Cardio Inter-evil

Tonight was my first venture into a group exercise class. Yes, yes... I never took part in jazzercise as a teen... tried to play sick for gym class... and usually was too embarrassed to even GO to the gym let alone try a group exercise class.

However, I am now much more unabashed about such things, and since I'm paying a pretty penny each month for a fancy gym membership, I might as well take advantage of the free stuff! Thankfully I have a gracious friend embarking with me to this class, which i highly recommend.

We used multiple kinds of "exercise equipment" aka: tools of torture. After 25 minutes of fast paced, near grueling movements, we used the body bar... It's big heavy stick. We had to lift it over our head a bunch of times, then some more, but m o r e s l o w l y... Might have been good of me to note the weight before I grabbed one up... I had a 15 pounder, and later read that beginners should start with 5-8 pounders. No biggie, I don't like arm flab, and we didn't do the exercise very long. In fact, it was a welcome departure from the first 25 minutes of fast and furious leg and arm movements.

With hardly a pause to wipe of the sweat, we did some lunges with a body band... try it. Dare you. Side stepping with what looked like a giant thick rubberband got us to about minute 45, and I was really feeling it. It was pretty intense, and i was tired of moving my flabby arms around. So tired in fact, that I was excited to lay down and do crunches!

I can already feel the soreness coming, but all that said, it was a good class. Right when I was about to die, we switched it up to a toning segment, and the hour went by quickly. I'm definitely going again - it was a great balance of cardio and toning all in one. She kept going back to this "grapevine" move... adding more to it each time... I totally didn't get the hang of it with my tired legs and arms, but maybe next Tuesday.

I came home and scarfed down a huge bowl of hearty split pea soup and a huge glass of lemon water. I will sleep like a little babs baby tonight. Maybe I'll get addicted to exercise class?