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.