Have you ever met someone who just radiates and makes you smile every time you see them? Our December Member of the Month Shavonne Tate is definitely one of those people!  Shavonne joined ZUM a little over a year ago after relocating from Chicago. She’s been an awesome addition to our community – always putting in a lot of effort in classes and on the gym floor and not afraid to acknowledge and encourage the others’ hard work too!

It’s hard to believe that not too long ago, Shavonne was overweight and knew very little about fitness. Through grit and determination, she made some big changes in her life that have had made a big impact. We guarantee you will be inspired by Shavonne’s fitness journey and love getting to know her in this interview. She’s as authentic and hilarious as they come. Enjoy!

First off, tell us about how your fitness journey began, Shavonne!

My fitness journey began when I was 208 pounds back in Chicago in 2011. My boss, who was overweight too, went to a health camp for two weeks, and I was inspired to create my own mini weight-loss challenge in the office – complete with a weigh-in station in the employee kitchen and everything. I was super serious about it.

I just started by walking. I would walk home from work about 2 miles. I also started changing how I ate. I would walk to Trader Joe’s to pick up a kale salad for lunch and back again. Just by making these simple changes, the weight started to come off. I lost about 10 pounds in a month!

I love food, so when I started to eat the way I used to, I put on weight again. Immediately, I realized I needed to find something that I liked and would keep me motivated to keep moving. I found a Groupon for Crossfit studio literally walking distance from my apartment. I knew nothing about Crossfit – nothing. There were no intro classes. I just jumped right in – a team WOD (workout of the day) nonetheless. I was put on the team with the boot-camp style trainer. I hated her. That workout ended with me in tears and almost getting sick, but I don’t like to be defeated, so I went back and tried it again. It was so hard, and I hated every minute of it, but I kept going back again and again. I ended up loving that boot-camp trainer the supportive community. Four months into it (while eating well too), I had lost 44 pounds. I felt stronger, my body changed – I couldn’t believe it! I ended up doing Crossfit for 3 years in Chicago. I only stopped when I moved here.

Is that when you joined ZUM?

My office has a small gym, so I didn’t join right away. I wanted to lose some weight and get healthy again, but found I really needed community and support to stay motivated. I searched gyms in the area and discovered ZUM.

What made you choose ZUM as your new fitness home? 

It was really the great care and coaching I got from Joe and Jordan – along with the great community.

I was dealing with a back injury from an old accident that was aggravated by the 20 pounds I’d gained back. I met Joe, explained to him what my issues with my back, and he knew exactly what was going on and how to help. It was amazing. He gave me one thing to correct on my form, and it made all the difference. I don’t have any pain in my back when I workout anymore.

After meeting Joe, I just fell in love with him. He’s the sweetest guy – he’s like Uncle Joe. For real. All of you guys – Jordan, Joe, Rick, Tony, Derek – everybody makes sure they know people. You know our names and make sure we don’t get lost in the shuffle. If we need help, everyone is there no matter what. Rick was even giving me career advice the other day. Joe will see me move a certain way and offer a correction. Jordan checks in every now and again to see how my back is doing. It’s just an amazing community. That’s what motivates me.

What results have you achieved since joining ZUM?

Being able to workout without the back pain is amazing. I don’t know how much, but I’ve definitely lost weight. My clothes are fitting differently and I feel better and stronger. I still do my best to make good choices in my diet, but I love food. I’m going to eat what I want to eat. I just try to be mindful. n

I’ve been able to shift to holding my self accountable for my own workouts and progress. When I first joined, I would take boxing and HardCore, and that was it. After getting back into a routine, I started to come in and workout 4 days a week. I’d incorporate some of the Crossfit lifting I’d learned, work on some of the movements that Joe and Jordan gave me, try workouts I find online – I just put in the work. And the result is seeing my body changing and strength coming back.

What do you like best about ZUM?

The best thing about ZUM is even if you’re working out by yourself, it still feels like a community. Trainers check in, other members are encouraging – everyone is supportive and roots each other on regardless if you’re in class or doing your own thing.

Not to mention everyone is so knowledgeable.  All the trainers are certified and have text-book training, but also lots of experience. But they are still growing, learning, open to being coached themselves, and supportive of one another. For example, I love that Joe takes Rick’s HardCore class.

What would you say to someone who is new to ZUM or thinking of joining?

