Week #14

Hello! I totally skipped last week, so sorry!

Spring is here, let's hope so! I am kinda of sick of the cold weather and need some warmth around here! I hope all of you had a great Easter break. I also hope that you got out and enjoyed so other activities as well. If you did I would love to here about them. Sometimes we don't know of all the fun things we have to do around town so by word of mouth makes it a lot easier to think of things to do. Please share! I went camping with my family and we had a great time. I did get out and run 6 miles and that was fun. We also spent some time hiking up hills and climbing trees!

To those of you that joined me last night at Desert Palms, thank you! I had so much fun last night and you guys were on fire. It makes the class so much more fun when you are all feelin the love of Zumba! Let's make Marti's class just as great on Thursday night!

Zumba Stories -

Hey Kerry and Marti:

Zumba has been such a positive aspect of my life. I started over two years ago when it was just getting going at desert palms. My life at that point was absolutely out of control. I felt completely helpless. Zumba I do for me, for me alone. Zumba is mega stress reducing for me. When I don't get to enough classes my husband will actually say " hey maybe you should hit a zumba class to destress". In alot of ways it has saved me. My sanity (which some days is questionable) anyway. Even though I don't really know all of the ladies in class, I feel a bond with them. I love Zumba and Kerry makes it so energetic and fun. Love Marti's happy smile, it keeps us going.

Thanks so much,

Sherri Aldred

Please keep the stories coming our way! They can be anything about Zumba and what it does for you.

Week #14 Challenge - Working on our inner beauty!

Exercise is of course good for you and will do wonders for your health but your inner beauty and confidence level will change that if you don't love yourself for who you are! It took me awhile to realize this concept. If I don't love my self no matter what I look like and love what I do and continue to help others then my outer appearance changes. So this week I want you to reflect on you, and only you! Take some time to yourself and really think about you and what you are doing in the present and what you will be doing in the future (the past doesn't count, you can't change that). Really reflect on how amazing you are! You would be so surprised at how people actually see you. You are so much harder on yourself then anyone else around you. Be strong, be confident, and truly love yourself!

Sorry for the change on teachers this last weekend, Cherie stepped in so nicely while Marti attended a funeral. Marti will be teaching both classes on Saturday!

Spring into Action!

Yea, it is spring, and I love spring! It is my favorite time of year to exercise. You have so many options from outside to indoors and the fresh air breaths new energy. Make sure you take advantage of the good cool weather before it gets blistering hot and then it is back to indoors for exercise. I hope you are all doing well on your exercise goals. If you have slipped a little it is time to regain your confidence and start up again. Summer will be here before we can blink so we all know what that means, the dreaded swim suit! We all hate it but you need to remember that we will all not be the bikini babes in the magazine but we can definitely have positive attitudes towards the whole swim suit issue. It all depends on how you feel has a person. You need to let go of always trying to be the perfect hot body that is not achievable in 3 months or ever (in my case). If you feel good about yourself then the outer appearance comes along with it, swim suit or not! Keep truckin forward and stay with the baby steps so you can see results quicker!

Here is our next Zumba Story: they are all good and please keep them coming!!!

Ok ok, I will write how Zumba has changed me. I was not one to go to the gym and work out or any other type of physical work unless it was doing things around the house and in the yard. It will be 5 yrs since I lost my 2 yr old and 2 yrs since I lost my brother, so here's to say I gained and gained after my brother died and was in denial about my weight gain until about one year ago, I saw a picture of myself and wanted to die. I started this HCG diet that worked until I was done doing it and gained all the weight back :( Then in Jan of this yr my cousin came down to visit and she is major gym freak, and I thought "ok I will go with you and try it out" so I went, felt great and signed up for the membership. I went religiously every day, felt great and then I thought "hmmm, I think I will try some classes" I went to one and decided to stay and see what zumba was all about. I went, it was crazy the first time but once I got the hang of some of it I fell in love with it and started to go to the classes as much as I could. It really makes me feel wonderful and everyone is awesome and the teachers kick butt. They really make u feel good about your self and help you in anyway they can. I have lost a total of 13 lbs since I started and I have never felt better. I have not only learned how to eat better and make working out fun and enjoying. I feel that I am a part of something great. I'm not really losing anymore wait, but I am really starting to tone up my problem areas and with no crazy addictive diet pills. Oh yes and my ten yr old son comes with me and loves the class as much as I do and really likes Marti and Kerry. Plus it's time that we get to be crazy together. Thank you Zumba for changing my bad habits to good ones and letting me be apart of it all. I have done Yoga and some other classes also, I really want to do the cycling class, so that is my next goal.. THANK YOU ZUMBA!!!! :)

I love reading these as a teacher because, yes at times I don't want to come and teach, but knowing that we as teachers are helping you out in your life brings a new meaning to being a teacher! Thank you so much. I love what I do because of you!!


