Zumba while you werk

Sometimes, cactus reminds me of the Pilot.

cactus8

That seems like a weird thing to say, but he is fascinated with it, especially since he grew up in the South. It’s weird to him that many Tucson homes have deadly plants in their yard, which is understandable. On the other hand, greenery and trees are kinda weird to me 😉

So needless to say, I’m reminded of him a lot, especially while I’m at work.

purplepants 

Today was my first day back, and it was definitely bittersweet. I’ve been looking forward to teaching fitness because it’s something that I love, and I’ve missed my work friends, but I can’t say it wasn’t hard to leave my little sidekick for longer than an hour. I’ve had a lot of anxiety today, partially because of nerves –I was nervous to teach again- and also because I missed her. The good news is that it’s only a couple days a week, and she gets to spend it with the best possible people: her nanas. It makes my heart happy that they’ll have extra time to bond together and hang out <3

Some eats:

Bowl of oats with Sun Warrior, Brewer’s yeast, raspberries, almond butter and tea

oats17

Larabar after stretch

A greeting with the cookies while I was waiting for my wrap to… cook

cookies6

Wrap with turkey, mayo, Dijon, greens, avocado and an apple

wrap and apple

Teaching Zumba was a lot of fun this morning 🙂 My friend Sasha and I team-taught, and one of the things I definitely had to hit “refresh” on was my cueing. Usually in Zumba you don’t use mics at all, but at work, we do since many of the guests have never taken Zumba before – it makes it a little bit easier to follow. It’s also kinda hilarious to say stuff like “one arm up, then smack your booty!” Team-teaching is awesome because you get a little bit of a break, too 🙂

Packing my afternoon snacks and heading back.

Hope everyone is having a great day <3

See ya later!

xoxo

Gina

Zumba song of the day:

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44 Comments

  1. Kris | iheartwellness.com on April 4, 2012 at 4:23 pm

    Awwww, I hope the anxiety goes away and you are extra super excited to see those lovely big eyes when you get through the door this evening 🙂 She will be just as happy to see YOU!!

    Cactus’ are strange to me…we are FULL of green here in Vancouver, BC!!!!

    xxxoo

  2. Meredith on April 4, 2012 at 4:23 pm

    I’m sure everyone at work was excited to have you back 🙂

    Love the purple pants on you!

    • Fitnessista on April 4, 2012 at 7:33 pm

      thank you again for sending them! my new faves 🙂

    • Amanda on April 5, 2012 at 10:29 am

      Studio II pants right? I’ve been eyeing those and I think I have to grab them before they go away! Totally obsessed with the fit of those pants, and LOVE that they finally made more colors!

  3. Nicole on April 4, 2012 at 4:25 pm

    It’s good for you and Liv to get some time apart – plus she’ll love spending the time with her nanas 🙂 Glad to her your first day back was successful! Aaaand that almond butter on top of your oats looks especially delicious right now… may be dipping a spoon into a jar at work when I’m done typing this!

  4. Lizzie on April 4, 2012 at 4:27 pm

    Ahh for the first 1 min. of that video, I thought it was you! Firl I know you have rhythm, but at first I was like holy mother!!!! 🙂 Congrats/good luck going back to work!

  5. Brittany on April 4, 2012 at 4:31 pm

    The Friday zumba class at my gym is team taught. I love it because on of the instructors is a trained dancer and the other one is more of an athlete (she must have done cheerleading and field hockey in high school). It is really fun. They dont use mic’s but they scream things out. On of the instructors will yell out “kick your butt and turn around”. I love zumba!!!!!! You got me into it Gina. I would have never thought of doing it if it weren’t for you talking about it so much!

    • Fitnessista on April 4, 2012 at 7:32 pm

      i’m so glad you love it!

  6. Averie @ Averie Cooks on April 4, 2012 at 4:34 pm

    Gina what you did today is so hard emotionally….hang in there. No matter how much one “loves” their job, their baby tugs on the hearttsrings and makes it challenging to say the least to leave that little bundle of joy. Hang in there and hope you were able to get plenty of baby snuggles in after work 🙂

    • Fitnessista on April 4, 2012 at 7:32 pm

      thank you, lovely! i just snuggled her for her last nap and it was amazing 🙂

  7. Lisa on April 4, 2012 at 4:58 pm

    What brand of wraps do you use?

    • Fitnessista on April 4, 2012 at 7:32 pm

      trader joe’s 🙂

  8. Amber L on April 4, 2012 at 5:10 pm

    My baby hasn’t even been born yet and I’m already dreading going back to work in September. I’m fortunate to have 4 months off with her, but when I go back to work I am returning to full time teaching. It is going to be dreadful leaving my sweet little baby for a full day 🙁 Kuddos to all of us working moms!

    • Fitnessista on April 4, 2012 at 7:31 pm

      it’s tough, for sure! i can’t imagine how hard it must be to go back full time :/
      you’ll love those 4 months and i’m so excited for you- she’ll be here SOON!

      • Amber L on April 5, 2012 at 6:57 am

        I’m so excited! 🙂

  9. Liz @ Tip Top Shape on April 4, 2012 at 5:29 pm

    I read a lot about how it’s hard to leave the little ones when you go back to work. At least she gets to be with her grandparents!

    Glad to hear your first day back went well!

