I was a professional dancer, choreographer and
competitor for over 15 years but left to start a family. After
the birth of my 3rd child in January 2008 my weight sky
rocketed to over 200 lbs. I was mortified! How could I let
this happen, I didn't even recognize myself anymore. As an
active and competitive person I focused what little free time
I had in training to compete in Martial Arts tournaments; but
being that I got pregnant 3 times within 5 years I never made
it into the ring. I tried working out at least 3 times a week
but the weight just wasn't coming off! I separated from my
husband and was forced to return to work. It was a horrible
time in my life...I was lonely, overweight and gone from my
kids all the time. The thing that broke my heart the most was
leaving my newborn at a daycare facility. I would cry when I
dropped him off, it just broke my heart. Somewhere, I lost
myself, this wasn't my life! This wasn't what I wanted for
myself or for my children... I had to change things!
That is when I decided to take my experience in
dance and martial arts and come up with a new fitness format.
I was active, a choreographer by trade, why not? Why couldn't
I focus my training and passion into something that would not
only better my life and health, but the life and health of
others? So I quit my job and we went back to the dance studio
to create my vision "Boogie Box".... That was May of 2008. I
lost 65lbs within the first 7 months! Since launching my
format I lost a total of 70 lbs, lost 6 dress sizes and have
toned my body to where it looks better than before I had
children! I wouldn't promote Boogie Box unless I truly
believed in it. That is why I can honestly open myself up to
all of you; I did it and you can too. I didn't diet or slave
away at the gym doing boring or corny aerobic exercises. Nor
did I spend 2 hours a day 4-5 days a week between resistance
and cardio training. I ate sensibly and did Boogie
Box...that's it!
Dede Barbanti, Boogie Box
Creator & CEO
I have been a group fitness instructor for many years and
thought I was in pretty good shape. I tried Boogie Box
and realized how wrong I was. I had hit a plateau, was
exhausting myself with excessive cardio and wasn't getting
nearly enough resistance training (even though I was teaching
weight lifting classes!). After gaining and losing the
same 30-40 pounds 3 times in my life, I wanted a workout that
offered more permanent results that I wouldn't get bored
with. With Boogie Box, I am in the best shape of my life
and have not stepped foot inside a gym or lifted free weights
since joining the company! I could not stand behind this
workout if I didn't truly believe in it and see firsthand the
amazing results in both myself and others. Boogie Box
Rocks!
Kathy Lamm, COO
In August 2007 I
was diagnosed with Pre-Diabetes after years of struggling with
my weight. With the help of diabetes medications and the
diet my doctor put me on, I was able to lose 30+ pounds.
But I was not "in-shape", I was just smaller and I knew I
needed to find some form of exercise that I
enjoyed. In January 2009, I received a copy of
The Gazette magazine with the cover and article on Boogie
Box Fitness. I decided to give it a try! From the
very first class, I was hooked! Not only was the work out
a blast to do, but the people were awesome too! Boogie
Box has toned me all over, from the definition in my arms and
shoulders, to the cellulite on the backs of my thighs and
butt melting away. As a former gymnast, I had always
dreamed of reclaiming my "pre-baby" body...and now I
have! Thank you to Dede Barbanti, Kathy Lamm and Paco
Evangelista for inspiring me and for allowing me to join them
on this wonderful journey with Boogie Box Fitness! On
another note, after only 3 months of taking BBX classes I had
a follow up with my doctor that included blood work. He
told me that my heart was so healthy that I would live
an extra 10 years longer than the average American
because of the great cardiovascular exercise I had been
doing! Thanks BBX!
Chloe
D.
Boogie Box has totally taken my workouts to the next level.
My cardiovascular endurance has improved so much that the
classes at my gym aren't even worth my time anymore. More
importantly I'm actually excited to go to Boogie Box classes.
The workout is fun, the music is awesome and I love
how each class has its own vibe. My main issue with a lot of
other workouts is that I get bored very quickly. There are so
many different levels to each of the forms that it's hard to
get bored. There is always a way to challenge myself in class.
