There was a time I did not like to cook. I felt like I didn’t have the ingredients. Or I didn’t have the time. It wasn’t that I felt like I couldn’t follow a recipe, it’s just…why spend thirty minutes in the kitchen when I can either make a PB&J or go to one of the many delightful restaurants within walking distance?

But then I started Weight Watchers last spring. Eating out became a pain in the ass. I had to figure out points and add things and do math, and seriously, who wants to do math while eating dinner? I ended up cooking more, using lots of veggies and fruit because those are 0 points in Weight Watchers land.

And then I started cooking more because…well, I had the ingredients. I’d acquired the spices and oils and had a freezer full of frozen meats. Why not try a new recipe?

And THEN I started paying attention to cooking magazines. Little things here and there, what herbs blend well together, what flavors to try. I wouldn’t say I studied anything— it was just little stuff I picked up here and there, tips I honed in on while Food Network was on in the background and the like.

And now? I can totally cook. I can cook well. And I really, really enjoy it.

See, not only do I find it fun, but cooking for myself is empowering. I get to decide what to make, how to make it, when to make it, what quality ingredients to use. I get to try new things and experiment with my own tastes and preferences. I get to discover that no, I do not like eggplant, no matter what way it’s cooked (and I’ve tried seven ways), and to discover that I can make a badass steak and even more badass pizza dough. I feel in charge, instead of stuck putting on pants* and running to a restaurant every time I’m hungry.

SO, do you think you hate cooking? Think you can’t do it? Are you sure? Because I advise you give it another try. Here are my helpful hints:

-Start with something basic. Spaghetti. Maybe spaghetti with meatballs. Maybe spaghetti with meatballs and a homemade sauce.

-If you screw it up, it’s fine. Eat the PB&J. It is not the end of the world. No one dies if you burn the frittata. And if you’re new to cooking, I’m going to guess you didn’t buy the most expensive cut of fish at the store, so it’s not like you’re out boatloads of money. RELAX, man.

-Yes, there are some up front costs to cooking at home if you don’t have ingredients or the correct equipment. But you can get pretty nice quality pots/pans for DIRT CHEAP at places like Home Goods. And a lot of those ingredients will be a one time expense— I’ve been working off the same bottle of vanilla extract for ages.

-Don’t start off with something that’s crazy out of your comfort zone. Start with things you enjoy, then build up. I say this as someone who once tried a complicated Jamaican meal three days after purchasing a frying pan. Things did not go well.

-Even if you think you hate it, TRY IT. SERIOUSLY. NO REALLY. Would I lead you astray? Never.

-Need recipes? Stay off the giant recipe aggregate sites like Recipes.com. They have SO many recipes it’s impossible to find anything. I recommend The Pioneer Woman (lots of pictures to make life easier!), Smitten Kitchen (a little advanced), Vittles and Bits, andSkinny Taste (a Weight Watchers geared site that has great recipes for everyone).

*One of my big goals in life is to wear pants as seldom as possible.

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(zumba.com. Classes available worldwide.)

Oh, Zumba. Zumba Zumba Zumba. You are a THING. And sometimes, that’s pretty much all I can say about you.

Actually, that’s a lie. I can pretty much always say more on any given topic.

So Zumba, for those of you living under a rock and haven’t seen the signs, video games, CDs, or clothing line, Zumba is basically a Latin-based dance aerobics class. Class times, locations, and intensities vary widely since getting qualified to teach Zumba seems only slightly more difficult than getting a fruity cocktail in New Orleans.

I’ve been to a few GREAT Zumba classes. Where the dance steps are difficult, but not impossible. Where the instructor actually KNOWS how to salsa, merengue, samba, and didn’t just get a crash course in the styles at a weekend clinic. Where I left sweating and exhausted and delighted.

Sadly, I’ve more often taken Zumba classes run by fitness instructors just jumping on the latest trend. Classes where the steps weren’t even on beat, where the teacher couldn’t remember her combinations, and where I had to add hops and skips and jumps to everything to get anything resembling a workout. I also went to one terrible, terrible class where they packed the room to the fire code limit, and there wasn’t enough space to walk, much less dance.

I daresay that the Zumba trend has jumped the shark. I don’t think they policed who they were giving “licenses” to well enough, and as a result the whole thing has become pretty mediocre, at least in my neck of the woods.
 

What’s good about Zumba:

-Classes are everywhere. EVERYWHERE. Zumba is the herpes of fitness.

-Classes are relatively cheap. Usually in the $5-$10 range, and often offered for free at your gym.

-Moves are usually easy to modify to make them more or less difficult.

-Even if you can’t dance, you’ll manage. Steps are basic, rhythmic, and easy to follow.

-That Cascada song the Zumba movement has co-opted. EVACUATE THE DANCE FLOOR! WHOA-OH, WHOA-OH, INFECTED* BY THE SOUND.

What’s bad about Zumba:

-Classes vary WILDLY studio to studio. I’ve been to significantly more bad ones than good ones.

-The neons. MY GOD, THE NEONS.

-Things can get a little repetitive after a while, especially if you have any dance experience whatsoever.

In conclusion:

Give it a shot, especially if you’re new to fitness. But if you’ve been at this whole feel-the-burn-game for a while, I’d move on, unless you’ve found a particularly challenging class.

Atlantans, here are a few of the Zumba classes I’ve been to:

Gotta Dance Atlanta- The most difficult Zumba class I’ve been to, and therefore my favorite. Taught by a legit Latin dancer, the moves are tough and intense. That said, she tends to repeat the same routine week after week, which is why I eventually stopped going.

Atlanta Zumba Dance- I bought classes via a Groupon. This place was a nightmare— it’s the one where they pack it to the fire code limit. You also have to get there AN HOUR EARLY to get a spot in the class. Two hours of my time, for a bleh class? No thanks.

Kennesaw YMCA- I went to an evening class and a morning class; the evening class was full and, while not an awesome workout, decent. The morning class was almost empty and I left halfway through to use a machine instead.

Mandala Yoga Studio- I enjoyed this one— it wasn’t an OMG workout, but I sweated and had fun. Be warned that the studio is a million degrees!

DWT Studio- This was a good workout, though the studio is too far for me to justify driving to regularly. The instructor was also thirty minute late, so…meh.

Peachtree Presbyterian Gym- Decent workout, but not worth returning for me.

*Infected. I told you. The herpes of fitness.

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