Picking up where we left off

Debbie Cook over at Stitches and Seams said a few posts ago that she is doing exercise dvds. 


The exercise thing is tough because let's face it who wouldn't rather be sewing?


But I must confess I have myself got into the dvd thing. In fact it would be safe to say that if it's in the  $5.00 bin at the grocery store I have it. I am in fact a connoisseur of moves I can't make. The privacy of my sewing room is where I do my exercises - a place I like to be in anyway with no prying eyes to see what I can do to the New York City ballet warm up.


Be clear though I am only doing this to be stronger and less creaky, my knees are losing it. I have no interest in back problems or being slowed down etc. I have a lot going on. Also I have no interest in losing one pound or one inch. I have the fitting issues for this body figured out and that's that.


Anyway I had a bright idea the other day and that was what-ever-happened to Margaret Richards? You know from PBS Body Electric? When I had little kids I used to tape those VHSs - Nancy Zeiman and Body Electric, although I used to tape Nancy over Margaret a lot. She was good, those exercises were hard, I was so sore the next day.


So I went online and there she still is and I ordered in this DVD, which cost more than $5.00 but I was feeling nostalgic.

Now I have to tell you Margaret no longer looks exactly as illustrated. I find it strangely comforting, once I had adjusted to the fact that she hadn't stayed in the box looking exactly the same for 20 years waiting for me, to see her body has gone middle-aged too, although I would say she now has to be in her 60s. I am seeing those inner thigh things, bigger upper arms and mostly the famous expanding waist you get. I figure if she bought a 12 she would be grading it up to a 18 at the midriff. 


Her music is different, one of her songs is actually about a child growing up, not the same disco stuff. She even has a quirky blog on her site where among other things she shares her knitting. She says do these exercises, go for a walk, and make sure you rest and relax. This I can do.


O.K.


The thing is her exercises are still terrific. You use weights (got these at the grocery store too) and she is about being stronger and my god to do this all the time she has to be. I can hardly move this week everything is so sore, and that would be everywhere.


And I have found it so much nicer to be working out with someone who looks like me, which I can't really say about those folks at the New York City Ballet.