Dawn Arthur

I was a 'before' just 7 years ago. I weighed 127 pounds more than I do today. I had a severe post-partum depression which caused me significant weight problems. I was too embarassed to exercise in public, so I began with VHS tapes in my own home. I could barely move, so I started with Denise Austin. I educated myself about diet, read every book I could get my hands on, went to a hospital based nutritionist, and within the first 9 months had lost 80 lbs. At that point I had eliminated my type II Diabetes as well. As I progressed I discovered Cathe Friedrich, and started 'attempting' her workouts. I was, of course, discouraged at first, but because I was so determined, I mastered them. I put on a significant amount of muscle, and can sustain high impact aerobics levels very easily for an hour at minimum. Cathe has been very sweet to me, and has sent me the most encourageing emails and been a doll. When I had lost about 100 pounds I mustered the courage to go to the Y. I figured it would be a less threatening environment, and it was. I've been going ever since, every day. Two years ago I tore my medial miniscus kickboxing, and that actually inspired me to get heavily involved in Pilates. I became very proficient, and went to get an AFAA cert in Practical Pilates as well. I progressed to being asked to teach, and got my cert. from FITour in group ex., so I could do that. I followed that with a cerification in Group Fintess from AFAA, as well as a Pilates certification from FITour. My last 'real' employment was as a flight attendant, but now I work part time at two gyms and am loving every moment of it!