Don't Mess with the Power of Patsy

Meet Patsy Manning. She's changed my life.

If you read my blog, you know Patsy's name. When I list boot camp on my daily TCOY [Take Care of Yourself] list, I'm talking about Patsy's Accelerate Boot Camp. This month marks three years since A. Patsy launched it and B. I joined. I was a mere 47 then....and pretty much a fitness slug. Patsy has admitted to me that she worried she might need to use CPR because I panted so much.

Patsy's BC becomes something you love to hate or hate to love, a commitment you carve out time for, work around, don't want to miss. It's tough, but addictive. And it's hard to think of a healthier addiction than one that gets your heart pumping and your lungs filled with air. It's hard to put a price on being able to zip up your jeans or feel pretty in a sleeveless sweater.

I finally got back to BC today after almost three weeks off--the longest I've ever missed. We were away in Maine for a week, then my injured ankle from an icy fall in the Pine Tree State kept me home, too. At first, I couldn't even fit my swollen right foot into my Saucony sneaker. I wore my brother-in-law Michael's Crocs all week. [Thank you, Michael.] But today, I was happy to be back in Brookdale Park, the sun shining on Patsy's ponytail as she guided us through shuffles, planks and push-ups.

I swear, I could feel my belly rising like dough and my arms getting bigger with every class missed. 

Top 10 Patsy Powers

1. She is a graceful gazelle but not in an annoying way. She's patient and encouraging with everyone in class, from the marathon runners to the stragglers like me. When she demos moves, her form is perfect. But she doesn't gloat; she's gracious. An iron fist in a velvet glove; our mentor. And like any great leader, she brings together people who are different to reach a common goal for the greater good. We are women and men, parents or not, working or staying home. We are artists, teachers, engineers, writers, therapists, astrologers, chefs, young mothers, young retirees and everything in between. We are in our 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s or closing in on 60. Yes we are.
2. She's a good influence. Patsy has been my next-door neighbor for 10+ years, and living this close has its benefits. I'm convinced that being in her energy sphere gives me a bonus 100 calories burned every day--just by watching her pedal toward the park on a bike, run down the street or drive off to a kickboxing class. But it also makes me more likely to wheel out my own bike or hit the pavement. [I secretly hope when I walk Sug that Patsy will see me out exercising. She sometimes does.] I know she likes to keep junk food out of her house--she tells us that a lot--and so I try not to bring home the Oreos either. If they're not there, you can't eat them.
3. She shares and inspires so generously. Patsy has invited me over to sample a PB protein shake and treated me to a skinny Starbucks latte. She once brought me big Band-Aids when I fell and cut my foot, turkey soup when I had a cold, a book of inspirational readings and Cooking Light's best recipe collection.
4. She's strong. She can do 10 burpees like nobody's business. Don't know what a burpee is? Lucky you. Neither did I until I joined. But now my vocabulary includes: rows, squats, mountain climbers, sumo walk, globetrotter, plank and more. 
5. She's a model person. If you hang around her, you can see how thoughtful she is, starting with the ones closest to her--her husband, Andy [also kind, good-looking, fit and fast], their two adorable kids, Will and Maddy, and even their sizable lizard, Ziggy, a pet Patsy holds and plays with. Her thoughtfulness and golden heart rub off on you.
6. She's funny. She cracks us up with the reminders to Squeeze your butt--or the 10-second water breaks she doles out. The thing is, she's not kidding.
7. She's well-dressed. This is important. I sure don't want to drag my sorry self around following directions from someone who doesn't look stylish. Patsy does--from her Gloria Steinem aviator sunglasses to her cool sneakers, from her fleece head wraps to her bright workout tops. Fashion is a good distraction, in any case, to take one's mind off reps.
8. She's creative and clever. She offers free morning holiday classes to which you can bring your friends and family. [I took H. once and he almost died.] She's done these on Thanksgiving, Fourth of July and New Year's Eve. She has even brought us champagne for the new year and little red-foil-wrapped Dove chocolates on Valentine's Day [one per person--don't get your hopes up, it was just a token treat]. She has all kinds of fun ideas up her sleeve, from boxing to stations to partnering up. You don't get bored b/c no two classes are the same. Really.
9. She brings out the kid in you. The girls and boys we once were are still inside us, and Patsy coaxes them out to play. We've skipped, galloped, hopscotched, jumped rope, played catch, kicked a soccer ball, thrown a softball and done relay races.
10. She empowers you. It's not just about getting faster and stronger on the steps or the field. It's really about believing in yourself, in your capabilities, your self-esteem, your inner will, your outer stride. It spills out into your life, your work, your relationships. And for that, I will be forever grateful.

And that's my list in praise of Patsy this Monday night in January. If you don't have a little Patsy in your life, I strongly recommend checking her out for personal training--or joining the rest of us at boot camp Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings @ 5:15 A.M. or 9:30 A.M. Call Patsy @ 201.709.3177 or email patsy@XLR8fit.com

Night.

TCOY

1. Boot Camp in the park.
2. Walked Sug around block once.
3. Didn't overeat. That's what BC does--helps you eat mindfully, especially since you're putting in all that effort during classes.