Body Pump and Zumba

So my running had been pretty crappy lately.  Ever since dealing with this hypertensive crap, I had to cut back on my running and now that my hypertension is controlled by meds, I tried to get back on my game.  I had been running 3.5-4 miles 4-5 days a week.  I felt pretty awesome.  I was also running a 11:30 mile which I was happy with.  NOW I run 2-3 miles 2-3 days week (WEAK) and sometimes care barely get through the 2 miles. Maybe it's the heat, maybe I've lost my groove, whichever it is, I feel sucky about it.  I decided to start some cross training.  Besides, even though running burn hella calories, it only really works my legs and my cardiovascular system.  I need to do upbody, back, core, etc.  I also need to get back into stretching and gain back some of my flexibility.  I'm taking this last month of my gym membership before I move to kick it up a notch.  I plan on doing 2-3 runs a week and 2-3 cross training activities a week. I also went back to my clean 60% raw diet.

Monday I did a body pump class.  I got kind of a laugh out of it actually.  Five years ago I would have shown up to the class too embarrassed to tell the instructor it was my first day. I would have blended it and tried to seem like I'm a not a noob. I would have picked heavier weights and no do any modifications so I didn't seem weak.  Trust me, there were 20 somes in there doing all those things. It was so obvious! HA. I walked in, told the instructor I was a body pump virgin.  Picked light weights, and did the modifications whenever I felt more comfortable doing it.  I knew if I went in there guns blazing and picked heavy weights and did full on squats and lunges with weights I would want to die the next day.  I got a great workout, worked every muscle group and feel moderately sore, but not too sore to workout today.  Body Pump was a success and I plan on doing it again next Monday.

Today I figured I'd try Zumba.  The hella popular dance/aerobic type class.  They brag that you'll be dripping with sweat and have burned 1,000 calories by the end of the 1 hour class.  When I say they, I mean on all the signs in the gym and around town advertising this phenomenon.  Well I have mixed feelings after my first class.  First off, it was first thing this morning.  So I was a bit sluggish, but I gave it my all.  I thought to myself halfway through the class, man this doesn't really feel like I"m working out, I mean I barely broke a sweat until about 40  minutes into the class.  I did feel like it helps you loosen up your hips, and there were some good arm exercises.  Mostly I felt like an awkward idiot shaking my booty a litty too awkwardly for my taste. I'm going to give it one more try next week.

Tomorrow I'm going to drop Mimi off and hit the early Yoga class.  Thursday and Saturday will be run days.  I'll be in Austin Saturday house hunting, but the hubs assured me there are great running trails there.  If I run while I"m there I won't feel so bad stuffing my face with good mexican either!

So there you have it, cross training plan week 1.  Way to the utilize my stupid gym membership that's sat unused for 3 months! Yikes!