I evangelized ZUM to a co-worker who recently joined. I told him what I like best about ZUM (other than the convenience, obviously) is that it’s a real community and everyone is so smart, so nice, so helpful and so supportive. And it’s everyone – the trainers, the instructors, the front desk – everyone!

Is there a fun fact about you we may not know?

Hmm…well, I can literally have a conversation with anyone. And I think I surprise people sometimes – my personality and my humor doesn’t match what they expect from my appearance. I’ve been told I have a serious look. Me? Serious? Oh, please!!

I love to sing and do karaoke. Love to rap. My go-to karaoke song is Drake’s Headline. Hip-hop is my favorite – I know a lot about hip-hop and music. Actually, I tried managing a singer in Chicago for a short while.

I’m scared of pigeons. (Who isn’t. I’m not fan of any birds.)

I’m pretty decent cook. Soul food is my specialty – baked mac n cheese and candied yams.

What is your guilty pleasure?

I love sweets. Chocolate cake is my favorite. There’s a restaurant in Chicago called Protillo’s. They use mayonnaise as an ingredient, but it’s the best chocolate cake ever. Then they came out with the cake shake where they put the cake in a chocolate shake – oh man.

Favorite tv show?

Martin
Cosby Show
Fresh Prince of Bel Air
Three’s Company
Roseanne

70’s, 80’s and 90’s sitcoms were the best! I literally binge watched All in the Family. That doggone Archie? He cracks me up! It’s so funny to me.

Favorite Movie?

Boss Baby is my favorite right now. A movie I can watch over and over again (and have) is Friday. It’s hilarious!!

Favorite Book?

There are No Children Here by Alex Kotlowitz. It’s the story is about two young boys forced to grow up too soon.

Favorite music?

Hip-hop. I like thoughtful, conscious hip-hop. Talib Kweli, Common, Chance the Rapper, Kendrick Lamar, 2Pac, Nas.

Favorite ZUM class?

HardCore!

Favorite movement or exercise?

The clean.

Heck, yes! A girl after my own heart. Any final thoughts for us?

One of the things I’ve come to learn from a good friend is to be comfortable with my decisions. For example, I say “I have back fat,” and my friend asks “do you like your back fat”? “No, I don’t like my back fat.” “Well what are you going to do to fix your back fat? If you don’t want to do anything to fix your back fat, that’s fine. If you want to fix your back fat, you have to do something.”

The point is to own every decision you make. If there’s something you want to do, do it. If you don’t do it, then be ok with not doing it – be ok with not changing.

If your goal is to get healthier, get healthier. But if you don’t, be ok with not being healthy.

Find balance in everything you do. Be ok with the decisions you make whether good or bad. And don’t talk; just do.

Oh, and the Golden Rule is the best thing ever created. That’s what I live by.

Barely a day goes by at ZUM without Erwin Park swinging into ZUM for a class. Whether it’s K.O, crossfit, Playground Express or whatever happens to fit into his schedule he rarely skips a day, but it wasn’t always that way. For a long time, he worked out on his own but found by joining classes and creating community, his workout schedule became more consistent and yielded better results. It’s pretty incredible to see someone who joined out of sheer convenience become such a great ZUM ambassador, so we wanted to learn more about Erwin and share his story as November’s Member of the Month. Enjoy!

First off tell us a little about yourself, Erwin!

I was born in New York, grew up in Puyallup, except for 2 years when I lived in Korea during my father’s 2-year sponsorship to teach falconry at the Air Force Academy. I studied chemistry at the UW, and after years working in commercial real estate, joined Madison Bay Commercial in 2016 and now own the firm. We do commercial real estate brokerage and strategy consulting.  It’s been really fun, but also challenging – in a good way.

How long have you been a ZUM member?

I thought I joined in 2011, but my photo on the slideshow says 2010, so I guess about 7 years!

When you started back in 2010, what made you need or want to join?

Honestly, convenience. My fitness fluctuates based on how easy it is to get to the gym. I was working across the street when ZUM moved in to it’s current location, and I thought, “Cool! I’ll go there.” It was hard to beat the convenience of a gym across the street. Then I got sucked in.

What was it that sucked you in?

Convenience. Haha! Seriously though, the coaches and community.

I started out strong coming everyday for about a month, and then it dropped down to once or twice a month. Back then I’d work out on my own at 5 AM and really only interacted with Tony Moses and Olivia because they were the only staff there during those hours. Eventually, I started taking classes which created community. It was the community that really helped me get back into a solid routine after years of sporadic workouts.

