December is Here

 Free Christmas Special on Annie Concept

https://www.annieconcept.com/

 Each day opens a new gift which may include a video.

Offer is completely free.

Do not need a credit card.

Get your first month free after a 7day free trial with the new Walk at Home app

Use code ONEMONTH at check out

Access all videos including new Live Streams.

www.WalkAtHome.com

I was generous to myself for a change during this Holiday season and purchased many deals, all of which were successful.

It started with a Vizio Smart tv which was not very smart and was greatly improved with another ROKU device, actually 2 ROKU devices.  I got a ROKU stick more recently because its remote controls power and audio.    The ROKU Express was then added to another dumb tv which still  has a Chromecast.  The streaming deals with Hulu and Apple TV+ made all of the ROKUs worthwhile.  My tech phobic husband is using the ROKUs!

I also got a new Smart phone extending my Tracfone service an additional year.

The free IRING is being used happily by our son.

I use my Moto Smart phones all night thanks to their wonderful batteries.

 

All of the above increased my options for streaming workouts.  ROKUs play stored workout files with the ROKU media player much better than casting from a laptop and the phones stream any website with the Web Video Caster app.  The WVC also enables downloading streaming workout files.

Last but not least, I got a wonderful mattress from Walmart for half the price of the same item on Amazon.  LOL the old mattress is happily being used by our son in his workout garage.

I really like watching a phone stream without glasses or listening to music or cable news in bed.

OK bought one more thing that has been long overdue.  A caller ID answering machine with both a corded phone and cordless handset.  The AT&T CL84207 Corded/Cordless Phone has Smart Blocker. It screens all calls not from a number stored in the directory and has successfully blocked all scammers, telemarketers and robo calls!  Our previous landline answering machine phone did not have caller ID and was making horrible sounds when trying to make or answer a call. 

What a pleasure not be be bombarded by unwanted calls.

Ooops yet another purchase:  a usb keyboard for my laptop because the laptop keyboard kept causing typos.  It was just 10 bucks and worth every cent.

Workout-wise, I am still doing mostly ZDancer Liz and some NiaTV.

So my Pandemic lifestyle continues with working out and watching tv (or phones) in addition to simple but delicious cooking.  Days are flying by.

We have all gotten our Moderna boosters and hope that Covid does not destroy anymore lives.

Also hope that the cult gets some intervention and America can become more unified and tolerant.

Parents who worship trump and take their kids to his rallies will reap what he sows.

Easy Baked Mexican Chicken: preset oven 350

2 Chicken breast butterflied and pounded

(or seasoned whole breasts marinated in the tomatoes with a splash of apple cider vinegar)

1 can Mexican Stewed tomatoes

1 can corn drained

Sprinkle both sides of butterflied breasts with salt and pepper (or any other Mexican seasoning)

Lay breasts in baking dish and pour corn around the breasts

Pour Stewed Tomatoes over the breasts

(add more seasoning over tomatoes and corn if desired)

Bake 30 minutes if butterflied (45 minutes if whole) then top with cheese for another 20 minutes

optional: 

add strips of onion and bell pepper on corn for fajita style

add a can of drained black beans or heat in a separate dish

(if beans cooked separately, add the juices and corn to them when main dish is done)

Apple TV Plus Deal from Best Buy

Best Buy is offering a 3 month free subscription to Apple TV Plus which has to be redeemed by March 31st. 

I had to *create* an Apple ID Store account with a credit card to access AppleTV+ besides getting an official Apple ID to use Chrome on my Windows laptop and android Chrome browser because I never had a store account and own no Apple devices.  My free trial started with 7 days then had another 3 months added by redeeming the deal on an email from Best Buy.  It can be cancelled before the free trials end to avoid any billing on the Apple TV+ settings but the free trials will end immediately upon cancellation.  We may keep it for awhile because the subscription just costs $4.99 a month which is more than what we  saved with the Hulu deal.

Luckily, all of our HD TVs have a ROKU Device. 

Optionally, I can also get the Apple TV+ app on my Vizio Smart TV but I prefer using the ROKU.

The only way to cast to a Chromecast on a Dumb TV is from a Chrome browser but the stream does not play as smoothly as on the ROKU.

If you are using a ROKU device for Apple TV and get an error message that a video will not load,

here is a fix that worked for most users:
ROKU settings - Audio settings - change auto detect to HDMI Dolby Digital.

Happy November

 I am trying more youtube routines this month like a new WAH Steel Series vid:

 https://youtu.be/UNA_1DXsLmg  

and some Marion Brand Walks

https://www.youtube.com/c/BrandfitnessCa/videos

This morning, I wanted a short workout before walking to the nearby school to vote so chose a Michelle Wilson youtube video muted while playing my own music. 
https://www.youtube.com/c/MichelleWilsonWorkouts/videos

This Move with Bella youtube channel has Zumba Gold Chair vids:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqJQE15pAzFM3XmKhkHZ_7g/videos

I love doing chair moves to good music.

Sadly, youtube may be leaving ROKU but still have my laptops and Chromecasts.

The Walk at Home app will be having Live Streaming in addition to its huge library:

https://walktv.walkathome.com/

(be sure to cancel the Daily Walk app if subscribed to avoid double billing)

There is a free one month trial with check out code ONEMONTH

I must revisit  https://www.youtube.com/user/TheMbmartin/videos

and I finally started doing the warm-ups to a bunch of Nia with Megan files.

Megan MacArthur

(Will add more suggestions as I go)

not a workout but our son was on *25 Words or Less*:

https://youtu.be/AwTFDBnOsL8

I am treating myself to some online gifts including a new Tracfone from HSN and a ROKU stick from Amazon, both of which have great Black Friday prices.  My Tracfone account service ends in March so I prefer getting another phone with a year of service for a great price instead of paying for just another year of service.  I'll probably use the ROKU stick on my new bedroom TV because the remote controls audio volume and switch the ROKU Express to our den tv which just has a Chromecast 

Very satisfied with the above orders!

