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Beaverdale Fitness Family Provides Encouragement and Motivation
At the age of 29 I gave up a very unhealthy lifestyle, which included smoking and lots of doughnuts, — to become an avid runner. I started running 5K’s and 10K’s then became an addicted marathoner. When I was 34 I gave birth to my beautiful daughter Taylor, who was born severely disabled and is totally dependent.
If I was obsessed with running before, after Taylor was born it became an even more important stress release for me. It was my therapy so to speak. I pushed myself hard and let all my emotions out through running then it all came to a halt after I completed the Twin Cities Marathon when I was 39 I had a foot injury that needed surgery. Over the next four years I was unable to run without pain. I tried walking, biking, and lifting on my own I couldn’t find anything that gave me the release of running. I gained weight and became very unhappy with myself. Then my husband, Keith, told me about a friend at work whose wife had completed the Farrell’s Extreme Bodyshaping 10-week program and how great she looked and felt. I wanted to do it but taking care of our daughter is a 24/7 one-on-one job. Leaving her for any amount of time other than work was extremely hard for me. I had a lot of guilt about leaving Taylor for what I felt was a selfish need. But then I realized that it wasn’t selfish if I would be happier with myself…I would be a better mother. This was something I truly wanted to do for me and needed to do for me.
After talking it over Keith and I decided we could do this for 10 weeks if I did it in the evening during Taylor’s “dad and me time”. I talked a friend into doing the 10-week challenge with me. After the first day I was hooked. That was a little over four and half years ago.
I completed the 10 weeks without missing a day and much to my surprise won the 10-week $1,000 challenge. I initially thought I would just work out on my own at home after the challenge, but I realized it wouldn’t be the same. So I signed up for the year. I still went six days a week and couldn’t even fathom missing a day (still can’t). After several months I was able to start running again without pain! This was a huge thing for me being the addicted runner I was.
After a year I was finally talked into becoming an instructor— a huge step out of my comfort zone. I was a person who would faint and break out in hives when I had to get up in front of people. But Farrell’s not only gave me a healthy body it also gave me self-confidence. I have also had the honor of coaching. I have seen so many people gain self-confidence, energy and just plain happiness in a short time by making the choice to become fit. It is a choice! The joy I get from seeing people reach their goals is immeasurable. It is the reason I instruct and coach. It truly is amazing to see the transformation in each and every person who goes through this program…and I feel very blessed to be a part of it.
Over the past 14 years, Taylor has become my hero and inspiration to stay fit and healthy. She is my reminder every day not to take for granted the simple things such as walking, running, eating by mouth, or even picking up an object with my hand for granted. There are no guarantees in life. These simple things can be taken away in a split second.
One of the biggest lessons I have learned over these past four years that we ALL have time to stay fit and healthy. It truly is a choice. I have an extremely busy life taking care of my daughter, working and instructing but I rarely miss a workout and am now training three or four days a week for a figure bodybuilding competition. We all can make time for something that is truly important to us. Staying healthy and being able to take care of my daughter in our home for many years to come is the most important thing in my life and, Farrell’s is helping me do it!
Special thank you to Holly Passick and my Beaverdale Farrell’s friends who are truly my chosen family–and my J-town coach, Javier, and training friends)…couldn’t do it without you guys…mentally and physically you give me so much encouragement and strength. Love you all!
