2014-Best Year Yet!

Long time no blog! It's time to jump back into this! 

Things here have been crazy, but yet awesome! I have chosen to cut down my class hours, but for a very special reason. My hubby and I are expecting our first child in April : ) So I have decided to take a little bit more time for myself. But no worries, this prego belly is still movin' and groovin'! It is nice to know that while my tummy is growing a beautiful life, my hips still work! I read an article that stated belly dancing is one of the best forms of exercise women can do while pregnant. 

Being pregnant really has helped me to appreciate the grueling workouts I used to do. I now vicariously get my tough workouts in through my clients (sorry ladies!). What do I miss the most? BURPEES!!! and all variations of! When it's time to bounce back post-preg, there will be no holding back! 

Here is my updated class schedule:

Zumba: Canfield Presbyterian Church-Mondays 6-7pm
             Creekside Fitness- Thursdays 10-11am

Drum's Alive: Creekside Fitness-Tuesdays 430-530pm
                                                    Wednesdays 10-11am
                                                    Saturday 8-9am

Personal Training: Accepting new clients for morning and evening times!

 Saturday April 12th, 2014 @ the Canfield Fairgrounds 

Color Blaze 5K!

Nope, this girl will not be running in it, but she will be there to promote Zumba Fitness!!

From 8:00-8:30am join me and my Zumba Team as we warm the runners up before they get blazed with color! It will be a party like none other!

To register to run, walk, participate check out this page:

COLOR BLAZE 5k 

Updated class list 2013!

Here is new schedule of classes!

 Mon Creekside-5pm Cardio Kick Train

Tues Creekside-430pm Cardio Drums

Wed Creekside-430pm Zumba

Thurs Creekside-10am Zumba

Thurs Creekside-530pm Cardio Drums

Sat Creekside-8am Cardio Drums

Hope to see you at a class!! 

Also available, Personal Training at Creekside!!!!

Drum's Alive Classes!

Here is a complete list of the cardio drumming classes that I teach!!

Creekside Fitness (Boardman, OH)

Tuesday's 4:30pm-5:30pm

Thursday's 5:30pm-6:30pm

Saturday's 8-9am

Hunkus Chiropractor
(798 E. Liberty St.  Girard, OH)
Wednesdays 6:45pm-7:45pm
Saturday's 9:30-10:30pm

Please come and join us for an amazing workout! After one class you will fall in love with the program! Cardio drumming IS for everyone, no matter your fitness level, you can make this class your own! Hope to see you soon!

Zumba on Local News!

Here is the segment on Zumba from WYTV 33...my Creekside ladies & Ryan, Jim Loboy, & Len Rome rocked it!!

Dare Daybreak-Zumba!

Soon to come...another segment on Drum's Alive through WFMJ 21!!

My Superman

I am so proud of my husband for setting the goal this year to ride in the Pan Ohio Hope Ride. The Pan Ohio Hope Ride is through the American Cancer Society which helps raise funds for cancer research, treatment, etc. Funds also goes towards an amazing facility in which cancer patients and family may stay during treatment, called the Hope Lodge. During my husband's treatments, the Hope Lodge opened their doors to us and gave us a home away from home, a support system of others who truly knew what you were going through.

On July 26th my husband will be riding in honor of those who have lost their lives to cancer. It was only a few years ago when my husband could have been one of them. Each day we have is a blessing and it is an honor to be married to such a strong man...my superman!

If you would like to donate towards the Pan Ohio Hope Ride, check out my hubbie's link below....any gift is greatly appreciated, thank you for making a difference!
Pan Ohio Hope Ride

Drum's Alive on Local News!!

Check this out!!!! : ) : )  I am so excited that I was able to do this for Creekside Fitness & for our community! I just love this program and cannot wait to share it with more interested peeps!!!
Fitness Gets a Whole New Rhythm

Check Out Drum's Alive Video!

Tomorrow morning WYTV 33 will be airing the piece on Zumba Fitness!! Tune in @ 5am!!

Reflection & A New Goal

So in the past 6months, I have expanded my professional background. In addition to the beloved Zumba, I am certified in Drum's Alive, Personal Training, and as of this past weekend Tai Chi & Team Boot Camp. Each program has their benefits and I cannot wait to incorporate each piece into my workouts for others.

I am so blessed to have come so far...it has been 5 years since I have officially kept my weight off (May 07-May 2012). Don't get me wrong, there has been moments of weakness (darn cupcakes!) & a few sneaky pounds, but for the most part my motivation & will power have remained and I continue to push myself to become stronger & healthier each day. Every day I walk into the gym, I make it a point to remember what it felt like to be 190lbs, to remember that day I saw a reflection I did not want to see again, and to remember the day I decided to make a lifestyle change.

