Zumba! - Page 4

goldyray1 · 05-14-2011, 06:43 AM

I just started Zumba! I purchased the beginners dvd and I have been doing it for six weeks. Wonderful results!!! I have lost about 12 pounds in six weeks. I am also 57 years old. I have a sit down job all day. Used to be a heavy smoker. I have no trouble doing the dancing. Sometimes on certain steps I have a little trouble keeping up. I am sure that soon, even the harder steps will become easy! Every day it becomes easier. I do this at home. Hoping to get some of my friends to come and do it with me. I live in a college town and the Zumba classes here are filled with these college girls that are in perfect shape and condition! Until I lose more weight, I am happy to do it at home. I feel like I would be too self concious to do some of those Zumba moves in the middle of those 19 year olds!!! I doubt that I could keep up. But give me a couple of months and those 19 year olds can move over and let me in!!!!! By the way, I have 40 pounds more to lose. I am 5'3" and at the moment, I weigh 158-160 pounds. I would love to get down to 120-125 pounds.

kcolville · 05-14-2011, 12:41 PM

WOOO HOOO! Goldray, you will be in that zumbda class showing them who is boss in no time

Ps. keep it up.

kag123 · 05-14-2011, 04:02 PM

Good for you! It is so fun...been doing it also at home for abut eight weeks. just got the cardio party set also a kick butt dvd

AquariusB · 05-17-2011, 06:41 AM

Zumba is such an awesome work-out! I have it on DVD and I attend the classes twice a week. It sure does beat running for 30 minutes! Glad to see you are enjoying it so much!

AquariusB · 05-17-2011, 06:43 AM

Hi! Zumba is mainly "cardio", so you will definately lose weight!

pixiedust7976 · 10-19-2011, 09:54 AM

The other day I was out running, and after I got into the 4 mile mark, my knee started giving me these weird tingling sensations up and down my leg. I looked it up, and it seems like I have ITB Syndrome and I need to give my knee some healing time before I go out and run again. It's weird that my knee is now doing this when I am literally 5 pounds away from goal. You would think it would do it when I started running when I was in the 150's. So my question is, does Zumba work for cardio while my knee has time to heal. Will it give me the same benefits as running everyday for 5 miles?

Hmmmm....

almeeker · 10-19-2011, 11:06 AM

It probably burns fewer calories, and I'm not sure it's a "rest" for your knees, although it's certainly less impact than running. You might consider something where you get your heart rate up but are not bearing your full body weight on the knees, like a stationary bike or a rowing machine. My knees are both really bad, and when they act up I usually hit the stationary bike, or the elliptical and I switch from cardio to strengthening. Yoga is good too.

kag123 · 10-20-2011, 01:37 AM

It does really work however I agree that not sure if it is easy on the knees. I have been doing it for a while with a lot of success and it is fun, I look forward to doing it. I do modify some of the moves so my knees don't hurt. U could give it a shot with modifications, not going to burn the calories that running does but you can still work up a sweat and its good cardio. It really helps the core...good luck

handcycle2005 · 10-20-2011, 03:11 AM

Not so weird it's cropping up now. Iliotibial Band Syndrome is primarily an overuse injury.

Some stretches and you should start working your hip abductors.

If you have access to a pool, you could try Deep Water Running. Very intense workout.

taubele · 10-21-2011, 03:32 PM

I agree on the Deep Water Running if you have an access to a pool - I used to do that a long time ago and WOW, you could really feel it.

I have been doing Zumba at home for a couple months now. On my cardio days, I usually burn between 600-700 calories in 45 minutes, and on the Sculpt and Tone days, it's usually 500-550-ish in 45 minutes. Your mileage may vary, however. I have issues with low blood pressure, and it seems like I tend to burn more calories than your average bear when my heart rate gets high. I use a heart rate monitor to calculate this calorie burn.

I've found that since I started doing Zumba I am noticing the most change in my core (waist and hips) and my thighs. There's a lot of butt-shaking and hip-wiggling involved. I don't know if it's a "rest" for your knees, however. A lot of the moves have you on one leg, and there's a lot of jumping around on the cardio workouts. Might not be as bad as running, but I would do some strengthening before attempting it. I have a bad ankle and need to modify some of the moves so I don't hurt it