So how much money did you save this week on not buying any fast food? I know I saved about $40 and a whole lot of calories! I feel good that I don't have any processed foods in my body. It really does make a difference! Here is a great video to watch that might help you considered healthier choices! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCv6AqcH1bc&feature=player_embedded

Week #12 challenge - Eat 5 meals a Day!

What, yes 5 meals. You need to share the love of food all day not just 3 times plus all your snacks and treats. You pack in the calories if you do this. Try eating 5 small meals a day with protein in everyone. Your portion size will need to decrease to kids size but if you are eating 5 then you won't go hungry! Make sure one of your meals is around 3-4 o'clock. This is the worst part of the day for snacking! So eat a small healthy meal then when dinner comes 3-4 hrs later you will not be as hungry either. Try it! See how it works for you and write it down!

Last thing- Water is the best thing for you and I have found the best water to drink! It is called Real Water. I have put a water cooler in my house because i love it so much! You need to read all about it so here is the link www.RealWaterUtah.com and if you want to try it then contact Barry Brooksby and let him know you heard about it on your Zumba email and want to try it. It really has made a difference for me!
Barry Brooksby
Real Water Southern Utah
(435) 275-8500 Order Line
(702) 327-8114 Cell
barry@realwaterutah.com

Week #11 Inspirational!

Happy St. Patty's Day to you all!

I have a bit of Irish in me but no one would know that unless you knew my mother's maiden name. I love the green day, it's one of my favorites. Make sure you smile and tell every one "Top of the mornin to ya"!

Ok here is our first Zumba Inspiration: I still have not received as many as you are out there so stop and write for just a moment today!

I will tell you how zumba has changed my life. I started my weight loss journey 18 months ago. I am more than 1/2 way but I still have along way to go. I remember when my PT told me to do just 15 minutes of cardio a day and I thought it was hard and I was sooooo bored. He/she kept increasing it (of course) but I wasn't disciplined enough to stay on a treadmill or elliptical very long.

I hated cardio. Then my friend suggested I come to zumba. It was soooo fun. I am still terrible at it but I love it. I love the music. I love the movement. I love the freedom. I love the instructors. I zumba everywhere (my teenager hates that). I can't help myself. I dance around my kitchen like I used to before I gained all of the weight.

I love how fast zumba has improved my fitness level. I hated to walk around the mall 18 months ago and yesterday I did 2 zumba classes, cleaned my house and ice skated with my kids for 2 and 1/2 hours. What a change!!

Some days it is so frustrating to have made such progress and still have more to go to reach my goal. Some days it feels pointless like I will never get there and I want to give up. But after a few minutes in class I am happy and believe that I can reach my goals. That hope carries me through the day and helps me make good food choices and helps me face my workouts with my PT when I don't want to because I am tired and sore or feeling lazy.

It isn't just me who has been affected by my zumba addition. My husband and kids now workout. My twin brother now works out (I did more push-ups than him last time I saw him...boy ones too and won a race around the lake).

I will reach my goal someday and I will be fit, healthy and cute again. And although it is a personal journey, I will not reach it alone. I have my husband and my friends who believe in me, my PT and ZUMBA.

Thanks for all you do and the weekly challenge.

WOW! Thank you for sharing that. Isn't this person amazing. Don't we all feel like that at some point in our life. Make sure you help out the ladies around you because you never know who will inspire next!

So, do you love wheat! If not, keep trying! Just think to yourself how much better it is for you and your kids to have wheat. Try your recipes that call for white flour and add wheat instead. See if it tastes good. Some will be better and some will not. It doesn't hurt to try!

Week #11 Challenge - No Fast Food or Restaurant Food!

We have all just come back from Spring Break and I am sure that we all ate out at least once but this week save some money and eat in for a week straight. Notice how your body feels with good home cooked meals. There is a huge difference! If you need to go on a date with your spouse or friends this weekend then plan a head and do something different then eat out. Take a picnic and go do something active. Be creative because we all love the social aspect of eating out! Save the money and mostly the calories!!

Happy Eating!

Sorry, it's late! Week #10

I hope all of you are enjoying your spring break! I am here in California and Marti will be coming back from a great weekend in Phoenix. I have missed teaching Zumba. You don't realize you would miss something until you can't do it anymore. I am glad that I can come back and kick my own butt in Zumba. I have been trying to get in some exercise in each day. My kids have been not so happy because I made then climb the stairs at Universal, twice. If any of you have been there, the stairs from the lower lot to the upper lot seem to go on forever! Good times! Anyway I will see you back Monday and Marti will be there on Friday at both locations.