In fact, I think my tech phobic husband who is finally using ROKU may be giving up a Verizon STB (or two).

I am cooking much more than I used to but always look for simple recipes, being a lazy cook.

This chicken was so easy and delicious:

https://www.readowding.com/melt-in-your-mouth-chicken/?fbclid=IwAR0DauWGVARV0o0VNgc0FxnhdcBjt2vqqFUfH_D0uvg2e_xm6HnjOJx0XiE

Also I prepared a box of Spice Cake as directed and added 2 diced apples, chopped walnuts and a bit more cinnamon and was pleasantly surprised by the result.

I made a box of Red Velvet cake and added my own cream cheese icing for the first time!

A warning to cooks:

do not use organic carrots because they are bitter.

(my annual Thanksgiving gravy was a disappointment because of them)

I marinate the bird overnight and the marinade becomes its gravy.

Marinade is grated carrots, onions, and garlic seasoned with salt, pepper, and paprika.

Fortunately everything was still delicious in spite of the gravy which was greatly improved with alittle sugar.  

However, I must stop baking so much because of the scale.

Toxic People

A toxic person is anyone whose behavior adds negativity and upset to your life.

This article  lists the traits of a toxic person:

https://www.purewow.com/wellness/traits-of-toxic-people

I have given too much power to toxic people, enabling them to affect my own emotional well-being.
Consequentially, I have to constantly remind myself that I am responsible for my own attitude and cannot change other people if they choose to live in a bubble of negativity.  Best to avoid them and not give them any power.  Sadly, it can be someone from whom it is hard to detach.

Toxic people are everywhere, especially on the internet because their anonymity gives them a false sense of bravado.  I went on the internet soon after our older son came out to find other parents. It was shocking to see so many strangers be so hateful which was a harbinger of hatefulness to come.

When a toxic person infects a whole group, it becomes even more challenging to stay positive.

The trump cult is an excellent example of  a toxic group.

Toxic people have always existed and will continue to exist.

Therefore, History repeats itself.  

However, all toxic people and groups eventually land on the wrong side of History.

Happy October

September ended well with putting a ROKU Express on my new Vizio Smart TV which proved to be quite dumb.   I am still doing mostly Zdancer Liz content. Her music and moves are perfect for me whether bouncing,standing or sitting. My 3 month pause for WOW is almost ending so I will try another month.

Here are free Barre3 sites on vimeo:
https://vimeo.com/user126926571/videos
https://vimeo.com/user150996849

Here is a great music only routine with Tanju:
https://youtu.be/pCbS_mRUbdw

I liked the Keoni Walk and Dance vids on Reps to the Rhythm but especially like the ones with his mom.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3lEhUBNqIrFMatB9Zgxo0g/videos

I had paused WOW for three months and instead of seeing one new workout a week, it was more like 2 new workouts a month.  It really didn't matter because the choreography has not changed much (mostly walking in place and clapping hands) and the new tunes were not motivating me to move.   Sadly, I mostly free-styled or fast forwarded.  The site is also more finicky with more freezing. 

https://walkingonlineworkouts.vhx.tv/browse

I much prefer ZDancerLiz, even without outdoor scenery.
It seems as though Liz just sets the bar too high for any other instructor to be able to compete.

https://zdancerliz.weebly.com/

Live Zoom classes are free.

For a monthly $10 donation, there is an email at the end of each month with Google Drive links.

Some fans who prefer dvd, can order dvds from Liz but they are limited to 2 zoom classes (120 minutes) or 80 minutes of youtube classes for $10 each plus S&H.

Her Halloween Dance workout in October's links ended the month perfectly.

I am still enjoying Megan McArthur's Nia zoom classes for an optional donation

https://www.facebook.com/dancingwithmegan/
and Yoga Vista's Chair Dances which I got for a year for just $35 during a temporary sale.

My new TV screen was green one morning so I made sure all of the cables were connected well (I did move the tv around a bit the day before and have a finicky cable connector).   Then after a reset, I just entered the necessary information and thanks to using a ROKU Express just about exclusively, I did not have to bother with the Vizio apps again.  ROKU apps work much better than Vizio's and ROKU has a better selection.  The main reason I avoided a ROKU Smart TV was because their customer support sucks.

Walk at Home

 The Leslie Sansone YDW (Your Daily Walk) app is being replaced by a new Walk at Home app. The new app will be offering live streaming as well as the whole Sansone Library.  YDW will end at the end of the 2021.  It is advised to cancel any existing subscriptions to prevent double billing.

https://walktv.walkathome.com/

Smart TV not so Smart

 I finally caved and replaced a tube tv and its attached FIOS SD Set Top Box (box rental is $10 a month) with a Vizio Smart TV.  I chose a Vizio with built in Chromecast because my old Vizio HDTV works great with the Chromecast dongle streaming from an Android mobile.

Often I have read it was better to add a streaming device to a dumb TV than get a Smart TV but I had assumed a built in Chromecast would perform as well with my mobile devices .... WRONG!

The TV has way less apps than the ROKU Express and android mobile phones.  Some of the TV apps are glitchy.  The TV will serve ok in the room it is in but my other dumb HDTVs with streaming devices are much smarter.  I can still use the free FIOS channels with the coaxial cable after a tedious setup and a few of the limited apps for streaming VOD (thank Goodness for Hulu).  I stopped using the FIOS Set Top Boxes for VOD long ago, preferring streaming devices and mobile phones. Phone apps do cast to the built in Chromecast but I may get a ROKU Express for it eventually.

One thing for sure, my tech phobic husband will never use it!

Edited to Add:

It is freezing and crashing less so I decided to keep it and ordered another ROKU Express for it to access more apps.

Ironically, I do not even need a tv in this room which I mostly used for MSNBC at night.

In fact, I can access MSNBC  more reliably on an android phone or on my laptop.

ZDancerLiz Country

 I am not a Country music fan but have found Country music creates great workouts.

