fitness challenge 6 -- water exercise

Today I went with Bonnie to her deep water exercise class. This activity isn't really new to me. I tried it 30 years ago at the YMCA on Broad Street. I enjoyed it then. I enjoyed it now.

(Yes I am wearing bike shorts and an exercise top. Bonnie did offer me a suit. That won't happen. Ever. Unless it has legs.)

Modern Aqua exerciseis much more sophisticated. We used empty milk and juice bottles with the caps glued on for resistance. They have actually aqua dumbbells now! No trash can with milk bottles in different sizes. They come in different sizes ( like the pix I borrowed from the net). Actually I think the milk bottles were harder to use and provided more resistance.


It was okay. Lots more water running and leg work that I anticipated. The pool had four classes going on and I really just wanted to sneak into the 4 foot pool and do that one. It looked much more difficult and more like what I remembered. But there was a substitute teacher. So that changed things a lot.

The pool is on the Cedar Crest campus. It might be something I try again, but I'm lazy and that is way to far to travel. Guess I should check out the Y!

It's nearly 3:00 and I've only got about 3000 steps on my pedometer. I'm going to Musikfest later to pick up Bug and see some Polynesian dance troop. Hopefully, I can bring that total up to 10K.

more ideas for creative fitness

Anybody interested?

Roller skating. Couldn't do it at 10. No doubt I'll spend the bulk of my time on my ample tushie.

Laser Tag. This is above my 410 limit. But you get 3 games for $18. I have 45 off coupons in one of those coupon books the kids sell. I'm clueless what it's called. It's not the entertainment book. We could probably draft some of friends,  neices and nephews to make a team.

Trampoline Fitness. I haven't found anywhere in the Lehigh Valley that does this. It's a mini tramp with a rail. More than likely, if I do, it will be at a gym. Watch the insanity on YouTube.

In the same vein we've been talking about going to Sky Zone, an indoor trampoline fitness park. We've been talking about it so long they are opening one in Allentown. No more road trip toward Philadelphia. Now we must do it. But it isn't ready yet. ):

Swimming. I actually contacted the Bethlehem Recreation department about adult swim lessons. They only have private ones. I wanted a group. Way cheaper. Yes, mom sent us for swim lessons when we were kids. I just didn't learn anything. Swimming laps is good for you. I think.

Hot Yoga. Yes, you read that right. Apparently it's regular yoga in a hot room. You wear tight clothes instead of loose—basically, you sweat your fat off. They are opening a studio in the Lehigh Shopping Center, down by the Dollar tree. Hideous logo. Will they trade design services for yoga classes?

Playground fitness. Yes, you'd need to check your vanity at the door. No way around it. Doing this in the park, you look like an idiot. But I think most of it is doable. Why actually swinging isn't part of the plan I have no idea.

tri-to-help

 Jen, Nora and I at the finish line.

Today I did my first triathlon. Okay, it wasn't an Ironman, but it was a lot. And it was indoors and only took an hour. I did it with a few people from the sugar crushers group. Bonnie came along to take pictures and for moral support. Next year she's doing it.

Jen and Nora were in the noon group. I was in the 12:40 group. It started with the swim. Needless to say hell will freeze over before I wear a swimsuit. Bonnie even offered me one of hers. No, thank you. We were in the pool area while Nora and Jen were warming up. Then even drew on my number while I was waiting. Them, there was one space left in the Noon group, so I was able to go. Yeah, no waiting.

I can't swim. The little I knew I forgot. So I tried walking in water for 10 minutes. It was hard. I kept slipping. Water shoes would have been a good idea. Next year.  I did 13 laps. Not bad, I guess.

 Then we changed and headed down to the spin bikes. Again, I have never used one. Do you hold-on or not? I couldn't decide. We rode for 30 minutes. The seats are uncomfortable and my butt hurt. But more than that, my lady parts hurt. They still hurt hours later. I rode 6.8 miles in the allotted time.

 Then it was off to the treadmill. I've used a treadmill twice before. Both for testing as part of the Walk Your Butt Off panel. Bonnie stood behind me at the beginning and told me what to do. I set the machine a 4 mph and on level two. I was supposed to set it at number one. Oops.

I did 1.25 miles in the twenty minutes.

Afterwards we waited for the others in the 12:40 wave. We stayed in a group in one of the corners. I also walked the track several times. I'm not used to do eight miles in an hour. I had jelly legs!

We arrived home to another snow storm. I guess I'll be up even earlier tomorrow shoveling before work.

Me at the end with my tally sheet.