Bosu balls

My first trip to the gym was a little bit scary.  I went after work on Tuesday, when everyone else was there after work.

Of course, I didn't know any of these people who were so diligently doing their cardio.  But, I soon realized it didn't matter because they all had their ear buds in anyway.

But then the dilemma hit . . . what am I going to do?  I didn't have any plan and I had no idea how to use any of the machines.  So, I went back to the basic routine Annie and I used to do.  (It's not nearly as much fun without you there, Annie.)

In the corner of the women's only room, a blue glow caught my eye.   It's blue skin glowed and it called to me:  "Come use me . . . "

It was a Bosu Ball!  You know, one of those half-dome fitness ball things?

"I'll transform your skating by making you engage your core muscles.  I'll help you increase your balance and make your spirals beautiful." (See the pretty picture to the left.)

Eventually, I got over my shyness and asked one of the trainers how to use it.  My first couple of steps were tentative, but before long, I was balancing on one foot.  Then my spirals.

Next, it occurred to me that I could practice my back spin position.  And, if I'm in a back spin position, the only thing I need to change to practice a loop jump is to bend my knee and jump . . . BOING!

It's the most amazing piece of equipment!  Next I was practicing waltz jumps and toe loops.  Then I realized I wasn't very stable, so I'd better practice my landing position. Before I knew it, I'd doubled my workout by PLAYING on the Bosu ball. 

Does anyone else use these off-ice?  How do you use it in your workouts?

Personal training.

Well, I finally broke down and joined a gym.  I've been looking for a personal trainer in Kingwood and decided that $50/half hour was outrageous.  I thought that a gym membership might bring that fee down a little, and as it turns out, Golds Gym offers a membership option that includes 6 personal training sessions. 

So, does anyone out there use a personal trainer?  If you do, how does your trainer help you with skating?  Did they look at you like you had a potted plant growing out of your head when you told them you skate, or were they excited?  How much education did you have to do? 

Workout for arms

You might remember that one of my top 10 goals-if-I-was-guaranteed-to-succeed was to get in good enough shape that I could find a partner for pair skating.

One thing I need to do in order to get there is to develop upper body strength.  It's been a touch reality check that I can't do pushups or pullups.  Part of that reality check has been to only tackle one problem at a time.  Pushups are the easier problem to tackle since all you need is the ground below you.  Any workout I've done that calls for pushups from ANY position - knees, plank, or pike - has been modified.  I admit it.  I have to do "girl pushups", from my knees.

This month, Fitness Magazine had a great arms workout.   Even if you aren't looking to learn overhead lifts, the workout will help firm your arms up so the flab under your arms stops waving  when you do.  

Baked Eggs with herbs

If you like eggs, Fitness Magazines Baked Eggs with Herbs is a great breakfast.  It's simple - crack two eggs into a ramekin, add 2 Tbsp of milk and some fresh herbs from the garden.  If you are like me, and really have trouble waking up, get it ready the night before and pop it in the oven while you drink your coffee. 

Trust me, it's worth a few extra minutes in the morning. 

Why you should eat it

• if you are skating in the morning, you need the protein and fibre you get from this breakfast.  It will give you energy and keep you from feeling run down. 
• Eggs are high in vitamin D, which will help you absorb calcium, which will keep your bones strong for skating.  

Back in action

It's been a long time, but I'm looking to start skating again.  Carl finished his student teaching and passed his certification exam.  (Anyone know an elementary principal looking for a math and science teacher?)  He's able to tutor more hours at Sylvan now, so there will be some money available for skating.  Yay!

In my hiatus, I have tried to work out off the ice at least 3x a week.  Here's what I've been up to in a nutshell:

• I discovered I have a Vitamin D definiciency.  Vitamin D helps you absorb calcium, so a deficiency can lead to weaker bones.  Guess what?  Just as soon as I discovered this, I broke my toe and had to stop skating for about 6 weeks.  
• Because of my vitamin D deficiency, I moved my workouts outdoors whenever possible to get sunlight.  
• I was walking/jogging with Prospero, the greyhound, aka pesonal trainer,  Even at 12 years old and with arthritis in his paws, he was pushing me to go faster.  
• I got a subscription to Fitness magazine.  The real surprise in this was the number of great recipes I've found.  I'll post links and review them in future posts.  
• After the broken toe, I modified my workouts to make sure it had a chance to heal
• I got a subscription to Sportskool Fitness. 
• I replaced walking the dog with a used bicycle.   I love being able to ride around the Kingwood greenbelts.  
• Hopscotch came back into the workout as a way to practice jumps off-ice and gage home my toe was healing.
• Carl made a commitment to exercise with me.  He wants to train for a 5K run, and until my toe heals completely, he wants to bike with me.   

At this point, I have one more week off the ice because of personal commitments.  Hopefully, around the 18th, I'll be back at Memorial City practicing.