HOTEL INDIGO IN ASHEVILLE!

Out of town Gym Review!  As you know GO Training relocated this month to Portland.  On the way across these United States I got to sample a few gyms.  Here is a run down of my experience at the Hotel Indigo in Asheville, North Carolina.

Whew, it feels good to be fairly settled Portland after a relatively smooth but demanding pack up and cross country drive.  There was only one real honest meltdown.  The night before leaving our home in North Carolina, my husband and I got minimal sleep.  SO it was only three hours out of Greensboro before we started in feel the "pack up your life and clean everything real good and get all your business in order and also return the cable box" all-nighter.   My husband needed to still wrap up his work stuff, so we traded westward progress for a good night's sleep.  It also would allow a solid workout to happen.  Well,  I stretched and then feel asleep on the floor!  But the next day, oh the next day, I was ready to tear it up!

In the meantime, I also got the fine pleasure of eating at one of my fav relaxed vegan eateries.  Rosetta's kitchen in Asheville! YUM! And healthy too. Disclaimer! You can get serious comfort food here too, so you have to chose healthy.

I really like this Indogo's hotel gym set-up.  There is plenty of great hiking, biking and all that good stuff in Asheville, but traveling in the winter-or-during an awesome mountain downpour may push you indoors.  This was the case for me, sideways downpour happening!  I tip my hat to you mother nature.  I have had great experiences running this city and have much more exploring to do in the future.  And would highly recommend taking your adventure outside if weather permits.

The square footage is solid for a hotel gym.  There is plenty of space for the cardio machines, a nice pulley system, water, towels, and some extra work out bits.  The cardio machine set-up includes two treadmills, an elliptical machine and a recumbent bike.

They have a multi-faceted pulley system that can be used to reproduce just about any machine by adjusting pulleys up or down, and you can use them one at a time or together.  There is an adjustable bench that can do incline and flat positions, and a great array of free weights, poundage ranging from 5 to 50 pounds.  Other equipment provided in the room,  a couple of yoga mats and a fit ball, and a large soft mat.  There is enough room to do lunges and any other functional moves on your list, which is a fun part of my on-the-go regimen.

I lucked out because there was also a solid flow of people in and out which is always a motivator for me!  After the stress of moving, I was glad to absorb the good energy!

Great little gym in the best Indigo around!  I have Indigo'd elsewhere and been disappointed in the hotel quality.   The Asheville Indigo is my fav, they have sleek modern decor and real tile in the bathrooms, etc.

I give this hotel gym a high kick AND fluttery jazz hands AND a thumbs up.

Cardio 3! Madeline and Jillian...now BFF's forevs!

Somehow I got out of order but I wanted to post the month three cardio review done by Madeline and some additional notes she has about other workouts!  This was the cardio DVD Madeline did all throughout month 3.

She finished a tough 90 day program that carried/pushed her through year two law school finals AND wedding prep AND a new job AND a move.  Pretty darn good!  Now two days from wearing a fancy dress and wedded bliss, I want to thank Madeline for sampling this program for me so myself and my clients know what the demands are and what to expect.

From a physical therapist and trainer perspective, I would expect to start healthy.  If you have any sore spots,  shoulder, wrist, back. hip, knee, ankle, you need to address that ouchy spot, or have a professional guide you on modifications, or if you need to wait before starting this program.  A lot of the cardio moves and intervals have some plyometrics or jumping that can be modified but you may not feel like you are getting the full experience or level of intensity if you skip them.

Also, expect to be pushed.  Jillian Michaels presents a 30 minute video in this series but she wants you working the WHOLE time.  If you turned on the video and it was easy and 100% doable, you most likely would not be making gains!  If there is a move you cannot do or is tough, do what you can and see if next time you can do a bit more (unless it hurts your joints, etc).

I think Jillian does a good job enforcing form, and offering examples of what to do and not to do in these DVD's.

And now, Madeline's update on cardio 3.

Cardio 3

Wow! I have done this workout 4 times – I’m so sorry I have not updated sooner.

Cardio 3…is a beast. It’s definitely the most fun cardio workout out of the three, but WOW. But the end I am breathing so hard. That being said, I can already see improvement since the first time I did this dvd.

