The Old College Try

I haven't been able to Zumba in over a week...it sucks. I can't believe I'm saying that as exercising isn't usually something I'd be jumping up and down to do. However, I really do enjoy my Zumba time and am missing it very much. Last Thursday's class had to be cancelled because of the weather which really disappointed me since it was my last full week before the basketball games started. Monday I should've been able to go but lack of funds kept me home instead. I found it difficult to bite my tongue and not fuss at Donnie because here I am trying to get healthier and his need for McDonalds and pop that's $3 for a 6 pack could've been the difference between my working out and my staying home. Still, I was nice and didn't say anything. Last night we had basketball games at 6:30 and 7:30. Two plus hours on the bleachers made me want to crawl into bed and just sleep...forget everything else.

Knowing I was going to run into many more nights like last night, I insisted on downloading some of the Zumba songs I know off of iTunes. It seems very reasonable for me to use my iPod to help me get in shape. So, I downloaded a few of the songs I remember the steps to and kept telling myself that sooner or later I'd use them to work out. I was even proud of myself for using Hunter's practice time to do some walking on Tuesday. Yet, as of this morning, I had not used those songs.

When I got into the daycare this morning, I saw the laptop sitting out. I'd left it on the table last night in my hurry to get to the doctor's office, home to pick up the kids and back out to drop everyone off at the games while I took my CPR class (I told you I'm always running). So, I thought, why not work out before the kids got here? After all, my body won't know what it's doing until it's too late. To a degree this was true, I got through two of the three songs before I started thinking it might not have been such a good idea after all. Even so, I made it through the songs without giving in to my urge to just go back to sleep. What's more, I wasn't freezing when I was done! Hopefully, I can keep this up every morning. Even if it's just a few songs, something has to be better than nothing.

Come Monday, there are no basketball games and I should be able to go right on to Zumba. That is of course if the weather doesn't get in the way. I'm so over the snow at this point. Either way, I can still do some working out, I've got the music!!

Let The Games Begin

I recently joined a group in my community that does the Zumba workouts twice a week. Though friends have been trying to get me to join for months, it always seemed I had something else I had to do or somewhere else I had to be. Finally, I gave in and joined. A huge part of this was seeing pictures of myself from my sister's wedding...seriously, they made me cry. Then there's the fact that while looking for an outfit to wear for Christmas I had the overwhelming urge to look in the maternity section because I knew the clothes would fit and not be uncomfortable. Let's face it, my child is almost 10 years old and I'm STILL carrying the baby weight. UGH!

Before I got pregnant, I had slimmed down to a size 8. I know to a lot of people that doesn't seem very small. However, to someone like me, who has always had trouble with her weight, 8 was a fantastic size. Yet, along came baby, belly and all. Through the years I've tried many means of losing weight. I've dieted, walked everywhere, used workout videos and equipment, but nothing lasted very long. Let's face it, as a single mom, the time to workout is almost impossible to find. When I'm not working, I'm going from place to place with Richie.

This time however, this time is going to be different...I hope. I was so excited to join the Zumba class and even signed up for their biggest loser contest. Despite some fussing, I've managed to revamp our menu at home so I don't have to eat a seperate meal to ensure I'm eating well. Things were looking up and I was determined. Then came the basketball schedule. With three boys now, we have games sometimes 5 days a week. I freaked out...how am I supposed to keep exercising if I can't make it to classes?

Then, as I sat here at the daycare today, it dawned on me. I know most of the steps to the Zumba dances now. There's nothing that says I can't download the songs and work in some Zumba time here and there. I may not be able to devote an hour straight to it regularly, but I can get some exercise in here and there. As of now, I can make one class a week which will have to be my weigh in days and my once a week me time. Still, I am determined this time to lose the weight, even if it means working out in my office during nap time.

Does anyone have any ideas for workout DVD's or download-able videos I can use?