Category Archives: Fitness

Since so many people have been asking me about these two things, I figured I’d give my official endorsement. Buy now! Michelle Woo Approved!

My funny shoes, aka Vibram Five Fingers

Today, at The Stairs of Pain, no fewer than six people stopped and pointed at them. “Oh my gosh, where did you get those? Are they comfortable?” I have my little spiel down pat: They’re meant for fitness training, they work muscles you never knew you had, they’re super comfy and they’re fun! (I got them here but you can get them online on Amazon or REI. Mine were about $75.) I’m from California, where we don’t own socks, so these are great for me. I really do feel like I’m barefoot. On trails, I feel each rock and pebble—not in a oooh-ow-ow! way, just in a strangely wonderful let’s-connect-with-the-earth sort of way. They’re a bit tricky to put on (you “lose” a lot of toes) but you get used to them. Another cool thing is that you can throw them in the washing machine.

The Bar Method

Perky bubble butts!

I don’t really have a good spiel for this mostly because after each class, I am unable to formulate intelligible sentences, only moans that sound something like, “Aaaawaahhgaaahowwwwwwww!” But let me tell you, The Bar Method, a combination of ballet, yoga and general hell, will make you hot. I’m sure of it. The exercises—series of small, repetitive motions—are designed to give you good posture, a trim waist, a cute perky bubble butt and long, lean, toned limbs. I’ve done the DVDs and the classes and I’ve gotta say, nothing beats having a real-life instructor there to motivate and scare you into shape. If there’s a studio near you, I’d highly recommend signing up. I’ve been going four times a week and I never thought I’d say this but I’m sort of addicted to the pain. Yeah, I don’t know who I am either.

We did it!

It’s funny. My body felt pretty much intact after two hours of running through mud (uphill!), crawling though tunnels, climbing over walls (with the help of boys in uniform) and hiking upward through a downward stream, but I think I pulled a thigh muscle when we took this post-race picture. Sad. Worth it, though.

Everyone should do the Mud Run at least once. It’s the most fun ass-kickin’ you’ll ever experience.

I’ve been doing the fitness thing with a surprising amount of consistency and gusto. Today was a little nuts as I exercised not once but twice with a run in the morning and Bar Method in the evening. This morning, Alice and I ran our Fastest Mile Ever. You see, neither of us had a watch on us, but the mile we ran just seemed really fast. When we crossed the finishing mark, we both said, hey, that was our Fastest Mile Ever. And therefore it was. We’re still nowhere near where we planned to be in terms of nonstop distance, but I think it’s because I set unrealistic goals. Week 1: 1 mile. Week 2: 2 miles. Week 3: 3 miles. Week 4:4 miles. Week 5: 5 miles. Week 6: 6 miles. Then MUD RUN!  Sounds like a good schedule, right?  Unfortunately, our legs don’t seem to agree.

The Bar Method is — what can I say? Painfully awesome, awesomely painful — I dunno. Though I really feel like it’s working. The teachers say things like, “If you feel like you’re dying, you’re probably doing it right.” It’s utter torture, but the moment I’m done, I’m like, when can I come back?

I’m not sure if I’ve ever taken exercise this seriously. I’ve always “wanted” to be fit, but I don’t think I ever wanted it. I’d say to myself, you know what? I’m still thin. Then later I’d say, I’m still in the thin range. Then later I’d say, I’m still normal. Then later I’d say, I’m still not fat. Then later I’d say, I’m still smart and have good hair.

So I don’t know what did it. But something inside my brain clicked and suddenly, I wanted it. And when I want something, I obviously know what to do.