I have collected lots of dvds and online workouts which use Country music but the zoom class ZDancerLiz did yesterday was amazing.   It is well worth her monthly subscription ($10) to to get access to this zoom recording.  You can play the video recordings on Google Drive and/or download the files to whichever devices you use.  Chromecast.can cast directly from Google Drive   ROKU Media Player can play downloaded files.

For more information about her free zoom classes and the subscription offer:

https://zdancerliz.weebly.com/

September is not Starting Well

 Last night Ida flooded my basement for the first time in the 36 years of living here.
Our carpet absorbed alot of water and luckily just ground water and not sewerage.
I was already having a bad night with hives, partially because our annual doctor visit was scheduled for this morning and our smart phones kept blasting flood and tornado warnings.

Anywho I had a very active day before and after our appointments sopping up water with towels, washing and drying the towels then repeating.  It is amazing how much water towels can absorb.  Much better than dozens of rolls of paper towels.  A fan will help do the rest.  I am tossing lots of clutter, wet and dry, because our town will be taking bulk away for the next two weeks.

Sadly, over a dozen people in a neighboring town drowned in basement dwellings.

A man drowned  near our doctor's office after his car got stuck just a few blocks from our home.

OK back to sharing workout videos:

I adapt walking and dancing routines to health bouncing on a rebounder.

This Kiara-Camilla Dickson channel seems like a good one for me..

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZsnYnJjEIDxqb1pRMbs2VA/videos

ZDancerLiz just started a new month and it will be phenomenal.

The 9/2 zoom was amazing.  Definitely, the best music and choreo for me.

Our basement carpet seems dry now (9/5).

We removed the excess water with bath towels which was much better than using rolls of paper towels.

It was like foot stomping grapes for wine. 

(I did 5 loads of towel laundry!)

then had a fan going 24/7.

flipped the carpet over and put stuff under the unflippable parts to get air to the bottom of the carpet.  The floor underneath was dry?

I think the water went into the paneled walls around a window and not up from the ground.

I ordered those dehumidifying bags to try to capture any moisture in the air and deodorize the air.

Just hope this was a one time event and will not need a sump pump, etc.

The bags are fantastic!  All of the dusky odor is gone within a few hours.

I have been bouncing for over 20 years:

https://fabulous50s.com/the-best-exercise-for-weight-loss-over-50/

Personally, I prefer healthbouncing and tweak low impact walking and dancing videos with good music.

August is Here

I will be sharing August tips on this post as the month progresses.

ZDancerLiz free LIVE zooms returned  August 7th. 

Liz is planning a basic Zumba every Saturday plus an additional Dance Fitness class on Mondays.

The next batch of links will be uploaded to Google Drive at the end of August for the July and August zoom recordings. Subscription still will be just $10 a month in spite of an extra 6 classes. 

Payments will restart Sept 1.  
https://zdancerliz.weebly.com/

Nia with Megan is zooming again starting August 19th on Mondays and Thursdays at 2pm ET.

https://us04web.zoom.us/j/570993703

donation info for a link to the recordings at

https://www.facebook.com/dancingwithmegan/

(I hope she can fix her audio because her voice gets garbled)

I started the month still visiting Liz's youtube videos:
https://youtu.be/Q1de8683Tw4

Liz is now permanently storing her zoom files on Google Drive starting with the month of May but unfortunately, some great previous classes are not available on Google Drive.  I love the one done around St. Patrick's Day with a few Irish tunes.

I will be trying the new Yoga Chair Dancing Subscription on Yoga Vista TV which is just $35 for the first year with the code DANCES for 25% off.

https://watch.yogavista.tv/categories/Chair-Yoga-Dances

(new accounts may be eligible for a 7 day free trial)

Bummer, for my first class on the new subscription above, I chose the one and only routine that had a muted song!!!!  Ironically, the song Amazing Grace is on the YogaJP youtube channel 

https://youtu.be/d80VWWcBXAA

Otherwise, the Good Posture class with an Eagles tune preceding Amazing Grace was a great *feel good* class.  

Yoga Vista has both an Android app and a ROKU app which makes the sub worthwhile for me.

There  will be new dances added without ads which will not be available on youtube on either channel:

https://www.youtube.com/c/YogaJP

https://www.youtube.com/c/YogaVista/videos

Christal Sperling is still adding walking workouts with music only on Vimeo

https://vimeo.com/user21503800

Just a quick Amazon rant.  Besides raising *buy again* prices (as much as doubling the prices of some recently purchased items), Amazon has had a few delivery goofs. One was a laptop that never arrived (we found a better one for less from Microsoft) and more recently a wired mouse which was never shipped.  The Marketplace seller had 100% negatives!  I didn't realize the color I chose was not coming from Amazon.  This Seller should have been banned from Amazon.  Anywho another seller sent the same item at the same price on the same day I ordered it.  I just received the cheap corded mouse I had ordered for hubby's laptop and it works so much better than several wireless and more expensive models. It is like having a new laptop!

I had ordered a small usb fan with a rechargeable battery which I really liked but on buy again, had doubled in price.  I waited a couple of weeks and saw it had returned to the cheaper price so I order another one.  Also ordered a headband with bluetooth ear buds for working out or sleeping because my son loved the gadget.  I really am enjoying it!

Another package from Amazon that was supposed to deliver the earliest last week and the latest yesterday only had a shipping label made the third day and was not physically shipped for several days.  It then spent several days in my state at 3 different USPS centers and then sent back to the shipper's state. This was mostly the fault of the USPS but the shipper could have sent it sooner after creating its label.

Buyer Beware.

Overall, I have found Walmart much more reliable than Amazon.

July Tips, etc

This month my subs are greatly reduced because most zoom classes are cancelled so Megan and Liz can have summer vacations.   No problem because I have many of them I have not yet tried so I can catch up a bit the next few weeks.  Plus Liz had added new youtube content:   https://www.youtube.com/user/ZDancerLiz/videos   I finally started visiting her youtube content more because of the pause in her zoom classes.  Her music and choreo has been wonderful and a silver lining in the Covid lockdown.

