I Spin for Peanut Butter!

Happy Monday, everyone! (I know, I know... it stinks- But that's why I have another fun post to distract you for a few minutes!) 


Here in Thailand, it's actually already Monday night and I just hopped out of the shower. Not to get TOO personal but while I was in there, I was admiring my legs not only for the tan I've acquired in my tropical locale but also for their shape and definition. I have not had a single proper workout since I left NYC on Dec. 23rd and I was considering that even though I have not been able to hit the gym, my lifestyle here is so very active that I still feel (and look!) fantastic; well, I think so anyway...


 (I figure self-loathing on fitness blogs is so 2011 and in 2012, we should be admiring our bodies, yeah?) 


MUCH of my activity comes from riding a bicycle everywhere- the market, to the school I'm teaching at, to the Thai massage parlor, to the wat (temple), etc. Even when we go out to lunch and dinner, we ride our bikes. It's incredibly pleasant and I'm so thankful for the workout cycling approximately 4-5 miles/day has given me! I know I'd go a bit mad without it. Luckily, when I return to the States in a week, I won't have to give my newfound fitness obsession up entirely.....
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I Spin for Peanut Butter!

(Photo courtesy of Asphalt Green)

I do. And for ice cream, bbq chips, pancakes, cheeseburgers... all of it. It was the moment I saw Jenn Anniston’s rockin’ hot bod, then calculating the near 20 year gap between her and I, that I thought, “Okay, I need some spin in my life!”

So I joined Asphalt Green on the Upper East Side, and was off to my new life, and my first spin class. I was hooked! I thought I was going to die, and sweat like a man (the only available seat was next to the really adorable chap of course!), but I knew I was past the point of no return. I’d be back. I put together some tips for girls, who like me, and just starting off:

1. Have a positive attitude. You might want to kick and scream a bit, but have an open mind. Rome wasn’t built in a day!
2. Don’t let intimidation get the best of you. Sure, there will be classmates who look like Olympians and can spin circles around you, but the challenge in some beautiful way brings us together.
3. Drink water! Stay hydrated. Trust me, it’s your new best friend.
4. Motivate, challenge, push yourself. You are capable of burning up to 600 calories in one class! Find that picture, set that goal, the bikini you’ve been dying to wear, and go for it!  (Do you know how much peanut butter you can get with one spin class?... Only about 5 tablespoons. Rip off.)
5. Keep doing it! Don’t quit after the 2nd or 3rd class. It gets better and better, and so does your bod!
6. Get to know your spin instructor. I am loving Karen Sullivan, of SpinUpGirl.com. She is friendly, inspiring, encouraging, and a lot of fun! She makes me feel confident on the bike.

Benefits of spin class:

• Burn calories
• Increase endurance
• Get super fit
• Have fun!

There you have it. So, what do you spin for?

More about Asphalt Green
Asphalt Green is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to assisting individuals of all ages and backgrounds achieve health through a lifetime of sports and fitness. This premier athletic complex situated on a beautiful 5½-acre campus is one of New York City’s most valuable resources, acknowledged for its unparalleled programs and expertise. Learn More

“A hero is no braver than an ordinary man, but he is braver five minutes longer.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson
Elena Baxter
Co-Founder + Marketing Director
Lifestyle + Charity Magazine
@emabax
Facebook.com/ElenaBaxter
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So who else is up for a little spinning this year?! Elena, let's make it a date in the City when I return! Oh, and P.S. Be sure to check out the magazine Elena and her sister co-founded, LifestyleandCharity.com. There are some wonderful fitness articles there plus great events going on in the NYC-area!