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Life Lately on the Fitness Front

written by Parita 2 Comments

I used to blog regularly and in tons of detail about my workouts.  Everything from about 2011 to 2016 is on MIS.  Jillian Michaels, half marathon training, T25, Tough Mudder training, Barre3.  It’s all on MIS!

I haven’t talked much about my fitness endeavors as of late because they don’t feel all that monumental.  I’m honestly just trying hard to listen to my body and work out appropriately when I can.  There’s not much more to it.  The one thing that has changed are my workouts themselves. 

Let me back up…

In March, I joined the gym across the street from where we lived.  Not because I was itching to, but because Vishnu realized that despite his best efforts, he wasn’t going to be able to go as much as he wanted/needed to.  We didn’t want to pay the cancellation fee, so we essentially worked with the gym to transfer his membership over to me.

As you guys know, I’m a home workout kind of person.  I absolutely don’t mind doing Barre3 online at home or using YouTube videos or even going to our apartment gym.  It’s what I’ve been doing for years.  But when Vishnu raved about the group fitness classes at this gym, I said, “Why not?!”

Guess what…

Vishnu was right!  I LOVE the classes and the instructors.  And lucky for me, there are quite a few good ones that fall around my lunchtime, making it extra convenient on the days I work from home.

In terms of the workouts themselves, I take a class called TAP, a Barre Cardio class, and a Cycling class.

TAP
TAP stands for Total Athletic Performance.  It’s kind of like a low-key version of CrossFit from what I gather.  The gym offers two versions – a conditioning class and a strength class.  Depending on the week, I’ll take one or both.  The conditioning one is more cardio – running, rowing, ropes, ball slams, body weight exercises, kettle ball swings, etc.  Lots of aerobic stuff mixed with a bit of strength.  The strength class is the opposite.  Lots of strength moves with barbells, hand weights, kettle balls, etc. and very little cardio.  Both great options!  Both leave me drenched in sweat at the end. 

Barre Cardio
The Barre Cardio class is exactly what it sounds like.  Barre with a mix of cardio in the form of jump squats and just faster moves to get your heart rate up.

Cycling
The Cycling class is a typical gym cycling class, but I love the instructor so that’s why I try to go once a week.  She mixes in a little bit of arm work too, which I love.  It’s no Soul Cycle, but it’s a good workout.

Other than that, I still do Barre3 Online at home, especially on the weekends.  I’ve done BBG on days where I couldn’t make it to the gym.  And I still very much love my treadmill walks and run/walks. 

So with that being said, here’s what a typical week of workouts looks like for me.

Sunday – usually a rest day, but if I’m engaging in anything truly active, it’s usually a treadmill walk
Monday – TAP (conditioning)
Tuesday – If I’m working from home, I’ll head down to our apartment gym for a treadmill run/walk.  If I’m in the office, then my walk to and from work counts as my workout!
Wednesday – TAP (conditioning)
Thursday – TAP (strength).  If I’m in the office, then my walk to and from work counts as my workout!
Friday – Barre Cardio
Saturday – Cycling

Like I said, this is a typical week but it’s not an exact science.  A lot depends on when I’m in the office vs. at home and how I’m physically feeling.  The TAP classes are really challenging and I don’t push myself to do two in a row unless I really feel like I can handle it. 

I’m also a huge believer in everyday activity serving as exercise, so on those days where I don’t make it to the gym, I just try to stay off my butt as much as possible.  Having a very active toddler definitely helps!

And that’s where I’m currently at.  Trying to challenge myself a bit more with the classes, but also listening to my body and getting rest when I need it.  Not rocket science, but thought I would share since I’m in a different season of life. 

Written on July 17, 2019 Related:Fitness, motherhood

The Many Benefits of Z-Z-Z-Zumba!!!

written by Parita 6 Comments

The other day I was researching gyms near my new apartment in Florida and got really excited!  It’s the small things. Smile  See, there was nothing, and I mean nothing, near my old apartment.  Never mind gyms, there were no restaurants or grocery stores within 5-7 miles.

Anyways, I think I found the perfect gym for me, AND it’s only one mile from my new apartment.  Woo hoo!  Again, it’s the small things. 

Not only do the facilities look really nice and modern, but the group class schedule has a lot of fun and challenging classes listed.  I took full advantage of group classes in undergrad and can’t wait to do it again. 

One of the many classes offered is Zumba!  I’ve only ever been to two Zumba classes, but both times, I had a blast.  It’s a fun way to release stress, sweat a ton, and burn major calories.  And both times I went, the music alone made me want to keep going. 

I mean, look at these people having a blast!

ZUMBA1

Source

I found a great article in the Huffington Post today about the benefits of Zumba and got 10 times more excited about becoming a regular!   By the time you finish reading this post, you may be looking up local classes too. Smile

Here are a few of my takeaways…

  • Zumba burns major calories.  On average, you can expect to burn 400-900 calories in an hour.  I’ve actually met a few women who have lost a substantial amount of weight from Zumba.  It’s intense!
  • This is one class where the entire body gets toned.  I still remember feeling incredibly sore after my first time Zumba”ing.”  No part of the body is left unworked, and you may even discover muscles that you didn’t even know existed.
  • All ages are welcome.  This is one workout that doesn’t discriminate!  I would say the age range for the classes I attended was 16-65.
  • It never gets old and can be adapted for any fitness level.  YOU decide how hard to push and challenge yourself. 
  • Zumba will be the quickest hour in your day.  Just think of it as one big dance party!
  • You’re guaranteed to have fun and leave happy.  One study even showed that Zumba can improve your mood.  It’s infectious!

So, who’s with me!?  Let’s Z-Z-Z-Zumba!

Do you do the whole group fitness thing?  What’s your favorite class?

Written on November 4, 2011 Related:Workout

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