If you’ve read my blog for more than, say, a day, you know I am not a morning exerciser. I am not a morning person. But when I’ve paid for a class and know that I have a friend waiting, I can do it.

This morning, I put some on Lululemon (I feel like I need to dress to impress for these sorts of classes. Whether it’s true or not, it makes me feel better.) and met Jess at Physique 57 for a 7am class. I made sure to go to sleep before 10 last night so that I could actually get out of bed and make it. The studio, on 57th between 5th and 6th, is about a mile and a half from my apartment. It would have been a few stops on the subway (and I have no idea how reliable the subway is before 6am, but I’m guessing not very) or a mile and a half run. I decided to run there so that I could kill two birds with one stone: getting there faster and being badass.

I ran into Jess outside Starbucks and we walked in together. I told her I was pretty nervous and glad that she asked me to take the class with her, since I never would have tried it alone. Kelly Ripa is supposedly a Physique 57 fanatic, and I had visions of every single woman in the class looking and being as hardcore as her. We did some light cardio exercises to warm up before launching into quads, which Jess had told me was the hardest part of the class. She. Was. Not. Kidding. My quads were SHAKING.

Most of the exercises were really hard, but I was able to power through most of them. (It’s pretty similar to Bar Method, which I also tried with Jess.) Most of the exercises focused on the core and legs and used balls, stretching straps and mats.

The great thing about these kinds of classes is that they’re small (I don’t think there were more than 10-15 women in this class), so the instructors give you lots of attention. When I tried the Bar Method class, that actually scared me off (I felt like I was dumb and doing everything wrong and was embarrassed), but I realized they’re there to help. The 57-minute class actually flew by, and before I knew it, we were stretching. All new Physique 57 students get a second free class, so I think I’m going to try it again on Wednesday morning–anyone want to come? (Shameless plug: if you go and say I referred you, I get a free class. That’s T-H-E-O-D-O-R-A B-L-A-N-C-H-F-I-E-L-D.)

I ran home to round out my workout this morning to one Physique 57 class plus a 3-mile run. SWEET. I’ve been in a great mood all day, and I get that working-out-in-the-morning-extra-endorphin rush. Must. Make. Habit.

I couldn’t stop thinking of bananas after this workout, so I had a sunflower butter and banana sandwich for breakfast. Are you surprised?

For lunch, I ran over to the City Chow Cafe in Equinox and had a turkey burger with Brussels sprouts (when did I become obsessed with them?) and sweet potato.

I’m fudging things a little to make this workout a part of strength training challenge for the week, since I technically started the week on Monday afternoon last week.

So how’d I do?

• 1 35-minute Jillian Michaels Six-Week Six-Pack Session
• 1 30-minute mini-workout from Jess’ blog (why yes, I do have a little blog crush on her)
• 1 57-minute Physique 57 workout.

My goal for this week is to try Physique 57 again and also try to make myself do a strength workout, by myself, in the gym.

How’d you do and what are your strength goals for the week?