Otherwise, I am drawn to videos with a variety of simple to follow moves, music only, and outdoor scenery.  Many youtube videos become perfect when I replace their audio with music only.  I am really enjoying Penny from SilverFit and Michele Wilson outdoor content with my own music. 

https://www.youtube.com/user/silverandfit/search?query=penny%20cardio

https://www.youtube.com/c/MichelleWilsonWorkouts/videos  adding my own music to her routines has been a great combination for more intense cardio that uses every muscle in fun moves.   For example: her 4/8  fast_walk.

All of the above are easily tweaked to do on a bungee.

You can try WOW which kept me muving the past couple of years but has become too repetitive for me and much slower in adding new content with only 1 new workout in the past month which played terrible with Chromecast because the vhxtv platform is unreliable.  (of course a new one was finally added the day after I paused the subscription LOL). Quite honestly, youtube videos with my own music are more fun than WOW lately.   ZDancerLiz zoom classes still have the best music and choreo but I would love it if she did some classes outdoors.  

A Free Zumba Gold Toning zoom class every Thursday at noon ET hosted by Melanie Kantor

zoom ID: 86140602418     pass code: BICEP

Collage Video has a good deal and you do  not have to pay till after the 7 day free trial but sometimes they offer a 30day free trial

Leslie Sansone Walk at Home is just $4.99 a month for both her Daily Walk and her whole library.  The videos stream online or through the Purple Player app.  This is a very good deal with lots of new walks added by new leaders.

 .

Chrome video downloading extensions which are currently working for many sites:

Flash Video Downloader with red icon of lightening flash inside circle

Web Video Downloader with a white arrow inside a green teal box icon (provides a download button on the video page to choose quality)

On Firefox, try Ant Video Downloader

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/video-downloader-player/

For youtube, try https://www.y2mate.com/en76

or  https://notmp3.com/free-video-downloader-for-youtube/

or https://getvideo.org/en

My favorite video download method is using the Web Video Caster app on an android mobile.

(I only use Windows on laptops and android mobile devices.  Not only are they cheaper than apple devices, they have many options that apple devices lack.)

June Tips inc Tracfone tips

 (Zoom classes for both zdancer Liz and Nia with Megan have been cancelled for most of July)

Another Chrome downloading extension: The Flash Video Downloader (icon is a red lightening flash inside a red circle) 

 https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/flash-video-downloader/cjljdgfhkjbdbkcdkfojleidpldagmao

First day of a new month and I have discovered another youtube channel Silver&Fit.

https://www.youtube.com/user/silverandfit

My favorite routines so far are Penny's Intermediate Cardio vids which are outside in front of a pool.  I like her moves and speed but prefer to play my own music while muting the cuing.  The only thing that ZDancerLiz lacks is outdoor scenery and the only thing lacking in WOW is choreography although WOW has much more choreo than Brand Fitness.  By adding my own music to Penny, I have my trifecta.  There are lots of other great free youtube dance-walk videos with good choreography and music like Aqua Jade but few with outdoor scenery.

I will also add my own music to   https://www.youtube.com/c/MichelleWilsonWorkouts/videos

another new discovery Zumba with Dovydas   https://youtu.be/hRhLybMg0NU

URRBANIZE with Tanju   https://youtu.be/po7pRbhBdhE

 rediscovered  https://www.youtube.com/user/JacquiJune/videos  and   https://www.youtube.com/c/ChoreoNConcept/videos

SheaMoisture Canada  https://youtu.be/w8yeug7Vjy0

Work Out Like A Dancer OUTDOOR DANCE WO   https://youtu.be/5k-J9PavRI0

Leaps and Rebounds has created a page for youtube rebounding workouts  https://leapsandrebounds.com/blogs/mini-trampoline-workouts

Joyn is now free!  https://www.joyn.co/

FFX On Demand is free for now ffxondemand.fitnessfirst.co.uk/

Great for smiling and laughing  https://youtu.be/AcVFtu-ZmmM

What I am currently doing for the rest of the month for $10 each:

WOW (WalkingOnlineWorkouts)    https://walkingonlineworkouts.vhx.tv/browse

ZDancerLiz  (next month she will be taking a few weeks off and will be doing just one class every other Saturday)   https://zdancerliz.weebly.com/  

Nia with Megan who has Monday and Thursday Live Zoom classes 2PM ET and sends a temporary link for her  recordings well worth a donation!   For more info:   https://www.facebook.com/dancingwithmegan/

 (Zoom classes for both zdancer Liz and Nia with Megan have been cancelled for most of July)

I usually mute myself during a zoom class but one morning when trying to enter a zoom class, I kept getting interrupted by spam phone calls in another room so I mistakenly shared some colorful language with the class before I realized I was not muted.  It was both embarrassing and amusing at the same time like a skit on Saturday Night Live.

Some Tracfone Smartphone tips:

We keep upgrading to a new phone for another year of service and additional buckets. The deactivated phones make great mini  tablets using just WiFi.  I play with a new phone like it is a tablet before I activate it.  Sometimes when turning a new but unactivated phone on, there are mysterious calling sounds.  These can be avoided by using airplane mode to block Tracfone services, just remember to turn WiFi back on while in airplane mode.  Also turn off airplane mode when you are ready to activate the phone.  Once it is activated, those ghost calls stop.

The unactivated or deactivated Tracfone Smart phone can be used with mobile apps and plays online videos or stored video files nicely either on the phone or casting to a receiver device on a TV.  My mobiles play videos better than my Windows laptops, especially on Chromecast (The ROKU app will play files from a device too).  If you want to watch a video file that is stored on the phone, you do not even need WiFi or electricity. Some apps can download a video to watch offline (the Web Video Caster browser app can download many online videos if using an Android device).   If you are into using video files, a SD card is a cheap way to expand the phone storage.  Playing a video file avoids annoying buffering.

