I joined the Party!!!

I had a whole big deep and meaningful post I meant to write tonight, but I've binned it til tomorrow to rave about Zumba!!

I have been dithering for a little while about trying out this Latin dance based exercise class, after seeing the DVD's advertised on TV and then learning that there are classes held on the Gold Coast. I had been kinda wanting to try it, but figured it was the sort of thing you needed a friend to go along with. I had been thinking of asking my Aunt if she wanted to come along with me, but hadn't got around to it.

Then tonight she rang me while I was making dinner and asked if I wanted to come to a class with her... in an hours time.

Immediately, my mind filled with excuses... I had gotten a yucky blister on my heel walking the dog this afternoon, it was one of the only three nights in the whole week that my husband is home, GG was in a hell of a mood.. blah, blah, blah. STOP!! I heard all these excuses run through my head and I thought, "Stoppit!!! Just stop making excuses and Lose It Bitch!". So I said, "Yes".

I quickly finished dinner, threw plates in front of everyone, chucked on my gym gear and helped hubby bath a tired and clingy GG, who was not happy about her night's plans suddenly changing. Kind of understandable, she had been at kindy all day, only just get to see me, and I was flitting off again. But she took it pretty well when I told her she would get to hang out with Daddy, and waved me goodbye happily.

The class was held at a local school hall just a few minutes away, and it seemed like every woman aged 12-60 has gotten on the Zumba train. There we were, every age and shape (and, it later turned out, dancing ability). There was a bit of a buzz in the room, and some really infectious music playing.

Then the instructor jumped up on the stage. Now this lass was not a lithe little dancer type... she was a large girl with a belly built for belly-dancing, big curves and wobbly bits. Wow. This initially led me to believe I shouldn't have much trouble doing the class, despite all the warnings I had heard that it is the most intense cardio you'll ever do. I mean, tihs girl was bigger than me, I should be okay, right? I couldn't have been more wrong - this girl must be the fittest person alive!!! She had just finished a class a half an hour ago, and was back for more!! And let me tell you, I have NEVER sweated so much or had so much fun doing it!!!

She led us through a couple of basic moves and then cranked the music and off we went. I got some of the moves easily, notsomuch with others, but the energy in the room was fun, have-a-go, doesn't matter if you haven't got all the moves, just DON'T STOP MOVING BABY!!! There was lots of booty-shaking (with obilgatory whooping by the more seasoned Zumba-ers!!).

The music was so infectious, that every time I would grab a break for a drink of water or a quiet little heart attack, the music would lure me back on the floor - think Jai Ho, Push It and my favourite, Gasolina.

All up, I have never worked so hard, never sweated so much in public and am totally hooked! It didn't quite live up to the "party atmosphere" our instructor promised, what with the brightly lit school hall venue and distinct lack of margaritas, but it was fun, loud, girly and a bit like having a night out dancing, only there's no alcohol to dull your sense of how much work you're doing and there's no stopping to pash random cute boys (or was that just my clubbing days??).

Now, you'll have to excuse me... I need to go work on my Beyonce-esque booty-shaking skills...

New Kid on the Blocks

I have mentioned before how it seems every time I join a group, be it an exercise class, book group or Scientology church (kidding!), I'm clearly the only person who isn't a long-standing member. It's a gift, I know.

With a few lovely exceptions, this has usually been A Bad Thing. An exlusive, alienating, dis-heartening thing that makes my jaw ache from all the gnashing and teeth clenching.

So today, I rocked up to a new gym I've found near work for a Body Pump class. They do casual visits so I can go and get the motivation and intensity I love from a class, without having to hand over my grocery money every week. I was quite psyched about starting this new class, so much so that I forgot about my weird genetic quirk that means I will always be the New Kid. Until, that is, I arrived 5 minutes late to class, finding the room jam-packed with hard-bodied ladies all moving in perfect unison. Shit!

First, I realised I was the pudgy-est girl in the room. Always fun. Then, I realised I would have to sidle my way past about 10 people to collect the weight bar, hand weights and step bench I would need.

Then, a miracle occured! The instructor noticed me dithering in the back corner, and gave me a friendly hello, then asked, "Can we set her up girls?". Two or three of the ladies proceeded to break routine, fetch the piece of equipment nearest them and bring it over to me. One even set my step bench up for me while I grabbed a bar. They smiled at me and waved off my delighted thank you. I just about fainted from shock!

Then, throughout the workout, the instructor would check in quickly to make sure I was familiar with the moves. Luckily I was a regular Pumper back in my 20's, and it all came back to me, so I didn't disgrace myself. Actually, I kept pace and did the whole class! Of course, now I am currently typing with my nose, as all my other muscles hurt to even think about.

I don't know if it the difference between this experience and 99% of the other experiences I've had with gyms and exercise groups is just luck, but I do know that this class and my Wednesday group (remember, the Council-run Fitness Group) are of the non-trendy, don't advertise on TV or sell their own branded merchandise gym varieties, and they are both on the Gold Coast, my hometown and pretty well-known for being laid-back and friendly. Any which way, I'll take it!

Loving myself sick right now!

Well, I’m a happy little camper tonight. Apart from the small part of me that’s waiting for the other shoe to drop. Or explode. Pride goeth before a fall and all that. It’s in my DNA that when everything is going swimmingly, there’s a part of me looking nervously over my shoulder, waiting for something to come slap the happy right off me.

I’m proud to report that it took a whole 4 minutes of standing outside GG’s door tonight for her to go to sleep. No histrionics, no screaming, no wailing (from either of us!), just a bit of low-level whinging (default setting for 2 year olds anyway right?). I am now waiting with baited breath to see how the rest of the night pans out. Last night was ok, a battle to get her to go to sleep, but standing outside the door seems to be the trick, she woke up twice during the night, but settled well using this way.

The other thing I’m SUPER proud of is that I survived Heartbreak Hill.

I joined a fitness group through the Council’s Active & Healthy Program (yes, the newbie yet again!), and today was my first day. It involves an hour of charging around a park, bursts of strength & balance work and a massive freakin hill, all while being cajoled and encouraged by a man far too perky for 6am. Or ever.

Being Day 1, my goal when I arrived was to just keep up with the herd. Then Heartbreak Hill was explained to me. I was given the choice to try and see how I went, or walk laps of the park at the bottom until the conquering heroes came back down. No freakin way was I lapping it with the oldies. My new goal was get my fat ass up that hill. And I did!!! Granted, I could barely breathe by the time I stood victorious at the top, but by God I loved the view, seasoned with my sense of achievement. You'll also be pleased to learn that I did NOT, despite strong temptation, trip up the skinny blonde goddess wo kept lapping me.

Remind me of that view when I can't walk tomorrow, please.

Also, on the way home from said personal achievement, I was thinking about this, and also GG and the new night-time routine I’m trying to do, when I saw a bird, flying along in front of my car, flirting with the wind current and just generally looking free and happy.

Then it occurred to me that it was white. .. sort of pigeon-y... oh my ever-loving God! It’s a dove!!!

Seriously, a real live dove!! Could it be my own little messenger of Peace, sent to tell me I’m onto a winner. Yes or no, I beamed the whole rest of the way home.