100 Pure Barre Classes

Back in January, I reached the 100 classes milestone in pure barre. I realized I never blogged about it, and wanted to.  

 

Before I got into pure barre I had been in a real slump. I was approaching 160 pounds the day we came home from our cruise to the Bahamas in 2013, and that was the biggest I had EVER been. That was a bad, bad feeling.   The way I got to that point was by not caring. I started the job I am currently at in May 2012, and around that time started eating whatever I wanted, and very rarely going to the gym. That fall I took my first graduate course, which was also my first class since I had graduated college in 2007. It was very, very difficult for me. I struggled with both time management, and with studying since I had been out of school for a few years. The class was Anatomy and Physiology of Speech and Hearing Mechanisms-enough said.   That Christmas Nick and I got engaged, and I knew there was no way I was walking down the aisle looking that way. I couldn't stand how big my face and arms were in pictures. I was slow to start, but I tried pure barre for the first time that Spring. At first I wasn't crazy about the price. I got ten classes and while I loved them, I still wasn't 100%. I dieted and worked out in the gym that summer, and that is how I lost most of my weight. I started eating much healthier and quit Diet Coke.   That fall I went back to pure barre and that is when I started really getting addicted. I went religiously all through the Spring semester leading up to our wedding. I wish I had lost a bit more weight, but I felt good about how I looked in my wedding dress. You can see my collar bones in this picture, and I didn't know I still had them. I was about 138 at my wedding.     I am very, very small boned and therefore shouldn't weigh over about 145 at the most in my opinion. I prefer to be in the 130s, and feel like I look my best in that range.   I was super slack last summer. I backslid a lot, and was gaining weight back. I had Research Methods and Neuro in summer school last year, so it just sort of was what it was. In the fall I went back to barre and have been going strong ever since! I even did pretty good over the holidays. I am trying to get back down to the 130s. Lately I have not been doing very well with my eating. We are going to Mexico next month, so I need to buckle down so I will not feel uncomfortable in a swim suit.   If you are thinking about trying out barre, I highly recommend it. It is a lot of fun. The routine changes so that your body doesn't get used to the exercises. I go in the evenings after work, and I like having that hour all to myself. All for myself. I only think about what I am doing in there right then. It is a nice break after work before going home to study.   Pure barre also improves your flexibility a lot. I about have my middle split back, granted not turned out, but still.     It is a pretty laid back atmosphere. I have had several people tell me they think they are too uncoordinated for barre. I told them it's not like you're practicing for a performance. There's no pure barre recital like in dance. It doesn't really matter if you are out of step or don't pick up on something quickly. Instructors are also very helpful about showing you adjustments if you are doing something incorrectly.   Let me know if you have any questions about barre! I don't teach or anything, but I will be happy to let you know about my experience. On to 250 classes!!