The Breakfast Club 2nd Edition

I for one am grateful that TBC was formed by the HBIC, Nancy Kaplan. For the most part our acquaintance/friendships were relegated to banter before and after class but now we have a genuine forum where we can discuss (in an elegant way of course) any number of topics from the class itself, the latest hot topic (not gossip) as well the meal du jour.   Some members of our semi-exclusive club bring their own healthy additives to enhance just about any concoction those delightful people at the Health Bar build for us. Lisa for instance has a powdered peanut butter, which she adds to her liquid nutriceutical, and my guess is that it is stripped of the fattening oils. I hope for Lisa’s sake that it has some taste unlike most of the low-fat and gluten free offerings of today that are long on missing ingredients and short on taste. Which brings to mind what Kristen has always said that nutrition is King and exercise is Queen.  Her words ring in my shell like ear: “You can’t work off a bad diet”. 

As self-appointed recording secretary I want to say that if TBC is to endure I will need some running commentary from you lest it seem like a personal diatribe, which I want to avoid. So please make your voice heard. If you want to remain anonymous I will certainly respect your wishes but let’s hear from you especially if you’re reading this. I expect to hear from Nancy, Cindy and David don’t tell me you’re shy I need to hear from you as well. I am sure we can count on Dana and if we coax the Queen maybe she will honor us with a royal visit one day. That might be difficult with her life schematic. 

June and summer are fast approaching with that the new group exercise schedule is out and the scuttlebutt is from Mount Olympus that all  spin classes will be trimmed to 45 minutes. What do you think about that? I like it because if you can wrap your brain around the idea that we only have 45 minutes I contend that you will actually work harder and correct me if I’m wrong KJ or Dana (if you’re listening) we may burn just as many calories as the traditional length classes we became so accustomed to.  And by all means mix it up a bit add some upper body strength workouts to round out our regimens thereby avoiding overuse injury and ennui.  Look who’s talking?  

Has anyone had the notion that our sessions have gotten even more intense? Is it just my imagination? What say you? I am hoping we can entice Dana to weigh in on how well we are doing and maybe a hint or two on how to make each session even more efficient. The best one I have heard of late was from KJ when she told us to sit on our pelvic bone rather than our pubic bone. It eliminates that numbness in the groin some of us men suffer.

 See you soon at The Breakfast Club. Charter memberships are being offered for an extended period of time. Please see the HBIC. (Head Bitch in Charge)  

P.S.

If you have any difficulty posting a comment send them along to me at Jackbriant@mac.com

The Breakfast Club

It’s not 1985 but the present day and The Breakfast Club meets on Saturday after spin at the Health Bar at our EQ. I met with the 3 charter members yesterday: David, Cindy and the HBIC, Nancy.  Of course the fare is haute cuisine from our friends behind the counter  but it’s all about the conversation, which was spirited. These three hold court as other members and even instructors and their spouses like Dana and Chad happen by for a chat about the class and the world news within the confines of our beloved gym.  

 David, Cindy and Nancy. They are warm, friendly, don’t take themselves too seriously but are serious about fitness and what they take in their bodies. Healthier lifestyles are their foundation. So very 21st Century. Nancy and Cindy I know pretty well for the last 3+ years we’ve always had playful banter and you can tell its more than just jocular as both women show me genuine concern and I value their counsel very much. 

 David I thought was enigmatic when I first met him in spin. He seemed aloof almost but that was pure imagination on my part as David is a well-loved member and never has anything but positive thoughts and words for everyone who knows him at EQ. 

Without spin there might not be a Breakfast Club because there’s where the seeds of friendship were sown. When you band people together united toward one goal they are drawn to each other and their true personalities are open and on display. Because we love our spin classes with the likes of Kristen and Dana it’s natural that when we sit together and break bread (gluten free of course) inhibitions are left behind.  We feel more vulnerable but safe as well.  

Part II Tomorrow. 

Habits vs Intention

Are your habits stronger than your intention? An interesting collection of words to be sure and they conjure up a host of cognitions. We intend to do the right thing but our habits say just the opposite. We want to be magnanimous but our actions speak only of being miserly. The element of fear is the pebble in the shoe that keeps us from realizing that there is no limit on abundance in fact the more we give the more we receive in return. Not easy grasping on to that notion. We learn from our upbringing that it’s dog eat dog and the only way to get ahead is to go out and take what is rightfully ours and as long as we don’t break any laws its our God given right to garner as much as we can lest the other guy get it first. 

We intend to stay sober but our habitual drinking says it’s our right to take our comfort as a reward for the life we struggle with. We would love to exercise and be fit because we know a healthier body is pleasing to look at and functions as it was intended before our habits destroyed what we were given. We don’t want to smoke but the habit is so strong the intention to quit lies just out of reach like the veritable carrot on a stick. 

Are our habits stronger than our intention? Unfortunately habits are easy to get into and not out of. Intention however if given enough time at the podium is more than just a speech it’s the new way of life.