As mentioned I’ve been trying lots of exercises classes recently. One of my favourites is (Beginners) Hip Hop at the Dance Mission Theatre, on 24th and Mission in San Francisco. I go every Tuesday night with Lysbet.

Whilst technically not an exercise class, it’s an hour and a half of body rockin’, booty shakin’, b-girlin’, kriss-krossin’, breakin’ it down and poppin’ it like it’s hot. In other words getting your body moving and your sweat on. And for good measure, the instructor throws in some sit ups, so we can legitimately call it a work-out.

This class is so much fun!

Every two weeks we learn a new routine to a new song, so we get two classes to practice the moves. The instructor, David, is amazing – he’s a talented dancer, number one,  he’s patient and pauses for questions, and encourages us to let loose and find our inner swagga’.

Cos it’s alllll about the swagga’ and attitude.

I need to work on the swagger a bit, being honest. Starting with the threads. I turn up in my pink runners, with matching pink t-shirt, and pink socks and all these Urban funksters in their slouchy pants and boot-runners stare me out of it. No hip-hop pro is going to be taken seriously wearing pink. Especially matching pink.

I also need to work on the moves. They come fast and furious and they need to be precise to look good. You really do need the two weeks to be able to get them right. But it’s like playing the piano, or anything else that requires coordination – when you get it, it’s the most AMAZING feeling.

I’m not quite ready to break it down in da cluuub just yet, but it’s coming. I may look like Carlton at the moment, but I can feel my inner Beyonce bubbling to the surface.

On a side note, I really, really want to learn a routine for the Big Butts song. I have a bit of an obsession. I know all the words to the intro! I also love Nicki Minaj’s Anaconda, and this 11 year old girl is my new idol. Killin’ it!

From a 100 Healthy Days perspective, my hip hop class serves two purposes:

1. Getting my body moving after a day of sitting at my desk
2. Making me happy by doing something fun and challenging. Health and happiness go hand in hand.

It doesn’t always have to be about weights and interval training!

Food and exercise

• Breakfast: Scrambled eggs and steamed kale. The usual!
• Exercise: 1 hour PT
• Lunch: Chicken salad with loads of veg and quinoa
• Snack: Banana and greek yogurt
• Exercise: 1.5 hours hip-hoppin
• Dinner: Greek yogurt, peach and pecans
• Comment: Way too much greek yogurt and fruit today. I didn’t get it together in time to grab a salad in work before hip hop. My bad!