Tani Nemeti’s journey to losing 100 pounds began last year in a Zumba class, like this one, at Lace Dance and Fitness in Niles. Nemeti, pictured here Thursday, said Lace was the perfect place for her because it had friendly members of all ages, weights and sizes. Leader photo/CRAIG HAUPERT

A Niles woman who lost more than 100 pounds in 2012 said the key to her success was simple — just keep going.

“That’s it,” said Tani Nemeti. “You aren’t always going to feel good. It isn’t always going to be your best day. Some days you will be tripping over your own feet. It doesn’t matter — just keep going.”

Nemeti, 37, began her weight-loss journey on Jan. 3, 2012. At the urging of a good friend, Nemeti attended a Zumba class at Lace Dance and Fitness Studio in Niles.

Having not exercised in a very long time, Nemeti said she was terrified when she walked into the studio for her first class.

“I was always going in the wrong direction and was not doing anything correctly, but I was smiling and having a good time and everyone else was smiling and having a good time,” she said. “Everyone knew I was nervous, but they made me feel welcome. They were so supportive and that was very important for me.”

Nemeti committed to attending Zumba classes at Lace four to five times a week. She stuck with it despite suffering through painful shin splints, migraines and the natural soreness that comes from exercise.

“It was tough. My body was angry with me — like it was rejecting the idea of losing weight,” said Nemeti, who changed her diet and tracked her calories using a free smart phone application. “I tried to make sure I was not eating too much, but eating enough so that my body didn’t give out on me.”

For her diet, Nemeti used the principal of “everything in moderation” rather than a specific weight loss diet plan like Weight Watchers.

“Diets don’t work for me. As soon as someone tells me I can’t have something, that’s exactly what I want,” she said.

The pounds came off quickly and after several weeks Nemeti said she began to feel better. By the time May rolled around, Nemeti said she had lost around 40 pounds.

Encouraged, she began running and working out at home in addition to attending Zumba classes.

All the hard work paid off when Nemeti checked the scale on Jan. 1, 2013. She had lost 101.5 pounds.

“I am proud of myself, but I wish I’d have done it sooner,” Nemeti said. “I feel frustrated that I wasted so many years living in that body, disappointed that I let it get as bad as it was.”

The process has come full circle for Nemeti, who now works as a licensed Zumba instructor at Lace, helping others lose weight and get excited about fitness. She credits Lace for her transformation.

“I am thankful everyday for Lace because it gave me the support I needed,” she said. “I always had the support of my family here at home, but it gave me the support of a group of people there at the studio that would make me want to come everyday.”

Anyone who brings a copy of this article to Lace Dance and Fitness will receive half off the price of their first class.