Dr. Sim is a Zumba instructor and chiropractor with ChiropracTED
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What is your hobby/sport?
I started off as a student in cardio kickboxing, cycling and yoga. However, it was Zumba fitness that made me fall in love with aerobic group fitness classes. I discovered Zumba in 2003. I only heard about it when I was stationed in Hurlburt Field Air Force Base, Florida. They offered the class in the base gym, however I would just watch and not participate. I felt too intimidated because I was not always the best dancer. However, I loved taking the class so much that I became a Zumba instructor in 2009.
What is it that you enjoy most about Zumba?
I enjoy that it's completely opposite of what I do for a living. During the day, I am adjusting spines; afterward I am just dancing the night away. At one time, I would just jog on a treadmill for an hour and lose about 500–600 calories. Now I do Zumba for an hour and lose 800–1,000 calories. On top of losing more calories doing Zumba versus the treadmill, Zumba is actually very fun!
What tips do you have when you’ve “hit the wall” and need motivation to continue?
As a participant of Zumba fitness, push yourself to take the class. When I was in chiropractic school, I remember long hours of lectures and labs. I just wanted to go home and eat then sleep. However, I would push myself to take the class and by the end of the hour, I am always glad that I went. I now teach five classes a week and practice every Sunday. A Zumba class is an hour long with 12 to 15 songs to dance to. Every month I take out two songs and put two new songs in. I do that to keep the students interest in variety. However, I keep old ones in because students have a sense of confidence knowing their choreography.
Don't slow down now
- Dr. Jeffrey Cummings: ‘It’s something I’ve been doing for 10 years’
- Dan Heller: ‘I’ve enjoyed basketball since childhood’
- Dr. Andrew Cash: ‘The importance of core stabilization cannot be overstated’
- Dr. Robert Kessler, D.O.: ‘I always feel better after exercising’
- Dr. Trina Wiggins: ‘My patients are my inspiration to keep on going’
- Dr. Teddy Sim Jr.: ‘I felt too intimidated because I was not always the best dancer’
- Dr. Yolanda Flores: ‘Focus on the end goal’
- Dr. Matthew Schwartz: ‘The fundamental part of a healthy lifestyle is eating correctly’
- Dr. Souzan El-Eid: ‘I enjoy doing the cyclone spin class the most’
- Dr. JD McCourt: ‘I’ve been long-distance running for 40 years’
- Dr. Carl Allen: ‘Any day on the golf course is a fabulous one!’
What are the health benefits to Zumba?
It is an easy and fun way to burn fat! It improves coordination and proprioception. It is a full-body workout working your cardiovascular system, upper and lower extremities and using all your joints. It has both aerobic and anaerobic benefits. A major benefit I have personally witnessed is that it increases confidence. In fact it is extremely mood boosting.
What are the health risks to keep an eye on?
Zumba has many formats. Zumba Gold is geared towards the geriatric population. Zumba Kids is for children. If you have certain injuries but your doctor says you can still exercise, I recommend you try Aqua Zumba.
What’s the best diet/nutrition advice you ever received?
Hide my weakness! If you see it, you will eat it. Get rid of the bad foods in your house so you do not want to eat them. Another one is to eat my fruit and not drink it! For example, eat a whole orange and not drink the pure sugar from orange juice.
What’s your guilty-pleasure food?
Rice! I grew up on eating rice with everything. I mean I am Asian American! I learned to eat only small quantities of rice. In fact, I have started to substitute my rice with quinoa.
What did you eat for breakfast today?
I had a banana, blueberries and Greek yogurt.