 Body
by STUDIO Zumba® Fitness
Real People. Real Results.
Total Weight Loss of this Group:
565 pounds
Read Their Stories
Elizabeth
Chris
Dave
Angela
Geon & Marianne
Geone
Valerie
Tabra
Updates from Trim in 12 Program
Elizabeth lost an
additional 4.8% body fat
Geone lost an additional 4.2%
body fat
Chris lost an additional 2.7% body fat
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
I have been overweight since I was a teenager. I was
somewhat active in soccer and Irish Step Dance during high school and
college, and have continued to Irish Dance since graduating. Even though
I was involved in these activities, I was still overweight. In October
2007, I knew I needed a change. I was unhappy and unhealthy, and
unwilling to exercise because I did not enjoy it. When I started taking
Zumba classes, I weighed 196 pounds. After a few months I noticed
a difference in the way I felt and the way my clothes fit. I had better
stamina and felt healthier, and I continued to attend Zumba
classes because they were so fun. I took one Circuit / Zumba
class per week, but did not do any other weight training. During the
“Fall Fit Team Challenge” in 2008, I increased my weight training
classes to two to three classes per week, started eating healthier and
watching my portion sizes, and quickly noticed results. I have lost 21
pounds and two pant sizes, and cannot express how grateful I am to Doug
and Joan for making exercise fun. This is just the beginning of my
journey toward a healthier, happier life. I can’t wait to see what my
results will be after the “Trim in 12” challenge!
Elizabeth Willis
I started doing Zumba two and a half years
ago and really bumped it up when Doug and Joan opened Studio Zumba®
Fitness. I was 47 years old, 139 lbs and peri-menopausal. I knew I was
headed for disaster if I didn't do something. My biggest fear in life is
becoming overweight and inactive in my old age. I want to prevent in me
the things I have witnessed happen to my elder female family members . .
obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure, just to name a few.
I am now 49 years old and down to 122 lbs. Yay!!
I do several Zumba classes a week for my cardio workout and I do
the Pump You Up class at least twice a week. My total weight loss
is 17 lbs and my body is getting toned! I can wear sleeveless shirts
again without feeling self-conscious! But I have to say that the best
thing of all is how good I feel! I am needing to take care of
myself at this point in my life and Studio Zumba®
Fitness has been my saving grace. I only wish I could have started it
sooner!
Chris Mesker
Zumba! What the &%$# is Zumba? That was
my question 2 years ago when my wife came home all excited about this
new Latin dancing, aerobic exercising, weighting training, pole dancing
studio she had just discovered. My initial reaction was, you go for it
babe! It would be great for her. She loves dancing and was wanting to
lose weight and get into better shape. I'll stay at home and keep and
eye on the Chihuahuas.
Over the next year Chris was getting skinnier, toning up and looking
wonderful. I was heading the opposite direction. Although I didn't feel
that bad I knew my health was becoming an issue. My clothes were getting
tighter, I had no energy, and I was snoring the brick mortar loose from
the house. That is what prompted my wife to give me the ultimatum.
Either I get back in shape or move to a different bedroom. Needless to
say, since I preferred the present sleeping arrangements, I agreed to
work on improving my health.
I initially was very skeptical of attending Zumba classes. I have
never been able to dance well due to a congenital abnormality (two left
feet), and wasn't sure if I was in good enough shape to participate. I
quickly found out how simple it was. You start at your own pace,
increasing the intensity of the workout over time. The moves are not
that difficult and get easier with repetition. Better yet, no one cares
if you don't dance well. We are all there to have fun and to get in
shape. I am now attending 3 to 4 classes per week consisting of both
aerobic exercises and weight training.
Zumba has not only helped me in regaining my health, but has
added quality to my life. I'll be 49 years old this May. I have lost 35
pounds over the past one and a half years. I am feeling better, more
energetic, and having the time of my life. In addition, my wife and I do
many of the classes together which has strengthened our bond. I would
highly recommend Zumba for individuals and couples interested in
improving their well being, mind and soul.
Dave Mesker
Over the last two years, my journey at STUDIO Zumba®
Fitness has been incredible. I started taking Zumba in March of
2007, and by October had lost over 60 pounds. It was at this time that I
was selected to appear on the Today Show as the weight
loss story. It’s still hard to believe that I was on national TV
representing STUDIO Zumba® Fitness
in Ohio! My passion for Zumba arises out of my love for Latin
music, dancing and sweating! Zumba is a great cardio exercise
because it burns a lot of calories through interval training. But
Zumba was only the beginning. A year later (around New Years 2008)
STUDIO Zumba® Fitness offered a new
class, Pump You Up. This was an excellent companion class for
Zumba because it built strength through resistance training. The
very first class was on a Saturday morning at 8 am. As I drove to the
studio that first morning I remember asking myself: why in the world am
I going to Pump You Up and not sleeping in? Looking back, though,
I know that all those Saturday mornings have been worth it! As a result
of Pump You Up, I have lost an additional 20 lbs., dramatically
reduced my body fat, increased muscle definition, and have more energy
than I know what to do with! By the end of the summer, I was challenged
again by STUDIO Zumba® Fitness with
Yoga. It has helped me improve my balance, become more flexible,
and has increased my overall strength. Doing poses that require you to
hold your own body weight will do that to you! Yoga can also be
very relaxing the day after you get “pumped up” by Doug and Angie!
