Monday, July 26, 2010

The Day I Started Some ZUMBA...

Got myself into a new game tonight. It's called ZUMBA. I didn't exactly know what it was, just that I'd heard of it, and it sounded like a whole lot of fun and when I met a new Friend thru some old Friends at the Farmers Market and she mentioned she went, I thought, well, here's my chance. (Heck, she reads Wodehouse and loves the Jeeves and Woosters Vids. Clearly a women of intelligence who knows what she is doing. She's FIT too.)

Here's a few facts, for anyone considering playing along: (while I still have energy to type)

1. ZUMBA is an hour long dance workout that is done to Latin-ish dance music. My studio is sort of dark, and had great disco lights going on. It's fast, intense, and gets your heart rate UP. In the world of FIT, this is called Cardio. I think you burn about 4,000 calories an hour. At least.

2. No. There will be no pictures for quite some time.

3. The teacher does not talk. She just dances. You follow along. Or try to. I watched my friend, as the teacher faced us. This makes everything backwards. They tell me tho, it's the same each class, so one sort of LEARNS.

4. Unless you are a) a backup dancer currently on the Lady Gaga tour or b) the Instructor or c) Currently a member of the Naptown Roller Girls Team going to regional's ; you are NOT going to be picking this up in one easy hour. It's hard. It's intense. Extreme. You might not want to look in the mirror, and if you are the kind of person who worries about what you look like, get over it. Now.

5. I am not FIT. I am out of shape and overweight. The Gods know how it happened, just looked down one day and there it was. OOPS! I worked my BUTT off tonight and couldn't do half the things.

6. It's the gym. You are in a class with a lot of other people. They are not watching you. Trust me. They are working their own BUTTS off. And if they were, what do you think they are saying? "OOoooo! Look at HER, she's out of shape and overweight, what is SHE doing in a GYM??"

I don't think so. There will be people who are younger than you, fitter than you. There are people who are older than you. Maybe less FIT than you. There will be people who look like they have been working at this for months (they have) Everyone will be sweating. They don't CARE what you look like. You don't start off FIT, perfect and able to dance. You GET there.

7. The gym costs about $30 a month or so. A dollar a day. There are 5 or 6 classes a day in different things. Do the math.

8. I am not good at working myself out. I need a BUTT kicker. Group classes are great. All you have to do is show up and follow along. Simple. A class where all you have to do is learn and practice dance moves for an hour? To cool music? Hello? Sign me UP!

9. I did sign up.

10. And I loved it. All of it. I liked the people, I liked spending an hour at the end of the day dancing, and making new friends, who are also about getting, or being FIT. I like coming home with MUSH legs, and knowing I am just a bit more FIT than I was this morning.

And I am really, really going to like the way I will be looking, and feeling a few months from now.

Might well end up a dancer on Gaga's tour. Might well do ANYTHING.

That's the feeling. And that's why you do it.

Love and Zumba,
Lorraine

85 Comments:

At 19:41 Blogger DataGoddess said...

That sounds so fun - I think I'll have to look into a class after I get my new knee. Don't think I should try it without some cartilage between the bones ;-)

At 19:44 Blogger Chantrelle said...

Lots of Zumba fans around here too. I am not a class-dance person though. I can't get over it ;-) I feel like a flailing, gangly monkey.

Anyway, I"m glad you love it!!!

Spent the weekend at the motorcycle races. Hauled stuff around, etc and my wrists are sore. Took a day of rest today and they're already better than this morning.

At 19:55 Blogger LihuaEmilyP said...

Who's to say being an adult is boring?!

At 20:03 Blogger FabulousLorraine said...

I looked like a flailing gangley PUDDING. Doesn't matter. I can learn this. I really did not want to look, but the thing is, I felt good. Really good.

Data, go for it, with new knee tho, and take it slowly, you'll love it. Or hate it. But it feels really good when you stop.

Lihua, I don't think ANYONE said that, and if they did, they are missing OUT.

At 20:04 Blogger Jane said...

So fun! Wonder if I can find it here - and you're right, no one is watching you. Yoga class is like that - everyone so intent on their own thing there is no time or mental space to stare around the room.

At 20:07 Blogger Dragonsally said...

