I am an addict. A Cardio Barre addict. It used to be when people would say that they were addicted to working out, I not only thought they were crazy, but I also kind of
hated them a little. I mean, being addicted to chocolate, Dr. Pepper and pajama pants was totally understandable, but working out? What was wrong with these people?!?! For
me, those exercise addicts fell into the same "I Loathe You" category as the people that like to go around saying, "Oh I just hate it when I forget to eat!" Like really, who
forgets to eat? They must not have any donuts in their cupboards.
But the time has come. Although I still never forget to eat (I don't think that's EVER going to happen), I am now one of those crazy work-out addicts. So long as that
workout is Cardio Barre. I can't get enough. I leave each class already plotting when I can go to another session. I have been working on ditching my Massage Envy
membership and my gym membership just to fund my Cardio Barre addiction. And I can't stop talking about it. I find myself bringing it up repeatedly in conversations, even
when no one seems even remotely interested. I can't help it. I love the barre!
First of all, let me clear something up. Cardio Barre is NOT the stripper pole workout. The reason I am bringing this up is I have had several people operating under the
assumption that I have been going to such classes and they have wanted to see my "moves". No. Just no. Cardio Barre does not use a pole, it uses a barre (the extra letters
on the end of the word "bar" is what makes it classy) and the routine is ballet and pilates based. There is no twirling or sliding on the barre and absolutely no glitter,
fruit-flavored or otherwise. So get your minds out of the gutters you filthy animals.
I will admit that I was very hesitant to try Cardio Barre when a friend first mentioned it to me. It seemed like one of those places that people who were already in shape
went to work out. Plus I don't like working out in public. With all the sweating and my jiggly bits doing their sweaty jiggly dance, it's really hard for me to do the
workout thing with an audience. So Cardio Barre was scary. Not only was I forced to work out with other people, but I was convinced that those "other people" were going to
be a bunch of stuck up skinny girls. I am so happy to say that I was wrong. Cardio Barre is full of people of all shapes, sizes and fitness levels, and I have yet to meet
even one stuck up person. Oh and did I mention the workout itself is awesome? Because it is!
I am not going to lie, it is definitely an ass-kicker of a workout. It works muscles I didn't even know I had. I love it! Most of the instructors are so cute and positive
(I say most, because there is one instructor that is really kind of ewwww...) and they make me work tons harder than I ever would on my own. Even though I still have a long
way to go, it's so encouraging to see the changes in my body. Everything is getting tighter (and smaller!) and I'm definitely getting stronger. I have had a sciatic nerve
problem for a few years and now after 2 months of the barre it barely even bothers me. Yay!
One thing that has really helped is setting goals for myself in class. My first one was to be able to make it through the bar thighs section without collapsing in a
sweaty, jiggly heap. Done! My next one was to make it through the cardio section without looking like I'm having a sweaty, jiggly stroke. Done! (unless I have the ewww
instructor that doesn't lead very well. But in that case I blame the stroke-like behavior on her) My current goal is to make it through the outer thigh lifts without the
side of my butt cramping up and giving out. Still a work in progress!
So now you know why I love Cardio Barre. I will admit that it is still really hard for me to work out with a bunch of people. And it is even harder for me to have to watch
myself in the mirror when I am at the barre. Whenever the instructor says, "everyone keep your eyes off the floor" I know it's aimed at me. But I am working on it. Maybe a
little more self confidence will be my next class goal. Maybe.
And one final update...I am now down a total of 20 lbs from when I first started trying to lose weight. It is slower going than I hoped for, but so long as it's going, that
is all that matters.
I am curious, does anyone else have any particular workouts they love? Please share!
hated them a little. I mean, being addicted to chocolate, Dr. Pepper and pajama pants was totally understandable, but working out? What was wrong with these people?!?! For
me, those exercise addicts fell into the same "I Loathe You" category as the people that like to go around saying, "Oh I just hate it when I forget to eat!" Like really, who
forgets to eat? They must not have any donuts in their cupboards.
But the time has come. Although I still never forget to eat (I don't think that's EVER going to happen), I am now one of those crazy work-out addicts. So long as that
workout is Cardio Barre. I can't get enough. I leave each class already plotting when I can go to another session. I have been working on ditching my Massage Envy
membership and my gym membership just to fund my Cardio Barre addiction. And I can't stop talking about it. I find myself bringing it up repeatedly in conversations, even
when no one seems even remotely interested. I can't help it. I love the barre!
First of all, let me clear something up. Cardio Barre is NOT the stripper pole workout. The reason I am bringing this up is I have had several people operating under the
assumption that I have been going to such classes and they have wanted to see my "moves". No. Just no. Cardio Barre does not use a pole, it uses a barre (the extra letters
on the end of the word "bar" is what makes it classy) and the routine is ballet and pilates based. There is no twirling or sliding on the barre and absolutely no glitter,
fruit-flavored or otherwise. So get your minds out of the gutters you filthy animals.
I will admit that I was very hesitant to try Cardio Barre when a friend first mentioned it to me. It seemed like one of those places that people who were already in shape
went to work out. Plus I don't like working out in public. With all the sweating and my jiggly bits doing their sweaty jiggly dance, it's really hard for me to do the
workout thing with an audience. So Cardio Barre was scary. Not only was I forced to work out with other people, but I was convinced that those "other people" were going to
be a bunch of stuck up skinny girls. I am so happy to say that I was wrong. Cardio Barre is full of people of all shapes, sizes and fitness levels, and I have yet to meet
even one stuck up person. Oh and did I mention the workout itself is awesome? Because it is!
I am not going to lie, it is definitely an ass-kicker of a workout. It works muscles I didn't even know I had. I love it! Most of the instructors are so cute and positive
(I say most, because there is one instructor that is really kind of ewwww...) and they make me work tons harder than I ever would on my own. Even though I still have a long
way to go, it's so encouraging to see the changes in my body. Everything is getting tighter (and smaller!) and I'm definitely getting stronger. I have had a sciatic nerve
problem for a few years and now after 2 months of the barre it barely even bothers me. Yay!
One thing that has really helped is setting goals for myself in class. My first one was to be able to make it through the bar thighs section without collapsing in a
sweaty, jiggly heap. Done! My next one was to make it through the cardio section without looking like I'm having a sweaty, jiggly stroke. Done! (unless I have the ewww
instructor that doesn't lead very well. But in that case I blame the stroke-like behavior on her) My current goal is to make it through the outer thigh lifts without the
side of my butt cramping up and giving out. Still a work in progress!
So now you know why I love Cardio Barre. I will admit that it is still really hard for me to work out with a bunch of people. And it is even harder for me to have to watch
myself in the mirror when I am at the barre. Whenever the instructor says, "everyone keep your eyes off the floor" I know it's aimed at me. But I am working on it. Maybe a
little more self confidence will be my next class goal. Maybe.
And one final update...I am now down a total of 20 lbs from when I first started trying to lose weight. It is slower going than I hoped for, but so long as it's going, that
is all that matters.
I am curious, does anyone else have any particular workouts they love? Please share!
