Success Stories
Amy's story:
I had always been active - I demanded a lot from my body, and, other than a few mutinies along the way, it pretty much obeyed me and did as I told. I didn't feed it right - I drank and was a heavy smoker and I didn't eat very well. But I thought I was the buff and strong one. I got an inguinal hernia when I was six from hoisting the big bags of dog food onto my shoulder like a ranch hand. Had a femoral hernia 5 years ago from hoisting a huge barrel full of weeds over my shoulder and into the bed of a truck. Arms, legs, back, no problem. Groin...not so good. Hysterectomy, several repeat abdominal surgeries, this and that. But I was always strong...in body and mind... until smoking got the best of me and I wound up extremely sick and having to have 4 breathing treatments a day in conjunction with my asthma inhaler. After years of trying, I finally quit because I knew I was actually nearing the end of life. And then I broke a piece off inside my ankle a few weeks later...only I didn't know I broke it. It froze up on me one Sunday and I couldn't bend it. After I got it to move, it just sort of burned. But my opposing knee was weak and I had to get it strong enough to support me when I had surgery on the ankle...so I walked on the defective ankle for 4 months while in physical therapy for my left knee. Not so good.
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| Amy before Jazzercise |
Amy on Jazzercise |
I had to take a desk job...this on the heels of quitting smoking. For a while I was in a wheelchair because of my ankle surgery. At the same time I had a bone chip break off in my wrist and the crutches were excruciating to use. Along with that, the pre-cancerous cells returned to my female portions and I had to have a rather extensive second abdominal surgery to remove the area. Recovery was like having had a second hysterectomy. Physically - and to a huge extent mentally...I sat down and couldn't find the inner strength to stand again. I felt defeated and betrayed by my body. For years I had demanded so much and I thought it was happy to fulfill my requests. It had had enough and it told me so. I spiraled into a deep depression and gained over 60 pounds. I couldn't sweep or mop because my back hurt so badly. I couldn't stand on one leg to shave in the tub because I had no balance and no core strength. I couldn't walk up and down the stairs in my home from the pain in my knee and the lack of breath in my lungs. I had a miserable quality of living. My asthma was terrible. My cholesterol level and blood pressure sky rocketed and I was taking medication for all three. I tried to lose weight - tried to get moving - but the depression broke over me like waves on the beach. I stopped seeing family entirely - too embarrassed for them to see what I had allowed myself to become. All except for my kid brother - who I absolutely adore...
I went to Texas for my birthday in December of 07 to go fishing with my kid brother. We took kayaks and went to a small farm lake that had steep banks. And that was the day my life changed. Getting a fat body in and out of a kayak on a steep bank is comical - and it's humiliating. I had to roll myself out of the kayak and onto the shore. It was at that point that I said 'no more'. I flew home on Sunday, the 16th and rejoined Weight Watchers on the 17th. Digging around their website, I found that I needed to 'earn' at least 28 activity points a week...how in the world was I going to do that in the winter? Walking could only take me so far. I had an extremely fit body once...I wanted it back! So a friend said she would do Jazzercise with me and I found Carol's website. I emailed, asking if the classes ran in sessions...did I need to wait to join...what did I need to do....and Carol sucked me right in. That entire day I gave myself excuses to not go: "if I don't get out of work by 4:50, I won't go". I clocked out at 4:48. "If I don’t get home before 5:10, I won't go". I got home at 5:08. Ok, I have no option but to go then.
That first class was so hard. I was this fat woman at the back of a class and I couldn't move very much at all. I was embarrassed and humiliated and angry that I had let my body go so far to slop. But I knew I had to just move...I had to find a way to make myself continue to come - Oh my gosh - How can I make myself come and do this? And then Cheryl came and encouraged me..."Just keep coming and it will get easier...we were all new once." And Bonnie and Dolly and Mimi and Linda, Julie and Carol and all of you...the highest praise I can give is that I received a warmer welcome than I have ever received at any church...and I've received some wonderful welcomes at churches across the states. It was hard...and I can't say I liked it...but I saw the results in each of you...and you gave me hope.
On June 18th I stepped on the scales and reached my goal weight. I have lost 57 pounds. I've only used my asthma inhaler twice in these last 5 months. I'm no longer on medication for my cholesterol or blood pressure. I can stand on either leg for as long as I want and maintain my balance. My depression is a thing of the past and I have formed friendships with some of the most fantastic women I have ever met. I am in love with exercise again and with Life itself. I can't help but smile all through our classes at the wonders of the human body and the gift that each of us has to move as we do, be that a little or a lot - to just move is such a joy! This success is a testament to the courage and strength of each of you - to face each day and grab it by the horns - to not give up but to strive to push a little harder - to find the strength within to go the extra inch or two - you kept me going and gave me the encouragement I needed. You each have my most sincere thanks - I truly could not have done this without you.
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"Jazzercise improves my mental health just as much as my physical health... seeing your smiling face and getting the endorphins going are worth every gasping minute :-) Thanks so much.
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-- Dia Maurer
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"Carol, I wanted to let you know how much Jazzercise means to me. I was reflecting on my weight and health this new year and realized that even though I haven't lost a lot of pounds, I have improved a lot this last year. I feel more energetic and not so tired. I fit in a smaller size and I have more muscle. I am very appreciative of the improvements that your class has helped me achieve. Thank you."
-- Linda Petrie
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More Classes!Jazzercise has more classes in the area! To get the details on Jazzercise in Spokane Valley, Cheney and Coeur d'Alene, visit jazzercise.com and click on "Find a Class." |
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