Do Not Underestimate the Minute!

So my sister and I had our very first Bootcamp class at the local Y this morning.  We will be attending this class every Tuesday and Thursday morning for the next 6 weeks.  I will admit, I was a little apprehensive about this bootcamp thing.  It sounded hardcore.  It sounded like push ups, sit ups, rolling around in the grass and face paint.  Maybe even a tat that said, "G.I. Jane" somewhere on my person.  What if the instructor yelled at me and I laughed?  Would I have to get down and give him 20?  I just wasn't sure about all of this.

Well, it turned out to be nothing more than a good but challenging class inside the YMCA gymnasium.  There was a bit of laughing at one point when my sister and I hit the "mountain climber" exercise, but I'm not sure our instructor noticed. It was very tame, although he has promised to bring music next week and I'm hoping for some good pump-you-up songs.  The class basically consisted of some running for a warm-up, some squats and leg kick things, and then a circuit of 10 one-minute stations with different exercises that made my entire body feel like jello.  After completing these 10 stations twice, we got to pick our favorite one and do that for three minutes.  I chose one that worked my arms since that is one of my weakest areas.  I hope to be able to move them tomorrow.  After the three minute station, we ran to loosen up, and then did a few suicides before stretching it out at the end of the hour.

A great class to be sure, and I learned two valuable things. 

#1.  Do not underestimate the minute.  It is not a mere 60 seconds, it is 60 eternities. 

#2.  A Burpee is not a cute baby toy or a fizzy slush from Sonic.  It is an exercise that leaves you wanting to lie down on the floor with an oxygen mask.  Especially when you have to do it for 60 eternities.

As Julie and I walked out to our cars and discussed our levels of jello-ness, we decided we liked this new class and were looking forward to Thursday.  I am looking forward to these new physical challenges and hoping to see some positive changes not only in my upper body strength, but in my overall fitness level as well.  Whatever the result, I think it is going to be a hoot getting there. 

And I bet some face paint probably wouldn't hurt either.