Sometimes you see someone doing something that really speaks to your heart, for me that person is my hero Buddy Lee, jumping rope.  The passion he exudes for his jumping, sparked something inside me, that made me want to be better and be the best version of me I can be.

 

This is my story. About two years ago I took a look in the mirror and was very unhappy with what I was seeing.  I had a spinal fusion and consequently I put on weight.  I was depressed and was prescribed medication for that which caused me to gain more weight.  I needed and wanted to change.  I had always been active and athletic my whole life and I honestly did not recognize the person staring back at me in the mirror.  I decided it was time and I would do whatever it would take to regain my health and fitness.  No more excuses.  I had tried to get back into running and it just wasn’t doing it for me.  I really wanted to learn something new that would be fun and challenging.  I needed an activity that was low impact, but explosive, something that would get my heart rate up, help build my endurance, coordination and tone my whole body.  I scoured the internet looking for a sport or fitness activity that would be the right fit for my lifestyle and the goals I wanted to achieve.  I was on YouTube and I found Buddy Lee.  I was amazed by what I saw and I knew then that I wanted to learn to jump rope.

 

I bought myself a Buddy Lee Jump Rope and began to learn jump rope with Buddy’s system of jump rope training. Buddy Lee’s jump ropes are the best I have ever jumped with, they are quick, light weight and do not tangle. I started off with the trying to achieve the perfect jump, then the basic bounce step and then I added the alternate-foot step.  With focus and perseverance I worked my way through Buddy Lee’s Jump Rope Progressions and it was so satisfying to learn the new steps and techniques over the weeks and months.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today I continue to learn and hone my skills, which is one of the things I love about the jump rope.  You can take jumping as far as you want, as it trains your mind as well as your body.  Because of this, something really special was happening to me over the next year and a half and people began to notice.  I was transforming; I had transformed.  Not only was I changing on the outside, losing over 50 lbs. and looking toned and fit, but my quickness, mental alertness and confidence was up and I had an inner peace that was missing before.  

 

My depression was gone and I was no longer taking any medication for that.  Through jumping and attention to my diet and nutrition I had completely changed both inside and out.  My energy levels drastically increased and hence my endurance.  I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis in my early 20’s so my life prior to jumping rope was constantly trying to fight feelings of tiredness and lethargy.  Those feelings became a thing of the past.

 

I proceeded to pursue other goals that previously were just too outside my comfort zone.  I competed in the Merrell Down and Dirty, a 5k mud run and obstacle course set up by the military for Operation Gratitude.  It is a challenging course with many difficult obstacles such as a rock wall, a cargo netted 18 wheeler truck and stop and start calisthenics drills.  This past July I ran the race for the second time.  I had not run once that year, I only jumped rope for my cardio conditioning.  I was hoping I remembered how to run.  Well, not only did I remember how to run, but I was passing people left and right and I cut my time from the previous year over seven and a half minutes.  This was all due to the conditioning, endurance and weight loss I achieved from learning Buddy Lee’s Jump Rope Skills.  It proved to me that it was the perfect complement to any other sport I wanted to pursue and it gave me the competitive edge that I had never had before.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At 49 years of age, I am in the best shape of my life.  Jumping rope has changed my life.  I can’t thank Buddy Lee enough for creating his jump ropes and system of jump rope training.  It has been essential in helping me to transform into the person I knew I could be.  I want to inspire other others to jump the way Buddy Lee has inspired me.  I want people to believe in themselves and know they can make permanent and lasting changes in their own lives.  Let go of the excuses, just pick up the rope and jump.  If I can do it, so can you.

 

With Gratitude and Respect,

Emmie Pehush