Zumba - Week #2

I'm checking in after my 2nd Zumba class. I've had some realizations in the last week. I will also share those with you.

I love Zumba so much, you have no idea. It's such a change from my normal workout. It was a bit easier this week. I also figured out why I had some of the aches I did. It's true you can work your muscles without lifting weights. Granted, I don't believe doing 5 Zumba classes a week will give you the proper muscle to burn fat more effectively but it will give you something. Which my first realization is I need to get back to the weight lifting. I've been slacking. Zumba shows me, in the mirror all my jiggle & that means I need more muscle to burn that off.

My 2nd realization is that proper nutrition makes Zumba (or any form of exercise) that much easier. True story. I had a decent dinner (salad with light Parmesan peppercorn dressing, meat sauce I made with ground turkey & whole wheat rotini) with Jay last night & I had 2 eggs & 2 slices of Ezekial toast this morning. I think if I ate foods that aren't as nutritious I'd crash early on in Zumba. The energy level is high & intense through the whole thing, except the last song where Jake does stretching with us. Right now I don't feel like I need a nap. Call or text me around 3pm if you have my number, there is a good possibility I will have fallen asleep, hard LMFAO!!!!!!

My 3rd realization is that exercise is good for me in general, but for my right ankle I shattered 9 years ago. I was told by my orthopedic surgeon to not do any weight bearing activity. I shattered both leg bones as well as breaking my 3 middle toes. My doctor could never tell me if I did damage to the cartilage (apparently they can't always tell if damage has happened). Surgery was required to fix things: I had 2 screws & 2 wires on the inside of my ankle & a plate, 5 screws & bone graft on the outside. He managed to pull my toes straight, never requiring pins. I eventually had my hardware taken out. I do have arthritis on the inside of my ankle, I knew that at 27 & my leg bones are fusing themselves together. It's called a "bone bridge". The lower leg bones move independently from each other but over time mine will no longer do that, so yeah there is a lot going on in there. Stay with me, I have a point. Sometimes when I walk I have this pain in my joint, I would consider it similar whacking your funny bone. Since I started Zumba it's been more frequent. I will tell you it will go away. When I first started to exercise years ago I had the same problem & as my muscles because stronger & longer the pain went away. Go figure!!! My toes always feel like there is a sock bunched up under them. I think it's scar tissue build up. They always ache. Well, I noticed last week after Zumba that my pointer toe (the 2nd guy in line, equivalent to the pointer finger) hasn't felt like that. In fact, it doesn't feel like the "sock" is bunched there. I think all the jogging in place & these shimmy type things football players do are having a positive impact. I think as I keep exercising & doing what I do, my ankle will begin to feel good again.

So next week, I plan to introduce you all to Jake. I chatted with him after class for a minute. I wanted to make sure it was ok if I took before & after pictures with him & didn't want to just spring it on him. Now, I'm not clear (I will get clarification next week) but I'm pretty sure he teaches Zumba 5 days a week. That's more than one class a day. He actually said to me "I can't gain any weight" & he wants to. He is thin & lean. You all saw how much I was sweating in last weeks blog, well Jake sweats just as much.

Zumba makes me happy & I want to share that with everyone. I hope this inspires you to take a class you've never tried before or to step out of your comfort zone to do something a little different. I think you'd be surprised at how you feel.

Thanks for reading!!!

Zumba-ly

Elizabeth
grazingthroughlife@gmail.com