    • Fitnessista on April 4, 2012 at 7:30 pm

      thank you! <3

  10. Abby on April 4, 2012 at 5:45 pm

    Congrats on your first day back! I can’t imagine how difficult it is to leave your babe. Thank goodness you love your job!

    • Fitnessista on April 4, 2012 at 7:30 pm

      amen to that. all day i was like “don’t cry. don’t cry. don’t cry”

  11. Lisa @ Fresh Spinach on April 4, 2012 at 5:49 pm

    I would LOVE to go to one of your Zumba classes!

    • Fitnessista on April 4, 2012 at 7:30 pm

      i would love to have you in one of my classes 🙂

  12. Kelly @ Vegolosophy on April 4, 2012 at 5:51 pm

    Congrats on your first day back!!!

    • Fitnessista on April 4, 2012 at 7:30 pm

      thank you!

  13. Sara on April 4, 2012 at 6:03 pm

    I’m sure that it’s such a hardship for Livi to be with her Nana’s… all those cuddles and devoted attention 😀 I have a favourite Aunty and we let her have sole control of Jasmine for a day when she was 4 months old. She gave her CHOCOLATE! I think that was the day I realised my vision of raising a junk-free baby was probably unrealistic..

    • Fitnessista on April 4, 2012 at 7:29 pm

      yeah i’m sure she’s really roughing it 😉
      and chocolate?! whyyyy??

  14. Britt on April 4, 2012 at 6:06 pm

    You are so so lucky to have people in your family you can trust to watch livi. If my mom watched my baby she would probably put him down and forget him all day. It’s going tobe so hard to work out my schedule around my hubby’s work schedule so one of us can always watch the babe. Be extra thankful!

    • Fitnessista on April 4, 2012 at 7:29 pm

      i am definitely am <3
      i'm glad that you and your hubby are going to be able to work it out. best of luck to you!

  15. Allison on April 4, 2012 at 6:12 pm

    wait, weren’t you not eating almond butter for lent?
    I need to get my hands on some almond butter though! i have never tried it before, only peanut butter.

    I love cactus, they are so cool.

    • Fitnessista on April 4, 2012 at 7:28 pm

      no, i didn’t give up anything for lent this year. i decided that since things are so crazy, god will understand that i need to take whatever food i can get my hands on 🙂

      • Allison on April 4, 2012 at 7:43 pm

        was it last year that I am thinking of..? if so… wow time sure flew by!

  16. chrissy on April 4, 2012 at 6:27 pm

    hmm…guessing the Pilot grew up in the south south. it’s mostly all south when you live in Chicagoland:( i could use a roadtrip, the cornfields just beyond my backyard are making me hallucinate. anyway, congrats on your first day back to work!!! i hope it gets easier for you:)

  17. Ashley on April 4, 2012 at 6:41 pm

    Whenever I got to stay at my grandma’s house while my mom was busy I always had so much fun! It is great bonding time too!

  18. AstroCook on April 4, 2012 at 7:22 pm

    Oh man, the instructor in that video can really shake her booty! I feel like my whole body jiggles when I shake my butt like that. I suppose that’s the point, eh? 😉

  19. Cheryl on April 4, 2012 at 9:57 pm

    Love that Zumba song..thanks for sharing!

  20. Jamie on April 4, 2012 at 10:00 pm

    I have never tried zumba before but this video sure makes me want to. They look like they are having so much fun.
    I really hope the anxiety gets better for you. It’s great that nanas are there for you.

    • Fitnessista on April 4, 2012 at 11:49 pm

      thank you! yes, i’m very lucky <3
      and if you try zumba, let me know how it goes!

  21. Maeve on April 4, 2012 at 10:08 pm

    Congrats on getting back to Zumba! Wish you were in Boston… you and I could team teach a class!

    • Fitnessista on April 4, 2012 at 11:48 pm

      that would be sooooo fun 🙂

  22. Laura Jane @ Recovering Chocoholic on April 4, 2012 at 10:21 pm

    I’m sure it’s tough going back to work and leaving your baby, but so glad that she’s in such great care! I keep wanting to try Zumba. Are there an Zumba DVD’s you would recommend? I might feel more comfortable trying it at home instead of in front of a bunch of people. 🙂

    • Fitnessista on April 4, 2012 at 11:48 pm

      i honestly love the old advanced dvds.. they’re kinda dated, though. the best bet is to youtube zumba (ideas on how to put an at-home class together are here: http://fitnessista.com/2012/03/focus-on-youtube-fitness/) and make your own (free!) class at home. hope you like it 🙂

  23. KaraHadley on April 5, 2012 at 2:18 am

    This is a super random question, but what’s the difference between Brewer’s yeast and nutritional yeast?

  24. Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin on April 5, 2012 at 7:45 am

    Aww I can’t imagine how hard it must be to leave Livi for a few hours – but that’s great that she’s getting to spend time with her Nanas! When I was a toddler my grandma always looked after me and I still cherish those days with her. So I’m sure this will be a very special experience for Livi too! 🙂

  25. Janiek @ A non-perfect girl on April 5, 2012 at 7:50 am

    You’ve got ne craving an avocado wrap now….!

  26. Emily @ Glitz Glam Granola on April 5, 2012 at 2:47 pm

    Glad to hear that your first class back went well!! I would LOVE to take one of your classes sometime- I bet you are such an awesome instructor! And I’m sorry about the anxiety, I’m sure it was very hard to leave your little one but it is so nice that she’ll get this bonding time!

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