The Start of a Great New Year!

Yesterday was a pretty lazy day for me, which is exactly how I wanted it. We actually slept in until 9am (crazy, I know!) and then I made my delicious and indulgent peanut butter and banana stuffed French toast. I didn’t let that indulgence get me off on the wrong foot though. I also did some cleaning, laundry and got myself to the gym.

I love and loath the gym from January – March. You know, after people have made their resolution to get fit and go to the gym more often and there are lines for equipment and people who still don’t quite understand the need to wipe off a machine after use. Thankfully today our regular gym was closed so I went to the workout room in our building. It was empty when I arrived just after noon but didn’t take long to fill up. By the time I left there were 10 other people, which is a lot of people in the small space.

There was one totally ripped and fit woman who, I admit, I was staring at and was in awe of. Probably in her late 30’s, she was incredibly fit and strong. Great motivation. A few hours later, I was thinking I should have asked her if she’s a trainer! I could use one.

I had to laugh when three guys walked in together a few minutes before I left who were all wearing bright white sneakers. One guy got on a treadmill only to quickly say to his friend “I think I should stretch a little first.” Ah…newbies.

So, because I can’t yet start on my race schedule for the year since I don’t even know when I can run yet, I have to come up with other goals for the year. One thing I want to focus on this year is going to yoga more often. I do love yoga, and in the past I’ve had my spurts of yoga-ness, but this year I’m going to make a more concerted effort to make time for it. I think it will be good for me – mind, body and soul.

There are three places I have in mind –

Yoga to the People on St. Marks Place, where I’ve been several times before. They have big studios that fill up quickly and work on a donation basis, asking for $10. The studios are pretty basic and it’s in an old walkup building on a busy street, but conveniently located between work and home. I’m going to try going here during the week for their Power Vinyasa Flow class once I’m done with PT.

YoYoga is only a few blocks from my office. Only $12 a class, I haven’t tried this studio yet but a few co-workers have. They have a class at 6:45pm each night that I might be able to get to once in a while.

Lululemon stores in the city have free open-level classes on Sunday morning, which I have been to quite a few times with Grace and Kether. The two closest stores to our apartment don’t have their January schedules posted yet, but I’m hopeful they’ll still offer these classes in 2012.

So far, this is the only fitness goal I’ve set for the year. We’ll see how my appointments with my Endocrinologist this Wednesday and Sports Doc on Friday go before I start setting any more ambitious goals.

I’ll tell you this though, I want this year to be a healthy, fun and adventurous year. I hope you have the same thing in mind for yourself!

• Did you start the year with a run or workout?
• What is one goal you have for the year?
• Have you ever recruited a buddy to achieve goals with?
• What are you looking forward to in 2012?

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Yesterday’s Workout -

• stretching
• 125 ab exercises
• 2x15 back extension
• 25min elliptical
• 3x10 hip extensions
• 3x10 hip abduction
• 3x10 hip adduction
• 3x10 cable twists (each side)

Today’s Workout -

• 3x10 cable-pull pushdown
• 3x10 bicep curl
• 3x10 lat pull-down
• PT balance exercises
• 3x10 weighted side bends (each side)
• 10min rowing machine
• 26min elliptical
• 2x35 sec plank, 1x45sec plank
• 100 ab exercises
• stretching