I've gone to Zumba 3 times this week and feel like positive things are starting to happen. I'm having fun, feel comfortable in the class and feel energized when I'm done...although I'm usually a little sore! I have always said that exercise isn't what I need to focus on because losing weight it 80% what you eat and only 20% exercise, but this past week I have started to notice how much the two are interconnected- at least for me. Doing one inspires you to do the other, and it creates a cyclical motivation that continues to drive the right behavior. Because I'm working my butt off in Zumba, I want to come back home and eat something healthy. And because I'm eating healthy, I want to exercise to boost my metabolism and get the most bang for the buck. It has only been a week, but I can see how exercising and dieting could have a closer to 50/50 relationship in weight loss when you take into account motivation, emotion and self control.
Give it a shot. Add a little exercise to that diet that you've been trying to keep up, and see if it gives you that little boost of motivation that you needed to keep going.
Cheers,
Savannah
Sunday, September 8, 2013
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
Zumba: The least-shameful option
I took one small step (or a thousand very fast, only somewhat coordinated steps) towards the goal of improving my life yesterday. Like many other people that struggle with obesity, I not only dislike exercise in general, but I am generally embarrassed by the thought of exercising around of those healthier, sexier people.
Zumba seems to be an exception of sorts. I love dancing and love the music selection, so it feels a heck of a lot less like exercise than the more presumptuous classes like yoga or kettle bell where the attendees are flexible, over-accomplished and look better in spandex. Zumba on the other hand, is full of women of all shapes and sizes, some with more coordination than others. The most intimidating part of the class was the hot instructor who could shake her bottom better than Shakira. I spent the hour running out of energy quickly but enjoying the music and the moves. Of course I wasn't getting them all right on my first night, but I was certainly working up a sweat after the first 5 minutes, and that's what matters. I came home feeling accomplished by taking my first step, and looking forward to the next class. For all of you strugglers out there, give a Zumba class a shot!
Zumba seems to be an exception of sorts. I love dancing and love the music selection, so it feels a heck of a lot less like exercise than the more presumptuous classes like yoga or kettle bell where the attendees are flexible, over-accomplished and look better in spandex. Zumba on the other hand, is full of women of all shapes and sizes, some with more coordination than others. The most intimidating part of the class was the hot instructor who could shake her bottom better than Shakira. I spent the hour running out of energy quickly but enjoying the music and the moves. Of course I wasn't getting them all right on my first night, but I was certainly working up a sweat after the first 5 minutes, and that's what matters. I came home feeling accomplished by taking my first step, and looking forward to the next class. For all of you strugglers out there, give a Zumba class a shot!
Monday, September 2, 2013
Whispers
I spent the weekend with a couple of friends in Seattle, staying at Dan's house. Dan and his girlfriend, Kate, are some of the healthiest people I know. They are both beautiful, sexy people that workout regularly, eat a Paleo diet during the week, and enjoy whatever they want on the weekends. They live in a city condo that is absolutely gorgeous, travel extensively all year long, and both speak at least 3 languages. They are intimidating even for other skinny people, but I love them dearly and hanging around them! We met when we were all living overseas and have many common interests, and now I get to visit occasionally to catch up and relive old times.
This past weekend when I visited, we spent the evening bar-hopping with several of their friends. I always have to fight that "fat friend" status that I feel inside, and put a confident smile on my face when I go out with them. We came back exhausted, and I retired to bed pretty quickly, but Dan and his friends stayed up talking. I went in and out of sleep, but I could hear short pieces of their conversation that are seared into my memory. They were talking about my weight, how it's gotten worse, etc. I laid there in the bed wanting to cry...but I never really cry. Instead I just felt deeply out of place. Every person on this world struggles with something- a bad relationship with a family member, abuse, low self esteem, addiction, etc. etc. I have always hated how my "struggle" had to be so visible and available for conversation. My biggest flaw is also the first thing you see when you look at me. There's no hiding it, and let's face it- sometimes I just don't fit in with my surroundings. Hearing people talk about it when they thought I was fast asleep took me back to my time in high school when listening to the comments were a daily routine. This time, though, they weren't making fun of me, but they were just discussing my oh-so-visible handicap and sharing their mutual pity for me. Oh, how I hate pity! I wanted to curl up and disappear under the covers, going to sleep and not waking up until I had lost all of this weight. Laying there in bed, I vowed yet again to do something about it.
This past weekend when I visited, we spent the evening bar-hopping with several of their friends. I always have to fight that "fat friend" status that I feel inside, and put a confident smile on my face when I go out with them. We came back exhausted, and I retired to bed pretty quickly, but Dan and his friends stayed up talking. I went in and out of sleep, but I could hear short pieces of their conversation that are seared into my memory. They were talking about my weight, how it's gotten worse, etc. I laid there in the bed wanting to cry...but I never really cry. Instead I just felt deeply out of place. Every person on this world struggles with something- a bad relationship with a family member, abuse, low self esteem, addiction, etc. etc. I have always hated how my "struggle" had to be so visible and available for conversation. My biggest flaw is also the first thing you see when you look at me. There's no hiding it, and let's face it- sometimes I just don't fit in with my surroundings. Hearing people talk about it when they thought I was fast asleep took me back to my time in high school when listening to the comments were a daily routine. This time, though, they weren't making fun of me, but they were just discussing my oh-so-visible handicap and sharing their mutual pity for me. Oh, how I hate pity! I wanted to curl up and disappear under the covers, going to sleep and not waking up until I had lost all of this weight. Laying there in bed, I vowed yet again to do something about it.
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