Something I Thought I'd Never Say....

 I love exercise. Wait, that sounds kind of weird. I'm at the point where I 

don't completely hate exercise. Yes, that's much more realistic. After working

out a whopping two times in January and five times in February, I finished

March with eleven workouts. One short of the original twelve I planned for 

myself, only because one week I had two events planned back-to-back so

I skipped one (inserted dramatic gasp here). 


This is what I do, Zumba. The class is literally down the street in my neighborhood, 

I try to go three times a week; hoping to get in shape by the summer. April is my 

second month and I've realized a couple of things - 1. I have to 'skip a day' between

workouts. Doing them two days together is excellent; only if I want to feel like I'm 

dying. 2. I drink a half cup of coffee before starting to give myself an energy boost

during a time of day I'm usually pooped. 3. Icy Hot on the knees; just as a precaution.


I've tried working out at home, but it doesn't work for me. I get too distracted telling myself

to pause the tv to drink water or to, God forbid - sit down. When it comes to working out

at home, I tell myself these things to just give myself a short rest. While knowing full well

if I sit down, it's basically all over. At the class, the vibe is fun, the music is loud and I 

don't feel like I'm by myself. Watching for the steps keeps my mind occupied as well as 

modifying exercises, I know I can't do. 





Lunges and Planks - these two my instructor loves. A LOT. But I do standing crunches

or something else instead. Because I've told her I couldn't handle that, yet. Okay, before 

I told her that, I told her I was allergic to the floor. The floor and I are like the Hatfields 

and the McCoys; if something falls on my floor, nine times out of ten it's going to stay there.

I have a floor cushion that I've bought two years ago; I've yet to use it but I plan to practice

my planks on it. She's been teaching Zumba four years and practicing it eleven. It shows.

But the thing is: quitting is not an option. In my planner, I write the word 'Zumba' in vibrant

colors with motivational stickers that say 'Never Give Up' or 'Be Stronger Than Your Strongest

Excuse' and the like. It's about getting better, being better. I'm better now than I was in January 

and I'll be better in the future than I am right now. Ms. Ernestine Sheperd

is my inspiration; as luck would have it, I'm starting two years before she did.





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