We facetimed and she gleefully described the Body Shred class.
What? We're sisters. We look alike.
She continued to try and convince me.
I wasn't excited yet.
She tried harder.
It didn't help.
She finished it off with some sisterly advice.
The first day of my vacation I flew into town and had a quick visit at Gymsis'. She was more than happy to show me just what we would be doing in class.
The last thing GymSis said to me the night before the class was:
Awesome?
The next morning I convinced myself to somehow get in the car and drive to the gym at the appointed time. I would love to tell you all the fabulous exercises we did but my brain stopped working after about 5 minutes. I also spent a lot of time putting my head down. But here is what I remember:
1. Side to side burpees. I grunted through them.
2. Dancing crabs. I needed a lot of one on one attention.
3. High knees. I wheezed.
4. Planks with alternating arm and leg lifts. I begged for mercy.
5. Some sort of Superman thing. I almost passed out.
We may have used weights at some point but don't quote me on that.
The muscle soreness set in after about 20 minutes (never a good sign) and lasted the rest of the week. That made for a lot of fun when I had to go with my sister to RPM class a few days later.
I'm linking up with the fabulous Yeah Write this week!
UPCOMING POSTS: RPM CLASS, RUNNING A 5K WITH MY SISTER AND NEPHEWS, DILETTANTE TRIATHLON RECAP
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH HA HA HA HA HA AH HA HA! This is hysterical. I hate exercise classes so much. Probably because I look like a BAFFOOOON as I try to do what everyone else is doing....... I am just not graceful AT ALL, so screw it! Exercising alone is my GAME! lol
ReplyDeleteYeah, I'm not so good at classes either (clearly.) There's no shame in working out alone!
DeleteHilarious. I know how all of that feels. I had never thought it possible to even to 1 of those things until I met a mean trainer. She now has me doing all of the above. Also I have discovered a range of noises that I did not know I could make. The superman thingy is just not right. Just think of that core strength. Love the blog.
ReplyDeleteI bet you are in amazing shape though!!
DeleteI'm a fat lady. I went to a similar workout with a friend (who obviously hates me), I'm pretty sure at one point I had a near death experience. Jesus told me to reach for the light but when I tried the trainer just screamed at me, "YOUR OTHER LEFT!"
ReplyDeleteI am simultaneously amused and confused by your experience! Also, I don't think body size or shape has anything to do with it...some of us are just not graceful.
Deletehaha that does sound brutal! It sounds somewhat similar to an abs class I used to take at my gym. The first few times I went, it was so torturous. I wanted to die. But then, I was convinced to go back and actually wanted to, too! Glad you survived it. Do you think you would do it again?
ReplyDeleteI think if I could go on a regular basis I might, since it would make me uber strong!
DeleteThat sounds like fun!Sign me up!! ;)
ReplyDeleteAha, a glutton for punishment :D
DeleteToo funny. I did feel your pain. I did warn you that all the folks come out of that class very red in the face and dripping. Thanks for the giggle :)
ReplyDeleteSo when are you going to class?
DeleteMuscle soreness coming on that close to completing a workout is never good. I have had that happen before and it only got worse over the next 2 days. Anything that rhymes with dread can't be good in my book. It sounds awful! Glad that you stuck it out though.
ReplyDeleteYeah I knew I was in trouble!! But it was worth the blog post ;)
DeleteAwesome!!! Love the story!
ReplyDeleteThanks Kierston! I bet you'd breeze through the class...it's at the Goodlife in Barrhaven!
DeleteI love it...not that you hurt, but the way you wrote it. I have a sneaking suspicious this is how I sound to my own sister when I try to drag her along to things.
ReplyDeleteIf you are the older sister then I can guarantee that you sound that way :D
DeleteYour post is hilarious and even though that workout sounds tough I bet it will make you super strong! I especially liked the picture of the dancing crab exercise.
ReplyDeleteI bet it would if I went back! But it's really far away so I don't think it's going to happen :P
DeleteThis is exactly why I always politely decline when my bootcamp loving coworkers invite me to class on lunch. I much prefer to look like an idiot in the comfort of my living room.
ReplyDeleteI would not want to do that sort of thing with my coworkers! But it was my sister; she's used to seeing me look like a doofus.
DeleteI'm terrified of anything called "shred." I'm sure I would be entirely too uncoordinated for that kind of class.
