I wrote this first on my blog but I don't think it'll get that many visits and I just had to share! I'm so happy! This is a HUGE event for me!

I woke up with the wish to move! To move for no reason, to move to stretch my body. Anyone has any idea just how unusual that is?!?

It has been more than 10 years since the thought of moving with no objective has entered my mind. And don't tell me "getting fit" is an objective because it never was. Still isn't. Between running and reading a book I'll always choose the book. Every time I exercised (when I was very young or on very few occasions during the last 20 years), it was because I had fun doing it.

I was already very self conscious when I was half the size I am today. Joining a gym is out of the question.

But today a revolutionary thought entered my brain: I could have fun, a time for myself, and do this at home. I work from home 80% of the time, I could make this work IF I really wanted to.

Enter youtube search. Lots and lots of exercise videos, featuring very energetic people smiling and spending in 5 minutes more energy than I use to live in a day.

And then I found it! Bollywood dance! I know, I know, but I like it. I love Bollywood movies, all the colour and happiness. I chose this:
http://youtu.be/nXMXUjX5wCM

I waited for my husband to leave, turned the AC to blasting cold and started following the movements with all the grace of a drunken elephant. In 5 minutes I was sweating as if I was in Delhi. And that was just the warming up!

I lasted 20 minutes. But what's extraordinary is, I had fun! I laughed at my vain attempts to emulate the women easily shaking this and that part of their bodies. I laughed imagining me in one of the Bollywood movies I love.

When I gave up I was almost unable to breath, my legs and arms shaking so much I had difficulty getting in the shower. And then, as I felt the water falling on my skin, a powerful wave of emotion took control and I started crying. Not of happiness and certainly not of unhappiness. I don't know what happened but I just stayed there, shaking and crying for no reason.

While I was still under the endorphins of exercise, I added an exercise goal: 15 minutes of Bollywood Dance, 5 days a week. Such a very modest goal and yet I'm so proud of myself for daring assume it.

My next goal will be to last the whole one hour video!

Bollywood Dance is supposed to burn an enormous amount of calories, but not at my pace I think, lol. So I entered 1/3 of what the online estimates were. Even that may be generous but I have to hope I'll be able to improve.

I think all the people here sharing their exercise goals and accomplishments have planted the seed in my brain! Thank you!

:flowerforyou: