Fit to Print team updates

Shape Up Cape

The Fit to Print team again earned points above our weekly goal of 70 points, with 771 points for a 77.1 point average. Our competition also fared well: the Bookin' Team earned a 61.71 point average among its seven members and St. Andrew's Fit for Eternity team averaged 92.33 points.

Below are the individual scores:

Sam Blackwell 83

Andrea Buchanan 72

Spencer Cramer 50

Heidi Hall 65

Jamie Hall 52

Gabe Hartwig 87

Laura Johnston 80

Heather Kronmueller 88

Bob Miller 108

Joe Sullivan 86

Total 771

Average 77.1

Our competition:

Bookin' Team 432

average: 61.71

St. Andrew 831

average: 92.33

Andrea Buchanan

Since I don't like working out in front of people, I walk late at night or use my Gazelle at home.

That gives me time to mentally design the perfect exercise machine. I'm convinced it would make me rich if I had an ounce of electronic or engineering how-to skills.

My fantasy is a cross between an arcade game I once played and stuff described in the science fiction novels I use as brain candy.

Wouldn't virtual reality exercise be the perfect escape?

A rowing machine could turn into a canoe that's being chased by an enormous alligator; or a stair stepper could turn into Mount Everest.

The possibilities are endless.

My favorite involves kick-boxing the smirk off the face of eternally perky Buffy-- not that I have hostility issues with girls who have perfect hair, teeth and abs -- but it could be fun.

And all from the comfort of my own home.

Jamie Hall

Maybe this gung-ho fitness thing is paying off. In Jamie's Relentless Pursuit of Awesome Abs, I think I actually felt one last week. At least I hope that's what it was.

But in the days since that discovery, I made others.

A Twix bar fresh out of a vending machine sure tastes good after a brisk walk. Lemon cake is hard to pass up at an office going-away party. Low-fat sandwiches just don't seem right without fries.

And when it's 90 degrees outside, even thinking about running my usual 4.8 miles makes my legs hurt.

There, in a nutshell, is the week that was: Hot, muggy, lazy and surprisingly tasty.

The good news is that the KFVS-TV weather dudes expect better weather the next few days, so my excuse is gone. The rest of this week's gonna be a piece of cake -- uhhh, low-fat cake, of course.

Heather Kronmueller

Last week I had a great exercise week, mostly due to the fact that I was on vacation and did a lot of walking.

In New York City it's pretty much a given.

On Thursday I would have earned nearly 100 points just from walking if we didn't have a points cap. Unfortunately we do though, so I only got to use 20 points for Shape Up Cape.

I did more walking Friday in the city and Saturday I did a lot of walking on the beach.

At the end of the week I felt like my legs were going to fall off even though I didn't get all 140 points for the week.

Now that I'm back in Cape I plan to reinstate my earlier fitness regimen of walking, kickboxing and strength training. I might also try to pick up a little Yoga just to spice things up a bit.

Bob Miller

OK, I'm going to be honest with you.

The reason I started this whole workout thing a year ago, the reason I gave up Mickey Dees, the reason I have lost almost 50 pounds has little to do with wanting to become healthy and a lot to do with wanting to look good for the opposite sex.

But listen up fellas.

You can run three miles a day. You can lift weights. You can look good.

But if you're like me, it doesn't really matter. I possess the mojo of a brick.

Oh well, at least the workouts are getting better.

Last week, for the first time, I ran continuously for 50 minutes and it was easier than I thought it would be.

I played a lot of basketball, too. (It was all half-court because it's hard to convince five other guys to play 3-on-3 full-court for the sake of a contest.)

I have found that an hour or two of half-court basketball puts more demand on my body than a 50-minute run. And it's more fun.

The way I see it, if you've got no mojo working for you, you might as well try to have fun.

Joe Sullivan

Last week I kicked it up a notch, just like Emeril, one of the chefs I watch on the Food Channel but never cook his recipes since Shape Up Cape started brainwashing everyone that exercise is better for you than almost anything Cajun.

I increased my jogging to five times a week and did a lot more walking. The strength training is about the same, but what the heck. I can lift a couple of heavy books for two measly points.

As with anything requiring muscles and heavy breathing, more exercise isn't fun at the start. But as your body adjusts, so does your mind. It's getting easier, but the best part still is when I'm finished.

I hate to say it, but I remain more loyal to Emeril than to exercise. I'd still rather eat dead crawdads than jog.

Next week: more updates from the other team members.