Debbie Lim's Online Journal

We often start from the outside to try to make change on the inside.  Life isn't life without making changes in your.... well, your life. You may be thinking of making a personal change, your job, school, weight loss (or gain), or emotional changes you are seeking, however, change must start from the inside, before it can be seen on the outside. The first step is to make a decision where you know exactly why you want to make that change.  Any change that you are going to make are useless without a reason to achieving those changes . Without that reason to keep you determined, you'll swerve off the road again and again.  Since I am a fitness professional, we will concentrate on your fitness goals.  Before starting any fitness goal, please tell yourself you are making the changes to your body because YOU want to for the health benefits and NOT because of a wedding or school reunion you will be attending in a few months.  If you are doing the latter, your ...

So, it is that time of the year, New Year's Resolution , where people all over the world make promises to themselves. Making resolutions is the first step, but, you need a plan and a healthy dose of perseverance if you want to succeed.  If you don't have a well-thought-out plan on how you are going to make sustainable changes, most likely it will lead to failure. According to research, only 8% of people achieve their New Year's goals [i] Since fitness is always a top contender for a New Year's Resolution goal for most people and since we are Fitness Motivators , it would be fitting for us to help you reach your goal starting today.  Instead of concentrating only on your fitness goals, let's concentrate on your overall goals, because all goals have the same solution.... we want to achieve and succeed no matter what it is. First, let's stop calling this a New Year's Resolution , instead, let's concentrate on the present moment and start making positiv...

Some of our students from the Cardio Boxing class in Farmington Hills. In this picture, some of these awesome students have been with us for over 12 years! You Burn Calories with Fitness Motivators ! Simply put, when you participate in one of our classes, you will burn calories. The more intensity you bring up your energy level in class, the more calories you burn. Are you pressed for time? We have 45-minute classes, 1-hour classes, and your choice of programs to choose from. Once you are in the class, think of that 45-minutes or 1-hour dedicated just for you! When you are not in class, and throughout each day, always think of ways to "stay active" — by taking the stairs instead of the elevator or revving up your household chores by listening to motivating music. Boosts energy with our classes - Improve your muscle strength and boost your endurance by taking our classes! Our classes and staying active throughout everyday deliver oxygen and nutrients to your tissues and help ...

We had a great time at the expo. We has the chance to hang out with our Fitness Motivators Team and meet a lot of people! It was hard work, long hours, and a lot of dancing, talking, and standing, but it was worth it! A show from Lifetime Networks interviewed us and I guess we were on Fox2 News because a lot of people said they saw us. (The cameraman came up to us and asked us to dance for the camera, so we did) The last day of the expo and when we finally made it home, Donna's son/daughter-in-law went into labor....... Off to the hospital we go..... Perhaps if we finish our next DVD, we will do the expo again next year!

The Experience of our First Fitness DVD - "Z-Box Fitness - the Workout" I wanted to write about the production of our first fitness DVD. It was a rollercoaster ride, but at the end, it was wonderful learning experience. As most of you know, Donna and I have been working on our own program for many years. We tried many ways to combine different fitness techniques into one class. From "Fitness Fusion" to "Ultimate Fitness" we felt we were getting real close. With the help of our Fitness Motivators Team Instructors, Z-Box Fitness was born. The "Z" is short of "Z.E.N.". Z.E.N. stands for Zone Envision Earth . Z-Box blends cardio boxing, dance, and body toning. Since we were introduced to Tai Chi at a very young age, we decided to develop our own "Chi" moves and added relaxation to the end.... Making Z-Box the perfect balance for a dynamic fitness program! In 2009 we decided to make it a trademark name. It wasn't easy...

Finally! I feel so happy and blessed! It is finally happening.

This article will make you think twice about what you put into your mouth! Click here ...

The subject that I am writing about below will reflect on me personally and hopefully help some of you out there with similar problems. As I write this, (March 18, 2011, my 22 year wedding anniversary that I cannot celebrate.) I am literally laying on the right side of my body, moving from one position to the next, feeling very uncomfortable with a herniated disc. After being bedridden for four days, every few minutes I have to change positions because of the pain. I cannot sit, nor can I stand on both feet without pain, so the only option is to lie down or walk around the house holding on to a chair with wheels or use a walking stick for support. Now one may ask, Did you do this while exercising . The answer is no, I don’t think so . For a few months I have been feeling a “numbing, tingling sensation” in my low back, but not any pain. It would come and go and I did bring it up with Nino, but as soon as I brought it up, the sensation would subside. Right now, I believe that sensation t...

