Leah: The Kind Weight Watcher's first official retraction...

Remember how excited I was about Curves zumba? Remember this stellar review?

I take it back. I take it all back!

I just wish that I was already a lawyer so that I could really do something about this, but here is the injustice that I was faced with yesterday:

They are charging for zumba!!!! $2.00 per session. This wouldn't be a big deal (Oh, I'd still be furious, but it wouldn't be quite the upset that it is) if Zumba took place in a seperate room. But no, Zumba takes place in the only room, right around the equipment that is for PAYING members to use during all hours of business...

Now, if a PAYING MEMBER wants to do the workout that was PAID FOR at 5:30pm on Tuesdays or Thursdays, they will have to PAY an additional $2.00???!!! I'm sorry, but I PAY $35.00 a month to have unlimited access to Curves.

I want to see my contract. I should not have to pay anything about my $35.00 monthly fee to use the facility at any time it's open.

It's ridiculous. I am going to be writing to the corporate office about this, just as soon as I figure out how, and who exactly to complain to.

$35.00 a month is not chump change for me. No sir-ee, I budget around that number. When I joined Curves back in February 2010, I decided that it was worth giving up some fun things every month to get in shape with Mom. So for almost a year now, I have sacrificed movies and going out to eat for going to Curves.

And they have the nerve to charge me more, just because the only time that I can fit it into my schedule is right after work, which just happens to be when the now $2.00/session Zumba classes are?!

Not cool, Curves. Not cool.

And yes, I know that school starts for me tomorrow and that this will basically no longer apply to me since I will only be able to go to Curves on Fridays until Summer break... but it's the principle of the thing.

Curves is doing Zumba!

I don't mention it nearly enough, but part of my exercise routine is going to Curves. I try to go at least twice a week.

I originally joined for my mom. I really want her to be healthy, and to live to be at least 100 (she's 50 right now). I thought that Curves would be too easy for me, that it was meant for a "more mature" crowd.

But... I have come around. It's been a great ride, going to Curves! I first knew that I wasn't doing this just for Mom anymore when I went without her on a day she couldn't attend. For someone who does mostly cardio workouts, mixing in some strength training at Curves is a great idea! I definately feel it in all of my muscles the next day, especially if I actually work hard.

Anyway, I've always wanted to try Zumba. And now, Curves is offering Zumba classes! It was pretty cool.

Basically, Curves is circuit training (and oh yeah, for women only.). There is a circle of strength training machines, spaced between "rest stations" which are springy boards on which you jog in place or stretch for 30 seconds between the machines. I will usually jog in place.

For Curves Zumba, instead of the rest stations, we were following a Zumba instructor. And the intervals were all for 1 minute instead of 30 seconds.

I loved Curves Zumba! My mom looked amazing out there, doing the Zumba moves along with the rest of the crowd. We all looked and felt pretty silly doing those dance moves. But, we were a team. It was great.

The only sad part about this is that these Zumba classes will only be offered at certain times on specific days. All of those times and days will be when I am either at work or at school. So this will be the only week that I will get to Curves Zumba until summer break. Oh, well. These are the sacrifices that I have to make to go back to school! :-)

Exercise... a habit?!

This has been a crazy week for me. Lots of stuff going on, mostly family-related. Sad things, scary things, time-consuming things. Which I am happy to do, because I love my family!

In the past I would have let this family stuff be an excuse to skip exercise for as long as possible. Not anymore! Now I make time.

My mom, who needs at least a little "me-time" every day right now, is still meeting me at Curves every day after work for a 30 minute workout. It's good and distracting for her, and wondeful for me, too!

And my evening cardio sessions? Yes, they have gotten both later and shorter, but I am still committed to getting in a good cardio workout every day.

Who knew? I have finally made exercise not just a priority, not just something that I enjoy, but a real habit. And it feels great.