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About a year and a half ago, the Fit Bottomed Girls were frequenters of Zumba classes, a high-energy Latin-based dance fitness class. After going almost weekly and dancing/laughing our little fit bottoms off, Erin and I began to believe that yes, we too could be Zumba instructors. We operated under this delusion, waiting for the Zumba certification workshop to come close to our hometown, but alas it never did.

Fast forward to a few weeks ago when Erin and I reunited for a Zumba class at a different club in a different town. Ten minutes into the class, I could see it on Erin's face. What in tarnation were we thinking? Erin and I are two very, very white people with little to no rhythm. In my head, my hips were sashaying left, then right, then hip roll, then pow! I was on fire. But one quick look in the mirror changed that. Who are those two awkward girls in the back? Oh, GOD, that's us. Shakira's hips may not lie, but from the looks of it, ours sure as hell do.

This is why I decided to review Zumba's Latin Workout Routine. While I may never be coordinated enough to teach a Zumba class, I figured I could use the DVDs to practice my moves and trip-ups without a class full of 50 watching me in the mirror. The DVD set comes with four discs, each offering a distinct workout.



Beginners
This quick 20-minute DVD introduces you to the basic Zumba moves: merengue, salsa, samba (which is impossible, so don't feel bad if you don't get it), reggaeton (reggae plus hip hop—it's awesome), flamenco and cumbia. Zumba creator Beto Perez is there to teach you the steps in Spanish, and his sidekick Natalie explains the moves in English. Unfortunately, the only instruction on getting your hips to move like theirs is to "move your hips." I hear it takes practice, but in my opinion, it's something you're either born or not. In our case, our deluded minds just keep on telling us to try.

Advanced
According to the DVD box, Advanced is the second in the four-disc series, which is odd because it's easily the hardest of the entire box. And I'm not just talking about intensity; they throw some serious craziness at you, including a dizzying salsa in circles and freestyle time where you can dance however you want . (In those situations I always just do the booty shake. Feel free to steal my idea.) However, in this 40-minute workout, you do get your heart rate up, and there is plenty o' eye candy, especially if you like your eye candy covered in tie-dyed spandex.

Power
Oddly enough, Power is less intense than Advanced, but it does include some more traditional fitness moves such as squats and standing ab crunches. The first half is led by another disgustingly beautiful hip-swinging Zumba-er named Jenny, and although she's cute, the first half that she leads is a little boring movement-wise. But, it picks up in the second half of the 40-minute workout when Beto starts to show off his moves. If you've been to the classes, you'll notice a few routines you've probably done before, including the "shhh/flying eagle" one. If you've never been to a class, I apologize for how weird that must sound and encourage you to go to a class and see it for yourself.

The DVD also includes a quick, 10-minute kids' Zumba workout, which is simultaneously endearing and frustrating 'cause these kids got mad skillz, yo. They could dance circles around me. However, the choreography in the kids' version is more basic, and it's really fun with sparkle fingers and hair flipping, so, I recommend trying this one before you jump into Advanced. Unless, of course, you made the top eight on So You Think You Can Dance. Then carry on, my tiny dancer.

Abs, Buns and Thighs
This final 30-minute workout is done entirely on the floor, and it requires no hip shaking. The DVD includes your basic moves: lying leg lifts, glute kickbacks and crunches, all done for 30 reps per exercise. It's no BOS, but it burns. For it, you need a mat and a towel for your knees. The instruction and pointers on form in this DVD are excellent, but it gets a little tiresome waiting for Beto and Natalie to both explain explain the moves in their respective languages. Although, the extra break was nice for regaining normal sensation in my buttocks.

Overall, these DVDs are fun, but honestly, they could have squeezed these workouts onto two discs, not four. The difficulty is all off, too. The Beginner workout starts you at zero mph and then Advanced has you doing 80. However, the music is fun, and the instruction is good, even if you do have to listen to it twice. Gosh knows, I could use the practice on my Spanish.


FBG Rating (Out of 5):
Instruction: ★★★★
Long-Term Likeability: ★★★
Music: ★★★★
Fun Factor: ★★★
Meets Expectations: ★★★
Overall: ★★★


Fit Bottom line: These DVDs are less intense than the live classes but capture the music and moves well. However, if you're looking for the true Zumba experience, gather up your courage and try a class. It's a blast, and if you stand in the back, you too can have hips that lie. —Jenn

Want more reviews? Read the Fit Bottomed Girls' new release reviews and retro reviews. For more on how our ratings are determined (it's not a science, but we do have some method to our madness), read our review criteria.

Some women love shoes. I love cheap shoes.

I’ve had a love for cheap shoes ever since I was little. I remember getting those little plastic high heels in the toy aisle of the grocery store. I went through so many plastic jellies that to this day I still have fond memories of the shoe, so fond, in fact, that I may have picked up one and tried it on at Target the other day although it was about 8 sizes too small.* (I swear, even if it had fit, I wasn’t going to buy it. That would be silly.)

In my adult life, my cheap-shoe love has translated into flip-flops. Many, many pairs of flip-flops. They’re cheap, they’re comfortable, and they’re easy to slip on and off. I can even buy them at the same store where I buy cereal.

Jenn also has a love for flops, although I think my love borders on the extreme. We are so much alike that not only do we share creepily common interests, likes and dislikes, but we often have identical ailments. So much so that I think we should be documented in medical journals on how non-twins can in fact be the same person. So when I started having flip-flop induced foot pain recently, I called Jenn to complain about it.

The conversation
Erin: So my foot really hurts. I think it might be my flip-flops.
Jenn: Been there, did that.
Erin: Describe the pain.
Jenn: It hurt. It started where my toes bent…
Erin: ...the second toe …
Jenn: …went up the middle…
Erin: …straight up the middle of the foot…
Jenn: ...made worse by anything other than sitting down…
Erin: …I’m hobbling everywhere!
Jenn: I had to wear those pink flats for months.
Erin: Ah, BUGGER.

