Tuesday, April 17, 2012

To spin?



                                                                                   Source: google.com via Darcy on Pinterest


I've always had a love/hate relationship with working out, as most average people do.
Don't get me wrong, I give major props to all of those Jane Fonda robots who can brag about their percent body fat and bounce a quarter off of their abs. But for me, its something I've had to become accustomed to in recent years. Its something that I have to make myself do because its healthy.. kind of like eating brussel sprouts.

When I was growing up/in high school, I don't remember stepping on a scale that wasn't in a doctor's office. My weight just wasn't something that bothered me in those years, so I didn't even think about it. I wasn't active in sports, but I consistently took dance lessons from the age of 4 on through my senior year of high school, with a few years not accounted for during middle school. I attribute my then carefree, slender physique with those many hours spent dancing and genetics (my dad has always been able to eat whatever he wants and not so much as go up a jean size.. my mom, after three children is wearing a smaller jean size than I ever fit into). Once I was out of high school and enjoying a few "beverages" with friends in our junior college apartment days, I started to notice things fitting more snuggly and when I did stand on my roommate's scale at the end of my sophomore year, I was shocked at how the weight had crept up on me. 

And so begins the start of my love/hate relationship with gyms, exercise equipment, free weights, etc..
Ever since then, I've gone through phases of 4 or 5 months being spent diligently going to the gym, dropping sizes, and feeling absolutely fabulous. These spurts are usually the result of the pressure to look svelte for a big event, like a vacation with friends, or our summer trip to our cabin on Plum Lake, etc... Currently, the big thing on the horizon that I am working towards is bringing my weight down to a slightly lower level in order to lower my risk for gestational diabetes, when the time comes that Chris & I want to start our family. 

My sister was pregnant with my niece during the better part of last year. She found out in the summer that she had gestational diabetes. Although my niece was born without complications, and the pregnancy was a pretty average one, gestational diabetes can lead to issues with a fetus and often times results in women experiencing diabetes later in life.  Gestational diabetes runs in families, or so I've heard. Although my mother never had it, my sister obviously did so I've become a worry-wart about it. Due to this I have been, not only trying to shed a few lbs., but more importantly, striving to become a healthier person.

My sister-in-law, Em, called me yesterday to see if I would be interested in taking an exercise class with her just to test the waters, to see if it would be something we might enjoy. And this class is.......drumroll please...... SPIN CLASS! I've done just about every type of cardio/exercise class out there.. except for spin. I have no idea what to expect, so obviously I am slightly nervous. But, I am really looking forward to having a "workout buddy" who will hold me accountable if I skip out on a session. And besides all of the workout benefits, I will get to spend more time with Emily, whom I never get to see enough. We will be each others motivators in the coming months, if spin class doesn't kill us first :)
Have any of you taken a spin class? Is it worth its weight in gold or just ok?

4 comments:

  1. Ah! Working out!! I love it! Spin... I had a bad experience with though :/
    But EVERY SINGLE person I know who has done it is crazy about it! They drop pounds quick and are super fit. {I just had a scary intense instructor the first time I went, and really I should muster up the courage to try again, with a different one}
    Have fun!!! I can't wait to hear how it goes!
    xoxo

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    1. I loved it! It was definitely intense but I think it really helped that we had a nice, fun instructor who wasn't scary at all :) That stinks that you had such a crappy experience with spin. Scary instructors are never fun!

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    2. I've been itching to get back into the gym since these boys have been born so I'm sure I'll try it again! So glad you loved it :)

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  2. I looove spin class! It is a great workout and with the right instructor/music it can be so much fun. Good luck! I am a new follower and I love your blog :)

    mckenzieadelaide.blogspot.com

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