A supportive mother, a helpful grandmother, a hard-worker . . . these descriptors feel almost two-dimensional compared to the highly competent, effective, and self-motivated woman who they describe.

Chris came to me, not as a client, but as my Content & Communications Coordinator. She and I had worked together at a previous job before I started a family . . and because she had been such an excellent worker, I snagged her up as soon as she retired.

A follower of our FB and IG posts, I knew that the message of The Fittest Me resonated with her. Nonetheless, when we see ourselves a certain way, a new path doesn't always feel like an option. In fact, she hadn't even considered herself as a candidate for our studio until I asked if there was a way that I could help her. She had tried the YMCA and Curves for 6-months at a time, but had become discouraged and quit.

In fact, she had done more than just quit the gyms . . . she had given up hope. She had lost weight beforehand, but always went back to her old habits. As a single mom of three, she'd had her share of life stressors, including holding down multiple jobs for decades just to keep food on the table. Overeating and inactivity became the norm. And reversing those habits became a difficult task.

What is different this time around?
Chris: "Accountability. I need someone to be accountable to."

In that case, she's in the right place . . . and it shows. Chris has completely embraced the new habits that she's acquiring. She works out between our private training sessions, walks the walk with her food choices, and has become a leader within her own family for healthy eating.

Thinking back to one of our early sessions, I recall her chuckling about her grandkids nudging her: "hey grandma, your Apple watch is telling you to move around!" Instead of getting up, she'd just wave her arm around while still seated to get it to stop bugging her. I can barely conjure that woman in my mind. Because the one we train now is the one who is prodding her family to get moving.

And even more than her increased activity, is how completely transformed she is with how she relates to and manages food. She plans and packs snacks whenever she'll be away from home, and even politely declines meals if they don't measure up to her standards of high quality whole foods with lean protein and plenty of fresh vegetables. Even at the highly challenging block/church potluck, her ironclad, meal-prep skills protect her. Whereas before she would not have given a thought to what or how much she ate . . . nor considered how the food made her feel, now she stands back as an observer. At a recent picnic, as she watched others grab food and shove it mindlessly into their mouths, she sat back and felt extreme gratitude for how far she has come . . . knowing that only two months beforehand, she would have been one of the mindless eaters. Instead, she slowly ate her grapes and silently asked the others: "What are you doing? You're not even enjoying yourself."

It's a mindset shift that Chris has made . . . and it is becoming woven throughout her days and her life. It is a shift that is transforming how she sees herself, how her body feels, and how she relates to the world.

You are truly an inspiration, Chris. And anyone who is lucky to call you their friend, mom, or grandmother, benefits from all the changes you are making towards a better life.

It is my pleasure to be part of your journey.

-Coach Rebecca