Operation G-Y-M: I'm so PUMPED!

Hahaha... now seriously, am I having a
Flashdance moment here or what?!!

Well I did it - and now I'm TOTALLY PUMPED!!  
Operation G-Y-M is now in full swing - and my first class today was PUMP!  I was pretty nervous walking in there - I mean, really, I've only ventured into the gym TWICE in my entire life prior to this, and neither times did I actually do anything sweaty?!  So walking in today was a bit of a butterflies-in-tummy moment AGAIN, but without doubt, knew I'd be in there regardless of whether I liked it or not!

Went up to the teacher and introduced myself, said I had bad knees (so she gave me alternatives where necessary) and she helped me grab the appropriate gear, and "take my position in the class".

Now, confession:  I chose today's 1pm class as I figured it'd be less crowded, less likely to be full of scary, buff, athletic, super-intimidating types, and would let me ease into this whole thing with a little less fear...   SCORE!!!   My class consisted of a few  'yummy mummies' taking five from their kids, a couple of "lunchtimers" (skinny minis who looked like they needed a decent feed during their lunch break instead of a workout!!).... and some SERIOUSLY buff older folks!   ... and honestly, I mean SERIOUSLY!   [Was thinking to myself "far out, I hope I'm THAT buff when I'm their age! ... assuming I make it through this class first?!"]    

Ahem, moving on...!

SO, what is BodyPump?!  Well, according to my class timetable descriptions (hahaha the source of all of my knowledge right now): A non-impact, weights to music class, which is designed to give your body a complete workout. Great music and your choice of weight will inspire you to get the results you came for. Les Mills program, level 2 (low impact, moderate to high intensity).

OK.

20 kilos?!  - I WISH!!!

My teacher geared me up with a barbell and two 2.5kgs weights (one on either end) and an aerobic step, and I was good to go!!

And go I did!!!

Now, I've always been a fan of free weights - but never really known what to do with them.  They get incorporated into my routines "when I feel like a bit of burn" - but for lack of understanding and education, they're just something I tack onto the end of a routine, to help with the arm flabbage...    THIS WAS A WHOLE NEW EXPERIENCE IN WEIGHTS!!!

And I LOVED IT!   Granted, I was only lifting 5kgs - but it's enough that I can feel it in my shoulders and arms already, my legs and my core.  Next time, I plan on going two kilos up - because I KNOW I can go harder (given how little resistance I was "suffering" today) - but that's my benchmark and up I go!   One of the lovely ladies in the class with me (who was helping me out the way through - bless her!) said that I was doing "really great for a beginner!  some people can barely lift the 1kgs!"  - SO I'm pretty happy for my first class!

NOW!  Given my Wednesdays are committed to my Zumba class - I'm hitting a double-whammy tonight!   First time I've ever done two sessions in one day - but I'm committed to hitting that hall with all the other awesome shimmy and shakers!!!   All going well (and depending how I pull up tomorrow?!) this will become a regular, and I'm actually REALLY looking forward to the challenge!!

Can't wait for next week's pump class now, and I'm sitting here working on my diary (as part of the pre-season 12WBT "organise and diarise" challenge) and nutting up just what I'll be doing when, how and with who for the upcoming few months!   I can't wait to see what's coming up by the end of it!

Now, I urge you all to go out and get pumping - SO much fun!!!  

xx