Geeks Get Fit

Growing up with 4 brothers was like video game city and when I met my boyfriend he was, also, an addict (in fact while I write this he is sitting on the couch next to me playing Dead Space for XBOX 360.) He’s had just about every system and since we’ve been dating I’ve gotten to benefit, the casual gamer that I am. Mostly I spend my time doing the Zelda, Grand Theft Auto, Mario thing and when Nintendo came out with the Wii fit, I wasn’t particularly interested. We had the Wii, and loved it and Wii sports was awesome (especially the bowling) but I just couldn’t see a video game giving you a good workout.

I do not look like these people...yet.

Recently though, the EA sports active game has been popping up everywhere, with the release of the second game “More Workouts” it seemed the general consensus is that it is a pretty awesome workout and actually works! When I did a little more digging and realized I didn’t need the Wii balance board to participate I ordered it and all the accoutrements excited to test out another “fun” workout I could potentially stick to.

Day One (Thursday) was spent setting up my profile and taking all the fitness questionnaires but I was really interested in starting the 6 week challenge (the main feature of the game). I chose my day to day activity level as the least active since I have an office job…kinda. The workout took about 20 minutes and while I got a little sweat going I felt like it was partially from frustration of trying to get my avatar to respond and switching between all the different positions you have to hold the Wii-mote in for different workouts. I finished workout feeling that it might be a good supplement to working out but that on my “rest” days I would go to the gym to run or to yoga class, etc.

My living room is also not this clean...ever.

I’ll be honest though – Day Two kicked my butt! Only 16 minutes total workout time but between crunch and punches and crossover lunges I really felt like I was getting somewhere! I finally figured out the key to getting my avatars to respond accurately, I mastered pacing so that my “personal trainer”’ wasn’t constant scolding me and spent the rest of the day achy walking up and down stairs at work and in the subways. After the insistence of my friend Rich who yelled incessantly “Rest on your rest days!” I took yesterday and today off (I probably could have snuck a yoga class in today but spent my entire day doing about a months worth of backed up laundry…wait - do I get activity points for that? = D) and am a bit excited to wake up tomorrow and start my day off with my next session.

So stay tuned for periodic updates about the trials and tribulations of the 6 week challenge as I will be using the blog to keep myself on point! And if you wanna partake you can order your own “More Workouts” here: http://tinyurl.com/yaovxme

My Forays into the Unknown

Since I started my WLJ in August I have never really hit the gym. I am notorious for starting something and then dropping it within a few days. I downloaded the C25K app onto my phone - then ran twice. Downloaded and printed all the info I needed for the "100 pushups" program - and never even started! I even bought a 10 class card at my local yoga center (Over 100 dollars!) - and only went a handful of times...my lonely card is still sitting there in the filing cabinet unstamped. = (

So for my 2010 resolution I am all about sticking with it! Finding workouts that interest me and doing them, consistently, because I don't care how many cupcakes I pass up, my tummy needs toning.

My first thought was to check out the Jukari Fit to Fly class - a half trapeze half cardio class that was featured in multiple mags "Best of 2009 fitness" features but it seems there are so many strings attached! Of course with a class that seems that fun it is only available to celebs or those willing to pay hand over fist for it. With help from some fellow WWers we found the class is available at Equinox on 19th street over by Union Square, but you need to have a membership to partake. I'm in the works of getting a guest pass deal going on, but had to start looking elsewhere for a fun, similar workout when I remembered seeing an ad for a similar style class meshed with yoga - so I went on the hunt.

Meet AntiGravity Yoga!

I found AntiGravity Yoga at a studio on 37th street and decided to check it out last Tuesday. Since I am not even a ProGravity (?) Yoga expert I decided to go to the Restorative (read "gentle") class to keep it pretty light, the last thing I wanted was to go to a packed class and be the silly beginner who falls backwards out of the hammock. The website boasted that the classes fill up quickly so I was happy that I could probably grab a hammock in the back of the class and follow along with the group but when I got to the studio I was half mortified to find out that I was one of only TWO students for the class! My plan to hide and follow was thwarted! The Instructor, Emilia, spotted me for a newbie immediately and was very helpful and patient in getting me acclimated to the hammock, which is initially more scary than it seems!

This picture above is more what their regular classes are like, the gentle was a bit of elevated hammock work and then lowering the hammock down to assist with floor work, like elevating the hips in bridge pose, etc. Then more elevated work where we flipped upside down and dangled, like in a playground = ). By the end of the class I didn't feel like I had gotten an intense workout, more like gentle stretching and meditation. However, Emilia mentioned that the night classes really get a sweat going (which I can totally imagine, as regular Yoga does and this would probably kick my ass). I left feeling good, albeit a little down about my physique but it only inspired me to keep working at it ( so one day I might have the hot "yoga bods" like Emilia and the other girl in the class.)

I think perhaps I'll check out a night class where I feel like I'll probably get more of a bang for my buck but it ended up being nice to get the personal attention, which I probably needed. = )

In case you want to check out an AntiGravity Yoga class here's the link for where I went:

www.OMFactory.com

My First Post!

Hi All!

So after months of dragging my feet, and an entire day spent trying to think up clever names, here is my blog. It's mostly about trying to eat healthier, kick my ass to the gym and enjoy doing both.
I live in New York City and work as a Photographer and woke up one day with about 30 extra pounds of pudge. Now, however, I am 4 months into the Weight Watchers program, constantly gaining inspiration from their many members and finally shedding some of this stubborn weight! I love to cook, which makes it slightly easier to modify my "diet" but also love mashed potatoes and ice cream...so its definitely a challenge. I am hoping, like most weight loss bloggers to use this forum as a method of sharing my day to day journey and keep myself accountable mostly with my weekly workout goals as ever since I started this new life, I still am way to lazy to gym it everyday.
So tune in -- as I hope to update at some point daily!

Oh and here, for your viewing pleasure, is a picture of me so you know all about what I look like = D

Picture of me from college, by Evan Mann