I am now about to embark on a new challenge! The other day at the gym, one of my Zumba ladies asked me if I had competed in a strength competition a few weekends ago. The answer was "no". I learned that apparently there was a girl there that looked like me competing. I took a few moments to ask about the details and strength requirements. It sounded like a challenge....push ups, burpees, farmer's walk, sled pushes & pulls, relays, etc. As she was describing the program, I think my face looked like a child's on Christmas morning....pure excitement!! So here it is, my new goal....to compete in a team strength competition this Fall.

It is going to be difficult and, no doubt, painful...but in all health goals I am going to look at the end result! Hopefully by Fall I will be one strong chic! I am going to make it a point to chart my progress & set backs on my blog, because let's face it...you will keep me accountable!

Fundraiser for Hope Lodge @

Creekside Fitness

Saturday June 16th, 2012

Zumba-1-2pm

Drum's Alive-2-3pm

Cost-$5/class

Basket & Goodie Raffle-$1/Ticket or $5/6 Tickets

All proceeds to go towards the Hope Lodge through the American Cancer Society

Come join me, Ali Johnson, for an afternoon @ Creekside Fitness! My husband and I will be hosting the event with possibly some other Zumba instructors. We will be sharing with you our story and connection with the Hope Lodge!

There are 31 Hope Lodges stationed throughout the United States. These facilities are used as a home away from home for Cancer patients who are undergoing treatment.

Please sign up now for this event!

Register by Saturday June 9th to reserve a spot!

A New Love!

In the past, a morning in our household was quite a scene. I would pour my hubby a glass of milk and then sit down for breakfast. Every morning he would ask me..."Where's your milk?" I have developed so many tactics in how to respond...funny, cute, embarrassed, ignorance, tears...just to try to get out of drinking my milk. I am almost 30yrs old, but when it comes to milk, I am instantly a 3 yr old. Hubby would always win and I would down a small glass.
Yes, I know milk has many benefits, especially to women, but there is just something about it I can't stand.

This scene has been going on for quite a while. I have gone from 2% to 1% and then to whole milk...skim is totally pushing it, and I would rather drink water.

A new solution was brought to my attention recently while I was chatting with a woman from the gym. She was talking to me about coconut milk and how there are many health benefits to it and that it is a great sub for milk. A solution for milk...I'm on it! I went home and started doing my research!

I happened to have a jar of it in my fridge from when I tried a new chicken recipe (which was rather tastey too!). So first I looked at the nutritional label ( a must!!!) and determined it really wasn't too bad when compared to the milk label. The mineral and vitamin columns were exploding on the coconut jar. Milk does have more Calcium, but CC milk was higher in Phospherous-so when paired with the amount of Calcium in a serving-EXCELLENT! Also for those of you who might be anemic, guilty over here, CC milk is also a great source of iron. In the type I have there are 100 calories in 8oz...I only drink 4 oz every morning, so I am only consuming 50 calories. When looking at the fat content, some people might frown....there are 5g of Saturated Fat/serving. But what people don't realize is that the saturated fat that is in CC milk is a medium chain triglyceride which means that it is easliy burned as fuel for the body. Meaning, if you are living an active life (and you better be!) that fat won't be staying around too long!

I then went online and read reviews on CC milk and there are many health benefits to drinking it! They say it helps lower cholesterol, blood pressure, helps fight diabetes, aides in digestion, is a source for antioxidants, good for those who are lactose intolerant, it helps with weight loss, and that yes, it was a good sub for milk!

But BEWARE...DO NOT BUY IT IN A CAN!!! There are more calories, fat, and added preservatives that our bodies do not need! If you do not have the resources to make it fresh, I recommend buying it in a jar. I find mine at Giant Eagle down the juice aisle for $5.99 (it is more expensive, but my body is worth it!) Also if you have Irritable Bowel Syndrome...I have read you should not drink CC milk. Another precaution, remember everything in moderation-do not drink CC milk at every meal-limit yourself to 1 8oz glass or 2 4oz glasses throughout the day!

Overall a big thumbs up to Coconut Milk! We now are able to sit down and enjoy our breakfast tantrum free!

New Class Added!!

That's right you can find me once more @ Creekside Fitness!!

Mondays 4:30-5:30pm

30 min ZUMBA & 30 min DRUM'S ALIVE

Come check it out : )

Fundraiser for American Heart Association

Saturday, February 18th, 2012
Join the Creekside Zumba Instructors for a fundraiser for the

American Heart Association.
12:15pm-2:15pm
Cost will be $10 with all proceeds to be donated. We will also have baskets to raffle-$1/Ticket or $5/Six Tickets. Refreshments will be provided. Wear your Red & invite your friends and family. Let’s get Heart Smart!
If you have any questions please call

My Wish...

