I Zumba ....

My cousin Jen, has told me that she went to a Zumba class. What is Zumba? I laugh at her and tell her I want to see her wear the costume when she Zumbas. I think of the National Geographic shows of African dance. Zumba has not made it to Lebanon I tell her...

...until now.

Today at 9 AM I went to Zumba. The class was small. The leader Zumba girl was small, young and cute. I know her from a restaurant she works at in out town. This was her 3 time to lead. I like her. She is a sweet gal.

I set my Polar Watch, and say to her, 'let's see how high the heart rate jumps.'

I love dance. I have always loved dance. My fat fanny, butt and gut does not look great dancing, but I love it. So I thought I would love Zumba.

After an hour, I did not burn what I normally burn in a cario class with the Cardio Queen Melissa. I did not have the heart rate jump I have with Melissa. No intensity. I did burn 489 calories, and it was different. and I liked it. But I know I would have liked it much better if it was with more energy, louder music, more in the class, and with my cardio queen.

I took Faithe to her swimming training today. I did not swim with her, but her stroke form is so improving. You go, you little Bennett chic!

I close this week with almost 6 hours of intense workout ... Sunday is rest day!

2 a day .. week 10

I am feeling so much stronger that I ask Tim, my trainer-dude, if I can do some two a day work outs. His only hesitation is that I make it a 'want-to' work out.. not a mental .. 'have-to' work out.

So Tuesday, after I work out with Tim, I swim with Faithe. Her swimming is sooo improving. She is doing great. I swim for 35 minutes straight. I do not wear my Polar Watch, so I can not gauge work out. I hit the car .. tired and wet ...

Wednesdays are normally leg days. 612 calorie day. So there was no two-a-day. When the legs are so tired, I leave them to rest. Tim tells me to have recovery days.

But today, with Melissa, my work out was 614 calories and I was tired. We have moved our Saturdays to Fridays. So Thur and Sat are my day alone to work out. It has worked well for both of us. I am keeping up, but the heart rate is still HIGH and LONG.... I know I am getting stronger!

Saturday morning Tim tells me there is a Zumba class at another gym in town. I should try it. I have been telling them I want a class that dances. I like to dance. the music in my kick boxing class keeps me in rhythm.

So tomorrow I Zumba!

I run .. sort of!

This week was work out city! Between my 2 cardio killer days with Melissa (465 calories and 642 calories) and my 2 strength train weight days with Tim, my trainer-dude, who had me a 515 calories and 451 calories ... and I still ran (jog) on Saturday, after a 3 mile walk on Thursday.

For the first time ... I try the jog thing ...

Tim stated that I should run at Harke Park. A beautiful park that Mr. Harke built and donated to Lebanon. It has a 1/2 mile asphalt track and play area for children.

So Saturday, before I go and meet some friends for dinner, I hit the park. Scared? yes. Manly I was scared of facing my weakness again and again. So I walk to the first bench. Jog to the second bench. Walk to the third bench and Jog to the fourth bench. One mile down. One more to go. This time I run farther than 1/4 at a time ... Still feel weak. Still can not believe I can not run one mile. But, I am not quitting ... ( and I did not sit on any bench!) then I hit my favorite coffee place .. not for a 400+ coffee, but for a whey protein smoothie with strawberries and skim milk, from the cutest little coffee gal ( my 18 year old daughter best friend) and met my friends.

Week 9 / 2992 calories

This week and these workouts were so good this week! Focus has been intense.

I kick box with the class, 465 calories in 45 minutes. I am keeping up .. except for abs!

I train with Tim on Tuesday, 451 calories...weight train arms and chest...

Wednesday, I wake up to a beep on my cell phone. I have a text from my 'Millian'. remember, I call my Melissa Cole Mack, Millian because Melissa + Jillian = 'Millian' ...

Her texts: what time do you work out today?

My Text: I work out with Tim at 8 ...

Her Text: Surprise..... you work out with me instead .. is that ok?

My text: Sure!

I put the phone down and look at my man.... "I have to mentally prepare to work out with Melissa. She kills me. I was not planning NOT to breathe today."

