Whipped Into Shape

Everyone talks about the Freshman Fifteen, but I definitely didn’t get the memo about the additional Sophomore Seven. At the start of sophomore year, I was optimistic that I would lose those extra pounds that I had put on the previous year since I wouldn’t be tempted by the DC, the Junction, or the awesome smoothie place that was in the ARC before Starbucks took over. However, new temptations arose in the form of Chinese take-out, pizza delivery, and 3-for-1 deals on cake frosting at Safeway. Food was definitely the main source of comfort for me whenever life wasn’t playing out as perfectly as I planned. Unrequited feelings? Ben & Jerry’s binge. Stressed about finals? Cupcake baking frenzy. George is leaving Grey’s Anatomy? It’s the end of the world as we know it. After sophomore year, however, I knew that taking care of myself both physically and emotionally needed to be at the top of my to-do list. I needed to turn my lifestyle around, lose the pounds, and gain back my confidence.

                    These girls are totally whipped into shape. Love Legally Blonde!

Sounds easy enough. Isn’t the first step in overcoming a problem admitting that you have one? Awesome, step 1: done. But now what? My dad always insists that I have his running genes, so I began joining him for his morning jogs. But after only a couple minutes, I was exhausted, tired and sore, and the run made me even hungrier! The amount of effort I was putting forth was way more than I was getting out of it. Time for Plan B. Thanks to my younger sister and her fascination with Seventeen Magazine workouts, she assumed the role of my fitness coach and ripped out articles for me titled “Flatter Stomach in 4 Days!” and “Get Your Perfect Bikini Body Now!” While this seemed like a promising solution, looking at the size 2 figures in the pictures made my goal to fit back into my prom dress even more unattainable. I needed another option, a form of exercise that I enjoyed that would actually give me the results I wanted and, more importantly, wouldn’t discourage me. After a couple weeks of running, ab-crunching, and still not seeing the bikini body that I was promised, my mom suggested that I sign up for Jazzercise classes at a nearby sports club. I thought, Jazzercise? You mean those VHS tapes from, like, the ‘80s that moms danced to when poufy hair and neon leotards were considered fashionable? However, I had run out of options, so I gave it a shot.

Believe it or not, it was the best decision I could have ever made for myself. The class was an intense but fun 60-minute workout, incorporating dance moves and contemporary music to get you pumped up and energized. I bought the summer pass and went to class about 4-5 times a week. I was able to exercise in a supportive and comfortable environment, plus every five minutes the instructor told the group how beautiful we all looked! This new routine was great, but I knew that exercise alone wouldn’t perform miracles. I made a conscious effort to moderate my eating habits, cutting down portion sizes and cutting out emotional eating. Instead of diving for a pint of ice cream, I’d turn up the volume on my iPod and dance around the house, busting out the moves I had learned in class. By the end of the summer, I saw a remarkable improvement in myself, both physically and mentally. Since then, I’ve found a Jazzercise class in Davis that meets multiple times a week, and I have already made time for it in my busy schedule. It’s such a fun and invigorating activity and has done wonders to boost my self-esteem.

If you want to tone up your physique in a supportive and comfortable environment, then I definitely recommend checking it out. I still have a ways to go before slipping back into that prom dress, but my progress so far keeps me optimistic that I’m not too far away!