Erin Van Zee is what some might call a Daily Burn superuser, #DB365 devotee or exercise junkie. She works out five days a week with the at-home workout platform, toggling between bodyweight training, cardio-strength and barre workouts — sometimes two in one day.*
But rewind two years ago, and running was the only exercise she knew. “After doing it for a few years, it no longer held my interest,” Van Zee says. Plus, running was lonely and didn’t give Van Zee the community and support she craved. “It became extremely boring for me, and I couldn’t get past the mental part of it,” she says.
Van Zee didn’t find her calling at the gym either. She wasn’t comfortable using the weights and machines and always ended up running on the treadmill. “I was a member of many gyms, but I was never sure what I should be doing. I would use the treadmill because running was the only thing I knew how to do,” Van Zee says.
So when Van Zee saw an ad for Daily Burn in January 2016, she decided to sign up for the free trial. “I thought it was a great option for working out because I could do what I wanted from the comfort of my own home,” she says.
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Getting in Shape Without the Treadmill
Shortly after signing up for Daily Burn, Van Zee retired her running shoes and expanded her fitness repertoire with a variety of workouts. “I started doing True Beginner two to three times a week and worked my way up to Cardio Sculpt,” she says. Van Zee also learned about the importance of including strength training in her workout routine — a common oversight among runners. “I use DB10 for weight training, and I also like the combination of strength work and cardio in Power Cardio,” she says.
"Sometimes I cancel plans just to work out."
Thanks to Daily Burn, working out has become a part of Van Zee’s lifestyle. “I come home from work and walk my dogs, and then I do Daily Burn at 6:30 or 7 p.m. My husband knows it’s my time,” she says. “I enjoy it so much that sometimes I cancel plans with friends just to work out,” she laughs.
Daily Burn has also helped Van Zee step outside of her comfort zone to try the Barre Harmony and Yoga Made Simple programs. “They’re totally different from the workouts I’ve done before. The workouts are still really intense but low-impact,” Van Zee says. She also likes the fact that she can move at her own pace and fitness level. “I went to a yoga class one time and felt uncomfortable doing the moves. I like that I’m able to do these workouts at home without someone correcting me in front of others,” she says.
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With Discipline Comes Change
A strong, healthy body isn’t built on push-ups alone. Van Zee knows muscles are also made in the kitchen. When Van Zee signed up for Daily Burn, she also decided to clean up her eating habits. “[Daily Burn] has served as a gateway for me to be a healthier person. I have done several rounds of the Whole 30 diet, which is a great companion to Daily Burn,” she says. “It helped me re-evaluate my relationship with food and better understand what I’m putting into my body.”
“I’m more confident with who I am now than I think I ever have been.”
After two years of working out with Daily Burn and eating more mindfully, Van Zee dropped 21 pounds. But more importantly, she shed a layer of self-doubt that was weighing her down. “I’m more confident with who I am now than I think I ever have been. It has made me more mentally and emotionally strong,” Van Zee says.
But she doesn’t just feel it; she also sees results. “I can see and feel my body becoming more toned after each workout,” she says. One of Van Zee’s goals for 2018 is to do more than one push-up without using her knees.
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Finding a Second Family in Daily Burn 365
Van Zee’s newfound love for fitness challenged her mentally and physically, just as running had — except she wasn’t doing it alone this time. “My family, friends and husband are very supportive of me, but what’s different with the Daily Burn 365 community is that we’re kind of in the struggle together,” Van Zee explains.
And for Van Zee, coming home to a supportive community on the screen, in chat and on Facebook is more than just routine — it’s family. “The trainers, cast and crew have become a part of my everyday life, and missing a workout with them feels like I’m missing an important part of my day,” Van Zee says. “I love knowing that when I press play, I get to spend time with people who genuinely care about me.”
To join the community and get and a new, LIVE workout every day, head to dailyburn.com/365. Start your free trial today!
*Note to reader: The content in this article relates to the core service offered by Daily Burn. In the interest of editorial disclosure and integrity, the reader should know that Daily Burn owns and operates this site. Always talk to your doctor before beginning any exercise or weight loss program and note that the results highlighted above are not typical. Daily Burn users who worked out for 30 minutes or more at least five times a week for 60 to 90 days reported an average weight loss of about one pound per week. For those seeking to lose weight, keep in mind that extreme weight loss can be harmful to your health if done improperly or too suddenly.
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