Centerville woman loses 130 pounds and gains magazine cover

Erica Lugo is one of five contestants for the fourth iteration of the Women's Health Magazine Next Fitness Star competition. Erica, from Centerville, has lost 130lbs and transformed her fitness journey into a social media brand. (FACEBOOK)

Erica Lugo is one of five contestants for the fourth iteration of the Women's Health Magazine Next Fitness Star competition. Erica, from Centerville, has lost 130lbs and transformed her fitness journey into a social media brand. (FACEBOOK)
Lifestyles
By Tabatha Wharton
July 8, 2016
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Centerville's Erica Lugo is one of five final contestants for Women's Health Magazine's Next Fitness Star competition.

Now an online fitness instructor, the 29-year-old is the woman behind the Erica Fit Love fitness branding and coaching based right here out of the Miami Valley. Her weight loss journey began three years ago when she struggled to keep up with her young toddler son. At 5'11" and over 320 lbs, she knew she needed to make a change.

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Not knowing much more than the basics, Erica began a 15-month weight loss and fitness journey that saw her shed 130 pounds. She has turned her simple approach to fitness into a coaching and training business through her social media channels. All of this has led her to be on the cover of Women's Health Magazine for the July/August issue as one of five finalists for the magazine's Next Fitness Star competition. Voting is at thenextfitnessstar.com, and you can vote for your favorite contestant once a day.

http://youtu.be/YNa7hwMGH48

As a busy mom and full-time marketing director, her journey continues as she makes fitness something to look forward to — not a chore. Using a combination of HIIT, circuit training and structured weight training, Erica runs boot camps across the country and helps people train virtually by outlining diet and exercise plans as well as providing email support.

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Success like this isn't easily achieved, and we applaud Erica for how far her hard work and determination is taking her.

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About the Author

Tabatha Wharton