Grapefruit Galore !

Living in Florida in the winter means that one not only has warm weather but also an abundance of citrus fruits.  Oranges, key limes and grapefruits have been in our landscape since we have lived here for the past 11 years. Grapefruits have been particularly plentiful. We have eaten them for breakfast, juiced them for a tasty refreshment, made grapefruit martinis, and given them away to visitors. For years, we had cows living in the farmland behind our house. Turns out, the cows loved our grapefruits!  My sister-in-law and each of us would sometimes feed grapefruits to the cows. Sadly, the cows are no longer here and we have tons of grapefruits!! I was wondering what to do with our "Ruby Red" sweet grapefruits.  Then, I discovered a pie recipe in the Four and Twenty Blackbirds cookbook. The pie is called "Grapefruit Custard Pie". It sounded rather strange to me, but I knew I needed to try this one.

The recipe is fairly simple, containing grapefruit juice, cream, eggs, and sugar. The crust is the usual excellent butter crust. One ingredient that the Elsen sisters love to use in their tasty pies is alcohol in some form or fashion.  In this case, they use Campari liqueur and a dash of orange bitters.
Custard pies can be a tad tricky, in that it can be difficult to determine when the pie is done.  The first time that I made this pie, I honestly cooked it a little too long.  It tasted good, but was a little dry for a proper custard.  This time, I cooked it less than the 50 minute recipe called for, and it was perfect! The tip on testing for a fully cooked custard is that the center of the pie should "wobble a little in the center", according to the Elsens, but not be liquid  The grapefruit flavor is sweet and tart, and really is a unique flavor. Rich preferred his with whipped cream, but I liked that tartness without the cream. Both of us agreed that we could have easily eaten another piece, but our good sense made us wait until tomorrow for the second piece.

If I have an issue with the grapefruit custard pie, it is the aesthetics.  I like a pie to look every bit as good as it tastes. This one has a weird color to me  It is kind of a cross between pink and orange. While this looks somewhat appropriate for Florida and its fondness for pastel colors, I am not wild about eating something with a Miami like color . Rich actually likes the color - he is an artist and likes this orange/pink mixture with our cobalt blue dinnerware. This is an individual issue but I can tell you this:  it is a delicious pie, and I will eat it, strange color or not.  And I am sure the cows would have agreed!!

Winter Wonderland Fitness: Skiing

As I write this, many areas of the country, including the Southeast, are experiencing snow.  Although I am currently in Florida, which is snow free, I couldn't help but think about my past life as a skier. Each winter, for many years, my husband Rich and I would go skiing. Sometimes the two of us went alone, but many times our trips included my daughter, Allison, or other friends.  For a week each year, we spent time in the often frigid weather skiing down mountains.  So how did a Southern raised girl like myself, who had rarely seen much snow, much less walked or skied in it, discover this "out of my comfort zone" activity?

It started shortly after Rich and I started dating.  Rich was raised in the Northeast, but had never done downhill skiing.  I had never skied in my life.  But I had always been fascinated when I watched the ski events at the Winter Olympics.  I thought it looked challenging but totally beautiful.  I would try to imagine how it would feel to ski down a mountain. I certainly never had the nerve to try it - that is, until I met Rich.  He helped to convince me that we should try skiing in North Carolina. (we were living in Atlanta at the time).  We both took lessons at Cattaloochee ski area;  he did great and was happily skiing by the end of the weekend.  I, on the other hand, had failed miserably, and declared more than once that I was not having a good time.  It could have ended there, but I just couldn't let go of the idea that I wanted to successfully ski down a mountain.  Finally, I tried again on my 40th birthday at Beech Mountain, NC.  At the end of the day, I had skied down the beginner mountain.  I did it once, then again and again.  I was skiing!!

