The last sunset of 2007.

Kelley using training plates to warm-up for the barbell snatch. She works on this lift nearly every week in order to improve her technique and set new PRs.

Hey, along with that resolution to get a superstar pull-up and run multiple miles and break your rowing record and deadlift a small automobile, maybe you could add something else to the list. Like Kelley, pick something challenging and begin tracking your weekly progress. We suggest you find the thing that scares you the most and work on it at least once a week this year, be it jump squats or the rope wave or split cleans or dead hang pull-ups or what-have-you. It is possible that whatever you hate the most will not only become less terrifying through repetition, but also take you to new fitness heights. Who knows, you may even grow to love it. Unless it’s the rope wave. That’s just sick no matter how often you do it.

Inspired by the last IC workout of the year this morning, Shari has some wonderful insight to share with us all…

Click Image to Enlarge

Here it is, the end of 2007. And what a year it’s been at the IC. There have been some incredible accomplishments. Records set and broken. Challenges made and met. Feats of superhuman skill, strength and endurance. Victories. Parlor tricks. Inspiration. And many many friendships.

The underlying theme in all that we attempt and achieve is a commitment to ourselves and to the group. Individually and collectively, our successes are staggering. As they used to say in that advertising campaign, “You’ve come a long way baby.”

So, in the middle of all of this holiday celebrating, let’s stop for a moment and reflect on the goals we’ve realized this year and what we are reaching for in 2008.

To everyone in the Ice Chamber family, Happy New Year.

Name at least one exercise you can teach your kid(s) in the new year.

Try sustaining circular patterns with the resistance band at 60 RPMs.  John makes big circles at 70 RPMs.

Val teaches younger sis’ Amanda how to tame giant “kettleballs” while in Disneyland.

The flu season is here. Please drop some words of wisdom on how to stay strong and vital throughout these treacherous times.

Household remedies, holistic treatments, family secrets – we want it all.

Quick, healthy, easy and pretty…

For those dinnertimes when you’re so hungry you’d rather do drive-thru than prepare something nutritious – DON’T DO IT! Try this instead: Throw some protein (salmon, chicken breast, whatever) on the grill. During the 3-4 minutes per side that it’s cooking, prepare this ridiculously simple side dish. No dressing required. What you get is the taste of something fresh.

Peel and seed 1 ripe papaya and cut it into chunks
Ditto 1 avocado
Toss gently with juice of ¼ – ½ lime

Bonus: All the remnants can go straight into your compost pile. And by the time you’re done, your protein is cooked.

Dinner is served!

-Liz