ReplyDeleteYeah. I was not coordinated that day at all. Or you know, any day, really.
DeletePass. Pass on all that. I agree that "shred" is not a good name for a class for me. I'd prefer something like "soft and gentle bouncing" for an exercise class. I'd try that.
ReplyDeleteYes. Soft and gentle bouncing sounds wonderful :D Let's make that a class.
DeleteWell, I LOVE group classes, though not the ones that require a lot of knee impact ... or tough love. I can really see the resemblance between you and GymSis. mwah ha ha Go back to a class that you pick and have your sis join you.
ReplyDeleteYah, we are tough to tell apart, right? I got her back...I took her running.
DeleteI teach a HIIT class to my university students, but I have to work them up to it all quarter or they pass out and/ or barf. Youngsters today are ripped off by the PE budget cuts in their schools. Anyway, they always seem upset that a 54 year old lady kicks their butts. But then, we teachers don't teach exercises we can't do ourselves, now do we?
ReplyDeleteNow that is amazing. I love that you kick their booties.
DeleteIt really is an amazing, brutal workout! I am sure we all look like that, only you tend to zone out for lack of oxygen and don't really notice those around you ;) As for TriGirl picking an activity and making me try it, she already has. It's called running. Sooooooo not a fan of it. Gymsis.
ReplyDeleteWait, whaddaya mean you're not a fan?? You bought shoes and clothes and everything!!
DeleteI hate planks, and Shred is a very scary name for an exercise class. Awesome drawings as usual!
ReplyDeleteKaren
Thanks Karen! Scary indeed.
Deleteomg i'm totally afraid of your sister now! ow. i mean, wow!
ReplyDeleteOuch! I thought you might be referring to Jillian Michaels, but this sounds much harder. Congrats on surviving!
ReplyDeleteIt's her class...not sure if it's the same as her DVDs? Anyway, yeah it was crazy!
DeleteGymsis might need some help with her persuasiveness. If you're going with "rhymes with dread", you're a bad at sales. All of the exercises you mention are pretty dreadful, though. Except "burpees"? That just sounds hilarious.
ReplyDeleteYup, exercise is funny: fartleks, burpees, pickletickle...ok, I just made that last one up. As for Gymsis, she is my older sister and I think there's a part of her that likes to see me suffer just a little, as long as she knows I'm not actually hurt :P
DeleteOh that's scary. Why would any class be named Shred?!! That's a scare-away-name. Absolutely loved your exercise names - Dancing Crabs, Superman thing....I just got some jaw and stomach exercise with all that giggling! :D
ReplyDeleteI did not make up the dancing crab name! Not sure about the superman, but that might be their name for it too :)
DeleteFreaking HILARIOUS!!! Your drawings made the experience a total WIN!!!
ReplyDeleteAww, thanks so much Pamo!
DeleteSounds like pure torture to me!! I work out but try to avoid anything too strenuous. Your sister must be in REALLY good shape. Cute drawings.
ReplyDeleteYes, pure torture! And yes, she is in excellent shape!
DeleteAs always, I love your illustrations. Some day, you may inspire me to try running. But after reading this, I can guarantee that I will NOT try a shred class.
ReplyDeleteThanks cynk! I would love it if you tried running! I won't blame you for not trying shred.
DeleteVery funny, I love your illustrations.
ReplyDeleteI've just gotta say, you make gym class torture...HILARIOUS. And um, side burpees? Who would invent such a heinous thing?
ReplyDeleteThanks :) Yeah, side burpees are really awful.
DeleteShred does rhyme with dread and I will forevermore remember that (and these pictures) and never go. hilarious.
ReplyDeleteWell you could remember and still go if you wanted a really really hard workout!
DeleteI love your writing and your pictures. I started laughing uncontrollably at "Some sort of Superman thing." I bet you're in great shape though. Well done.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Bibliophile. I am a work in progress.
DeleteWait, you tried THE SHRED??? You are gutsy, my friend. Just the name scares me.
ReplyDeleteYeah I did. It was scary.
DeleteHehehe, at least you went!!! You totally could've backed out but you didn't... kudos :)
ReplyDeleteI did. Not sure if it was smart or not!
DeleteAnd here I thought shredding had something to do with snowboarding! Love the artwork, btw.
ReplyDeleteThanks! You mean as in, shred the pow? We were shredding our muscles :P
Delete