BellaOnline Forums Health and Fitness Exercise Difficult areas during workout

I'm wandering what the hardest (or most painful) part of everyone's workout is. For example, in my Zumba class - I sweat, but never get winded, the problem is the cramps I get in my foot arch and legs or shoulders from the moves. I'm wondering if I weigh too much and it will hurt less as I lose weight or if I'm doing something wrong. Especially the jumping jacks or anything that needs to be done on the toes, like the salsa. No matter how much walking I do, or workout machines I use it doesn't help. (No it doesn't hurt when I walk to use the weights, just the aerobic type exercise).
Monica - HELP...lol!!!

Sounds like you just need a few lower body stretches before class. Before going in to class jump on a bike or treadmill for an easy walk 3-5 minutes then stretch calves, hamstrings, and quads. Spend about a minute on each. Check out my best flexibility exercises article for pics.

The most important stretch for you is probably the calf stretch. Place ball of foot on a step or surface about 5 inches higher than your heel or hang both heels off a step making sure to keep your back straight and head over shoulders, shoulders over hips, hips over knees, knees over ankles (tall and straight posture). Try to hold the heel drop for a minute using your weight to release tension in the calves. This should make a big difference.

Thanks! I knew you'd have an answer for me!!! You're definitely going to save me...love it!!! d