lessons in cardiovascular fitness
I followed my husband's example and got a heart rate monitor watch for my workouts.
I learned today why Zumba kicked my ass last week: It works me on an anaerobic level. Let's say, 90%, with an average in the 75% range? Yeah. I only did 30 minutes, and once I realized it was above the "target" zone I kept trying to slow down. How do you slow down salsa and meringue-cardio dance with lots of other people in the room? Not very easily. I spent 15 minutes on the tradmill to cool down, which meant my heart rate was in the target zone the whole time.
So damn, I guess I have to work up to working out in Zumba, not just work up to lasting longer.
Fuck.
But, hey, I am really glad I got this thing. Cause goodness knows how hard or far I'd push myself.
My new goal: to be able to workout in that class while staying in my target zone (upper end of course).
Sigh. It sucks getting out of shape. Really. If you haven't gotten there, don't do it. It's not worth it.
Working out still rocks though (says the girl who only did half her class at too high a level so that this time she doesn't have to spend the afternoon in bed).
And exercise is about as good as zoloft when you get it right - the happy rush - well worth working out for that. Though if you're one who tends towards heavy depression, don't skip the pills. I'm only working against mild SAD (though really, it can hit whenever, but I digress)
laters
I learned today why Zumba kicked my ass last week: It works me on an anaerobic level. Let's say, 90%, with an average in the 75% range? Yeah. I only did 30 minutes, and once I realized it was above the "target" zone I kept trying to slow down. How do you slow down salsa and meringue-cardio dance with lots of other people in the room? Not very easily. I spent 15 minutes on the tradmill to cool down, which meant my heart rate was in the target zone the whole time.
So damn, I guess I have to work up to working out in Zumba, not just work up to lasting longer.
Fuck.
But, hey, I am really glad I got this thing. Cause goodness knows how hard or far I'd push myself.
My new goal: to be able to workout in that class while staying in my target zone (upper end of course).
Sigh. It sucks getting out of shape. Really. If you haven't gotten there, don't do it. It's not worth it.
Working out still rocks though (says the girl who only did half her class at too high a level so that this time she doesn't have to spend the afternoon in bed).
And exercise is about as good as zoloft when you get it right - the happy rush - well worth working out for that. Though if you're one who tends towards heavy depression, don't skip the pills. I'm only working against mild SAD (though really, it can hit whenever, but I digress)
laters