Focus on Fitness: Emilie's Story

Emilie Kunco, Fitness Specialist

Hello friends! Allow me into introduce myself to you all, properly. My name is Emilie Kunco, and I’m your Fitness Director here at SSCC. We all start somewhere, and I’d like to share my story with you, to inspire and motivate. Growing up in the deep Southern parts of Texas, I was taught “more butter, more better” and everything was fried. It was a typical unhealthy American diet: mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, chicken and dumplings, and chocolate was my favorite! My freshman year of high school, I was 200lbs. At my heaviest, I was 230lbs. In 2015, I was a busy mom with two boys under 2 and knew that they deserved better.

I wanted to feel confident, so I began my first fitness journey by simply moving more and eating less but failing to nourish my body. Because of my error, I gained weight quickly back. Flashforward to 2020, after having my third son, I took up running 5 miles a day and, with the help of meal replacement shakes, lost 50lbs.

I began strength training in May of 2021 (quickly gaining the nickname “quad-zilla”) but was told by the other athletes that I “ate like a bird” and “needed to eat more” for the weight I was moving. Trying to understand macros, how to gain muscle and lose fat was overwhelming and confusing. I took part in a Nutrition Challenge in January of 2022 and by April, I knew that I loved fitness and wanted to help guide others on their journey by doing more and simplifying the process, hoping that they would not have to go through the hoops like I did.

I gained my Personal Training Certification in June of 2022, am Certified in Prenatal and Postpartum, have received my Level 1 Nutrition Certification, as well as Stress and Hormone and Gut Health. And, as of November 29, I have joined the Active Life Professional program, which is a 13-month training program that “bridges the gap between healthcare and fitness”. This program will give me additional knowledge in the healthcare industry, which will in turn allow me to better my helping of our members live a life, free of pain I am passionate about all things health and fitness, and find fulfillment and joy in helping others, so why not have the best of both worlds and combine the two. Allow me the opportunity and great pleasure to be your biggest fan and share my knowledge with you this new year.

Important Note: Active Rest and Recovery and Strength Training classes have a new name! Functional Training. This is now being offered on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays! See the upcoming schedule below.

Class Schedule for January:

Functional Training: Mondays and Fridays @ 10AM & Wednesdays @ 12PM

Step Aerobics(Simulators): Tuesdays (Except 1/21) and Thursdays @ 10AM

Class Schedule for February:

Functional Training: Mondays and Fridays @ 10AM & Wednesdays @ 12PM

Step Aerobics (Simulators): Tuesdays (Except 2/25) and Thursdays @ 10AM

*These times are subject to change, but you can contact me for more information **Unlimited fitness classes are now included with ALL memberships!