The Mind Today I plan to concentrate on how we present ourselves to others. I have noticed, the closer that I get to 50, the more I witness too many friends and family members suffering from illness or death. Let's face it... as every year passes us by, we realize there are more aches and pain and more memory loss... So, with that being said... Live as though this is the last day of your life, for this very second is now part of your past . For the Mind : As I age, my mind is changing fast... It is harder to remember things... I have to read emails twice or more or else I will not be able to reply properly because I overlooked something! So many times I catch myself standing somewhere forgetting WHY I went there in the first place - I do that in a conversation too - I would be in mid-sentence and totally forget what the heck I was talking about! I can only laugh at myself, because I don't want to mess up my makeup and cry about it! In my mind, I tell myself everyday to think p...

Hi Debbie, One of the members where I teach Zumba brought me the article you wrote Zumba Craze Hits Michigan. I just read it and had to send you some feedback. I thought the article was great in that it encourages people to consider Zumba, the fun workout, the fabulous aerobic activity, etc. I also loved that you boasted that the Zumba Program is currently being taught at over 50,000 locations, etc. All in all it was great. I do, however, TOTALLY disagree with the paragraph starting with Most Zumba instructors without a fitness background face away from their students.... I could not disagree with your statement more. There is no written rules about this in the Zumba instructors notes and the proof is really in the pudding. In other words, what does the student/member really prefer? Whether you believe this or not, students find it much easier to follow when the instructor is facing the same direction that they are. It has nothing to do with 'looking at someones' buttocks...

From now on I will post the Date/Class/Calories Burned/Total Time/ Avg Heart Rate during class/ Max Heart Rate during class under "Class Calorie Counting". Sometimes I forget to wear my Heart Rate Monitor, but most of the time I do wear it in class. Below are some numbers that I already had before I start this part of my blog: Remember - If the time is short, it means I forgot to turn on my monitor and the reading is for that time frame only. Trinity: 1/13/2010 - 33 min./498c/171-avg/181-max = 10% fat Grant: 1/13/2010 - 44 min./588c/164-avg/175-max = 15% fat Plymouth: 1/14/2010 - 44 min./559c/1624-avg/172-max = 20% fat Livonia: 1/19/2010 - 42 min./559c/165-avg/173-max = 15% fat Trinity: 1/20/2010 - 44 min./506c/169-avg/151-max = 45% fat Grant: 1/20/2010 - 44 min./567c/161-avg/171-max 85% fat! Novi: 1/25/2010 - 42 min./451c/147-avg/164-max 30% fat Grant (attending class/not teaching): 1/30/2010 - 442 min./439c/141-avg/186-max 35% fat

I am always thinking about my classes: How to improve my teaching technique. How to satisfy the needs of each student. How to keep the students coming back for more. I strive to succeed in every class that I teach. When I am up there in front of them, I look forward to their smiles, determination, and goals. When I teach, I smile all the time (as they well know) because of many reasons….. It makes me happy to see everyone getting into the class! I laugh at myself when I KNOW I mess up and hopefully no one will know because I have that ugly smile plastered on my face! I have to admit, I also like to watch the students… I like to see the expressions on some of their faces…. The way some of them move… I get a warm feeling in me and …yes, it makes me giggle inside! No one knows this (except for my twin), right before every cool down, I pray. I thank God that the class was successful and I was able to teach it. After 29 years of teaching, I still get nervous and at times I am unsure of m...

Did you know that every decade, we tend to gain at least 5 pounds with normal activity! Even if you have exercised most of your life, your average weight gain is at least 3 pounds. Why is this? Because most of us do not increase our activities and most likely we are eating more. Keep in mind, that the federal guidelines for physical activity are the same, calling for equal amounts of exercise for both younger and older adults. Both the Surgeon General and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend 30 minutes of moderate physical activity for everybody on most days of the week. Remember, getting older does not mean you have to look and feel your age too. With the right food and exercise plan you can turn back the clock of time and enjoy abundant energy and experience the joy of feeling better than you have in years. By including exercise into your life, you will notice the change in your attitude, habits, and even your appearance. I would like to add another important fact...