During the nearly three years we spent in Ocala, I’m pretty sure I wrote “I miss BodyPump” on this blog no less than 5,000 times. I am so happy it is back in my life now!!! HOORAY! There are tons of gyms that offer BodyPump and other Les Mills classes in Charlotte and I am excited to check them out!
Since I’m not sure where exactly we’ll end up in Charlotte, I don’t think Ryan and I will be getting a gym membership until we’re in a more permanent living situation unless we can find one that’s relatively cheap near our temporary apartment. For now, I’ll be hopping around.
Today’s “find the closest BodyPump class” adventure took me to an aquatic center.
It was an older facility and the class size was small, but I still managed to get in the zone and feel the burn. Though the building was a little dated, I loved the way it smelled like a pool throughout the facility. It took me back to my days on the diving and water polo teams in high school. I know it’s weird, but the smell of a pool is one of my favorite smells in the world. Memories!
After BodyPump, I stopped by Fresh Market to grab a strawberry walnut salad and a cup of Greek yogurt for lunch.
(I saved the second cup to enjoy either tomorrow morning or as an evening snack tonight.)
Once I made it back to our hotel, I ate my lunch and worked until around 2:15 p.m. when it was clear to me that cabin fever set in for Sadie and she needed to spend some time outside.
Either that or I was just using Sadie as an excuse to put off some emails and enjoy the beautiful sunshine. Whatever works!
We walked for about an hour and Sadie had a ball. One thing we both appreciated was the shaaaaade.
The large number of beautiful tree-lined streets was one of the things Ryan and I repeatedly commented on during our first visit to Charlotte. Our neighborhood in Ocala was surrounded by the Ocala National Forest and yet there were no trees! It was mind-boggling, especially since Florida is so HOT and shade is always more than welcome. I’m happy to see a plethora of trees along the street here, that’s for sure.
We also saw kids outside playing which made me smile. Sadie was intrigued with the kids at first until she noticed their scooters. Scooters are SCARY.
So are bikes, skateboard and rollerblades. Basically anything with wheels freaks Sadie out.
I’d say our first day in Charlotte was a success. I’m looking forward to a casual dinner date with Ryan tonight!
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Glad you enjoyed your first day in Charlotte. You guys are going to LOVE it there. We are still planning to end up in Charlotte one day 🙂
I can’t wait to try body pump!!
I live in Charlotte, and we have YMCA memberships and love them! If you want to join a gym right away, this might be a good option for you guys because there are no contracts (you can go month to month with no higher fee if you want), and your membership is good at any YMCA in Charlotte. I use multiple ones all the time -both ones near my house and office. The fitness classes are amazing. I wasn’t a huge fan of the Y when I lived in Tampa, but they are great here.
I love hearing about your new adventures! I haven’t taken body pump in a year or so- I miss it too!!!
I live in Asheville, but head to CLT all the time and LOVE it there! Charlotte is a lot of fun. If you’re looking for some awesome gyms/places to work out (as well as great running trails, etc.), I bet they’d give you a great list of places to check out at the lululemon athletica in the SouthPark Mall. (full disclosure: I used to work for the company, but they’ve been so helpful/friendly/informative even after I stopped working for the Asheville store.) Welcome to NC!
Does Sadie just roam the hotel room free while you’re gone? I have a GSP and there is NO WAY he would behave if we left him alone in there! I’m afraid new environment + mom or dad aren’t around = this pillow looks like a delicious snack. My husband and I are moving soon, so tips are appreciated!
As a former swimmer, I can totally relate with you about the pool smell!
That salad looks yummy. Finally a salad that has enough toppings for my liking!
Hey Julie!
I grew up in Charlotte and loved it so much! I ran cross country in high school and there are several incredible greenways in Charlotte, I’m not sure where ya’ll are staying but 2 of my favorites are McAlpine Creek Park (off of Monroe Rd.)and McMullen Greenway (Johnston Rd) and I know for sure that McAlpine has a dog park, ya’ll should definitely check them out! I seriously miss running there SO much, they are beautiful!
Yay!! Thank you so much for this info!
I love the smell of swimming pools! My baby is taking swim lessons right now and it’s so much fun to get up in the morning, put on a Speedo, and we both smell like the pool for the rest of the day 🙂
So glad you found a sadie-friendly hotel!!!!!
I do wonder how she will be when you are away and Ryan at work in your temp digs … so much exploring to do 🙂
She has been such a little trooper!!
BodyPump is a GREAT class! I used to teach BodyFlow- a mix of yoga, tai chi, and Pilates. If you ever get the chance to take it, it’s a wonderful class. Glad to hear you’re enjoying your new city. 🙂
I just found a new place to take Body Pump near me, I’m so excited!!!
I’ve been taking Body Pump twice a week for a few weeks now and love it! It definitely pushes me way more than I would do on my own and I already feel stronger! You should become a Body Pump instructor
As someone who has lived in Charlotte the last 7 years, it’s so interesting to see a newcomer’s perspective! I never notice the trees but a friend who visited me from NYC commented on them repeatedly. Glad you discovered lake Norman too, it’s so beautiful up there! And a really fun boating experience! I know you and Ryan will love living here!
Sounds like you’re settling in nicely! Charlotte seems like a wonderful city and I look forward to hearing more about it/seeing more of it through your adventures. I currently live in IL, but have always wanted to live somewhere else… somewhere warmer. Always on the lookout for great cities to check out!
I’ve missed BodyPump, too. So much so that I just re-joined my local Golds Gym so I can start taking it again tonight! Yay! So happy! (We’ll see how happy I am later when my quads and glutes are trying to remember how to squat non-stop for 5 minutes)
Hope you find a permanent Charlotte locale soon! 🙂
Welcome to NC! I hope the transition goes smoothly and I hope I’ll get to meet you one day. Long time reader, W-S resident. 🙂