JUNE 2010 TURBO KICK BD s Mongolian Grill Fundraiser was a huge success! Thank you to everyone that came and helped to make the night such a huge success!! $400.00 Raised for Team Turbo!! Questions about the Turbo Kick Relay for Life Team? Captain Jeni Svetska jenipineau@yahoo.com
Unfortunately over the last year and a half I have struggled to make myself a priority, this is due to the fact that two summers ago my best friend died, I loved her like she was one of my sisters. We met in second grade and were best friends instantly. She was there for me when my dad died, She was my maid of honor and she was there when I had both of my boys. I thought I knew everything about her, it turned out I didn t. I later found out from her dad that she had a drug problem that she didn t want me to know about, she didn t want to disappoint me. She overdosed on the morning that she and I were supposed to hang out. It altered my world, I felt like the worst friend because I had no idea she had a problem. I couldn t believe she was gone, I didn t know how to handle it. The blow to my heart was far greater than I could have ever expected. I walked away from so many of my friends, it was too hard to think about letting people get close to me again. I didn t want to let people back in. I quit going out with friends, I made every excuse possible. I stopped working out. I got angry at anyone who tried to be kind to me. I became consumed with being a good wife and mother. I didn t think I had anything to offer anyone else, I didn t think I was good enough to be a friend. I am still dealing with losing her, my Turbo friends have been so supportive, I am truly grateful to all of you who were there for me! Thank you!! I am coming back, I miss being me, I miss you all so much! Thank you for loving me through my personal struggles. On June 19th I am running Grandma s Marathon in Duluth. I am running this one for myself, my dad who I miss dearly and for my best friend Jill. It will be 26.2 miles, 26.2 miles of healing.
Six months ago I was scared. Okay, not scared, terrified. I was scared of life, scared of death, scared of random gunmen shooting me in the mall. It was a crippling anxiety. I believe that it started after the birth of my 2nd child when I struggled with post-partum depression and it cascaded into an anxiety disorder that was out of control. I couldn t watch the news without falling into hysteria. I hated feeling so powerless in a world where there seemed to be so much despair and anger, and it consumed me. I knew I was using food as a drug. Instead of Prozac, I took Arby s. I was allowing myself to not care what I put into my body, not care about myself. It s so embarrassing to admit, and yet semi-cathartic, but I was a binge eater. I would eat when I was alone; like an addict. It is so shameful to admit, but there is also a strange power that comes with knowing that isn t you anymore. I decided one day that I had had enough of living in fear. I couldn t spend one more day being obsessed with all the bad things that could happen to me. So I took control. This is the year I turn 30, and dammit, I wasn t going to keep living like this! I joined Weight Watchers one morning and went to the gym that same day. I was shocked when I saw Jennie (hey wait, that s not the Body Step lady!) and her crew congregating outside the studio. She was subbing for Body Step and, oh crap, I was scared! But there was just something about all those people standing there, talking, joking, and acting like such great friends. I thought, what s so great about this damn class!?! I managed to choke and gag my way through Turbo Kick and honestly, afterwards I almost cried. I felt so powerful. I never knew that jabbing and kicking could feel so invigorating! Everyone was SO encouraging, high fiving me and telling me what a great job I did. I would ve been a fool not to try it again. I just couldn t believe how this tiny instructor just lit that room on fire when she turned her mic on! I mean, WOW! And how is it that she can push me beyond any place I ve ever gone!? Even now, in much better shape, Jennie STILL finds ways to get me to push a little harder, squat a little lower, jump a little higher! Man, it feels (painful) great! There was such camaraderie among Turbo Kickers and it was intoxicating. To be around people who were so motivating, willing to listen to my weight loss struggles and triumphs, eager to help, and let s face it, just plain AWESOME! I have made some of the best friends I ve ever had while in Turbo, and I m not just saying that to get out of abs! I m happy to say, I m not even close to the same person I was six short months ago. I don t have anxiety and depression anymore. I used Turbo Kick as therapy and, boy, did it work! I have lost almost 40lbs since starting Turbo and I feel like a new woman!!! Where I once felt emotionally, mentally, and physically weak.now, I feel STRONG! I feel like the old Jeni; capable of kicking your ass and making you laugh at the same time! I apologize if I over shared but I think it s important to know that you aren t alone in your struggles, whatever they may be. I am STRONG and I know it, and I feel it and so are YOU! Thank you to my wonderful Turbo family for always getting me focused and motivated and laughing! And Jennie, thank you for caring about each of your students. You re dedication and general awesomeness really does change lives.
