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| Power Style Wellness Connections |
fitness
Jena Simmons
by Cheryl Stuck
“Don’t get overwhelmed when you first start and see everybody
doing all these moves, and you can’t keep up.”
AGE: 57
Legal administrative assistant at Humana Inc
Fitness activity: Jazzercise
WHAT SHE DOES: Jena Simmons had struggled with weight
problems her whole life and weighed almost 300 pounds in 2004,
when she decided to have gastric bypass surgery and ended up losing 135 pounds.
About six weeks after the surgery, she joined Curves to get some exercise and tone up.
“At Curves, you can work out at your own pace, which is good and bad. But I needed more
motivation and someone to be accountable to, so I started going to Jazzercise with my
daughter in 2005.” Jena also participated in a group walk to benefit cancer. “I finished
tenth from last, but I finished it and was very pleased with myself,” she said.
Jena was the top attendee in 2006 at the Jazzercise location in Shelbyville, working out
240 days in a year. She still attends one-hour sessions four or five days a week and loves
it so much that she joined a Jazzercise dance group that performed in “Light Up
Shelbyville,” in November and also plans to perform in parades.
BENEFITS: “It helps me keep my weight down.” In an email to Today’s Woman, Jena’s
husband, Charlie Simmons, praised his wife’s efforts.“One of the most rewarding things to
me is seeing the inner beauty that I have always seen, now bubbling out with the new
confidence which all can see.”
ADVICE: “Just keep plugging on, have fun with it, and don’t get discouraged because you
think everybody else is looking at you thinking you can’t do it. Find an instructor who you
really like that is encouraging. That helps a lot. They are always good about showing low
impact options that won’t damage your joints. Just do what you can do and if you need to,
stop.” Her Toolbox
THREE THINGS SHE USES FOR THE SPORT
Jazzercise Mat
Jena can take this Jazzercise Mat with her without much effort.
Workout Clothes
“Stretch pants that move with you and don’t bind,” by Athletic Works at Walmart $15-20.
Ryka shoes
Jena buys hers at the Jazzercise location she attends. But they can also be found at: www.
ryka.com Cost: about $75.
Jena Simmons
by Cheryl Stuck
“Don’t get overwhelmed when you first start and see everybody
doing all these moves, and you can’t keep up.”
AGE: 57
Legal administrative assistant at Humana Inc
Fitness activity: Jazzercise
WHAT SHE DOES: Jena Simmons had struggled with weight
problems her whole life and weighed almost 300 pounds in 2004,
when she decided to have gastric bypass surgery and ended up losing 135 pounds.
About six weeks after the surgery, she joined Curves to get some exercise and tone up.
“At Curves, you can work out at your own pace, which is good and bad. But I needed more
motivation and someone to be accountable to, so I started going to Jazzercise with my
daughter in 2005.” Jena also participated in a group walk to benefit cancer. “I finished
tenth from last, but I finished it and was very pleased with myself,” she said.
Jena was the top attendee in 2006 at the Jazzercise location in Shelbyville, working out
240 days in a year. She still attends one-hour sessions four or five days a week and loves
it so much that she joined a Jazzercise dance group that performed in “Light Up
Shelbyville,” in November and also plans to perform in parades.
BENEFITS: “It helps me keep my weight down.” In an email to Today’s Woman, Jena’s
husband, Charlie Simmons, praised his wife’s efforts.“One of the most rewarding things to
me is seeing the inner beauty that I have always seen, now bubbling out with the new
confidence which all can see.”
ADVICE: “Just keep plugging on, have fun with it, and don’t get discouraged because you
think everybody else is looking at you thinking you can’t do it. Find an instructor who you
really like that is encouraging. That helps a lot. They are always good about showing low
impact options that won’t damage your joints. Just do what you can do and if you need to,
stop.” Her Toolbox
THREE THINGS SHE USES FOR THE SPORT
Jazzercise Mat
Jena can take this Jazzercise Mat with her without much effort.
Workout Clothes
“Stretch pants that move with you and don’t bind,” by Athletic Works at Walmart $15-20.
Ryka shoes
Jena buys hers at the Jazzercise location she attends. But they can also be found at: www.
ryka.com Cost: about $75.
