Kris Stewart, 60, spent much of her life as a self-proclaimed couch potato. She was never drawn to athletic pursuits nor expected to be involved in any fitness community. This mindset changed nearly 15 years ago when Kris’s church initiated a Zumba class in 2010. She decided it could be fun to try, not because of her desire to exercise but because of her love for music, singing, dancing, and socializing at Kirby Woods Baptist Church. Kris went off and on for the next couple of years until a new Zumba teacher joined, whose upbeat and energetic nature kept Kris coming back consistently.
One pivotal day in class, the instructor asked if any students wanted to come up and teach a song with her. When no one volunteered, she pointed at Kris and asked her to try it. Though nervous, Kris instantly had a blast bringing the energy to the class as an instructor and was encouraged to go through training to begin teaching regularly. “I’m never going to be the best dancer or the most technically correct, but I want to make you smile, laugh, and come back. The exercise is a bonus,” Kris says of her teaching style.
By May of 2024, Kris had been teaching Zumba for 13 years. She was teaching classes three days a week, working out at the gym with her trainer, Todd Hinton, at Fit Three Nine training, and feeling great about her improved activity level and strength. However, as she approached 60 and was experiencing menopause, Kris realized that though she felt healthy, she did not think that her body looked fit. “I had been putting on weight gradually, and it kept inching up until I was about 50 pounds overweight,” Kris remembers. Feeling overwhelmed by tracking her hormones, macronutrients, calorie consumption, and exercise, Kris knew she wanted to get a handle on her weight but felt overwhelmed by the thought of starting another diet.
Around this time, Kris had become inspired by stories of how GLP-1 medications had been changing the lives of some of her acquaintances, and she began researching to learn more. Despite how helpful the medications seemed, Kris recognized the sharp stigma against them and was afraid of being embarrassed by taking them or judged by others. After consulting with friends and her trainer, Todd, Kris felt motivated to give GLP-1s a try and has not looked back. Kris has now lost nearly 50 pounds and has never been happier. “I realized how much control my eating habits had over my life. I was a stress eater and suffered from a lot of food noise, which have now been completely resolved,” Kris says. She receives her medication at A Beautiful You Medical Spa here in Memphis and praises the support and encouragement from their knowledgeable staff.
Kris’s most significant takeaway from her health and fitness journey is that it is never too late to start. “I went from being sedentary most of my life to feeling the best I ever have at age 60. Find an activity you love and a supportive community, and you will keep coming back!”
Try Kris’s women’s only Zumba class at Kirby Woods Baptist Church every Tuesday at 6 p.m.
By Zoe Harrison
Photo by Tindall Stephens