Over the last year, I have focused primarily on Pump You Up. My
focus shifted from Zumba to Pump You Up primarily because
of health concerns. In February of 2008, a very large mass was
discovered in my neck. After various tests, it was determined that a
large cyst had taken over half my thyroid. I was diagnosed with
hypothyroidism and needed to have surgery. I would also have to have a
biopsy to rule out thyroid cancer. I was terrified and extremely
stressed. But Zumba and Pump You Up can be a great stress
reliever! In May, half of my thyroid was removed and, thankfully, the
biopsy report was benign. Unfortunately, and not surprisingly, I was
still diagnosed with hypothyroidism. As a nurse, I knew that the thyroid
regulates metabolism and has a significant roll in weight loss/gain.
Having hypothyroidism (and only half a thyroid) meant that I could have
a harder time not only losing more weight but also keeping weight off.
This was not good! I had worked way too hard that first year taking all
those Zumba classes to let this little gland in my body upset
everything! I also knew that by lifting weights I could increase my
metabolism. This made me step it up a notch in Pump You Up. Also
by lifting weights I knew that I would burn calories for a longer period
of time than with just doing cardio. I started increasing the weight of
my dumbbells on a more regular basis and started going 2-3 times a week
instead of just 1-2 days a week. Knowing that protein builds muscle, I
started to eat more protein in order to indirectly increase my
metabolism. Within just a few weeks, I could see a difference in muscle
definition. Even though my thyroid levels were still not looking that
great, I was asymptomatic of any thyroid disorders and was getting
leaner, stronger and more fit. My doctor has been able to keep me on a
very low dose of thyroid hormone and has said that she is impressed with
how well I am doing. She credits this to my healthy workout routine of
cardio, weights and Yoga.
I have learned that scales are not the best way of measuring fitness
because muscle is more dense than fat. I honestly don’t remember the
last time I even got on a scale. I monitor my progress by the way my
clothes fit and by having my body fat calculated. Since I have started
Zumba, and more noticeably with Pump You Up, I have
dropped my body fat from being borderline obese to athletic. My last
measurement was 17%!
I enjoy Zumba, Pump You Up and Yoga for very
different reasons but all for the same outcome: to be the most
physically and mentally fit I can be. I truly believe that the three
together; cardio, weight training and yoga are all important to obtain
and maintain optimal health.
Angela Cade
I started Zumba in October of 2007, and
from then until now, I have lost a total of 17 pounds. In terms of a
weight loss number, that does not sound like a drastic drop—but the
inches I lost is very substantial! I cannot give an accurate measurement
of those inches, but I can offer some perspective. When I began Zumba,
I was wearing a size 12 pant. Now, I am wearing the same exact
brand/cut/style of pant in a size 4. The changes really started
happening after I began doing Zumba and weight together. I would
do 9-12 Zumba classes a week (and yes, that is a few evenings of
double classes)—in addition to 2-3 toning/weight training classes a
week. That is a dramatic fitness routine—and it did produce dramatic
results for me!
My husband and I are both doing Zumba and weight training classes
together. He has lost about 35 pounds since he has started coming to
Studio Zumba® Fitness (January
2008).
When I first came to Studio Zumba®
Fitness I was by myself—Geon wasn’t coming yet. (But I knew I would get
him!) Upon my very first visit, I was hooked the moment I heard the
music thumping from outside the front door. The second time I came to a
class, I had butterflies in my stomach as I pulled into the parking lot.
Truth be told, I still get butterflies when I come to class.
I had been doing Zumba for almost one month before my husband
decided to try it. I was so happy that he agreed to come because
honestly, I hated leaving him at home when I went to Zumba. I
believe that he started coming because he was seeing the positive
physical and mental changes in me. He was seeing a more energetic wife,
and he wanted to share in my “Zumba euphoria”. Even more, he too need a
healthier lifestyle.
Now, Geon’s as hooked as I am. In fact, when you come to the studio, you
know when he’s in class. You can hear his cheers from everywhere inside
the studio.
We are so grateful to all the instructors at Studio Zumba®
Fitness. Doug, Joan and all the instructors inspire us, incite our love
for Zumba and fuel our passion for being healthy and fit. There
is nothing in this world like the Zumba experience. It’s so life
changing.
Because of Studio Zumba® Fitness we
are living our lives so much more fully. The Zumba and weight
training classes add a whole new dimension to our lives—not only in
terms of fitness, but in terms of friendships and a support system of
people who motivate and encourage you. Those who Zumba
together—stay together!
