This was a letter sent to me from a client who recently went through three months of online personal training with me. In these three months she went from doing hours of cardio to pushing herself in the weight room to achieve a lean, toned body. She also went from following a strict calorie deficit diet to making clean eating recipes, feeling great and even eliminating symptoms of ulcerative colitis. Training Katie online has been a wonderful experience, but I would like to share her story with you. Also, she has ask to keep her photos private. I wish I could share them, but I respect my clients’ privacy.
Dear Kyra,
Although I know you have asked me to write a “Success” story regarding my last 3 months spent participating in #Commit2Fit, online personal training, I would like to consider my story a “Work In Progress” story. I believe this category of story is more suitable to my experience over the last few months because I AM NOT DONE YET! I want to keep going! I want to continue to eat healthy, gain muscle, and be the most athletic and happy person I can be. I believe the term “success” sounds like the end result of a goal, where as I am still striving to achieve something better and new each day. My time spent working with you through the #Commit2Fit has completely changed the way I view fitness and nutrition. I have gone from running 8 miles a day and an empty fridge to strength training workouts, HIIT, and fridge full of the week’s clean eating recipes. I have more energy, a better attitude, and know I am leading a much healthier lifestyle. Basically, why would I want to stop this feeling?
The reason I initially signed up for the #Commit2Fit, online personal fitness training, was because I knew I needed a change. After running for years on end, my body had become sore and broken down. The same miles that were so easy before were becoming difficult. I wanted a break from running and wanted to build muscle, so that I could return stronger than ever. I looked to fitness magazines and blogs for guidance. I wanted the body of an Oxygen covermodel; appearing strong, healthy, and still feminine. After reading fitness blog after blog, it seemed as though there was a recurring theme; the models were never doing cardio for hours on end or eating only a piece of lettuce. I didn’t know what I was doing wrong. Even after years of exercising and educating myself about food, I still had the formula for “healthiness and strength” incorrect. After stumbling upon Kyra Williams Fitness on Facebook, my journey towards healthiness began. I began reading the Kyra’s status updates and emails and knew you and I were on the same page. When #Commit2Fit, online personal training, was revealed for the new year, I knew I wanted to join. The year 2013 was, and still is, my year of change. I coined it my “rebuilding” year.
What drew me the most to join #Commit2Fit was the fact that it was catered specifically to me. Since it was not my first time stepping foot in a gym, I was not looking for someone to make sure I completed the daily workout plan; rather, I wanted someone to push me to lift as much as I could for 8 reps. Little did I know, this would be followed by 10 burpees, 20 situps, and then repeated 3 more times. I LOVED IT! Each day was something different and for the first time in years, I felt challenged. I was sweating and out of breath during my workouts. It felt AMAZING! I knew that these workouts were meant for me and the goals I was trying to achieve. The “element of surprise” was another factor that kept me motivated. No workout was ever the same; I can certainly say I was never bored with this program. Each night I logged into the website and jotted down the exercises for the next day. It became almost like a game.
Although I ended up dealing with a shoulder injury for the entire 3 months, I still made it through and tried to complete the #Commit2Fit daily workout plan the best I could. I did this because it made me feel strong! Modifications were made, and that was ok. I was never made to feel as though I was not completing the workout or a failure. I can honestly say I never missed a workout (except after surgery). The #Commit2Fit online personal training workouts have become part of my daily routine. I would feel lost if I didn’t have my piece of paper with me to show me what I was doing for the day.
My diet lifestyle has been another area of my health that has undergone quite the renovation. My previous diet consisted of 0% greek yogurt for at least 2 meals a day, some berries, and usually some type of veggie and jello for dinner. No fat during the day if I could help it. I also drank at least 64oz of diet soda a day and 24oz of coffee doused with Splenda. Looking back on it, this is not even real food. After joining the online personal training program and talking with Kyra, I changed my diet, almost immediately. I knew it needed an overhaul, but I did not feel like putting the effort into cooking, cleaning, and making meals ahead of time. Today, if you are to look in my fridge, it is stocked with chicken, eggs, tons of veggies an clean eating recipes. I even eat fats now. I love the lifestyle of “clean eating”. I no longer drink diet soda and have not used one of those yellow Splenda packets since January. I have also noticed drastic improvements with my health because of this lifestyle change. For 9 years, I have dealt with ulcerative colitis. I was always told it was not linked to my diet; I was taking medicine several times a week to keep the symptoms at bay. Recently, I noticed that I have been able to go nearly 2 weeks with no medication and no symptoms. Amazing! Thank you CLEAN EATING!
Without your coaching through #Commit2Fit, online personal training, I know I would not have made the lifestyle changes that I have made today. In general, I am a very type A person, but for some reason, I felt I could trust you from day 1. I felt relief in the fact that you (at one point) seemed to have struggled with the same notions of “what is fit and healthy”. Needless to say, I thought the coaching through the program was excellent. Although we have never personally met, I always felt as though you were looking out for my best interest and the goals I wanted to achieve. I trusted you. I loved the ability to check in through email each week. This forced me to acknowledge what I was doing each week (whether good or bad).
I also thought the weekly telephone calls were great. I almost wish those were weekly! Often times it is not easy to type an email trying to express a concern or question, but the ability to have 20 minutes of personal phone time was just what I needed. Hearing a voice on the other end also made the “online personal training” that much more real. I often wondered if you spent that much time offering helpful advice to all your clients, or was I just the lucky one you liked the most .
With the ability to check in with you on a weekly basis, I did not take full advantage of the Accountability groups. Although I am sure many clients might find them extremely helpful, I was pretty self-motivated to stay on track.
If given the opportunity to be a part of #Commit2Fit, online personal fitness training, I would absolutely love to join again. Since my friends and family are constantly asking for workout for weightloss tips, I think #Commit2Fit would be right up their alley as well.
As previously stated, I am still a “work in progress”. I have just started to make positive changes in my life and would like to continue to head down the right path. Although I am pretty sure I have the diet portion nailed down, I still need those daily workouts tailored to my goals. Furthermore, with my shoulder on the mend, I can’t wait to attack those weights with no pain! Round 2 will be a whole ‘nother ballgame!!
Needless to say, with everything that I have learned over these past 3 months, I can’t imagine what I will be saying in the 3 months that follow.
Thank you again for everything!
Katie
What can I help you with?
Get the details about the next #Commit2Fit program coming up and let me help you reach your goals!
Your Coach,
Kyra