I had to check on Youtube to find out what Zumba was after you first mentioned the class. energetic is an understatement. Looks like so much fun...

At 20:11 Blogger LihuaEmilyP said...

It does sound awesome. Honestly? I love dancing. Some of you have seen.

At 20:49 Blogger Cecily said...

Quiche, I know you weren't but it felt like you were writing this TO me. You hit all the problems I have with getting my ass to a class. I don't want to be the fat chick. Especially since I used to be the dancer chick. Seriously started dance classes at 5, went to a high school specifically for visual and performing arts, for DANCE. I was going to go to Boston conservatory for dance, so I am kinda terrified of going to a dance class being who I am now. Not FIT. But Zumba looks like so much fun. You have motivated me. Now to wiggle out the money for it.

~Ceci

At 20:54 Blogger FabulousLorraine said...

I was a figure skater growing up, all the way. It's hard when you get Un FIT, after being really FIT. DAMM hard.

It's starting over and wanting to scream "this isn't ME!"

Get it back. That's all I can think about. I don't care if I am the fat one in the class. I don't care if I look like the dancing pudding.

It would be a whole lot sadder to be the fat chick buying doughnuts.

At 21:01 Blogger Cecily said...

I need you closer to me so I had someone to get FIT with. I *want* to, but it is so hard to do alone. But I am going to take your cyber kick in the butt and at least get on the WiiFit tomorrow. :-)

At 21:07 Blogger FabulousLorraine said...

Well, I found my new FIT friend at the farmers market. They are all over, bet you would meet some in class, eh? Just made a new one on Twitter who is coming with us.

At 21:11 Blogger Cecily said...

You are like my inner voice that my anxiety has been squashing. :-)

At 21:15 Blogger Ethne said...

I had just signed up for a zumba class at my school's gym when I read your post. You're giving me hope :)
cheers for you and may it continue to be fun!

At 21:30 Blogger FabulousLorraine said...

Well, I have hope myself, Elaine, can't start sooner than NOW.

Glad to be that voice, Ceci, the only way I can listen is if I shout it really LOUD.

At 21:34 Blogger One Sock Short said...

Sounds like a blast. Not sure if I could do it. Yet. Every bone in my body is inhibited. But I will keep it, or something like it, in mind when I have the wiggle room in my budget. Right now I need to focus on getting myself to walk to and from (well maybe just from, for now) work. That's free at least.

At 22:12 Blogger Beez said...

Can't start sooner than NOW.

Words to live by.

At 22:32 Blogger Bridget said...

I am clearly reminded of the semester of uni that my roommate talked me into taking Aerobic Dance with her. The instructor was good, though she had a huge fixation on Taylor Dayne. Which is OK, but, you, know, three mornings a week for a full semester, maybe not so much.

It was hard. And good. And I would go it again, if I thought my back could take it.

At the end, we each got to make our own couple-minute workout to music of our choice. I used Queen's "Hammer to Fall." Aaaaah, much better. ;)

FIT is GOOD.

At 23:30 Blogger ariandalen said...

Glad you had fun at Zumba, Ms. Fabulous. Any movement is good on the road to FIT! If you enjoy it, you're more likely to continue. :)

For those of thin wallet, walking is free, and you will see results. Look about 20 yards ahead of you for the best results.

I don't know about Zumba classes, but I do rent from a Jazzercise studio. Jazzercise has low impact classes for those who can't handle jumping around. They use a wide spectrum of music that is contemporary.

Use your library; most larger libraries have exercise DVDs that can be checked out. I know Jazzercise has DVDs, Zumba probably does, plus there are yoga, tai chi, various styles of belly dance, among other forms of exercise DVDs. What I have found is this, you can learn a dance form from a DVD; however, eventually you will need to get in front of a mirror to make sure your posture is correct as well as making little adjustments so that the movements are done properly.

I teach ITS belly dance. Those of you who met me at Fiendom Come 2009 know that I am not some tiny little thing, but I had 14 year old girls asking me "How do you do that?!" when I shimmied. I also teach in front of mirrors in Faire Paire tights and a sports bra. Beauty is where you find it, and it begins in yourself.

At 00:27 Blogger spacedlaw said...