I love my Melissa time. Love it. But I know I can not breathe the whole time I work out with her. She is bouncy. She is energy. She is TIGGER from Pooh Bear. She reaches my 187 heart rate and I can not breathe there.

I pop in at 8. She takes me outside .. we sprint. we sprint again. we run backwards. forewards. sideways. sprint. again. I can not breathe. We come in and punch, punch, punch! "Don't you just love this," she asks? I do not answer. I can not answer. I can not breathe. We go back outside and spring more. 642 Calories later ... I leave ready for bed! and it is only 9 AM. I still have a whole day of work in front of me.

Grab the protein shake out the door and think ... note to self: should have not answered the text. Of course, I do not mean that. But wow, she works me OUT!

1750 Calories

My oldest turned 18 yesterday. My father-in-law had colon cancer surgery yesterday.

My emotions are all over the chart. Roller Coaster ride. Did not mean to, but I took the weekend off from training. I thought I could fit it in. Thought I would get up earlier, or after the hospital visit, or before birthday ring shopping with Lindsey. But nope. Heavy heart made for tired body.

My watch says I burned 1750 calories this week in my 4 days of working out. I skipped my 'on-your-own' days due to family stuff.

I have learned that working out, walking, and training, helps me so much with clarity in my mind. I have learned that even though there are days, I do not want to be out of breath, sweaty, and pushed, that if I will do it, my mind is clearer to respond as I need to. I think better. I am not fogged as before.

So even though this past weekend had me up and down and all around. I have not been that full of emotion in such a long while, I was still focused and stronger than before... and I did not turn to food. I turned to Jesus. YEAH!

I will love Him with all my strength. That day is coming! (see verse Deut 6:5)

I also am learning, that while this consumes me still, I am learning to make it a life style.

There will always be days, weeks, circumstances that press, push, and pull me. Always. I can not stop because ... God's strength will strengthen me, to gain my strength and be able to stand.

He is good. His mercy endures forever.

My father-in-law has a road ahead. But there is a light, a hope. My sweet, sweet, 18 year old, has transitioned to adulthood. There is a light. a hope. I am old enough to have an adult daughter. tears fall... love swells .. I will buy her a ring tomorrow to celebrate. She wants a sapphire with diamonds.

'Lets start to RUN'

I am down 5 pounds ... week 8. Shirts are so much looser. Jeans not so much. One back roll gone!

So while working out with Tim and all his crazy, 'Tim-Designed-Exercises', he says to me, "What do you think about running a 5K?"

HUH? Are you talking to me? Still fat girl here! Remember me? Laurie Bennett? The girl who crashed 14 days ago? (see previous post)

I think what I like most about Tim, among many things, is that he knows what he is doing. He knows weakness and knows strength. He is a fence builder I tell him. He knows what boundaries to have and how to operate within them. He is good at his job. He knows how to pace me. He also is a superb example. He practices what he is teaching. He knows when to spark me.

We talk about it the whole workout. I left, he adjusts the weight and he talks. We change what I am doing in my 'alone' workout days. One day I will walk for fat-burning day. Walking a long way and get in the stage where my watch does not beep. 110-137 heart rate range.

The other 'laurie trains alone' day, I will interval train day. Walk a minute, run a minute. and build up.

I am game. He has known how to pace me so far. Let's try.

376 calories on arm/chest day.. 459 calories on leg weight day.

burning..burning..burning..keep that fat a burning...

I can not turn the beeping off!

Tonight was kick boxing with my new Polar F6 watch. I was excited to see what it does!

Within 10 minutes of kickin away ... my watch beeps and beeps .. I can not and do not know how to turn it off. So, there I am with 20 or so women beeping and beeping. Melissa, even says outloud, "we have a watch beeping..."

35 minutes my watch beeps! for everyone to hear! Now, I know everyone can SEE how overweight I am... but for them to have to HEAR how out of shape I am in too.... embarrassing!

Directly after class, she teaches me how to turn off the alarm!

47 minutes . 430 calories! 35% fat! LOVE this watch! encourages me to go go go.

The only bad part of this watch is now I have my trainers on my wrist! at all times! At the end of the week the watch will tell them if I worked out on my 2 days of training by myself. and how long and how intense.

Could you imagine carrying Bob and Jillian with you 24/7 ????