I am a 29 year old mum of two beautiful children aged 6 and 4 years old. I've been on the obese size (size 20 at one point...I'm now a 14) since having my children and had no drive or confidence in life other than dedicating my time to my children.
I don't regret that, they're turning out beautifully, but I lost "me" in the process. Last year I hit rock bottom, I was just "mum" and I just didn't know how to be "Kristel" any more.
I missed her, I missed the fun, just because I have responsibilities as a mother didn't mean that "Kristel" had to be in the past. My frame of mind surrounding my past, my weight, my appearance, my lack of confidence and self worth ended with me attending counselling.
This didn't work for me and I continued to struggle. Then...I found zumba! In particular, zumba with Nectaria Pospori. My first class was back in October last year and I just knew it was for me; it made me feel alive, it was fun - and it nearly killed me! I continued to go once a week until I decided to up my game and joined the Saturday class with her too.
I had fallen in love with zumba. There, through her class I met Jasmine Haque who has recently qualified as a zumba instructor and has started her own classes. Both women are so inspirational, it has driven me to not only find "Kristel" again but I've gained so much more! My confidence and self worth is through the roof and I've also lost over a stone and a half and still losing which feels amazing! Sometimes I can't quite believe I did that...me!
I also decided to set up my own dog grooming business and am now attending 7 zumba classes a week!
I am now working towards next year's goal of becoming a zumba instructor myself, I've also signed up to start my level 2 fitness instructor and level 3 personal training course too! I'm thriving in life and I feel amazing...the best ever! My children and fiancee have a happy confident role model to look to and I have also decided that this year I'm climbing Avon Gorge and abseiling back down (height's are my biggest fear). I'll be doing this for a charity called "Next Link", a charity for women and children who have and are, still living with domestic abuse/violence. This is very close to my heart and I want to raise as much as possible.
So... that's my journey so far. There is still a long way to go but I've also come so much further than I ever dreamed possible. Zumba has been my life line along with both Nectaria, Jasmine and Hali Jafari Truly Nourished Nutrition. I have a very close friend Maryam Jafari who has seen me at my worst and my best, she joined this journey with me and she loves it also. We gain more than just "a workout" for us it's like therapy.
