Zumba’d

Last month, my gym introduced Zumba. I didn’t know much about it and usually I dislike exercise that shows off how little rhythm I have; I can barely clap to a beat. During my first Zumba class, I was already behind, everyone else had done it at least once so I was expecting to be grossly embarrassed. And I was! But that’s ok.

Zumba is a danced based exercise class, it is like hip-hop and salsa got together and had a baby. It is a great exercise class, because it is follow the leader style and it disguises the work you are actually doing. The class doesn’t need previous skill, it rewards people for letting go and is just plain way too much fun! As the month progressed, I found myself registering for every Zumba class I could make it to. I had no idea how much I would end up loving Zumba.

There are a few things that make Zumba awesome;

• you MUST accept that you will look ridiculous
• you gotta put your hips into it
• the more you smile, the better you look
• when you don’t know the moves, just keep dancing
• the more you put in, the more you get out of it

And like I said before, gym class is where I get some of my best ideas. Well here’s another one. Wouldn’t it be great if when you are interviewing people to join your organization, that they have to take a Zumba class first! How many people are looking at my thinking I have lost it? No, seriously! I want to know that whoever is joining me can be put into an awkward situation, fumble through it, figure out their way and come out still laughing. Right now, my team has veto’d this idea, but be warned it may surface again 🙂

Inspire Yourself!

Jenn

30 x 30

This year, I turn 30. Eeeps!

There aren’t many things I thought I would have done before I was 30, I just had no idea what turning 30 would look like. I am not a big believer of setting milestones to ages, simply because I think you are basing your goals on a social standard, like you must get married by a certain age or have a baby by a certain age…I honestly think, things will come when they need to.

So in my 30th year, I am preparing for the next chapter and what that means to me. Usually birthdays come and go and I don’t really think much of the day, other than the benefit of getting to have a cupcake and see my friends and family.

This year, I have a goal. It is to lose 30 lbs by my 30th birthday.

I started working toward this goal on May 1st with 4 months to go. It has been just over 2 months, I have lost 3lbs which may sound disappointing, but I am even more inspired.

From the time I said my goal out loud, I have learned so much about what it means to have a goal and how to accomplish it. There are opposing thoughts as to whether you share a goal or keep it to yourself. I am a big mouth, so keeping it to myself didn’t really seem like an option.

There are 3 things I need to make this work; community, competition and confidence:

Community I have the best team coming along for the ride with me. My trainers are there as pillars of motivation, they know how to push me and when to compliment my efforts. I have a dedicated workout buddy. She is with me at the gym handing me the heavier weights, laughing and high-fiving our way through workouts and a constant through the progress. And of course, my hubby, he supports me the way he always does. Your community should lift you up.

Competition My trainers know that when they tell me they expect at least x number of push-ups or how to get more out of an exercise that they are going to get that effort from me. I am not trying to compare myself to others, but to compare myself to where I have come from and how I can get further. You will never be happy or successful by wishing others fail.

Confidence My strength is to keep going and have the confidence that the goal is not the success. I know that I am not the best at fitness, but I do know that my confidence to keep at it is a key to my motivation. Confidence is an invisible tool that only you can give yourself.

What goals are you working on? What keeps you inspired? 

Inspire Yourself!

Jenn

 

While At The Gym

About a year ago, I started going to the gym 3-4 times a week. This is the first time in my life that I have been dedicated to my body in a positive way rather than a negative way. Over the months, as my body changes and I become more aware of what I am capable of doing, I also noticed how the lessons in the gym carry over to lessons in life. The gym gives me time to not only focus on me, it gives me a chance to do some of my absolute best thinking. I have even suggested if I could brainstorm on the gym windows…sadly that idea didn’t grow legs; but truly I get some of my clearest moments while I am focusing on jumping jacks and lunges.

• know your strengths
• know how to balance
• quantity over quality
• be in competition with yourself
• remember to breath
• the work begins when you are uncomfortable
• have a challenge buddy
• make a commitment
• focus on yourself
• trust the larger process
• the hardest part is starting
• make it worth it

In life and gym, putting in the work is going to get you results.

Inspire Yourself!

Jenn