Lori & Kerin - Dance enthusiasts maintaining their fitness with Jazzercise at The Studio

Lori’s Goals:
Weight goals: lose about 20 pounds of “winter weight”
Nutrition goals: continue to prepare food and meals in advance so she doesn’t have to eat bad foods in a hurry
Other goals: continue to go to The Studio at least 3x/wk

April Check-in:
1) Stats:
Weight: I’ve lost over 10 pounds and my knee doesn’t hurt as bad and I’m feeling much better about myself.

2) Did you meet your April goals?
Weight: To lose 5+ pounds - Yes!

Exercise: Continue going to class two times a week, if my knee is feeling good, and walking the loop trail in our beautiful valley. Yes! I went to class 2 to 3 times a week and did low impact.

Nutrition: To continue with food prep
This is been a good month. I really focused on watching what I ate. The food prep on Sundays has helped. 

3) What are your May goals?
Weight: I would like to lose another 5 to 10 pounds
Exercise: Continue with my Jazzercise classes and hopefully get in some biking on the loop.

4) What outdoor sport/activity do you look forward to most this season?
The activity I look forward to the most this season is just being able to be outdoors enjoying the sunshine. I like to go camping with my family and I enjoy photography and working in the yard.

Kerin’s Goals:
Weight goals: Get to and remain at ideal weight of 125-130
Nutrition goals: Eat better, with a focus on consuming fewer refined carbs
Other goals: Fit into the pants that she has now,
Remain fit and active to reduce back pain from scoliosis as much as possible
Maintain core strength to counter issues associated with her V-back labor & delivery in 2012

April Check-In:
1)  Weight:  134!!

2) Did you make your April goals?
Weight:  lose 3-4 pounds.  
I lost 3-4 pounds (maybe more -- hard to tell with fluctuations and hormones!)

Exercise:  Go to gym 4 times per week.  
I have been to the gym 3 times per week.  Still trying for 4.

Nutrition: Continue to reduce carbs by: making sure everything I eat either needs to be low calorie (200 or less) or no carbs (except veggies!).  So when faced with a decision, it has to be low calorie or no carbs.
I reduced carbs. 

3)  May goals: 
Weight:  lose 3 pounds 
Exercise:  go to gym 3-4 times per week, also start my training to become a Jazzercise instructor!
Nutrition:  Keep reducing carbs. 

4)  I don't do outdoor sports, but I love outdoor recreation:  swimming in lakes and rivers, camping

Lori & Kerin - Dance enthusiasts maintaining their fitness with Jazzercise at The Studio

Lori’s Goals:
Weight goals: lose about 20 pounds of “winter weight”
Nutrition goals: continue to prepare food and meals in advance so she doesn’t have to eat bad foods in a hurry
Other goals: continue to go to The Studio at least 3x/wk

March check-in:
1) Stats:
I maintained my weight in March, maybe lost a couple of pounds.

2) Did you meet your March goals?
March goals:
Weight: to lose 5 pounds
I maybe lost a couple of pounds

Exercise: To add some outdoor activities to my routine. 
I continued to go to Jazzercise as much as my knee would allow. I finally went to the orthopedic doctor and was told that IF I go to Jazzercise, I should only do low impact. So, I am totally bummed that my knee is not allowing me to do what I normally do without pain. I have made some adjustments and go to class two times a week and go on more walks than I did before. 

Nutrition: To make better choices and watch my portions.
I am doing my food prep for the week on Sundays and watching my calories, which seems to help with the choices that I am making. 
 
3) My goals for April
Weight: To lose 5+ pounds

Exercise: Continue going to class two times a week, if my knee is feeling good, and walking the loop trail in our beautiful valley. 

Nutrition: To continue with food prep

4) Who is your favorite instructor and why? I can’t really single out one instructor, because they’re all awesome!!! I primarily attend with Amy and Christine, they are the 5:25 PM class instructors and that is the only time of day during the week that I can go.