So January is coming to a close and here is my wish:

That those treadmills, elipticals, classes, weight rooms, spinning bikes, climbers, & stability balls all remain full in the gyms around the world!

My wish is that everyone who started 2012 with the goals of losing weight, building self esteem, getting toned will continue to do so throughout the entire year! That means you need to find the motivation to keep going in February. Trust me, in Ohio at this time of year, motivation is at an all time low because we know winter is about to get worse.
It always makes me sad to see the gyms/classes empty because people have given up their "resolutions". I believe I have stated this before...making the decision to be healthy and becoming more active is not just a resolution...it is a lifestyle change!! If you truely have the desire to make the difference in your body, you can do it!! Only you can make that choice for yourself to becoming a healthier you in 2012!

As a side note...I just wanted to say how proud I am of my Zumba & Drums Alive participants at my current locations for sticking with those programs! I have seen a lot of new faces throughout the month and I do hope to continue seeing them!

As a side note part II...guess who has 2 thumbs and will be taking her Personal Training Cert in March...that's right-THIS GIRL : )
I am super excited and have been studying like crazy...I cannot wait to take this next step!!

Until I write again-Keep Fit and Keep Healthy...make it hurt so good!

Drum's Alive Classes!!!

It is official, you can now find me at Creekside Fitness in Boardman, OH 2 times a week with the exciting Drum's Alive Class!!

Tuesdays @ 4:30pm & Saturdays @ 8:00am

Hope to see you there!!

Want to learn more about Drum's Alive? Check out: http://www.drums-alive.com/

Something New!!

So...have you heard of Drum's Alive??

If you haven't, you are missing out! A few weeks ago I attended a wonderful class that consisted of rhythmic music, drum sticks, & a stability ball-plus some booty working squats!!!
Drum's Alive takes aerobic dance and pairs it with drum rhythms for an excellent workout! You will be dodging left and right, circling, squatting, lunging, jumping, all while playing the drums! My favorite is when one takes the drum sticks and just beats the heck outta the ball (sort of like a drum roll)...what a forearm exercise + stress reliever! Love it!
This class has pumped me up and has motivated me to get certified in December! I cannot wait to share this experience with others! Don't worry ladies, Zumba is still here...I'm just going to add something new : )

Pink Party @ Creekside Fitness!!

Join Zumba Instructors, Ali Johnson & Madelyn Sell,for an afternoon of fitness & fun!

When: Saturday October 29th

Time: 12:-1pm

Where: Creekside Fitness

1419 Boardman Canfield Road Youngstown, OH 44512

Wear Pink and admission is free!!

Donations will be accepted and will go towards Breast Cancer Awareness.

Come check out the excitement @ Creekside Fitness!

For more info contact Allison Johnson @ 330-651-3275 or email aliannjohnson83@gmail.com

Updated Zumba Schedule!!

Click on the Link to check out my updated Zumba Schedule!

www.zumba.com/en-US/profiles/50916/allison-johnson

Never done Zumba before? Never to late (or too old) to start : ) This high energy workout is suitable for men and women of all ages! Once you take a class, you will be hooked! Go to Zumba.com to check out a Zumbalicious workout near you!

Heads up to the near future- November is Bring a Friend Month : ) Prizes and Giveaways!!

ZUMBA FOR HOPE-Fundraiser for Debbie Murdock

Debbie has recently been diagnosed with an aggressive type of Cancer and has undergone major surgery-taking time off from work.

To help Debbie back on her feet, let's dance with ours!

Come out Saturday July 9th from 2-3:30pm & Zumba to help raise $ and awareness-all proceeds will be donated to Debbie.

Join me, Allison Johnson,and other fantastic Zumba instructors for an afternoon of hope and fitness!

Where: Creekside Fitness-
1419 Boardman-Canfield Rd Suite 390
Boardman, OH

Cost is $10

Raffle Tickets $1/ticket or $5/6 tickets

Eating with the Seasons!

Finally!! It seems as though summer has decided to arrive in Ohio...with a humid entrance! It is time to stock up on those wonderful fresh fruits and veggies we all love-leave the processed ones at the store! Head out to local farmer's markets & produce stands; support your local farmers, while possibly getting some exercise? Sounds good to me!

Our bodies crave the natural nutrients that are found within our fresh friends! I have read that our bodies should crave the season's produce. For example in the winter we should crave potatoes, squash, pumpkin, apples, oranges, cranberries-think starch! And in the summer -spinach, tomatoes, cucumbers, strawberries, melons-think waterbased! Do not ignore what your body is telling you!! Now some of you might take this another way-if I crave ice cream, then my body must want it...woo! Nope-wrong! What do you think is in ice cream that your body might be trying to tell you it needs-dairy! So put down that bowl and pick up a glass of milk or a piece of low-fat cheese! This can be applied to several of our naughty cravings! Anyways...back to produce!

