So I just had probably one of the most AMAZING weekends of my life!
Saturday...
So I signed up to become a Turbo Kick Instructor - and with the sign up, I got to go to a VIP workout with Chalene Johnson! She's one of my heros and I was SOOO stoked to get this opportunity!!!
The workout was KILLER - I had so much fun - I've never been so sweaty in my life! Words can't describe how great it was!!! We did the new Round 37 followed by a little Hip Hop Hustle. If you haven't heard of Turbo Kick or Hip Hop Hustle - you should - everyone needs something this great in their lives!!! www.turbokick.com
So at the end of the workout, Chalene's husband, Brett, and Mike Karpenko walk in -
(side note...Mike is a personal trainer extraordinaire!!! He helps create test groups for new workout programs and is just a ball of energy - he could literally talk about fitness ALL DAY LONG - he's a wealth of knowledge - I worked with him to come up with the female/beginner version of the Minute 2 Minute Challenge - and this was my first time meeting him...great first impression - I looked like a drowned rat - and I probably smelled like hard work!!!)
So the guys come in and wanted to see our Hip Hop Hustle and then the Turbo section for Round 37 (which we'd already done about half a dozen times)...so we crank both out - trying not to collapse from exhaustion - they were videoing up - so we HAD to step it up!!!
After the workout - Chalene was so gracious with her time - she took pics and talked with everyone - I was able to talk to her and Brett - they are great people...some of the most genuine people I've ever met. It was such a treat to get to start my day (and this incredible weekend) with them. I just wish they lived closer! I would LOVE to be in her workout class every day - she is such a ball of energy - and that's an understatement - she went 90 to nothin' from the very first shoulder roll of the warm up - and just brought up the energy level of the room - it was amazing to see one woman get so many people to push themselves - and all have smiles on their faces!!!
And the cool thing was that she realized who I was before I even said hello. I tagged her in a pic of Kasey and me from Kasey's wedding - we were flexing - showing off our ChaLEAN Extreme results! And she and Brett both brought it up. These people meet SO many people - and I was so awe-struck (if that's even a word) - that they remembered ME....wow....
After the workout, I was in such a fog, I was randomly walking around the streets of New York trying to figure out what I had to do next!!! Finally figured that I needed to go to Whole Foods!
So I went grocery shopping and got the makings of a feast! Jimmy and the gang were on their way in - and Adrian and I were going to make them a welcome home dinner. They wouldn't be home til later in the afternoon - which ended up being really late because they got a flat tire on the way - so I had lots of time to kill. I tried to take a nap...twice, but I was still so excited from my workout with Chalene that I couldn't sleep!!! So I cooked!
My part of dinner was this AWESOME vegan (and healthy) spinach artichoke dip, pico de gallo, veggie fajitas, and a take off on Tony Horton's Stick Roll recipe - I'll post the recipe at the end of this if I remember!!! Adrian was making skirt steak for peeps that wanted meaty fajitas and this mango, red onion salad and these great little cucumber and hummus sandwich things. He's gourmet all the way - I'm like I made dip!! And he's like I made homemade hummus and put it between two thinly sliced pieces of cucumber and topped with a dash of cumin! (They were incredible!!!)
So they finally arrive close to 10:30 - exhausted and starving!!! We chowed down! And then all passed out. Well...we laid in the bed - I don't think I slept - my mind was going a million miles a minute processing the events of the day - and having Jimmy back in the bed and getting used to him tossing and turning!
SUNDAY...
The day started at 6:30 - woke up to sun shine and pigeons cooing (they camp out on our fire escape!) - we all got ready and drove into the city. It was my first time being in a car in the city that wasn't a cab. It was kinda fun, but I was so nervous about the crazy cabbies swerving!! Luckily it was Sunday morning, so traffic wasn't bad!
We got to Chelsea Studios - had a great set up - 3 rooms - one for checkin and product set up - and the two rooms for workouts.
Mike and Shaun T arrived along with a slew of people for the day's workouts. We did 4 workouts and had full rooms each time - SO great that so many people came out to support us and workout with Shaun and Mike!
I didn't get to workout since I was helping facilitate the event, but man, it was intense!!! After the workout, I finally got to meet Shaun - he's so warm and friendly - I just wanted to hug him!!!
The guys from Bar Master Extreme came out too. These guys are ridiculous - google them and look them up on You Tube. The things that they do blow my mind! So it was nice to talk with them and show them what we do - and they showed us a little of what they do.
After the workout, we were all starving. So we went to one of our FAV spots - Blockheads for burritos! So nice to sit outside in the sun - although it was pretty chilly with the wind - no complaints...it was SUNNY!!!! Mike came with us - and so it was great to pick his brain about different things. He's AWESOME.
So during the walk to Blockheads, he said his friend Brett Hoebel might be joining us. Brett Hoebel is the creator of the HIGHLY anticipated REV ABS - it's a capoeria based workout that is ridiculous. I drool every time I see the promo clip! So when he showed up, that was the icing on the cake.
Wow - talk about a guy that knows his stuff. Brett really is the total package of trainers. He's not just a pretty face hocking some DVD that he shot. He really knows his stuff - and listening to him talk not just about REV ABS, but just about personal training and stuff - made me want to go get my PT certification TONIGHT! Mike is the same way. Sitting next to them after lunch was such a treat - I was like a little sponge trying to absorb as much as possible (without letting my mouth hang open!!!)
It really made me realize how fortunate I am. And it's thanks to Jimmy...among other things. 4 1/2 years ago, Jimmy wanted to get Power 90. I wasn't too keen on it because he had a gym membership, so I didn't really see the point. But that first step opened SO many doors for us. I look back on the last 4 1/2 years and of all the turns our path has taken. And I'm so excited to see what the next turns will be. I am so thankful that fitness has worked its way into my life. I was the little Cajun who ate fried fried and didn't workout - and now I crave a good sweat and healthy food! And now, as a coach, I want to help SO many other people change for the better. Getting Turbo Kick certified will be my first step in this next chapter. And I'm stoked!!! My friend, Diane, is going to start coming over on Fridays to work on stuff. She got certified in April and is trying to learn the rounds to be able to teach - and I want help with form and getting prepped for the certification!
And also to be able to meet all these celebrity trainers - these people are my heroes - and I got to meet them all in one weekend! It was truly an amazing weekend. When I think back on it, it seems like a dream. A VERY VERY GOOD DREAM!!!!
Oh - here's the "sticky bar" recipe:
1/2 cup dry oats
1/4 cup nut butter
1 scoop Chocolate Shakeology
1/2 banana
Cook the oats according to the package (I got organic instant oats and made them in the microwave)
Let the oats cool.
While the oats are cooling - mix the nut butter, Shakeology & banana (I mashed up the bananas with my hands) in a bowl. Add the oats when they're cooled.
Stir - it will make a pasty-puddingy consistency.
You can form it into a little brick either on wax paper or foil. I put mine in a glass cassarole dish (I quadrupled the recipe) and covered it with foil.
Freeze for about 90 minutes.
I left mine in the freezer for half the day - so it needed to thaw a little before serving - it was hard as a rock! A good rock!!
Enjoy!!
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