I've worked out regularly for awhile and I've never seen
changes with my body as quickly as I have with Boogie Box. I
see definition in my arms, legs, and abs that I've never had
before even though I was working out nearly 5-6 times a week.
Not to mention that I have been able to lose over
70 lbs and 31 inches in 6 months time with Boogie Box. My
clothes fit better and people are starting to comment on how
great I look which really boosts my self esteem. As cheesy as
it sounds, Boogie Box has changed my life! I'm headed in a
much healthier and happier direction and I'm not looking back.
Thanks for everything!
Brenda E.
I was hooked on Boogie Box as soon as I tried it. I
was so glad when I was told I was going to be part of the
test group. The whole experience has changed my
life. In the past, I had belonged to various gyms
and found the routines boring and repetitive and as a
result I would not stick with anything very long. With
Boogie Box I enjoy it as much, if not more, than
I did when I started in December. The routines
are so fun and the music is so upbeat and crazy that
when you are done, you hardly realize you have been working
out for an hour. I have never looked forward to
exercising but I find myself looking forward to it
now!
As a result of the weight loss (25 lbs, 20 inches to date),
I have a new found confidence and strength to push myself.
This confidence is starting to carry over into other
aspects of my life as I feel better about myself.
When I get a compliment from someone, especially someone I
have not seen in a while, it makes me realize that the hard
work and changes I have made in my life are paying off.
It is the extra encouragement and push I need to realize
that I can and will get to my personal goals.
I want to thank Dede, Kathy and Paco from the bottom of my
heart for their encouragement, for answering my questions, and
for pushing me to work harder. I have met people on
this journey that I know will remain friends for many
years. The support and encouragement I received was
amazing!
Tracie K.
I love Boogie Box! I just want to give a big thank you to
the Boogie Box Team!! You are all awesome. I have not felt
this energized, happy, good, and able to be happy with the
reflection in the mirror in years. When I first started Boogie
Box back in January I was a bit skeptical but as the second
week came around I could not get enough! I tried to squeeze as
many classes as possible into my schedule. The one thing I
really love about Boogie Box is that once the music starts the
time goes by so fast and it is so much fun that the hour is up
before you know it and you are dripping in sweat and burning
from 800 to 1100 calories. This is not a diet it is a life
changing experience. Please just give Boogie Box a chance
(about 2 weeks of classes) and you will be hooked. I am proud
to say that during 6 months of Boogie Box I lost a total of
25.5 pounds, 28.5 inches and 5% body fat!! And I had fun doing
it.
Jennifer B.
When I started Boogie Box, I was falling
apart. Fat, recently unemployed, and increasingly
depressed. My BBX experience has been so much more
than a physical transformation. I feel young, strong,
and happy again. I feel confident and excited about new
possibilities in all aspects of my life. This
program, and these dedicated people, have given me my
life back. I had to be the weakest, most uncoordinated
person they've ever worked with -- but I kept coming back, and
BBX worked for me. It worked in more ways than I
ever could have imagined.
Veronica F.
THANK GOD for you guys and for Boogie
Box! I'm so happy to have been a part of your test
group. Thank you for this second chance at life! It really is!
It's nice to have this record of how far we have come with
Boogie Box because you have concrete evidence that it works,
and documentation of the awesome journey that we were on!
Thank you thank you thank you thank you Kathy, Dede, Paco! You
guys are amazing! Boogie Box is amazing! I love
it!
Claudia Q.
I don't like to do cardio. I would have
rather been dragged behind a speeding bus than to actually
work up a sweat and get my heart rate up. Hence, I've
struggled for the past 10 years to take off extra
weight. That said, when I started Boogie Box, I was
pretty out of shape. For about the first 2 weeks, I
would spend half of the class just marching in place.
The great news is that I was able to slowly build up my
stamina not only to do the entire workout but to also enjoy
the dancing, the camaraderie and the endorphin rush.
Yes, I even began to appreciate sweating. Not quite at
the love stage yet, but I do feel a certain pride in myself
when I see rivers of sweat pouring down. In spite having
a glandular issue, I have seen weight loss success with Boogie
Box that I haven't seen with any other program I've
participated in the past 10 years. It really does
work. And better than that, it's a lot of fun!
