of us amping our game and winning our challenges; being the best that we can be. We get individual attention and golden nuggets of expertise constantly thrown our way if we are paying attention. All we gotta do is pick up those nuggets off the ground and use them! : )

Our bootcamp is like a big ole' pot of simmering soup and all the ingredients contribute to its rich broth. We have the substantial meat and potatoes, the exquisite seasoning, the luscious spices, and even a few tasty hambones thrown in for good flavor! : )

That is why the energy is so infectious. We each have something to give another, no matter where we are on the fitness ladder. I see this magnetic energy catching like wildfire within our group all the time. We inspire each other! One reason is because we really have a great Leader. He sets the tone.

I have applauded the BiG DoGs, and I have recognized our new members who are our prized champions. I also want to celebrate our man in charge, Brian, because without him we would not be here.

Can you get that?? I do. :(

Then we would not be having such a ball blasting off all this pork to reveal our sexy and buff shapes! ;)

Thank you, Brian, for creating an emotionally safe and trusting environment that allows all of us to feel accepted.....inhibitions and flaws included. And thank you for creating a physical space that lets us feel comfortable, even in the thick of battle! I can even let my "jiggly" shake, rock and roll, without feeling embarrassed! (lol) That is trust. : )

I hope all the campers will appreciate what Brian gives us, and let him know how significant he is in our individual quests, and the role he plays in our success as a team. When I see him at camp again, I'm gonna say "Thank you, Brian, for the part you play in my transformation".

I hope all of you will join the pinK tiger and do it too! : )

And on a 2nd note, the pinK tiger hopes each of us will reach out to just one camper tomorrow, detect what they may need to crank it up; and serve them up a little inspiration and acknowledgement. "The Little Rocket" still gets my blue ribbon! You gotta give it away in order to keep it!

And that's the way it is! ; )

yours truly,

the pinK tiger

Got Treats?

2009-09-24T04:22:00.005-04:00

Tuesday was another great workout day. We did a lot of ab and cardio work. The air was thick and very humid, and I was perspiring like an oink-oink! My lungs felt like they were stuffed with cotton but it wasn't going to stop me.

Even so, I settled into my workout a little better today than yesterday. Although my triceps and legs have been my weakest points, they are coming! : ) I even noticed that when Brian directs us to do the power squats or other jumping exercises, I got a little bounce in my power for the 1st time ever! I was even able to withstand the blowout burn in my thighs and keep going.

What have I learned? If you work the program, the program will work for you! Like anything else, if we want to be good at something, we need to practice that specific activity. I find this even more to be the case since I am no longer a young chick in my supple prime. So, I can tell all the younger readers, I have had the distinct advantage of being your age, and now my age........ work it all! For me, things like bunny hops are very difficult to do, because I haven't done them for decades. You really do lose what you don't use! The mind/body connect for such activities in my brain must have has lost a wire, and I am having to create a new pathway with my brain neurons. To maintain that fountain of youth, we need to use everything we did as a kid: jump, bend, kick, stretch, hop, because you might wake up one morning and find that your body doesn't want to follow your mental commands! The kid in you can fall asleep if you don't watch it! : )

I didn't know this until Adventure Bootcamp. I had never tried it out! Now, I have finally accepted that my progress may be slower than for others in bootcamp because I'm older and have some physical conditions/disorders that sometimes get in the way. I need to be realistic about how fast I can achieve results, and how fast I can bounce back from my workouts. I have to accept I can't compare myself to someone 20 years younger than myself.

But the Adventure Bootcamp keeps me steady and consistent and for this ole' dog, that's what I need to succeed! I can't control the exact outcome or time the results when I want them to appear. But I can do the "footwork" and eventually I will be rewarded for all of my hardwork. Each of our bodies has its own timetable. Do you know yours?

With all the excellent exercises that Brian put together on this day, I was feeling great. When our time had come close to ending, Brian pulled out his little goodie bag and said, "I've got a treat for you!"

Wow! A treat? You mean......you got chocolate??!! Where's the chocolate? Oh heaven, here I come! We all looked up with anticipation, and then our sweet Golden Boy :) said, "Planks"! Straight planks, side planks.......maybe upside down planks next time? (hee-hee!)

Planks!! Huh? Did I hear right? Isn't a treat a sumptuous cupcake, a cookie, or something tasty like that? Uh, NOT! Brian decided to treat our abs to a climatic ending! And believe me, we had already done a fine, thorough workout. I wanted to go home and take a little nap!

Well, from the standpoint of an athlete, a fitness extraordinaire, or fitness buff, it was indeed a treat! A treat for our muscles......not the appetite! (lol) God bless Brian. You just gotta love him! : ) lol!

The chorus of groans was too funny! And I think our camp leader secretly gets a charge out of hearing us fuss, because he knows he's really hit us with another challenge, and ended the day with a finale! He has a quite a few such goodies in his goodie bag of surprises, and our bodies love him for it!

Till next time.........work it all out.....including the treats from Brian's goodie bag! ; )

pinK tiger