August FEATURED Boot Camp Client – Robbin
Congratulations Robbin!
We are proud to announce Robbin as our Featured Boot Camp Client. As you read the refreshingly honest self-told story of Robbin below, you will find that she is not what you may think of as a ‘typical’ boot camp participant. She will tell you – she’s not the fastest, the strongest, the most stable… BUT what I can tell you about Miss Robbin – is that she brings SO MUCH HEART and dedication to each one of her classes, that she shows so much strength and fortitude to work out no matter what’s going on AND she does it with a great attitude! She is open, outgoing and friendly to every boot camper and Zumba dancer – making it her own mission to make someone else’s day brighter. She pushes herself to new limits daily and then she’s stand beside a brand new boot student and help her push more too.
Her attendance is outstanding as she works out with us 7 days a week between boot camp and Zumba! Her thoughtfulness is incredible as in the wintertime darkness, she would wait for me until my ride pulled up. Her generosity is remarkable as she just donated 3 brand new fans to the Zumba studio. Plus, she has rescued many thirsty Zumba dancers by always carrying an extra bottle of cold water for those who need it.
Robbin is many wonderful things and we’d like you to get to know her in the story below.
What would you like people to know about you?
I was born and raised in Ontario, California and I come from a small family. I am an only child and my parents were only children. I moved to San Diego after high school and started working for a small remodeling company where I am currently still employed.
I met my navy man about a year later and we’ve been married for 25 years. We don’t have any children but we do have 3 dogs which I consider my kids. They are all beagles. Tonie is 11, Keeno is 3 and the newest addition to our family is Matteo, who is 4. Matteo came from a vivisection lab in Spain which went bankrupt and a private organization in Los Angeles brought them to the states and adopted them out. When I saw the story on the news it broke my heart and knew I had to try to adopt one. It was a long process but Matteo is now part of our family.
My life changed last year starting at the end of April… one morning I found a lump in my right arm and after some tests I had it removed, not thinking much of it. I thought it was just a fatty tumor or cyst, but then it got biopsied. On the afternoon of June 8th I got the “I’m sorry” call from my doctor telling me I have cancer (indolent/incurable follicular lymphoma stage III). Immediately, I saw an oncologist at Scripps Green in La Jolla and after my first pet/ct scan we found 3 additional tumors (2 neck and 1 groin). My oncologist was ready to give me 6-8 rounds of chemo and even had the chair reserved for me. For some reason I needed a second opinion, I wasn’t really comfortable with that doctor or that facility. So I found another oncologist who told me that chemo will get rid of my tumors but since the cancer will still grow and the tumors I have were not affecting any vital organs nor did I have any symptoms I could go on the ‘watch and wait’, but in order to do this I needed to change my diet drastically and change my exercise to something intense and with cardio to build up my immune system to hopefully slow done the growth of my existing tumors and hopefully not grow any new ones.
A girl from my Pilates class recommended Bootique Fitness for me since she knew I had problems with my lower back (degenerative disc disease L5-S1) and an severe arthritic right hip. She expressed to me that Bootique’s program is for all ages and fitness levels.
That very day I signed up on the website and talked to Jaylin the next day. After my first work out I signed up and was ready for my journey to begin…
Robbin’s Experience with Bootique Fitness
Robbin talks about how she came to workout with us and what her experience has been like in boot camp and Zumba.
We are celebrating your 1 year anniversary with Bootique Fitness this month!
What’s that like?
Well it’s been a year and my latest PET/CT scans shows that the tumors in my neck are gone and the one in my groin has shrunk to over ½ its size. My blood work has also improved and my oncologist is totally amazed and extremely proud of me.
We’re extremely proud of you too, Robbin!
What results have you seen since coming to Bootique Fitness?
On top of my medical issues, I also needed to lose weight. Since I started, my scale numbers showed I was obese, and now with a lot of work I’m NOT obese. I’m looking forward to the day when I can say I’m in the normal range. But physically I’m really impressed that I can skip (hip was not allowing that in the beginning), I can do over 25 jumping jacks without stopping, I can kind of do a push up on my toes (still working on that one). Zumba challenges me all the time. My goal is always to get to the high intensity level which I can’t do with all the songs in one class so I pick and choose intense songs so I can last the whole class. One day I will do all the songs intensely.
What are your reasons for sticking with Bootique Fitness all this time?
I’ve been overweight pretty much all my life, I’ve been exercising since I was in high school; I’d lose weight then quit then start all over again. I’ve belonged to dozens of gyms and on top of that I’ve done curves (twice), jazzercise (twice), kick boxing, yoga and Pilates. But I can honestly say that Bootique Fitness has been the only place that I actually feel comfortable. When I go to a class and you girls say hi to me I feel so welcome like I belong no matter what I look like or how much I weigh. I’ve never had that anywhere else and because of that it keeps me going and I truly look forward to going to the classes to work out and seeing everyone.
What do you think about the trainers?
Jaylin is the best. No amount of words can express how much I appreciate her motivation, dedication, knowledge and how much she truly cares. She always has a smile on her face and a positive outlook.
She makes sure we have a great workout even if sometimes mine have to be modified she encourages me to try harder and corrects me when I need it and I always appreciate her ‘good jobs’, it make me feel accomplished. I love having fun with her and trying to make her laugh by running with crazy arms or saying something silly. Ed I only get to see once a week on Fridays, but I also appreciate his knowledge and he also takes his time to answer any questions I might have about a workout or nutrition. I absolutely love Ed’s wicked sense of humor.
What do you enjoy the most about Bootique Fitness?
Jaylin and all the girls. There are hundreds of places to exercise but they don’t have all of you. I always say I have this black cloud over my head and for 1 hour a day you guys let the sun shine through. You’ve given me a place I can be myself and accomplish my goals. I look forward to losing more weight and working towards never having to go through chemo.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Jaylin, Ed and every doctor in this world will tell you diet and exercise is important to your body, I’m living proof that it is extremely important. Not only am I changing the outside but I’m changing the inside.
Thank you Miss Robbin! We love training you!
Be sure to congratulate and celebrate Robbin when you see her at boot camp and Zumba! She plays at the Hillcrest evening boot camps as well as Zumba.