From that point on, we took ski trips during the winter, usually in the month of February. Our ski passion took us to resorts all over the Western US, including Colorado, Utah, California, and also to Whistler in Canada.  We skied in Vermont when Allison was living there, and have skied in Oregon since she has been there.  One year we had the awesome experience of skiing in Chamonix, France, a truly breathtaking place. The more I skied, the more confident I became, and  more adventurous.  I would branch out from the green slopes (easiest ones) to try intermediate blue slopes. Since Rich was expert enough to ski the more difficult black runs, we would often ski separately. We would start out together at the top of the mountain;  I would take the easy run down while Rich would do the expert, and we would meet at the bottom.  I would ski with Allison - she was kind enough to be patient with her less competent mother.  Or I might take a lesson and ski with women like myself, whose husbands were skiing more difficult slopes.

It is interesting that Rich and I had totally different styles when it came to our ski experiences.  I would find my favorite slope or two at whatever resort we were visiting, and would ski those same slopes over and over.  I liked to ski that slope until I felt like I did it as fast and as perfectly as I could. Rich, in contrast, was much more willing to take risks and try most of the harder runs on the mountain.  Each of our methods worked for us.  My way seemed boring to my husband, but was wonderful for me.

We were lucky in not injuring ourselves.  However, one year at Lake Tahoe, I decided to try a more difficult slope and tore my ACL.  I recovered very well, but never quite gained back the confidence that I was beginning to have with my skiing.  The last few ski trips had me staying on the green slopes and spending a lot of time at the lodge drinking coffee.  I had fun, but I also worried about the possibility of injury and rehabilitation.  Rich has continued to go skiing with his buddies, but I have given up skiing at this point.  When it snows in February, I can't help but remember how proud I felt when I skied down a slope.  I remember the absolute beauty of the snow covered mountains, the drinks around the fireplace, and the best part - the hot tub at the end of a hard day of skiing!  I don't think I will ski again but you never know - maybe the hot tub will be my motivation to try one more bunny slope- over and over again!

Fitness and Focus: Yoga

A funny thing happened on the way to dance class the other day.  I had missed my usual Thursday class, and decided that I needed to go on a different day to get in my usual 3 dances a week.  Off  I headed to the alternate gym, only to wind up at my usual gym, where there was no dance scheduled. I had totally spaced out and forgotten where I was going!  Old age strikes again, I thought - or was it an accident?  The truth be told, I had really wanted to go to yoga that day, and not dance.  Oh yes, I thought - now I can go to yoga!

I have been serious about yoga only for the last 4 months.  Yoga is something that I knew that I should be doing.  Several friends talked about the wonderful benefits they were getting from their practice, and felt that it was the most important exercise that they did.  I have dabbled in yoga on and off for years, but never committed to doing it regularly.  I would do some yoga stretches at home, and that was the extent of it for me.  There were several reasons for this.  One reason was that I was putting my aerobic activities at a higher priority.  I decided that zumba and walking were more important for maintaining my weight and staying fit.  Also, I was never very good at yoga, with questionable performance on the balance poses.  Lastly, I did not like the idea of taking off my shoes and exposing my ugly feet to other class members.

One day I decided to try a class at my gym called YogaFit.  This class was described as being related to Hatha yoga.  The class is described by the instructor as an "active" yoga practice, meaning that poses were held for a relatively short time before going on to the next one.  For those of you who have never attended a yoga class, there are standard "yoga" poses that are done throughout the class. Terms like "Warrior One", "Downward Facing Dog", and "Triangle" are among those poses, and there are many others.  While many yoga classes were all about holding these poses for awhile, the YogaFit class moved pretty quickly from pose to pose.  This concept actually appealed to me, as I felt like I was getting a decent workout with the constant movement.  But I was also working on my flexibility, balance and strength- the things that all yoga classes are known to emphasize.

For me, the one aspect that set this class apart from others I have attended was the wonderful instructor.  She had a warm, pleasing, non-intimidating tone that I could relate to.  She didn't criticize people - she would come around the classroom sometimes and give suggestions if needed.  But she always stressed that the goal was not perfection - the goal, she stated, was to let go of competition, everyday worries, and stress.  She said that throughout the class, and also praised us each time that we completed a rather complicated series of poses.

I must say that after attending 2 of these classes, I was sold on this type of yoga. I felt so focused, and I did manage to relax and work hard on my body at the same time.  I attend two classes a week, one hour each, and these two hours are my time to just be in a different world.  It is not a social class for me - I think class members are focused on their own bodies, and we really don't compare ourselves to each other.  It is not an easy class at all - I really work my muscles, and my balance is constantly challenged (although I am getting better!).

