sometimes what i see isn't quite reality...

especially when my trainer gives my what-i-thought-was-quite-tone biceps a gentle squeeze and laughs. *cough* ..ouch....

i started seeing my personal trainer in november because i wanted to get stronger and finally venture into the parts of the gym that intimidate the hell out of me. (it's where all of the very giant-muscled beef heads hang out). it's hard to believe that it was exactly a year ago that i first walked into the gym, and that a year later, i'm pumping my 40-lb bar alongside the guys pressing 200+lbs. lol.

my approach towards physical activity has changed completely. i feel like i need it everyday now, whereas before, i was fine mosying along each day mostly sedentary. i had even come to a point where after taking spinning and kickboxing classes, and running a lot, i needed some more focused attention.

that's why my co-worker julie and i decided to sign up together -- to save some money and have a workout buddy who has to suffer just as much as the other. (that's really why i signed up). :-P since then, it's been a very steady journey. i must say, building muscles and sculpting the human body takes a lot more intention, precision, and time than i had expected. i've been learning how to work hard and patiently wait to see any little bit of results.

and i was starting to feel too proud of the little sculpting i had done in the last couple months. so, undoubtedly, it was helpful to have my trainer pop my ego today. talk about sobering.

my goal?
a tone body, more strength, and better endurance (for running). and once and for all, can i just lose the baby? (baby is the name of my belly; and no... i don't name everything).

tell me:
are you physically active? if so, what's your favorite way to get moving? if not, what keeps you?

powerhouse - day 2

I took my first spinning class today; it was pretty intense. No wonder people had their towels on the handle bars...I was sweating like a person who sweats a lot. Part of the reason why I took the spinning class was to avoid Mr. Muscles. I was afraid to see him again....and you know what....he was there. Go figure. I went straight past him to the locker room and then straight back out into the room class was held. I hoped that Mr. Muscles would be gone by the time I got out, but he was inevitably still there. Standing so still, flexing is enormous muscles. *shudder*

Well, I decided I wouldn't let him intimidate me, so I went to the free weight area and did a few arm things and just focused on my 5 pounders. Afterward, I decided that I would just go right up to him and take a picture. So, I did....











Say hello to Mr. Muscles. Some people call him Governor.

powerhouse - day I

These aren't beads I hung up in my dorm room in my very artsy hippy college in the redwoods. Nor is it decor that I have up in my house. It's a g-l-a-m-o-r-o-u-s shot of the shower curtains at my new gym. Whhaaaat? Yeah, that's what I said when I saw them. Fancy Schmancy Mr. Powerhouse.

Gyms...I haven't had membership to one since college. And today, I remembered why. They are often filled with very large muscular men who intimidate me with their very large guns. But, more than those guys...there's something worse there that every gym has. Machines. Lots of exercise machines.

I did some circuit training because the very angular, cold, black and white machines seemed approachable and user-friendly with their little humans-broken-down-into-muscle-pieces diagrams. "Sure, I could use a little work on my latimma-ma-wha..?"

Maybe I'll do some free weights. I picked up my little 5 pounders and worked it real hard next to the guy leaning in a 45 degree angle doing 50lb/arm bicep curlies. (I made the poundage up; is that even a lot? Doesn't matter, it's 10xs more weight than I used, so I was impressed).

With my legs and arms feeling wobbly and worn out, I was about to make my way back to the locker room when I saw....him. His unique 80s look was a bit outdated, but it still suited him, especially given what he was wearing, or shall I say not wearing. He looked straight at me while flexing his huge - I mean HUGE - muscles. We caught each others' eyes for a moment, but I had to look away because...

Check back for the revealing of Mr. Muscles identity in "powerhouse - day 2."