Confession #2:Reformed Gym Dropouts

I always wondered if I was simply born without the “I love working out” gene. To me, going to the gym and spending an hour amongst sweaty strangers, was never appealing. And the actual workout has always felt like torture to me. My friends always assumed that because I am Puerto Rican I would be great at dance aerobics. Not my case! I was uncoordinated, lost, clueless and miserable in every single dance aerobics class that I tried. So I always gave up half way through and decided that walking from my room to the kitchen counted as a workout since I did this at least 15 times a day!
Every time I saw people running outside, I rolled my eyes and shook my head.  It just wasn't something  I wanted to do!

The hubby on the other hand, enjoys working out a bit more than I do –or at least that’s what he tells me. I do have to tell you that his cardio has been put to shame once or twice by 60+ year old ladies at the gym! 

One of the ladies that put the hubby's cardio to shame!

So after much protest and several tantrums, I agreed to give the gym a second try. I decided to do Zumba on my first day back to the gym after a whole year. Before I tell you how that went, let me tell you that a lot of people underestimate Zumba – it is tough! That said, 15 minutes into the class, I got nauseous and almost puked. I refused to stop because the class was full of middle-aged ladies that were shaking their booty like JLo. So I shook it off and continued for what felt like an eternity – btw, the class was only 45 minutes. So after the class I felt better, aside from the fact that I was seeing spots and felt dizzy. I finished the class! Zumba is actually the only workout that I enjoy and that I don’t suck at –well not too much anyway. 

Girls Zumba workout. This is a before pic since after the workout my hair looked like I had been attacked by angry birds (Me, Cassie, and Heather)

If you thought I was not going to make fun of the hubby on his first day back to the gym you are wrong! So on his first day he did weight lifting, well he tried. He picked up the fifteens, and as he was lifting them up his arms started shaking and his face turned hot red. The guy next to him, one of those taken from Men’s Health Magazine, was lifting very heavy weight so the hubby tried to keep up with the torture because, well he is a man and ego plus competition equals hernia—just kidding it wasn’t that bad :)

It’s been a little bit over a month since we started working out, and I’ll let you know that I no longer get nauseous at Zumba and the hubby is lifting heavier weights with steady arms :) We workout together whenever we can, but when we don’t, we make sure we both put pressure on each other to workout individually. We have an accountability system going on—well it’s more of an interrogation session like those you see in CSI – but it works really well!  Since we can no longer use food as a bribe, we relay on accountability...and guilt!  If I sense the hubby cheated on his diet—I can always tell—I start taking him on a guilt trip. He rather not cheat on his diet! All jokes aside, accountability is so important when you are trying to achieve your goals—any kind of goals! So find your interrogation partner and start an accountability system.

The hubby and I enjoying waterfront kick boxing class. That’s his best “I am tired” face.

Today’s Tip: Accountability is everything! Share your goals with someone and ask them to ask you about your progress. I guarantee you will think twice before cheating on your goals if you know someone you care about will ask about your progress. It really works! Gotta go, interrogation session starts in 5 minutes :S!

the wifey