(For both ROKU and Chromecast, I have been downloading more videos onto my android phone, including zoom video recordings.  I open a zoom link on my phone then copy and paste it onto the Web Video Caster app url.  I have also added many free youtube workout files which I have made music only)

May Tips inc. WVC and Rebounding

 

Although the free Web Video Caster app is available for either Android or Apple mobile devices, android mobile devices can download a file onto the device with WVC, even the free version.  Premium upgrade now costs $4.99 and offers many good options besides less ads. WVC enables streaming from most video sites to a ROKU and is much better than mirroring. Even if you do not use a ROKU, most videos stream better to a Chromecast using WVC.

Below I will try to explain how to stream videos from  a video site to the ROKU using the Web Video Caster app as a browser:

Add the Web Video Caster channel to the ROKU 

Download and install the WVC app to your mobile device.

Open the installed Web Video Caster app on the device

If you have the link to the video site in an email, open the emailed link on your mobile device with the WVC browser or copy that link and paste it into the WVC address url area. (on an android, Copy by highlighting and pressing the url address area till copy comes up as an option.  Then  paste by pressing on the WVC url area till paste comes up as an option).

Select the video you want to stream to the ROKU,

There is a yellow play icon button to click at the top of the screen that will show a list of format choices   (I usually take the top one)

If using an android mobile device, you can also choose to download the file to your mobile device: There is an option menu to the far right of the video and one option is download. The file will be downloaded to the phone and you can then move it wherever you want it like to a SD card or transfer the file to a hard drive or upload to a cloud site like dropbox or Google Drive or VK using the online VK version instead of mobile. You may have to rename the file and have it end with (dot) .mp4 if it does not appear as a video file. Some streams will be ts format and that is fine.

Note: you may be able to download a video on an iphone with Safari:   https://backlightblog.com/save-videos-to-iphone

I have been doing mostly zoom files from ZDancerLiz.  The files can be downloaded from her Google Drive and play effortlessly on the ROKU Express with the ROKU Media Player without needing a mobile device.  It is $10 a month  donation for 10 video files. A link to the folder with the files is sent in an email at the end of the month.  Meanwhile, you can still attend her live zoom classes and youtube free to see samples of her content.  For more info, https://zdancerliz.weebly.com/  For now, no matter what I try, I keep returning to ZDancerLiz.  Her files will be permanently stored on her Google Drive starting with the month of MAY.  There is no online access for members to her older files before May.  These videos can be played directly from her Google Drive and/or downloaded.  (I copy and paste the link from her email to the Web Video Caster browser app on my mobile and can cast any video to either my ROKU or Chromecast.  I can also download any video file to my android phone with the WVC app)

I am going to check out the Marion Brand Walking Platform, most of which are on youtube.  This is an ad free way of walking with Marion and having access to youtube music deletions.  The moves are pretty much the same as those on youtube and I get bored with her youtube workouts after a few minutes..  So far, only 2 whole workouts are not on youtube and a few extended versions of youtube walks are on the platform. Great music but very repetitive movements and no real  choreography.  The monthly subscription now costs $17 Canadian.  It does have a free mobile Kajabi app enabling casting but is not yet available for ROKU so still needs WVC for casting from the website.  ROKU users may prefer the simplicity of free youtube.  Other option is to connect a laptop to a tv with a HDmi cable.  I may retry her platform in a few months or just make a coffee donation for her youtube content.  Then again, I can I can lay my own music and follow better choreo.   The only thing different in the Brand Fitness walks is the music.  https://www.youtube.com/c/BrandfitnessCa/videos

My favorite way of moving is to music only workout videos while healthbouncing on a bungee rebounder.  For 2 years, WalkingOnlineWorkouts ($10 a month) was my favorite subscription but ZDancerLiz also offers great music plus more choreography.  WOW does have outdoor scenery as a bonus but I prefer Liz's movement style to both WOW and Brand Fitness.  I will occasionally sub to WOW for a month to try a few new WOW videos.

I resubbed to Kukuwa Fitness for a month because their Mothers Day 75% off was too appealing.

I lost interest in SaSaFit because my favorite content were the live Sunday zooms and I missed a few because life gets in the way and they are not archived or available except during that one time live event.  One Sunday my internet went down right in the middle of a zoom session.  Just not worth $25 a month to me.  I much prefer music only and having access  whenever I want to work out.  I never tried all of the other videos by Sarina that are archived because they started to feel repetitive. Actually, I prefer her old dvds and tv shows.

I will be trying the free Nia zoom classes by Megan on Mondays and Thurdays and will make a donation if I like them. I do not like having to pay for a zoom class in advance.   https://www.facebook.com/dancingwithmegan/

Overall, with the reopening of the economy thanks to vaccinations, there will probably be less free content on youtube.  New youtube to try:

my favorite ZDancerLiz has added a chair dance  https://youtu.be/e0Tyh7HsxrY

Yiren Wang is adding new content like https://youtu.be/xYLJQbqMDt4

Olivia Lawson  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYQ_tcF9sDcAzXm1d0n6UcA/videos

Dancercise with Yasmin  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfS3UzR25G5f2SZb0jgZRZw/videos

I still love Aqua Jade and really liked   https://youtu.be/nKnQoGHwOmM and  https://youtu.be/teQp0qPpgk0

also liked Improved Health  https://youtu.be/nPLXCsLsQPE

zoe cordwell especially her zumba chair  https://www.youtube.com/user/TheZoecordwell/videos

I finally moved my favorite bungee into the room with the ROKU and loved it with a ZdancerLiz recorded zoom file.  I like that I can use the mirror in the room while bounce-dancing.

Playlist of me using all of my bungees 

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1XWdZohmbnG4HnL1BD4kDRzZQh1YWd7w

Why rebounding for my Peripheral Neuropathy

http://neverendingplateau.blogspot.com/2018/10/health-bouncing-and-neuropathy.html

If I were in the market for a bungee, I would get the 48 inch Leaps and Rebound.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0M-o7yDg0Ac

To Stream Google Drive Video to HDTV

For fans of ZDancer Liz: as much as you may enjoy her live zoom classes and/or recordings on your devices, doing them on a large TV screen whenever you want is awesome!  10 video files for $10 a month is a great offer and I am very thankful to have known about this deal from its first month of March which is now no longer available to new subscribers. I recommend downloading the monthly files from Liz's Google drive before they are replaced at the end of each month.

