Y'all, I think this blog is a bad luck charm. Yesterday, after I posted that I had lost weight, I went to lunch and a guy asked me if I was pregnant. Actually, it was worse than that. He asked HOW FAR ALONG I WAS. I kind of coldly said, "I'm not pregnant." He hastily apologized. Then there was an awkward silence. Then he said, "I'm really sorry about that." Longer awkward silence. Finally, I directed the conversation back to the business we were discussing. Yeah. Hate that. I always think to myself, "...and when I get home, I'm going to burn this shirt."
In totally related news, I went to a dance/aerobics class at the gym last night. And I'm going again tonight. I've discovered something interesting about exercise, which will come as a revelation to exactly one person (that person being me). Each person has to find the type of exercise that they enjoy in order to stick with it. For so long, I just tagged along with any of my friends to whatever they wanted to go to, or took whatever class was offered at the apartment complex gym (when I was single and lived in an apartment). I figured that exercise sucked and I hated all of it, so what did it matter if I went to kickboxing or yoga or Pilate's. But then. One of my friends told me about Zumba, which is latin inspired dance/aerobics. I took tap and ballet when I was a kid and I've always really enjoyed dancing. So Zumba sounded like something I'd actually like. And I won't lie to you - the first class kicked my ass. And for the first few months, I seriously thought about leaving at the 30 minute mark. (And sometimes, I still do.) But it's such a great class, and it's structured so that there's a different routine to each song, so every 3 minutes or so, you're doing something different. And somehow, every time I want to leave, one of my favorite songs comes on and I think, "Oh, but I love this one. I'll get back out there." Then, somehow, ten minutes passes and there's only 20 minutes left to go, and well, I can make it through 20 more minutes, because the last 5 or so is the cool down, so it's really only 15 minutes and I can totally do that. And at the end, while I'm tired and sweaty and gross, I feel good. I feel like I've *gasp* had fun, which is a totally new and foreign concept to me when it comes to exercise. And I've tried to tell my workout buddy Carol about Zumba and how I think she would like it, but recently I realized that she wouldn't like it AT ALL. In fact, she would fucking hate Zumba. I figured this out because I often go to her house and take my The Firm dvd and we do the workout together. (It's way easier to work out WITHOUT small children dancing between your feet.) It's half dance-based aerobics and half strength training with weights. Carol HATES the dance sections, mainly because the routine keeps changing. Her comment was, "Just when I get it figured out, she's on to something else!" So yeah, she'd despise Zumba. But the funny part is? I hate the strength training/weights sections. It seems so repetitive and boring to me. So I help her through the dance parts and she helps me through the weight parts. And that's how I figured out that we each have to find the workout we don't hate. Some people are runners and some people are weightlifters and some people are yogis and that's the way things should be. Me, I'm a dancer. (And a swimmer. I went swimming last Friday, and it was awesome. Must. find. pool.) It feels really good to have found something I don't hate.
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23 comments:
Health kick post! YAY! Good stuff. I haven't tried Zumba, but everyone raves. Seems embarassing though. WHAT TO DO.
That is so important, realizing that you have to figure out what works for you. I've been so much happier since I've started swimming and realized that not all exercise has to be miserable.
zumba looks SO fun, except also.. uh... super embarassing. so I keep chickening out.
Tess - I was hoping you'd find this one! I know how you love a good health kick post. The thing about Zumba is that you have to be able to pick up dance steps quickly. It is not an exercise class. It is a dance class. If you can pick the samba, meringue, and cha cha in about a minute or so, and at full speed, then you'll do great. If not, yeah, you might fall on your face.
Jess - yes, you and your swimming have really inspired me. I am thinking about trying out the pool at Gold's.
Alice - it IS super fun. But yeah, like I said to Tess, you have to be able to dance. And pick up new dances quickly, at full speed and with very little instruction. But if you can, you will LOVE it because it's not like exercising at all.
That whole "are you pregnant thing" has become such a cliché because so many people have put their foot in their mouth by saying that. WHY HAVEN'T PEOPLE LEARNED TO SHUT UP BY NOW???
Zumba sounds like fun...I may have to look into that.
BeckEye - I KNOW, RIGHT?! Learn the lesson, people. If a woman wants you to know that she's pregnant, she'll tell you.
OMG I'm a swimmer, too! (And I love yoga!)
I have several friends who LOVE Zumba!
Kathy - Swimming is awesome. I seriously wanted to move back into my old apartment complex just for the pool.
Devan - I love it. In fact, I'm going tonight.
I go to Zumba. I suck at it, but I love it. I mean, I have zero rhythm and I am always messing up, but I don't care. It is so fun. I will say that it doesn't even feel like working out most of the time b/c I go to a boot camp class the same day and it is way harder. All that to say, yea Zumba! Or whatever floats your boat. I kind of like all different kinds of exercise, so that I don't get bored. I do run, and I don't like the actual running, but I love the results and how amazing I feel when I've finished four miles or whatever. I'm glad you found something you like. Keep it up!
Nicole - I agree, I'm not the best at Zumba either and sometimes, I'm totally just flailing around out there. But I just have fun with it and keep moving. I really want to try running, too.
Shoes are key when running. If you have major pain (not sore, but pain) you will probably need better shoes. My husband used to have terrible shin splints, but he got running shoes at a running store and his problem was solved. So if you do start running, be willing to spend some cash on good shoes. It is worth it.
Must try Zumba.
Nicole - Thanks for the advice!
Janssen - I hope you love Zumba. : )
I'm like your friend...I've tried to do the dance/whatever with whatever her name is on Fit TV and I CANNOT KEEP UP. I have no sense of rhythm. I'm starting to find my groove with running on the treadmill... if I could just find another 5 or 6 really GOOD songs to run to.
Glad you found what works for you! I love your rationale for staying in the class for "one more song".
Oh yeah... one time I was at a summer bbq and a former boss (a woman, no less!!) walked up and asked if I was pregnant and patted my belly. NO. I was not pregnant. UGH.
Wasn't it George Carlin who said "Unless you see a baby actually COMING OUT, do not ask a woman if she's pregnant." I live by that rule.
Hyphen - Running 5 to 6 miles on the treadmill is a-mazing! Good on ya mate!
Hyphen - I think the comedian was Dave Barry, but yeah, the point's the same. People, PLEASE stop asking! And yes, I've had women ask, too. And I do get more frustrated with them, because they should know better!
Not sure where to post this but I wanted to ask if anyone has heard of National Clicks?
Can someone help me find it?
Overheard some co-workers talking about it all week but didn't have time to ask so I thought I would post it here to see if someone could help me out.
Seems to be getting alot of buzz right now.
Thanks
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