Dancing to the Beat of My Own Drum

I discovered a great way to exercise about a month ago. It's called Zumba. Normally, I usually only last about a couple of weeks with any routines I have tried in the past because I haven't seen the results I would like to see. Well, Zumba is the opposite.

I look forward to going to class every day, seeing the people, talking with the instructors, and dancing. I have always loved to dance, but this puts a whole new spin on it. You can burn as much as 1,000 calories per class. Just knowing that when I am done, I will have burned at least most of what I had consumed that day is amazing. The harder you work, the louder you holler back at the instructor and the more energy you put into it, the more you lose the weight, the inches, etc., etc.

My instructors are amazing, and very encouraging. They use the positive reinforcement technique which will keep people coming back. The energy level is highly addictive, and the positivity is even more addictive. Just knowing that I am not going to be put down for doing a step wrong, but encouraged to try it again and nail it, is ever so helpful. I am learning a lot from going to class and watching my instructors online on the public profiles. They give GREAT health tips that you should live by and good examples of healthy foods to eat. They are trying to teach you how to enjoy what you eat. Eat to Live. Not Live to Eat.
When I started Zumba, I was nervous, but the instructor, Casey, told me not to be. That everyone has been in my shoes, and everyone has started at the bottom. The first couple of weeks are the worst because you don't know the steps and you look like a fool, but everyone starts that way. After a few weeks now, I am getting a lot of the routines down in both classes, hers and the owner of the studio (Michelle). I can't tell you how happy I am to have found something I love doing, and something that is so much fun. It keeps me wanting to come back and going harder the next class. I messed up a step or four? It's cool, next class I can rock it out.
Now, on to the results.

So, keep in mind, I have only been going to the studio for about a month. And that I have only started going more than twice a week this week.
In one week since I started going 4 times a week for Zumba (5 when I can make the Monday class, or staying for another Zumba class after the first one), 2 times a week for Power Up (Weights for 30 minutes) and yoga once a week, I have lost a half inch off my waist, and have lost 3 lbs. To you it may not sound like much, to me, it's results. I am going to be measuring once a week. My waist at start last week was 39 1/2 inches. I am now at 39 inches even. I want to be down to 35 1/2 or 35 by my birthday which is 54 days from today. It's going to take some hard core dieting,  which I have started, and a lot of exercise, which I am happy to be doing, but I can reach my goal.

Well, I now must get on to homework. It's nice to be back to blogging, it truly is.

*Simple Moment of the Day*

My instructor, Michelle, told me the other night that people will purposely try to make you angry, and will do whatever they can to get a rise out of you. If you let them make you angry, then they win. Don't let them. Don't let them get the best of you. Don't let them make you angry, cause all it does is allow them to win. Don't let them bring you down. Be the winner, and look at them and say, bless you. I send nothing but positive vibes to you and wish you nothing but happiness. I feel sorry for you, cause you don't know how to be happy. It took her saying this, and really pondering it for a moment for it to finally sink in.

This girl is on fire, and can't no body bring me down.

Debt Free by the end of Summer? Yes please!

I have been balancing my checkbook with a fine tooth comb the last 2 years trying to improve my credit, and keep a minimum balance in my account that will help in case of emergencies. 
I have also been working really hard on trying to put money back, and continue to get ALL of my bills paid off. I would like to be debt free no later than September of this year. I don't have a lot of debt, but I have enough to keep me from living on my own right now. I would be able to afford my own place, alone, with no problems, once I get my car and knee surgery paid off. Less than $6,000 to go, and I couldn't be more excited. It's nice to look at my car payment schedule and know I am more than 2 months ahead. :) They don't like me very much because if I pay it off early, *at this rate almost a year early* then most of the interest goes POOF! Again making me a very happy girl. 
At the rate I am going, I will have almost all of my credit cards paid off by June-ish. And then my car will be the next thing to pay off. My knee will pay itself off at some point in there. 
My big goal this year is to buy a home. Not an apartment, or trailer, (though there is nothing wrong with either. I have lived in both) but a house. I want a 3 bedroom and 2 bathroom house of my own. :) I bought my car last year, and intend to meet my goal of purchasing a home this year. I want something that my boyfriend and I can call our own. I don't want to be the couple that when we get married, we are living with someone else because we don't have a home yet. I want to be the couple who were already living together and married because they wanted to make it all official. :)
I also want a place that I can comfortably start a family in. Thus the reason for 3 bedrooms minimum. 1 room for myself and him, 1 room for an office, and 1 room for baby. But the baby part is still some time off. We aren't ready...wait HE isn't ready for kids yet, but soon enough he will be. 


Well that's the end of my post for now...
Oh weight loss? Yeah... I don't want to talk about it. I fell off the band wagon *yes again* and am paying for it. :( I can't eat a lot of my fave foods right now, but that's probably for the best. 


*Simple Moment* 
I was having a rough night at work on Tuesday, as in everything in the world was going wrong, when Travis showed up. He had a case in one hand *about the size of a very small book* and a brown box in the other. Turns out his parents had won a kindle at his Dad's job. Well, Mom already has a nook color, and Dad has an I-pad 2. Needless to say they didn't need the kindle, so it was given to me. I haven't been able to put it down. haha! It made my night 100% better. :) 




Until next time, remember the Simple Things in Life.

Update week 2

Weight loss this past week: 2 lbs.
I stayed within my limits each day and lost 2 lbs, granted it isn't near as much as I was hoping, but I didn't gain any weight at least. I have lost 7 lbs total now and am feeling better with each passing day. I upped the amount of weight that I was using on my legs to 45lbs instead of 40lbs for this week. I can feel it in my left knee right now which is aching pretty badly. I may have to skip that part of my workout tomorrow in order to keep from injuring it again.


I am down to 152 lbs now. I can tell a small change already but not anything drastic. Changes in your body will show, but it will take a little while. Nothing happens over night and I am keeping a positive attitude about it. I have 17 lbs left to lose to make it to 135, and then I will know if I want to continue to 130, or leave it be there. I won't make a final decision until I have lost the last 17 lbs of my original plan. Then I can decide if I want to go to 130 or even 125. If I remember correctly, 125 is the ideal weight for my height and build (stature). I will have to see what 135 looks like in order to make that decision though. I don't want to look too thin. Like sickly thin. 


*simple moment* got to play battle of the sexes with my boyfriend and his best friend and his best friend's girlfriend this weekend.  We had a blast! We girls let the guys win since it was running kind of late and we were all tired, but it was fun none the less. Next time we won't be so nice.


Til next time, remember the simple things. :)