Bootcamp, Bootcamp, Bootcamp!

This week the Angels' trainer Sirena kicked it up a notch with our bootcamp. Just goes to show that if you tell a trainer to push you harder... they WILL and you better be ready. The Angels pushed themselves and were giving it all they had, and before you knew it, bootcamp was over! If it hadn't been for the sweat and exhausted muscles proving it was a decent length... I wouldn't have believed it. I guess it's true what they say.... time flies when you're having fun! We had various stations and intervals like last week, but we decreased the time to switch stations and added modifications to make the exercises more challenging. This enabled Angels to push themselves based on their individual athletic ability. Check out the Angels in action! (Some of the photos are a bit blurry as they were taken with a camera phone).

Angels In Flight

Week two has proven to be a bit rocky for the Angels. Between illness and work travel it has been harder for some to get into the gym and keep up with a routine. Alas, such is life and these things come up! The important thing is to be as present and active as you can when you're able, and to push yourself as much as possible when you're there. One Angel left work so late that she knew she would not be able to get into the gym on time via public transportation... so she rented a Zip Car! Another Angel managed to squeeze her carry on luggage into the locker and get in a good sweat before jetting out of town on business travel. Lastly, an Angel was coming down with an illness, but wanted to still be accountable for our bootcamp session so she made it out and did what she could! Super proud of all my Angels for putting in 110% when they're in Boston. We knew travel and scheduling would be one of our biggest issues, but we're doing the best we can!

Angels-Wear: Looking Fly While Working Out

First and foremost, I would like to say WELCOME BACK to our teammate Ericalynn! She was gone the entire first week of the challenge for a trip to Florida, but that didn't keep her from working out and working on her strength! Y'all, Ericalynn is proof positive that even when you're on business travel, vacation, and/or not near your home gym you can still put in the effort needed to maintain a healthy lifestyle. She's come back and has hit the ground running by hitting up Healthworks and signing up for her FOCUS class which she will take with teammate Nicole today! The gym equipment better watch out when Angels are around!

Now, onto the main scoop. Did you know that it will be even easier to spot the Angels in/around the gyms? Well, it will... because we got special T-shirts made!!!! Yes! They're finally in and we will soon be rocking them on Thursdays for our bootcamp sessions with Sirena at Brookline. The 10 Angels + Sirena will be looking fly in our new "Angels-Wear." Goodbye frumpy gym clothes, hellooo style. Here's a photo of Sally rocking the T-Shirt -- group photo in the next few weeks when we will have all Angels in town!

Jen's Angels 1, Couch Potatoes 0

Today marks the end of the first week, and the Angels have been doing great! They're starting to settle into routines and figure out what days and times are best for them to go to the gym. For some, they need that gym time early in the morning and a start to their day. For others, they like going after work to close out the day. Everyone who has been in town has hit the gym almost every day!

I think some of the Angels are surprised at how well their bodies are responding to the workouts already. Some teammates have mentioned feeling more comfortable in their own skin and a confidence in their walk that they didn't have before this challenge started. I think this is due to the fact that we're more aware of ourselves, what our bodies can achieve, and let's face it... working out doesn't have to be something that you dread.... it's fun and gives you energy! (Yes, you read that right... working out GIVES you energy!)

We had our first boot camp with Sirena on Thursday, and one of the things that I love about our team is that we're all at various different levels of fitness. Those of us who have worked with personal trainers in the past were able to modify the boot camp circuit exercises to make them more suited to their fitness level, and for the Angels who are getting back into the world of fitness the boot camp was just right. We were encouraging each other, laughing and singing all while working up a sweat. Though, dare I say I think Sirena might have gone easy on some of us because it was our first week? Have I just given myself a severe workout sentence with those words? Guess I'll find out! Bring on week two!

Women Don't Sweat, We Glow...

...and when I work out I glow like a pig. Can I tell you a secret? I love every second of it... because I know that's my body's way of telling me that I'm working hard! My teammates and I have been glowing up a storm this week with our workouts from our trainer, as well as attending FOCUS classes. Eight of us have already completed our FOCUS sessions, and the last Angel is completing hers this weekend. (One of the Angels is out of town this week, so she's not able to join in on the fun just yet).

It's a pretty even split between Burn and Gravity. Here's what some of the Angels have said about their experience:
"Did BURN baby burn last night at 7pm with Lisa and had a blast!"
"Noel and I attacked the hills, for the hardest interval we were both up at an incline of 11! Jacki is a great motivator"
"Gravity rocks my socks off! WOW is it gonna help me build strength!"
"Ladies, the Gravity: Defy Gravity class was THE BOMB. Oh my gosh! You all have to take it!!"
"Some of the settings on Gravity kicked my tooshie, oh I loved it! I can't wait to try the Gravity: Core class!"

In other Angels news, one of our original Angels, Rachel, has been sick with a high fever and has had to bow out of the challenge for medical reasons. We're very sad that she's not going to be able to compete with us, but what is most important is her health and well being. A co-worker of mine, Brooke, is a Healthworks member at Chestnut Hill and has joined the group to fill Rachel's spot. We're happy to have Brooke compete with us!

Remember what I said about glowing like a pig? Thumbs up, and can't wait to hit the gym with my Angels tomorrow for our boot camp!

~*Jen*~

And So It Begins...

Today is February 15, 2010 and it is the first official day of the Fiona Fit Challenge. So far most of Jen’s Angels have had their initial assessments done and have already started to plan how we will take this challenge by storm! With 10 busy women, one of the hardest parts of this challenge is finding time to all meet together. There was only one timeframe, literally, that we were all free at the same time. Thursdays at 6:30pm -- the day/time that for the next four weeks our awesome trainer Sirena is going to help us kick our butts into shape.


This past Saturday most of us were able to meet with Sirena to have our initial assessments completed. The assessments were a weigh in, calculation of body fat percentage, push ups, wall sit, and holding a prone plank. For some of us, these were a surprise and we were stronger than we thought, and for others the polar opposite held true. Whatever the case may be for the individual, we are a team, and we are all excited to work together, motivate each other, and help one another achieve the best results we can! Sirena created a weekly routine that is challenging, but not overwhelming. This will better enable us to make it through the duration of the challenge, and then continue it afterwards.

Some of the team members took a FOCUS Gravity class and have been raving about it on our Facebook group page, telling the other team members about their experience. Another team member is scheduled for a FOCUS Burn class tomorrow and I’m sure the runners on our team are excited to hear how it goes! Keep an eye out for the next Jen’s Angels blog post, and I’ll give you some quotes from the team members regarding their FOCUS sessions!










~*Jen*~
http://bit.ly/JensAngels