I was pretty heavy here, luckily I am tall and hide it well, I found out the next day too I was pregnant, at the end of this pregnancy I weighed 230 pounds. Ouch!
Just a year ago I was a lazy, lazy, chubby. I enjoyed cookies, and cinnamon rolls, and chocolate by the pound. I didn't do much outside, I spent my days at the computer or watching TV with the kids, we would go and play at the park but by we, I mean they would play and I would sit down and watch and get bored really quickly. My husbands deployment and years of not being myself led me to a dark and long depression. I felt stuck and trapped and so very lazy. I spent most of that first 7 months of his deployment in tears and frustration.
(I probably hoarded all those cookies I am baking, ha!)
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One day I heard a Circus parade was rolling into town. It was a beautiful June day and I decided it would be a fun adventure out for the kids and I, little did I know that day would change everything. We pulled into the parking lot at Subway where the parade would pass by on the street. A big suburban pulled up next to us and a very thin and fit woman and her kids piled out to watch the parade. We made friendly conversation which ended in her inviting me to the YMCA with her to try out a Zumba class. Zumba?! I have heard of this nonsense before, dont you have to be able to dance to do that? I have only ever been in a mosh pit, or skanking with my punk friends. I was however desperate for some adult friends and when she mentioned the great child care I was sold. I told her I would meet her there that Tuesday night at 6pm and I would bring my non coordination with me.
I was back the next class on thursday, and every Tuesday and Thursday after that. Within a month I had built confidence, learned about salsa, merengue, cumbia and reggaetone, dropped a pant size, and lost 6 pounds! Within the next few months I noticed something weird happening to me. I was smiling, I was laughing, I was also shrinking rapidly. I found myself listening to latin music and shaking my butt while I did the dishes. My kids were dancing in the kitchen with me, we loved going to the Ymca. By September I was transformed, I was enjoying work outs, I would play at the park with my kids, we would go to the YMCA to swim and I would work out and do ALL the Zumba classes they offered. I started making friends, who now to this day are my very best of friends. Zumba literally grabbed my by the butt and changed everything. 
After meeting Tracie the best instructor yet, I decided I wanted to be a Zumba instructor too. She inspired me to want to inspire a room full of people to lose weight while smiling. I went and got my Zumba teaching license on November 4, 2011, just five months after beginning Zumba. When I walked into that class for the first time I had NO idea how to dance, I had no coordination and I had NO self esteem. Just five months later I was getting licensed to teach a fitness class!
Same dress, same weight.