Felicia B.
My inspiration to try Boogie Box was that I was keeping
losing weight on different ready-to-eat diets and gaining even
more back. Even if I did have small weight loss successes, I
wasn't happy because my muscles were weak and my body just did
not look at fit as I wanted. This time I decided to do a
major life-change. I improved my diet, took additional BBX
workshops to improve my technique and started my weight loss
journey for real. I look forward to each class, lots of music,
dancing, sweating and good times. This was the most fun I ever
had losing weight!!! I lost 28 lbs and 27 inches and enjoyed
every minute of it! And it is so easy to maintain
your weight, there is no way you can stop doing Boogie
Box!
Yana E.
I have always been active but as I get older,
the weight just kept creeping up. I would go to the gym, work
on machines, go to classes and just get frustrated. I would
put in 5 or 6 days a week and had no results! So, when the
opportunity arose to be a part of the Boogie Box test group, I
was in. It was something my teenage daughter and I could do
together and actually agree on! The routines are easy to
learn, fast paced, high intensity and it works your entire
body. I have lost both inches and pounds and most importantly,
my overall health is better. No matter what kind of day I have
had, I feel up beat and energized after doing a class! I am
thankful to have been a part of the test group with an awesome
group of caring instructors. I thank you all, this has been an
amazing life changing experience and I will keep on doing
Boogie Box!
Iris B.
Boogie Box is the best form of exercise I have found. I
can't even compare it to anything I've tried in the past. I
have been on blood pressure medicine for 5 years, and my knees
were bothering me so much, that I was afraid the classes may
be too painful. But for those who had knee, back problems,
etc. the instructors would always start the class by showing
us the low level impact routine, until we got stronger
and were able to work our way into the high impact
level. And yes, it worked. After 2 months, I was able to
do the high impact level routine with no problem. I sweat a
lot and I have so much fun doing it. My Doctor has
taken me off the blood pressure medicine and my knees
have strengthened due to the weight loss and exercise. Since
January, I have lost 33 lbs, 18 inches and I am down
3 dress sizes. I not only feel great and
energetic, but I'm so happy to feel good about myself
again. My Goals were: Lower blood pressure, relief
of knee pain and lose 50 lbs. I have 17 lbs to go and all my
goals will be completed. Boogie Box is not something I will
stop when I've reached my goals or try and fit into my
schedule, it is a part of my life style. Kathy, Paco
and Dede are more than instructors, they truly want to help
and see people live healthy and happy lives. Thank you all so
much!!!!!!!!!!
Terri A.
I'm 56 years old and I loving life so much
better now that I've lost 20 lbs and 20 1/2 inches. As owner
of the Beach Cities Dance Studio, this fitness program is a
big part of our class line up now. In fact we have Boogie Box
for kids now. Boogie Box has become part of my everyday
life. Out of all the workouts I've been a part of I
love Boogie Box. It's the best because you are working out and
don't even realize it. Let me tell you my husband loves what
Boogie Box has done for my body... After 24 years we are
having more fun now than before. I have gone from a size
16 to size 8 and having a great time buying smaller clothes.
So in closing I will be doing Boogie Box forever. I want to
give a big thanks to Paco, he has put up with a lot from me
but I owe him for my new body. P.S. My husband thanks him
too.
Marilyn S.
I can't express how much Boogie Box has changed my
life! I've had two children in the past 3 years and
struggled to get to the gym after a long day at work. I
never thought I'd get rid of the extra 40 pounds I needed to
shed. After taking my first Boogie Box class as part of
the Test Group I was addicted! There was NOTHING like
it! I couldn't believe I could sweat so much and still
have a good time! So far I've lost 24 pounds and 26.5
inches, along with 6% body fat percentage! I can never
go back to the gym again and get on that monotonous
treadmill! This is the ONLY workout for me!
