Zumba!

As you have heard me say in the last few blogs I have noticed my calorie burn getting a lot harder now that I am close to Onederland. I find it really hard to burn 2400 calories on an average day (which now includes exercise) on a day when I don’t exercise it is really low. Of course carrying 70 pounds less makes a huge difference, but with my BodyMedia Fit thingy I can see even when 5 pounds has made a huge change. It has honestly prevented me from any true plateaus b/c I can see them coming and make adjustments.

However, since it is getting harder and harder to up my exercise routine without getting burnt out (which I just did) I decided to bite the bullet and join a gym. Yesterday, after many many talks to myself (remember I am allergic to new things) I went over to the Bally’s about 15-20 minutes away and signed up. I have been looking at gyms for awhile and was thinking about just joining the university gym in the fall (when most exercise classes start), but I noticed that there was a Bally’s by the hotel that I always stay at and since they offer a nationwide membership I figured I would try it.

I got to admit the gym experience is just ok. The place is very clean, but old and smells like an old gym locker room. But heck don’t they all? After signing up I decided to try the Zumba class they offered. Everyone else seems to love it so I figured what the heck. Now I won’t say I love it. I actually suck at it, but I burned a lot of calories and made it through without dying so I consider it a success. I would do it again that is for sure. I wasn’t the heaviest person in the class (which always surprises me anymore), but I did feel like it. I picked a spot at the back of the class right behind the instructor so 1) she couldn’t see me and 2) I could focus on her feet!!. I didn’t realize at first that I was right in front of the door until later. At one point I looked over to see a couple guys staring in and the thought in my mind was that they were taking bets on when the girl with the red face would collapse (me if you didn’t guess). It really bothered me for a while and threw me off, but I just thought of what you guys would say to me and stopped worrying (very hard to do!).

Another thing I broke down and did was get a personal trainer. The rates were much cheaper if you bought them at the signup (almost a 1/3 of the price) so impulsive me had to go for the deal. Honestly, I have been thinking about it for a while and that was a huge reason for joining the gym, but the $$ could have probably been spent somewhere else. Tonight is my first session so if you don’t hear from me assume either I killed her or she killed me :) Got to run and get there since it will be rush hour soon. I will update you later.