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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Chlorine is an amazing nostalgic scent. Bleach is like the aroma of freshly baked pie to me.
So true. I love it.
I JUST cleaned our bathrooms with bleach today… and it completely reminded me of swimming LOL… so I feel the same!
It makes me so happy and nervous seeing your Charlotte pictures and posts! Happy because Charlotte’s amazing and I’m so glad to see you loving it here as much as the rest of us, but also nervous because I might run into you somewhere now and have one of those “where do I know her from?” moments!
That’s so awesome that you have better access to your beloved BodyPump in Charlotte! 🙂 I still need to try a class one of these days.
Ahh, I’m just so excited to read about your whole moving journey!
I just wrote yesterday how much I love the smell of chlorine on my blog! It is one scent that always brings me back to my old swim teams.
Glad you enjoyed your first day in Charlotte! I like the smell of pools too. lol. I was on the swim team in high school and it is one of my favorite memories!
There had to be a pump mention!!! My gym has a pool too so I know what you mean about the smell…also nice to have the option to a have dip!
YAY! Discovering a new place is always so exciting but scary at the same time! I’m anxious to hear more details about how you guys are making this work!
I think you and Peanut Butter Runner will become new Charlotte BFFs 🙂
Three greek yogurts in one day?!!! Girl, you must REALLY love your greek yogurt! LOL 🙂 I love it too, but don’t love the sugar content:/
Glad you are enjoying Charlotte and are back at BodyPump!
Glad you enjoyed your first day in Charlotte! So excited for all the new adventures waiting for you 🙂
Aww I’m so glad you are enjoying your new city! I am so excited to hear more about Charlotte! Looks like a fabulous place to live. It’s so weird you guys didn’t have trees in Florida!
So jealous you moved to Charlotte! I love it there – my younger brother lives there and is constantly trying to get me to move from Indianapolis. Maybe someday soon 🙂
DO IT!!! 🙂
I love how you just got to a new place and you’re still rockin’ it out as a fit woman! You go Julie!
Have fun on your dinner date!
My dog was petrified of wheeled things as a puppy. He’s gotten better, although strollers are still a challenge. That street looks like one my friend just moved to in Charlotte. I’ll have to send her your blog.
Ah I love it! I just moved to Charlotte (16 days ago-so really, JUST moved). I also have a vizsla, and she hates scooters!! Whenever we are out with her, she sees one and immediately freaks out. My husband always reminds her, “they have never attacked you”, as she army crawls to the nearest safest location! Welcome to Charlotte! Vizsla play date when you are more settled?
I love the trees in Charlotte too (for some reason the trees uptown are my favorite, makes the city a bit prettier!)
Glad you are enjoying your time exploring! It’s hard to figure out what part of Charlotte to settle into (house-wise), so it’s good that you have plenty of time to explore and figure it out!
Julie – This one made me laugh our dog (Precious) HATES scooters, skate boards, motorcycles, bikes, anything with wheels! She growls ferociously (she’s a chihuahua/miniature pinscher mix so it’s so terrifying;) anytime we see one on our walks. I thought she was the only one. Glad to see it’s Sadie too!
I’m so excited for you and your new adventures!! 🙂
We have trees and lots of parks! Lots of runners every where, its a very run friendly city even along the roads throughout the city! You’re gonna love it here!
One of my favorite Body Pump instructors in Raleigh was Lori Graham. Why do I say “was”? She moved to Charlotte last summer! I don’t know where she’s teaching but she’s awesome.
I love the smell of pools as well!! No idea why but it’s definitely a smell I enjoy! My dog is also afraid of scooters, strollers, bikes, roller blades, the list goes on! I guess those are to them like snakes, spiders, etc. are to me! lol
I’m glad your first day went very well!! Good luck on the transition! 🙂
So glad you were able to find body pump class in Charlotte! And I love the smell of an indoor pool. You’re right, it is very nostalgic! The walk with your dog down the gorgeously shaded street looks so lovely. I’m headed outside right now to play with my dog. It’s fun to see how much they enjoy the outdoors! Hope you have a great week and are able to get another class in soon.
~Bre
I agree with Hillary- You and Jen over at Peanut Butter Runner need to get in touch with each other!
I don’t believe I’ve done a Body Pump class before, but I definitely should give that a try! I’m hoping to get my own dog soon so we can enjoy some outdoor adventure days together! I love reading about your walks/trail runs/beach runs with Sadie! When I lived in Orlando, I went to the Y there and I loved watching the stuff they did at the pool with the dive teams – although it’s not necessarily a nostalgic memory for me (the smell of a pool), I really did enjoy that gym so much while I was there!! I loved hopping on the treadmill and getting in a good workout while being thoroughly entertained by what I saw going on in the pool!! Seriously… I think I gasped everytime someone went off the diving board because of the crazy tricks they did!
