(no subject)

[newlifeinstpaul]

New Year's Commandments: Packin' it Up and Wearing your Helmet

Oh, no. Am I back with MORE Tink? 'Fraid so.
Ratchet sounds like good cardio to me, this cut makes me wanna add 10-15 more pounds on resistance machines. Last one. Promise. Mind you, her language isn't any nicer.

What would you need in a gym bag to get in, get done, get out, get ready for the next day? Don't worry about getting it perfect, as long as you keep going. Starting off with a plastic grocery bag and a padlock? Are you going to the gym, tho? Then GREAT.

I'll show you how I pack during the week. Guess how long it took me to get this to a science? Maybe SEVEN years since signing up at my current gym. Which is why I tell you not to worry 'bout getting it perfect. That takes a while.





The Procat by Puma 24" duffel is $40 at Target. Not the cheapest bag, but it lasts a while. It's small enough to hang in a half-size locker alongside clothes, but has lots of external pockets. It doesn't have a true 'wet' pocket, but anyone can compensate for that with Ziploc Gallon-size Freezer Bags. Ziploc Bags are my bestest friends. I keep my shampoo and body wash in a gallon bag on the left, my soaped-and-rinsed used clothes on the right. The front pocket holds my wallet, phone and keys while I'm working out. The body of the bag holds my shoes, a week's worth of socks and boxers (which I load every Sunday night), deodorant, lotion and other necessary grooming-up things. Oh--and a LOT more Ziploc Gallon Bags.

Again, your needs may vary. My gym provides towels. My hair's ultra-low maintenance. But that's what I do.

Okay, on to another critical piece. Your Happy Helmet!






Many folks already have an MP3/music player arrangement in place. Here's what you need to ask yourself:

- Is it sweatproof? Or close enough?
- If I lost it, would I merely be upset? Or would my whole life grind to a halt?

Here's a couple cheapies. The Machspeed Eclipse V180 clips to your collar, barely costs anything ($20 or less, depending on where you buy it) and has 8GB on board. The 2GB Hipstreet (aka Vertigo or a half-dozen other generic names) is even cheaper. Don't forget a cheap battery pack. Better yet, two. Rotate the batteries between your bag and your charger weekly.

I keep my player, battery pack and cable in a generic locking container from Dollar Tree. Lose a piece, break a piece, stomp the whole box, buy another one. But these units won't play protected audio (formally called DRM). If you're an iTunes person, a Shuffle's your cheapest option.

Some folks pack their cheap Black Friday tablets instead. If you have one and you've already paid for it, fine. Nothing's cheaper than free. The downside of a tablet? You're more likely to stick to cardio, less likely to mix up the resistance machines IMHO. BUT keep that in context. This isn't about polishing your routine to perfection. It's about getting there and staying there day after day. What you have will do. Perfect Isn't Necessary™.

A player loaded with your favorite tunes will help keep you focused when your day sucks and you'd rather not and you're getting moody. Hell, you know what Happy Helmets do.

But don't avoid the gym because you don't have one. GO work out anyway. But when you're at CVS or Walgreens or the hardware store, even (any/all of these items are available at Menards where I live) pick one up.

Don't listen to Tink? What would you prefer to listen to? What's the Top Five on your player?

Comments

[pen-grunt.livejournal.com]

Right now Mos Def's "Quiet Dog" is right at the top. Running play is so individual. I hate most other peoples' lists (so much toooo sloooow). Except--except--you gave me a bunch of suggestions once that I loved.

[newlifeinstpaul.livejournal.com]

I didn't have any true musical revelations while training for the last Monster Dash. So my playlist hasn't changed much. Tho The Ecstatic was probably one of the best rap albums in quite awhile. Most everything I'd considerable a comparable album artistically is much heavier and darker.

Roses is still my fave from that album.

[ragnarok-08.livejournal.com]

The songs on my top 5 in my iPod are more of an eclectic taste, and they are:

- "Crazy for You" by Zonderling feat. Bishøp
- "destination unknown" by Kalafina
- "Human" by Clams Casino
- "Plaa & Thammajac" by Susumu Hirasawa
- "Natural Dance" by Treobar de Morte

I don't listen to Tink, but it sounds interesting.

[newlifeinstpaul.livejournal.com]

I'm a sucker for a vintage Timbaland hip-hop beat.
You know, BEFORE he went all Justin Timberlake/One Republic.

[weegoddess.livejournal.com]

I'LL TEACH YOUR GRANDMOTHER TO SUCK EGGS

Thank you for posting that. Does the heart so much good. <3

[newlifeinstpaul.livejournal.com]

Ren and Stimpy Season One (and a quarter) was the Best. Shit. EVAR. Nothing was the same after that. NOTHING.

[weegoddess.livejournal.com]

Emphatically agreed.

[newlifeinstpaul.livejournal.com]

'Save my BABY!'

I don't think I've ever laughed at ANYTHING as hard as 'Fire Dogs.'

[weegoddess.livejournal.com]

'Save my ELEPHANT!'

'Oh my brave little man!'


Nah. They don't make 'em like that anymore.

[newlifeinstpaul.livejournal.com]

'No, sir? I didn't like it.'

And the re-entry flames. FLAMES. When you wonder how they'll top themselves...

[weegoddess.livejournal.com]

Two words: NURSE STIMPY