For those contemplating yoga, but who have never attended a class, I would encourage you to try it. Don't worry about not knowing the poses.  Good instructors will help with this. I like to stand near the back of the class when I am trying it for the first time, but some like to be closer to the front, so that the instructor can see them.  Don't worry if you aren't perfect at first - you will get better as you attend more classes.  But most importantly, make sure you feel comfortable with the instructor.  If a yoga instructor constantly criticizes instead of gently suggesting, I would steer clear. Other people I know have had that experience, and it was not at all beneficial, and they never went back to yoga.

For me, adding yoga to my workout has been the best thing I have done for my fitness, particularly my mental fitness.  Focus is the part of yoga that I particularly appreciate.  I am totally focused on the moment, my body, and peacefulness.  I love yoga so much that I don't even worry about exposing my ugly feet to the world.  I am at peace with my feet!

Fitness for a Lifetime: Walking

Eight years ago, I had to have surgery on both of my feet.  I was born with bad feet,and after years of running and wearing high heels,  I was having quite a bit of pain.  Before the surgery, my orthopedic surgeon asked me what my goal was for the outcome of the procedure.  My response was that I didn't care that much what my feet looked like and whether or not  I could wear glamorous shoes again.  "All I really want,"  I said, "is to be able to walk for fitness without pain".  Fortunately, the surgeon, whom I think of as a god, accomplished my goal!

I have enjoyed walking for as long as I can remember.  When I was young, our family took camping vacations, and my Dad led us on many hikes.  I thoroughly enjoyed these, and as I got older, this love for walking continued,  whether it was a beach walk, a mountain hike, or a neighborhood stroll.  I did more running than I did walking as exercise for about 10 years, but after the surgery, I made the decision to give up running and become an exercise walker. Luckily, I could now walk 3-4 miles without pain.

I have generally thought of myself as a solitary walker - I actually preferred walking alone.  During my walk time, I could think about life, appreciate nature, and enjoy a little peace away from my work or routine mundane activities.  It was and continues to be for me a kind of "meditation" - meditating and moving at the same time.  I also like the fact that when I am walking solo, I can go at my own pace, which tends to be pretty fast. I often walk alone at the local Arboretum or in my neighborhood. Or I might walk to the beach, take a break on my beach towel, and walk back.  All are very satisfying for me.  One thing that helps me when walking by myself is to have a cool destination, like a restaurant, coffee shop, or a beach.  It is a good motivator to keep going!

The only time that I didn't walk alone was when I was walking with my husband, Rich.  Exercising together is really nice, since our other fitness activities take us on separate "paths"  (him- kayaking and tennis;   me - zumba and group gym classes.  It is also a wonderful opportunity for us to talk with each other- always a good thing for long married couples to do!  Walking on the beach together has always been a treat!

I had never understood the appeal of group walking.  I would notice groups of women walking together in the neighborhood.  Yes, they seemed to be having a good time, but I couldn't grasp the idea of walking and socializing.  That changed for me last spring when I joined a meet-up walking group in Asheville.  Rich encouraged me to join this group that emphasized city walks.  I wanted to know more about walking around North Asheville and downtown, as we had recently moved to that side of town.   I was reluctant, but decided to go on one walk and give it a try.  I think there were eight of us on that first walk, including the leader.  I enjoyed the conversations with group members, and found them to be really fun, interesting people, who, like me, just wanted to get exercise through walking. The group organizer did a great job of setting the pace and making sure that we had adequate water, breaks, and laughs. After joining the group, I  looked forward to these city walks and loved every one of them.  For the first time in my walking life, I realized that walking could also be a social activity!  Additionally,being a part of this group helped me to understand that a 5 or 6 mile walk was something that I could easily accomplish. Prior to my group participation, I generally walked no longer than about 4 miles.  I now regularly walk 5 miles or more several times a week with no problems or pain. The meet-up group helped to give me more confidence in my walking ability.

