Anna: The Only Bad Workout is the One You Didn’t Do!

Today I want to introduce you to a lady who’s a go getter, never meets a stranger, motivates everyone around her and is very direct.  (I like direct)  Anna was one of my first Boot Campers when I opened back in 2015.  I’ll never forget that 5:50 P.M. class.  They pushed each other hard and had a great time while doing it.  Anna did great until the Holidays 2015 and she disappeared.  In July of 2016 Anna reappeared with a ferociousness I hadn’t seen before.  She attacked workouts and started changing her diet and before long I would look out at the group working out and I remember thinking who’s the new lady doing squats.  It wasn’t a new lady, it was a shrinking Anna!  This is Anna’s story:

How long have you been exercising consistently?

I’ve been at it since the end of last July (2016) this time.   I actually started in April 2015-December 2015 and well…..the holidays lasted about 7 months.

What influenced your decision to get dedicated and be consistently active?

I finally got tired of my size.  I quit smoking 3 years ago and gained around 70lbs.  When I started to wear sweatpants everyday because of nothing else fitting, it was time for a change. 

How much weight/inches/jean sizes have you lost?

I’ve lost around 55lbs.  I’ve gone from a 22 in jeans (at my biggest) to a current size 10/12.   

How much stronger are you?

When I started I couldn’t do 1 normal pushup and maybe 5 chair jumps.  Now I can do about 7 in row pushups and haven’t counted chair jumps but it’s definitely more than 5.

What all do you do to stay active?

Expect Fitness Results boot camp and this crazy notion to run a marathon. 

What are some of your biggest barriers to staying active and how do you overcome those barriers?

My biggest barriers are injuries and sometimes just plain don’t want too.  I’ve learned with injuries that it is ok to rest.  If you don’t you won’t be doing anything.  As far as the don’t want to….That’s when I always try to go.  I know that’s when I need to be active the most.

Since becoming consistent with your exercise, what’s the biggest change you see in yourself physically and mentally?

My endurance and my mental state, LOL.  Exercising is truly cheaper than therapy. 

How would you classify your current eating habits?

Right now, it’s a toss-up between good and bad.  LOL

Do you have a specific diet/eating strategy that you follow?

Specifically, I try to NOT to eat breads, pastas, etc.  I love proteins and fats.  I struggle with getting good carbs (veggies).   I also eat a lot of tuna and chicken salads.

Do you have a favorite go to healthy meal or food?

I love cauliflower cheese sticks, spaghetti squash pizza, and chicken with a slice of bacon, shredded cheese and guacamole (for Lunch). 

Do you have advice for someone contemplating starting a fitness/weight loss journey or advice for someone struggling to stay motivated?

For someone starting a fitness journey just do what you can.  We all have been there and no one will ever judge you because you can only do 5 push-ups.  We are happy to see you coming and trying.  Once you get over the soreness work on progressing.  Advice to someone struggling to stay motivated: The days you don’t want to do it the most are the days you need to DO IT the most.  We all struggle from day to day, week to week.  “The only bad workout is the one that didn’t happen.”

I want to thank Anna for sharing.  Several things you can take from Anna if you’re thinking about starting a weight loss program.  Number one, if you’ve ever started and quit it’s never too late to return.  As Anna’s shown the second time is a charm!  Number two, it’s not about where you start your fitness journey but about the progress you make.  If you can only do two push-ups right now, in two months you’ll be able to do 10, 15, or 50 it’s all up to YOU!  Number three, make yourself go on the days you don’t want to.  Even if you crawl through it, the only bad workout is the one that didn’t happen.  Last, attack your workouts and diet with the ferociousness of a LION!  The intensity you approach a goal with will determine how quick you see results.  Thanks again to Anna for sharing her fitness story.  If you’ve been thinking about starting your own fitness journey I hope Anna’s story inspires you to get started!