Its really helped with my skiing, hiking, and the occasional happy hour. 😉

What results have you achieved since joining ZUM?

I didn’t join with a goal in mind, but I can definitely tell a significant increase in strength and energy. I could barely do a pull-up and now I can!  Not to mention the friendships I’ve made over the years. It’s the community factor that keeps me at ZUM. But more than anything, I think my greatest achievement has been the mental assurance if someone invites me to go for a run, hike, or other outdoor activities I can agree without hesitation. I get to live life to the fullest. That’s way bigger and better than being able to do pull-ups now.

I love how multidimensional your achievements have been – so awesome! But about those pull-ups…I’m guessing taking VIRJ crossfit classes has really helped with those. What has your experience been with crossfit at ZUM?

First of all, all the coaches are very careful and constantly correcting form to make sure you won’t get injured. They’re also great at encouraging you to push yourself and challenge what you think you’re capable of – in a safe way while listening to your body, of course. That’s not exclusive to crossfit though – that’s how ZUM approaches fitness in general. It’s just a different class format.

What do you like best about ZUM?

The people – the community. I hear a lot of people say that, so it sounds cliche to say, but it is what it is. I guess if a lot of people say it, there’s a got to be truth to it.

What would you say to someone who is new to ZUM or thinking of joining?

Just keep showing up. People are friendly. If you show up open to connecting, you’ll find community at ZUM too.

In addition, no matter what fitness level you’re at, the team at ZUM makes you feel comfortable, so you’ll keep coming back and progressing. Sometimes it can be hard to take that first step; there can be a sort of hesitation, which is totally understandable. But ZUM allows you to feel comfortable and encourages you no matter where you are in your fitness journey.

Is there a fun fact about you we may not know?

Oh so many things…

I have a phobia of amusement park rides. I don’t know where it came from; it’s just a thing. But give me a pair of skis and I’m all in – go figure.

I’m on the board for Urban Artworks – a non-profit which commissions public art throughout the cities (like the utility boxes) partnered with the juvenile court system, and I’ve volunteered 11 years once a week with Community for Youth, a Seattle high school youth mentor-ship program.

Also, I meditate every morning. I get everything ready to go, set my time for 10 minutes, meditate and then head out the door. I’ve become a more centered person. It’s been life changing. I experience fewer ups and downs and can go with the flow a lot more than before.  About a year ago, I had a conversation about how it makes sense to “workout your mind” the same way you workout your body, and I’ve been doing it ever since.

What is your guilty pleasure?

Moosetracks ice cream. The Safeway brand for now because it’s the only place I can find it consistently available.

Favorite tv show?

Game of Thrones is a given.
Vice News
Anything on the History Channel – also a guilty pleasure

Favorite Movie?

The Rock is a classic. The music score makes it.

Favorite Book?

The Malcolm Gladwell series – Blink, David & Goliath, and The Tipping Point. He makes you think.

However growing up, I think I read Robinson Crusoe 100 times. I loved that book!

Favorite music?

Whatever fits my mood at the time. It can be any genre. I actually listen to the radio a lot.

Favorite ZUM class?

Crossfit, K.O., and Playground Express!

Favorite movement or exercise?

No, they’re all miserable. I’d say push-ups.

Any final thoughts for us?

There was a quote on the wall about Kaizen – making small steps to make incremental changes. That resonated with me. That’s how I like to approach change and growth for myself and also kind of reflects my journey at ZUM. Progressing from someone who joined out of convenience, to someone who now works out 5-6 times a week and meditates daily. It’s all part of the journey.

So many of our members have powerful stories about their fitness journeys and October’s Member of the Month is no exception!

Meet Renee Grant Bluechel! Renee has done a lot of awesome things in ther life – multiple Ragnar races and marathons, summiting Mt. Rainier, and even a stint as Chuck E. Cheese in college. Perhaps most amazing of all, she is a 2-time breast cancer survivor.

Renee sat down with me to chat about her ZUM experience and how her battle with cancer has impacted her approach to fitness and life. Her story is an inspiring one, well summarized by her final thoughts in this interview, “Don’t wait until tomorrow. Do it today.” Enjoy reading more about Renee.

When you first joined ZUM what made you want or need to join a gym?

