 |
| The Old Holly |
 |
| The New Holly! |
I met Jenise through Zumba at Brown Baptist Church. I started Zumba towards the end of summer 2008. Then personal training February 2009. A couple of my friends started working out with her in January 2009. I decided to join the group in February. I had seen what she could do in Zumba and was very impressed. Then I saw the weight loss results with my friends and had to try. There is one word to describe Jenise - awesome! My fitness goals vary from week to week. My main goal was to lose 100 pounds, but that was done with mini goals. My next goal is to weigh less than 200 pounds. Then I plan to go by sizes in clothes. I have now lost 100 pounds. I used to wear a 28 in pants and that was tight. Now I comfortably fit into a 14/16. I feel amazing since I have been working out! I had forgotten what it felt like to have energy. When your little boy comes up to you, hugs you, smiles, and says "I can fit my arms all the way around you," that is the best feeling in the world. My confidence has skyrocketed. Also, my eating habits have changed very drastically. Even though I'm a nurse that doesn't mean I knew how to eat right or where to begin. I used to go to McDonalds daily. I would order a double quarter pounder, super-sized french fries, a soda, and 12 chicken nuggets. I would eat it all and still be hungry. I hit 305 pounds, which was a major wake up call. I started out looking at what I ate and why. Then I started replacing bad foods with the good foods. When I started working with Jenise, I realized that I still was not eating right. She gave excellent meal plans and ideas. Then she gave me a detox die and the weight has steadily been dropping since. Now I eat mostly fresh fruit and veggies, no fried food, sweets, or anything white (pastas, breads, sugar, or potatoes). When I feel the cravings coming on, I think about how much extra work on the treadmill it will cost to fix it and I hear Jenise's voice in my head telling me not to do it and I can do better. I now have a diet and exercise plan that I can live with. I have come to the realization that the gym will be a permanent part of my life. If you want to get in shape, you have to make up your mind to do it and go for it. Jenise always says that you have to be in the right mindset to lose the weight. It would be a very good idea to work with Jenise. She is a wonderful person and trainer. She really loves what she does. She has pushed, inspired, and encouraged me. I couldn't do without her.
 |
| The Old Brandy |
 |
| The New Brandy! |
Jenise and I attend the same church, Brown Missionary Baptist, in Southaven, MS. I edited her first DVD and it made me want to attend her Zumba classes. Once I began attending the classes I began to want a healthy way of life. I chose to work with Jenise because I felt she understood where I was coming from (it's not always about a size 2), and what I needed to get to. Jenise has a way of making every person she works with feel special. She is that constant cheerleader that is in your corner. Most of all she is that voice in your head for better or worse, pushing you forward! I've been working out with her personally since Jan, 2009. 107 pounds is my goal by the end of the year. I'm at 75 pounds down and well on my way to my goal. I have more self-esteem, more confidence and am overall very happy with myself. I've always had self-esteem issues, but now I feel like I'm working on that not just physically, but emotionally and spiritually as well. My eating habits also changed drastically. I ate everything fried, dipped in butter. Food was the fix to everything, happy, sad, or depressed. I went from eating out 7 days a week, twice a day around 3,000 calories a day, to cooking at home and eating out once a week, now around 1200 calories at the most a day. To stay fit, I will continue with what I have learned. Jenise teaches everyone so that they can stand alone eventually. I know that what I'm doing now is for the rest of my life if I want to maintain what I have worked so hard for. If you want to get fit, first make up your mind. It starts with the mind. Once you realize that you are sick and tired of your weight, once you realize that you have control over it and you can change, then you will change.
 |
| The Old Osha |
 |
| The New Osha! |
I came to know Jenise when were exercising at Brown Baptist Church; a friend invited me to come workout. I chose to work with Jenise because I felt as though she was very serious about women becoming fit and living a very healthy lifestyle. I've been working with her for about 5 years. My fitness goal was to fit into a size 12. I have lost a total of 47 lbs. I have gone from a size 16 to a size 8. I feel so much more confident; my self-esteem has boosted, and I love my body. Before I started working out, I was very self-conscious, I did not like to take pictures, wear clothes that fit or go too many places. All of that has seriously changed. My eating has changed drastically, I am very choosy in what and how much I eat. I eat mainly, chicken, fish and turkey and lots of vegetables. I also drink a lot of water. I do treat myself every now and then with a chocolate-dipped ice-cream cone from McDonald's. I will maintain my level of fitness my continuing exercising and watching my eating habits. I would tell someone who is struggling with their weight first of all, you have to turn this issue over to God and ask him to lead and guide you in this endeavor and become focused. When you become focused and determined you can then start achieving a healthy body and become fit. I would also inform them that by exercising you are increasing your years on earth, which is a known fact. Think of exercising as doing something good for yourself and your family.
