The Venus Spectrum

As I am sure you have figured out by now, I am in no way an athlete.   I'm also not some slovenly, fat chick sitting on my couch all day, eating bonbons.  I'm overweight but I enjoy walking my dog, swimming, bike riding, etc.  Left to my own devices though, I would never choose to willingly participate in "sports."

When it comes to being athletic, I am more Venus of Willendorf than I am Venus Williams.  And I am okay with that...well, sorta.  I mean, I know I will never have a rock hard body like Venus Williams (mostly because I don't want to work quite as hard as she does).  However, I do need to be a lot fitter than my current state of fattitude. I'd be happy just to be somewhere in the middle of the "Venus Spectrum."  I'm thinking more like Venus de Milo...but with arms.

I am moving in the right direction though. I've been consistently working out, eating better, and losing weight...slowly but surely. I am plugging away on my C25k program, I do yoga several times a week, and I recently started trying to incorporate a few push-ups here and there (more on that last part at another time).   

As I've mentioned before, this journey is not just about weight loss, it's also about getting past my old hang-ups and becoming a better me.  Keeping that in mind, I think the better version of me should be more well-rounded in the working out/sports department.  Who knows, maybe I'm all "Sporty Spice" underneath of this fat-suit.  I've never tried to figure that out before.

Note to self: add Wannabe by the Spice Girls to my "Guilty Pleasures" playlist. 

I need to shake things up a bit - find out what would really be fun for me.  If I want to remain healthy long term, I need to find something that I will stick with long after I reach my goal weight.

Last week at the gym, while my friend and I were on the treadmill training for our Zombie 5k (read: sweating, crying, and gasping for air), we noticed what appeared to be a Zumba class in session on the first floor.  We briefly discussed how we should start taking Zumba classes again, how much fun it was, and the crazy amount of calories we could burn in a one-hour class. (Allegedly the average person burns roughly 500 calories (or more) per class.  Aw, yeah...)

It's been quite some time since we've been to a Zumba class. So, my friend/running mate/Zumba partner took charge!  A few days after our run, she stopped back in at the gym and checked out the class.  She said the teacher was great, and the routine was fun.  Perfect!   We start Saturday!  This is exactly what I needed to kick things up a notch!  I secretly would love to be all Sporty Spice....truth be told.

My friend and I used to love taking group exercise classes, and Zumba was always a favorite.  The funny thing is, I actually suck at Zumba.  I'm always grapevining left when the rest of the class is grapevining right.  I am facing the wrong direction most of the time, and I'm shaking my booty when I am supposed to be "popping" it.  It would be seriously embarrassing if it were not so comical.  

Either way, I always end up dancing my butt off to the Latin remixes of today's hits loudly pumping from the speakers...and that is what counts. Zumba is exhausting (even my eyelids sweat, I swear!), but spirits are always high. Every single person is having fun and getting in some great cardio at the same time.  Total win/win!  I may not be playing a sport, but it's something different, and definitely a fun step in the right direction.  Just what this Venus is looking for.