Got Pole?

I've always found it hard to get myself to the gym to workout. Ever since I was a kid, I would have no physical activity whatsoever unless I was enrolled in a dance class, gymnastics program or hoseback riding lessons. I remember my mom sending me to the park to go play with my friends. My physical activity would only ever last an hour at the most. I would play kickball or tag or dodgeball with my friends but it would get boring really fast. The rest of my afternoons would be spent walking from one base to another or sitting on a bench cheering my team on.

I had the stamina and endurance to keep active but I had no interest in the game. As the years went by, the situation stayed the same. I would always want to be active but I just wasn't motivated. I applied for gym membership and would workout and take classes religiously but that only ever lasted a few months. Then I would find myself in possession of multiple membership at various gyms and unnecessary deductions in my bank account.

I had almost given up on being healthy and active and finding a way to tone my body until my mom enrolled my little sister in her summer dance workshop. I came home to her excited kwento (story) of how Martina, my sister, would be starting her class in a week. It was only until she mentioned their pole dancing class that I, too, was able to join in the excitement.

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It's been 2 1/2 months since I started pole dancing. I have 1 1/2 hour classes twice a week and with only 3 hours of working out a week, I can already see a drastic change in my body.

Pole dancing is a great overall body workout. Each set of muscles is exercised and the dancing part of the class serves as my cardiovascular workout. Now, I look in the mirror and my arms are toned and lean, my legs muscles are more developed so they don't jiggle as much when I walk around in shorts, and when I wake up in the morning, you can even see a little definition in my abdominal area.

I achieved all this in less than three months without even altering my diet! I make sure to eat healthy but not less. And there's even some room for cheating and having a burger or pizza or other junk food 2-3 times a week.

Staying fit and living healthy is all a matter of finding an activity that suits your lifestyle and personality. I would not have been able to get into shape otherwise. A half-hearted workout never really paid off for me simply because I wasn't motivated to keep at it and I was definitely not happy doing it.

Now, I find my happiness in my dance class. And in being able to eat what I want without any guilt. I feel great! It's just an added bonus that my body is also starting to look great.