Day 15

Yeah, yeah, despite all my "I will not go to the gym! I need to relaX!" I just couldn't help my self and ended up in the gym today. And its not like I didn't have anything to do. Well... maybe that. I woke up earlier than expected today, managed to finish the stuff I was supposed to do earlier than expected... and then I found out that I could just about make it in time for Body Attack... >=p

In the end, I don't think it was such a good decision to go. The class was great (as always - Barney's class), and I still love the tracks and all that. It's just that I really *do* need the time-off gym! I could barely get my knees high during the runs, and I think that it just doesn't do justice to the new release if you don't do it with ~*full energy*~

After that, I went back to my original plan which was to have a -light- workout. Went to the women's fitness area. Did my 25x4 (15lb) for :
- abductor (the two different types)
- 25 x 3 for the low row (must work them arms!)
- 25 x 5 for the leg press

Took just enough time for me to fly over to True Yoga for my FIRST EVAR YOGA CLASS IN TRUE YOGA. In fact, today was the first time that I went INTO True Yoga (during the consulting, the dude didn't get the chance to show me the place). Well, it was a pleasant surprise, and Gentle Yoga with Sony was a different experience from the previous Body Balance / Yoga class I had at FF. The main reason is of course, that it's more peaceful at True Yoga. Unlike FF where the yoga/balance/tai chi studio is right next to the 'noisy' classes like Combat / Step / Jam, there is NO SOUND AT ALL in True Yoga. Really can relax! Secondly, I think that Sony is a better instructor even though his English is less comprehensible. :P Gentle Yoga is, as the namesake, easier than the normal Yoga / Pilates / Balance, but not TOO simple. The movement is simpler, and they go really s-l-o-w-l-y with lots of repetitions so that you have many chances to get it right. :p BUTTTTTT.. there is still a huge emphasis on correctness, flexibility, stretching and all that good stuff, so you can still sweat doing Gentle Yoga. :p For me, it was totally good, improves posture (I'm sitting straight in my chair now, even though I had back pain maintaining the lotus position in class, which btw is a freaking NOT-AS-EASY-AS-IT-LOOKS position.

Nice class, nice place, nice instructor. Can't wait to try more!

Day 14

Finally, my body feels so sore that I really really cannot go for gym tomorrow. -___-" It's not like I've worked out a *lot* today, its just that I have been working out non-stop for too long! And I guess I might've stretched my back a bit too much in capoeira yesterday, because its quite painful today. >_< Body Jam and Body Step, both new releases that I've yet to try! Before Body Jam, I did my 25 x 4 abdominal crunches again. Fooh... the abs are feeling sore now. A good kinda sore. Finished the last crunch just in time for class with Jason. He did not disappoint, did the new release (of course). The only sad thing is that apparently its the 4th new release class, and I was only one of the 5 people who had yet to try it. N00b n00b n00b betul. But it was not too difficult, could follow most of the tracks. The trickier ones is the later part of the latin track (where there is a lot of crossovers) and maybe the "most high impact jam performance track in the history of Body Jam" <--- according to Jason la. But that one wasn't tricky, just a bit confusing at first, sure can later on. But I love the other tracks, love the hip-hop flavour for Fergalicious, the recovery track which was simple & sweet (Long Way To Go by Cassie)! I can't remember most of the songs now, but I remembered enjoying all of it... hahaha!

For Body Step, wow, I really felt the fatigue here. But I managed to stay for the entire class. What to do, Roland was teaching, and I love his classes. ^^ I quite like the new release for Body Step track-wise, but I'm still not used to starting with the step board vertically. It's so strange to me. =p But it shouldn't make a difference right. Almost all the songs are nice, but I especially liked the recovery track song. *sudah lupa nama* I didn't quite like the speed step track, because it was some punk rock track, and I prefer choreography like the one for Walking on Sunshine. I thought the last "power" track was too much like the previous release (Do We Rock), with the exception of the guard/punch move. Then again, most of them are similar. -___-" Ooh, and I love the cool-down & conditioning tracks. Conditioning because of the bicep workout (I can actually see muscles on my arms again!), and the cool-down because it's Rob Thomas's Street Corner Symphony. ^^

