I’ve learned something about myself recently that I once knew, but had forgotten.
I’m not a solo exerciser.
A few weeks ago I joined a running group for moms that meets at a park near our house. It’s basically a group Couch to 5k program, and it’s every Wednesday and Sunday.
I have stopped and started C25k on my own countless times. Aaron and I even tried to do it together to no avail.
But it’s been easy for me to meet up with these women, and running with a group is so much more motivating. After all, it was how I trained for a half marathon back in 2005. I need the support and the accountability.
Last week, after seeing an infomercial (truth), I looked up local Zumba classes and found one just up the road. Tonight was my second class, and I love it. (Loooove it.)
It’s fun and an intense work out. I like that the class is all women, and a range of ages and sizes at that. Plus I love the music and that I can sort of trick myself into thinking that I’m just dancing. (In my mind, I am awesome. Luckily there are no mirrors in the classroom, so I can maintain this delusion.)
How is it I can make myself show up to a class where I know no one to Zumba it up for an hour, but I can’t make myself go down to my own basement to get on the elliptical machine? I don’t know, but there you have it.
When I lived in Atlanta, I went to the gym several times a week, and I almost exclusively went to classes — spin, step and body works were my staples. But I didn’t have a long commute or a husband or a baby to get home to in those days, so a gym membership was a good fit in ways that it is not these days.
I am learning, after quite a hiatus, that I need to be intentional about how I add exercise into my life and routine, and regularly-scheduled groups and classes are attractive options.
How do you fit exercise into your life?
Funny! A few thoughts:
-I do NOT make progress when I work at home as my main routine.
-I relish in going to the gym alone. It has become my alone time and has turned into great time with God.
-We do Zumba on the Wii as a fun addition to the normal routine. LOVE IT!
Keep it up girl, you got this!
I have dance cental & your shape fitness evolved on the xbox kinect! <3 it espically your shape it gives u exercises based on ur weight height ect age , how active you are & what you want to improve weather its just you want more energy or if you are exercising to lose baby fat, or gain musle also it has some gym games (u can play up to 4 players) & zen & cardio boxes classes
Glad you are enjoying Zumba. I recently signed up for Zumba through park & rec dept, now I just need to wait until mid-June to start.
I’m finding that for me to get exercise I have to get out of the house and away from my wife & mom roles. Yes that means leaving my guys during what would be family time but it gives them time together so that’s nice too.
My current classes (through community ed) are step aerobics and aerobics-low impact circuit. I am loving both classes and will sign up again in the fall if my schedule allows.
Im an ‘all-or-nothing’ girl. Im on a kick of working out doing tae-bo (remember that from the 90s) and Bob Harper — biggest loser bootcamp — which are 55 min, so I do that during nap time… and mixing it up with doing 30 min on the elliptical 2-3 nights during the week while I watch TV after the kids are in bed. it equals 5 days per week. doesnt interfere with my precious mommy time. and allows me time to myself.
jamielynn
Glad u enjoyed it! I find it so exiinctg to be able to dance/workout and do it continuous for 1 hour. Did u know u can burn up to 1000 calories in that 1 hour class? I just found that out last wednesday nights zumba. The instructor mixed it up tonight and did a new dance which added jabs ~ talk about fun ;o) Keep up the good work girl!