My story starts BEFORE I discovered Texas Fit Chicks. I have ALWAYS had to watch my weight, but have ALWAYS been active…dancing when I was younger and an aerobics instructor for 6 years before I had my first child. After my first child was born (he’s 19 now), I picked up bike riding and rode the MS150 in 2000 with my Dad! What a great experience that was. I continued to ride my bike for exercise for the next several years. I attended Weight Watchers and became a Lifetime Member in 2008. For the next 3 years I maintained my weight and was really happy. Then 2011 came….work got really bad and I was just exhausted all the time and was fed up with exercising and watching every little thing that went into my mouth. For the next 3 years, I didn’t eat well and exercised sporadically. Well…all that got me was a 60 pound weight gain and MANY aches and pains.
In December 2014, I had hit rock bottom. I felt horrible physically and mentally! A friend of mine called me one day and asked if I would go to “this boot camp”. She had seen a Groupon and didn’t want to do it alone. My first response was “Absolutely not! That is crazy. I’ve heard about these boot camps and…exercising outside…Nope…not for me” She stayed at me until I gave in and we attended our first Texas Fit Chicks boot camp in January 2015.
That first month was brutal and I kept telling myself “This is crazy! I’m too old for this!! There isn’t any way I am going to continue after my month is up”. I was 47 at the time. Well, I absolutely adored the trainer (Kerry Walsh) and just fell in love with the group! I had also started seeing some results…small, but results all the same. The support and encouragement from Kerry and the group was and still is amazing. I was hooked and decided to try it for 3 months and here I am today! That was year and a half ago.
I wish I could say that my story ends there, but it doesn’t. On February 18, 2016, I rushed to get to boot camp…as usual. We were warming up (doing the dreaded jumping jacks…I hate jumping jacks) and I felt something in my right knee pop. I couldn’t even put any weight on it. I had been ignoring some pain in my knee for months. If I’ve learned anything, it’s LISTEN TO YOUR BODY! I went to the doctor the next day and was diagnosed with a torn outer meniscus.
I was crushed and spent a couple of weeks feeling sorry for myself until Kerry “got a hold of me”. She wouldn’t let me give up! She encouraged me to put together my own workouts including the things I could still do. Mostly upper body and ab work which was cleared by my doctor. She also said to concentrate on what I COULD control which was my nutrition. Now, this has NEVER been my strong point and still isn’t, but I DID try and I have improved…including actually liking Green Smoothies!!!
I had surgery on March 28, 2016. I gave myself a week to recover and then I was back at it, again with doctors clearance. I was not about to throw away everything I had worked my butt off to gain!! I put several workouts together that I could do sitting in a chair. Over the last 2 months I have gradually added more and more into my workouts and am now up to 40 minutes on the elliptical 3-4 times a week and 2-3 strength training workouts a week. I haven’t lost any more weight but I have been able to maintain and get even stronger! I know with better nutrition (I’m still working on it) I would have actually lost weight. With some modifications, I feel like I’m ready to get back to camp (June 2016).
I never could have done this without the constant encouragement and support from Kerry and my fellow chicks! Kerry never let a week go by without checking on me. I was able to stay in touch with the group through our private Facebook page! This made ALL the difference in the world! I also made myself post my workouts just to keep myself accountable. This journey has not been easy by any means, but the pouring out of support from my fellow chicks and trainer has been incredible!! Texas Fit Chicks saved me from a downward spiral that I couldn’t seem to stop on my own! Don’t ever tell yourself that you CAN’T do something! Anything is possible if you put your mind to it!”
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