I have only received one email back about how zumba has helped change your life. So come on girls, don't be shy! I have 252 people on my email list so just think how many ladies you can inspire. We need it. During these times is when we need inspiration the most!

So did you all try something new? How many of you are loving cycling? That is my next passion to Zumba! Remember to keep it going. You will overcome your hard points if you add in new things!

Week #10 Challenge - Wheat, Wheat, Wheat!

No more white, white, white! I want you to take out anything you eat that is made with white flour and replace it with wheat. So many good things come from eating wheat. We have been told to eat a lot more wheat for health reasons so why are we still buying white bread. Because it tastes so good! Well, I personally do not eat white bread. My kids don't eat white bread. I give them no choice. I do need to change over to wheat pasta though. Eating wheat is going to do a lot of good things for you. you can research all you want but the 2 main reasons I eat it is because it is roughage for the digestive system that helps clean you out and it keeps you full longer! So try all wheat this week for you and your kids and see what happens. Remember, you are the mom so you get to choose what your kids eat and how much they eat!

Have a great week and see you soon!

Zumba!!!!!

We all love Zumba, right? If you didn't then I would suspect you wouldn't want to hear from me each week. I want to share the Zumba love amongst ourselves. I did this about a year and half ago and we had a few responses but since we have so many new people on board I want to do it again. I know, your thinking what is it. Well, we all have motivating, inspirational stories and usually Zumba has had something to do with it so I am sure all of you would like to hear about it. There is no better way then to get motivated by others and be uplifted by the ones that you exercise with. I know that most of you don't even know what the lady next to you has experienced in life but the one thing you both know is that Zumba has made a difference. We are a huge family and you have so many people that support you in what you are doing and you might not even know it. Let's share the love - I would like you to reply back to me a short story about yourself and what Zumba has done for you. If you are a blog reader then click on the email link on the right hand side and said it our way. You don't have to put your name on it, it can be totally anonymous. I on the other hand will see your name but when I post it on email and the blog I will take it off, if that is what you prefer. Now I would love to know you all by name but my brain does not work that way so the chances are when you email me back I probably couldn't put the name to the face anyway. So please share the love and I will post a new one each week until we run out. Let's make this big and get motivated and inspired by the ones you see all the time that have the sames goals as you do!!

Nothing new in the Zumba world so onto the challenge -

How did you feel about taking dairy out of your diet for a week? It is interesting to me that foods and drinks that we consume on a daily basis may not be the best thing for our body. That is why we experiment. Try new things and document them. If taking dairy out of your diet made you notice good things then keep doing it. I have taken a lot of dairy products out of my eating habits because I noticed a big difference in the way my body felt overall. I felt lighter, maybe not on the scale but I noticed so I continue to pass up dairy if I don't need it.

Week #9 Challenge - Try something new!

I know that we are all addicted to Zumba because of the enjoyment we get out of exercising but we can't forget that we need to change it up a bit sometimes. Your challenge is to get to at least 2 different classes this week on top of your Zumba, of course! We want to see you in our Zumba classes but I also want you to feel what it is like to experience something different for your body. You need to understand that no matter how many Zumba classes you do your body will adapt and it will stop giving you the results at one time or another. You might find that other classes are really hard and that is because you need them. It is better for you to be able to go to any cardio class and feel good when you are done. If you continue to make your goals this way then your overall strength and endurance will increase, I promise you that!!

I will be out of town next week for Spring break but if the hotel has free wi-fi then no worries you will get something from me and our challenges will continue. Remember to ask yourself before you eat anything over this Spring break if you really need it. Chances are you don't!!

Week #8

Alright everyone how has your week been? We are 2 months into the new year. How are you doing on your goals? This the the exact week that most people say, "forget it!" Make sure you don't give up. This is your reminder that you are all do great and to continue forward. Remember a few emails ago, I said, if you can make it through spring break then your chances go up dramatically of sticking to your goals and following through until you reach them. Keep going, I know it gets hard at times and frustrating but we are your support group! We will do our best to keep you motivated and continue to help you through Zumba and making exercise fun for you!

New Classes at Desert Palms

Tuesday 4:30pm Zumba kidz age 5-8
Thursday 10:30am Mommie & me Zumba age 2-5
Thursday 4:30pm Zumba kidz age 9-12
Saturday 9:15am Zumba teenz age 12-up (relaxation room 2nd floor)

Bring your kids and watch them fall in love with Zumba and we don't even have to tell them they are working out, it will be our secret!

