ZUMBA - OLE!

The only thing I ever burned with aerobic exercise videos was money.  Jane Fonda and Richard Simmons tried convincing me it was easy.  I suppose it is for people with coordination.  I may never know.


As each day stretches further from my birth year, I get a little closer to the ground.  I've been fighting gravity all of my life.  I realized early on that it would be a losing battle for me and surrendered at five feet.  Being short - excuse me - vertically challenged means that I must watch my figure.  Each extra pound on me has the effect of five on a tall person.   I've been there and done that, it's wicked easy.  Not so to take it off.  To maintain is key.


The good news is I found a Yoga video which has challenging moves but at a slower pace.  It also has a lower body workout that I can manage.  So, with that new confidence I figured I'd burn more money, I mean calories and try Jillian Michael's video.  She is the workout guru on "Biggest Loser."  I am always amazed and proud of the contestants on that show.  Proof that people are capable of anything they put their minds to.  As for me, I thought I was going to die halfway through the first set of thirty jumping jacks.  Away that DVD went, back in its case on the shelf.  


With our annual vacation coming up soon I allowed Jillian to push me a bit further.  Little by little, day by every other day or so, I finished the video.  I worked through the pain and sweat, feeling more athletic and brave to try something new again.  


Zumba!  "It's an exhilarating, effective, easy-to-follow, Latin-inspired, calorie-burning dance fitness-party(TM) that's moving millions of people toward joy and health."  Sounds good to me. Three lovely ladies on YouTube showed me step by easy step each, well, step.  They too made it look so easy.  Keep upper body forward, turn your hips to the right and take a step.  Bring the left foot together with your right and wiggle that booty.  Pause.  Rewind.  Play.  My movements resembled Frankenstein's and I proved once again that I lack coordination.  But this time I decided to add some persistence and, "voila!"  I wouldn't do this in public but I will do it again.  And I will get better at it.  And I may give Richard and Jane another chance.  


Maybe next I'll try belly dancing.

Too Much Free Time?

Let's face it, I've got cabin fever.  I decided instead of doing the same old cleaning, organizing, reading and writing, I'd try something new.  I love to sing.  I belt out all the words to country, rock and even some jazz songs when I'm alone at home or in my car.  Today I decided to hear what I would sound like acapella.  I'm too old to try out for "American Idol" but isn't that why they produced "America's Got Talent?"


I pulled up iTunes, picked the song by Lady Antebellum, "Need You Now," plugged my earphones into my lap top, opened the photo booth and hit record.  Of course I stayed out of the picture - this was all for sound.  Half way through the song, my cat Jewel (yes, named after the singer) hopped up on my desk.  I felt like a real rock star as she gazed into my mouth almost hypnotized while I carried out those long notes.  


I cut the song before it was done.  I couldn't wait for the moment of truth.  Visions of me performing at the Grammy's were dancing through my head.  I've done karaoke many times before, but now there would be no music to hide under.  I pressed play.  As I heard the tone and rhythm of me alone, I pictured being judged on one of those shows.   And then I understood why Jewel showed her fascination with my mouth.  I believe she thought I swallowed a cat and it was trying to get out.  She skedaddled down the hall before the first verse was replayed.    Thank goodness for the delete button.


Se la vie...  One of these days I'll audition for a play in my photo booth.  Meanwhile, I'll finish the laundry.