I can say with certainty that I will walk for exercise for as long as it is physically possible for me to do so.  I will continue my walks with my husband, enjoying the sights in our neighborhood.  I eagerly anticipate being a part of the meet-up walking group once I get back to Asheville and look forward to walking with new and old friends.  And I will continue my solitary walks as well.  I have a goal this year to spend an entire day walking around Asheville, just to see how far my feet will take me.  I could stop for breakfast,  have a mid-day dessert, and walk home to collapse in my garden bench. Who knows - maybe I will cover 10 miles or more with these stubborn feet!

Who's Counting Calories?

02/19/15- I will admit that I love desserts and my husband would say that I have never met a dessert that I didn't like.  There are, however, even for me, some sweets that may not be worth the calories. For instance, if I grab candy from a vending machine, I will ask myself "why did I just eat that substandard, unhealthy treat after walking 5 miles?"  But then there are those delectable delights that I believe are worth every single calorie.  The Salted Caramel Apple Pie from the Elsen sisters'
Four and Twenty Blackbirds cookbook is one of these delicacies.

The Salted Caramel Apple pie was the first pie that I made from their cookbook.  And of the pies I have made thus far, this one remains my favorite.  The recipe includes fresh apples, cinnamon, other spices, and a caramel sauce made from butter and sugar.  The combination of these ingredients with the already delicious butter crust makes an apple pie unlike any other I have ever tasted.  There is quite a bit of prep work, as cutting and coring the apples takes time (although an apple coring device helps with this).  The caramel sauce also takes some time to cook properly and have the correct consistency. (however, the good news is that you can eat the leftover caramel sauce as an extra treat!)  As I have said before, the crust needs to be well chilled before using, so I usually prepare this pie over a 2 day period.

This pie looks as good as it tastes.  The lattice crust makes it look almost like a piece of art.  Lattice pie crusts take extra effort as well.  There are diagrams and detailed directions on how to do the lattice work in the cookbook.  The first time I assembled a lattice crust according to the cookbook instructions, I felt like a rocket scientist!  I was so proud of myself - even if the pie didn't taste good, it looked like a professional baker had made it!

But taste good this pie does.  This is my "go to" pie for any dinner guests.  And it is also my husband's favorite pie from the book thus far.  We have guests here from Asheville now, and I made the pie for last night's dessert.  They loved it as well, and thought it worth the calories.  As I write this, my husband and the guests are kayaking.  Note:  this blog will not have so much information on water activities, as they do not tend to agree with me.  I have previously almost drowned while rafting, and felt like I was dying from an unfortunate sea sickness event in Puerto Rico.  But they will be discussed at some point.  In the meantime, I am here at home doing a few push-ups and getting a piece of salted caramel apple pie while everyone is out!

Fitness for Pure Fun: Dance Trance

02/17/15-When I started to spend the winters in Florida, I was searching for a really energetic dance fitness class.   I had found zumba in Asheville.  But in Florida, I really hadn't found a zumba class that fit my expectations, or that had the "wow" fun factor.  When talking to a woman at my gym about my dilemma, she said "Try Dance Trance - trust me, you will like it".

I had never heard of Dance Trance.  This fitness program was started by Jay Handline and his wife, Beth.  The program is offered at a number of gyms mainly in Florida and the Southeast, but does include others around the country.  The idea behind it is to provide a varied, choreographed dance experience that is a break from the normal routine.  But the main difference between this and most dance fitness programs is that you are constantly learning new routines.  The number adds up so that there are actually several hundred dances in the Dance Trance library!

I still remember vividly my first Dance Trance class 3 years ago.  I stood boldly near the front of the class, like I always did in zumba.  Little did I know that the dancing was complicated and that I would be turning right when everyone else was turning left, or facing the front when I should have been facing the back of the class.  But I loved the music, which ranged from J Lo to Pink, Maroon 5, and an occasional MJ song!  So I attempted several other classes, but was still intimidated, both by the experienced class members and the beautiful instructors.  I really wanted to learn it, but didn't know what I needed to do to get better.  I learned that several times a week, they would break down the new routines, so I started going to these sessions, as well as going to regular class at least 3 times a week.  In several months, I was much better, and started to really have fun!