That's how I got into belly dancing 13 years ago. I was losing weight because I was not eating (depression) and i knew I would sag if I did not move my butt. Dancing is a great work out and fun.
Zumba has not caught up here but when it does I might join too.

At 00:29 Blogger Na said...

working on FIT is just plain smart.

Ceci, i so hear myself in your words! i didn't start so young, but did dance, mostly modern, for many years. stopped going when i developed a severe dislike of seeing myself in the mirror. don't know how that started, and kinda hard to be in a dance troupe if you can't stand to see yourself in the mirror. and that was a number of lbs ago. *mutter*

my guy has started running. i really don't like running. but i love walking and yoga. must find something. *sigh* feel like i must get organized, can't get organized. what is this?

heh. among other things i guess this is "i need sleep". again. /typing out loud

At 00:30 Blogger Na said...

and meant to start with; Lorraine, good on ya'! keep going!

At 00:50 Blogger Marjorie said...

Tick

At 01:22 Anonymous Anonymous said...

Been thinking of trying the whole zumba thing (its big in Australia too), but kept finding excuses not to. Now I'm all inspired by your post and the comments. Thank you :) ZUMBA - here I come!

At 07:20 Blogger Precision Grace said...

Awesome!

And to those of you who, like me, can't manage a class right now, just try it along to a youtube video - there are tons out there. Even 10 minutes a day makes a MASSIVE difference.

At 07:25 Blogger FabulousLorraine said...

Morning Fiends!

The bengals shredded my last roll of TB in the night. Will spare you the info on what I used...

You know, it doesn't matter WHAT you do in your quest for FIT. It's all about what makes you happy, if you aren't having a blast, it won't work.

I have a lesson this morning, with She WHo Owns It All, and I am riding Dim again. Very excited, but he is pretty sassy with a week and a half OFF.

FIngers crossed!!!!!

At 07:36 Blogger spacedlaw said...

Thanks for the tip, Grace. As Zumba has not made it yet into my world I might try the videos.

At 08:11 Blogger Unknown said...

That sounds like fun! I tend to be the solitary sort in my workouts, and that might be a mistake - I might be missing out on fun and group motivation.

At 08:16 Blogger Jane said...

I love reading all the FIT comments. I am v much a kick me in the butt person when it comes to exercise. Luckily there are classes :-)

At 09:10 Blogger Laura B said...

That's awesome! I keep thinking about checking into the classes offered at a local place. They used to have belly dance and I think they might have had zumba at some point, too. What keeps holding me back is the fact that I'm not comfortable with new people.

At 09:10 Blogger Laura B said...

*tick*

At 09:11 Blogger Ticia said...

Awesome.

Tick.

At 09:50 Blogger bengalgirl said...

I've watched Zumba videos on Youtube just haven't bought one yet. I love the music and the dance while isn't difficult is non-stop.

Jane was it you that had the vitreous fluid problem in your eye? I had to make an emergency visit to eye Dr. yesterday afternoon as I had the normal signs, the tiny dots in my eye. With all the testing I did have a small retinal tear so they did laser surgery. While it won't stop another tear from happening it will help. Love being old and very nearsighted.

At 10:27 Blogger AletaMay said...

Wow. Good good stuff to read all around.

I think I am going to make something -- a button, a bumper sticker, a tattoo on my brain -- with the phrase "you can't start sooner than now" on it.

As Beez said, words to live by!

At 10:43 Blogger Jess said...

Hullo all. I am supposed to be writing right now (I have a deadline Friday), but instead I'm just kind of sitting here waiting for the sump repair guys, and wishing there was someone around to talk to. I am bored and a little down. I might Zumba to pass the time, but Zumba cannot save me. I do not have the Zumba in me.

I think of when I was 11, and my mother signed me up for a jazzercise class because I "wasn't doing anything". It was 11-year-old me, and a bunch of women in their fifties, and we all had to do the chicken dance every. Goddamn. Week. Maybe it's me. I've seen lots of people who like the chicken dance just fine. Of course, I've only seen them at weddings, and they tend to be drunk.

So would you (by which I mean, you) read a book about a 13-year-old girl who becomes unstuck in time, but can't change anything? Because there's this voice in my head going, Don't write that. Put it away. It's probably something you saw on Doctor Who.

*meh*

At 10:54 Blogger spacedlaw said...

