I have been staring at the class schedule at my gym for weeks, only coming up with reasons I couldn't make the classes I was most interested in. I think internally I just wasn't ready to make the commitment yet.

So, instead of being a Negative Nellie, I decided to make a change, and do something to make this challenge more achievable. Yesterday, I started setting my alarm 1.5 hours earlier than my normal wake up time. (I have been thoroughly exercising my right as a self-employed business owner to NOT set the alarm the last 2 years.) It wasn't even as hard to get up as I thought, since Jake wakes up around that same time. I had just been blissfully sleeping through that for the last several months :)

So today, I got up, got my busy work done (office odds and ends), walked the dogs, did some editing, and made my way to the gym for a noon cycle class. I use to LOVE cycle classes to no end. It has probably been about 5 months since I have gone to a cycle class, and I was reminded of all the fun beginner things you go through going back for the first time.

When I first arrived, I was so excited to see that the class instructor was someone I had taken classes from at a previous gym, so I already knew I would like her format. The class was about 30% full, which was another bonus (sometimes I get claustrophobic with people working out too closely to me!) About 6 minutes into my workout, my senses awakened, and I began sweating from pores I forgot existed. At about 11 minutes in, my energy was up, and I knew I would be able to make it through the hour. Piece of cake, right? 

The only thing I had failed to prepare for was how lovely the bike seat feels the first time you take one of these classes. At about 25 minutes in, I began shifting uncomfortable and silently cheering in my head each time she told us to stand up. It will take me just a few more classes to get used to the bike again, but I think I will pass on tomorrow's cycling class, and will seek something with less sitting :)

Today's motivating factor? Definitely the man on the bike in front of me who was probably 25-35 years my senior, and in seriously awesome shape.

Over Thanksgiving weekend, Jake and I were enjoying some eggs and toast while Spiderman played in the background. It was the first one, where Peter Parker is bitten by the spider during the class field trip, and magically transforms into Spiderman.

I was especially inspired when I looked up from my morning scramble to see the scene where he wakes from his bed and takes off his shirt to reveal his new beautifully toned torso. It almost looks like his skin is too tight to fit his new brawny muscles.

I told Jake, "I want to wake up like Spiderman." To which he kindly retorted, "Nobody just wakes up like that." "But I really want to be that in shape," I whined. And that was the end of that discussion. That glimpse of Spiderman on Saturday morning was all I needed.

I have been flirting with my new gym every since we joined a couple of months ago. I love its good looks, modern personality, and very cool movie-theater cardio room, but I have yet to take the plunge and fully commit myself. I haven't yet tried the RPM Cycling or Bodypump classes that I am confident I will soon become addicted to, once again.

So today begins my 3-week Spiderman Super Challenge. My goal? I don't expect to achieve perfect Spiderman toning by Christmas, so my 3-week goal is simply to go to the gym every day, and make this a regular part of my life again. My body responds well to fitness, and I know that when I treat it well, it will treat me well also.

I will post my daily workout & iPod playlist in case you're curious to follow. You won't find my weight or other bodily stats, as this is a personal adventure that is solely about feeling better and making the gym my new cup of morning coffee, what gets me going, what gives me the energy to do what I do best. 

Wish me luck!

Today's workout:

1. Stair Climber - 27 minutes

Today's iPod playlist:

1. Bel Biv Devoe (Poison)
2. Rhianna (Disturbia)
3. Justin Timberlake (Love Stoned)
4. The Killers (Mr. Brightside) 

Just a couple of weeks before Thanksgiving, what started as a Nintendo Wii injury for my mom a few months back triggered an even more extreme back pain. With a blown disc, she was certainly in no condition to recreate all her delicious recipes for us this year. Jake's parents were off to Wenatchee to celebrate with their relatives as well. Oh woe were We!

I was not about to let my Mom think should even to attempt to spend two days in the kitchen cooking for us, so I said, well, you and Dad will come to our place! Seemed like both an obvious and simple solution, right?

Jake and I typically whip up yogurt shakes for breakfast, eat simple lunches, and nothing too gourmet for dinner. But a whole Thanksgiving feast? What were we to do? Maybe something different? Something easy? Sure, that sounded good.

However, too many nights of watching Top Chef and various chefs on the Food Network got us thinking, and before I knew it, Jake had found us some delectable recipes online for a Roast Turkey and Sage, Sausage, and Apple Stuffing. My mom provided the secrets for the Sweet Potato Marshmallow Casserole & Spiked Cranberry Sauce. Ooh - and special thanks to Shoofly Pie Company in West Seattle for helping us out with an Apple Pie that was as appealing to our eyes as it was to our bellies!

Apparently all went well, because they all threatened that maybe they'd just come back next year, and the next, and the next...

Which leads me to question... Mom, did you really blow that disc? Or was this all just an attempt to pass down the Thanksgiving  Feast to us? wink, wink.

Photographed below: Mom (feeling much better now), Dad, Uncle Tim, Grammy Julia, Sophi & Hitch, and yours Truly (Chefs Jake & Joey).

Jake likes beer, Dad likes Scotch, and everybody like wine, so we had a bit of everything...

Table set for 6...

All the fixings...

My dish... and of course I went back for seconds... and dessert...

Uncle Tim & Grammy Julia...

Mom helping out... Dad corking the wine...

Finally... we all sit to eat!

Hitch & Sophi... waiting for some love, or scraps, or both...

Your Chefs :)