Zumba......I think I might die!

This week I've been working in a paper close enough to home that I can travel back and forth each day. With that being said I decided to join my friend Shannon last night at her Zumba Class that she's been attending. I thought that it would be fun to have workout and dance at the same time. Those of you that knew me "Back In The Day", know that I used to be a pretty good little dancer. Hello! I was the captain of the Riverside Dance Team!

Why should Zumba be easy for me?

1. I have rhythm.
2. I can quickly pick up dance steps
3. I've got skills.

I met Shannon at our local High School Gym. We each paid our $5 and went in to stretch and get ready for Zumba. Shannon told me that she likes to stand up front so that she can see the instructors better. I didn't see any problem with that. This was going to come easy for me and I was sure I wouldn't embarrass myself.

The music started and sweat began to roll. And roll. And ROLL! I was sure I was going to die! And worse yet.......it didn't come easy to me AT ALL! I was the idiot in the front that didn't know any of the dance steps. And somewhere between my senior year in High School and now, I'd lost dancing ability. I'm pretty sure my dancing skills might have gone out the window when my extra pounds of FAT walked in the front door. When I didn't think I could go any longer and I was sure our hour class was almost over, I looked for a clock. It was only 6:25 pm. The class didn't end till 7!!!!!!!

I know some of you are wondering if I made it to 7pm.......and I am proud to say that yes I did finish the whole class. I'm not going to say that there wasn't any crying, whining, or belly aching.......but I did finish it! When Shannon and I walked out to our vehicles afterward, I wasn't sure what was making my legs move. Maybe it was the meat and potatoes I had ready to eat back at home.

What did I lean at Zumba?
1. I have NO rhythm.
2. I can quickly pick up dance steps. (in my head, my body had problems doing what my brain was telling it to do.)
3. I've got NO skills.

This morning I woke up with very sore muscles. Shannon swears that the hurt will only last for 3 days. Which is great because that works out just great for the Zumba class on Thursday!



Until next time,

MW

No Treadmill.....No Problem

Most cookie cutter hotels have a fitness room and the machines included in that fitness room include 1 treadmill, 1 elliptical, 1 bike. However sometimes there are variations......... 2 treadmills and 1 bike. Oooohhhh what a big variation!

Variation #1

Last week's variation 1 working treadmill, 1 broken treadmill, 1 broken bike. So that leaves only 1 working machine. Look mom I can add and subtract!

Only 1 working machine is just fine, as long as I'm the one using it. But I'm just not that lucky. That night after a long day of work, I walked into the fitness room to continue my Couch to 5K training and was stopped by a man working out on the treadmill number 1. I began to get on treadmill #2. My workout buddy informed me that the treadmill was broken and so was the bike. I thought great, now what? Before I could ask him he informed me that he wouldn't be done until 8pm and he had already promised the treadmill to another man after he was done. Shoot! So I got the great idea to run stairs.

Stairs? Stairs! I was an idiot. I made it up and down just a few times and then pondered calling 911. Why 911 you may ask? Because I thought I was going to die! Well, at least I still worked out that night.

The next night I got back to the hotel exactly at 5pm in hopes to make it to the fitness room before anyone else could. Wrong! I walked in and there was a cute old man with white fitness socks that stretched up to his knees walking on the good treadmill. My plans were spoiled again! I then got to thinking, you know I had never tried treadmill #2. There wasn't a "out of order" sign on it, maybe is wasn't really broken. I got on treadmill #2 and it started! I started my 5 minute walking warm up and just as I started increaseing my speed to begin running...........shut down! I almost fell on my face! So yep.....it was broken.

This could have been me!

My little old workout buddy was still walking and I think he might have been pushing 2 miles per hour at that time. I decided how could a stationary bike be broke. Well, it was a functioning bike, just no options of increasing resistance. I ended up riding it for 30 minutes and went of distance of 5.25 miles.

Maybe setting a planned workout program isn't the best option for my schedule at this time. However, I've learned to be creative with my workouts. Step one is to get moving.

So I'm making an effort to keep moving.

Until next time,

MW

Couch to 5K.....Yeah Right

As most of you know......I love food. I love baking food. I love cooking food. And that's all fine and dandy, except for waistline. I have attempted diet after diet. I have tried eating salads for lunch and grilled chicken salads for dinner. But I've failed. I grew up on a feedlot with beef being shoveled into my mouth from the time that I could digest it. I got the "eye" from my dad when we would go out to eat and I order chicken.

So, I've decided to jump on the fitness train and begin regularly working out. I've decided that is must be the exact solution that I've been looking for. I can still eat wonderful food and save my waistline with a workout. Jillian Michaels, if you're reading this, I know this isn't exactly what you'd recommend, but give me a break! Small Steps! At least it's a step!

Workout plan #1 - Couch to 5K program

I've been reading a lot about the Couch to 5K program and thought I'd give it a try. Plus it has an iphone app. Yeah! Supposedly this program will teach your endurance and within a short amount of time you'll be ready to run a 5K. I've always wanted to be a runner. But it's worth a try. There is always a treadmill at the hotels I'm staying at, so this must be the program for me. Workout #1 included 5 minutes of walking then rotating between 60 seconds of running and 90 seconds of walking for 30 minutes. Now, let me tell you the 10 minutes were a breeze.

10 minutes - Shoot I can do this.
15 minutes - I think I'm going to die!
20 minutes - I can't believe I still have 10 minutes to go. I'll be lucky if I make 25 minutes
25 minutes - Sweating profusely, but surprisingly I don't fell like I'm going to die anymore
30 minutes - I feel awesome! I just worked out for 30 minutes and am proud of myself.

The next morning - I think I'm going to die! My stomach and legs have decided to go on strike.

I might be a little sore, but I feel awesome and I'm looking forward to my next workout. I think I might need to reward myself with something. Maybe a new cute workout outfit.

Imagine this is me running is a cute new outfit. Also imagine rolling Oklahoma hills in the background instead of a city skyline. Yes, I do think this would still be cute.

Until next time,

MW