Expert: Daphne E Brown MS CPRP - 12/29/2006

Question
Hi Daphane..I love aerobics (low impact), and used to teach aerobics for years. I try to stay active as I can with walking between 12-20 miles a week, and using wights.  Lately my schedule has been so crazy, that being consistant has been a problem. Even going to the gym has been difficult.  I want to invest in some great aerobic video cs's.  I love high energy, fast music and real funky beats.  If I went to a local music store, what fantastic cd's would you recommend and by what instructor? I'm ready to get started like yesterday. Also,I love being creative and doing my own thing and become really inspired if the music is funky enough.  What I mean is as an ex-aerobic instructor, I am creative and would love to work out at home to just some good music like (some dynamix stuff,the circut party 7, dj tracy young or bad boy bill) now all about 6-8 years old. I'm looking for some new stuff. Anyway, please make some suggetions and I will go make a purchase. By the way, I'm 55 years old but in excellent health and little overweight. I know how to pace myself and increase the intensity level as my energy level rises so don't hesitate to give me your best suggestions.  Just wanted to tell you my age in case you wanted to say something about seniors or working out with a 55 yr-old heart. FYI - I love motown stuff also.  Anyway, thank you for your time and expertise.  Paula  

Answer
Hey Paula!!  You sound just like me.  I just got back into working out this year, all my music is outdated, too.  This is what I did.  Are you at all computer literate??  Did you know that I started testing out classes at different clubs just to see what the instructors are doing.  MOST OF THEM ARE PLAYING MUSIC OFF THEIR LAPTOP COMPUTER ATTACHED TO THE STEREO SYSTEM, and I've just been out of the game for 3 years.  I was in awe.

I got with a local DJ I know.  I learned to download music from www.limewire.com. I use the paid service $19.95 or  a month or year something like that--you can check, not the free service (free service may get you a bunch of viruses and in trouble).  A lot of people like to use napster.com. I love old school and eclectic music which I find great songs on Limewire I LOVE to workout to.

I took my laptop to my DJ who mixed my songs together on my computer for me. You can do this yourself, but I just had the priviledge that he's a good friend who is a music mix genious.  I bought an MP3 player.  I got a Creative Zen, not an IPOD, but do the research to see what you player best suits your needs.  I download my mixes from my computer to my Zen (my 14 year old stepson helped me the first time), and I can listen to my music on my headphones or I can plug the little bugger to a sound system.  I am in heaven now with my workouts.

I also started renting videos from www.flicketyfit.com.  To see who is good, who is not.  An old standby for videos is www.CollageVideo.com.  Who knows.  You may want to start back teaching again.  Hope this helps! Please keep in touch and let me know how you are doing.  You go girl!!

-Sincerely, Daphne