I just really love my job

Thank you--all of you--for coming to class and making it so great! I really love enjoying the dances with you. Thank you for making it possible!

Zumba on the Today Show

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Everything I've been trying to convince you of, in one place

HURRAY for this article! This is all those tidbits on "body-image", "behavior vs. results" thought reprogramming that I've been trying to tell you about. You must read this!

The End of Dieting

Pay particular attention to the very last sentence!

Live the Life and ZUMBA, by my friend Shannon

A friend and fellow Zumba Instructor, Shannon Robinson, wrote an article about Zumba for the Live the Life folks (a weight management program you really should look into). Check it out! She says it very well!

Zumba®Gold on the Today Show!

I LOVE the Zumba®Gold classes! They are seriously fun!

For information on my Zumba®Gold classes, go to www.friedokrafitness.com, or click the link on the right side bar.

Giving Compliments: Are You Sincere or Selfish?

We have all encountered people who use the cheap tactic of tearing others down in order to make themselves look or feel better. It is juvenile, shallow, and temporary. But have you ever been guilty of tearing yourself down in an attempt to say something nice to someone else? It would sound something like this:

"You're so pretty, I wish I looked like you."

"You are so talented, you make me sick."

"You do that so well, I could never do that."

How does a person respond to that? "Uh,… thank you?"

This kind of compliment is based on comparisons. You are saying their good qualities are contingent upon you having none, not based on who they are or what they have accomplished. And in reality, we selfishly shift the focus back to ourselves before they even get a chance to enjoy our compliment.

How about this, instead?

"You have such beautiful eyes!"

"I love to hear you play piano, you really add a special emotion to the music."

"It's great to see you! You're always so much fun!"

Give it a try. You'll be surprised how it builds both of you.

Hurray! I got some goodies for you!

Those t-shirts FINALLY restocked. I didn't hesitate and got a load so if you want one, bring $20 to class or paypal it to me. These are a very nice cotton/poly blend so the fabric will last a long time. They have a nice soft feel that won't soak up your sweat. I LOVE the one I got. Just two sizes: S/M and L/XL.
The Small/Medium is 38 inches around.
The Large/Extra Large is 42 1/2 inches around.

Hurry! I doubt I'll get to place another order on these so get 'em while you can! (the t-shirts are on their way and I'll have them Monday, everything else I have on hand.) And I do have to charge sales tax... so all items total $21.37.

I also snagged just a few extras:

I have just one pink raceback tank in Medium, $20:  SOLD!

I have one lime green tank, size medium,

and one lime green tank, size large, $20 

And do you love those cool hats I've been sporting? 

I have a handful in each color; $20 each. I have really grown attached to mine!

Zumba Gold® makes the headlines

I'm SO happy that more people will be able to discover the benefits of Zumba Gold. It is so good for SO many people! This is great news for people bored with their current exercise efforts.

And that is MY MOM in the big picture! I'm so proud of her!

http://www.heraldextra.com/news/local/central/orem/article_06b82e42-a617-5ef7-99d0-aa1ae10b36f7.html?mode=story

[And for heaven's sake, I did not say, "boomers are booming and they need a place to boom." That is a little weird. But they got most of the stuff right.]

One thing to revitalize your Zumba experience

It happens to everyone. They fall into a little "ho-hum" slump. The crazy fun just isn't what it used to be?

If things just aren't the thrill they once were, try changing things up a bit:
Stand in a different spot in class. Move up, move back, switch sides. You'll be by new people, see things from a different perspective, and even the music will sound and feel different.

I move around all the time and have a blast. Give it a try!

A 5K in pleasant weather

How 'bout a nice 5K for a nice reason in super nice weather? Saturday, June 4.

This is a 5K to show support for Camie Jacobs, one of the Orem High Track coaches in her battle with cancer. There will also be items for sale at great prices.

Running for a reason is so much better than running in circles. Give it a try.

Here are the event details:
https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=104958776259203

Here is a registration link:
https://www.raceit.com/register/?event=4830

"When I lose weight, I'll start going to the gym"

I’ve actually heard people say, “When I lose some weight, I’ll start going to the gym.”

I know, I know,-- it’s seems a little backward.

According to a great article I just read by Gregory Welch in the May 2011 American Fitness issue, “being fit” is NOT defined by our size, but is defined by our ability to perform work—yard work, running, lifting, unloading your car, wrestling with your grandchildren, painting your bedroom, etc.

“Fitness” has little to do with your size because there are thin people who can’t run the length of a city block without stopping to catch their breath, and I’ve seen non-thin people who are endurance powerhouses! They can work in their yard, they can swim 60 laps, and they can handle intense cardio classes (like Zumba!).

Your ability to perform work is essential to your quality of life and independence. Waiting until you are smaller before you workout is a dangerous game. You are losing functional abilities as time goes on. So you can’t wait until you lose weight to work on your fitness. Like Gregory Welch said, you have to be “fit” FIRST, before you can start any effective changes in your weight.

If you aren’t thin, you may indeed have to work harder just to maintain the ability to perform that work. The bonus: you burn more calories because you have more to move.  

Can you perform work without going to the gym? Absolutely!

Do you?

If you answered no, in spite of your good intentions, you may benefit from a group exercise class. It is helpful to have a set time so you don’t delay getting your workout clothes on. You don’t have to plan the workout because the instructor takes care of that. It is socially rewarding. And if you come to a Zumba class—it’s FUN!

So maybe Zumba is just the thing to improve your fitness. Come try it out! I teach regular high-energy Zumba classes and Zumba Gold classes for seniors and people just starting out. Find my teaching schedule here.

See you soon!

How to eat anything you want

I spoke with a class member a few months ago about how he had successfully lost a large amount of weight. Six days a week he ate a very strict diet. "No fun," was how he described it. But one day a week he allowed a day off and ate whatever he wanted to eat. He looked forward to eating pizza and chips and soda and french fries. You might think he just "undid" all the work of the other six days. But what he noticed was that slowly, over time, he no longer craved the pizza and chips and french fries. After learning to eat and appreciate better food choices on the other six days of the week, his body adapted and he found the greasy, unhealthy food was actually rather gross! What he wanted on his day off turned out to be pretty good stuff!

But here's the juiciest part that I hope will help you: knowing that he could have that seventh day to enjoy the food he felt like he was missing gave him some strength to stick to the plan during the six days of strict eating.

Interesting concept. Which behavior do you wish you could change or give up? Would a "day off" each week help you commit?