Surely you mean STUCK in time?
Why not? (but it is an often used line, so you'd have to make it special)

At 10:57 Blogger Jill said...

Way to go, FabLo, and all the other fiends who are starting to move and groove!

I hate exercise. If I'm actually DOING something - like mowing the lawn or shoveling snow - I don't have a problem with it. But going to a gym and doing the same routine on the same machines? Or getting an exercise video and doing those routines? BORING! And if I'm bored with something, I can't stick with it.

Happily, my husband just started working from home and, since he can't use the on-site gym anymore, he's been working out at home. I started working out with him - it's SO much easier when you have someone to whom you're "accountable." I know he won't yell at me or guilt me into working out, but I feel kinda funny when I DON'T do it.

Unfortunately, my right knee became very unhappy with the new state of affairs so I haven't been able to do the workouts for a couple days. I got a knee brace today and hopefully that'll help. Because not working out is NOT an option anymore. I'm tired of being doughy and sluggish.

Netflix is also a great resource for workout videos, as you can keep them as long as you need to and then exchange them for something new. We didn't know what to get, so my husband got a Jillian Michaels program. Geez, she's a little scary! She actually threatened to come through the camera and get after the viewer if s/he weren't pushing it. Now, I find it amusing but at first, it was like, holy cow...

At 11:10 Blogger Jess said...

Nathalie - No, definitely unstuck. Meh. Never mind.

At 11:11 Blogger AletaMay said...

I'd totally read that Jess!

At 11:16 Blogger spacedlaw said...

Unstuck in time. What would Einstein have thought of this, I wonder?
Sounds interesting.
Do it.

At 11:27 Blogger Jess said...

Not sure I would, she grumbled.

Would help if I knew what this thing was about. I don't actually know what's happening yet. So all the characters walk into rooms, they walk out of rooms, they move books slightly to the left. YAWN.

At 11:34 Blogger FabulousLorraine said...

Not my BEST plan, Zumba followed by morning kick butt riding lesson.

I didn't know I could have this many muscles that hurt.

I love this stuff.

At 12:04 Blogger LihuaEmilyP said...

My workout was less exciting, my dears: shifting mountains of library books from one shelf to the shelf behind it ... but as our library looks kick-ass awesome, I'd have to say it was worth it.

At 13:12 Blogger Phiala said...

Sounds like fun.

I like yoga, and walking, and belly dance. Don't do much in the way of organized classes, as they don't fit my life so well, but do stuff, which I think is the important part.

Even if today's yoga was 2 minutes long, just so I could say I did something. I did then walk 2 miles.

At 15:42 Blogger gaypet said...

Zumba looks like great fun! Doesn't seem to be anything near enough to me to try it. But I bet there will be soon.

I really just need to get back to strength training. That always starts me off to the fit.

Zumba then horse? Wow. You are rockin' it! Go you. :)

At 15:45 Blogger gaypet said...

Jess, I want to read that book. WRITE IT! ^_^

At 16:13 Blogger Jess said...

I'll tell you how chapter two starts. It goes, There was a story Nora liked to tell herself, which went like this:

What's the story? What is the frigging story?! What? What is it? WHAT?! Rrrgh.

I'm always giving this "follow a line" exercise to my workshoppers, where they pick a couple of nouns and verbs out of a hat, write a sentence using all four words, and then write a short passage of narrative beginning with that sentence. Easy, right? Sure, piece of cake! I so want to smack myself for it right now. How the hell do I get away with teaching that crap?! What a load of old bollocks.

At 16:55 Blogger LihuaEmilyP said...

And Jess, heck yes I would read it.

At 18:57 Blogger Jane said...

Janet, yes that was me with the vitreous problem. I'll email you.

Jess - love all time travel!!!

How are those sore muscles?

At 20:53 Blogger gaypet said...

I could eat a cake right now. A full cake. All by myself. I think I will not. How was everyone else's day?

At 21:04 Blogger FabulousLorraine said...

Got some cool storms going on! Bring it ON!!!

It's pretty cool cloud-wise but nothing too dramatic I am thinking.

At 21:11 Blogger gaypet said...

We have some flashes in the distance and there will be a short burst of fun in a bit. No hail. Please, just not hail!

