Intro and first few days - Jane

So how in the world did I hear about TrainStrong's Group Outdoor fitness? Sheila Howard, of course! She invited me to 'Bring a Friend Day' in late June. The faint taste of bile in my throat after the workout should have been a warning sign, but after having seen how much she enjoyed the training (or should I say the results?) and after much egging on from her about how great it would be, and a really weak moment, I decided to do it. I also thought it would be a great way to get some things to stop jiggling, and to get into better eating habits. (To learn more about the program, visit http://www.trainstrong.com/. Stacy Cowen is our fearless-leave-no-fat-on-your-behind instructor!)

TWO aspects of the program that Mitzi didn't mention are the FOOD DIARY and THE PIT. We have to eat (and document...what we ate) five meals a day, and every meal must have protein or else you go into the pit. Other infractions that will land you in the pit include alcohol (oops, forgot to mention that to Mitzi before she signed up! Sorry!), dessert, fried food, etc., not bringing your training book, and a poor attitude (unsportsmanlike behavior). For the first week, we have a reprieve on the pit.

Day 1
As Mitzi mentioned, the PT test. I've been gearing up a little for the battle of mind-over-body I'm about to have, but nothing can quite prepare you like... actually doing it. Here are my beginning stats:

.85 mile timed run: 6:48
Push-ups: 15
Facilitated push-ups: 12
Sit-ups: 41
Sprint (100 meters): 18:09

And those stadium steps Mitzi mentioned? We had to HOP them - yes, folks, the steps were as deep as from your knee to your foot, and we had to HOP the steps up, then run down! This was no casual 'run the stadium steps', but instructors watching you like a hawk every moment! Even after this assault on my shocked body, I felt pretty good - like I had a hard workout. Maybe I can do this after all?

Day 2

Oh, one other thing about the program - they are dedicated to moving everyone out of their comfort zone. In the email we received last night after the PT test, Stacy said "I have to say, the instructors all left the workout very impressed with this group's fitness level! However, we can't be satisfied!!!! Plan to work really hard this month - it's going to be a great one!" The bottom line is, our bodies don't like change, and once you step out of your comfort zone, your body will desperately want to return. I will have several examples to share.

The word for day 2 is pyramid - everything. The gauntlet Mitzi mentioned was a series of hopping lunges (nick-named "Mary Katherine's" after the SNL character, because with each one you land in the lunge with your arms up in the air and hands doing a peace sign) and a series of crunches and 'burpees': jump up in the air with arms extended, drop to a squat, jump your legs back behind you into a push-up position, and then feet back to your hands. All this interlaced with sprints! At one point, my legs wouldn't go back. I mean, they just wouldn't. I had hopped up and then squatted on the ground, and thought I was pushing them back, but I looked down, and sure enough, they were still there folded up under me!

The good news is, we won't do that workout again this month! Every day is different! If you don't like the workout - you don't have to do it again! Woohoo!

I have now officially joined the Bad News Bears - I'm pulling up the rear with one or two others! And I am in pain. In fact, after breakfast, I can't even walk back up the stairs to brush my teeth before work. Maybe I'll get an extra one and keep it in the downstairs bathroom! (Sorry, Mom, this is no reflection on your career as a dental hygienist!) Tonight I really do feel the pain. Alot. AND we are supposed to do a personal mission tomorrow!

Day 3

The alarm goes off at 6:15, and I schlep on my shoes and clothes. What normally takes me about 45 minutes took an hour. I'm not exactly sure what I was doing - it was too early and too dark. I think it was loping, not running. And eight walk breaks for a minute each. This is close to marathon pain, only the hip flexors don't hurt as much.

The food part is actually going pretty well - except for the noises my freezer was making this morning (alot of water dripping, and a wheezing sound). I don't know if there is any air space left in the fridge or freezer - in lieu of making multiple trips to the grocery store, I just brought Costco home! I'm taking my sack of food in every day, and try to prep on the weekend. Ziploc bags rock! I feel like all I do is eat, and it's only day three (actually, since I had my book and orientation, I had to start last Friday with the food diary and personal missions!)

I come home tonight and get Marla, my roommate, to take 'before' pictures (sorry, no swimsuit, just athletic gear!), as six chicken breasts sizzle on the grill. They will get sliced and ziploc'd (the chicken, that is). Once I get the pictures developed, I will post.