Dance Your A** Off- season 2/episode 6- "Sum-Sumatime!"

Dance shows are great summer TV. They are fun and light, very entertaining, and lately, chocked full of injuries. Dancers make it look SO EASY, but on So You Think You Can Dance two dancers (Alex and Ashley) were sent home two weeks in a row for a torn Achilles Tendon and rib injuries. Not to be outdone, someone on Dance Your Ass Off was also sent home for a dance related injury this week.





The lovable Briana who brings it week after week tore her MCL (medial collateral ligament) and all are wondering if she will be able to compete.

Before all that, though, the contestants are told by Mel B this week's show is a celebration of all things Summer. The contestants will be hosting a BBQ and forced to wear bathing suits, which prompts contestant Katie to say, "We are still fat obese people!"

Trainer Lee teaches the contestants to tread water in an aqua based workout, nutritionist Rachel tells them how to make a diet friendly BBQ spread, and Adamme leis everyone in their backyard. In between they are all learning their routines for the show. And we learn that Stephanie is still a virgin. Last week she was on her period. Do you think she knows that all this is going to be on television?

DANCE BREAK!



And the weigh in:
Adamme: From 263.2 lbs to 254.7 lbs- 8.5 lbs lost + dance score = 12.2
Latoya: From 195.6 lbs to 190.9 lbs- 4.7 lbs lost + dance score = 10.4
Stephanie: From 180.5 lbs to 176.5 lbs- 4.0 lbs lost + dance score = 9.5
Erica: From 210.1 lbs to 207.6 lbs- 2.5 lbs lost + dance score = 8.9
Michael: From 249.1 lbs to 242.6 lbs- 6.5 lbs lost + dance score = 8.3
Katie: From 194.2 lbs to 190.3 lbs- 3.9 lbs lost + dance score = 8.3
Corey: From 290.3 lbs to 284.7 lbs- 5.6 lbs lost + dance score = 7.9

Briana doesn't even weigh in as her knee gives out during her performance and she is unable to finish competing in the contest. Which is a shame because she had some serious moves!

Next episode is strictly ballroom- a curse for some. . .

Simple Things, Simple Thanks

I was in a car accident last night. I take a cab home from work most nights, and as my cab was exiting a tunnel we were rear ended by a car going 40 mph. I was on the phone with my boyfriend, and luckily was relaxed and wearing my seat belt. Even with that, I still had the wind knocked out of me and I almost bit my tongue, and I am a little jangled but fine.

I wanted to thank God for making sure I was fine and that no one in the other car was injured. And I also wanted to extend thankfulness for my healthy body. I was able to walk away from a pretty nasty looking crash because my strong muscles held me, my flexible spine could sustain the impact.

I was grateful as a laced up my running shoes this morning, and felt blessed as I ran through the park. I am in one piece. I am happy, healthy, and proud that my body can take a licking and keep on ticking.

Thank you, body. Sorry I am mean to you sometimes. I appreciate that you kept me safe. I promise to keep taking good care of you so you can keep taking good care of me.

Back in the Saddle Again

Old country version or Aerosmith version- take your pick.

Happy Easter everyone! Hope you are limiting your Easter goody intake- I don't think that Cadbury Cream Eggs are in the dairy group or count as a protein. You know, I had one the other day and it wasn't as delicious as I remembered. I love the fancy organic super dark chocolate I get at Whole Foods, and the chocolate the egg was made of was a little. . .plastic. I was shocked! I love the egg! But I ate it and reminisced about being a kid and being obsessed with the gooey creamy center.

I wanted to check in with you all about my injury and let you know I successfully completed the Insanity Core Balance and Recovery week that I set out to do! I think the issue with my hip came from squatting too deeply. I really was getting down there, equating low squats with "success" and "progress", only to pull all the muscles. Way to go, Alison.

I was so afraid of hurting myself again! The first day I was so timid, but after the yoga day with Bob Harper (I felt amazing the next day after the class, it was like magic) I pushed through the week with more and more enthusiasm every day, culminating in the intenSati class in Central Park yesterday.

I am now ready to pick up where I left off and FINALLY finish that last week of Insanity! And get my "I finished Insanity and all I got was this lousy t-shirt" t-shirt.