Kerin’s Goals:
Weight goals: Get to and remain at ideal weight of 125-130
Nutrition goals: Eat better, with a focus on consuming fewer refined carbs
Other goals: Fit into the pants that she has now,
Remain fit and active to reduce back pain from scoliosis as much as possible
Maintain core strength to counter issues associated with her V-back labor & delivery in 2012

March Check-In:
1) Stats:  8 lb hand weights  Weight:  141 lbs.
March was much better.  I am feeling a lot less tired and have not been sick again.  I am taking some medication that my doctor prescribed for the Fibromyalgia, and it is definitely helping with sleep, and some with pain. I plan to see my doc next month and explore the role hormones may play in all this....)

2) Did you meet your March goals:
Exercise:  to increase hand weights by a pound.
Yes, I increased my hand weights by a pound!!!  I did not attend class 4 times per week (that was a goal)  but I did go at least 3 times each week!  

Nutrition:To reduce carbs, I have decided that everything I eat either needs to be low calorie (200 or less) or no carbs (except veggies!).  So when faced with a decision, it has to be low calorie or no carbs.

3)  April Goals:  
Weight:  lose 3-4 pounds.  
Exercise:  Go to gym 4 times per week.  
Nutrition:  Follow my rule set above.

4)  Who is your favorite instructor and why?
One of my favorite instructors is Christine.  She pushes me very hard giving me tips on how to increase my intensity and form.

Lori’s Goals:
Weight goals: lose about 20 pounds of “winter weight”
Nutrition goals: continue to prepare food and meals in advance so she doesn’t have to eat bad foods in a hurry
Other goals: continue to go to The Studio at least 3x/wk

February Check-In:
1) Stats:
I’m down a couple of pounds

2) Did you meet your February goals:
Weight: down 5 lbs?  I’m down a couple of pounds
Exercise: get to the studio 3x/wk? I mostly went to class 3x per week, 4x if my schedule allowed. I did travel mid-month and missed some classes that I normally would have attended. I really don’t like missing class. 
Nutrition: I’ve had somewhat of a hard time sticking to my nutritional goals.

3) March goals:
Weight: my goal is to lose 5 pounds

Exercise: I’m hoping that the weather cooperates so that I can add some outdoor activities to my routine. 

Nutrition: I need to make better choices and watch my portions. It’s no fun cooking for one, so I make things that are quick to fix, not necessarily bad for me, but not hitting all of the food groups.

4) What exercise/movement made you most sore or challenged you the most?

The exercise I find most challenging are lunges, because of issues that I have with my knees. I have to be careful with certain movements while in class. This is VERY frustrating to me because I can’t move the way I used to. I’ve tried several different knee braces, but have yet to find one that gives me support and is comfortable. I’m hoping that I can  strengthen my knees by biking. 

Kerin’s Goals:
Weight goals: Get to and remain at ideal weight of 125-130
Nutrition goals: Eat better, with a focus on consuming fewer refined carbs
Other goals: Fit into the pants that she has now,
Remain fit and active to reduce back pain from scoliosis as much as possible
Maintain core strength to counter issues associated with her V-back labor & delivery in 2012

February Check-In:
1) Stats:
Weight: Didn't track it

2) Did you meet your February goals:
Weight: to be down 5 lbs? Didn't track it

Workouts: Go up a pound in weights? & Did you make it to the studio 4x/wk?
February was an interesting month.  I had not been sleeping well at all for a long time and have had pain, and I found out that I have fibromyalgia.  The week after that happened, I got very sick with an upper respiratory something or other virus, and so I have only been back at the studio for any regular workouts for about a week.  In short, I did not go up a pound in weights, but I plan to in March.  I will make it to the studio 4 x this week.  I have already gone 3 times and Saturday I will go once more.  

Nutrition: to come up with a plan to limit refined & processed food?
My carb thing was to try to come up with a way to cut down on refined carbs.  You had suggested like eating half of what I would normally have each time or something like that.  I haven't done that, mainly due to worrying about my health in other ways, but it is again a March goal.

3) March goals:
Weight: No specific goal
Exercise: To go up a pound in hand weights during work outs.
Nutrition: To come up with a way to cut down on refined carbs.

4) Bonus question: What exercise/movement made you most sore or challenged you the most?
As for the bonus question, this week I have been really challenged by push ups and extended planks.  My shoulders in particular have been very sore from these.

