Meet Jessica

After years of being in what I thought was “good shape,” I found out I would be embarking on a new journey, motherhood. In 2006-07, I packed on 78lbs during my pregnancy with the mentality that I was “feeding two.” Considering my daughter only weighed 7lbs, it was safe to say I was fat! I only lost about 20lbs after giving birth. I went on to struggle with my weight as a stay-at-home mom the next 3.5 years. I tried all sorts of fad diets only to gain what seemed to be more weight back after I finished them.

In January 2011, I went back to work. I managed to lose about 10 lbs only to gain it back by Easter. I was going through some life-changing events at the time and had been following a good friend with envy as she gained the lean and sexy body I had been wanting my whole life. After a few chats with her and some research about her trainer, I made the call.

I started training at Underground Fitness Revolution in July 2011. I was ready to be comfortable in my own skin again. I was 26 and wouldn’t even wear a bikini! I began group training three days a week. This was no easy task! I worked 12-hour shifts in a nursing home where I was on my feet all day. On top of that I was a full time student, single mom, and the commute to the gym was 55 minutes one way. Yes, I said one way! I didn’t let this stop me.

My success was important to me, and I was determined to get in the BEST shape of my life. Workout days were brutal and exhausting. I had to be at work at 5am and didn’t clock out until 5:30pm. Then, I had to pick up my daughter since most days I didn’t have a sitter to keep her late, drive 55 minutes to the gym, train, drive 55 minutes back home, feed my daughter and myself, square her away for the night, do some homework as needed, and then finally hit the hay only to be back up at 4am for work the next day. So when I say BRUTAL I am not joking.

The training at UFR was different than anything I had ever done before. People thought I was crazy for making such a long drive just to workout. I got more from three high-intensity total-body metabolic workouts in one week than I had previously in an entire month at the gym. I could feel myself getting stronger each week and see my body changing. I finally understood what it meant to lose inches rather than just pounds. The atmosphere was icing on the cake. The other clients were always pushing me. I actually began to look forward to training just so I could see everyone. Sure I could have found some local low key gym and tried to reach my goals but even the local personal trainer in my area couldn’t offer me this level of training.

There were times when I would find myself trying to make excuses and almost miss a class because I was “too tired,” then I would somehow end up in front of a mirror and be reminded of my goals and off to train I would go.

The first few months were where I really struggled. I was making all of my training sessions but my nutrition was not on key. I was horrible at letting temptation get the best of me and would confess those empty promises to myself that I would do better next time.

In September, I started a meal plan called The Meal Movement. It was then that I learned what eating clean and portion control was all about. The weight started to just fall off. Before I knew it, I had lost 20+ pounds. The results were nothing but MOTIVATION.

I have been eating “clean” since then. During this time I also developed a new passion for nutrition and fitness. I realized quickly how much I want to help others reach their goals and to provide inspiration to busy moms. I also found how much strength training intrigued me and that being strong was what I wanted. I started reading various articles and books all the while educating myself on what it takes to be fit and fabulous.

While finding this new passion a door was opened up for me. I began asking Nate about different ways I could help others and become more involved with UFR. I wanted to help other clients find the motivation I had and help them celebrate their results. While these decisions were still in the air we had an unexpected emergency. Nate was hospitalized for over-hydrating himself several hours after the Tough Mudder. With training sessions still scheduled and no one else available to train there was only one solution. I was going to get a taste of training whether I was ready or not. We sat in the hospital room that night and wrote the workout for the next day. I was about as nervous as I had ever been by the time our 9am class arrived.

Thankfully, I was familiar with most of the clients and after explaining the situation they were happy to work with me as their trainer. I had a blast that day getting to know the clients better and found that being “thrown to the wolves” was actually beneficial. I was able to decide without a doubt that this was a job meant for me. I wanted to help as many people possible reach their goals and offer any advice along the way that I could.

I want to help people reach their goals and understand that a busy schedule is no excuse. If it’s important to you, you will find a way. As the old saying goes, “if there’s a will there’s a way.” Yes, it will be hard. Yes, you will encounter failures along the way as I have too. However, let failure be motivation – not just another excuse to give up.

These days I train hard and eat right. That’s it! No, “I’ll do better tomorrows” or “it’s only one piece of candy.” I have goals and I aim to achieve them. Preferably sooner than I have given myself time for. Just because we become “mommy’s” doesn’t mean we have to stop caring about ourselves. I want to be in the best shape of my life so that I can be the BEST for my daughter.

Jessica