Up in the gym just working on my fitness!*

*I have always loved that line from Fergie's song "Fergalicious"!

Hey DWDI Family!


    I hope you all are doing well! How am I doing? I am doing well :-) I am resting post-professional exam.  I am sleeping a lot, watching TV, spending time with my family, catching up with friends, looking for a job (more on that in a future post), and getting back into working out! YES!


   While I am a proud full-figured woman, plus-sized princess, curvy chica, etc., I am 100% for working out.  I may not run marathons (and I have no plans to do so, lol) but I firmly believe that everyone should do things to get active and stay healthy.  I have to balance my love of activity with the pain and fatigue from my fibromyalgia.  Because fibromyalgia causes me muscle pain and joint stiffness, it is important that I exercise properly to maintain flexibility and mobility.  This means that I tend to stay away from high-impact exercises like running (yeah, I am not hurt because I have never been a great runner, hahaha) and gravitate to low-impact exercises like walking, yoga, and using the elliptical.  I also have to take more frequent breaks while exercising and I can no longer exercise for long periods.  I have to do shorter workouts and build up my endurance.  And, I have to give myself at least one day of rest in between workouts.  What did make me sad was the prospect of no longer attending Zumba classes.  I LOVE ZUMBA! Hip-hop and salsa dancing combined for a high-calorie burning workout?! Yes, please! I am always relieved when the songs played are fairly clean as far as language so I can focus more on the workout and less on the music though, I am not going to lie.  Curious about Zumba? Here is a link of a faith-based Zumba class (uses music with positive messages and keeps most of the regular salsa and hip-hop moves):

I have not found a faith-based work out group in my area yet but I highly encourage anyone who wishes to participate in one to look for one or just go to a regular class and tune out any negativity like I do :-).


   So, on Tuesday, I went to my first Zumba class in about 1-2 months.  Yeah, I could tell it had been a while at first due to the inadequate oxygen supply to my lungs and my sour stomach due to eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich about 10-20 minutes before class (that was dumb.  Please do not do that :-) ).  I had to modify my movements so I would not get super fatigued and take frequent breaks to hydrate and rest for a bit (just standing and breathing for a few seconds until I felt better).  I finally got back into the swing of things and totally  busted some moves on the dance floor during my dance break to "rep" the attendees on my side of the room, lol! It was so much fun and I plan to go back tomorrow!


  My point is that everyone should take steps to be healthier.  It is important to take care of our bodies as well as our minds and our spirits, so we can be fit for God to use us. I have no scripture to back up this particular proposition, but it is not too far of a stretch to say staying in shape is important considering that the three brothers who drank water and ate veggies were WAY healthier than the other men in the Babylonian Royal Court who ate the royal food and drank the royal wine (see Daniel 1).  But exercise should also be fun or you will not want to do it!  Find things you enjoy so you can be a better, healthier you.  Play sports! Run (just do not expect to see me along your jogging trails ;-) )! Swim! Take group classes (do not be shy my plus-sized princesses and princes-just get out there and DO IT)! Do whatever you want to do to stay healthier and happier!


   Want to share how you work on your "fitness"?  Well, I am going to relax some more and head to bed.  Good night, DWDI Family!


Love,
CCC