pop it, hike it, work it out!

So this is the week I've chosen to finally -- after three months off during which I was extremely lethargic following my January colds/flus/what the doctor told me last week could've been mono (thanks airplane flights to/from NYC for NYE) -- get back to being healthy and working out.

Last night, I went back to Pop Physique and was extremely disappointed to find out that I *am* as out of shape as I thought I was. My planking was pathetic, my push ups even worse. I can, however, still squeeze that pink ball while standing on my tippy toes like a ballet-boss! Today, my hamstrings and the sides of my ribcage hurt like hell. Tomorrow night, I'm going back for more. 

I also want to start hiking again, even though half of my hiking club has abandoned me to NYC or complaining, "It's too hot now." To that I can now say HA! Look at this -- The 15 Best Summer Hikes in Southern California! Note: Some of these fall under the awesome category of "Shade." 

Now I just need to figure out how to get to there :)

Who's in? 

where did summer go?

It's September. How did that happen? The summer flew by and I feel like I missed it ... I guess that's what happens when you are re-aclimating to working and getting used to a new job.

I do remember talking about my new job over a lot of breakfasts/lunches/dinners/drinks with friends. I also remember a 4th of July BBQ and hosting some grilling nights complete with super messy s'mores. I hosted my first afternoon tea complete with scones and finger sandwiches. Oh, and I went to a lovely wedding in the garden of the British Consul-General's residence and a fun, internationally-themed baby shower, both with really good food.

I went to some concerts -- Opening Night at the Bowl, Heart, John Williams. I bought a lot of concert tickets for this fall. I did not buy tickets for Bon Jovi at Staples Center in October because Richie Sambora and Jon Bon Giant Ego are still fighting and not on tour together as they should be. That will be the first Los Angeles-area Bon Jovi concert since 1989 I am not at. Sad.

I went to the Arclight Sherman Oaks for a bunch of movies, only a few of which were memorable. Although right now I can't remember which those were.

I went to Pop Physique a LOT and have super-strong calf muscles to prove it.

I did not read past page 22 of Pride and Prejudice... yet. I will do this. I must.

I also did not write a lot. Going back to work has tired me out. This makes also makes me sad. I feel like I've been sucked back into the evil corporate void, where creativity does not exist. I need to start writing more and finding small joys in normal things like I was able to do on my "sabbatical."

I saw this article on twitter a few weeks ago. I have a journal I haven't touched in years. I usually just go to it to vent about things I dare not say to another human being. I think I am going to dig it out and turn it into something positive using that list as a guide.

I am also going to start re-reading some of my creative writing books from college -- Wild Mind, The Artist's Way -- that assign things to write about and get the juices flowing.

The Artist's Way makes you write morning pages... I remember that. I am so not a morning person.

Maybe I'll go read Pride and Prejudice instead.

for the return to runyon

My Runyon workout buddy is always trying to make me do painful things like sit-ups on the benches at the top of Runyon Lookout. But these moves -- Self.com: 8 Moves to Firm Up in Fresh Air Workouts -- are much more in line with what I do now at Pop Physique. So that means they shouldn't hurt as much as the dreaded sit-ups (on a hard wood bench)... right? ;) Maybe if the weather cooperates I'll go try a few out tomorrow.

hurts so good

So on my December stay-cation, I decided I needed to get my workout schedule back on track. I haven't done much since the time changed in October except weekly Wednesday Pilates (with my awesome instructor Marcy, who some of you may recognize as Quendra [with a "Qu"] on Community). Not much Runyon. Not much Wii Fit. Zero Pop Physique.... yet I had two Groupons about to expire in January. So I decided to suck it up and go to the Studio City location when my fave instructor Mackenzie K. was teaching on New Year's Eve morning. Mackenzie is great... she (per her bio on the site ;) "encourages students to honor what their body is giving them on any given day instead of always wishing it was giving them something else. In essence, be in the moment and work hard, but be patient." She works us hard, but what I love about Pop Physique (aka #buttschool) is they push you right to your limit. Just when you feel you might collapse and die, the instructor moves on to work a completely different part of your body. And over the hour, you work EVERY part of your body. But the constant change-ups, which also include changes in music tracks and volume, as well as lighting, make it manageable. And tonight, it actually went by fast. I was surprised when class was over "so soon." I hope that means I'm getting back in shape. Mackenzie said I'm looking stronger. I just signed up for class every Monday in January. Owie.