When I first started running I was doing 2ish miles on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. And on Tuesdays and Thursdays I'd do Pure Barre DVDs. According to the website: "Pure Barre is a total body workout that lifts your seat, tones your thighs, and burns fat in record-breaking time. Utilizing the ballet barre to perform small isometric movements set to fantastic music, Pure Barre is the fastest, most effective, yet safest way to change your body." As my weekend milage increased, I tapered back the Pure Barre. I tried to do at least 1 PB class a month (aiming for every 2 weeks when possible). But after taking a class on Saturday, it was impossible to go run 8-10 miles without cramping up. So I lifted up on the Pure Barre focusing more on the running. Big Mistake!! I went from toned, to thighs rubbing together again. I have huge thighs, so when they don't touch, that's a huge accomplishment.
I first heard about Pure Barre when I was in L.A. I saw Melissa Joan Hart on TV raving about this class that totally got her in shape after her first baby. Not long after that, I was working ECMO in the ICU and the nurse mentioned she'd taken this new workout class. We started talking and it was a Pure Barre class. She said, "I was walking around naked getting ready for bed and my husband asked me what I was doing lately because my ass looked great. I hadn't done any workouts except for that ONE class." I was determined to try it at that point. But alas, life in the OR prevented me from doing so. Every so often I'd look up classes, but in L.A. I was intimidated by location. I mean if a class is in Beverly Hills, how likely are you to go? I didn't want to be the fat girl in class who had no clue what she was doing! So I put it off longer. When I moved back to Arizona, I saw my brother's friend comment that she'd taken a class and LOVED it. Her friend from school is an instructor. It was then that I decided to bite the bullet and just do it. I tried to talk my mom into going with me, but she was intimidated by it because it was different.
I did my research and read up on it. But NOTHING could have prepared me for that class. It was INTENSE! I was drenched in the first 10 minutes, and we weren't even done with warm up. The warmup consists of knee lifts, planks in various positions, isometric situps, and arm workouts with light weights and resistance bands. Don't be fooled - nowhere near as easy as it sounds. Then they move to the barre to work the tops of the thighs and inner thighs. Half way through one side, my legs were visibly shaking and continued to shake for the entire class. After thighs is butt, and then abs. Each set of movements seems harmless until you hone in the exercise and really work from the target muscle. And after the first class, despite barely being able to walk and my entire body still twitching - I was in love!
If the studios weren't an hour from my house, I'd be there daily. I'm obsessed and I have loved seeing the results (and missed it when I wasn't doing it). I'd really love to become an instructor. Every time I go I beg the owners to open another one on the west side of town. I ordered the collector series of DVDs to do at home. They aren't nearly as intense as the class, but it prepares you well for the class. My mom tried out the DVDs for a while before her first class. And she agreed, even that couldn't prepare you for the class. It's not like any other type of exercise.
So since the half marathons were over, I figured it was time to get back to it. I've been attempting to do the DVDs at least 3-4 times a week. My goal is 4, hopefully 5. But being sick has thrown that off. But I do have to say, I'm starting to see results. My arms are leaner. I'm losing that "boob fat" between my armpit and my chest. My abs are more defined. I still have the pooch, but the obliques are tighter. (Discovered running in conjunction with PB helps to pull in the pooch.) My thighs are tighter and leaner. They almost don't touch anymore whereas 2 weeks ago, there was full on rub contact going on - so much so I put on compression pants under a dress because it was so annoying. My hips are a little trimmer, but my butt is definitely tighter and lifted!! Glad to be back to the barre after being away for a while. Slowly getting back into PB and running. Hopefully now that it's getting light earlier, I'll be able to go back to running in the morning again and do some PB at night. I had to give up my morning runs due to too many coyote/javalina encounters.
Still hoping for that hot bikini body!
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