Lori’s Goals:
Weight goals: lose about 20 pounds of “winter weight”
Nutrition goals: continue to prepare food and meals in advance so she doesn’t have to eat bad foods in a hurry
Other goals: continue to go to The Studio at least 3x/wk

Lori’s been a devoted Jazzercise fan for years and it made sense to continue when she moved to the valley and met Amy, a local instructor, after a divorce several years back. Because of the life changes, which also included full-time school in the evenings after work, the pounds slowly crept on. With mindful food prep, a low calorie diet, and focus on being active, the weight came off and she maintained for years.

Then last year, with the upcoming wedding of her only son, and knowing an empty nest awaited her, and the stresses of a new position at work, exercise and nutrition moved to the back burner again. The void in her house was filled with Josie, a tri-colored cocker spaniel, but the “winter weight” that seems to plague her in the colder months, added on. This year Lori has committed to dancing off the weight at The Studio with dance mix and interval classes at least three times a week. It’ll be easy to keep the routine because the music, movement and Jazzercise atmosphere truly does make her happy and gives her something to look forward to. “The instructors are great! They’re always giving you compliments and making you feel good, and the other members are supportive and encouraging too.” Though she has some weight to lose, Lori’s real goal is to simply maintain; maintain a good exercise routine, maintain a healthy nutrition plan, and maintain a fulfilling social life that keeps her occupied.

Kerin’s Goals:
Weight goals: Get to and remain at ideal weight of 125-130
Nutrition goals: Eat better, with a focus on consuming fewer refined carbs
Other goals: Fit into the pants that she has now,
Remain fit and active to reduce back pain from scoliosis as much as possible
Maintain core strength to counter issues associated with her V-back labor & delivery in 2012

Kerin has always been skinny but didn’t grow up within a fitness minded family. She enjoyed dance classes as a child but never knew how important working out was until she started having back pain associated with her form of scoliosis in college. She found that strength-building exercises, specifically Pilates, dramatically reduced the pain and discomfort she suffered with. Pilates became part of her life and she participated in advanced reformer classes several times a week even into the ninth month of her pregnancies.

To encourage her boys’ to enjoy a fitness-minded lifestyle and supplement her Pilates routine, her family joined the Y. There, Kerin welcomed Zumba as a lively addition to her exercise regime. When her family moved to the valley from Berkeley, California their income changed and made the high cost of Pilates difficult to justify. Kerin knew it was imperative to stay fit and decided to try out Jazzercise at The Studio. The movement and routines energize her and keep her fitness routine fun and exciting.

2018 is proving to be full of challenges and opportunities for Kerin to grow and develop her health and fitness lifestyle. Though she’s a petite lady, she has a little weight she’d like to lose, and some pants she’d like to fit into. She knows reducing her refined carbohydrate intake will likely solve most of the extra weight issues. Kerin’s other focus this year is to increase her core and overall muscle strength in effort to combat the health issues she faces from scoliosis, V-back delivery complications and now a possible sacroiliitis diagnosis.

Melissa’s Goals:
Weight goals: lose 2-3 pounds a week
Nutrition goals: follow Ketogenic diet for 3 mos than re-evaluate
Other goals: get back into a consistent exercise/fitness routine 5 times/wk with at-home videos, start running again, run a half-marathon in the summer

Melissa agreed to represent the “at-home” population interested in getting healthier this year. She admits that careless eating habits and drinking have become a regular, almost daily, part of life for the last several years. It started when her father’s health deteriorated and the bad habits have packed too many calories into every day and too many pounds on her. Melissa loves her curves and voluptuousness, and isn’t interested in losing her feminine physique but she’s not keen on her young son innocently asking if she has a baby in her belly anymore either. She’s decided it’s time to make some drastic changes and commit to better habits.


Melissa plans to improve both her diet and exercise routine. Because she’s seen friends have success with the Ketogenic diet, Melissa plans to give the plan a chance to work for her. She wants to focus on eating according to Ketogenic guidelines for three months and then re-evaluate. As far as activity and fitness go, Melissa wants to run again! She plans to train for a half-marathon this summer and go from there. Melissa prefers to do exercise videos at home as her day, life and schedule allow. She’s committed to a minimum of five work-outs, runs, or combination of the two a week and may add in more as time allow. Now that she’s made the decision to replace old habits with a newer, healthier lifestyle Melissa’s confident she’ll get the results she wants.