Jillian takes you through about 20 (maybe more) exercises. You do each one for about 20 seconds, and it moves FAST. The exercises may only be 20 seconds each (repeated three times), but they are TOUGH. Plank moguls (in plank, hopping to the right, back to center, to the left, etc.), rock star jumps (kicking yourself in the butt), a series of squat jumps into alternating lunge jumps into squat jumping jacks…these are ALL tough. 

I can tell I’m getting stronger. I think my favorite exercise is plank punches. It’s the very last exercise in the series. You are in plank and then you just punch it out. It feels SO awesome, especially the last time you do it. 

High knees are CRAZY hard for me. She does mountain climbers and these high knees where you shift from side to side – great ab workout, but it is SO hard for me!

Overall, I’m seeing improvement. I just finished weeks 9 and 10 – and just a few more notes on those dvds:

DVD 9: I really liked this one. The cardio intervals were all REALLY fun, and she does this move where you squat and raise your arms with weights…for some reason, this was my favorite. I really felt like I was hitting all areas of the body with that move.

DVD 10: This was, by far, the most challenging dvd in the series for me so far. The axe lunges are BRUTAL for me, but I love the one legged tree squats. I also LOVED the last circuit. She has you do half moon (one of my favorite yoga poses) and then these killer shoulder lifts. Overall, did not mind these two weeks!

MADELINE MADNESS! Phase 3 Workout 12

Phase 3 Workout 12

THIS IS IT!!!!!!!!!! I have officially done EVERY DVD in the Jillian Michael’s Body Revolution program. I’ve got less than two weeks and I will have officially completed the 90 day program.

So proud! The best part? I LOVED this workout.

It was challenging, but not completely impossible. I loved a lot of the exercises she incorporated into this video. She does this one move where you are basically in crab pose and you reach across using your opposite arm to opposite leg. She also does this move where she uses the cable . . . I can’t even describe it, but it was the first time I liked using the cable.

The toughest thing about this workout was that she does an upside down push up. You get into a bridge (like you used to as a kid – when was the last time you did one of those?!) and lower your head using your arms and raise it again. It’s tough on your arms, but doing a bridge? Not as easy as it was when I was 12. Sad story.

Overall, I really loved this one. It’s one of my favorites in the series, and it’s so great that it’s the final one. 

I will check in when I OFFICIALLY finish the program! I’ll also discuss my “results.” See you soon!

Madeline Madness! Phase 3, Workout 11

Phase 3, Workout 11

I’M ON WEEK 11!!!!!!!!!!!

This feels like a massive accomplishment. I was feeling pretty great about myself until the dvd started and Jillian called the workout “evil.” Uh oh…

It was evil. This was a tough one for sure. I think the thing that was most frustrating is that I couldn’t do some of the moves. Fortunately, she gave modifications, but I found myself thinking “I’ve gotten this far…why can’t I do this?” BUT, if there were things I couldn’t do, then I wouldn’t be progressing.

She does this thing where she has you swan dive forward from downward dog, then push yourself back up. It’s basically like you are sliding under a fence one way…then sliding back THE SAME WAY. My arms collapsed every single time. 

She does this really fun move in this that she calls bear walks. You are basically squatting down, and you take a few steps forward, then a few steps back. It feels useless at first…then your quads start to burn. I loved it!

The cardio intervals weren’t terrible – definitely several things that she uses in Cardio 3 (crab kicks, mountain climbers), so it wasn’t overwhelmingly hard.

I move on to Workout 12 tomorrow – wish me luck!!!

Beth here dropping my two cents!

I too had struggles with this guy! I felt pushed for sure, burning in areas of the body.  I kept telling myself hang in there ten more seconds!

MADELINE MADNESS! Phase 3, Workout 10

Phase 3 Workout 10

Workout 10 brings the HEAT.

I was happy for several reasons:

We only used the cable once again! And I thought the way she used it was super creative. 

The other reason was because she works lower body like CRAZY. I was complaining in earlier workouts that I did not feel like I was getting enough lower body, and I do NOT feel like that now. Squats, lunges…you do it all, and it is HARD.