It is almost impossible to describe a Dance Trance class. I think it could be called a combination of cheerleader dancing and dirty dancing.  Participants are all ages, but are probably overall a younger aged group than zumba.  There is hip shaking, swaying, jumping, and gyrating, among numerous moves.  Because it takes a lot of commitment to learn the routines, you see the same people over and over.  I have met a lot of nice women as a result of the class.  In the class, we celebrate birthdays, (you get to choose your favorite dances on your birthday), dress up for holidays and even dress for Mardi Gras!  I have a great time at each class - it is almost like a dance party, and I laugh out loud at least once during every class!  What could be better than that?

I don't think Dance Trance is for everyone. Men, unfortunately, get intimidated, but do enjoy watching us from the window outside of the classroom!  The commitment to learning the dances is really important if you truly want to enjoy it.  I sometimes wonder if my Dance Trance weekly schedule is worth the effort.  I was hesitant last week about going to my usual Sunday class. That day, a class of 50 of us "shook it off" to Taylor Swift's "Shake it Off", and got to watch our male dance instructor expertly "out shake" all of us.  Is it worth the effort?  Oh yea!!!

Core classes, Crunches, and Cheap Bikinis

02/16/15 - One day I had finished my usual Zumba class, and was chatting with my instructor after class.  He said "You know, Sylvia, it's great that you like doing Zumba all of the time, but as we age, it is good to try other classes as well;  I particularly think that core classes and weight training are good as we get older."  This was quite upsetting and disturbing to me.  First of all, I was perfectly happy just doing my zumba, and thought I looked pretty fit, so obviously he noticed something about me that I hadn't realized.  Secondly, until that moment, I actually didn't know that I was getting older!

Armed with this new information, I decided to look for some classes that would "be good for me as I get older".  There are many classes that emphasize working on the "core" muscles.  These are, simply put, the muscles of the torso area , with special emphasis on the abdominal muscles.  Supposedly, stronger core muscles will help keep my back strong, and in general, help with day to day activities like bending and lifting.  Core classes go by different names:  core conditioning, abdominal work, mat pilates, and core strength are a few that come to mind.  My gym had a class called "CX works" that was listed as a core strengthening class.  It was recommended by one staff member at the gym, so I decided to try it.  CX works is another class with the Les Mills program, so it is found at many gyms around the world - I even saw one listed on a gym schedule on a recent visit to Hong Kong.

The instructor was very attentive- she would actually look around the room to see if the core moves were being done correctly.  The equipment for the class consisted of a mat, medium hand weights, and bands.  The mat was used when we did crunches. (crunches are modified sit ups;  you don't come entirely up, and your back is more protected that way.  Another classic move for CX works is the "hover", when you are in a push-up position but on your forearms.  Part of the class consisted of what the instructor termed "a holding hover", where you may stay in the position for a period of time. (whatever amount of time the instructor deems appropriate torture).  Bands are used  when we did squats and lunges. All of the above was done to music, and lasted only 30 minutes.

I must say that I thought that first class was really difficult.  I couldn't believe that something that only lasted 30 minutes could cause extreme exhaustion.  There were about 30 women and men in the class, though, so I thought it must get easier with time. But I found out that each class was just as bad as the last!  It never got easier.  However, although class itself was painful, I never suffered pain or injury afterwards.

Two years after that initial class, I am still going to CX works.  The reason?  Because it really does "work"!  I go twice a week at my Florida gym.  My body is stronger and I feel better when I am going to this class.  The instructors are skilled, intense, and mean business.  I don't goof off in this class, and it is not an exercise that I enjoy.  But the reward: I can sometimes wear my cheap bikini at the beach and not scare people off!

