There are days when the universe gives you a little reminder that maybe, just maybe, all this walking and sweating is actually paying off.
Today was one of those days.
Walk 3 of 5 for the week. Jazzercise #50. And somehow, it was only September 23.
FIFTY.
I have officially done 50 Jazzercise classes since June 1st. When I started this whole adventure, I certainly wasn’t sitting around thinking, “You know what I need? Fifty Jazzercise classes before fall.” 😂
And yet, here we are.
A Beautiful Morning for a Walk
The weather has finally decided to stop personally attacking me.
It was around 85–87 degrees this morning, and honestly? It felt cooler. There was a breeze, the sky was beautiful, and it was actually pleasant enough that I could enjoy being outside instead of simply surviving outside.
My walk to Starbucks was 1.34 miles in 39 minutes, with an average heart rate of 96 bpm. Fitbit recorded 3,069 steps and 206 calories burned.
Walk to Starbucks Receipts
And despite the fact that the route somehow included 915 feet of elevation gain according to Fitbit—which feels slightly ridiculous for my neighborhood—I kept my heart rate mostly in the light zone.
Return Walk Receipts
Then came the return trip.
1.23 miles in 28 minutes and 41 seconds.
Yep.
That was a 23:19/mile pace, substantially faster than the way out. My average heart rate was 112 bpm, with 27 minutes in the moderate zone and no time in vigorous or peak.
So apparently I decided that once I had my Starbucks, I was going to turn into a racehorse. 😂
By the time I got home, I had:
2.57 miles
5,843 walking steps
397 calories from the two recorded walks
And then I had Jazzercise.
Because Darlene is teaching the class! I love Jazzercise and the friends I have made at the classes!
Jazzercise #50 🎉
I got to class a little early and watched the parking lot slowly fill with what I affectionately call the Mini SUV Brigade.
Darlene was already there, right on schedule.
And then it was time.
Jazzercise #50.
Today’s workout was recorded as 47 minutes of dancing, with:
382 calories burned
130 bpm average heart rate
151 bpm peak heart rate
50 cardio load
78 active zone minutes
34 minutes in the vigorous zone
11 minutes in moderate
2 minutes in light
0 minutes in peak
So yeah.
It wasn’t exactly a gentle little celebration class. 😂
Fitbit actually caught the workout properly this time, which is a nice change from the occasional “Congratulations on your 15-minute spinning session!” nonsense.
And the heart-rate graph tells the story pretty well. I spent most of the class hanging out in that vigorous range, then gradually came back down toward the end.
Jazzercise #50 was definitely earned.
The Numbers Are Getting Ridiculous
By the time I finished, I was over 10,000 steps for the day.
And my weekly distance numbers are starting to make me laugh.
For September 17–23, Fitbit is showing 32.84 miles and an average of 4.69 miles per day.
Which makes my newly increased goal of 14 miles per week look almost adorable. 😂
But there’s a reason for the increase.
I’m gearing up for the 62-mile American Cancer Society challenge in October, and 14 miles per week works out to roughly two miles a day. That’s a nice, manageable baseline for the challenge.
Apparently, though, my body has decided that “manageable baseline” means “Let’s casually do 30+ miles instead.”
Fine.
We’ll work with that.
And Then… Rodizio
Tonight I’m having dinner with Mom and Andrew at Rodizio for Restaurant Week.
A Brazilian steakhouse.
After walking.
After Jazzercise.
After 50 Jazzercise classes since June 1.
Honestly?
Perfect.
I’m not feeling guilty about it whatsoever.
I also think a good protein-rich dinner makes plenty of sense after a week where I’ve been moving this much. And if someone happens to bring grilled meat to my table on a giant skewer, well…
Who am I to stand in the way of recovery? 😂🥩
Tonight isn’t a “cheat meal.”
It’s dinner.
It’s Restaurant Week.
And it’s a celebration dinner for Jazzercise #50.
The Fall Is Trying to Happen
And perhaps my favorite part of today is that Arizona is finally starting to tease us with the possibility of fall.
It’s still Arizona. Let’s not get carried away.
But 85 degrees felt nice.
There was a breeze.
The sky was beautiful.
And when I got home, I sat under the Aquanet tree with that lovely pine scent, watching birds and clouds and the general ridiculousness of my neighborhood.
I even got to observe one of my neighbors attempting to trim his mesquite tree in what appeared to be a mildly precarious fashion.
Because apparently “watching your neighbor make questionable decisions with a tree” is also a legitimate neighborhood wellness activity.
I hope he made it down safely. 😂
Fifty Classes
When I started Jazzercise in June, I was looking for something I could actually stick with during the worst of the Arizona summer heat. I called it Summer Survival Mode 2026.
Something that wasn’t a gym.
Something that got me moving.
Something that didn’t feel like punishment.
And somehow, I’ve accumulated 50 classes.
That’s a pretty big milestone.
So today I’m celebrating the walk, the workout, the 10K steps, the cooler weather, the upcoming October challenge, and yes… the steak.
Because wellness doesn’t have to mean constantly saying no.
Sometimes wellness looks like getting outside, moving your body, doing something you enjoy, eating a good dinner with people you love, and realizing:
Holy crap. I just did 50 Jazzercise classes.
And that absolutely still counts. 💜
—
Walk 3 of 5 ✔️
Jazzercise #50 ✔️
10K+ steps ✔️
2.57 walking miles ✔️
14-mile weekly goal activated ✔️
62-mile October challenge prep ✔️
Celebration dinner: ABSOLUTELY ✔️
Wellness without perfection.
Movement in real life still counts. Always!💜💪💃
Read more.
Starbucks Carrot Method – North Phoenix Walking Series and Jazzercise
Whisker Wednesday at Weekly Reads
Incidental Exercise Receipts Hub
Help support the community, our cats, and my efforts…
Carrots for a Cause – American Cancer Society Fundraiser