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Call: (315) 382-3391
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My Struggle
In my 20s I was the queen of not being able to find a "happy medium." Everything was always "go big or go home." Anyone who has tried to maintain that lifestyle knows that it cannot last for a very long time. That is how I was when it came to exercise and eating right. In my late 20s I was doing 3 hours of cardio a day- 2 hours of zumba or an hour of zumba, an hour of cardio kickboxing and then an hour or more at the gym. On top of that I was working 2 jobs and maintaining a healthy social life and dating. So it wasn't much of a surprise when I lost 65 pounds. I looked great, felt great and was getting a ton of acknowledgment for all of my hard work. I even landed a new boyfriend to boot. My momentum was astonishing but definitely not something that I could keep up forever. When you approach your 30s and find yourself in a stable committed relationship, a job that you love and home/personal obligations- it is hard to find the time and energy to devote to all of that exercise. So naturally, I did what most people did: I stopped and all of the balls that I was juggling fell to the ground. I was able to maintain the weight loss for about a year. Then I got pregnant and the good eating habits began to give way to indulging on cravings and then the numbers on the scale crept up. I was pregnant and healthy so I really wasn't paying much mind to it. Then the unthinkable happened and a little more than halfway through the pregnancy we lost our son to a heart defect. It was the hardest, saddest and most traumatic time of my life. I turned inward and shut down. Basically, I was a zombie and became very depressed. Fortunately, I did get the help I needed to mentally heal but I never emotionally and physically healed. I stopped hanging out with friends and going out. I no longer had any motivation to work out and the downward spiral continued. Once in a while I would crash diet for an event I needed to wear a dress for but never at the level that I should have been. Besides, I was comfortable in my relationship and did not feel the urge to kill myself with the grueling regimen. In my head I rationalized that if I could not do it at the level I was previously working out- then it wasn't worth it at all.
Fast forward 4 years- some job, schedule and lifestyle changes and I was almost at the weight that I was before I lost the 65 pounds. My stomach area was pitiful. I kept buying clothes, I hated the way that I looked in the mirror. I did not feel good about myself or the way that I looked. Naturally, my relationship was suffering because of it too. I knew that I had to do something but due to my work schedule and my sheer lack of motivation I felt helpless and hopeless. Then I was on Facebook one night scrolling through my news feed and saw a post from an acquaintance about a health and fitness challenge group. My interest was piked but I still was lacking motivation and doubtful that I could do whatever the challenge entailed due to my long hours at work. I had "liked" and commented on her Facebook post and she had sent me a private message. This "she" was Chelsea and she is a Beachbody Coach. We messaged back and forth and I told her my issues- the fact that I felt I needed a high intensity workout but did not think that any program that I could do at home would deliver. A couple weeks went by and Chelsea checked back in but I was still skeptical. Then just shortly after the New Year I had had enough. The next time Chelsea checked in with me I told her I was ready to get serious. Shortly after that I placed an order for the Insanity Max:30 challenge pack. It fulfilled my needs for an intense workout, and a portioned meal plan.
Fast forward 4 years- some job, schedule and lifestyle changes and I was almost at the weight that I was before I lost the 65 pounds. My stomach area was pitiful. I kept buying clothes, I hated the way that I looked in the mirror. I did not feel good about myself or the way that I looked. Naturally, my relationship was suffering because of it too. I knew that I had to do something but due to my work schedule and my sheer lack of motivation I felt helpless and hopeless. Then I was on Facebook one night scrolling through my news feed and saw a post from an acquaintance about a health and fitness challenge group. My interest was piked but I still was lacking motivation and doubtful that I could do whatever the challenge entailed due to my long hours at work. I had "liked" and commented on her Facebook post and she had sent me a private message. This "she" was Chelsea and she is a Beachbody Coach. We messaged back and forth and I told her my issues- the fact that I felt I needed a high intensity workout but did not think that any program that I could do at home would deliver. A couple weeks went by and Chelsea checked back in but I was still skeptical. Then just shortly after the New Year I had had enough. The next time Chelsea checked in with me I told her I was ready to get serious. Shortly after that I placed an order for the Insanity Max:30 challenge pack. It fulfilled my needs for an intense workout, and a portioned meal plan.
The Turning Point
I was on Facebook one night scrolling through my news feed and saw a post from an acquaintance about a health and fitness challenge group. My interest was piqued but I still was lacking motivation and doubtful that I could do whatever the challenge entailed due to my long hours at work. I had "liked" and commented on her Facebook post and she had sent me a private message. This "she" was Chelsea and she is a Beachbody Coach. We messaged back and forth and I told her my issues- the fact that I felt I needed a high intensity workout but did not think that any program that I could do at home would deliver. A couple weeks went by and Chelsea checked back in but I was still skeptical. Then just shortly after the New Year I had had enough. The next time Chelsea checked in with me I told her I was ready to get serious. Shortly after that I placed an order for the Insanity Max:30 challenge pack. It fulfilled my needs for an intense workout, and a portioned meal plan.
The Challenge
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The days before my Challenge Pack arrived I joined Chelsea's challenge group and prepped for my program. I cleaned out the junk food and went shopping for healthy fresh foods. When the pack arrived I got ready to start the following Monday. The first workout of Insanity Max:30- I thought I was going to die. I couldn't stop coughing up all of the junk that had settled deep in my lungs and I felt terribly out of shape. I stuck with it and even felt better and was noticing a difference after the first full week. The daily Shakeology for breakfast was delicious. The portioned eating was simple, delicious and kept me satiated. About half way through the program I was feeling so good that I decided to hop on the treadmill after one of my 30 minute workouts. (I won't get into detail here about the breakdown of the program but you can check it out here.) I was never able to run more than a sprint to the next base or a few hundred yards without being severely winded and having my shins on fire. However, this time I was able to bang out a mile on the treadmill with little to no effort. I was amazed and emotional. I actually cried. I have always wanted to run a 5k and never thought that I would be able to. So I put my mind into researching what I would have to do to get that done. So I added 5k training to my daily Max:30 workout and I began to see even more progress in both areas. I completed the Max: 30 program in the 56 days. It was hard and everyday was not easy but I got through it. When it was all said and done I lost 20 pounds and 29.5 inches. However, that was just a start. Now it was time to put the real work in. You can follow my blog for clean eating recipes, workout info. and my progress.
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Paying it Forward
I had an overall positive experience having an accountability coach. That is why I went on to to become a Beachbody Coach myself in April of 2015. I am proud to say that I have helped many people achieve weight loss, make better nutrition choices, and become more active. I still continue to host monthly accountability groups and Coach people all over the United States.
My journey wasn't over yet. I always wanted to instruct group fitness so in August and September I made the leap. I got certified to instruct Cize and Turbo Kick. in February 2017 I was certified to instruct AMPD Resistance and Kettlebell AMPD in April of 2017. I instruct 7 group fitness classes a week at Towne Center Fitness Studio in Fayetteville, NY. I love instructing my classes and I love my clients. Group fitness is a great way to make a workout fun and motivating. It is so rewarding to see the smiles on clients faces when they have had a good workout or achieve something they have been working on.
My journey wasn't over yet. I always wanted to instruct group fitness so in August and September I made the leap. I got certified to instruct Cize and Turbo Kick. in February 2017 I was certified to instruct AMPD Resistance and Kettlebell AMPD in April of 2017. I instruct 7 group fitness classes a week at Towne Center Fitness Studio in Fayetteville, NY. I love instructing my classes and I love my clients. Group fitness is a great way to make a workout fun and motivating. It is so rewarding to see the smiles on clients faces when they have had a good workout or achieve something they have been working on.
Onward & Upward
In April 2017 I became a Certified Personal Trainer with the National Council of Strength & Fitness. I am Nationally Accredited and able to train clients anywhere in the United States. It was a long road; 16 months of college course work with a Certified Personal Trainer Diploma from Penn Foster University followed by a Board Exam by the National Council of Strength & Fitness. I am proud to be able to add another tool to my tool belt for helping people achieve a healthier lifestyle. I am also continuing my training and healthy practices to be the best version of me.
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The Takeaway
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If someone like me can overcome and achieve; you can too. If you are reading this and are ready to make a change but don't know where to start...I'm here to help. I will help you determine your needs and goals, set attainable and reachable milestones, and be there every step of the way. Someday is NOW.
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