It's All about the Fruit

2/14/15 - Today being Valentine's Day, I wanted to bake something special for my husband Rich.  I suggested that he could choose any pie from the "Four and Twenty Blackbirds" pie book, which I am attempting to bake my way through.  One interesting aspect of the cook book is that the sisters believe in using unusual ingredients in their delicious recipes.  I was unable to find several ingredients for the "Lavender Honey Custard Pie", his first choice.  This one will have to be delayed until I return to Asheville and can get these at Greenlife Grocery or Earth Fare.  So on to his second choice, "Nectarine Blueberry Pie".  Another integral part of these pie recipes is that they use fresh ingredients. The authors encourage us to use those fruits that are actually in season where you live. So, if I were making this pie in Asheville, summer would be the perfect time to find blueberries and nectarines at the farmers' markets.  Here in Florida, that would be spring, and it is still a tad early.  So I had to settle for the blueberries and nectarines from Chile.  They actually look and taste good, but locally grown would obviously be better.

Since this is my first blog about pies, I want to talk briefly about the pie making process.  The crust is the key to the wonderful flavor of these pies.  I have honestly never had a crust that is this good, and I have eaten a lot of pies in my life (My pie and dessert eating is almost equal to my exercise frequency).  The Elsen sisters have come up with the perfect formula for crust.  Even though they say that you can buy store crusts, don't, if you decide to try their recipes.  If I can make a crust this good, you can too, and it is well worth the trouble.  This trouble involves making the crust ahead, refrigerating, and then using at the time you are doing the filling.  So I usually plan on making the pie over a 2 day period.

I will say that the nectarine blueberry pie was the easiest pie that I have made from the cook book. There were very few extra ingredients, other than lemon juice and a few spices.  But the most amazing thing was that there was no added sugar in the recipe!!  I did sprinkle demerara sugar over the top crust, but this is optional.  So, you can have a pie slice without the guilt of eating the sugar! The pie is just crust and fruit!  Of course, there is plenty of butter in the crust, but let's not talk about that on Valentine's Day.

According to Rich, the pie was delicious and sweet enough for him with just the natural juices.  For my taste, a dollop of whipped cream and a little ice cream (I tried both), made it the perfect sweetness My guess is that with locally grown, in season, fresh sweet blueberries, and either nectarines or peaches, the pie would be just perfect without the cream. And the crust was as luscious as usual.

Bottom line:  I would definitely make this pie again, but will make when the fruit is locally in season.When I think about this pie, I am reminded of the current pop hit from Meghan Trainor, called "All about That Bass". I have been humming "It's all about the fruit, about the fruit, no sugar"!

Fitness and Fighting

02/13/15 - Today was a new adventure in my exercise world.  I decided to try a class called BodyCombat.  This is a class that was developed by Les Mills, an international fitness company that distributes fitness programs to hundreds of gyms all over the world.  Most if not all of the classes have choreographed moves to music.  BodyCombat is described by my gym as being a "cardio workout inspired by martial arts."  I have never taken a martial arts class and so this was certainly new territory for me.

I noticed that the class was primarily composed of "under fifty" participants, meaning younger than me.  There were about 25 men and women in the class, and most appeared to be in reasonably good shape.  I placed myself at the back of the classroom, behind the tallest guy, so that I could be well hidden from the instructor.   The instructor was an extremely enthusiastic, well toned woman who displayed a perfect "six pack".  The music came on and she immediately started the routine of punches, jabs, kicks, side kicks, and other moves of which I was not familiar. We would break up the punching with jumping jacks, running, and knee lifts.  There were very few resting moments.  I was keeping up fine with the pace, and felt good about that.  However, when I happened to glance at myself in the mirror, I realized what terrible form I displayed compared to most of the class members.  I looked like a comic book character who was trying to learn to fight!

I wondered if I could ever be a true lover of BodyCombat.  As the class progressed, the instructor, who was excellent, kept talking about fighting.  She compared our moves to actual situations where we would be trying to defend ourselves.  She would say things like "if you get attacked on the street", this is a move you would use.  This is serious, she would say - "fight hard".  Hearing these words, I began to become motivated.  This was actually a fitness class that I could apply to real life!  I had never thought about fighting, but this class certainly made me think about it. I was inspired!

There is no equipment involved in BodyCombat, other than a mat at the end of class for some light core work and stretching.  The routines are not difficult.  There is a lot of jumping, which might be a concern for those who have knee issues .According to my Fit Bit, the class measured about 2 1/2 miles, which is about the same as a Zumba class. By the way, I only use Fit Bit as a tool for measuring different fitness activities against one another.  I am not obsessed by the number of steps I do each day.  If  I can fit comfortably into my jeans, then I am doing enough exercise!