Because my foot feels awesome after a couple of weeks of wearing tennis shoes, and terrible when I put flip-flops back on for even a short walk with the dog, I have exiled the offenders to the back of the closet for at least another month.

But even though I’ve sworn off flip-flops for the near future, my interest in the cleverly named FitFlop is acute. These chunky sandals are designed to challenge the muscles of the foot and leg while you wear them, and are said to work your bum and other hard-to-reach muscles with every step. The makers claim the shoes make it easier to stay in shape.

At $49.99, they certainly don’t fit into my "under $10" flip-flop limit, so I won’t be buying them any time soon. But I am intrigued by user comments. While no one claims to turn into an Olympian overnight, some users do claim that FitFlops have curbed foot, back and hip pain, while others just swear by their comfort. And judging from the comments following this article, people are passionate about this product, whether they love it or hate it.

What do you think about the FitFlop? Do you have a pair? Would you give them a shot? —Erin

*Jellies came back, just like all truly great trends do. Wonder if they’ve worked on the problem of rocks getting stuck in the heels?

Photos grabbed from www.photobucket.com.

Grilling gets healthier, donuts lighten up and K-Fed shapes up.

Cook, Don’t Char
Sadness for my grill marks! According to Consumer Reports, overcooking, burning and charring beef, chicken, lamb, pork and fish when barbecuing can transform amino acids and other natural substances into compounds that have been shown to cause cancer in laboratory animals. Some studies suggest that ingesting these and other compounds might increase the risk of some cancers.


This breaks my heart, as I love a burnt hot dog or a deliciously roasted marshmallow.

Grill without guilt.

A Better Donut Stop?
Good news on the donut front: Dunkin’ Donuts has launched DDSMART, its first menu of better-for-you options. Menu items include both new and existing Dunkin’ Donuts food and beverages that meet at least one of the following criteria: 25 percent fewer calories; 25 percent less sugar, fat, saturated fat or sodium than comparable fare; and/or contain ingredients that are nutritionally beneficial.

The new Egg White Flatbread Sandwiches are under 300 calories with nine grams of fat or less, and are served on toasted multigrain flatbread. Coffees, lattes and espressos clock in at 70 calories or less when using skim milk and a sugar substitute. Dunkin' Donuts coffee is available in eight flavors, all of which are sugar-free. If I ever have the willpower to skip the donut holes, it’s good to know I’ve got options.

Diet Dunkin'.

Another Celeb DVD
Kevin Federline appears to be the latest celebrity set to bring his fitness philosophy into your living room. Healthy Hollywood reports that K-Fed plans to release an exercise DVD in January 2009. This sounds like an FBG review just waiting to be written.


Oooh, maybe he and recently buff Brit will reunite and make their own couple's video?

PopoZao your bod.

—Erin

More interesting news tidbits from the FBGs.

Photos grabbed from www.photobucket.com.

A few weeks ago, the Fit Bottomed Girls gave you a workout for work, a sweet escape if you will. However, as a cube farm worker myself, I understand that sometimes you just need a few exercises that you can do at your desk, sans stairwell. Plus, I know there are people out there who work in a one-story building with no available meeting rooms. (Side note: I also wonder where these people go to secretly gossip about co-workers' affairs and rant about the newly promoted manager who thinks she's "all that." If you're one of these people, please enlighten me.)



The FBGs are here to help, my friends, with a simple five-step workout. (Maybe I liked the 5-Factor Diet more than I thought.) Try to do all five moves at some point during the day—research shows that even the smallest moves can add up to big results!

A Workout Fit for a Desk
1. Bust out the resistance bands. The most obvious way to work out from your desk is to use resistance tubing. Do a few bicep curls, some tricep kickbacks and overhead raises, and feel the burning love.


2. The faux sit. With proper form (knees behind your toes, head and chest lifted, abs in), squat only a few inches above your chair. Beginners hold for 20 seconds, intermediates go for 30-45 seconds and you advanced crazies go for a minute-plus. The awesome thing about this one is that, if you're getting low enough, your boss won't even notice that you're working out as he/she walks by.


3. Chair lifts aren't just for your grandparents. Now, before doing this, make sure your chair doesn't have wheels and can't move around, or lock your chair so that it's non-movable. Falling off your chair is one way to get noticed at work, but probably not the kind of attention that you're looking for. To target your shoulders and chest, sit in your chair with both hands on the chair's arms. Then slowly lift your fit bottom off the chair. Slowly lower back down. Beginners can try it 10 times, intermediates 15-20 and gym rats go for more than 20.

4. Push it on up. After making sure your desk can support your weight, clear off a spot on your desk and place your hands on the desk, walking your feet out behind you. Do push-ups against the desk until you're ready to say "uncle." Beginners can make the exercise easier by standing closer to the desk, and seasoned exercisers should place their feet as far away as their body and space allows. Make sure to keep those abs tight!

5. This is a stretch. Everyone can use a little cool down/cool off time from their day. After doing #1-#4 or just if you feel like you might go postal, close your eyes, take a few deep breaths and start rolling your shoulders forward five times, then back five times. Next, sit tall in your chair and reach for that tiled ceiling. Hold for two breaths, then extend the right hand higher, then the left. Bring your arms back down, then extend them to the side, Titanic "I'm the king of the world" style. Two more deep breaths. Return to reality.

These are just a few of the exercises you can do from your desk. I didn't want to get into Kegels and butt clinching, but let us know what other exercises are your faves at work! —Jenn

Read more fun tips and experiences from the FBGs.

Photo grabbed from: http://flickr.com/photos/timpatterson/476098132.