If you are using a laptop to play a video and do not have a mobile device like a smart phone, the easiest method to stream a video to your dumb HDTV is with an HDMI cable.  There are several devices that will enable wireless options, 2 of which I own. You can cast video files and videos on streaming sites, including Google Drive from a laptop to a Chromecast or even mirror your laptop screen but results will depend on many factors. The ROKU can play some downloaded media files with its media player (still cannot figure out why some files show up and others do not).  I do not like the results of mirroring on a ROKU and do not like using servers like Play On or Plex to host video files 

To access videos stored on Google Drive and stream them to a dumb TV from an android mobile device without a cable, I use either a ROKU or a Chromecast.  I strongly recommend getting the Web Video Caster app on the mobile device.  Most videos just seem to stream better from my android phone with Web Video Caster to either the Chromecast or the ROKU.

I open the Google Drive app on the mobile device to access the video folder and copy its link using the drop down menu in the upper right corner.  Then for Chromecast, I open either the Web Video Caster browser app or Chrome browser ( the video plays better on the Web Video Caster app). If using a ROKU, I open the Web Video Caster app.  Then I paste the link address into the url address bar of the browser by pressing the url address area till paste comes up as an option.   You can then save the folder or any videos to your home screen or bookmark them for future access.  (I did pay $3.99 to Web Video Caster to have more options and no ads.)

Alternative method:

If you have the link in an email, open the emailed link on your mobile device and copy that link and paste it using the appropriate browser.

If you want to be independent of Google Drive and have your own downloaded copy of a video file, you can download any file to your mobile device or pc from Google Drive. You can play or stream the file from your  pc or you can download the file to a laptop and transfer the file to a phone to stream the file. For ROKU, you can use the ROKU phone app to play the file.  For Chrome, I prefer playing the video on my phone with VLC and under playback, render it with Chromecast.  (I also prefer this method when playing a file on my laptop).  Web Video Caster can also play video files stored on your phone with either of the devices. WVC enables downloading of streamed video into a ts file

I have a sd card on my android phone and download the files to it because my phone has limited internal storage. .

The above post is to help others who have subscribed to the monthly ZDancerLiz ZOOM recordings which are my favorite current source of MUving.  liz

Chromecast vs ROKU Express

 I have the cheapest Chromecast and ROKU Express devices on 2 separate dumb HDTVs and cheap android Tracfones that are cheaper than buying a year of service and can be used as tablets on WiFi even after service ends..

Either device works much better with an android smartphone.

An android smart phone definitely puts Chromecast ahead of the ROKU in ease of access for me. 

The phone can also enable much more access on the ROKU using the Web Video Caster app as a browser or by playing stored files from the phone sd card with the ROKU app or Web Video Caster app.  I can access some laptop files from my Windows7 laptop with the ROKU Media Player app without a mobile device.  Windows10 can mirror to the ROKU but the phone just plays the videos better. 

The one advantage of the ROKU is enabling subtitles in movie/video files.  If you do not need to see subtitles, I much prefer playing a file with VLC from either a laptop, flash drive, or sd card and rendering the playback to the Chromecast.  Video file plays much better than mirroring.

April Tips

 Today was the last day of March and from  all of my subs, etc. ZDancerLiz is rising to the top because of her music and moves.  I had discovered her music only and simple to follow routines on youtube and she has since started free zoom live classes with links on a new website.  Plus these zoom class video files are available as downloads from her Google Drive through an emailed link at the end of the month for a mere $10 monthly subscription.   I was thrilled to see the downloaded files played on ROKU using the ROKU My Media channel/app by using the ROKU remote without having to use my android mobile.  I can also play the files on ROKU when stored on Google Drive with the Web Video Caster app. The downloaded files should play fine on Chromecast by rendering them on VLC.    I did access the live classes with the ZOOM app on my Android which could be casted to Chromecast.  Cannot cast ZOOM to the ROKU yet but will keep trying with Web Video Caster.  Not happy with mirroring on the ROKU because the video speed is not good and the audio does not mirror.  I am copying the zoom files I want to do again onto the sd card of an old deactivated tracfone smartphone that I use as a tablet so I can play them on the ROKU or Chromecast with a few clicks.

For more information:  https://zdancerliz.weebly.com/

The first April youtube visit will be Caitlin Sockin Dynamic Fitness   https://www.youtube.com/c/CaitlinSockinDynamicFitness/videos

Others to try in no particular order:  MichelleWilson https://www.youtube.com/c/MichelleWilsonWorkouts/videos

https://www.youtube.com/c/RETROFITNESSPHOFFICIAL/videos

Tasha B Fitness  https://www.youtube.com/c/TashaBFitness/videos

https://www.youtube.com/c/WorkOutLikeADancer/videos

https://www.youtube.com/c/growwithjo/videos

https://www.youtube.com/c/AndressaVenancio/videos

Last but not least, ZDancerLiz added new content to her youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/user/ZDancerLiz/videos

Vimeo app on a Smart phone casts great on Chromecast and ROKU has its own Vimeo app.

Jaclyn Marfuggi Plyojam on Vimeo, especially   https://vimeo.com/464373301 

Sample of Let's Get Up:  https://vimeo.com/535944908

The Daily Walk subscription now includes the whole Leslie Sansone library for $4.99 a month and the All Access Pass will only be $4.99 a month.  https://yourdailywalk.com/

My subs on vhxtv are ending and I found it is best to do just one sub at a time in the future because vhxtv limits device screens to 3 sign-ins  and I use 5 screens with my phone and laptop browsers.   Sadly, vhxtv does not always stream well.

The latter part of April was mostly youtube: zdancerliz, Brand Fitness, and Aqua Jade.  I just prefer music only and easy-to-follow or tweak fun moves.  Mostly I do 10-15 minutes on a bungee then some on a anti-fatigue mat then some sitting on a chair, all of the above barefoot.  I add light weights near the last 10-15  minutes and on those days, sometimes end standing on a vibration platform.