I would probably do Body Combat again, maybe several times a month.  I respect the instructor and what she is trying to teach us.  And I want to have her six-pack abs!!

Zumba: Love at first Class

2/12/15 - Five years ago, I was looking for a change in my exercise regimen.  I had been playing tennis for over 10 years, was still terrible at it (a discussion for later), and felt like I was losing ground on the middle aged extra pounds.  One day, I was talking with an older woman at my gym in Florida. This woman, in her late 70's and in great shape, had previously taught dancing aerobics, which I had loved in the 80's.  She offered me some advice, saying "Honey, you ought to try Zumba.  It would be right up your alley".  She said it was kind of like dancing aerobics, except with Latin music.

When I returned to Asheville, I found that there were numerous Zumba classes available, and joined a gym that offered them. One of my first days at class, my instructor asked if I was new to Zumba and I said yes.  He said "Welcome to the rest of your life".  How was I to know that he could predict the future?  Since my early classes, I have been addicted to Zumba.  I love everything about it - the upbeat music, the dance routines, the energy in the class, and the skilled instructors.  Fortunately, it came pretty easy to me, as I love dancing.  I was going to class 3-4 times a week, buying cool zumba outfits, and having the time of my life in my fitness world. In the process, I was also losing weight - 10 pounds in six months!  And I really had not significantly changed my diet!

I think a lot of people are scared of Zumba, so let me honestly evaluate what the class is like for a non dancer.  Yes, there are some steps that you must learn as you go along.  There are routines as well, but these generally have a lot of repetition. The Latin music provides music for salsa, cha cha, and merengue, but we sometimes do disco and swing!  There is some jumping, and this scares some people, who are afraid of knee injuries. The key here is to buy the correct shoes - many stores, even the discount ones, sell Zumba shoes, or you can order online.  The shoes will have a circle on the bottom so the you are able to turn without stressing the knees.

The good news is that Zumba participants and instructors are nice folks who don't care if you don't perform the routines perfectly.  They realize that what is important is to get consistent exercise.  It is all about having fun and moving to lively music.  So, I feel it is really a fitness class that everyone can do.  And you men out there - I have a special place in my heart for the men who stick with Zumba classes.  It takes a lot of nerve to be that outnumbered!  And there really are some excellent Zumba male dancers in my classes.

I recently visited Hong Kong, and decided I wanted to try a Zumba class there.  In my class at the California Fitness in Wan Chai, there was me, my instructor, Juan Carlos, and 40 Chinese women shaking it to Latin music.  I realized then that Zumba really is the universal language!

A Slice of Exercise

Exercise - Love it or hate it!  But if you listen to the experts, it is a key part of living a healthy life.
During the past five years, I joined a gym and began to see that there are a number of classes offered, many about which I had no knowledge and had never attempted to do.  Gradually through the years and with my gym membership, I have enjoyed a variety of fun and interesting physical activities.  I believe that my overall fitness has improved because of giving new classes and different activities a try.

Through this blog, I want to share with you my various exercise choices, the pros and cons for me, and to try new activities. Maybe this is an opportunity for some of you to learn about exercises that you have not heard about, but that might appeal to you. By the way, I am not an exercise physiologist - I am just someone who has found benefits from exercise, and want to share my experiences.

For me, this will be a new adventure.  I want to try going to every class at my gym at least one time. Not only will I provide information to you but I might also find new physical activities that I want to include in my own regimen.

To add a little fun to the to the pain of exercising, I want to also include pie making in this blog. I received a cook book last year for my birthday entitled "Four and Twenty Blackbirds".  This book, written by sisters Emily and Melissa Elsen, contains the recipes for most of the pies that they make in their Brooklyn shop of the same name.  The pies I have tried thus far have been delicious, but I want to go through the cook book and make every one.  Reviews of their tastiness will be based on the experience of my family, friends, and myself after consumption.

So there you have it - exercise and pies.  Just think of the work and then the reward!!