If you find yourself in an overabundance of certain fruits & veggies-freeze/blanch them yourself! We do this with corn, broccoli, string/green beans, butternut squash, apples, & strawberries. Other possible items to blanch are potatoes, pumpkin, squash, lentils, dried beans, peas, & chickpeas, apricots, the berry family (black, blue, red,etc), cherries, melons, peaches, pears, & rhubarb. With veggies, it's good to keep in mind that starchy is good to freeze & waterbased is not so good to freeze (so stay away from lettuce, spinach, radishes, cucumbers, etc). When you freeze the foods yourself, you have the control as to how much salt or sugar you use-a healthier option than buying the store processed foods!! There is tons of info out there about freezing-check it out! Just be smart & make sure to eat them before they expire in the freezer!

Make it a goal this summer to eat healthy & to eat fresh! Add some color to your plates with summer's delightful array of fruits and veggies!

Check Out These Yummy Recipes!!!

I love getting creative with food!!! When Fitness Magazine came out with their May issue, I could not wait to see what recipes they recommended for the early spring time...let me just say delicious!!

The first recipe I tried was: Moroccan Chicken Thighs http://www.fitnessmagazine.com/recipes/quick-recipes/dinner/healthy-summer-dinner-recipes/?page=4

Instead of chicken thighs, I used Chicken Quarters. I always cook chicken with the skin on, but then take it off before eating! This dish was quite delicious and unique...I have never had a mixture of apricots, chickpeas, and couscous before! The recipe makes 4 servings. Per Serving/398 Calories, 33g Protein, 31g Carbs, 13g Fat, 5g Fiber

The next recipe was: No-Stir Risotto w/Scallops http://www.fitnessmagazine.com/recipes/quick-recipes/dinner/healthy-summer-dinner-recipes/?page=2

For this recipe I took the left over chicken meat, couscous, chickpeas, & apricots and added it to this dish! I did not have any more dry white wine, so I substituted dry red wine and the taste was amazing! I also replaced arugula with spinach. This dish was yummy, however not as creative as the Moroccan Chicken. This recipe makes 4 servings. Per Serving/478 Calories, 29g Protein, 63g Carbs, 9g Fat, 2g Fiber.

One of my husband's favorite activities is to hunt. With this interest comes a freezer full of Venison...yum!! Venison is a healthier substitute to Beef, and can also be healthier than ground turkey if grounded yourself (go us!) I have an amazing recipe for Venison Zucchini Boats!!
http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1826,137181-225200,00.html
My recipe is very similar, except obviously subbing venison for ground beef. I also replace the tomatoes with mushrooms. I do not used bread crumbs either! After scraping the Zucchini, I chop the scrapes and add it to the filling...also adding a little pesto to the mixture as well! I also do not use American Cheese but grated Parmesan Cheese instead!! Overall, an excellent & healthy meal!!! One Zucchini boat is 197 Calories!!
***For a side dish try mixing whole wheat couscous or rice with black beans and a mango...OMG!!! I used this as a side with my Zucchini Boats!***

Burn Baby Burn!!

Here in Ohio it looks as though it has decided to finally be Spring...and I am not the only one who is saying "IT'S ABOUT TIME!!!" Well you know what comes with the change of seasons and improvement of weather=SPRING CLEANING! Did you know that housework is a great way to burn those calories? Besides going to the gym this was another way that helped me lose my weight! So if the weather is not motivation enough to get that cleaning done...here is some more info to get you started: These examples are based on a person who weighs 150 pounds. Remember, you will burn more if you weigh more, and burn fewer calories if you weigh less.

Gardening- 49 calories/10 mins; Climbing stairs- 175 calories/10 mins; Cleaning Gutters- 60 calories/10 mins; Loading/Unloading Car- 18 calories/5 mins; Putting Away Groceries- 30 calories/10 mins; Ironing- 38 calories/15 mins; Rake Lawn- 90 calories/20 mins; Washing Car- 102 calories/20 mins; Mopping- 102 calories/20 mins; Push Mow- 148 calories/30 mins; Rearranging Furniture- 150 calories/20 mins; Remodeling- 198 calories/30 mins; Basic Housework- 99 calories/30 mins

If you are unable to get a workout in-start cleaning!! : ) If you're moving, you're burning!! Use calorie counters such as http://www.healthstatus.com/calculate/cbc to help you keep track! And remember output must be more than intake! : )