Working out with Campbell.

Since the marathon, running has been the absolute last thing I've wanted to do. In fact since December 3rd, 2007, I have only run twice for combined total of 3 miles. Needless to say, I needed a new exercise routine and Marie Claire came to my aid. Like other magazine workouts, it promises dramatic results in a matter of weeks if you just do these ten exercises:

1. Alternating Fly + Crunch
2. Crossover Lunge + Bicep Curl
3. Bench Dips with Feet on Body Ball
4. Back Kick + Shoulder Press
5. Surrenders
6. Walk-About-Push-Ups
7. Frog Kicks
8. Warrior Pose + Tricep Press
9. Stiff-Leg Deadlifts on Bosu Ball
10. One-leg Hamstring Curls on Body Ball

So today was Day 1. After reading through the regiment, I awkwardly and haphazardly made my way through numbers 2, 4, 7, 9, and 10. What you would notice if you had the magazine article in front of you is that "moderate weight" is supposed to be used in order to maximize the exercises. So since I didn't want to buy a gym membership in order to get in shape I looked around my house for "moderately weighted" objects I could use instead. So what did I use?

"Biology" by Neil Campbell (for those of you who don't know, this is the AP Bio textbook that the students begrudgingly brought the class everyday for their own personal workout)

Length: 11 inches

Width: 9 inches

Height: 2 inches

Weight: 7 pounds! (perfect)


So here are my "Kick-Back + Shoulder Press" with my new personal trainer Neil Campbell.

Thanks for everything Neil!

Mary