Hi Allison! Please tell us about yourself!

My name is Allison Rogers and I am a mother of 4 boys and 1 girl.  Tyler 25, Brandon 23, Matt 20, Alyssa 15 and Aaron 10.  I have been married to a wonderful man named David for 17 years on April 23.  We have been blessed to be able to take his, hers and our kids and make a wonderful, close family. 

FullSizeRender-6In 1996 I received my Bachlors degree in Accounting and worked for the Municipality of Anchorage for almost 10 years.  During that time, I started an accounting business; I only had a couple clients and did it as a side job.  In 2008 David and I decided to incorporate and make this my full time job.  Currently I have 3 employees and have the privilege to work several small businesses around town with their accounting needs.  Again, I am blessed to have such wonderful clientele.  As for hobbies, I love to scrapbook, travel, and work out.  

You’ve been working with FF for a long time. What initially motivated you to seek us out?

I searched high and low for a more personal type workout facility.  I tried gyms and knew they didn’t fit my needs.  I have had trainers come to my house and train with David and myself at 6 am; For whatever reason they didn’t work out. 

I have all the needed items to workout at home, I have the P90X and Insanity and many other home workouts, but again this doesn’t work for me long term.  I found FF on craigslist, I called and got the bootcamp information.  I looked up FF on the internet and was impressed by the testimonials, but the picture of Steph really kinda scared me.  She seemed very intimidating.  But when I talked to her, she was very kind and reassuring. 

Do you remember your first workout with us? What was it like?

My first bootcamp, it was scary. Trying something new by myself was a big step for me.  But I was hooked after the first class.  I wish I knew how to explain the hook, but I can’t. 

I think because it was something I had never done before; it was intimidating, challenging and hard.  But Steph was very encouraging and motivating. There is something about her that makes me want to push myself harder.  I remember doing the tire jumps as a station, and Jessica Lumba was just jumping up and down like it was nothing and I was struggling to get 1 to her 3.  I was thinking to myself I am never going to be able to jump a tire like that.  She must have seen the lost look in my eye and told me, you will get it and she was right, I can know jump a tire without wanting to die.

IMG_6393You’re a business owner, wife, and a mother. Do you have any tips for successfully juggling, family, work, and fitness?

This is always a challenge.  I am fortunate that I have a supportive family on all aspects.  My success is best when I have planned the week; my work, my food, my workouts, and my family.  Each week is different and I have to be willing to be flexible.  If my daughter has a volleyball game in the evening that will cause me to miss a 6pm workout, I go at 6 am.  My job has different timelines each week; my kids have different activities, etc.  If I plan accordingly, I am successful.  

 What are a few of the most important diet and exercise related habits you’ve developed over the years?

Keep moving and don’t stop.  Although I have done bootcamps for at least 7 years, it is still a challenge.  I get stronger with each session, which allows me to push myself.  Take care of your body, epsom salt baths, ice packs, time off to heal, listen to your body, but not always your mind.  Your mind will tell you to quite before your body does.  

 You’re a part of both small group and boot camp. What are some of your favorite things about those programs?

Community is what I love at about small group and bootcamp.  Small group is fantastic and so glad to be a part of it.  There is so much encourgement and growth in small group.  The growth and the encouragement isn’t only in workouts or nutrition.  The discussions are personal and caring, it is a great opportunity to get to know people.  Boot camps are awesome and there is encouragement there too.  It is pretty interesting being part of both – how great they are, and how different as well.   

How about a few of your favorite muscle groups to work? How about exercises? 

I love working my lower body.  I have strong lower body and love watching the weights go up each time I lift.  My favorite lower body exercises are deadlifts and bar bell squats.  

 You successfully finished our Winter Transformation Challenge earlier this month. What are a few things you learned about yourself during that Challenge? Any new habits?

For so long I really thought I could out train a diet, this challenge I finally stepped out of my own “knowledge” and started to be accountble to Steph with a weekly check in.  She worked with me on my macros and it really worked.  I had heard that lifting weights was a necessary for fat loss and until I started lifting I wasn’t really sure.  I saw great results in the challenge by listening to the expert.  

unspecified-2I have had to equate the knowledge of the FF coaches to my knowledge of accounting.  I have told clients new and old to be successful in their business their accounting needs to be in order.  I have had clients come in and drop off boxes of receipts and need financial information in a week.  I laugh, but I get it done, but it also costs them a lot of money.  If they would just bring their stuff monthly or quarterly, it would cost so much and they really would do much better in their business.  

The coaches at FF really know what they are talking about and really do know how to help each and everyone one of us get to our goal.  But we have to trust them, and sadly we sometimes think we know better.  And if we would just trust them from the start we would get to the results faster.  Sadly, I am still learning. 

 What are a few goals you have for 2016?

A few goals for 2016 – get back to my accountability to FF and take my own advice.  Trust the system, no matter how hard it may be, when you fall down, get back up and keep moving.

I have a daughter that I want to learn these lessons earlier in life and not in her mid 30’s to 40’s, like me.  I want to be a role model to her and others.  If my struggles can help someone now, I am happy to know that I have helped. 

Sometimes we all think we are the only ones with struggles, fears, hopelessness, and we are not.  Remember, someone has been through what you are going through and they can understand the struggles. You are not alone!