As many of you know, I recently completed the Doonya Challenge in DC, a 3-month fitness challenge where I took 3-4 Doonya classes every week. For those of you unfamiliar with Doonya, it is a 60-minute dance fitness class filled with nonstop cardio, aerobic, and strength training performed to upbeat, fast-paced Bollywood music. While many compare it to Zumba, I think of it more like a mid-week trip to the club for some hip-shaking action!

When I decided to start the challenge back in February, my goal was to lose weight and tone up in a manner more fun than the treadmill at my gym. To be completely honest, I didn’t think I would be able to last long, with the rules being that we had to attend 3-4 classes per week. As with so many other workouts I’ve done, I expected to last a couple weeks before losing interest.  BUT I actually ended up staying and pushing through the three months! Why, you ask? Is it because I’m a masochist? Is it because I was desperate to lose weight? Is it because I didn’t have much else going on during the evenings?

Err, while the answers to some of those questions might be yes, the real reason was because I just found the workouts so addictively fun and effective! When the challenge ended earlier this month, I could not feel better about my fitness level and overall well-being. Not only have I lost about 9 pounds, but my arms and leg muscles have also toned. My stamina has improved, as evidenced by my ability to push through high-energy Bhangra songs without water breaks (think about doing 5 minutes of constant jumps, squats, and taps to this song).

Pictures of me before and after the challenge

The icing on the cake (maybe I shouldn’t use dessert references when talking about fitness!) is that they just announced me as the winner of the challenge! The prize is unlimited Doonya classes for a year and a cash prize! I’m soo excited to win, but definitely have to give a shout out to the other DC finalists whose energy and dedication was so inspiring, and the Doonya instructors who kept us motivated throughout!

Even though the challenge is over, I am still attending classes because I feel gross when I haven’t worked out for a few days. It also helps when the instructor puts on my favorite song and I can just let loose! For those of you looking to lose weight, tone up, or just have fun, I definitely recommend the Doonya workout. If you’re like me, you’ll like the results you see and will come back for more!

When one sister’s challenge ends, the other one’s takes off (read about Richa’s Empire State Building Run here)! As previously mentioned, I’m participating in the Doonya Challenge in DC, a 3-month challenge where I will take Doonya classes 3-4 times a week and cross train on the remaining days of the week. In the last few months, I found myself dreading going to the gym and had become lazy (especially around the holiday season) so I thought this would be a fun way to get back into shape! I enjoy doing group fitness activities and what better motivation to move then fast-paced Bollywood and Bhangra songs!

I’ve started the challenge with a bang by taking 4 classes this week and making sure I went to my regular gym on the remaining days. All the Doonya instructors are excellent and bring their personal flair to the dancing, which makes each class different. Although I’m exhausted after classes, I generally find myself having more energy during the day and able to think more clearly at work. Since I was taking a few Doonya classes before the challenge even started, I’ve already noticed an improvement in my stamina. I don’t have to stop as often for water breaks in class and I’m not as much of a breathless mess after dancing to the Bhangra songs (i.e. I’m still huffing and puffing but not about to die, hopefully I’ll improve more in days to come)!

The challenge also requires us to keep track of our food and nutrition intake. This is dangerous territory for me. I love my cupcakes and glasses of prosecco. I will often reach into a bag of chips without thinking twice. I will order fries instead of salad as my side. EEKS. But now that we have to food journal, I’m embarrassed to do all that and find myself trying to go for the healthier option. I even cooked in bulk this weekend so I have dinner prepared for the rest of the week!

So here’s to a strong start to the challenge (raising my glass of water, instead of prosecco, in the air)! I will keep updating you all on any changes I see in weight, energy, stamina, and general sense of well-being! Stay tuned in the weeks to come!