Carlton meets Capt. Crunch

Operation Bootcamp Day 8

I have to give Carlton a hearty pat on the back. He went to the India.Arie concert, went to Pop Life at Apostrophe, got home at 2:30 a.m. and was at Latta Park for his 5:45 a.m. workout.

That's determination.

"I'm just glad I got out of bed and went," he said.

Today's workout was called Capt. Crunch, said Operation Bootcamp's Christen Lewis.

They had four stations with different exercises such as bicycles, planks, and torso twists. For larger muscle groups they did walking lunges. Cardio involved high knees, shuffling, butt kickers and skipping to each station.

Carlton said he was surprised so many leg-dominant exercises also worked his abs.

"Later on today, when I laugh and stuff, it's going to hurt," he said.

India.Arie's workout plan

Before Michelle Obama made toned arms fashionable for black women, neo-soul singer India.Arie rocked fit biceps and a nice back. I caught up with Arie before her performance at Amos' Southend on Wednesday to talk about her physique.

Arie said it's all genetics. Her father was a professional athlete and her mother was a college athlete.

"My legs, my back, my arms are parts of my body that are always toned," she said. "My stomach is not."

What does she do for her abs?

"Nothing."


Arie said she works out to relieve stress more than for fitness. She said she runs occasionally in Atlanta, and also does yoga and Qigong, which is similar to Tai-Chi.

(Arie performed before a sold-out crowd at Amos'. Her new album is "Testimony: Vol. 2, Love & Politics." She stopped by V101.9 and talked with Chirl Girl before her performance.)

Charlotte buddies hike 600 miles, bike 388

Congratulations to Charlotte's own Frank Potter and Jim Walters. On Saturday, they became the 14th and 15th people to complete the nearly 1,000-mile mountain-to-sea trail between the mountains and the coast. It took 56 days, 22 weekends and lots of Subway sandwiches to complete the trek.

Read about their adventure and determination in the Charlotte Observer and follow their online journal.