Launch

Ever so often, the powers that be release new music and moves for the classes at the gym, partly so that you don't get bored with your routine and partly for "muscle confusion". The gym always makes a big production out of the changes - costumes, theme, decorations, etc. This week was the "launch". Friday is usually my day for BodyPump. Around lunch time, I get a text from my friend Christa (who teaches BodyCombat on Friday night). Apparently, she was going to go out to eat after class, and wanted to know if I wanted to join her. You probably know by now that I can't ever say no to hanging out with friends. This changed my plans. 

Since I was at the gym anyway, I still did the BodyPump launch. The stage was filled with the BodyPump greats: Shawn, Melody, Crystal, Erica, and Mary. How could it be anything but AWESOME! Melody typically only teaches in the early mornings. Since Shelley and I had changed our morning routine, I had not seen Melody in about a month. Toward the end of the workout, she was leading the ab track. We were side planking, and she says from the stage "you are doing really well, Carolyn." After class, I went up to tell her how much I had missed taking class with her. She looks at me and says "You have really been doing well. You are so much better and doing so much more than when you first started. I can really see the difference in you."

Immediately after BodyPump was BodyCombat. These are my two favorite workouts (not counting my time with Kevin, which is always the highlight of my week), but doing them back to back like this was going to be a challenge. Again, the stage was set with all the BodyCombat stars: Christa, Crystal, Madison, and Erica (who by the way is six months pregnant and makes it all look so easy). I wore my new MMA kick boxing gloves that I got from my husband for Valentine's Day.  This time it was Madison that came to give me words of encouragement. She has only been teaching for the past two or three months, but she said that she could really see the way my body has change in just that short period of time. 

After class, we all met up at Jason's Deli. It was really nice to hang out with all these great people. There is something special about seeing people from the gym in a more social setting. Some of them I got to really talk to for the first time, while others I got to get to know a little better. Encouragement and friendship go a long way in this battle, and day by day I am able to draw deeply from that well.