I can not quite believe what I am writing here but after thoroughly measuring arms, thighs, bust, hips, my widest part (just under hips area) and waist I have lost a total of 14 inches from these areas since 1^st November.  The only difference has been the  Zumba fitness.  I have eaten the same and the only other difference is an increase in water intake every day.  “Well that is because you exercise all day every day” I hear you cry.  Well maybe in the first couple of weeks of setting up the routines I would be marking out the steps (not at full exertion) most days, but I have from 1^st Nov to today, only exercised under full steam on the Tuesday classes and yes I have been doing two for a couple of weeks but even so the proof is in the tape measure.  I am so pleased with myself I might allow myself an extra Quality Street on Christmas day.  You know I haven’t even noticed this happen but what a boost.  January will see three classes with two on Tuesday at Rendlesham Primary and one on a Friday morning at Eyke Village hall so watch this space for more inches lost.  I may reach my goal by my birthday with a bit of luck.  Please let me know your success stories so far, it would be great to hear how you are all doing.

So Christmas is rapidly approaching and it is at this time that we bash ourselves over the head about what we eat and drink.  As a therapist as well as a Zumba Instructor I always feel under pressure to look “the part” whatever that is.  I am normal and like lots of people love  the odd chocolate (or three) and  Christmas pudding, mince pies and not forgetting my traditional class of sherry when cooking the lunch,(that of course does turn into two classes if all does not go according to plan).  I do not plan to feel guilty about any of it.  Moderation is the key, the minute you start to say “I mustn’t” “I shouldn’t” is when the troubles start.  Don’t get me wrong, if you eat the whole tin in one go and sit watching Only fools and horses whilst drinking a whole bottle of bailey’s, and have no interest in what it is doing to you emotionally and physically, you would have a problem, however I know that the odd indulgence is fine and besides which I plan to be healthy in 2012 so it is not a problem.  In fact the more we are told we cannot have something or do something the more likely we are to want it.  For example, don’t think of a pink elephant................ see I bet you just thought of a pink elephant.  We teach our children “don’t touch that” and what is it they do next?  Exactly they want to touch it.  They, like us, do not register the “don’t” part of the statement and will only register the rest of the statement.  So when you have the internal part of your sub conscious saying “don’t eat that Christmas pudding” or “don’t have an extra mint cream” remember if you deprive yourself you will only want it more.  Have things in moderation and then say to yourself that you will work it off in the new year.  That way you won’t have a battle on your hands and create a psychological warfare in your head.  Of course you need to back up your statement and actually carry out your plan otherwise the resentment of all that indulgence will start to affect not only your figure, but your state of mind.  Don’t worry,  if you keep reading my blogs I will give you tips and pointers to get you through those “gremlin” days and together we can lose those inches, gain a new inner confidence, improve our fitness, have fun and shimmy, shimmy, shimmy.

Well how do I begin, Lilac Dawn is a culmination of a variety of health modalities that to narrow down to just one area would be very difficult but this week I need to talk about my rekindled love of dance and how it has changed me the last few weeks. How do I even write a blog, I am the world's worst person at technology and as my husband would tell you, I have spent many a long hour having very heated arguments with the laptop but I want to put my thoughts down on paper or rather my blog so this is my first attempt at it as far as Lilac Dawn is concerned and I hope my laptop and I remain friends throughout the process.

What a few weeks I have had recently. Zumba classes in Rendlesham are going well, and it is great to see everyone having so much fun. That for me beats anything. Also very importantly we are raising money for St Elizabeth Hospice every week and that means a great deal to myself and my family. I have loved music and dance for more than 34 years (I know I don't look old enough) and it has been a part of my life in some form for all that time. I loved to Ballroom dance but my passion was the Latin style and I have to admit that I feel like a child again when in the class, I feel free and able to express myself and be myself and I haven't a care in the world for those 2 hours of teaching, I love it. I hope that others can let go and have as much fun as I do, it just feels comfortable to me. I guess people come to the class for all sorts of reasons and similarly have all sorts of reasons for not being able to come along, either way it is fine with me there is no pressure to come along and I also respect that it won't be for everyone again for a variety of reasons. I hope people can, for just for those 50 minutes,  forget they have ironing, washing up, chores, bills and stuff to do and simply "be" it is so empowering and liberating and if not at my Zumba class then somewhere doing something that makes their heart bounce for a short period of time every week. It is inspiring and uplifting to see people find time to enjoy themselves and laugh out loud, in these times of stress, recession and insecurity, go for it you have nothing to lose.

January is hopefully a time for reflection, change and new beginnings, 2012 is a very special year for me in lots of ways, not least because I turn 40 and as the saying goes "life begins" I have to be honest for the first 9 months of this year I was not in a good place with regard to being 40 but now it is rapidly approaching I am actually quite looking forward to my next birthday, a new chapter and another year older, in my head I am still 20 and if Zumba has anything to do with it my body will soon be back there too!!!!!

Sad but true is that I have a mental list of things to do before I am 40.  Needless to say that hardly any of them are going to come to any fuition, for example I would love to dance with one of the pro's from Strictly, (not giving away which one, well two or three actually), I have always wanted to write a novel and years ago said that I would do that before I was 40, unlikely to get that done in 2 months now but can always try I guess as I have the characters and plot all in my head and have done for years. I would love to hold a real life Koala bear (I used to collect them as a child, toy ones of course not real ones). I can however do the next one or two, I would love to go and sit on a beach for three days and sit in the sun (put that in here as I know my husband will read this and it might inspire my birthday present, sorry Tom!)  In all seriousness though I want to be fitter, healthier and trimmer, but more importantly I want this for me and not for anyone else's benefit.  I want to feel younger than I have in years, dance like I have never danced before and laughed like a hyena, ah yes then along came Zumba, and as the fairy godmother said to cinderella, your wish is my command or was that the Genie???? Not sure I have the correct panto there but you get my drift.  There is hope for me yet!

Well this hasn't been too painful and if you are able to read this then my laptop and I are friends and there will be another article next week.

Until then, keeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep shimmying!!!!

Julie