Did I just hear my thighs scream?

Doing this bike to work thing is going o.k. I bought a lock last night, but neither Lori nor I could figure it out. So, it's going back to be replaces by one with a key lock. Then maybe I won't have to store it in the broadcast studio!

The only thing that sucks is going home. It's up hill. And not just any hill, but those in my Sherman Hill neighborhood. No matter how you go about it, to get to my apartment, you go up hill.

I once thought that was really cool, because in out 3rd floor apartment you can see for miles. There's a view of the governor's mansion, every tree for miles and fireworks from a number of communities on the 4th of July.

Now, not so cool.

But, I will have to get past it and get on with it. It's time to move toward home. Let's just hope after a summer of this, I really do have a butt-o-steel.

Yours in fitness, Kate

Butt o' Steel

Met with trainer Traci at Fitness World West yesterday. We did measurements before we did my session, because we hadn't done them in a couple of months. (The workout was great, by the way. She showed me tons of new moves.)

Two measurements that are of note:

Body fat: 21.3%
That puts me 1.3% away from my goal of 20% body fat. That's extremely athletic without going crazy. Any lower than 18% and women's bodies start to freak out and skip periods and things. (Not that I would mind that side effect.) So that puts me 6 pounds of fat away from my goal. I have rededicated myself to shrinking the fat cells in a serious manner. Now, I just have to figure what that means.

My hips: 41 inches
An almost 2 inch increase, that surprised me. Part of that measurement is extra skin, but mostly it's booty. That's right, I didn't notice until a few days ago that I am turning into Jennifer Lopez. I am building a majorly muscled derriere. I can't crack a walnut yet, but yes, I can flex it and hold! Some people think her butt is big, whatever, she has a great shape and she seems happy and that's all that matters. Now I just have to accept that my bottom measurement may never be the 36 a girl fantasizes about. I'll get there. In the mean time I will wonder at my butt o' steel and be amused. Who knew muscles could just 'pop' up?!

Yours in fitness, Kate

Butt Kickin' Workout

Dang it, the week is getting away from me.

Anyway, trainer Traci put me through my paces the other day. (Per my request) And half-way through I whined - I don't whine during workouts. But she did exactly what I wanted, she gave me nothing but new moves and really pushed me to my limits. It was painful (in a good way) and yet awesome at the same time. Six months ago the move that really killed me wouldn't even have happened - I wouldn't have been able to do it - period.

Here it is:

Backward lunge
Forward lunge - same leg
Backward lunge
5 full pulses up and down while in backward lunge position
Jump up moving legs like scissors land in lunge position, lunge and do two more times

You have now done 1. Yep, one on one side. Now do the other side. Now do each grouping 9! more times on each side.

Yep, Biggest Loser fans, she went all Jillian on me. My breathlessness and whining did not sway her - she kicked my butt. I survived though. My quads and glutes hurt yesterday, she will be very proud to hear that today.

Honestly, even though it kicked my butt, it definitely worked my butt as well. So, I like it and it may happen again soon. Glutton, obsessed? No, committed, dedicated, passionate and ultimately - my own butt kicker.

Yours in fitness, Kate