Aching all over.
But a good kinda ache. ;)

Maybe I'll just go for 2 classes instead of the 7 class marathon I had planned out for tomorrow. :p

Day 13

Today, True Fitness introduced Capoeira to their members in USJ Taipan for the very first time. The advertisements around the club were very enticing - "Brazilian martial arts / dance to funky music", or something of that ilk (sorry, I ad-libbed). As expected, the studio was PACKED to the MAX. It was very scary to see the amount of people stuffed into the room. And as you all know, capoeira requires a LOT of space, because of all the kicks and ginga (the basic, fundamental move in Capoeira. Is basically side-step + step to the back, then repeat on the other side. Got a sort of "rocking" motion going on). We could all barely move!

But nobody budged an inch... everyone had to stay to see what the whole deal was about. I also kiasu, I tried capoeira before (and the music was far from funky... it was like Balinese prayer music) and wasn't impressed, but wanted to see what TF had to offer.

I have to say, that the guy (Mr Quek? Quack?) was really good. But he was a bit too advanced for us... seriously til now I have no idea what the steps were. And because of the space limitation, I don't think it was a good idea to have all those fancy kicks. (But if no fancy kicks, how many other moves left to teach?) As it is, I kicked someone's hand... twice. Damn bloody terrible wei.

The music was much nicer than the capoeira class that I tried at Celebrity Fitness. Yeah, it's definitely funky! The best part about the class was at the end, when he let us learn how to do cartwheels (small-small only... must wait til arms muscular then only go and flip around), and then do bridges. ^^ Wah, back pain now.

Anyway, it was an alright introduction, will definitely be back next week. Am I wicked for hoping it won't be as popular next week? Need. More. Space. Didn't get to sweat much this round. Luckily I went for a run on the threadmill before the class (up to 9.2kph again!) and then did 25 x 4 abdominal trunk crunches. Yummy. =)

Signing off,
~leech

Day 12

I finally went for a Cardio Wave class... its only 20 minutes long, but holy shit, really feel like fainting half way through! Since I'm a n00b, I totally didn't feel like it worked out my arms as much as it should have (during that stretchy stretchy session), but my legs feel damn weak after the 20 minutes. In hakka, we call it 'nyon'. :p However, all in all quite enjoyable (love the track selections) and aim to be able to actually stay on the cardio wave without grabbing onto the handles for dear life.

Wish I could've stayed longer, but I left my handphone at work, and if I didn't double back to get it, I would feel like I'm missing a limb or something. T_T Will work out tomorrow morning!! XD

Day 11

Can I re-iterate how much I freaking love the new release of Body Attack? Or how much I freaking love my new gym for that matter.

Today I went for Body Combat (last week was Jun Yin) and was surprised to find out it is actually Terence's class. ^^ Gosh, so many of the 'old faces' from the old gym over here as well. Was expecting the new release of BC, but he 'accidentally' ended up doing the old releases. Oh well, that's good anyway I don't have high hopes for BC new releases. And I'm happy that Terence is in TF because this means that there will DEFINITELY be someone who will do the old releases from way back when. Yay!

After that, was debating over going for BA, and ended up going! Wow, can't believe it myself, I actually took the non-lazy solution! XD Anyway, I saw that it was going to be Barney's class, and I really enjoyed his class (with Jason) on Sunday, so I decided to go again. Wooh, I really love the tracks, from #3 onwards. And now I can do that ice-skiing -lookylike thingy already! =D *proud of self* Wei, its a big improvement considering this is like, my 4th - 5th Body Attack class... I'm like not so n00b there now. =)

Okay, that's all for today. Grrrr.... weight - go down!!!

Day 10

I've discovered my new fave instructor at True Fitness. >=) Jason! Hehehe. His Body Jam classes are damn nice and enjoyable AND have "higher impact" than other Jam classes. And I just went for his Body Attack class on Sunday, and you know what? The class felt like the actual LAUNCH of Body Attack itself! It was that fun, that interactive, etc etc. Of course, he had Barney there as well, so the "mood" of a launch just stuck to me. ^_^ Seriously damn nice class, wish every week was that good. And in case you couldn't tell, the new release of Body Attack is DAMN nice. However, not as difficult as the previous release... maybe because they didn't introduce any new moves.