Walk Strong 3 Calendars

March Tips

Still subbed to SasaFit and WOW but did find a few new youtube  channels with walking or dancing to MUsic and added them (see the links below).

zDancerLiz will not be sharing much on youtube anymore but  offers 2 to 3 LIVE classes a week on ZOOM and has a monthly subscription for ZOOM recordings.  For more information, join her facebook  private group ZDancerLiz Fitness  https://www.facebook.com/groups/350844942984425 or visit her new website zdancerliz.weebly.com. (there will be just 7 zoom classes in April).

Try these  Cult Dance Fitness Zumba vids!!      https://youtu.be/G4Z7plzCNMk  https://youtu.be/oPak1aqU1tA

Zumba Workout with Yiren looks really good!  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPq1FWpR0smaB2IAEQjbZrg/featured

Yiren Wang Retro Workout like a Dancer     Yiren Wang 80s 2

WO Like a Dancer Retro dance https://youtu.be/SJ07Lub0GW8

Some Walking to music routines on Body For Days by Jerrika   https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7xX4YLTAeiBkayPa49AJHA/videos

Move and Shine has been adding Live videos   https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKvP2gafTh-emEqwnkB7gvA/featured

Previous finds are here:   http://neverendingplateau.blogspot.com/2021/02/current-youtube-favorites.html

Lots of free Good Life workouts here  https://goodlifeathome.goodlife.com.au/train-videos-gallery

Walk a Home is offering new 1 mile walks on youtube led by fans.   https://www.youtube.com/c/LeslieSansonesWalkatHome/videos

also Celina Pompeani   https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCv8tOt-UJ3uff91MIEZQ2Kw

Just an update about rebounders:  If I were to buy a new one, I would order the 48 inch Leaps and Rebounds either on the Leaps and Rebounds site with a discount from their FaceBook page or Walmart for ~$200.(Sadly that size at Walmart may be out of stock)

Walk with George

 I had collected the vhs and dvds for the George Foreman and Petra Kolber *Walk It Off with George* video Series (some of the dvds were just $1 at a dollar store!).

They have been shared on Daily Motion for many years and may be found with a search for *GF Walk*.

Walk with George Playlist link   https://www.dailymotion.com/playlist/x3kkqr

GF Fatblasting Walk  https://dai.ly/x29oq8a

GF Box and Burn  https://dai.ly/x29opvn

GF Walk and Box  https://dai.ly/x29oq8q

GF WALKnGROOVE  https://dai.ly/x29oq94

GF CIRCUIT WALK  https://dai.ly/x29opzg

GF Ab Walk  https://dai.ly/x29opom

GF Champion Walk  https://dai.ly/x29opw5

GF Express Walk  https://dai.ly/x29oq7k

Current Youtube Favorites

 Just a list of favorite channels for easy access:

Walking to Music:

Reps to the Rhythm (Keoni)   https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3lEhUBNqIrFMatB9Zgxo0g/videos

BRAND FITNESS  https://www.youtube.com/c/BrandfitnessCa/videos

fabulous50s  https://www.youtube.com/c/fabulous50s/videos

Improved Health  https://www.youtube.com/c/improvedhealth/videos

Lively Ladies - Fitness In Your 50s  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbgdBQ0ulY81dtfkWW-x6DA/videos

MOVE fitness wellness lifestyle https://www.youtube.com/c/MOVEfitnesswellnesslifestyle/videos

Rick Bhullar Fitness  https://www.youtube.com/c/RickBhullarFitness/videos

Tamara_Newyen   https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCu5WTSJ7dQImpUaXyUKlhPg/videos

Gianna   https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWV3XLv-DTmUQqeIHRVo_-g/videos

Simple to Follow Dance to mostly music only:

Try these  Cult Dance Fitness Zumba vids!!      https://youtu.be/G4Z7plzCNMk  https://youtu.be/oPak1aqU1tA

Move and Shine has been adding Live videos   https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKvP2gafTh-emEqwnkB7gvA/featured

Zumba Workout with Yiren looks really good!   https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPq1FWpR0smaB2IAEQjbZrg/featured

WO Like a Dancer Retro dance https://youtu.be/SJ07Lub0GW8

Kelly Hext  https://www.youtube.com/user/groovykel1/videos

ZDancerLiz  https://www.youtube.com/user/ZDancerLiz/videos

Kyra Pro  https://www.youtube.com/c/KyraPro/videos

Aqua Jade  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_83IfD3qP_WL8y3sWnJCRA/videos

Sharona's Hill  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPOts9eHjf-7wZq4Ku3LOnQ/videos

Xime Fitness & Workout  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC25CJ5NPxh9Iya3kcYFCp2w/videos

Old School Dance Fitness  https://www.youtube.com/c/OldSchoolDanceFitness/videos

LifeFit 413 Crew  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTxphFtzvXVhc9ANV5nWVWA/videos

Work Hard Praise Hard Fitness  https://www.youtube.com/c/WorkHardPraiseHardFitness/videos

FABULOUS FITNESS INSTRUCTOR   https://www.youtube.com/c/THEFABULOUSFITNESSINSTRUCTOR/videos

We Keep Moving  https://www.youtube.com/c/WeKeepMoving/videos

Silver&Fit Program  https://www.youtube.com/user/silverandfit/videos

Zumba Sulu  https://www.youtube.com/c/ZumbaSulu/videos

MrHelioFaria - dancefunfitness  https://www.youtube.com/c/MrHelioFaria/videos

There are several Bollywood type Dance routines mentioned in a previous post. http://neverendingplateau.blogspot.com/2020/10/october-fun.html

February 2021 Tips inc Chrome Downloading Extensions

 I am happy to say I shoveled snow and handled it better than I did 10 years ago.  No breathlessness and no twinging elbows.

February seems to be a good month for youtube!  

