There are a ton of reasons why you should ride in the Whistler Gran Fondo and if it’s fear that’s holding you back, it’s time to reconsider your decision! WHAT are you afraid of? That you have no time to train? That you would never physically be able to do the ride? Those are all lame excuses and you need to step out of your comfort zone today and do something crazy that you never thought you would ever do.

Why You Should Ride the Whistler Gran Fondo:

• To push yourself (and not lose money). Signing up for a race is a great way to push youself— especially if it’s going to cost you money! Maybe you’re not as cheap as me but if I knew I paid for something, I’m definitely going to go through with it. My friends and I would call this “accountant perspective” with a hashtag: #accountantperspective because we are Asian and we like stereotypes (even though I’m the most un-accountant-like/number/math person in the world).
• It will be an incredible experience. If you’ve ever participated in a race before, whether it be a 10k run or a charity bike ride, you should know how epic it feels to be part of a huge group all trying to achieve one goal. In the Gran Fondo, you will get that AND being able to ride the Sea-to-Sky which is said to be one of the best drives in North America.
• The Sea-to-Sky is all yours. It’s only you, your bike, the pavement, thousands of other cyclists …and best of all no cars (and car fumes)!!! What more can you ask for?
• Just to say you did a Gran Fondo. Because come on… it won’t be easy and you should be proud that you did it! Seriously, if you want to brag that you did a Gran Fondo, I will sit there and listen to you for hours.
• To get fit. Oops I almost forgot the most obvious point.

I didn’t even think twice when I signed up for it this year and honestly, my clipless pedals still scare me more than riding a bike to Whistler. Big hills, long climbs and the possibility of rain? Psh. No problem. Falling flat on my face because I couldn’t clip in or out of my pedals? FML. Wait, I’ve already done that a couple times so I already know how that feels. Sigh.

Okay, I know this isn’t Whislter or anywhere near the Sea-to-Sky but it’s 2am, I have an early morning ride tomorrow and I’m too lazy to find another picture for this entry. Tata!

I am not a fitness snob and I never judge people on how they look or what they do that the gym— that is unless it effects me or gets in my way!

When I workout with my workout buddies, this is how all our workouts should end!! No slackers, quitters, whiners… and people who cheat on their reps.

Here are my gym confessions:

1. I’m a total gym loner because my gym time is ME time. Working out with my friends or twice a week is fun but definitely not every day (unless they agree to stick with the workout plan that I made for myself). Sorry friends! I get distracted easily when I’m with them because yes, we do all the girly catching-up and gossip!
2. I don’t take classes because I don’t want to waste my money and I get too annoyed at people in classes who cheat on their reps. Plus taking a class means I don’t know what I’m doing = ruining my workout plan. I know working out in a group is motivating and all so that’s why I sometimes do it… but I never had problems with motivation. But fine, I’m just a loner okay.
3. I will laugh at you if you wear fake eyelashes to the gym because I’m assuming they will fall off. And if they are still on after your workout, you didn’t work out hard enough. Unless you have some super strong eyelash glue and in that case, you should tell me where to get it!
4. I put my headphones on and take my glasses off so I can’t see anyone and NO ONE WILL TALK TO ME.
5. But sometimes my iPod won’t even be on… but at least NO ONE WILL TALK TO ME.
6. I get really really really annoyed at people slacking off in the gym especially when they get in my way.
7. There’s a creepy, obnoxious person who always annoys me at my gym.
8. Whenever I warm up with double-unders of just a lot of skipping, I always have to go pee before starting my actual WOD.
9. I always notice when people cheat on their reps! Fortunately that doesn’t happen much because I usually workout alone.
10. I like to do my circuits in my favorite studio at my gym and sometimes there will be someone there giving me annoyed looks as I set up but …whatever. This is a public area! If you don’t feel comfortable with people “watching” you workout, you’ll need to develop that confidence before you’ll be able to have any success in your fitness journey… or life.

What are your gym confessions?

It’s been over a year so it’s about time for an updated top 10 exercise list. Don’t get me wrong, I still love double-unders, burpees, wall balls and …everything but here are some of my new “favorites.”

1. Bulgarian Split Squats. These are my new absolute favorite form of squats. I still kind of suck at them especially when I pile on the weights (and the fact that my feet are always cramping up) but I love them! They help minimize strength and muscular differences in your legs (my #1 reason for doing them), strengthen your core, improve balance, increase flexibility in your hip flexors and of course, strengthen your lower body. And they are hard.

2. Deadlifts. A true full-body movement and definitely one of the best compound exercises you can do.

3. Handstand Push Ups. Another thing on my Get Awesome At list.

4. Turkish Get Ups. Just watch the video!

5. [Kettlebell] Sumo Squats. Because I realized I don’t work  my inner thighs enough. I like to dump this in a circuit with other kettlebell exercises such as swings, high pulls, presses.

6. Wall Climbs. I always make sure I do chest-to-ground after each rep (not in my newbie video below). If you want to make it more challenging, add a push up (or a few).

7. TRX Rows (or TRX anything). TRX bands are a must in any [home] gym. They really engage and stablize your core and allow you to do a lot of different exercises due to it’s versatility. It’s literally a band that you hang on just about anything and you can almost do anything you can think of with it.

8. TRX Tucks & Pikes. Try this in a circuit doing  1 tuck + 1 pike (1 rep) , ten times. To make it more challenging, add a push up with each rep.

9. Push Presses. I love doing these in a quick barbell complex, AMRAP style with deadlifts (high rep), front squats and bent-over rows.

10. Farmers Walks. One of my things on my Get Awesome At list is to improve my grip strength because it holds me back a lot. And the fact that I hate bitch hands.

Check out my top 10 exercise from the last 3 years: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3.