Holly
September
After moving to the US 10 years ago and just keep gaining
weight, I almost gave up about my body until I started Boogie
Box. I tried other fitness programs, from videotapes to gym
classes, but they were so boring that I just could not keep
doing them. For me, Boogie Box was the one and only
class that just kept me going and going. It is a fun and
energetic class and has proven to be effective by melting away
pounds and inches. I was able to lose over 20 pounds and 18
inches in 6 months!! The process could not have been easier or
more fun. The energy that you feel after every Boogie Box
class is just amazing!
Maria
Saad
Boogie Box is truly the best way to lose weight,
get toned up and receive a full body workout in such a short
time! I've lost over 18 lbs since I started in
January. I haven't been at the weight I'm at for over 2
years! It feels great, kicks your butt but makes you come
back for more! The music is spectacular and so is Dede
the creator of Boogie Box. Wow, she can really show
everyone how to Boogie! Just watching her and her
awesome dance moves gives the whole class
inspiration! Thank you Boogie Box for making it one of
the best workouts ever!
Eileen
H.
Boogie Box is THE MOST fun way to
work out! This truly unique combination of
dance, hip hop, kick boxing and military drills is set
to such FUN music and makes my hour long work
out fly by! This has been the first time I've ever carved
time out of my busy life with children to exercise. In 4
weeks, I lost inches--I was shocked! I have
said that it's like a new religion because it truly feeds
the soul in the best way. I LOVE IT!
Sue H.
Dede is "one of a kind"- She has so much
power and energy, it's infectious. She keeps you wanting
more! The music is incredible. Its current and nostalgic at
the same time. Boogie Box is the most intense fitness
class I've ever taken. I have always worked out, running,
cycling, weights... this workout trumps everything!
After the "Boogie," I'm looking forward to the next one.
Holly F.
I have taken many types of classes from
Zumba to Kickboxing and everything in between. But I
have never taken a class that worked my entire body, core,
muscles, heart and agility the way Boogie Box does. From
the moment the music starts to the last beat an hour later, it
is a non-stop workout with so much fun and high energy
and you don't even notice how hard you are working.
You don't need to be a dancer or be coordinated or
athletic. All you need is to have the drive and will to
do it. I guarantee once you start, you are hooked. You
can see the difference in your body and feel the difference in
your cardio intensity as the weeks progress. All the
other classes you have tried before are a "warm up" compared
to Boogie Box. My advice is to get off of the treadmill and
elliptical and get on the Boogie Box!
Jan B.
I was getting a bit frustrated that the
weight wasn't coming off as fast as I would like but I must
say, I'm completely surprised with how much I've lost in
inches in the past month alone. Since I started in the middle
of January I've lost 25lbs, which is soooooooo shocking to me
since for 13 years I haven't been able to lose 1lbs. You are
my saving grace and I'm going to get down to my goal weight if
it kills me!!!
Sonia R.
The Boogie Box Fitness program is a high intensity,
energetic and fun fitness routine that uniquely combines
aerobic and strength exercises that resulted in a caloric
expenditure that was greater than can be achieved by biking or
running alone. Our research team was largely impressed with
the programs ability to maintain a high elevated heart rate
for maximal burning of calories while still focusing on
strength and balance.
photos:
EberlyPhoto.com
E. Todd Schroeder, PhD Assistant
Professor of Research Division of Biokinesiology &
Physical Therapy Department of Medicine, Keck School of
Medicine Director, Clinical Exercise Research Center
University of Southern California Division of Biokinesiology
& Physical Therapy
Boogie Box Fitness is a great cardio exercise.
I've noticed that a lot of your students were sweating like
crazy! At the same time they were enjoying it! It's like
being in a dance club, enjoying the music and the dance
exercise. It's the best way to burn a lot of
calories in one day. My wife Brenda, took your class and she
had an awesome workout. She lost about 20lbs. and she looks
amazing!
Art Decuna, CEO OC
Nutrition
I love Boogie Box! I feel so energized and
motivated to work out because it's so much fun. I love dancing
and Boogie Box is the perfect combination of intense
dance moves, body sculpting and extreme cardio. I have
always struggled with going to the gym because it's so boring,
Boogie Box is the exact opposite. I get so pumped up after
every class I can't wait for the next one! I am not overweight
by all means, but I always wanted to tone & sculpt to see
more muscle definition. I lost 7 1/2 inches in 30 days
and can finally see muscles in my abs, legs & arms!
