In Marin /
ABOUT TOWN
February, Friends, Fitness: The Three Fs for Success
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s we celebrate heart health First day month, focusing on cardioof the fast vascular fitness, I’m reminded of the hundreds of profiles we’ve published at Marin Magazine over the years highlighting inspiring (dare I say, slightly insane) local athletes: There was ultra-marathoner Dean Karnazes, who, on the eve of his 30th birthday, put on some running shoes after dinner in Marin and ran to Half Moon Bay (Forest Gump has nothing on Dean), and one of my favorite interviews with a then 7-year-old Ella Woodhead, who, along with her chocolate lab (and parents nearby), swam the entire length of the Golden Gate Bridge. We featured program and fit back into our jeans. Sausalito Council member Melissa Blaustein Our first stop was the newly refurin 2019 when she swam across the English Channel, and how could we forget über-triathlete bished 9 Corners Med-Cryo Spa in Novato, now in the Vintage Oaks Kathy Winkler, who thought running around the Shopping Center. I’ve known the Big Island was a great way to celebrate turning super-fit owners, Cat and Randy, 50? The drive and commitment of these friends for years, and introduced them to my pro-pants and neighbors can be a bit intimidating for those posse by explaining that I was willing to “have of us who aren't quite wired to these extremes. what they're having” for a few months to break However, for the rest of us suburban strollers, through the persistent pudge. First step: a podcast peddlers and weekend warriors, the ProLon fast, which is a five-day reduced-calorie county abounds in opportunities for fun program created by the Buck Institute, University physical activities. of Southern California gerontology and the It’s hard to think of a better playground than National Institutes of Health. Full disclosure: Marin County, where nearly 85% of our land is This fast is not designed only for weight loss. If public open space, offering hundreds of hiking you follow the plan, most people lose at least 5 and biking trails, coastlines and bay shores to pounds, but the main benefit is a cellular cleansexplore by board, kayak or boat. And then ing called autophagy, which promotes longevity. there’s the fitness and yoga studios. How then, As we listened to the spiel, which included I wondered last fall, did I gain 10 pounds during the green light on coffee, I was 100% in. “Just to the pandemic? Apparently, typing does not be honest though,” I piped in, “I'll probably have burn calories! some Tequila one or two of the nights — it’s the Knowing I needed support, I created a text low-glycemic option.” My honesty was met with thread with some like-minded friends called a wall of objection from the group. “We’re all in "Pants by Christmas" to share tips and funny or we’re all out,” was their ultimatum. Ouch. I memes and motivate ourselves to stick to the
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conceded, and amazingly, we all did it. It was the perfect kickstart. I didn’t lose much weight, but I felt better than I had in years. Next step: fitness. I went back to Susan Hauser’s hot yoga class (I hadn’t been in about two years), and I didn’t bend or flex nearly as well as I used to, but I loved the energy, and looking around at the sculpted figures of the men and women in the room, it was clear that this is a committed crew and their hard work has paid off. I’m sure they have most likely each had their own moments of reckoning, and through dedication, have earned their beach bods. This is just one studio, one discipline — there are so many options: The Bay Club and PilatesWorks, to name a few, and the latest craze seems to be Yoga Republic in San Rafael. And, like "Pants by my small Pants by Christmas text Christmas" thread, I get the feeling that community is part of the equation for all of these studios and fitness clubs, as in, if it’s fun and my friends are doing it, I’ll be successful. Happy ending: The encouragement of the text thread worked. I didn’t lose all 10 pounds, but I’m going in the right direction and happily fit into my jeans by Christmas. Is there a program, sport or fitness studio that has helped push you in the right direction? Please let us know — we’d love to share your stories in our upcoming issues. As always, we appreciate any and all feedback!
Mimi Towle Editor at Large
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