I had trapeze class #2 yesterday. Like the first class, it was amazing. Unfortunately, the adrenaline rush was not as prevalent, making things harder. There were 5 people in the class and I was the only non-virgin. So, I got to do a bit of demonstrating. A fact they did not tell me till I was on the platform lining up for a trick! I also learned a new trick, a 2 position split. I struggled with the trick a bit. Partly because it takes a lot of strength to hold, but also because I had 4 seperate teachers all telling me different things. While doing the tricks, I felt sloppy, uncoordinated and way off. However, when I reviewed the video at home that afternoon I realized it looked a lot better and I was a lot closer than I thought. And, I did catch the trick… I really love this sport!
Tonight I went back to the gym for the first time in over a year! It was awesome. I was amazed at how much easier everything was 55 lbs lighter. Really the only thing holding me back most of the night was my own fear. Finally, I got mad and said, fuggit, I am not gonna have any fun if I let the fear win. And I started throwing tricks. I successfully hit a couple of front tucks and a few roundoff backhandsprings. It’s good to be strong again!
The diet officially ended tonight. Wohoo! I attended my last Optifast group meeting tonight and drank my last shake. I am back on food, I actually have been for a couple of weeks and my weight has been holding steady. Starting next Wednesday I will be taking a 10 week maintenance class as I learn the right way to eat and keep off the pounds. For those of you who do math, I am 15 lbs shy of my originally stated “goal” weight. However, I decided to stop at 55lbs because well honestly, I don’t know where I would find 15 more lbs to lose (except maybe my boobs and I am not giving them up without a fight). I am a size smaller than my goal size and I am happy with my body for the first time in 13 years. I am strong, I am healthy, and I am happy. Bring on the hard stuff!
So, 2 weeks ago, boyfriend K and I took grandma to see Cirque Du Soleil- Corteo. It was my first CDS experience and I was moved to tears. LOVED IT. There was a routine with girls hanging from chandeliers and I decided then and there, that was what I wanted to do when I grew up. I told a friend about it and she told me there was a trapeze school in Escondido. So, I looked it up online and sure enough, she was right! Trapeze High is located in Escondido, CA and for $45 you can take a beginners class. I decided that it was time, once again, to stare a little fear in the face. And I wanted to get a little high!
I was very excited and more that a couple shades of nervous. K went along to video the whole thing and to lend a little moral support. His presence calmed me, he was encouraging, and he got some great video.
We started out with a little “ground” school, but within 10 minutes I was climbing the tiny ladder and getting connected to the safety lines. All too fast, it was my turn to jump off the platform and swing on the bar over the net. It was exhilarating! At the end of a couple swings we had to drop to the net. We repeated this exercise twice. Then it was time to learn to hang from our knees. I would swing out, then Dave (the guy running the safety lines and teaching the class) would bark the order “Legs up now!” and I would straddle my legs up to hook on the bar. At the top of the backswing Dave would yell, “Let go now!” and I let go of the bar and swung back holding the bar with only the backs of my knees. Then back to the bars with my hands, knees let go, swing and back flip into the net. At this point in the lesson I am doing great while in the air, but I’m shaking like a leaf on the ground. I figure thats the end of the class. NOPE! They bring out another guy to swing from the next swing and we do the knee hang swing again, but this time instead of putting our hands back on the bar after the knee hang swing the catcher grabs our hands and we let go of our knees. Then we drop into the net. I did this 3 times, it was amazing. By the time I was back on the ground I was hooked. I can definitely see this school becoming part of my regularly scheduled programming.