You are not alone in loving the pool smell (for the same reason 🙂 )!
You are not alone in loving the pool smell (for the same reason 🙂 )!
Glad you’re liking Charlotte so far! I love the tree lined streets too, even though I’m from Cary (right outside of Raleigh) we don’t have streets and trees like in here and I love it!
It’s nice to know that someone else loves the smell of chlorine! My husband does not appreciate how I smell AFTER getting out of the pool!
Yay! So glad you got to attend a BODYPUMP class this morning! That’s great there’s so many facilities that have it there. I’m thinking you need to get certified to teach it now! 😉
Just look at all those green treeeees! So beautiful!! Glad you had a great first day in your new home town!
I’m a newer reader (hi! love your blog!). I always love seeing Les Mills love – glad it was a good class!
I HAD to comment though because of your pool nostalgia comment. I JUST had a conversation with someone yesterday about how much I love the smell of chlorine and the memories that the smell brings me. Chlorine and sunscreen together smells like long summer days. 🙂
Good luck to you 3 in your new city! Such an adventure. Love the neighborhood. I have always wanted to live in one that had a sidewalk. Nice!
I went to college just outside of Charlotte and met my fiancé in Charlotte so the city has a special place in my heart (and my future in-laws are still there)! Also, Sadie reminds me so much of our dog who freaks out at anything with wheels and has no comprehension of personal space 🙂
I’ve never been to Charlotte, except the airport. But it seems like a nice place from what I’ve heard … not much unlike Orlando but a little bit bigger.
Glad you made it back to BODYPUMP. I’ve never lived in a place that didn’t have it, but that would be pretty upsetting. Hope your transition time is seamless.
Welcome to Charlotte! I hope your move was smooth and you get settled quickly! Looking forward to hearing all about your adventures in my amazing home town! You are making me home sick just reading about it!
I love the smell of the pool or the ocean too!
It is so pretty there, and it looks like you are having an amazing time!
Charlotte looks just so beautiful!
Chlorine takes me back to being a kid and LIVING at the pool in the summer, good times!
Glad you’re enjoying the move to Charlotte thus far. Finding a new gym can be such a pain (I recently had to join a new one), hopefully you find one that fits all your needs.
A tip!
You are REALLY close to the Whole Foods! The Whole Foods in Charlotte is the best, you should check it out! I am so dead that you’re so close to my old haunts when I was a kid!
Hey Julie! I’m an ADPi alum at UF and have known your sister since before she rushed! I was a year ahead of her. A few of us from UF live in Charlotte and have a great group of girlfriends (and respective husbands/boyfriends of course). If you and Ryan want to get together for happy hour or something once y’all get settled, feel free to contact me! My email is paternostroj@gmail.com. You’ll love it here, Charlotte is a really great city! Glad you enjoyed your class at the Aquatic Center 🙂
-Jen
How cool!! I live in Concord, and work out at Nomad Aquatic Center. I’m thinking by your picture and description
that is where you worked out today!! Best of luck settling into your new home.
I just moved to Charlotte, as well! The Dowd YMCA is awesome. It has a variety of class, including Body Pump! It’s a great place to meet people, too. I’m sure you’ll enjoy Charlotte as much as I have!
That’s awesome Julie! Congrats on making the move and (seemingly) LOVING it so far!
I gotta say, you inspired me to try Body Pump – and LOVE it!
I’ve lived in and around Raleigh, North Carolina my entire life. The time I’ve spent in Charlotte has always been wonderful. North Carolina has so much to offer! I hope you end up loving it as much as I do!
Congrats on making your move safely (so far). It’s always so exciting to explore a new city! Especially when you have a furry friend and some sunshine to do it with! My dog hates scooters, bikes, anything with wheels. It’s bizarre. It must scare them. Have a great next few days taking it all in!
I love love Body Pump. I try to go at least twice to three times per week.
I’m so pleased for you!, Charlotte sounds amazing! I don’t know how big it is or anything, but in read a blog by Taralynn McNitt. Her blog is “Simply Taralynn”, and she has just moved to Charlotte too. She has a dog, and is keen on staying fit. It seems like you two would get on really well! Anyway, just a suggestion!
Cyanna
Luckily, our dog doesn’t hate things with wheels. He does, however, hate when the wind blows the curtains and doors open. He starts cowering and looking at me like it’s all my fault. LOL! Do you think that you’re going to start teaching again in Charlotte? The pool picture reminded me of the class you taught. 🙂
Charlotte really has a lot to offer. You must visit Southpark Mall, Midtown, Birkdale Village and the US Whitewater Center. There are loads of craft beer facilities. Be ready for a lot of exposure to Nascar. Many of the drivers (or the drivers ex-wives) live on Lake Norman. Enjoy!