Have a wonderful day whether you celebrate the holiday or not- and let's get ready to kick some Insanitail this week!

Week 1 without Insanity

I injured my back/hip one week ago and had to postpone my final week of Insanity (I would have been finished on Monday!!!!) until I am back in business. Since that day I have engaged in gentle yoga and stretching, walking in the park, and yesterday was the first day I tried to ramp it up a bit by doing Tracy Effinger's Squeeze. It was a lot more hip rotation, stretching, and pilates action and I was nervous that it would make my traveling injury seize up again.



I am happy to report that all muscles are fine, still a little sore, but I can move pretty normally. When I say traveling injury, I mean it started in my low back, moved to the middle of my hip, moved to the side of my hip, traveled to my hip flexor and my inner thigh, and today it seems to be focused mid glute. Every day is an adventure with this injury!



I never dreamed I would be out of commission for for a week or more when I ignored my body's warning signs. This has been an excellent lesson. :)

NEW NEWS: The date for my PT test is April 23! Plenty of study to be done between then and now. Please send lots of positive vibes my way!

What I am "F'd Up!" about today! Back Issues and Candelight Yoga

Thanks for all the well-wishes! I love my blog family!

Okay- back issues. I am semi happy to report that I can very slowly touch my toes and pick things up off the ground again. PROGRESS. I also didn't take any ibuprofen today, and have just been relying on my heat pad and yoga. Glorious yoga, fixer and healer!

While at my job on Thursday evening, the first thing a customer did was elbow me in the small of the back. I likened it to getting a scratch on a new car- you're so careful and cautious and sometimes stuff happens. And then you deal with it from there. I knew that I couldn't exist in a plastic bubble and call sick into work and wallow in my own misery. Wallowing would probably pull something anyway.

On Thursday I attempted X Stretch from the P90X series, and it was a little too vigorous for my state. The minute we went into Sun Salutations and I had to swan dive I thought my pelvis was sutured to my spine. So, I dug through the Foster Fitness "archives" (my big storage trunk chocked full of my fitness DVDs) and found a little gem that has saved my life: Crunch Candlelight Yoga featuring Sara Ivanhoe. I did it yesterday and today and I know it is the reason why I can now flex from the trunk!

Sara Ivanhoe has a relaxed, patient voice and is a good cuer. The yoga moves are very basic- cat/cow pose, downward dog, child's pose, tree pose. No super twisty bendy moves- the entire purpose of the DVD is to get you to relax. It would be great to do before bed, or even first thing in the morning if you need something to relax you into your day. It is also only 43 minutes in length, which is great if you don't have a ton of time to commit to a practice.

When I did it Friday, I could barely tilt forward and it hurt to sit in cross-legged position. Today there was mild discomfort, but I could handle it and I could tilt forward. And like I said, no pills! I don't like taking pills. I plan on doing it everyday until I feel back up and ready to tackle that last week of Insanity. MY PLAN is to be doing it this week. Let's hope the back cooperates.

Day 59: Insanity Challenge- BENCHED!

Oh, I have injured myself! MEDIC.

I woke up with a twinge in my lower back area yesterday morning. I took a little ibuprofen, did Insanity Max Cardio Interval Conditioning and my nemesis Cardio Abs, took a little more ibuprofen, went to work, came home. I don't remember if I took any ibuprofen when I got home, but I thought for sure that this twinge would release itself while I was sleeping.

And I woke up this morning and no, it is still here. Cue the ibuprofen.

I am sitting on my couch, alternating between my heating pad and a pack of frozen green beans. I am unhappy. I HATE being uncomfortable. And I hate that this is my LAST WEEK of Insanity, and I have managed to make it this far only to bench myself. I don't know if it will be just for today, or if tomorrow it will do this too?

C'mon lower back. Why are you being such a PUNK?

I am a big believer in listening to your body, working with it day after day, and not being a wiener. But this morning proves that I am not being a wiener, or a whiner, but a winner because I am not risking paralyzing myself to finish Insanity in accordance to the handy wall chart that came with it.

So, fingers crossed, I will be back in business by the weekend. Until then, it's heat, ice, and Housewives on the DVR. And a little stretching. . .