Dislike to Desire

Believe it or not, I haven't always been passionate about fitness.

In fact there was a period of time where I hated it.

Growing up, I was more into music and ballet than sports. I wasn't into sports and did not consider myself athletic. I preferred to exercise/move my body via dance.

When my brother and I were 14, my dad signed us up for the gym he went to. On the weekends he would encourage us to join him in going to the gym.

My brother and I would come up with every excuse in the book to not go to the gym.

If we did decide to go to to the gym with our dad, we went with scowls on our faces.

Here's why I put up such a fight...

- I had a high resting heart rate and mild asthma, so cardio was very hard for me

- I found working out BORING! I would walk on the treadmill or go on the elliptical for 30 minutes. I would look at the clock and think, "I have only been on here for a minute. It feels like I've been on for hours." OR I would think, "UGH 20 minutes to go still!"

I did enjoy doing weights after cardio, as my brother and I would compete to see who could use more machines. So I was not focused on proper form, I was focused on getting to the next weight machine to beat my brother to it.

The SHIFT

When I was a junior in high school, we had gym units. One unit offered was Pilates. So when my options were floor hockey, basketball or Pilates. This non-athlete chose Pilates.

Let's be real. The Pilates unit was where the gym teacher would have us grab a mat and would play a Pilates DVD on the television.

I realized through this unit that I really LOVED this form of exercise. It was a breakthrough moment, because at last I had found a type of exercise I enjoyed. I felt engaged and very passionate about it.

Pilates

From age 16 through college if I worked out, which was not often. I solely did one of the Pilates DVDs I had purchased.

After College

When I graduated from college, my cousin had just asked me to be in her wedding so I was in bridesmaid mode.

For the first few months, before starting grad school (Jan 2012) I had no job and didn't have any friends. So I had switched gyms my junior year of college (2010), but had only gone 5 times max in those 2 years.

My mom was a regular in attending one of the cardio/weights classes offered at the time. She asked me if I'd like to try it with her. Having a buddy to go with helped make trying something new not so scary.

As I began going to this class regularly with my mom, I began meeting other regular class members. I noticed there was a Zumba class before hand that intrigued the former dancer in me. But having been a ballerina, dancing that fast was still intimidating.

I heard other members raving about another Zumba instructor's class, stating that her class was easier to follow.

So, on Wednesday February 15, 2012...low and behold, this chica right here went by herself to the gym (no workout/accountability buddy in tow), to try something new (eek!).

AND guess what...

I survived and taking that brave step, getting out of my comfort zone was the BEST IDEA EVER!

Because...

I found my niche. I found my workout. I found my love. I found my way home to the dance floor.

7 years later, my feet are still moving and grooving on the Zumba dance floor.

7 years later, I LOVE working out and going to the gym.

That's where I'll leave you for now...as my Zumba story is another blog post within itself. Weight training has a journey of its own as well (remember I started my gym journey with the cardio/weights class). Why I LOVE fitness classes is another blog as well.

AND so, so, so many more topics to come!

If you are like 14 year old Elizabeth, I encourage you to get out of your comfort zone and just try different workout classes OR try different workout DVDs OR check out different YouTube fitness channels.

Don't stick to the routine you're not inspired/motivated by.

Trial and error new/different styles until you find something that makes you want to jump out of bed in the morning. Something you could do 24/7 and never get bored of.

Xo,

Elizabeth

Zumba Queen at a Zumbathon in 2013