“Fitness is a journey, not destination” this is a quote most often begun with the word “life”. However, with 10 years of personal training under my belt, I’ve realized that this most certainly applies to the fitness world. My day started at 5:30 this morning with many hours of training to follow taking my last client at 5:30 p.m. Anxious to give my last kick-ass session for the day and hurry home to my sweet baby girl, I did not forsee that my last client would enter the door with a serious problem.

Dragging from a long day with only one small cup of coffee for support, she walked into the studio to see me pumping out pull-ups and push-ups (better than a jolt of caffeine is an abrupt spike in the heart rate). What’s the problem? Well, not much other than it conjured up thoughts and demons she was already fighting for the day, weeks, years? I see it all the time. Many people think that fitness is as easy as workout + eat less= weight loss success! Well, maybe for  someone who has never struggled with weight issues or food addiction, but for me and this individual the road to fitness was not as simple.

She asked me with a giggle, ” How do you do it? How do you stay so consistent?” to which I replied ” I don’t.” Before we could constructively finish that conversation, her giggle disappeared and her eyes welled up in tears. To the office, I swept her away from the training floor. It was time for a one-on-one heart-to-heart. After several minutes of listening to her speak of her past, seeking approval and love from others through her physical appearance, I was able to finish my initial reply that seemed to conjure her tears. ” I don’t consistently eat perfect day to day. I don’t consistently work-out every day. The only thing I ‘consistently’ do is TRY.”

For years, I did it wrong. I worked out to be “lean” to be at a certain weight. I wasn’t concerned with how fast I could run a mile or if I could even run a mile straight. I wasn’t concerned with how strong I was, if I could do pull-ups, or how many perfect push-ups I could crank out. I wasnt concerned if my hip-flexors were so tight they were causing me to have serious SI pain everytime I had a heavy leg day. No, all I was concerned with was being 110lbs or less. Finally, I realized after having my daughter, I was focusing on the wrong thing first. My goals were superficial and even when I accomplished it, 110lbs did not last for long because what kind of accomplishment was that really? Nothing significant for sure. So, I focused on becoming a better runner to increase my endurance and won first female finisher in a 5k, the first time I ever took first in something physical in my life (at 27 years old)! Then, I wanted to conquer pull-ups. You’re not really strong until you can pull-up your entire body weight. Tomorrow, I can do 8 pull-ups (12-15 chin-ups) on cue…or die trying. My hips are nice and loose, enough so that I can log in 30 miles of running for the week with no knee pain or SI pain what so ever. Then, I didn’t worry about dieting hard-core figure competition style, but instead taking healthy foods and making them appetizing enough that my husband and picky daughter would even love these meals. And, creating a system that allowed us to have quick, healthy, home-made meals available every day of the week. Harold and Sabella love my turkey meatbals with quinoa pasta.

Seems like I’m bragging, but guess what follows all these accomplishments? Ta Da….weight loss! My average weight is 114 – 110lbs at 17 – 14 % body fat.The equation is: Endurance+Strength+Flexibility+Nutrition+Personal wellness= weight loss/health/fitness. How can you possibly get the end result without following the equation first. Well, that’s what most of us try to do first. Try it for once…do it the right way. It will change your life. As I left the studio tonight, my client thanked me which fueled my passion for fitness. I told her “I have no problem divulging the nasty truth of my issues to the road to fitness if it can help others, because I wasn’t always this person. My 27 yr old self kicks my 18 yr old self’s ass”…easily, she couldn’t run a quarter mile to save her life, but that’s ok…I’m taking care of her now.

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