How MixxedFit changed my life.

D’Onna Surratt, a student at the University of Nebraska-Omaha, routinely takes MixxedFit classes at the Health and Kinesiology building on campus.

“MixxedFit is a class filled with pumped-up music along with intense movements to help workout the body”.

D’Onna said that she uses the classes as a way to relieve stress and stay in shape. The classes offered at UNO are free to students with a valid Mavcard, but there are also classes available to purchase at local gyms around Omaha.

“The class feels like a family” D’Onna states. She mentioned that they all motivate each other to keep the energy high and positive.

She has attended the classes for the past two years. She feels as since the classes aren’t required, it puts a lot more self-discipline to keep up on her journey of a healthy lifestyle.

D’Onna said she began her new journey because she didn’t have a good mindset. Struggling with internal battles, she wanted to find something to help her cope and feel good about herself.

When it all came down to it one day she said to herself, I am tired of people making fun of me and judging how I look.

“My freshman year I was in my dorm room looking at the student life page. I then stumbled my way across the page for the new Mixxedfit class that was being offered”. She stated that was where it all began. This was what she’s been searching for.

The class was a way for her to change her appearance but not be an intense repetitive workout.

“I constantly got bullied for my appearance growing up. They used to make me feel terrible about myself and make it seem like I was never gonna be happy with myself” she stated.

She has since taken those comments and turned them into her motivation to better herself.

She connected herself to the UNO community more because she feels she’s found her safe place. She describes it as “a place to lose herself” when she had nowhere else to go.

“I’ve met many friends through the UNO Mixxedfit classes,” D’Onna said.

Without the Mixxedfit classes, she wouldn’t have met some of the people since they have different majors and are different grade levels.

“We never have negative energy. This is our escape and we all get to be positive no matter what happens in our personal lives.”

She stated that the class is only one step in her healthy living journey. She has since started to have a routine in working out, eating and even her sleep schedule. Also, she has begun to change her eating habits.

“Eventually I want to become vegan. I feel like I eat many processed foods and I want to know what I put inside my body.”

She has begun to meal prep and find different recipes online to help her with her new lifestyle.

“Change is hard. It’s not an easy task to change everything I know.” D’Onna started.

She said within a year she hopes to have maintained a healthier lifestyle.

She agrees the Mixxedfit classes have made her feel very welcomed in the UNO community and she has gained new friends and knowledge. She thinks without the Mixxfit classes, she would have never started her new journey to a healthier life.

“This class is what inspired me to help change myself when I thought I had no options”.

“I recommend everyone who doesn’t like working out to give this class a try! It is different from a normal workout, we get to change up the routines constantly”.

She said MixxedFit is more than a workout class. She feels it has helped her gain a more healthy lifestyle and has made her more inspired within her personal life.

Mixxedfit classes are offered every Monday and Wednesday at 6 p.m in the Health and Kinesiology building on campus.

Word count: 647