And the cool down for Body Attack is Meatloaf singing that Celine Dion All Coming Back song. Barney said, "Wah, this one is very dramatic" and proceeded to make a few hilarious "dramatic" poses. Lawak betul. But yeah, it's a very "dramatic" cool down, I love that song Meatloaf!

Was debating between going for Body Step or otherwise. Regardless, there was going to be a 1 hour break in between, so I decided to walk around the gym and scout out new stuff to try out. Finally managed to find the darn Female Only workout area, and I loves it! XD Firstly, they have the abductor machines there, and if you're like me, sometimes you do get weirded out doing the abductor and opposite you is another guy working out. -___-" So here I was free to do my thang. Besides, despite being a female only workout area, there were only a few ladies around. Maybe its Sunday, and usually there's more. Anyway, there was lots of space for me to walk around, and try the machines there. After that, found the leg press machine which I am also too shy to use outside. Managed to do 5 x 25 leg press (btw, for almost all machines I use 15lb only for legs, 10lb for arms), feels damn good. And finally finally managed to find THE perfect machine for my arms... the LOW ROW. Mwahahaha! It's a delightful machine to tone up the biceps and chest, not as intimidating looking as the other arm machines. Well, after a few months of this, let's see if people say my shoulders are as broad as a rower's. ^^

After I had exhausted the few machines in the female workout area (its not that large. The "guys" workout area downstairs is much bigger, but to be fair its not only for men, but they are so hulkingly muscular that I don't dare to go in, and I think MOST females don't dare to either), I decided to use the other machines outside. However, I guess it's a Sunday and most guys there are having some kinda routine, so when I use a machine (and I take a while to adjust, try, adjust) they give me a look of annoyance that has me scurrying away. So with the exception of the calve extension machine that I'm REALLY familiar with, I didn't get to try anything new. :( Sigh! Why am I not pretty enough for guys to offer to teach me how to use a machine huh!! :P I always get the evil eye instead. ^^

After all the toning and maybe, running away from hulkingly muscular guys, I decided to go home and miss Body Step. Le sigh! Well, tonight will be a 2 - 3 class marathon to make up for it.

Day 9

Whoa. I think I just love True Fitness that little bit more. On 30th May, I changed my start date of my membership from July 2007 to June 2007. Of course, my membership card was not ready because they thought I would only be coming in a month later. I was really worried that they wouldn't have updated my profile quick enough (after I requested, it wasn't an instant database update, they just submitted a request for change for me), and then when June comes around, I'd still have no card, and my profile still reading July 2007 would mean they won't let me enter. Long story short, today I went there with very low hopes of my profile being updated (I am so used to nonsensical dilly-dallying) and I'd have to meet their operations manager again and this time ask him to give me a copy of the request for change form or something so that I can actually gym.

But guess what? Not only was my profile updated, my card was ready! Super efficient man!! So today I super-worked-out.

I :
~ ran for 25 minutes on the threadmill up to 9.3 kph. Yes, up 0.1kph! And the narcissist in me loves running facing the mirror so I can see how hot I look when I'm sweating. *koff*
~ went for Body Jam with Farah (another one who I knew from FF..!!). The class was ok, not too difficult. The most tough track would be the Yeah hip-hop track, because of the kick-swerve-jump-kick move which can be tricky when you're going damn quickly. ^^ Otherwise I was super happy with the song selection, which includes the performance track for The Trouble With Me / I Like The Way You Move / Flashdance (???), etc. Simple, but fun tracks.
~ went for Body Step after that with Roland (I think it's Roland). Another good class with good cues, nice track selection (Dance Dance is now my fave party track, Walking on Sunshine - confusing but nice if/when you get it right!, Pour Some Sugar On Me - who can dislike Def Leppard!, Do Something, etc etc).

Thought of going for Body Combat after that, but my toes were hurting like hell. Wonder why! -__-"