Before I get into the nitty gritty of my lunchtime post, I have to say thank you for your kind and supportive comments on my morning post. There’s some great discussion going on in the comments section of the post about how we all feel pressure to eat a certain way from time to time, whether we blog or not. Loved all of your thoughts!
Workout
Today’s workout took me to the gym with my mama!
(In case you were wondering, my mom is a nurse and worked full-time until she was diagnosed with breast cancer and lymphedema. She is now essentially “retired,” thought not really by choice, and makes it a point to try do low-impact exercise classes regularly.)
My mom is an avid Jazzercise and Zumba-goer and always invites me and my sister to join her. This morning the two of us went to Zumba together. When we arrived my mom warned me about the instructor, saying people really struggle to follow her lead in the class.
I’ve been to a handful of Zumba classes and while I’m not coordinated in the least, I’ve never struggled too much to mimic the movements of the instructor.
Until today.
The teacher was practically freestyle dancing. At first I concentrated really hard and tried my best to follow her random movements, but once it became apparent that she never seemed to repeat moves, I knew I was way out of my element.
Toward the end of the class, I looked around the room and everyone had a dumbfounded look on their face. The only indication that we were all even attempting to do the same movements was the fact that we somehow managed to go right when the instructor went right, and left when she danced left.
It was a mess!
I was actually a bit frustrated at the end because I didn’t get the workout I came for. I tried so hard to follow the random movements that I couldn’t really get into them or do them full out. I felt like I essentially walked in place the whole class.
My mom and I laughed it off in the end, and spent 25 minutes after class at the gym doing our own respective workouts (10 minute run + 15 minutes on the elliptical for me).
Fillin’ Jars
On our way home from Zumba, we swung by The Fresh Market to nab some goodies to include in the peanut butter granola packages for the two winners of The Great Fundraising Act auction.
We purchased some tea, hazelnut and almond butter, chocolate and yogurt-covered pretzels and Larabars and packaged everything up when we arrived home.
I hope they like the goodies! 
Lunch
Lunch today was delicious!
I used chicken from a leftover rotisserie chicken I found in the fridge to assemble a sandwich and served it with blueberries, a cup of honey Greek yogurt and some chocolate-covered pretzels.
Sadie was quite a fan of the scraps of chicken I threw her way.
And now it’s time to hunker down and do some research! Fun! 
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Yea, me and Zumba do not mix. I would be tripping all over myself! Those treats look fantastic… yummy. Such a great idea with the mason jars!
Zumba is SO HARD!!!! Not gonna lie, we did it in PE in high school and I looked like an idiot
I know what you mean about the Zumba teacher. Believe it or not, I took a step aerobics class that was like that (I know.. step aerobics, who would have thought!)… the teacher kept changing things and I was focusing so hard on trying to learn the steps, that I felt like I didn’t really get a good workout. Very frustrating!!
I’m so sorry about your Zumba class! Zumba is my passion and classes are not supposed to be like that at all! You can actually check on the website and see if she is a certified Zumba instructor. I am very grateful to have an amazing instructor. She is constantly coming up with new choreography but sticks to a lot of the same basic movements. And I always leave feeling like I got an amazing workout! I’m glad her class won’t stop you from taking Zumba somewhere else!
is that the fresh market on 4th?! I live right by there in the downtown area, and if this is the zumba class at the lifestyle fitness, I feel your pain! Not only have I tried it but I work in the kids’ club and hear the talk of the parents.
It is! And the Zumba class was one at the Vinoy. :/
hopefully she is a traveling zumba instructor and there aren’t two crazies on the loose in St. Pete!
That’s when you just start doing your own freestyling and rocking out!
Aww, I’m sorry your Zumba class wasn’t as good ad it should have been. I like simple effective Zumba classes. I did Zumba Toning yesterday and I’M SORE! 🙂
Whitney
I did zumba at a private fitness studio for over 4 months and I have never burned as many calories or got as hot & sweaty as I did with zumba!
I think it takes 1. a good instructor and 2. some time. I had to go to the “low impact” zumba (slower paced) for a couple of weeks before I could attempt the full fledge zumba and by the time I got there, I knew the moves and was able to really “get into it”. It’s great! I think since you aren’t able to go to Body Pump anymore you should definitely experiment with Zumba some more.. you won’t be disappointed!
I am sorry, however, your first experience wasn’t that great 🙁
I have taken two Zumba classes, different instructors. I am an “amateur” dancer though others think I am more than that 🙂 And even I cannot follow most of the moves. I really don’t see how someone can know enough with a one day workshop. Sorry, but that is the truth. Zumba does itself no good grinding out wannabe instructors.
A good instructor will have either a dance instructor background or will have a Group Exercise Fitness certification either through AFAA or ACE. Ask your club or studio what qualifications OTHER than Zumba that their instructors have. And they should be CPR certified, too. That is not required for Zumba cert.
Another Zumba instructor here! Just had to drop a line – it makes me feel both mad and sad when I hear of someone trying a Zumba class and not enjoying themselves because the instructor couldn’t teach. I wish you were able to have a great experience, especially since you were with your mom, but alas…
Zumba is great fun!..The great thing is it doesnt feel like a workout which makes it easier to do. It is also good if you want to lose a little weight.
Thank you for your entry, you will have to rethink it better!