More than what’s in the mirror: my journey at Mahomet Curves Part 1

*Mahomet Curves purchases advertising space on the sidebar of the Mahomet Daily. My decision to workout at and talk about my experiences at Mahomet Curves was not influenced by the advertisement on the Mahomet Daily. Instead, I chose to make a decision for my body and to be with my friend, Jan Smith, owner of Mahomet Curves because I trust her. In no way is this content promoted by or scripted by Mahomet Curves or the Curves organization. 

My name is Dani Tietz. Oddly enough, I am 36-years old. I am 5’8” and weigh 213 pounds. Let me put that into perspective for you. I’ve always been a bigger girl: big-boned, I believe was the term used. I was not fat, just well-built.

Throughout my childhood, I was an athlete. Like the kind of athlete that often turned heads. When I was in the eighth grade I could do a layup and touch the backboard, and when I was a freshmen in high school I could beat all of my teammates and the boys on the basketball team in a three-mile run. I was tough.

When I graduated from high school, I weighed 160, but the doctor told me that I was not obese or overweight, despite what my mother, who weighed 102 pounds told me. In fact, he said I was just perfect. And while I did not believe him, looking back, I know that I was physically just perfect.

When I was 20 years old, I was pregnant with my oldest daughter. At the end of those nine months, when I was 21 years old, I had gained over 80 pounds. I came in at 224. And the scale came in at 224 for my other daughter and my son, too.

After each baby, I lost some of the baby weight. When you are breastfeeding, carrying babies and chasing toddlers around, it doesn’t feel like exercise, but it most certainly is. I got my weight back down to 175 without really trying.

I still ate the same crap. I did not exercise. I just lived my life.

And then, I started writing for the Mahomet Daily. And while this job is a dream come true, it is also very sedentary. I spend a lot of time in front of the computer, writing and designing. And over the last 3 years, I have climbed back up to 213.

I know I have several problems because my lower back, knees and ankles hurt often. Many of these aches are from old basketball injuries, but I also know that if I wasn’t carrying around so much weight, I’d feel less pain.

Despite the fact that I was an athlete growing up, I know little about how to actually take care of my body. I know I should exercise and that I should eat right, but I know very little about what that actually means. Should I run? Should I lift? Should I do cardio intervals? I have no idea.

And I also have no idea what it means to eat right. Growing up, cherry pop tarts were considered fruit and coke or Gatorade were considered to be water. My mother can eat anything she wants and still weigh between 95 and 105 pounds. God blessed me with different genes; ones that ensure I gain weight rapidly in my mid-area.

I’ve known for a while that I need help, but the thought of all the time I need to complete these tasks has been daunting for me. The exhaustion I feel from running a business and raising three kids is often so overwhelming that I just want to climb into a hole.

There are lots of reasons people do not work out. There is always a new excitement in the air come January-I am finally going to lose the weight or fit into the clothes. Even though I’ve never really been into how I look-because honestly, people with a little extra weight seem happier to me-I know that a part of me does want to be able to fit into my clothes without my lovehandles handing over the side. I want that. But that’s not enough to get me into a gym.

As many of you know, aside from the Mahomet Daily, I also run a company called Ethos Advertising. I work with businesses on marketing plans so that they can effectively tell their story. One of my clients, Jan Smith, who owns Mahomet Curves, asked me for some help at the end of last fall. As we were talking, she said something that really struck a chord with me. She said that working out at Curves is about more than what you see in the mirror.

Jan, and her team, which includes Karen and Annie, really care about their clients. Every time I go into Curves, the ladies are working with someone, answering questions or making sure the women are using the machines correctly. Jan also went through customer training recently to learn more about how she can educate her clients on the benefits of exercise and eating correctly.

Over the years, I have seen how these women go above and beyond for their customers, and it’s because Jan really does believe in the benefits of exercise and nutrition. She told me that she feels better at 60 than she did at 50 or 40.

And I am 36. I am tired of being so tired because I have so much I want to do with my life.

So, here’s the plan: I am going to workout at Curves for one year, and exclusively until April 1. Last night, I went into Curves to get my measurements and to learn how to use the machines. Jan went around all the machines with me, showing me the proper way to use them, and telling me which muscles I was using. Did you know during the Curves circuit you work out every muscle in your body? She will guide me through the first five workouts.

After April 1, I will continue to workout at Curves, but I will also be training to climb a 13,000 foot mountain and to go on a 7-day hike on the Appalachian Trail. Each Thursday, I will report to my progress on the Mahomet Daily. I plan to tell you about what workouts I’ve done, how I feel, what I’ve eaten and what I’ve learned.

Because here’s what I know for a fact: my body is capable of so much more than I believe it is. We are incredible machines. I also know that my body was not made to carry this extra weight. I was made to feel differently, both inside and out. And the final thing I know is that there are a lot of you out there with similar stories. You and I may be in the same boat.

I fell in love with writing because it is a way to bring people together. If I know I’m not alone and you know you’re not alone, then we can pull through things together. I know Jan, Karen and Annie are going to take care of me on this journey. I trust them. But just know if you’re beginning this path of exercise and healthy eating, I’m here with you, too. We will do this thing together.

And…if you want to join me at Curves, Jan is running a registration special right now. If you enroll before January 15, the enrollment fee is $20.16. Then, you pay $39 monthly.

Let me break down how cost effective this is for me. I drink at least 32 ounces of Pepsi a day. At least. That’s $37.50 a month. I’m planning on cutting out Pepsi and all drinks that are adding to my waistline, so, that’s the monthly cost right there. Let me break down how cost effective Mahomet Curves may be for a coffee drinker. Let’s say you get a $3 cup of coffee everyday. My guess is that you’d get a $5 cup of coffee, but let’s say you just get a basic cup. You’re paying $90 a month doing that. Pick your vice. See what it costs you per month-then think about if that money can be better invested somewhere else-maybe into your health.

This Week’s Goal:
Workout 4 times in one week
Drink 72 ounces of water a day

*This post is written in partnership with Mahomet Curves. No money has been exchanged for this piece or any workouts at Mahomet Curves. The weekly updates will be a honest account of exercising at Mahomet Curves.