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Pilates, Zumba, Fitness and My Busy Life

by on ‎09-14-2012 04:18 PM

The end of the summer has been all about family and fun and now it’s time to get back on track!


I spent a week in California with generations of family from all sides celebrating my aunt and uncles 50th wedding anniversary.


 



I had a few fabulous days on the beach with my dad and step mom, and then met my mom at the airport and she flew home with us to spend 10 days at our house in Philadelphia.  



That’s us shoe shopping. 3 generations of shoe shoppers, I have to say I like mine the best, and I think Grace does too.


My mom is doing much better.  All your comments and hugs from near and far have meant so much to me over the past few months. I have seen a marked improvement in her since the accident, and my last minute flight back to California. Having her with me, my husband and the girls for these few days is a blessing, especially for the kids.  She seems healthier, happier and more present than she was the last couple of times we saw her.  Looking back to those few days before the accident, I feel like we should have known something was wrong. Id like to say that so much has changed and we are all one big happy, healthy family again, but we all know that nothing in life really wraps up that neatly.  This is another challenge in life, another opportunity to all allow the Lord to do his work and trust that he has a plan. Above all I want her happy and I just can’t be sure that she is.


If you have been following me, Rachael Boesing or Jennifer Coffey on Facebook, then you have seen all the posts about how they are helping me train for the Susan G Komen 3 day breast cancer walk in November in San Diego.  I am so blessed to have such great colleagues.  



I have to walk as much as 17 miles a day and that can be so long, exhausting and boring. Rachel jumped on board to help me train a few weeks ago and since then Jennifer has joined in and now Albany wants to as well. Not only has this helped me train and get ready for the event but it has done wonders for my head and heart.  Rachael and I talk and laugh for hours on these walks.  Its like therapy, and part of the reason I love the actual event each year.  It’s devoted time with my best friends.  




Because I am walking at least three or four days a week, I have to be very specific about what I am doing on my off days.  When I am not training for the charity walk, I usually run, do yoga and mix in weight work.  But, because I don't have as much time I have to be much more specific with what I do.  The only problem with this walk is that it takes hours a day to train.  It is so hard for me to be away from my kids for that long, especially since I am already away from them at work.  So on off days I don't do more than 30 minutes a day.  The good news is that is all I need to do Pilates and Zumba.


I used to be a Mat Pilates instructor, (you can read more about that here ) when I was a struggling actress in Los Angeles.  I was so happy to start selling the Reformer on QVC, because I know it is a form of exercise that can truly work for everyone.  I love running, P90X, Tracy Anderson and Zumba, but I know, from my own family, that not everyone can physically do such high impact work outs. I would never tell my mother, who never works out,  to try working out with Tony Horton or have my Aunt, with her he arthritis and multiple foot and back surgeries, to go for a three mile run.  But, I have told both of them to get the Reformer. In fact my Dad and step mom did get one and they love it!




 There is no impact on your joints, you use your own body weight so it works for all levels and the machine is on the ground so it’s not even hard to get on like others.  And for someone like me who is very physically fit and needs more of a challenge, it can be adjusted to really kick my butt and give me a hard core work out inside of 20 or 30 minutes.  The machines, whether you choose the 3 cord (beginner) or 5 cord (more advanced) come with videos so you can follow Marcheline in your workouts, but even more valuable to me is the wall chart of all the exercise broken into muscle groups.  I don't need to work out my lower body when I am walking so much, so I use my precious 20-30 minutes to focus on abs and arms.  No fail, every time I get off that machine my stress is less, my breathing is better, my heart rate is up and I feel that wonderful "good" sore.  


When I am using the reformer I turn up my music on my phone through my Braven (or if my husband doesn't have it the Bose) and rock out while I work out.  I know I am a 30 something mother of two and a wife of 10 years, but I gravitate to work out music that is more in line with the college students that have all returned to my university town.   Seriously, I need Pit Bull and Pink to get moving.  Which is part of the reason I love Zumba. The music is heart pumping and toe tapping and before you know it you have danced away 25 minutes and you have a smile on your face.  I was shocked last month when my mom said she went and took a Zumba class. I wish I had a picture of that!  I studied musical theatre in college and I was a professional dancer for a few years (while trying to make it as an actress a.k.a waitress/fitness instructor) so I guess I had to get that dance gene from someone.  When I heard my mom was taking Zumba I was floored.  But, it makes sense, its just plain fun!!!!  The Zumba movement has taken over. I heard its the fastest grown franchise in the U.S!  Zumba isnt just a work out, it has become a way of life.  From the great colorful clothing, to the music, to the moves, it sticks with you all day long.  Just a side note, I do recommend doing any exercise you do, in the morning.  That is when our body’s are best prepared for the impact and so much can happen during the day that can prevent you from getting a workout in at the end of the day.  So if you are starting something new, do it first thing in the morning.  Have a glass of water, a small bit to eat and your Natures Code Vitamins and then go work out.  Before the kids, husband, dogs, work, stuff of the day, get in the way.  Okay, back to Zumba.  My mom didn't stick with the classes.  She went to two.  Obviously she had other challenges that kept her from following through but the beauty of having my own Zumba DVD's is that I don't need to get in the car, fight the weather, fight traffic, and fight my feelings of inferiority dancing in front of other people and so on.  If I only have 20, 30, 40 minutes I don't waste any time.  I walk up the stairs in whatever mommy attire I happen to have on and put on my tennis shoes and dance.  Its a blast!  It just makes you smile.  I can dance, not as well as the instructors, but I do have some moves left in me.  But, even if you can’t dance, it’s not intimidating. I have a wedding coming up and I love the DVD that shows all the different types of dance.  I can even pick up a few new moves for the party.  It’s like going to a dance class. But, no matter which dvd I use, the goal is to get moving.  And not just chasing toddlers and dogs moving but heart pounding, muscles firing moving.  


I’ve said it in just about every blog and Ill say it again, I NEED to work out for my mental health.  There is something about those endorphins that give me  a better outlook on life.  My husband will tell me to go work out when he can tell I am getting moody or sad.  If I skip a day or two my attitude is much worse.  That’s just how my mind and body work.  Other people can be fine without getting their heart rate up every day, I just can't.  And, I’m always looking for different ways to keep myself going.  


The end of the summer means I usually get a little blue as the weather gets grey so its even more important for me to get my heart rate up. So now as my babies get ready to start preschool, (again a reason Im blue) I start getting back on track, back into a routine and really ramping up for the walk in November.  Follow Rachael and Jennifer and I over the next few months on Facebook and please tell me what you think of ZumbaPilates and any other routine that works for you.  Happy end of Summer my friends.


Have a blessed day!


Kerstin 


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And catch me on the air with Zumba on Thursday morning Sept 20th and With Pilates on Saturday morning September 29th.