An Ode to Jocie....

This is Me (obviously), Jocie (world's best Zumba instructor) and Melissa (one of my best and closest friends AND Zumba buddy) on Jocie's last day of teaching in Provo. :(

Remember a while back when I did the whole long epic post about my weight loss? Well, a large part of that I owe to this chick right here! I started Zumba back in April 2010 because I just couldn't get those last few pounds of my original goal off! I nearly thought I would die after the first class. Aside from the whole "I-feel-like-a-big-huge-uncoordinated-dork" in this class, it kicked my butt AND it also happened to be a lot of fun. So...I kept going. After starting this class with Jocie -- and continuing to eat well, I was able to lose another 25 lbs!

I won't pretend to know Jocie THAT well, but what I know, I love. She is inspiring and positive and supportive. I know she's smart (recently got her Master's Degree) and dedicated (continues to teach class even when I know she isn't feeling well and about to pass out) and faithful (only one in her family to join the LDS church as a teenager in Hawaii and then move to Utah).

So Thank you, Jocie for all the wonderful workouts and chats after class! No one can make me sweat like you can!! I wish you the best although I will miss you a ton. Salt Lake is lucky to have you.

And to those of you who want to lose weight or claim to hate exercise, "find your Jocie" -- find someone that makes it fun and keeps you motivated. I NEVER thought I would like Zumba. And after a year and a half of doing it, I'm still a big, huge, uncoordinated dork....but, I do it. And so can you!!