Greetings!
"If a woman had to choose between catching a flyball and saving an infant's
life,
she'd choose to save the infant's life, without even considering if
there's a man on base."
I start with this quote from Dave Barry because it pretty much sums up our family theme this summer.
Baseball rules.
My daughter and I try to be suitably worshipful of the team that keeps winning . and winning. And winning.
But it is as fascinating as a stitch that comes unraveled on your sweater sleeve that you can't help but keep pulling.
We watch as our vacation comes unraveled stitch by stitch, or rather
pitch by pitch.
It has turned into a stay-cation!
The latest in travel trends!
Not that we could afford to fly a family of five anywhere anyway, or even drive more than two tankfuls away either.
And not that I'd even consider
piling three teenagers into the back seat of any vehicle,
even if it were for free.
But in spite of all the baseball and in spite of making blueberry pancakes every day and constantly hanging beach towels out to dry, we really are having a fabulous summer.
I try to keep my attitude about baseball,summer
and life in general, really, as close to Stephen Still's "Love the One You're With" because if you can't be
on the beach you want, Honey,
love the field you're on.
My newsletters have been written entirely in my mind each week and since I didn't mentally back up my files, I can't remember what I wrote in my head.
But I called a pancake moratorium this morning so I could check in and be sure you are all still exercising and eating right.
My July Fitness Challenge participants are shedding pounds like a second skin. In three weeks all of them lost at least ten pounds and one lost 12. I request that the media respect their privacy and that of their families
as they continue to rock on
towards their goals.
Speaking of working out, many of you who have been in my kitchen and are my witness that yes,
we do have a pull up bar on the dining room doorway.
My kids think it's a kitchen utensil and are surprised when they go to friend's houses and there's nowhere to hang from while waiting for the cheese on the nachos to melt.
And there's nothing like a few pull-ups to make you change your mind about the second bowl of ice cream.
Pull ups go with ice cream about as well as orange juice goes with toothpaste (I've combined a lot of things-I'm a Cross Trainer after all, so I know what does not go with what.)
Plus it gives me something to do when I come into the kitchen and forget what I was going to do.
Where wasI?
Oh.My pull up bar. It's my new best friend.
I had a big break through this past weekend.
We hosted a 3 day teacher training workshop for a strength training program called Body Pump.
On Friday, when it started, I was still unable to make it through my pull-up attempt, same as the past five months.
My motto of never, ever, ever give up was starting to get on my last nerve.
But through the Body Pump Teacher Training, even though pull ups are not an actual part of their program, I made such gains in strength that I was able to ,
by Monday, do almost three full pull-ups.
Without practicing pull ups.
Now how many exercise programs can actually make you stronger for movements that you don't even practice?
This conditioning program, using a barbell and high reps,
is the most amazing program I've seen in an exercise studio in decades.
To think that I thought I was working to my max all these years and after 3 days, I had redefined all my fitness thresholds.
We are launching this innovative class at my gym this September but even if you are not in the Stamford area, check it out on YouTube. It is pretty revolutionary.
Anyway, I'm only midway through my stay-cation
so if you don't hear from me in August,
you'll know our son's team is still winning, but that I'll be back soon with lots of annoying toning tips
and fascinating fitness facts .
Here's one to leave you with. I heard through my hip connections that
(The Artist Formerly Known As) Prince
just had his hip replaced in February.
Yes, he and I have yet one more thing in common.
Stay toned and tuned.
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