I have tried for a long time to drop some weight and get back in shape. I dropped 40 pounds about 4 years ago on the Atkins diet, but it wasn’t livable for me in the long term and after about a year I gained it all back. I have been promising my wife I would lose weight for her, but that hasn’t worked either. You have to want to do it for yourself and it takes a LOT of self discipline. My motivation now comes from the fact that I have a new baby girl coming into my life this July and two other kids and a wife who need me to be strong for them both Spiritually and Physically. Plus… we’ll be having a new family picture taken after her birth and I looked so fat in our last family picture that we’ve never hung it up. This time I want it to be different, so I’m doing something about it.
What am I doing about it? Well I’ve gone and done something that very well may be the start of something that one is effective and two, is livable in the long term. I signed up and two weeks ago began a Zumba class. What it Zumba you ask? Here’s the marketing description for you:
Zumba is a Latin inspired, dance-fitness class that incorporates Latin and International music and dance movements, which create a dynamic, exciting and effective fitness system. Zumba means to “move fast and have fun.” The class format combines fast and slow rhythms that tone and sculpt the body in an aerobic/fitness fashion to achieve a unique blended balance of cardio and muscle-toning benefits.
All I can say is this is one of the craziest things I’ve done in a long time and an hour of this is a LOT harder than it looks. It will totally and completely kick your butt in a very good way. I would personally like to thank my instructor and co-worker Lisa Hoppe for her inspiration and incredible level of energy and stamina. She is a human dynamo! and a blessing to everyone in her classes. As for me, please keep me in your prayers on Thursdays from 5:15 to 6:15 pm. I need all the help I can get to make it through this class and remember… as a child of the King, your body is not your own. It belongs to the Lord and was bought at a huge price. It is the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. So take good care of what you have been given in this life and if you like, go Zumba for God! 
- “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. (1Cor. 6:19-20 NIV)”
- “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you? (1Cor. 3:16 NIV)”
Here’s a little sample of what Zumba looks like:
Here’s another (longer) example:
I thought I was the only one. I love it when fitness becomes a family affair and so inspiring to see a husband working out for his wife and family, usually it’s the other way around. I just heard that Tim Russert died of a heart attack at age 58 which is sad, he leaves behind a wife and a loving son. Cardio and fitness is not just for women! So kudos to you.
I have Zumba and I really like it too. I also have a dance exercise video that is absoultely fantastic that you might like it’s called DanceX – Everybodys Workout http://www.dancexfitness.com when I cannot make it to the gym it’s what I pop into my dvd player
Thanks Kelly. I also just heard about Tim Russert. My Dad (also 58 years old) got me Tim’s Book, “Wisdom of Our Fathers” for Fathers day 2 years ago. It’s a great book. I had a lot of admiration and respect for Tim. He was a good man and will be sorely missed by a great multitude of people including me. I watched him often on Meet the Press. He seemed to me to be the most honest and decent political interviewer and commentator on t.v. I will probably post something about it here soon.
On a different note, how did you find my blog? I thought only my family and close friends knew about it. Just curious. Thanks again.