Past Tigers

What people have to say about the TIGER Study:

“I have been overweight for most of my life. At the age of nine, I was over one hundred pounds. From there, my weight ballooned. By high school, I was only five feet tall and weighed one hundred sixty pounds. I was obese. I ate whenever and whatever I wanted and didn’t care about nutrition or my health. I didn’t think losing weight was something that would ever happen to me, so I never even tried.

When I heard about the TIGER study, I decided I would give it a shot. I thought to myself “They’ll find the fat gene in me; being overweight really isn’t my fault.” However, the TIGER study isn’t just about exercising; it is also about educating. I learned so much during the TIGER study. Without a doubt, I learned more about health, nutrition, and my body during the two semesters of classes than I have in my whole life.

Once the TIGER study equipped me with education, it gave me confidence. I knew that if I made the necessary lifestyle changes and stuck with it, I would become a healthy person. The classes gave me an opportunity for exercise. Outside of the study, I used the knowledge I gained to make educated decisions about my eating habits.

Right before the study, I weighed roughly one hundred fifty pounds. By the end of the TIGER study, I lost thirty pounds. However, even though I no longer attended classes, I continued to exercise and eat right and lost more weight, ending up at one hundred five pounds.

I could not have gotten into shape without the TIGER study. Not only did it give me an opportunity to be active, but it also gave me knowledge, which led to confidence. It is a great program, and I recommend it to everyone. It has definitely changed my life for the better. I am much more active, confident, and happier now than I have ever been in my life, and I owe it to the TIGER study.”
-JAMIE THOMAS

” I think that the TIGER Study is a wonderful experience.  If you are one who needs routine and structure this is something to consider adding into your course load.  TIGER Study not only helped me physically but socially – it was a lot of fun to talk to people you might not have gotten a chance to know.  UH is a big school and being a part of the TIGER Study helps you be a part of something bigger.
-ERIN BRANNON

“Working out with the TIGER Study was always my favorite part of the day.  The instructors, as well as my classmates, were really nice and motivating.  I always looked forward to the group exercise sessions on Friday, they were challenging and fun.  The TIGER Study is a great way to make friends and stay active during the school year.”
-NICHOLE GROVER

“Being part of the TIGER Study was the best opportunity to jump-start my physical activity.  The two semesters spent in this class was a great success for my health! The TIGER staff helped me become motivated and always offered new ideas for my weight loss goals.  Exercising made me gain muscle and after the program I begun to lose weight as I would spend more time working out.  My eating habits changed and I learned that it is very important to live an active life.  I eventually lost weight and was very happy.  In order to lose weight, good eating habits need to be added to a cardio work out.  The TIGER study offers great benefits to your education that will help you through life. ”
-ANGIE VAZQUEZ

“I really enjoyed the TIGER Study.  It has really made me feel like I am in much better shape.  I have continued to work out 3 days a week this summer and plan to keep it up!  It was very helpful!”
-AUNDREA SMITH

“I hated the way I looked… every single day I woke up and looked in the mirror and saw a big BLOB on me!!! I was also self conscious every time I put on jeans or walked around campus always wearing a jacket even in hot weather.  Ever since the TIGER study I think I look great! My roommate even told me she saw a big change in how I look and also how I feel about myself and my attitude changed!”
-ZEENAT TALUKDAR

“The TIGER Study made the Rec Center seem less intimidating. TIGER-issue watches hugged most wrists in the cardio section, and you knew you were all in it together.  There was a real sense of team membership; it was not uncommon to see TIGERs motivating each other between gasps in the middle of exercising.

I don’t think most young college students are aware of their cholesterol levels.  I was surprised to see my level rise by 20 points in one semester.  It was a real wake-up call that got me to re-evaluate my eating habits and make positive changes in my diet. ”
-ADAM BARRERA

“The TIGER Study in which I participated in 2004 and 2005 proved very beneficial to me. Although I didn’t have a sedentary lifestyle so to speak, I did not participate in daily regular physical activity. Through the TIGER Study, I learnt how to measure my heart rate; I also took several assessments during the period to determine my body composition and level of physical fitness. I liked the study because it kept me exercising about 3 days a week and it was very effective to me. Overall, the TIGER Study helped me improve the quality of my life. I usually felt better after exercising and still feel the positive effects on my body. ”
-IFE IFELAYO

“The TIGER Study was a positive experience for me for many reasons.  The first was due to the knowledgeable and encouraging people conducting the study.  No question was a dumb question and they understood everyone was different, and worked with the participants.  The study raised my awareness of the benefits of exercise not only externally, but also internally.  I learned that exercising just 30 minutes a day, three times a week in my target heart rate zone helped lower my Low Density Lipoproteins (bad cholesterol) levels and raise my High Density Lipoproteins (good cholesterol) levels, which in turn helps lower my risks for cardio vascular diseases.  Another positive experience for me was becoming fit enough to jog a mile!  I had never been able to do this until I joined the study.  Due to the study I now have an everlasting love of exercise and the knowledge of its benefits to share with my family.”
-MICHELLE COVARRUBIAS

“What I liked most about the study was coming to the realization that my heart rate needed to be at a certain maintained level for a specified period of time in order to obtain optimal benefits.  Also, the food frequency questionnaire made me aware of my portion sizes and the type of food choices I often made.  Overall, it was a good experience.  One of the best things for me was being obligated to workout 3 times a week.  I couldn’t just ‘not feel like it’ one week and remain in the study.  I lost four or five pounds and my cholesterol and blood pressure levels went down, along with the inches.  It was a positive experience all around”
-LAURENCENE DORSEAU

“I especially liked the TIGER Study because it forced me to make exercise part of my daily schedule.  I thought the heart rate monitors were great motivators and definitely kept me moving!  I also enjoyed being able to compare my assessment results both at the beginning and end of the study (after 1 year).  Although I did not see exceptionally significant changes in my weight or other measurements, I did notice that my workout kept getting easier, and I simply felt better about myself and my abilities.  Since the TIGER Study, I’m proud to say I kept up with my physical activity routine and have definitely seen changes since in my weight, body fat, etc.  I think the TIGER Study was just the push I needed!  Thanks for the FABULOUS experience! ”
-SCHER MAMA

“The Tiger Study was the beginning of my physical awareness. It gave me the foundation to start exercising on my own and lose weight. It was the wake up call I needed and had the motivational tools to keep me on track. The best part was the group exercises and the fact that I completed the study. Even though I am no longer a participant in the study, the program helped me develop a lasting active lifestyle. To me it is like the t-shirt says ‘Completing the Tiger Study: Priceless.'”
-MICHELLE CASTRO

” The program helped me. During the fall semester I lost a few pounds and toned up and then during the spring I was able to maintain it.  Thanks, I had a lot of fun! ‘”
-DAPHANIE PEGRAM