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Going back about 10 years I started having a hard time with my weight, and
body image - who doesn't, being a 15 year old girl - but looking back at how
I behaved, eating the very bare minimum and exercising a lot, it certainly
wasn't a healthy way to gain any self-esteem. I then went from over-
exercising, to not exercising at all, probably for a good 3 years! I would make
half-hearted attempts here and there, but of course, I got bored and quit. I
even took up smoking, thinking that would help me keep my weight down,
but of course, it only made me feel worse!(this is the only thing that I will
admit to being a quitter!) I went through a couple of really low times, where I
was just bummed out constantly and really depressed and dejected about life
in general, and was even given some antidepressants to try and help. I came
to the conclusion that for me, the medicine wasn't going to help me as much
as I could help myself by making some serious changes. I started going to the
gym, just half an hour at lunchtime, and noticed a little difference.. so I added
on some pilates and noticed that my self-confidence was getting better, day
at a time.

Fast forward a couple of years, and I was pregnant with my first son. I had
seen the Turbo Jam infomercial, and ordered the DVDs right away, this was
EXACTLY the kind of workout I had been looking for! I've always been
interested in martial arts, and well, combining it with awesome music and
dancing just fit me and what I needed to keep my interest! Very shortly after
the baby was born I started the program and used the ever-precious
naptimes to get in my workout, working out in WOWY at the same time, and
making some wonderful support friends in the community. On those days
where it was so easy just to sit on the couch, I had a goal to fit back into my
pre pregnancy clothes in time to return to work, and my WOWY buddies knew
they couldn't let me down, just as I couldn't let them down, so I would log on
(even though I REALLY didn't want to workout!) and get started, and of
course, once I was doing it I LOVED it, and always felt so much better after
completing my daily workout. I started taking classes once I discovered that
there was actually classes that were the same thing as Turbo Jam at my local
gym (and plus, having done the workouts at home, I knew all the moves and
felt wayyy more confident going in!). I went and took it another step, getting
certified to actually teach Turbo Kick, but didn't know if I would actually have
the confidence to get in front of a room full of people and lead them for an
hour, all the while doing all the Turbo moves AND talking?!?! :o)

Then, lo and behold, another pregnancy. This time I kept doing Turbo, both
at home and at the gym (still not teaching), and I actually kept it up until 36
weeks! I felt it helped me SOOOOO much doing the exercising while
pregnant, not only did I have a super speedy recovery, but I never let the
pregnancy control me like I had the first time around. Believe it or not, I
gained the same amount of weight, but my fitness level was so improved that
I guess it all balanced out. It dawned on me when I was about 7 months
pregnant, and we had a fire drill just how much other people needed some
help getting fitness incorporated into their lives. I walked up 7 flights of
stairs - nothing outrageous, but I was the only person who reached the top
who didn't need to stop and catch my breath on the way up. I thought, this is
just one floor of people in one building, how many other people are there
that I could reach out to?? I really wanted to help other people improve their
lives, just as I had after my first son and try and find some kind of fitness that
would work for them.

After my son was born, I finally took the plunge, and auditioned to teach
Turbo Kick! It only took me a year to work up the nerve, but I did it! I'm now
down below my prepregnancy weight, and the clothes I wore before are
fitting looser. Most of all, I love what I do, and want everyone I know to come
to all my classes! Of course, this never happens, but if one person shows up
to one class, then I feel like I've made a teensy weensy difference and if I can
just get them to come back it would be such an excellent start to their
journey where final destination = BEING HEALTHY!

I have a quote on my fridge that I look at every day - "Enthusiasm is the real
key to success", and I remember that before every class I teach, every time I
walk out the door. If I can affect one person with my enthusiasm each day,
that puts a smile on my face and makes any effort I've made seem effortless
:)