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The instructor ended the class with a Dalhi Lama quote about giving your full attention to the task you are doing. Great way to start a Monday.
Monday night, after dinner, we had a PTO officer meeting to prepare for the big school PTO meeting that Thursday. The meeting lasted until 10:30 p.m., so it was a late night.
TUESDAY – CORE MOTION
I woke up on Tuesday morning really sore. I didn’t think I’d pushed myself that hard with yoga the day before, but my muscles thought differently. I had an early text from my friend saying she was keeping her daughter home sick, so our running was canceled. Wanting to continue the group exercise, I checked the schedule and found “Core Motion: a non-stop cardio workout using a medicine ball that emphasizes functional movement, fat-burning, and core strength.” This class was so hard, but also ended up being my favorite. You could use a 2 or 4 pound medicine ball (the size of a basketball). I chose the 4lb ball and was dying after 45 minutes of the hour-long class. There’s a lot of movements where you are pushing the ball above your head and you hold it the whole time. This class reminded me most of the workouts I did with my trainer when I was training for my contest. It incorporated the strength and cardio elements at the same time. 45 minutes in, I was looking for the door, but I stuck with it. I was a sweaty mess at the end.
WEDNESDAY – CUTTING EDGE (strength)
By Wednesday, I realized I was seeing some of the same people as in the first two classes. I guess they do these classes pretty frequently. This class was similar to Core Motion, except you use sets of free weights. The step bench was mostly for when we lay on it to do chest exercises- like flys with the weights. We did a lot of cardio too, like burps (yuck!) and abwork with planks and crunches. Again, the class was super challenging. The round discs are for lunges and my legs were on fire!!!
As the class started, the instructor asked if anyone was new to the class – I’m not sure if I was the only new one, but I was the only person who actually raised her hand. The instructor was nice enough to come over to me a couple of times and make sure I was doing okay. And, at the end, she came over again and asked what I thought. I told her how hard the class was, and it made me feel out of shape- but I liked it.” She said, “I was keeping an eye on you and you did great!”
Doing three days in a row of hard exercise had me feeling really good. It’s easier to eat healthier when you are working hard too.
Wednesday after school, my son had swimming lessons, then I came home and made dinner for my husband and had plans to have dinner with my girlfriends at one’s house with our friend visiting from out of town. After leaving my girlfriends house, I made a late-night trip to Target for last-minute PTO items. I think I made it to bed around midnight.
THURSDAY – CYCLE TECH
By Thursday morning, I was so tired. We had a classmate come over at 6:15am that we were bringing to school, so it was an extra early morning. I drank a cup of coffee to get me going (I usually wait until after my workout because I sometimes get too jittery/hungry if I drink it before). My husband agreed to do the cycling class with me since he didn’t have any appointments that morning and we knew the instructor. Thank God this class was only 45 minutes. I really felt like my legs might not make it through this class, but once you get going and the music was so good, I’m proud to say I gave it my all. It was 45 minutes, but that was all cycling. We were told to “make sure to stretch” when the class ended.
The instructor for a spin class makes all the difference, along with the music they play. This class rocked, and I remembered that the instructor is a Christian, because he threw in a Hillsong song. 🙂 He was so good, encouraging us the whole time, saying, “leave the anger behind, the stress behind” “own the moment, this is your exercise, don’t sit on your butt. . . ” And he kept changing the lights for different moods. He was good about telling us what RPM we should be at too. I’d never done a class where they had that kind of monitor on the bike before. My husband snapped this pic before class started- and it filled up (about 40 people?).
After class, I had to hurry and get to the school to do some work, then rush to my hair appointment, and back to the school with wet hair to finish up. I got home around 4pm, then had to be back at the school at 6pm for our 6:30 meeting. I ended up getting home around 8:30pm, got in bed with my son so I could hear all about his first day of karate and then stayed up late working on my Weekend Steals & Deals post for Honey We’re Home. I went to bed with it unfinished, and decided to skip Friday’s workout so I could finish my post and because my body was so physically exhausted and sore.
FRIDAY
Nada. Definitely needed this rest day. I felt bad to disappoint y’all! I had said that I was going to do five workouts and only did four, but I figured it’s better to be honest and give you the truth than to push myself past what I know is good for me. At lunch with some friends on Friday, my girlfriend gave me some “thank you” cookies and that was the first sweets I indulged in all week! And I kept my water consumption up too.
WHAT I LEARNED: These group classes are an awesome workout! They are not the aerobics classes of the 80s, but instead, are intense cardio/weight training exercises. The workouts are similar to what I did with my trainer (the Core Motion and Cutting Edge) and the group class helps keep you going when you feel like quitting. The other thing I liked about having an instructor was I didn’t have to think about what exercise to do next. They are there telling you what to do and the transitions from one exercise to the next happen quickly. I really wanted to leave without doing the whole hour on Tuesdays and Wednesdays classes, but being in the group made me stick with it. I felt slimmer and stronger after just four classes. I know that if you stick to intense group classes like these, you will get in shape!
Also, I did feel intimidated at first because these were my first classes and I didn’t know what I was doing or know anyone in the classes. That’s okay. I overheard other people saying they hadn’t done the classes before either. Sure, having a friend go with you might make you feel more comfortable, but it’s still YOUR workout. Make it yours!
I still want to do the Friday class I missed “Muscles” and plan to do that one this week. Also, tomorrow, my husband and I are doing “Cardio Kickbox”. I’m scared of this one because the class description is, “Moderate/fast paced. High energy workout of kickboxing drills and combinations incorporating heavy bags.” Um, never done anything like this before, but I bet it’s a great workout! It’s okay to be scared, but I don’t want to let fear paralyze me. Be courageous and strong. Conquer your fears. You will be rewarded.
I’m so glad I gave these classes a chance. I definitely felt a change in my body after just four classes (along with healthy eating)!
Are you convinced to try a group class now?
I've tried that many group classes before and I remember being amazed at how tired they made me feel! And then you come home and you're trying to take care of your house + family + other commitments = you completely wiped out! But they are a great workout! And so motivating with other people too! It just shows how strong you are that you kept going even when you were super tired 🙂
You are very inspiring to me!
I haven't done a group class since college. Totally intimidated. These classes sound pretty intense!
Megan, that is awesome that you did 4 days! Especially with it being your 1st week, I bet you were super sore so it's good to give your body time to recover. I really need to get back into cycling, but I have been thinking about taking up cardio kickboxing because it whipped me into crazy shape. Keep up the great work lady!
Linh
http://abeautifulrawr.com
Girlfriend, you did great to get in 4 with all you have on your plate. When mine were younger I was lucky to get in a couple days of walking!! But, truth be told…they were worth every bit of mom's extra pounds!!! My baby turned 21 today, and this past week I faced one of my biggest fears in life. Life is short…while a great body is nice, it is not the end all be all!!
Nice blog.More informations.And I must say.good motivation and exercise is a key to thigh gap in a fast time
Megan, since you like so much the tuesday class, we can move our run on fridays! let me know. You are an inspiration. Maybe i'll start a gym membership too!
Loved reading this Megan. I use to be an Aerobic instructor and teach a variety of classes so it was interesting to read this and see how the clients are feeling. Plus It makes me feel normal knowing your days are just a busy as mine and that I'm not just a crazy mum running around all the time after 3 girls. I do agree with the time for ourselves with no electronics or kids running around. I try and do this in the car on the way to school pick up for my girls. I put on some calming music and relax in the car for that 5 to 10 minutes before pick up otherwise its run run run.