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7/8/12 2:14 A

Jenny, BTW, I STILL weigh 40 pounds more than you do.

I recently took a class with Gina Grant. A live class. I stood right behind her and kept up the whole time.

Weight has nothing to do with anything. Please stop waiting until you reach some sort of magic number before you give yourself permission to let go and just enjoy yourself while moving.

current weight: 208.0

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7/8/12 2:05 A

I weighed 100 pounds more than you do when I started Zumba...and I was doing it in a class, at the very front.

Stop worrying so much and just move. If you don't have any Latin dance background, it's not going to look just right until you get the hang of things and practice.

I'm not sure that an initial focus on footwork is the right advice. Latin dance is from the hips and the energy goes into the ground. If your hips are not moving, it won't ever look right. A lot of Americans seem to make the mistake (I notice this more in salsa and merengue than with Zumba, for FWIW) of dancing with their feet and knees instead of from the hips.

current weight: 208.0

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Posts: 1,339
6/27/12 11:32 A

The Wii game is fun, but nothing is like a live class. The energy & excitement from others takes the experience up a notch! Try it you'll love it! Keep dancing!

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6/25/12 9:45 P

I have the Zumba 2 for wii game. I have been doing for only 4days now. It's fun and still gets my heart rate up. I have already decided to make it a gaol to learn all of the routines perfectly so I dont get bored..love it though. Just have fun with it.

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Posts: 13,544
6/22/12 7:36 P

Hope you have a great time tonight!!

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6/22/12 12:30 P

Tonite is my first Zumba class at the gym. I have it for the Kinect but still feel a little nervous about putting myself out there. My plan is just have fun and keep moving. Any tips are greatly appreciated. =)

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6/7/11 2:39 P

This is one reason I love Zumba. U don't have to move exactly the way anyone moves. U put ur own spin on it. Ur personality. This can change as u grow more confident!! Just keep moving!!! Do what u can, and don't stress it so much!!! I am over 300 pounds and I go to classes and just do what feels right for movements for me. I can't jump real good, so I modify it somewhat to a move similar that I feel is me!!!! When I first started I was over thinking it....just let it come!!!

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6/7/11 12:45 P

Yes, work on the legs first. That was one of the best pieces of advice I got when I started. Figure out the feet & legs first, and your arms & hips will follow. You may even be surprised at how easily they move with you once your feet are going in the right direction. Keep at it! And have FUN!

Posts: 88
6/7/11 12:02 P

Yes I am way too hard on myself. I did 20 min today of the Activate dvd and decided that later on today I will do the Step by Step dvd again. Practice makes perfect. I was very anxious to zumba this morning so that's at least a good sign. I never look forward to working out. I know I can do this I just have to keep at it. Right now I will concentrate on my legwork and maybe the rest will just fall into place gradually.

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6/6/11 10:18 P

Boy, you are really hard on yourself. Judging yourself even when no one is around?? Wow, I'm not familiar with the videos but I've been an instructor of Zumba since Jan '10. Do not worry about how you look. Have fun. move as much as possible. That means, get some footwork down, move the hips, and use your sides, ribs, back, shoulder blades, neck and head. LET IT GO. Lift the knees, squat low and wide. Lunge with strength. keep your knees over your ankles, not your shoelaces. Just try to do your best each time you put the video on. You will improve and you will sweat. Which is what you want to do.

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6/6/11 7:19 P

Well maybe tomorrow I will be a little better at it. Thank you for the input. I think that's why I've always hated doing cardio was I want everything perfect. But whenever I'm out dancing, I've never cared. So I just need to have the same mentality when doing zumba.

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Posts: 92
6/6/11 6:00 P

I agree, just keep at it and have fun! My own experience is that I'll laugh at myself because my body doesn't move the same as theirs too.... and then, out of nowhere, I'll surprise myself by actually doing one of the moves a bit more like they do! Just keep in mind, I've been doing ZUMBA for 6 months steady now, and I had spend about 3-4 months doing it a year ago as well. It just takes time. Always remember to have FUN with it!!

Posts: 13,544
6/6/11 5:06 P

HI!! Don't stress-it takes time to master the movies at any weight!!

If you look at the Activate workout in the background, no one looks like they are doing the exact same step. It is all about having fun and following as closely as you can(I am an instructor and I modify steps all the time because of a bad knee!).

Just keep moving,it will get easier I promise!! Keep in touch!!

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6/6/11 5:00 P

This is day 4 of doing the Exhilarate dvd's and I'm very discouraged. I did the instructional dvd 3 times and today was the first time doing Activate. I did have the learn it feature on but my body doesn't even remotely come close to what they do on the dvd. My feet, legs, hips do not move at all like the girls on the dvd. I'm not loving this yet and I would really like to get to where I do enjoy it. Any tips for beginners? I feel ridiculous trying to move my hips like that at my weight. Please any feedback is much appreciated.

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