The first two circuits are tough. I was breathing really hard, and while I did not stop or pause, it was a REAL challenge to get through. The third and fourth circuits are not AS bad, but still really tough. I was drenched in sweat by the time this workout is over.

It clocks in right around 33 minutes, and WOW. She packs in an intense workout in 33 minutes. I am incredibly sore already. Can’t wait for a NEW cardio video tomorrow!!!

Another note from Beth!

First, month three is challenging, I had the pleasure of hopping in on workouts 9-11 and I always got pushed to the edge and was drenched with the sweaty stuff.  I also took a couple rest breaks on cardio and 9, when Jillian went upper body plank ballistic. 

Madeline is amazing in many ways, she can wurk it, AND she can also cook.  AND her guys was recently deemed gluten not-so-much-anymore.  SO she has a host of GF recipes.

I love that she really pays attention when she is cooking and is always tweaking recipes to take make them EVEN BETTER!

Check out her blog...it has pictures!

http://thelawsofthekitchen.blogspot.com/2013/05/gluten-free-banana-bread.html

MADELINE MADNESS! Phase 3, Workout 9

Phase 3 Workout 9

I am officially in MONTH THREE!!!!!

Can I tell you how happy I am to retire Cardio 2?! SO ready for a new cardio video.

Jillian brings the heat in Month 3, let me tell you. That being said, this workout is not impossible. I made it through every circuit, and while I was not moving as fast as she was on some exercise, I moved at my own pace and pushed through.

Big plus: she only uses the cable ONCE in this dvd! You all know my thoughts on that stupid cable.

She REALLY mixes it up. These moves are things that have not been done up to this point, and the video FLEW by. I mostly enjoyed the cardio circuits, and I felt like she pushed me JUST to my limit. 

The first two circuits are rough, but she takes it “easy” on you during the third circuit – this gives you a chance to take a breath. 

Overall, I think this is one of my favorite dvds so far. Can’t wait to see what workout 10 looks like tomorrow!

Gwen in Action!

I have a pretty amazing and brave DIY mom and dad. Today is about describing Gwenny T as I like to call her and how she has filled the role of mom.

She would not describe herself as an athlete but she is. She grew up in Dearborn and loved to pretend she was a cow girl, giddyaping around the neighborhood. You could say she grew up in the city. She did not play organized sports as a kiddo. Her family would vacation in the ubiquitous up north (For non-native Michiganders this term refers to the top half if the lower peninsula of the Mitten state!) ( and yes Wisconsin meisters Michigan IS THE high five of America!) My mom went all "Green Acres" and moved to a rural place when she married my dad. They eventually built a house on Oxbow Lake in White Lake, Michigan. Here the water skiing, swimming, ice skating, sailing and sledding began!

Then I showed up in 1976 with a serious penchant for being outside and we begun a lifetime of trying new things together. My parentals started my splashing in the water at the age of 2, and my mom would always join in a swim , with sunglasses and the rule of not getting her hair wet. My parents taught me to water ski and fish and handle a wee sail boat. I started playing softball at the age of five. And they never said "no" to trying out a new sport or activity.

My mom has a deep passion for being outside. She has landscaped a lakefront acre of yard for 50 years. She is a flora whisperer and is very creative with her yardly endeavors.

She bowls and golfs and walks and does exercise DVD's and even works out with me online.

I admire her lifelong commitment to taking care of her body. And she never bawks at trying new things!

I shall not reveal her age BUT she was a teenager at a time when you wore gloves on fancy days. And full on dresses and girdles even though you only weighed 118 pounds to high school every day!

Did I mention this lady rollerblades, lifts weights, does 5k's, loves yoga and her bicycle?

I too have tried many sports and taken on many physical feats, and much of that motivation and desire comes from having a mom, an example of its okay to try, an example of it's okay to sample. I have been so proud of seeing her fearlessly go forth and experience so many things, even this year!

She has probably been to 10,000 games and events dutifully cheering me on from little kid softball to collegiate regattas to trialthons and also my first marathon!

Seeing her face and hearing "Go Beth!" Always fires me up!

Thank you, Mom! You have been an amazing, healthy example of taking care of your temple and also a steady cheering section my whole athletic life. For this, I am grateful. This is only one area of life in which you inspire me! Happy Mother's Day!