Fridays just turned into my Treat Day!

As an extra incentive, I have decided that Fridays will now be my official 'Treat Day.'

I usually start out my Friday by running to the gym to catch my 8:30am Zumba class. For those who don't know, Zumba is an aerobic style dance class that combines salsa, merengue, cumbia, reggaeton, calypso, soca, samba, African, cha cha, hip hop and other types of music. It's a fast paced dance class that seriously gets your heart pumping and moving within the first few minutes of the class. You start out with a good 3-5 minute warm up and then, the instructor begins a series of different routines according to whatever her playlist has going next.

Now, as many of you may know, I think I was the only hispanic person on the face of this earth, who was born without any rhythm. No, seriously, I don't salsa. I don't merengue or mambo. It's kind of sad, but thankfully, that wasn't a requirement my dear husband was looking for in a wife when he decided to make me his wife! Ha ha. Thank god for that!

Well, over the past couple of years since I discovered this little gem of a workout, I have fallen in love, hard, with it! And, I actually now have rhythm!! I can shake my booty and move my hips with, well, the other members of the class. I am in no way ready to go enter a dance contest or even go dance at club, BUT, I do feel very limber and able to say that I DO have some rhythm... MAJOR emphasis on the 'some.'

Usually, after the wonderful 1 hour workout, (did I forget to mention you burn about 700 calories in one class session), I make a beeline for the amazing 'Spa' amenities that my gym has. I call it a 'Spa' because its the closest thing to a Spa I will ever go to, because lord knows I refuse to spend that amount of money for a day of it. So, the beautiful jacuzzi, Sauna room and Steam rooms @the Centre Club, will completely do! It's a great down time for me to just sit back, reflect on the week and mostly plan for what the rest of my day will encounter. And, it makes me skin glow like a light bulb. Ultra lush!

That's my Spa Time.

Afterwards, since I had already spent nearly about a couple of hours there, I headed to the one place I can actually find something healthy to eat, besides just making it at home. Sunset Foods. For those who don't know, Sunset Foods is like the North Suburban equivalent of Whole Foods and/or Trader Joe's. Lots of organic, fresh and specialty foods everywhere! The best part to me: the SALAD bar!

Why do I love Salad Bars so much? Because YOU can choose what you want. Choices. That's my favorite word lately. Especially when you've been limited to only a small group of things.

Of course, as all healthy places are, this place does get pricey. But, it's better to spend close to $15 on lunch in here, rather than going to Panera and fooling myself into thinking that what I'm eating there is much healthier. If you want a good shocking look into the nutritional facts about that place, look them up in Calorie King. It's guaranteed to make you stop and want to purge what just ate. Eeks! Either that or go hop on the nearest treadmill for about an hour.

I do recommend making up a nice little incentive for yourself when you start working out. Of course, you're sacrificing all the favorites you had in your repertoire for the sake of your workout routine and/or diet, but, you do need to allow yourself a little 'healthy treat' to make you feel accomplished. Here's mine: a heaping big salad from their salad bar comprised of just lettuce, shredded cheese and mushrooms. And lots of red wine vinegar with a splash of lite Italian dressing. Plus, for some protein, I'm getting a half lb of their delicious Acapulco Tuna Salad that they make in their deli. It's so good and not bad, health wise!! They put very little mayo in it, lemon juice, chopped green onion, chopped tomato, jalapeno and salt & pepper. That's it! So simple, but so delicious and filling!!

My regular treat used to be a Venti Skinny Cinnamon Dolce Latte, but after learning what's in it (calories, fat), I really didn't feel so skinny anymore. For shame, Starbucks! You had me at hello, but alas, I think I will be sticking to just plain coffee and Iced Tea from you. We had a good run together. Maybe someday, we can hug it out.