Ok, so do your legs feel good? They should be a little sore from your weeks focus on them. Make sure you get don't forget about them. A lot of people will not do anything to strengthen their legs because they think that cardio works them good enough. Yes, cardio does do that but not enough to stimulate weight loss and lean body mass that we are all wanting. Make sure you add in some leg exercises each week so you can start to see the changes in your legs.

Week #8 Challenge - Take out as much dairy products as possible!

Why not??? Milk protein allergies and lactose intolerance have been linked to a wide array of physical symptoms. For some, it is as simple as lethargy or weight gain, for others crippling migraines and "autoimmune" type symptoms are a lifestyle complication. There is a great deal of research linking dairy to prostate cancer, breast cancer, type 1 and type 2 diabetes, obesity, high cholesterol, heart disease. Check it out; see if a dairy-free or dairy-limited diet improves your quality of life. What is the worst that could happen? Absolutely nothing…you have no reaction, no change, you go back to your cheesy habits. What is the best that could happen? Your migraines subside, your cholesterol plummets, your energy increases, your body seems lighter, your stomach calms down, you just feel better. I have taken out most of my dairy habits and I feel much better. Those of you that are cheese lovers you need to stop or you need to go for the more expensive cheeses. Give it a try and make sure you right it down in your Challenge notebook so you can see what it does or doesn't do for you. We are all different and it will effect us at totally different. Good Luck!

Already week #7

Can you believe we are going into week 7 already. Time is going by so fast!! I hope you all had a great week and it was filled with fitness and healthy eating. I hope your goals are still on track so make sure you look at them and re-evaluate so you can stay on top of them. Life can get overwhelming sometimes and we let the most important things slip by. Remember that you are your top priority. You need to keep yourself healthy for the sake of your kids, husband, wife and busy lifestyle. If you are positive about yourself and feel good about what you are doing then that makes a world of difference on your attitude towards the life trials that are thrown at us everyday. Oh and I have a full blown trial everyday (my preteen girl and soon 2 preteens and it won't get any better I'm afraid) and I want to pull my hair out everyday but taking deep breaths and making sure I get my exercise in for the day helps me a lot!

Rec Center ladies, where are you? The Tuesday and Friday class are getting smaller and smaller. We are used to having in the high twenties but have been down by ten each week. I hope you are doing ok and we hope to see you back soon. Please let us know if we, as your instructors, can do anything to bring you back to Zumba. We love teaching there and you have been a great crowd to get to know!

Desert Palms is having there Grand Opening Event on Saturday the 20th. They are having a fitness fair and will have a lot of companies there representing their product and services. It is free to the public from 10am -3pm. They will have free food there from 11-1pm. They are also giving out a lot of cool prizes. The rates for the Grand Opening week are $19.95 a month and if you sign up this week you get a gift and entered into the grand prize drawing. There are four Grand Prizes and they are sweet! The best part of the whole day is that there is an outdoor Zumba class at 11am in the parking lot and it is free to the public. SWEET! I will be teaching it so bring all your friends and family and join me for a great class in the open air! If you have any other questions let me know! I know that all the prizes are really cool because I was the Event Coordinator on this one so come join me at Desert Palms on Saturday and bring any one and every one you want!

Thank you to all of you that joined us last week at Zumba Love on Wednesday. We had 65 people and it was so much fun. Two straight hours of Zumba (31 songs) was crazy! We had such a great turn out that we will be doing more of those in the future, so thank you so much for loving Zumba!

How are your abs feeling? Mine are a little sore but a good sore! I hope by implementing more abs into your routine made you realize how often you use your abdominal muscles for everything. I couldn't cough yesterday without my abs hurting. Just remember that you have 29 muscles that are in your abdominal cavity and you use them all everyday! They are crucial for any fitness goal and if you continue to build your strength in your abs then your fitness routines overall will become more efficient.

Challenge for week #7- Working on your lower half / legs!

We are going to focus on your legs this week. What you don't realize (if you have them) is that you have one of the best exercise machines in your house, your stairs! You walk up and down them all day and if you don't you should. You can give yourself a great 15 minute leg workout by using your own stairs. Here is a great stair workout - start out by walking up and down your stairs 5 times. When you get to the bottom of 5 then do standing squats. Do 2 sets of 20. Then do a wall sit for 1 minute. After you are done then start over by running up and down the stairs as fast as you can 5 times. Repeat this whole routine 3 times. When you are finished then do 50 lunges and you are done! That easy, now try it! If you do not have stairs you can always do legs at home. Walking lunges are a great exercise to firm up the jiggle jiggle that some of us have on the backside. You can also use the curb outside as a stair stepper. Get creative with things you have at home but make sure they are stable so you do not injure yourself. I don't recommend doing legs everyday but make sure you get at least 4 days of legs in the next week. Have fun with it and feel the burn in your legs!