I hope you get a good light show. :)

At 21:12 Blogger gaypet said...

Did I say distance. Ya, wrong about that.

At 22:31 Blogger Na said...

gayle, i ate a whole candy bar this evening, but only remember eating the first half.

At 22:32 Blogger Dragonsally said...

Would someone like to come and grab the bag of marshmallows I bought? Can't. Stop. Eating. Them.

At 22:33 Blogger Na said...

sal, those are marvelous fun to watch melt and burn! gotta fire place? :D

At 22:35 Blogger Dragonsally said...

I wish Na, nothing like nice black on the outside and melting on the inside marshmallows...

At 22:50 Blogger Cecily said...

Na, Modern dance is/was my favorite. I never had the mirror problem when I was dancing, quite the opposite actually. ;-)

Sally, put the marshmallows in the freezer. They are quite yummy frozen and you can't eat them as fast!

At 22:51 Blogger Dragonsally said...

Oh....cecily what a great idea! Thank you

At 23:06 Blogger gaypet said...

I must confess that the only reason I did not eat an entire cake tonight is that I am too tired to make one!

Na, I SO understand. I too often eat without really even being there. My mouth and brain conspire against me. They do!

Sally, I actually do not go to the one coop that carries veg marshmallows just for this reason.

Cecily, great tip. I often freeze candy-like items. The extra effort keeps me from binge eating around Samhain when bags of candy are stupid cheep.

At 23:17 Blogger Cecily said...

You know I hadn't really thought of doing it with *other* candy. Now I'm going to start banishing candy to the freezer to stop me from eating it.

At 23:29 Blogger gaypet said...

^_^

It's even better if I keep myself from buying it. But freezing it is a step in the right direction.

At 02:20 Blogger Precision Grace said...

I'm up stupid early waiting for autoglass repair people to come and fix my windscreen. it chipped.

I don't eat candy but I did recently buy a bag of frozen blueberries which I couldn't stop eating - frozen as they were - straight out of freezer. (with very purple zombie after effects). I'm a wrong 'un.

Oh yeah, Jess - write it!!!

My mum bought me this children's book couple of years ago (yeah, don't tell her I'm grown up) and I've read it couple of times, it's called The Girl Who Slipped Through Time. And I always think how they don't write enough books about girls and temporal distortions (those are my favourite, obviously).

At 07:04 Blogger LihuaEmilyP said...

A minority of Doctor Who fans were bitching about how, for the fifth series, the Doctor should have been either black or female ...

Just speaking of feminine time travel.

I don't like candy. But I LOVE chocolate, and ice cream. I've never had a sweet tooth but am aware of a vague chocoholism.

At 08:55 Anonymous Wendy Withers said...

I am sleepy and up early because today I'm working two jobs! I'm going to be either working or en route to a job from 11:30 a.m. until around 10:00 p.m.

Also, yesterday one of my coworkers made me a hot chocolate. ^.^ When I thanked him for it, he mumbled about how it's free for us in the break room, but still!

Also, yesterday, I learned how to be the Princess of No. The office supply company I work for has a policy that specifically prohibits the store from donating to religious organizations, and three different churches came in and asked for donations, which I was told happens a lot during the back-to-school season.

At 09:52 Blogger FabulousLorraine said...

Frozen marshmallows? Y'all are strange...

Going to kick some horse BUTT, he's got some attitude he does. We'll get over THAT in short order.

At 10:14 Blogger Cecily said...

If you like marshmallows and haven't tried them frozen, you have to! If you don't like marshmallows, you probably won't like them any better that way.

At 10:32 Anonymous Wendy Withers said...

Maybe if they were marshmallows entirely made out of chocolate...

At 10:39 Blogger Cecily said...

They have those...*knocks evil devil person off her shoulder*

At 11:08 Blogger LihuaEmilyP said...

When I was a twelve-year-old at camp for children with diabetes, they made us eat frozen (all over) graham cracker-marshmallow-chocolate pudding sandwiches. -.-

At 11:17 Blogger dabbler said...

Jess... I'd read it...just what you've written so far has intrigued me. And you, too, it sounds like! Consider it as emerging from the fog.

Not even a little fit, and HATE to be told what to do, so classes aren't my answer. But, I just got my first ever iPod (free with DDs going off to school computer) and think I'll take FabLo's long ago advice about walking with a friend...with earphones.

