There will always be people like HER.

Today is your typical Monday- hard to get motivated, hard to keep the positive attitude and hard to stay awake. However, I think all of the hard work from last week (at work) ended up paying off. Looks like I got a new TV partner and I am just one more conversation away from a new radio partner. This is GREAT news, professionally.

THEN - I came home. T-I-R-E-D. No doubt. Not sure why, but the eyes were wanting to close. The egyptian and I sat and laughed for about an hour or so - then we started cooking dinner. Sooo... I decided that the eggplant he made was too "oily" and since I had to go to my Body Jam class, it might make me sick. In brilliant form, I opt for some mac & cheese. (Uh huh.) Finally I drag myself to the gym, and my brilliant idea almost took me out. Seriously. Stomach was sooooooo full and I felt like I weighed 500 pounds and could not lift my legs. LOL.

Needless to say, I made it through without running for the door. We had three instructors tonight, an african american girl from the Bronx, a latina from Columbia and a typical white, southern instructor (there is a reason I am sharing this. I want you to get a mental picture.) We started off with some cool moves from the chick from NYC... moved on to the fast past of the Latina.. then skinny white biotch comes in. (Sorry.. I HAVE to go there. You will see why in a sec.)

The attitude and atmosphere was super fun and quirky with the first two instructors. THEN the annoying, no-rhythm instructor starts up. Showing us some seriously outdated techno-esque moves.. then.. as we are getting into and doing these arm moves as if we are in a rave rolling on Ecstasy - she started screaming into her head microphone, "Come ON! You know what we WANT? DISCIPLINE. THAT'S RIGHT. REMEMBER, THIS IS AN AEROBICS CLASS - NOT JUST A DANCE CLASS. THEY DON'T CALL IT BODY JAM (EMPHASIS ON BODY) FOR NOTHING. YOU KNOW YOU ALL WANT TO BE A SIZE FOUR."

Hold up a hot minute.
.........

Did I EVER say I wanted to be a size 4? What woman, besides perhaps someone shorter than me and with a tiny bone structure SHOULD be a size 4.

It was as if someone sucked the oxygen right out of the room. I wanted to punch skinny biotch in her rock hard abs and tell her to go sell crazy somewhere else. The majority of people in my class are averaging ages around 28 - 48, and more like a size 10 - 16, versus super tiny. (Uh.. that would be the ZUMBA class.. the HIP HOP class has more of an ethnically diverse group, who generally may carry a little more in the hips, thighs and butt area.)

I only remember one other time actually walking out of a Body Jam class - and it was when SHE was teaching.. and it was only b/c the moves were so lame and I got bored. I faked like I had to be somewhere. Should have known.

Yuck.

My new brand of Crack

There are a few things you need to know about me:

1. I am hyper. Seriously.

2. I used to be a pretty serious dancer (waaay back in the day.)

3. I am hyper.. oh yeah.. I mentioned that.

4. I am ever so slightly a stereotype (30 something and in need of losing weight.)

5. And I am hyper.

If you have been following my blog, you know I have been dabbling here in there in getting active.  You know how much I LOVE LOVE LOVE dancing.

Did the Flamenco thing - $60 for one class a week per month was a bit more than I wanted to spend. PLUS - I was only getting one good hour of exercise.

Did the personal training thing - yes it was free (thank God for my amazing hook up and mad promoting skillz) - but regular exercise makes me want to slice my wrists.

Then there was ballroom dancing- and yes, I thought I was onto something there. BUT that little introductory offer was not what was up. Turns out it was $300 for 5 classes... per time. Oh H-E-L-L TO THE N-O.

NOW.. God answered another prayer. Yes.. yes.. it was God for me. Deal with it. ;-)

One of the membership directors at the Y came by the AHA office and offered up the sweetest deal known to mankind. Waive the activation fee of ($87) and you could get 1/2 off the membership for the year. Which would have been awesome.. but in my world... procrastination is my middle name. I waited.. and the deadline passed. But I had weighed out my options, studied the group fitness schedules like I was studying for the College Placement Exam.. and gave the M.D. a call. She said she would waive the fee - but I would have to pay the regular monthly fees. DONE. So for $54 dollars a month I have a city wide pass (did I mention there are like 8 AMAZING Ys here.)

Soo.. I did my homework - printed all of the gym group fitness schedules - and highlighted all of the dance-oriented workout classes.

Again, in perfect Nicole fashion - I procrastinated for 2 weeks. THEN - on Saturday.. with news that sent me through the roof - I got up and took off to take my very first ZUMBA class.

Frightened like the new kid in a new school - I was driving up and down Pelham Parkway looking for the Y. Where is it? Where is it? Called my sister to call them.. finally found it and damn it, if I was not 10 minutes late for class. How horrible is that?

The only good thing - it did not allot me a lot of time to get nervous.. I ran into the gym and asked, "I need to know two things.. One, where is the bathroom and two, where is Zumba?" The girl smiled, and could clearly see I was out of breath and said, "Behind me are the bathrooms.. and behind you is Zumba." I smiled and took off. Literally - that class was like a Latin bullet! Consider it my first hit of crack.. we were moving 90-to nothing, a mix of Bollywood, hip hop, salsa, and African tribal. I was out of breath, pink faced with my heart racing! IT WAS AWESOME. The music was contagious and I knew right then and there I made the right decision.

Then Sunday rolled around and I thought.. hmmm.. the only class is right when mass is happening, and I made a promise to myself to head back to church. (I have not been to mass since Easter..)

So instead I went to church. But I thanked God for pushing me to join this gym (Did I mention - NO CONTRACTS!!!) (PS - you will never believe what the priest was talking about - our GIFTS/TALENTS. The same thing I heard the Sunday before at the church of our friend! Is God trying to tell me something??)

Anyway - today I did NOT feel good. So much so, I called in sick.. possible ear infection.. meds.. slept.. whatever. After lots of rest, I woke up feeling a lot better. The egyptian asked, "Hey - you going to one of those classes tonight?"

Ahh.. not going to be able to get out of this one. "Oh yeah... I am." (lazy me.)

Sooo.. at 6:45 I headed and check out another class.. thinking I would not like it - Body Jam.

Au contraire my dears - this class is my own special brand of heroin!! First of all, it kicked my a$$. Seriously. Stomped Zumba into the ground. It was definitely a mix of hip hop, latin, modern/contemporary dance on crack. Which means it was FAST. We were doing turns and jumping while we were turning.. and it was non-stop for one hour. NON STOP. When I got home, I pulled my hair down and it was completely soaked.

WHAT A WORK OUT. My body feels.. dare I say it??? At peace.

I think for someone as high strung as I, as hyper active as I, as spastic as I - this is what I need.

Granted I was the chubby chick in the back of the room.. and yes, my legs wanted to say no during the 50th times we did certain moves.. but I have to brag for just a second. When it came to the really complicated combinations that truly incorporated dance moves - I rocked it out! Others girls (the skinny bitches as I like to call them. And yes, I too, hope to return to being one of those skinny bitches) they were tripping all over themselves.. and might I add - had N-O rhythm. *insert giggle*

Ahhh.. I have found another great place to be. And I think for $54 a month - and I can take a class just like this 7 days a week - all year.. no contract.. uh.. yeah. I have a winner!

Sooo... with that being said. Dare I.. or dare I.. take a before pic and maybe monthly do a little check in. Hmm.. maybe it is too soon for that. But guys..

I think I found it!