I Get Fit Punching Sally

“You are not overweight!” my friends protest.

And they are correct. I fall smack-dab in the middle of the ideal weight range for a woman of 5’7”.

Those who are a little more up to speed on the metrics of health may ask, “What’s your BMI?” and I can respond, “twenty percent,” well within what is considered acceptable.

But if you are following the latest research in the world of fitness, or simply scrolling on Facebook, you will know that I am not in the clear, for I have an issue with belly fat.

Remember the apple, banana, and pear posters? I was an apple for decades, yet somehow I have morphed into a peanut M&M. Don a tunic and a pair of stretch denim skinny jeans and I’m golden, but peek underneath that tunic, and the illusion is exposed.

Yes, fashion has done me no favors. Just because it’s hidden doesn’t mean it’s safe.

And although my “fat distribution profile” is mostly a case of genetics, that’s no excuse to disregard it.

Belly fat is bad stuff. It can surround our internal organs, increasing the risk of heart disease, diabetes, liver problems, some types of cancer, and the risk of sudden death.

It’s time for me to focus the fight and do battle with my belly fat. And there are plenty of people who’d like to help.

I recently ran into Sally on YouTube.

Sally promises that if I do her 10-minute standing belly fat workout, in 14 days I will notice a big difference.

I decided to give it a try.

I moved my laptop to the kitchen counter, started the coffee maker, and, rather than wander the kitchen aimlessly while the coffee brewed, I did the workout with Sally.

After a minute and a half, I was ready to go back to wandering the kitchen aimlessly while the coffee brewed.

But I pressed on.

I found there were little things I could do to get through each 40-second routine.

I was a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader while we did side crunches.

I was Gil Brandt bending down to do defense each time we did the skiers/floor touch combo.

And once (just once) as we were doing side-to-side punches, I was punching Sally.

After a few days of shouting, “More? Are you kidding? You think I want more??” when Sally asked, I ran to mute the PC as soon as the final repeat of “If You’re Looking for Trouble” faded.

But seriously, there are things you can do to make these workouts more over-fifty-friendly.

Have a chair handy. Some upper body exercises are just as effective done sitting down.

If you struggle with balance, rather than placing your hands behind your head or on your hips, hold on to the chair.

If the movement includes a skipping motion that is just too challenging, keep your feet on the floor while doing the stretch.

And by all means, don’t feel obligated to do the movements as fast as Sally does. Remember, YouTube does have speed settings.

“If You’re Looking for Trouble” sounds really cool at .25x.

We can do this!