University makes you fat. Really fat. And if you have enough homework, it distracts you from the fact that you are buying a size 20 instead of your previous size 12. Then one day you graduate and you discover that you’re very happy that those big, billowy robes they make you put on come in a “one size fits all” tent style because you don’t have enough time to diet before you go up there to get your diploma. You shouldn’t be surprised that diet of mac and cheese with booze was bound to catch up with you somehow and now you’ve got a price to pay.
Trust me, I know. Putting it on is the easy part but taking it all off again isn’t so easy. Diets don’t work and for the most part, they’re dangerous. Same with diet pills and all those weight loss trends you see in books and on television. You’ll just be disappointed in the end and probably just do more damage than good to your body. There is hope though; you just need to do it the old fashioned way. Exercise.
Stop groaning. Most people don’t get enough exercise as it is even when they’re not trying to lose weight and it’s a sad fact considering all the health problems this widespread inactivity creates. Even if you’re a size 7 you need to exercise to stay healthy, your body needs it to keep everything running properly and keep you out of the hospital.
The hardest bit for the most part is motivation. A lot of people think of it all as boring and can’t find the energy to be bothered so the key is to find something to be active with that you find enjoyable. So what if you’re a goth? Your typical fitness video sure isn’t going to work for you. Those bleach blonds on the fake beach landscapes that twist and flex to upbeat elevator music get old very quickly and you’ll be lucky if you can stomach them once through the routine. What about goth aerobics? Are there actually aerobics videos for the spooky kids?! There might be, so I’ve decided to start looking.
I started with the tribal belly dance videos. So many belly dance videos are geared towards women looking to tone their bodies and loose weight because it’s supposed to be such a great workout. So I picked up Tribal Fusion Fundamentals by Bellydance Superstars and decided to see what it could offer me.
I’d like to start by saying I love tribal/gothic belly dance. The costumes are lovely, the music has wonderful beats and rhythms and the movements are just beautiful. It’s truly an art form when it’s done well. Putting my love for the craft aside, this video is not what I was expecting.
Granted, they never labeled this video as a workout or aerobics video, but I didn’t even break a little bit of a sweat, which is what I expect to do during a dance lesson. I actually don’t think I learned much either. This video is great if you just want to watch dancing, the segments between lessons where you get to watch the girls dance to music is fantastic and there is no doubt are they good at what they do. I just really didn’t find most of the instructions useful. It seems like this video is geared towards girls who are already dancers and not so much the beginners. Was it difficult? Not really. It just wasn’t very good at explaining things or taking the time to make learning the moves a smooth process in my opinion. Or rather, I’ve seen it all explained better elsewhere.
The pretty much stagnant camera angle drove me nuts. We got to watch the girls from one side angle in front of a mirror for all the lessons. This didn’t lend very well to seeing the moves as a whole rather than just the side of it. To be honest, it made the lessons feel like they were some kind of after thought rather than a focus of the dvd. There seemed to be a lot more effort in their individual performances than anything else. Their dances were very cool, the girls are talented, but by the end I just sat on the couch and watched the rest.
Music is great though, check out Pentaphobe if you want to hear what I mean. Costumes were cool too, much better than just a cop out spandex exercise get up and each girl had a really nice style to them that I appreciated. (I love Sherri’s pants.) Even if I’m not a big fan of the video I am a fan of the girls as dancers.
If you’re looking for a related work out video that will help you workout and break a sweat, try the Belly Twins belly dance series by Neena and Veena, a pair of sisters that have been doing it for years. There’s a lot more focus on keeping you moving rather than showing off their own skills so you won’t find yourself stopping and watching a routine between sets. They’ll really get you working up a sweat too. They’ve got lots to chose from and while not goth at all, it’s a lot more fun than your regular aerobics videos and these girls are top notch.
