My first stop after taking my first pole-dancing class was at a cafe for a hearty lunch, because doing things like this is one way to really work up an appetite...
Must lengthen neck
My second stop was at a drugstore to buy some Alaxan, because climbing that thing HURTS. It's been three days and I can still feel some pain in my arms, core, and inner thighs. Speaking of which, I found out that one of the best things about this form of dancing is that a little thigh fat is a good thing. Finally, a dance class where I fit in!
Some other surprising things I learned:
An hour-long class is plenty. You'd think it's bitin, but even alternating on the pole with someone is enough to leave you exhausted (and famished). It takes a lot of strength to climb and hold poses!
Doing spins makes you dizzy. I don't know why I didn't even think of that. I guess when you try to master a spin and do it repeatedly, it really gets to you. I'm told some pros even take Bonamine before getting on the spinning pole.
My Polecat friend told me that every dancer has a strength--it could be legs, upper body, a bendy back, the actual dancing. I don't know what mine is, but given these thighs, it's probably my legs!
Workouts like this make me ask God why I wasn't born skinny.
This, ladies and gents, is a sample of Shaun T's Insanity workout. And when he says "insanity," he isn't kidding. I gotta tell ya, this sh*t be crazy!
The workout was introduced to me by a teammate who lost 15 pounds in three weeks (!). My relatives also did the workout with varying results--some didn't lose weight, but got toned (remember, muscle is heavier than fat!). My 22-year-old niece had abs after doing it!
Readers, meet my niece's abs. Photo reposted with permission!
Insanity was put together by Shaun T, better known as the Hiphop Abs guy. According to the pamphlet, Insanity is...
"...a 60-day cardio-based total-body conditioning program. We believe it's probably the most intense workout ever put on DVD. (The 30-Day Shred's got nothing on this, I attest.)
"Insanity was created by fitness expert Shaun T, based largely on years of study plus his collegiate track and field training. Keep up, and you'll work past your max with explosive cardio and plyometric drills and nonstop intervals of strength, power, and resistance moves. Plus you'll do ab and core training techniques that will push your limits to produce amazing results in 60 days."
When I tell friends who want to change their bodies that it takes 60 days, they lose interest, because most people want a shortcut. Well, people, 60 days is a shortcut. You don't pack on the extra pounds overnight, so you're definitely not going to lose 'em overnight either!
The program uses nothing but your body weight--you just need a bit of space to do some of the drills (like suicides, globe jumps, and--gulp--moving pushups). It starts off with a fit test, which you're supposed to do every two weeks to track your progress. Then each day, you do something different--it could be plyometric cardio circuit, cardio power and resistance, pure cardio (with or without cardio abs), or cardio recovery (which is kind of yoga-ish, but still with pushups!).
The first day was agonizing. That fit test made me realize that my arse was in such a sorry state. I was sweating, grunting, and swearing through the whole thing, and you could hear the constant thump on our wooden floors as I did switch kicks, power jumps, and all the other exercises. (Which led to my husband suggesting that I work out on the first floor, because our neighbors might be getting weird ideas...)
The second day, plyo, I wanted to cry. It got kind of easier as the weeks progressed, mostly because I already knew what I was in for and was no longer caught by surprise ("Did he say 'moving pushups'?!"). But every workout was (and still is) a challenge. I don't think I've ever gotten through a workout without a bunch of colorful swear words.
I eventually reached max levels, which can only be described as lunacy. Alas, I got sick in the midst of all the late nights and stress that December brings, so I was unable to continue.:( But the five or so weeks I did Insanity did produce results:
I lost four pounds in the first two to three weeks--not an easy feat, considering my age and slow metabolism. It was hard enough for me to lose weight in my teens and 20s!
I lost a bit of my belly fat. Yay! I'd post a pic but it's not quite as impressive as my niece's. Haha.
I lost an inch from my hips. Considering my hips were over 36 inches (gasp) already, I guess it's a good thing!
I progressed to doing proper pushups, after years of doing girl pushups.
My tricep muscles, which had been buried under a layer of arm fat, were visible again.
I built up my endurance and felt stronger.
My sweat glands were jacked up to max levels--seriously, I have never sweat so much in my life.
So if you want to get rid of that holiday fat, I highly recommend Insanity. It's not for everyone though--you have to be truly committed. The workout itself isn't easy, but possibly a greater challenge is getting your butt moving at home, by yourself, with no one to encourage you. (It's the reason I'm thinking of setting up an Insanity Skype date with my family here and abroad.) And if you've been sedentary for a while, best to get an OK from your doctor first.