Lilee L.
I just wanted to send you a note to again say
thank you for the "Boogie Box" experience. I was part of
the test group as you know, I went to class three times a week
faithfully for the month. Thanks to your wonderful
exercise program and eating plan, I lost at least 10 pounds
and 9 inches overall on my body in one month.
Wow!!! It was so much fun too! I looked forward to each
class and really enjoyed myself while I was sweating like a
pig. You pushed us all to do more - always to try
harder. You were also always concerned for those of us
with injuries or "bad knees". I truly enjoyed myself and
will faithfully say I'm a Boogie Box fanatic! Thanks
again!
Alison C.
I attended the launch event held in October
2008, I would like to express what I experienced that
day. Since I'm a women that has attended many classes,
exercise & dance I found your presentation &
enthusiasm fantastic! As we preceded thru these
routines to great music I was thinking this class is the
best!! I could feel my heart rate going up, thus
putting it in the fat burning zone, which is great
for my health . Let us not forget what happens when you
burn the fat, your benefit is a more toned body!! I was
dripping, this class was better then my cardio kick or
elliptical training that I currently do at a health
club! The best part was that I was having the time of my
life! I found the choreography, with the upbeat music
blend invigorating; it just kept me moving. Well, your
coaching & energy added to the mix for sure. After
the class for two days I was thinking of you, why because
I was sore, this was good it meant that I really worked
out hard. I truly feel this class is the wave
of the future & I can't wait for the next time I will have
the pleasure to be in you class again.
Jacqueline
G.
I joined Boogie Box as a favor to my wife but
after I got into the workout I found that it is not only fun
but something we can enjoy together. I played football
in both high school and college and went through the police
academy and this rivals those workouts in intensity but
without the pounding and punishment. Even if you don't
have rhythm (like me) you'll get a great workout and have a
great time.
Eric R.
What can I say Boogie Box ROCKS!! I only
wish I would have listened to a friend in October when she
told me to take a class. I waited until January to take
my first class and within the first couple of SONGS, I
was hooked! I couldn't wait to get back to the next
class! Within 2 months, I received my teacher
certification and opened BBX classes in San Clemente. My
family and friends say that they have never seen me happier
and can tell that I LOVE teaching Boogie Box! I cannot
express my gratitude for bringing this amazing workout routine
into my life! Not only do I get to boogie down, I get an
amazing workout that kicks my butt each and every time!
I used to go to the gym every weekday morning at 5:30am and
either run on the treadmill or lift weights. Even though
I was motivated to get up that early in the morning, my
workouts were nowhere near what they are now. Amazing
music, great moves and all in only one-hour, that is the
workout for me! As I tell my students, you will get the
best workout of your life and I promise you will be smiling
the whole time! Your Boogie Box Girl For Life.
Dina B.
I've never done anything like Boogie Box
Fitness before but I'm glad I gave it a chance. In the past
few weeks I've lost 17lbs but I'm even more excited about the
3 inches that came right off my belly. Sure, the science says
you can burn up to 1100 calories in less than an hour, but the
#1 reason it works for me is I actually like doing
it!
Adam A.
It is intense but fun-the results in body
shaping keep me motivated. The weight is coming off and my
clothes are starting to fit loose. The instructors (all of
them) are fun, energetic and keep you motivated.
Elsa
L.
Boogie Box is a great total body workout that
focuses on all the muscle groups and the core, and best of all
it's FUN! You can get down and groove and work those muscles
to the core!
Maggie R.
I knew when I took my first Boogie Box class
that it would change me. The physical changes are perhaps the
most apparent but what I love is the mental changes. I feel
stronger, motivated and more energized. I am a believer and
even when I am tired when I get to class, after the first 5
pops, I'm IN!
Claudia Q.
The music is awesome!!!! The energy and the
workout is the BEST I have ever had!!! I sweat more than I
ever had and because I love to dance.... I love it even
more!
