Let’s Get Physical

That is exactly what I did today.


Mark the date - it’s the first time in my life I ever worked out for 5.5 hours. What have I gotten myself into?

I’m still on East Coast time - woke up at 5am today. Didn’t have to get up until 7. Got to the gym about 7:45 and the assault began.

First I had a VO2 test done. It measures your oxygen and lung capacity. But that entails walking on the treadmill as if doing a stress test. Then I got to eat breakfast. Then a bunch of us piled in the van to go for a walk/run at the beach. I took my shoes and socks off and walked along the water’s edge while boogying to my ipod - a little Kat DeLuna, some Pitbull, a bit of Kumbia Kings, TLC, J-Lo, Justin Timberlake & Snoop Dog, Will Smith…the list goes on. Towards the end I really had to go to the bathroom. So I waited for one of our guys Cedric to catch up with me and I asked him where the bathroom was. He’s pointing to the “green thing” that you have to walk down the steps to get into the bathroom. The only green thing I see looks like a trash barrel. It is.

Okay I admit I asked him, “Do you mean that short round green thing that looks like a barrel?” His reply, “Uh, no, that’s a barrel.” After we get back to the gym I get a look at Cedric without his sunglasses.

Oh shit…it’s Cedric the Entertainer. He must think I’m a real idiot - I thought a barrel was a bathroom. Hey, it’s California…they always do weird shit out here.

Back at the gym there’s no rest for the weary. We immediately participate in an Abs/Core class for 30 minutes. It was hard. I got a 30-minute break then did a group circuit class for 60 minutes during which I fell. Maybe falling will be my new “thing”. Luckily I didn’t get hurt, but Yes…everyone was watching.

If my math is correct, I had already worked out for 2.5 hours by noon.

We ate a hot lunch right there at the gym prepared for us by Chef Seong.

Then it’s right back to work. 1 hour of cardio immediately followed by an hour of personal training. My training partner was Desi another newbie. Our trainer was Jonathan. I had the music in me and proceeded to serenade Desi throughout the workout. I told her, “In my world I have a great voice!” Heh…that’s because I have ear buds in my ears and the music turned up loud - I totally can’t hear myself!

Desi and I had an hour off so we hung out in the lounge and talked to some of the veterans who offered some great advice.

4 pm was boot camp with Jonathan. It was a group of 10 (including Cedric) and we worked our tushes off big time. Exhausting!

I was finally free to head on home, but first I needed to stop by the store for: laundry detergent, dryer sheets, distilled water, decaf green tea, and ibuprofen. I wasn’t looking forward to the half-mile walk back to the apartment Plus going to the shopping area across the street. But my friend Bess saved the day. She drove by and noticed me so she stopped. Turns out, she had to go to the store too. What a relief.

So here I sit, happy that I accomplished what I did today. But my feet are throbbing and my eyes are beginning to close and it’s only 8:30. I’m pretty sure I’ll be a “dud” all week long, but I don’t care. I’m working on something here that’s even bigger than me. So I’m grabbing another bottle of water and heading off to bed.

I’m out!