stepping outside the comfort zone

Christie O. and I must have been communicating telepathically last week or something. Because last Sunday evening I made a list. A list of all the things I wanted to try, physically, that were new and different and outside my comfort zone. A few of the things on that list: rock climbing, caving, spinning, kickboxing, cross-country skiing… Apparently, Christie stopped listening at that point — she jumped the gun a wee bit. What I was going to say, Christie, is that I wanted to start tackling that list after I got in shape.

As you all know, I spent most of last week trapped inside, nursing a sick toddler. So the chance of a class at the gym or something simply wasn’t going to happen. But one afternoon I did manage to get to the library, and I found the original Billy Blank’s Tae Bo DVD. Hmmm, kickboxing was on my list, so why not give it a shot?

First, this was a late 90s release. Seeing a man as ripped as Billy Blanks in an electric blue lycra (?) leotard and leg warmers was an experience, I’ll tell you. And of course you had to look past the bouncing while stretching, yadda yadda yadda. But what about the workout itself?

On Wednesday, I took the time to go over the instructional part of the video. He really went over proper technique and positioning. I felt a little ungainly, especially during the kicks, but knew I had the gist of it.

Saturday, I sent the husband up to nap with the toddler (now J’s getting sick, it never ends. please not me, too!), and put in the DVD to try the basic workout. Wow!! It was intense! And fun! And exhausting. And just when I thought I was going to die, it was over. I tried the best I could to remember the technique pointers, but I know that, for the most part, during the kicking sequences I was just flailing around.

Today, I’m mildly sore, mostly around my midrift. What do you know, I actually do have ab and back muscles! I’m going to repeat the Tae Bo workout on my cross training days this week before I have to return the DVD. And, I think I liked it well enough that when Harry starts school I’ll take in the kickboxing classes at the gym.

I didn’t think I was ready to step outside my comfort zone. But in the middle of a really crappy week, when everything else was going wrong, this challenge gave me the opportunity to do something right. And it actually helped me get back on track.