• +1 Strength & Toning Workouts

Last Thursday, while warming up on the treadmill with Buffin, another trainer asked me, "Are you on Social Workout?" Turns out he was Anthony, Fraidy's trainer. I was so excited to finally put a face to the name. I was even more excited because Anthony is the trainer that tells Buffin he smells. Buffin doesn't smell! My trainer smells like fresh mountain air mixed with strawberry trainer electrolyte crack, dang it! I've decided "you smell" is trainer code for "I love you, man." Right after Anthony introduced himself, Buffin pushed the treadmill button up to 8 and that was it for conversation. During pushups, Anthony interrupted us to ask about Social Workout challenges, and I gave him my email. I think that was the first time Buffin realized SoWo was an actual website that other actual people use, and not just my personal blog where I talk about Buffin and his muscles. And now he's very curious....and even more curious about what Anthony makes Fraidy do ... and I smell a trainer challenge coming on...and I'm afraid.

• +1 Strength & Toning Workouts

Hi there! I'm out of town all week, helping my little sister with her wedding, which is on Friday. I think I have a zillion catch up posts from March. Anyway, Buffin and I did a big ol' circuit on Thursday, my last session before I headed out of town. He made me do a lot of walking lunges. I said since I was preparing for a wedding, it was only fair that he precede me with rose petals. Yes, I got my trainer to pretend to throw rose petals in front of me while I did walking lunges around the gym. Also, the 35lb weights were in use when we were doing squats, so I said I would try the 40lb dumbbells. After I finishes, Buffin said, "...and that is what is called 'dominating.'"

Big smooches to all of you xo

• +1 Strength & Toning Workouts

Reunited with Buffin this morning. There are no breaks, not even for ladies who recently had the stomach flu. Actually, we didn't do sprints, so maybe that counts as a break. Instead, we did this circuit: 10 vertical jumps, deadlifts, shoulder presses, assisted pullups, split squats w/ the barbell, side planks with arm flies. I did the whole circuit in 5mins 28 secs (BAM!), and then we repeated it twice more. And then it was time for ab work. And then I signed up for 30 more sessions (I get one look at Buffin's blue eyes and I just hand over my credit card like I'm in a trance). Just between us,when I got back from the gym, I fell asleep over my breakfast.

• +1 Strength & Toning Workouts

Last Tuesday, I trained with Buffin in the morning. By the evening, I was struck down by the Great Stomach Flu of 2012. Wooo-eee, that was a doozy. I slept and sweated a lot for 3 days. Maybe I can count that as a really long meditation? Anyway, I'm back on my feet, and ready for action. Missed you all! xoxo

• +1 Strength & Toning Workouts

I almost fainted this morning when I was working out with Buffin (my personal trainer). After sprints, we did a circuit of jumps, deadlifts, military presses w/bar, assisted pullups, and side planks with arm flies. After two rounds, I got really dizzy and nauseous, and everything started to go dim. I blame Daylight Savings Time because I was totally unable to fall asleep last night. Buffin made me lie down immediately and then gave me a long stretching session. I'm fine now. Stupid DST. I only got to deadlift 115lbs and I didn't get to impress the big muscle man working out next to us.

Next week is my one-year anniversary with Buffin. I'm trying to convince him that the the first anniversary is the Diamond Anniversary, but he doesn't seem to be getting the hint. I never thought I'd have a trainer for this long. Will we keep the spark alive for Year 2, or will I get a wandering eye?

• +1 Strength & Toning Workouts

I twisted my ankle on Wednesday night, and it was still swollen on Thursday morning, so I couldn't run sprints when I was training with Buffin (darn!) Instead we did a lot of big weight lifting for my chest and arms. That night, I went to see Buffin play Tybalt in an all-male production of Romeo & Juliet. It was obvious that they gave him the big swordfighting role because of his muscles. He had to do all the hard stuff. Everyone else just got stabbed.

Decluttered by picking out all of the things I'm giving to my upcoming workshop of Pocahontas.

• +1 Strength & Toning Workouts

Buffin & I played "I spy with my little eye" all the pink things in the gym. And he murdered my core with his abs routine, and re-introduced me to my triceps.

• +1 Strength & Toning Workouts

Yesterday I dedicated my personal training session to fatbridesmaid. I had told her she needed to channel Whitney Houston in her half-marathon training, and I decided to put my exercise where my mouth is. While Buffin warmed me up with sprint intervals, I sang "I Want To Run To You." "Sang" is a loose word - it was more like "rasped" or "panted" - but if I can end up singing while running, I am totally ready for the Broad-way. Then it was "How Will I Know" during walking lunges, "I Want to Dance With Somebody" during side planks and "Where Do Broken Hearts Go" during deadlifts (I had to sing in my head during deadlifts). And then "Greatest Love of All" during bicep curls. I may have thrown a verse of "Age of Aquarius" at the end, just for flair. So yes, I sang Whitney Houston in the big boyz section, which means fatbridesmaid, you can jazz hands your heart out during your half-marathon.