I’m back from my itch-induced hiatus. Still itchy, less bumpy. My doctor took a skin sample to biopsy and some blood samples to test for immune disorders, and in the meantime I’m on a steady diet of antihistamines and cortisone cream.

Basically, I’m like a stoner, minus the drugs. Well, illegal drugs.

If I start rocking dreadlocks and playing hacky sack it is your job, as people who read about my daily life, to come and rescue me from 1995. Interventions are a part of life. I’ll be mad at you at the time, but I’ll love you for it later.

In between naps I’ve done a wee bit of exercise.

Sorry for the picture quality. As it turns out, it’s really hard to take pictures while riding a bike…even a stationary one.

Last Thursday, right after my biopsy and against doctors’ orders, I went to a two-hour spin class hosted by Spinning ® Master Instructor Josh Taylor. The class was a part of the ECA conference being held in New York, and counted toward my recertification. Since I’d signed up for the class months in advance and knew I wouldn’t get my fee back, I took my chances with getting scar-in-the-making a bit sweaty, and I’m glad I did.

First of all, it’s really kind of cool to be in a class filled with 100 spin instructors. Talk about class participation and enthusiasm. There was a great energy in the room.

The class was video-based, meaning Josh guided us through a ride based around a story. This particular story was about Secretariat. Yeah, the race horse. I thought it might be super corny to pretend I was a horse for two hours, but I was an acting major so I’m used to animal-based public humiliation.

Turns out the ride wasn’t that corny, it was based on preparation, failure, experience, and going all out. You know, things that are a part of life—and a lot of the time, a part of instructing.

The video definitely kept the group engaged for two-hours—which is no small feat. Another thing I really appreciated about this class was the reminder that Spinning ® isn’t always about going all out. You can’t go at 100% all the time (a life lesson I’m only recently starting to accept). We spent a good 50% of the class going at a moderate recovery pace, maybe 40% doing hills and strength training measures, and only 10% going all out.

Now, I know this won’t really translate well to most gym-based spin classes. Most people don’t have the time to take 120 minutes out of their life a few times a week to do a gradual spin class. Gyms want their customers to feel like they’re getting their money’s worth from their membership, and since most of us measure that worth in sweat stains, high intensity interval based 45-minute classes are the norm. At the end, without fail, you will have a room full of sweaty exhausted people.

But feeling exhausted isn’t usually a feeling that keeps me coming back for more of something.

If I took anything from this experience it is that going all out usually wins the race, but not every day is race day. The rest of the time exercise is about training smart, not necessarily training hard. That’s a good reminder for the all-or-nothing voice inside my head.

Breakfast

Multi grain pancake with soygurt and sugar free syrup

Lunch

The Fella and I had company this weekend and I made a variety of Indian inspired dishes. We’ll be eating the leftovers for the next six or seven years.
Brown rice with Aloo Gobi, Lentils and Peas, and a side of spiced yogurt.

Dinner

I’m trying to cut down on my night time carbs, so we’ll be eating a lot of omelets and frittatas in the foreseeable future.
Tonight’s dinner was made with half whole eggs and half egg whites, tomatoes, carrot, spinach, and onion. I topped it off with a healthy dose of nutritional yeast for a cheesy flavor.

Exercise: 4-mile run focusing on hills.

Kim