I had just started working at Nordstrom. Not only was ZUM convenient, but it was an awesome, boutique-style gym where I could get personalized attention with fun classes in a cool atmosphere. Fitness is really important to me as a two-time breast cancer survivor. I battled breast cancer in my 20s and 30s. Those were really eye-opening experiences for me. Fitness has to be a priority, because I want to live a long, healthy life. I need to take every measure I can to build up my defenses and be the strongest person I can be. It really bothers  me when I see people when I see people aging riddled with aches and pains – I don’t want to be that person. I want to be 70 and running marathons. So I figure if I’m healthy and strong now, it’s only going to set me up for success in the long run.

So inspiring! Fitness has clearly been important to you for a long time, but what results have you achieved since joining ZUM?

Number one, fitness has never been about a size or a number on a scale for me. It’s about feeling healthy and good about myself. My best accomplishment has been feeling stronger and more confident as a person. On the physical side, I’ve been able to knock out more push-ups than some of the boys, summitted Mt Rainier, and completed ultra races like Ragnar.

Awesome! We’re super proud of your for your recent Rainier summit! Tell us more about it!

The first time I ever visited Seattle before I even moved here, I was struck by the beauty of Rainier and determined it was a hill I had to conquer. But I never trained for it. I’d never done any climbing or hiking of any sort. One day I decided, I want to do this before something happens down the road, and I don’t have the ability to do it anymore. I don’t want to look back and say “woulda, coulda, shoulda” when I was healthy. I decided this was the time, called up my friend Annie saying, “hey, let’s climb Rainier,” and she said “ok.”

What do you like best about ZUM?

At first I was going to say Derek because, he’s my trainer, but honestly, it’s everyone at ZUM – all the trainers, all the staff. Everyone makes me feel so welcome. It’s like you’re my friends – you know my name and you care. And not just about me – about everyone. You care about everyone and make everyone feel welcome.

That’s the environment I’m really looking for. I’ve joined a lot of gyms in the past, and there’s a lack of personalization and community. I feel like I know everyone at ZUM – the staff, as well as the members who come in when I do. I at least know people’s faces, and we can smile at each other on the gym floor, wave at each other on the street, talk to each other if standing in line. There’s an automatic bond.

ZUM’s my happy place. If I’ve had a bad day or a bad week, I can come in and let that stress go and unwind, I’m always more mentally energized when I leave.

What would you say to someone who is new or thinking about joining ZUM?

Dive in! Take some classes and really enjoy yourself! Let loose. Don’t be afraid to fail, don’t be afraid to look stupid. No one is judging you. Everyone is there to support you. Taking classes at ZUM is like having your own personal trainer, because you get such focused, personalized attention – the corrections, the coaching – it’s really unparalleled to any gym I’ve ever been to.

What’s a fun fact about you that we may not know?

I was Chuck E. at Chuck E Cheese during college. The costume was about 5,000 degrees, but that wasn’t the worst part. It’s a big mouse head with awkwardly placed eye holes, right? You have all these toddlers running up to your knees. You can’t hear them or see them, because you have tunnel vision, so Chuck E. starts walking and knocking over kids like they’re bowling pins. The kids are looking up at Chuck E. like “what did you do to me?” and Chuck E. isn’t supposed to talk, so Chuck E. has to mime “oops, clumsy me!” And it’s hard to do the YMCA in that outfit.

Hilarious! That is a super fun fact! I wish we had photos or videos of that! What is your guilty pleasure?

I believe in everything in moderation. I don’t deprive myself too often, but I will say it’s a toss up between Scotch and marathons of adventure reality shows like Alone. They drop these people out alone in the wilderness and see how long they last. It’s awesome.

On that note, favorite TV show?

• Ballers
• Ray Donnovan
• Game of Thrones – but I fell way too far behind, so now I’m waiting for the series to end and binge the whole thing.

What’s your favorite movie?

People will make fun of me…The Wizard of Oz.

There is nothing wrong with that! Mine is The Sound of Music or My Fair Lady, so we can own our nerdiness together. 🙂 Favorite music? 

• Grateful Dead – Touch of Grey
• One Republic – I Live
• One Republic – Good Life

Favorite book? 

I just read The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah – loved it! I love Born to Run. I’ve read it multiple times. There’s about 10 books on my night stand that I’ve started, but haven’t gotten to far into.

Favorite ZUM class? 

Derek’s Monday Xcelerate class is my absolute favorite, but it’s tough for me to make it. I also love Joe’s HardCore class on Tuesday nights, but I train during that time now, so I don’t get to take either of my favorite classes.

Favorite movement or exercise?

• Push ups
• Romanian Deadlifts

Any final thoughts for us?

Don’ wait until tomorrow. Do it today.