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Home · News

I Lost 60 Pounds: Stephanie Erhueh's Weight Loss Story

Get inspired by one woman's moving story of how she was inspired to live a healthier life.
I Lost 60 Pounds: Stephanie Erhueh’s Weight Loss Story
By Stephanie Erhueh · Updated October 28, 2020

Name: Stephanie Erhueh from Washington, DC

Weight Lost: 60 lbs

How She Did It: Started by taking Zumba classes, now she’s a certified instructor

Follow Stephanie on Facebook at Zumba with Stephanie

In April 2012, I was hit with the reality that I would turn 30 in a little over a year.  I reflected on the time I had spent in my twenties, not living my best self because my weight had held me back.  I thought about times when I opted not to go to events or spend time with friends because I couldn’t find anything that fit or because I was just overall unhappy with my appearance.  With numerous milestone celebrations staring me in the face, I knew that I had to make a serious decision about my health, lest I spend another decade of my life living in regret.  As fate would have it, the following month, one of my line sisters proposed that I take a Zumba class with her.  Though I had never taken a class, she convinced me to give it a try, so I joined her the following week.  In baggy sweats and an oversized t-shirt, I entered the class and walked all the way to the back.  Not knowing what to expect, I thought it best that I lay low and not draw attention to the fact that I was a newbie.  During that class, I danced and sweated to a variety of Latin and international songs that kept my heart rate elevated. The class physically challenged me in ways that I didn’t think were possible in a dance fitness class.
 
After parting ways with my line sister after class, I got in my car and sat there for about 15 minutes and cried.  I cried because I couldn’t believe how exhausted and out of shape I was.  I cried because I couldn’t believe the image of the person that stared back at me in the mirrors of the dance studio as I attempted to keep up with the the class.  Eventually, the pity party ended and I dried my eyes, deciding at that very moment that I was going to commit myself to a consistent fitness and dietary regimen that would put me on the track of improved health and wellness.
 
Over the course of the next several months, I began working out no less than five days a week.  My weekly routine would consist of a combination of Zumba, African dance, Bikram yoga, running, power walking, stationary biking, elliptical training, and in-home strength training workout DVDs.  I created a weekly schedule of routines and switched up my workouts often enough so that I wouldn’t get bored.  I engaged friends so that I could have a real-time accountability system and workout buddies.  My eating habits also changed.  I bought a juicer and began to write down everything that I ate.  I began eating six times a day, every two and half to three hours. 

Six months into my new routine, one of my Zumba instructors began strongly encouraging me to train to become a licensed instructor.  I had actually considered it as a fitness goal for myself, but didn’t foresee it happening anywhere in the immediate future.  Though I would brush her off when she would mention instructor training to me, the more she brought it up, the more I began to think about it.  One night after a class, she took the time to talk with me about the apprehension that I had and put each of my fears to bed. 

In January 2013, I trained and received my license to teach Zumba Fitness.  Today, I currently teach five Zumba fitness classes a week, participate in a 45-minute boot camp class 3 to 4 times a week, and squeeze in a different type of workout into my own personal routine at least once a week.  I’ve recently purchased a bicycle and have convinced several of my friends to do the same so that we can begin biking as a means of fellowship and exercise.
 
I now see life through a different set of lenses.  I have put myself back on my priority list and each day, I make a conscious decision to take strides towards becoming a healthier me.  It hasn’t been easy, but I am enjoying every moment of the journey.  Some say I have become obsessed, but I prefer the word dedicated!

READ MORE INSPIRING WEIGHT LOSS STORIES FROM OUR READERS!

Jennifer Lost 104 Pounds

Christina Lost 52 Pounds
Rasheeda Lost 90 Pounds
Danielle Lost 52 Pounds
Lindsay Lost 110 Pounds
Nekita Lost 140 Pounds

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