At KellyBelly Fitness the Focus is on Fun

After a full evening of teaching Total Body Conditioning and Zumba classes on Thursday, Kelly Forrest is effortlessly chipper, energetic and enthusiastic. In the past couple of years, Forrest's life has changed drastically, and she has committed herself to helping others change their lives, too.

Through her studio, , Forrest wants to help women use exercise to improve their lives the way it's changed hers.

Many of us have experienced the freshman 15, but for Forrest, that 15 turned into a hundred extra pounds on her 5' 6" frame. While Forrest was earning her nursing degree, she adopted poor diet and exercise habits. After becoming a registered nurse, her first position exacerbated the problem; she worked overnights at Silver Cross Hospital, where she continues to work part time. 

"I was 24 and 250 pounds," Forrest said. "I had high blood pressure and was pre-diabetic. It wasn't me." 

The irony is not lost on Forrest that her pursuit of a career in health care caused her to become unhealthy. She lost 103 pounds in eight months, changed her diet and rekindled her friendship with aerobics. 

She recognizes that her weight loss was atypical and very rapid, much faster than the accepted wisdom of 1 to 2 pounds per week. Forrest did it all with exercise and a healthy diet; she used no supplements or drugs. She has kept the weight off for over two years.

Because Forrest understands what it's like to struggle with weight ("I gain weight easily so I have to work out," she says), she doesn't lecture or use harsh language to push her students. Instead, Forrest emphasizes fun. 

"We don't do boring. If you don't like your workout, you're not going to come back," Forrest said.

Kelly Stark and Stephanie Dinnocenzio, both of New Lenox, agree. Both women have been attending Zumba classes three times a week for two months, and their enthusiasm for the class is contagious. Looking refreshed and cheerful, the two do not look as though they each just burned about 700 calories. 

"She's the best," Stark said. "She makes everyone feel welcome."

"Zumba is a great cardio mix of Latin dance and aerobics. It puts you in a good mood," Dinnocenzio said.

The environment of the studio contributes to the fun atmosphere. With the overhead lights out and the dance party lights on, the studio feels more like a club than a gym. Forrest even loads up her iPod with student requests.

Observing Stark, Dinnocenzio and several other women leaving the class, it's believable when Forrest says she can tell that the women who regularly attend her classes feel better about themselves.

Variety in workouts keeps them exciting, so Forrest has become a self-described "certification junkie." She is a certified aerobics instructor and personal trainer, and has special certifications through Flirty Girl Fitness and Zumba Fitness (including Zumba, ZumbaToning, and ZumbaAtomic) as well. Add boxing conditioning, bellydancing, yoga and bootcamp to the schedule, and KellyBelly has something for everyone.

Although the studio is female-centric, men are allowed at bootcamp and Zumba, although, Forrest said with a laugh, "they haven't come yet."

Patch Places: Find contact information and further description about the business by checking out the .