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!

Do You Blink?

I Blinked this week and it felt AMAZING!

Mind you, I gave up my gym over a month ago and it’s tough to go cold turkey, am I right or am I right?

So WTH am I talking about with this “blink” talk? Lemmie explain:

Blink is a newish gym located in NoHo, Paramus, and Yonkers. The message they declare is that everyone deserves to work out because, like blinking, it is only natural. Their super affordable rates ($20/month) allow even the most broke to work up a sweat within the confines of a clean, spacious gym with great equipment!

I was so excited to get started on my workout routine for the first time in months (seriously felt like I was on my way to visit with an old friend) as I walked the five or so blocks from my apartment to Blink. Before I could hop on the treadmill, however, I made a quick stop by the front desk to sign up for the month. I was using a Groupon deal I’d bought in July so my first month’s dues were just 10 bucks! Sweet. The attendants at the front desk were not only efficient but also incredibly friendly and cleared me to use their gym in a few short minutes. 

I took a look around the large, open room and saw that most of the free weights and machines are located on the left side of the gym and most of the cardio equipment is located on the right. I made a quick pit stop in the women’s locker room (Note to Self: Bring a lock next time!) and headed out to one of the many rows of treadmills. The treadmills, like the rest of Blink, are new models and equipped to allow you to plug in your headphones to watch tv (there are about 15 tvs hanging from the ceiling) or to hook your iPod up. I picked one closest to the window because I wanted a bird’s eye view of the street (Blink is on the second floor of the building) as I clocked my miles (…. Ok, my 1.5 mile…).

Following my run, I jumped on an elliptical and continued my cardio conditioning for another 20 minutes. By then, glistening and loving it, I was ready for the weights! Blink has a TON of weight machines, all obviously well-maintained. I tried out the thigh abductor machines and then grabbed a couple of free weights to work on my arms. Then it was time for (drumroll, please……..) my core session! You KNOW how obsessed I am. Unfortunately for me, a gym employee was mopping the padded area designated for floor workouts so I had to wait a bit before I could begin (I’m glad they keep it so clean, though!) The gym offers plenty of exercise balls so I grabbed one and got started on my 30 minutes of ab bliss (I know- I’m a weirdo for loving it). You know what’s funny? Despite all of the classes I’ve taken and physical activity I’ve been doing lately, after completing my own ab routine on the exercise ball, I could DEFINITELY feel myself working muscles I guess I’ve been missing. This led me to purchase my own exercise ball for my apartment on the way home.

So,

Would I do it again? Yep, after finishing up my workout and stretching all my muscles out, I left Blink one happy camper. I have my one-month membership and at $20/month, who wouldn’t sign up?

PROS: Obviously, the price. Also, for me, the location works. It’s right at Broadway and West 4^th. The facilities are nice and the employees are even nicer.

CONS: The gym is a bare-bones gym; there are no classes offered and I didn’t notice personal trainers standing around (though, again, the staff was super helpful and friendly).

I also have a sneaking suspicion that, due to the affordability, this place gets PACKED during peak hours (weekends & before and after work). I’m not the most patient person so I don’t think it’d work for me if I couldn’t go during non-peak hours.

I’d definitely recommend this place to most people who need little to no guidance when working out. 

                                      Hey, maybe I’ll see you around!