Trying something new

Onesnap

I've been told that muscle confusion is helpful and not to get stuck doing the same thing at the gym day after day after day.

I totally believe this to be true. 3 weeks ago I tried Zumba for the first time. It kicked my butt, and I nearly cried I was so proud of myself for trying something new. Now I've been 3 times and I *love* the teacher. I realized that everyone in the room is both men and women of all different sizes. People were comfortable in their own skin. At one point during the last class someone declared that it's the brave ones who are in the room, not just being chicken and watching from the outside.

When's the last time you tried something new? How did it go? Did you add it to your weekly fitness routine?

I also wanted to recommend a book to those of you that are afraid to try something new. It's called 'Poser: My Life in 23 Yoga Poses' and is a book about a young woman living in Seattle, working at home, and trying something new. In her case, it was yoga and her life was forever changed. Here's the link if you're interested in the book or reserving it at your local library:

http://amzn.com/0374236445

mursey

I used to only know how to run. Some new trainer in a gym I went to changed my life when he taught me how to get around a gym with weights and machines and also took me to a supermarket, showing which aisles were full of "crap" and giving me lessons on what to eat.

A few years ago I took a yoga class that was way above my level, but the teachers were awesome and made us believe you could do anything. That's when I learned I love headstands.

I took a Krav Maga conditioning class at a friend's gym once. That was ridiculous (I don't really want to be tortured at that pace for an hour on a regular basis) but it was. . interesting. ..

Onesnap

Mursey, I myself don't believe in torture at the gym. Glad to hear you found a trainer that you liked. Sounds more like a teacher than a trainer which is perfect!!

Packerfan23

I just tried my first Zumba class earlier this week...have been wanting to for a long time, but they did not offer it at the Y I go to. They just started offering it a couple of weeks ago and I finally was able to go...what fun! (Need to buy new shoes though...running shoes do not work! ) I really like it and can't wait to go again! When I first started back at the Y in January, I also tried Body Pump (Les Mills)...I am absolutely hooked on that class as well. I love my instructor and I have made so many new friends in class that I feel like I am missing out on a family function when I can't get to class!

I never thought that I would be able to take classes like this because I was so big and overweight...I thought I would need to work up to it and lose some weight and gain some flexibility before I could start...but I tried with the encouragement from my husband and the instructor. Now I have lost some weight and gained flexibility! I still have a long ways to go, but when I started I could not do lunges and the ab track was killer, and I was sore for days...now I can do lunges and the ab tracks are getting better! And the soreness...well it is still there, but now it is a good soreness, not an "I can't hardly move" soreness!

I am not sure about Zumba, but I know that my instructor changes up the releases in Body Pump every so often as each release does the "moves" in different succession and to keep it interesting. So, to answer your question...yes, I am adding Zumba to my weekly routine! :happy:

Onesnap

Amazing response Packerfan, thank you so much for chiming in!! That was my point regarding it does not matter your body type or where you are at in becoming a better You.

there was even a father and his two daughters in the class!

johnwhitent

With P90X I still get sore when going through it another time just from skipping a couple of weeks between cycles. I just started Supreme 90 last week as a switch up from P90X and it is kicking my tail. I am fit, but just switching up works different muscles or the same muscles in different ways. I also run (jog) and cycle and switch up routes which gives me differences in hills and such. I have two favorite trails that I run on and they challenge me in different ways. At 58 I put a high premium on working all the different parts of my body in a variety of ways. I can't hang with the hardcore runners, or cyclist, or weight lifting crowd; but I do them all and I hope and believe that variety will pay dividends for me as a age (ugh!)

Packerfan23

Thank you! I just accepted your friend request (thank you!!! :happy: ) and I have found that my size doesn't matter...when I was younger, and often the largest girl there, I was made to feel that I was "fat" even though for my height I was pretty much in the range I should be. Then as I gained weight with 2 kids and just life in general, I would see the ladies/guys in these classes and they were all thin and fit, so I felt I would not fit in just like when I was younger-never giving it a chance and so often giving up my workouts because they weren't fun to do alone.

I finally made up my mind that I had to do something for myself...my kids are both adults now and in college(although living at home with us yet!) and I knew for my health I needed to drop the extra weight. I was very nervous and scared (I was afraid I would be judged even at 44!) to take that first Body Pump class...but with my husband and the instructors encouragement, I went and found that no one judged me...in fact now I get so much encouragement from the people I have met that it makes me even more determined and then trying the Zumba class wasn't as scary...and yes, there was at least 1 guy in the class that I went to too as well as a couple of ladies who were probably in their 70's!

I have a long ways to go...about 130 pounds to my ultimate goal yet, but I am well on my way! And now that I am here, I know that I have more people who are on similar journeys that will be there to encourage me when I need it and inspire me to keep going and be motivated...

Thanks again Onesnap! I look forward to being friends!

Onesnap

Thanks John for chiming in!

Packerfan, you're welcome--me too!