Jennifer Petrie
After my annual physical in January 2015 I was surprised to not only find out how much weight I had gained that year but when my blood work came back, all my levels were higher than previous years. My doctor brushed it off by saying, “this is what happens when you get older”. This is when I realized I had to make a Lifestyle Change. I had become someone who was out of shape, overworked, stressed and most importantly I was putting myself last. As a single mother with two kids, a full and part time job, and taking additional graduate classes I always told myself I didn’t have the time to work out.
I decided I wanted to retake control of my life. It is then that I began my fitness journey. I did a lot of research and a lot of working out on my own with what I had around the house. I got up early and went to bed late, finding any time in the day to incorporate fitness. I parked far away, used the stairs and kept my body active. I also changed my eating habits. I began meal prepping and found healthy alternatives to the foods I was already eating.
In August 2015 I discovered LIFT(Live It Fitness & Training). Even though it is 40 minutes away from my home, it looked like a gym I wanted to belong to. That is where I met Jess and I began participating in boot camp classes. I quickly realized that this gym was different. It was a place where you felt empowered, supported, and women were encouraged to LIFT weights. In October I began training with Jess, Robbie and Tim. With their support the progress I have made in just a few months has been amazing. Jess continues to motivate me to always push myself and have confidence in my abilities. Overall I have lost a total of 40 lbs! Jess and LIFT has not only helped me to enhance my training by working tirelessly with me to develop new training programs and answering daily questions but Jess has also reworked my nutrition so that I am getting the most out of my training. She is also now helping me prepare for my first figure contest.
Caring for ourselves enough to make a change takes time and it isn’t easy. For me it took getting up early or working out late while the kids were sleeping. Doing whatever I could at home when I couldn’t get to the gym. It involved meal prepping 1 – 2 times a week and logging my meals every night for the next day. Packing meals every morning for a full day of work and after school events.
It can be done. It’s not a quick fix, it takes work and it’s a Lifestyle. LIFT is the perfect place for you to begin your journey! There is nothing more empowering to me when people say to me “you’re too skinny”, “you’re on a diet” or “you will get too big” and my son responds with “it’s a Healthy Lifestyle”.