My current Gospel favorite is    https://youtu.be/lmuyjlNdxTM    However, a new channel LifeFit Crew has outdoor Gospel workouts:   https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTxphFtzvXVhc9ANV5nWVWA

(2/1) I continued youtube workouts with a fabuous50s  https://youtu.be/g8Bc1TA6pbM  and (2/2) I did an  Improved Health for Seniors  https://youtu.be/4qnDwHN6yIU as well as a couple of Aqua Jade Sunshine and Queen vids both days   https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_83IfD3qP_WL8y3sWnJCRA

The Fabulous Fitness Instructor has too much yelling in his LIVE vids    https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2q8U8d0ZNbzVtJGpQQubhQ  Many others are without yelling like this one!    https://youtu.be/UjkFu_H456A?list=PLy9cEr5LEHdAd35TWUfTvukNmOQpMxoe6

Try a search on youtube for videos by Mo Better Me!!!

Also Naomi Joy Fitness for Rebounding especially   https://youtu.be/aIqWEoxpycU

Recently discovered Brand Fitness looks great:  https://www.youtube.com/c/BrandfitnessCa/videos

An easy to follow walk    https://youtu.be/xJfmXlaadoo   from https://www.youtube.com/c/improvedhealth/videos

(2/28) Tamara_Newyen   https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCu5WTSJ7dQImpUaXyUKlhPg/videos

Gianna   https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWV3XLv-DTmUQqeIHRVo_-g/videos

Nia TV had 3 new routines so I resubbed.  As a bonus, their app plays well on ROKU.    They are also offering a 30day free trial for new subscriptions    https://www.niatv.fit/browse

I am doing the SASAFIT free trial for the rest of the month being a huge Sarina Condello fan:   https://videos.sasafit.com/browse

For youtube downloads, try  https://getvideo.org/en/download  and/or  https://notmp3.com/free-video-downloader-for-youtube/

Sadly, Chrome has blocked one of my favorite video download extensions.   However, there is an extension on Firefox which seems to be pretty good (and maybe even better than their Video Download Helper!):  Ant Video Downloader.  There is an optional companion software which can enable choosing video size. https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/video-downloader-player/

On Chrome, there is a limited Video Download Helper extension (one video every 2 hours).  Unfortunately, the Premium version is not being offered anymore.  Otherwise, the Chrome Stream Recorder extension can directly download some videos.  It alternatively offers to capture (record) video if direct downloading is not enabled.    https://www.hlsloader.com/   Their capture is faster than a Video Download Helper video that needs aggregating to combine video and audio by a companion software.

I have been experimenting with other Browsers on my Windows 7 laptop and android phone to be less bothered by ads.

My android phone seems to work well with the duckduckgo browser app.

My Windows 7 seems to like the Brave browser which imported my Chrome and Firefox bookmarks.   Download Brave Browser

If you have a mobile device, try the Opera Mini app for downloading videos from some sites.

January Tips

 Happy New Year.  May the vaccines work and return life to being more normal

My New Year started in the middle of a month sub to WalkingOnlineWorkouts which does not have its own ROKU or mobile app so its videos will only stream from its website.  WOW casts well from my android phone Chrome browser to a Chromecast and the video can be controlled (paused) with the tv's remote.  Mirroring from my Windows10 laptop Chrome browser or desktop does not play as smoothly, even though all devices, including the router, are all near each other.  I can use the Chromecast without the WebVideo Caster app but some videos play better with it. Sadly, many streaming sites do not play audio well when casted to the Chromecast from a browser tab on my laptop.

Alternatively, I can use a HDmi cable to stream directly to the tv from the laptop but even then most online videos play and stream better with the phone than the laptop that is hardwired to the router. 

VLC does render video files nicely from the laptop (or the laptop USB) to the Chromecast but the Chromecast is not subtitle friendly.  I can get subtitles using a HDmi cable connection or by converting the files to have subtitles embedded.

On another TV, WOW streams well to the ROKU Express using the Web Video Caster app on the android phone.  WOW does not stream well when mirroring the phone screen to the ROKU.  ROKU Media Player can play Windows laptop video files nicely but can be tricky to get them recognized by the ROKU.  The ROKU phone app plays files stored on the phone very well. 

Feeling vertigo today (1-2) so chose to skip bouncing and bought the new Better5 Chair Cardio. The audio is disappointing with music too low so I used the Web Video Caster app to play the video on the ROKU while listening to Spotify on the same phone.  Better 5 has free samples of their older content on  https://www.better5.com/course-samples     I could have done a WOW while sitting but the chair cardio is on sale for just 3 days.

As the month continues, I will add more recommendations.

youtube channel SeniorShapeFitness  with Lauren   https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkWYei5MULuRDhH7uxtZqqA/videos

Another good looking channel: Improved Health for Seniors   https://www.youtube.com/c/ImprovedHealthforSeniors/videos

We Keep Moving has Zumba Gold outdoors This is becoming a fast favorite!   https://www.youtube.com/c/WeKeepMoving/videos

Silver and Fit   https://www.youtube.com/user/silverandfit

Most of January I had been dong WOW and unfortunately went on pause just before I could try the newest video,  However, I did a great new one by Keoni  https://youtu.be/lnnU-CwiVmw

This Aqua Jade video is my current favorite with 60s music  https://youtu.be/-i4urIBgnfo 

Old School Fitness looks awesome too.   https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOSyRqBEyLfGlx4AAO-92HQ     https://youtu.be/AaNQAlhcT2c

good looking playlist from XTime Fitness   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2wPTHARAVw&list=PLEyJJdfKnMs2XDShCGChOp06d_OECRM3q

Bad news for me.  The Community Fitness channel on Vimeo is now private so I cannot use the ROKU Vimeo app to do them anymore.  Medora was a favorite of mine.  Wish I had done more of them when the channel was public.

I own way too many bungee rebounders but if I were to get a new one it would be the 48 inch Leaps and Rebounds since I prefer a larger mat..  However, Jumpsport has a reasonably priced 44 inch JumpSport 120 with a built in handlebar that may be a good choice too.