This morning’s practice bout.

The real deal begins on Monday. Get ready.

Here’s Jess, Leslie, and Chris learning the Ice Chamber’s style of circuit training.

Having any fun yet guys?

Elisse and Cindy do whatever it takes to promote teamwork.

Do you remember Ndeshi’s story? Well, here’s another example of her unstoppable self-determination. At 5’1″ Ndeshi knows how hard it is for short mamas to lose that pregnancy weight (especially after two children), but she was ready to make some drastic changes in her life. Since July 2006, Ndeshi has lost 40 lbs. at the IC.

What a difference a year makes!

Start Date:

7/10/06

Weight: 166.5

BF%: 37.6

BMI: 32.5

Current:

10/12/07

Weight: 125

BF%: 26

BMI: 23.6

On July 30, 2007, we told you about Stephanie’s incredible progress, but nothing compares to seeing her “before” photo taken in August 2006. (Gotta love the IC photo archives.) Since we last checked in on her (less than three months ago), she lost an additional 20 pounds! To date, Stephanie has lost over 60 pounds while training at the Ice Chamber. Marvelous Mama!

Living up to our posh “Rodeo Drive” image, here we have our 0930 boys: John, Peter, and Rune cranking out 150 KB swings (using the 24 kg Papa Bell), 150 push-ups, and 150 sit-ups… each! (They weren’t even phased by this garbage truck that nearly ran them over this morning.)

I generally cannot subsist on salads alone. This soup, which takes minutes to make, was born of my love for corn chowder and my hate of Steven admonishing me for eating hi-fat dairy products. As you will see in the “gettin’ fancy” section, the soup tastes like heaven with a big dollop of fat free sour cream, but as shown here, it’s completely vegan. Since corn is plentiful and flavorful this time of year, use the fresh kind. The version pictured was made without roasting the corn, but you can do that if you want to add some extra texture to the dish. Instead of using potatoes, I’ve added smoked tofu. This increases the protein value of the soup and also supplants the need for bacon or smoked meat to be added. Additionally, for those who hail from warmer climates know, the addition of chiles to the broth makes you feel cooler and, some say, speeds up your metabolism. Finally, the high liquid content keeps you from getting dehydrated.

Ingredients:

2-3 cups corn kernels (about 4 ears)
1/2 small onion chopped fine
2 tbl olive oil
4 cups vegetable broth
1 tsp dried thyme, crumbled in fingers
1/2 chipotle chile, seeds removed
1 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp liquid smoke (optional)
1 package smoked tofu, cut into chunks
salt and pepper to taste

Remove husks and silk from corn. Using a sharp knife at a 45 degree angle, cut the corn away from the cob and set aside. In the bottom of a stock pot, place oil and onions and saute until the onions are soft, about 6 minutes, then add the broth, the thyme, chile, cumin, and liquid smoke. Bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer. Add remaining ingredients and simmer an additional 10 minutes, until the flavors have been incorporated. Correct seasoning. If you like it hot, add some of the adobo sauce in which the chipotle chiles were packed.

Getting Fancy: Just prior to adding the corn and tofu, you can whisk in 3/4 cup nonfat sour cream. If you do this, be prepared to run an additional 10 laps using the jump rope.

-Dish It Out Tsan!

Why am I doing this?!

It’s a question I (Liz) ask myself most mornings, and I know I’m not alone. If we’re lucky, we’re able to switch into “autopilot” when the alarm goes off, so by the time we’re awake enough to wonder what we’re doing, we’re already dressed and on the road. But there are mornings when we need a bit of an incentive, so when I need to be coaxed out of a warm bed, here’s what I remind myself. I keep showing up for the 6 a.m. Boot Camp because:

-It’s now possible to bend over and tie my running shoes without suffocating
-I can bend down to pick up a piece of paper and stand up without grabbing the nearest chair, table, wall, stranger, large dog etc.
-The pants that were too tight and too short last year now fit perfectly, and the clothes that fit last year can be replaced with all new stuff! (Good news? Bad news?)
-I’ve only lost 10 lbs., but my husband says it feels like 20
-The less-than-adorable cheek jowls are disappearing without surgery
-On donut day at the office, I can eat a whole cruller without guilt – but now I only want half (Good news? Bad news?)
-A genuine pull-up is now a possibility. A far-off possibility, yes, but someday!
-When I play soccer with much younger colleagues, I can keep up (and sometimes outrun them! Woohoo!)
-People tell me I look taller (it’s the improved posture, folks!)
-And the best: I love the the open-mouthed, incredulous stare when I tell someone my real age.

So…what about you?

One of the (many) things that make the IC a unique place to work out is its focus on functional fitness – training our bodies for real-life situations. For some of us, the exercises are “sport-specific.” For others, they are “work-specific.” And a few exercises have obvious direct-to-real-life applications. But what about the rest?

What exercises have you used in your sport, job or daily life? What has helped you prepare for your physical challenges?