this time of year the YMCA tends to be crowded. It's starting to free up a bit, which is a happy and a SAD thing. I'm glad to be able to workout without waiting for a machine, but it's sad to see the resolution crowd disappear for another year. The optimist in me wants to believe they've just changed to a less popular workout time, but the realist knows better.

lucky me...the high school football stadium is right across the street from the Y. So if the gym is crowded, and the weather is nice...let's climb some bleachers!!!

what? Why are you looking at me like that??? Okay, maybe I won't be able to move without groaning for the next day or two. And MAYBE I tend to not know when to say "enough!", but I always stop before my legs are trembling so bad that I risk falling from the top. It's a nice view from up there!

I do allow myself to use the stairs going down (and stay close to the hand rail). I can usually get in 20 climbs (there are 30 bleachers) in 45 minutes. I go up and down 5 times, then take a walk, back up and down 5 times, walk, etc.

I easily burn over 800 calories.
It's a built in HIIT workout.
It REALLY works my quads, glutes, and calves.
There is no way I'd do 600 lunges, but I WILL climb those 30 bleachers 20 times!

and when I'm finished, I often get a lovely reward

sunset from the YMCA parking lot. That low hanging cloud was so unusual!

wanna meet me for a nice workout?

P.S. My car is a 5 speed. Interesting to try to push that clutch when my muscles are trembling!