Will report back. It does help to say it in print.

At 18:54 Blogger Na said...

Jess, i've not read mroe, but like the idea muchly. i'd echo the sentiment to say go for it. and isn't what you do with an idea more important than what the idea might sound like in synopsis?

Lihua, hope your mum is doing well.

At 18:56 Blogger Na said...

mroe = more

but now i'm thinking mroe mroe mroe yer baot, genlty ownd teh straem...

brain bzzzzt

At 19:03 Blogger Jess said...

Mrerliy mrery mrerly mrerrilliy, file is butt a dram?

I've been writing this thing for a while. It's one of those things that I sort of want to talk out with someone, but also kind of don't. You know how it is.

At 19:15 Blogger Na said...

:D

and aye.

and oh my! teh monsters and ter da are out and about for an hour or so. i've just decided to celebrate this rare occurrence by signing off the 'puter and indulging in a hot bath.

At 19:26 Blogger One Sock Short said...

"Interesting" day. Phoebe seemed unwell last night so I called the vet first thing this morning, then took her to see them. I feared excess hair blockage, which she had a year or so ago. But since she ate a bit this morning and is using her littler box normally, she was judged to be okay. If either of those things change, I'll have to take her in again though. Mostly, I think she's wiped out by the heat, which is supposed to break tomorrow.

Managed to go to work in the afternoon, post-vet. Then went to opening night of our annual book fair. Came away with a great haul (http://twitpic.com/29k7uh) for cheap.

Poor bee-stung Lola. That looks really painful.

At 19:39 Blogger Precision Grace said...

Jess - talk to meeeee! (I'm dying to know about this thing) And I could talk to you about my long-in-the-writing story about existence challenged girl (trading of secrets and all that)

OSS - so sorry to hear about Pheobe - hope she is all right.

I feel so bad for poor Lola. Hope meds kick in soon. Reminds me of me that time I went on a holiday to Scotland in May. One word. Midges.
I came back looking like elephant man - couldn't recognise myself in the mirror, my face was that disfigured.

At 20:17 Blogger LihuaEmilyP said...

Fods Jess, you can talk to me too. I know what that's like and I'd love to listen to your thoughts.

Na, thanks a lot, my mom isn't bad. She says she feels "poisoned" from the meds but I think she'll be okay soon. I'm not sure how things are going to go. This is totally treatable (albeit painful) and the meds are supposed to be like ten times worse. We're like, "Should we be happy? Or should we be wary? Both?"

At 20:28 Blogger Jess said...

Ah, that's so nice of both of you to offer. :) I think what I really need to do is just stop whining and write for a while, though. Half the problem is that I keep stopping myself. So: onward. I'm just in one of my whinging phases.

At 20:32 Blogger Phiala said...

I'm feeling rather whiny myself, Jess. Let's just sit in the corner and drink wine for a while.

At 20:32 Blogger Phiala said...

I'm feeling rather whiny myself, Jess. Let's just sit in the corner and drink wine for a while.

At 20:48 Blogger Ms T said...

..coming into this conversation a bit late...

Sigh. Too knackered to think of anything as energetic as Zumba right now, or even going to The Runaways movie tonight (too late; too hard to catch a bus home; too patethetic!; sorry Sally), but I did walk to work this morning. This is less impressive than it sounds - the walk to work is downhill; the walk home is very, very uphill.

At 20:57 Blogger Ms T said...

Gah! You know it's time to go back to the gym when even small, flightless indigenous birds are hitting the treadmill: Piwi the Kiwi !

At 21:30 Blogger FabulousLorraine said...

New post is UP!

(My comment got too long. I am way to tired for thought.)

At 15:37 Blogger Jeanne said...

I'm so glad you posted that comment about not worrying what other people are thinking of the biggish girl in the gym. Seriously, most people are focused on their own bodies to bother with thinking about what other people look like. It is just a gym after all. People that are already perfectly in shape don't get that way or stay that way by not going to the gym anyhow.

And as an in shape, fairly athletic person, I can tell you that when I see another person with some extra pounds or size on them I usually think "Yay! That person is running." or "I wish I was running or working out right now." Good luck!

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