I m not sure where to begin my Turbo story I guess my fitness history in a nutshell is that I ve always been somewhat athletic, but in group sports-mostly volleyball and softball. But when it comes to working out, I have trouble staying motivated, and am only successful when I have a workout buddy to hold me accountable. When I came to Burnsville two years ago, I lost a great workout buddy in the move. I was also pregnant, starting a new job, moving to a house in foreclosure (that needed major work), and all of my girlfriends were now over 5 hours away. We moved into our house, and worked every minute to get it fixed up before our 2nd boy was born. He decided to come early, and the kitchen countertops and appliances were installed a week AFTER we brought him home from the hospital--needless to say life was a bit hectic! I got busy with a newborn and the house, and kept finding excuses not to work out. I finally decided my weight loss plan of having the extra 20 pounds of baby weight that I was still carrying just fall off was not working. J I decided I had had enough, and needed to get my body and my energy back. My biggest concern was that I didn t have a workout partner, which I mentioned at registration, and they suggested TurboKick. I had taken a step class before, but wasn t sure about kickboxing. I came in to my first Turbo class in October and met Jennie, who right away said hi, and I said, So, I hear you re going to kick my butt. She laughed and said, I guess my reputation precedes me. I kind of jokingly told her to go easy on me, because I hadn t worked out in over a year, and she said she d give me a week to catch up. Little did I know what a joke that was I ve now been coming for 9 months and I m still not caught up!! Turbo has been great for me. It is so hard to meet people when you move to a new town, and the people in turbo are so welcoming. At a time when I really needed to feel like I belonged somewhere, Turbo gave me that. Although I don t know people well, it felt good to be recognized in the group, have Jennie yelling at Sarah from Iowa (in a good way), sigh together with the rest of the group as yet another siren goes off, or be able to laugh when Dennis and I kick each other when one of our timing is off (usually mine). And it s so much fun!! I couldn t have kept going if it hadn t been for the fun and inspiring atmosphere that Jennie creates in class. It truly is addicting! I left that first class thinking, what have I got myself into? But I was hooked, and have been back ever since. My stress level has decreased dramatically, and I actually look forward to working out. I have lost 8 of the 20 pounds, and feel so much better. Unforunately, being a guest editor this month is bittersweet for me: Last month I was offered a promotion to Colorado Springs, CO and will be moving at the end of June. When my husband and I were making the decision as to whether or not I was going to accept the position, we each made a list of pros and cons. My husband looked at my cons and said, Turbo s on your list? I m pretty sure they ll have a Y in CO. I answered, Maybe so, but they definitely won t have Jennie! I want to take this opportunity to thank Jennie and each of you for welcoming me to your Turbo group for a little while- -I ll miss you. I can only hope I ll find some place in Colorado that will be half as motivating!
June Birthdays: Cindy Brinkhaus- Wold 6/1 Trisha Marker 6/2 Malaika Dixon 6/11 Jeni Svetska, Kimber Carter 6/23 Evan Cohoe 6/25 Charlotte Andersen 6/28 Kristi Paulson 6/29 JUNE HAPPENINGS New PIYO 14 starts this month! Becky Simon- Burton and Lindsey Johnson (last month s editors) are the captains of a 3- day Team for the Breast Cancer Walk. www.the3day.org Their First Event is July 10 th Evening- - 7 or 7:30ish Turbo for Tatas Talent Extravaganza! @ Northwestern Health Science University in Bloomington (84 th and Penn) This is your chance to see TELEPHONE performed LIVE!! BRAND NEW HIP HOP!! JUNE 7 TH. Even if you miss the 7 th it is not to late to start this new material!! Check out what we did last month! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqavwzhgd W8 June 12 th Purple and Silver Day in honor of Relay for Life June 18 th Turbo Outing RELAY FOR LIFE 7p.m. Turbo, Hip Hop and Zumba from 8-10! Eastview High School in Apple Valley. If anyone knows a cancer survivor or someone going through cancer now, they can register for free and they will get a t shirt and a free banquet dinner for them and their guest the night of the relay. You can participate in the survivor's lap right at 7p if you d like, too. Let Jeni Svetska know if there is interest or you can visit www.relayforlife.org for more information. June 19 th Turbo Jam!! If you have never experienced a Turbo Jam this is your chance!! Bring non- Y member friends!! Info below! I will be teaching along with Sara R., Kristi, Sean L, Stef E and MORE!!!! Sunny will be visiting from Chicago June 4-14!! Can t wait to Turbo with her again!! Stay tuned for OUTDOOR TURBO DATE I am presenting at a Nat l Conference on Adolescent Females June 24-27 in San Antonio! Hoping to Turbo Texas Style while I am there. Sara and Kristi will be subbing for me! I am subbing Turbo at the Skyway YMCA on 6/23 at 11:15. Summertime means I turbo all over so will keep you posted! You can always tag along!
TurboKick & Latin Hip Hop SHAKEDOWN Saturday, June 19 5:45pm-7:45pm $10 Donation at the Door Proceeds go to Y Partners Northwest Family YMCA 3760 Lexington Avenue Shoreview, MN 55126 651-483-2671 Everyone is Invited! Non-Members: Bring A Photo ID