Erica Fit Love online
Connect with Erica Lugo’s wellness company, Erica Fit Love, online.
Website: www.ericafitlove.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/ericafitlove
Facebook: www.facebook.com/erica.fitlove
When Veronica Castorena of Chicago needed motivation to lose weight, she turned to her smartphone. There she found Centerville’s Erica Lugo.
“I saw a photo that showed her before and after, explaining ‘this is me’ and how to love yourself,” Castorena said. “That’s the motivation I needed.”
Castorena is one of the 130,000 people who follow the Little Miami High School (Warren County) graduate's weight-loss journey on Instagram.
It started in 2013, when Lugo’s 2-year-old son asked her to play on the floor.
“I was too exhausted to get down from the couch, then up from the floor,” said Lugo.
The simple request transformed Lugo from a working mom who struggled with weight, to a national wellness coach.
In 13 months, Lugo shed half her body weight, losing a total of 150 pounds in two years. She used Instagram to photograph her life — from playdates with her son, to workouts at the gym. Soon the workouts overflowed to their own site.
Unlike most, Lugo includes the good, like progress photos, with the bad, like her disposition to binge eat. It’s part of what Lugo calls “real chick fitness,” which she hashtags on her social media pages.
“I’m a real person,” said Lugo. “There’s nothing special about me. I don’t have money coming out the wazoo to afford trainers or special food. I’m a mom, working full time.”
Doughnut hole Wednesday is her other popular hashtag, highlighting her weekly visits to Bill's Donut Shop in Centerville and her willingness to eat junk food in moderation. Followers share doughnut messages on Lugo's social media. Some even bought her custom doughnut-printed Nikes.
“Doughnuts,” said Lugo, “have always been my thing.”
Each day, she receives up to 200 social media messages — mostly people sharing their stories, just like her. Lugo’s popularity landed her cameos on “The Meredith Vieira Show” and “The Talk” last summer to discuss her weight loss and social media presence. She’s been featured on websites such as Yahoo News, Good Housekeeping and Cosmopolitan, as well as last February’s Fit Magazine cover.
Through www.ericafitlove.com, she offers national bootcamps ($75) and wellness coaching (starting at $90), the latter of which can include meal plans and emails or calls from Lugo for support.
That’s how Castorena shed 87 pounds since last July.
“Working with Erica has completely changed my life,” said Castorena. “She’s such a great support system and always there for me.”
Now, Lugo’s training for her first physique competition — a stark contrast from the mom, who had never been on a treadmill three years ago.
“This is the path I chose,” said Lugo. “I truly love fitness. It’s not a job or chore. I never have a problem doing it.”
About the Author