I suffer from an anxiety disorder and want so much to conquer it.  So I decided to undertake a ballroom dance on a major stage in Detroit.  Its called Music Hall.  Fred Astaire sponsored the event and we were the stars.  OMG!  I can't tell you how stressful the preparation for the dance was.  Training was vigorous.  There wasn't anyone that didn't have a brace on while training..  The rehearsal at Music Hall left me, literally, shaking.  I was shaking for hours after the rehearsal.  Many of the students felt the same.  Then, the main even came.  400+ people in the audience.  OMG!!!  OMG!!  I had a performance that included 3 lifts and 2 splits to Conga by Gloria Estafan.  Let me tell you something about that song....its incredibly fast!  My dance number was so difficult!  However, I was determined to make the best of it.  I didn't want to not remember anything about my performance after I was done.  I wanted to take it all in while I was performing!  I heard the cheers.  HUGE cheers...most likely my family!  But other performers mentioned the big cheers I got.  I fell apart afterwards.  The stress drained from me and the high intensity of the emotions got the better of me on the way home.  It wasn't pleasant.   But I did it anyway and became a star for a night on a stage that only famous people appear on.  I feel special for that. 

I have to wait to post more news.  sorry if you are following me. 

Yeppers.  I am now "dancing with the stars".  I am associated with a dance studio that is ASSOCIATED WITH DANCING WITH THE STARS.  I am actually practicing a dance that was choreographed by a "Dancing with the Stars" choreographer.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE  the exercise, but am very nervous about the attention.  The great thing is that I am doing all the gymnastics that I did 30 years ago as a cheerleader!    How many women at 50 can say that?  Like my personal trainer, Peggy, always tells me...your "muscles have memory".  SO TRUE.  Its like I haven't aged.  I can do the splits, and do all kinds of athletic performances with my dance partner at Fred Astaire Studio. 

Time to update, huh?  Well, I have had some challenges since my last post, to say the least.  I am now on medical leave from work due to an anxiety and stress disorder.  But I am working on it, and have had successes in doing so. 

But the WOW moments keep happening!  One thing I have not stopped is my physical fitness training.  As a result, I am one of the people involved in a fashion show at the Novi Rock Financial Expo Center in November.  The theme of the Expo is Fat to Fit.  I've purchased my fitness clothing for the show on Saturday, and plan on doing my splits and possibly a backbend--with a kickback if I can get that far.  For Sunday's show, I think I will wear my 1977 prom dress.  It was custom made and is a classic style...so it doesn't look out of date.  Of course, the splits and/or backbend will be out of the question wearing that on Sunday.  LOL. 

I should probably change my avatar because for the first time in my life, I have short hair.  It was so hard for me to "go there", but I had lost so much hair, I just couldn't keep up with the long style.  So I saw a Victoria Beckham (Posh Spice) haircut that I really liked, and went for it.  My hair stylist was very enthused and it turned out beautiful.  I've had so many compliments! 

I've stayed pretty consistent with my weight.  I've been ranging between 129 and 136 here and there.  When I have a particulary stressful week I can drop 6 pounds in that week.  Stress can really play devil's advocate on my weight.  But to me, its not about pounds, as you well know from my Intro.  Its about body fat percentage and muscle mass.  For some reason, that seems to fluctuate ALOT.  I'm thinking I'm not eating enough protein.  So I pump up the protein and BAM! ... the percentages change in one week's time.  I stay within a size 4 and a size 6 (I have alot of muscle mass due to my Sicilian heritage). 

My surgeon, Dr. Mark Pleatman and his whole office have been a God-send.  My personal trainer, Peggy Staycoff, is now my best friend.  She is truly a total Life Coach. 

Oh...and I had another WOW moment over the summer.  My husband and I went to a concert and were walking to our vehicle, and a group of guys were "hooting and hollaring" to me (and I don't wear "suggestive clothing---I tend to be fairly conservative).  Then on that same journey to the vehicle, another group of guys yelled to my husband, "Dude!  You rule!".  Of course they were a bunch of drunk younger guys, but it was nice to hear (taken with a grain of salt). 

So wish me luck on my fashion show adventure, cuz with anxiety and stress I may be walking out there shaking like a moth in a spider web.