Geon and Marianne Pitts
Hola, me llamo Geone y me encanta Zumba.
(Hello, my name is Geone and I love Zumba.) I am a
thirty-eight-year-old Spanish teacher who is part Mexican on my father’s
side. I started Zumba two and half years ago, and I am addicted
to it.
I have always loved music and dance since I was very young. As a
small child I took tap, ballet, and jazz. But as the years passed and
the pounds started mounting, I became too self-conscious and too out of
shape to dance. In my classes I would discuss various Latin rhythms such
as salsa and merengue. My students always wanted to learn some Latin
moves, but I was afraid they would make fun of me at my size (over 350
pounds) if we did any in class.
Five years ago at my highest weight, I decided with the help of my
friend Deb to get in shape. She was looking to start an exercise
program, and she convinced me to join a membership-based exercise
program with her.
It was hard at first because I had never done any serious exercising,
but I quickly became addicted to working out. I also decided to start
eating right. For once I have been able to stick to a diet and exercise
program, and since March of 2004, I have been able to lose over 200
pounds.
It was at another exercise facility that I first heard about Zumba
almost three years ago. One of the members, Becky, was doing Zumba
and loved it. She said that it was an awesome workout and lots of fun. I
was intrigued but apprehensive. I thought that may be over the years I
had lost my sense of rhythm and coordination. Then, another friend of
mine, Valerie, started doing Zumba and kept encouraging me to go
with her. I have known Val since the fourth grade, and I thought if she
could do it, so could I.
Finally, two summers ago when school was out, I went with Val for a
Zumba class on a Thursday. I fell in love with Zumba that
night. I didn’t master all the steps at first, but I was able to keep up
without passing out from a lack of oxygen. Two days later, I was back
for another Zumba class. Since then, I have been taking every
Zumba class that I can. I had only planned to do Zumba on
Saturdays when school started, but I could not stop myself from going to
Zumba on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights. When Doug and
Joan opened Studio Zumba® Fitness, I
was in heaven. I could do Zumba everyday. Most days I take two
classes back to back.
About a year and half ago I began taking weight / strength training
classes at the Studio. Thus began a new phase in my quest to improve my
health and tone up. I never thought I would like to lift weights. It
seemed too “mannish” for me, and I did not want to look like some
grotesque female body builder. I quickly changed my mind. My arms and
legs have toned up and my muscles have become defined without me looking
muscle bound. In the Pump You Up classes Angie and Doug challenge
me to increase my strength and the amount of weight that I can lift.
Zumba and the weight classes have changed my life! My body is
in the best shape that it has ever been, and I have more energy and
stamina than I did as a teenager. My blood pressure is now normal
without medication. While losing pounds and inches at Studio Zumba®
Fitness, I have gained a ton of self-confidence. I am not afraid to wear
tight, sexy Zumba clothing to class. Two years ago I became a
Zumba instructor. I am not afraid to tell my students that I do
Zumba and that I lift weights. I have even done Zumba in
class and after school with my students.
I am so grateful to Doug and Joan for bringing Zumba to Ohio.
They and all the other wonderful instructors at Studio Zumba®
Fitness make class so much fun. I hope they keep zumba'ing and pumping
me up for many years to come. ˇVIVA ZUMBA!
Con carińo,
Geone
Hello. I’m Valerie. For most of my life, I’ve
struggled with my weight. I started gaining weight in the third grade
and from then on, there was no stopping the slow incline.
After years of yo-yo dieting, my string finally snapped. I was in my
late twenties, and I was morbidly obese. The funny thing was that I
never really thought that I actually LOOKED morbidly obese . . . until
somebody took my photo in August, 2004. That photo was the absolute
turning point.
Even though I had always shunned physical exercise, I started working
out every week. I lowered my food intake and the weight just fell off.
Exercise was never truly fun, however, until Zumba.
I had heard about Zumba, but I wasn’t sure if it was for me.
One day curiosity got the better of me and I tried a class. I really
loved the music and the different dance moves. I was totally hooked from
the beginning.
What’s great about Zumba is that it offers a variety of music
styles, songs, and dances. Every class is a little bit different, so
you’re not doing the exact same workout over and over again. Because I
enjoy the music and the dancing, it doesn’t feel like I’m exercising. I
don’t even notice the clock ticking.
Along with Zumba, I love the Pump You Up classes.
Working with weights has really helped to tone my body during my weight
loss. I also feel stronger, limber and energized.
Since 2004, I’ve lost over 130 pounds. It’s an amazing accomplishment
for me because I did it without any surgery. I did it with dieting,
cardio exercise, strength training, and some major determination.
Now my schedule revolves around my Zumba and Pump You Up
workouts. If I can’t make it to my classes, I’m all tensed up and a bit
moody!
Valerie
My weight at the time of this "Before" picture was 160+; my weight
during Zumba stayed at 150 and would not budge. When I started
toning I lost the rest. . .my weight now is only 130 pounds.
Tabra |
