Hi Kami, how long have you worked with FF and what motivated you to seek us out? 

I began working out with FF in December of 2014, so just about 11 months now.  It was just after Thanksgiving a year ago and I stepped on the scale and couldn’t believe how much I weighed.  My weight was creeping up and my clothes were becoming too tight and I was frustrated and feeling desperate.  I had to do something.  I had heard of FF by a couple of great ladies that I had met and they raved about FF.  So I gave Steph a call, went to my first bootcamp, and haven’t looked back.

In that time, what have been a few of your accomplishments?

So many accomplishments in the past 11 months!  I have lost about 24 pounds, went from 25% body fat to 14.8%, gained a lot of muscle and muscle definition, gained strength and stamina.  Went from a size 8-10 to a 2-4.

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The majority of the cellulite that was taking over my lower half is gone.  I can climb a rope and do pull ups!  My energy is through the roof.  Just so many amazing physical benefits.  And the mental benefits are amazing as well.  I feel strong, in control, more calm and less anxious, that I can do anything I put my mind to.

You’re a big advocate of strength training, and you regularly attend small group personal training as well as private personal training.  What can you share about your experience with weight training?

I love weight training!  I have lifted weights off and on over the years and it is the best thing one can do to change the shape of your body.  Weight training combined with a proper diet will give you a lean body with muscle definition.  There just is no other way.  It is very empowering to be able to lift weights, and heavier weights at that.

You have such a calm, and confident demeanor.  How has your body changed over the last 11 months?  How about your mindset?  

My body has changed in so many ways.  The weight loss, more importantly to me the fat loss, the increased strength, the muscle definition, looking more athletic and fit.  Big increases in stamina.  So much energy!

My mindset has changed as well.  I really do feel more calm in general, happier, experiencing more joy, and confident.  Things don’t bother me as much.  I try not to give negative thoughts or emotions too much time in my head.  I feel more authentic, that the real me is coming out.

You are one of our recent Fall Transformation Challenge winners.  What are some of the things you learned during this last 8-week challenge?

I learned I can do anything I set my mind to!  There were certainly days that I was tired, grumpy, hungry, tired of packing food, packing clothes, hauling stuff around.

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With work, FF Bootcamps, small group training, personal training, daily yoga (30 consecutive days of yoga was one of my goals), most weekdays would start at 5 am and end at 9:30.  But it also energized me.  I definitely feel that which doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger.  It is in the doing it, the accomplishment of it, the not giving up, that is so rewarding.

What goals did you achieve during the Transformation Challenge?  And why were these so important to you?

Goal # 1: Lose scale weight and get to 135 lbs or lower, and lose body fat and get below 16%.

I achieved this goal and went from 139.6 lbs to 128.8 lbs.  Body fat went from 18.4 % to 14.8%.

This is important to me because I want to have a lean, muscular physique, and in order for this to happen, the body fat has to decrease, and the weight along with it.

Goal # 2: Schedule a missions trip.  This is important to me because I have always felt a calling to serve others.  There is something within me that knows this is my calling.  That voice has become harder to ignore.  For many fear based reasons I put it off (work responsibilities, financial reasons, feeling the need to have the approval of others, do I have the skills needed, etc.) Making it a written down goal, and a verbalized goal, really helped me to move forward with this.

Goal # 3:  Complete the 30 day yoga challenge at Anchorage Yoga and continue yoga 3 days a week after the 30 days.  I did accomplish this.  I began yoga about two years ago but was only going once or twice a week.  I love the physical challenge and benefits of hot yoga, but especially love it for its meditative and mind calming effects.  As some of you know, I have some flexibility issues (very inflexible!) so wanted to see if I could increase my flexibility with daily practice.  Well, there were some minor flexible improvements, but not dramatic.  Not all of us were made to be flexible, and I’m learning to accept that. But I did feel quite mellow and relaxed during the 30 day challenge.  I highly recommend it!

There is a misconception out there that strength training makes a woman “bulky.”. That’s clearly not the case with you.  What advice can you vice to a woman who is afraid to lift weights?

Do not be afraid!  Embrace it!  I just don’t understand where that misconception comes from!  Lifting weights will help to shape, sculpt, define your muscles, and will help to burn fat.  It will make you look leaner, not bulkier.

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We worked really hard together to nail your macros and make improvements to your diet during this recent Transformation  Challenge and it really paid off.  How has your nutrition changed over the last 11 months?  What helps you stick to a healthy eating plan?  

The nutrition aspect is so important!  Once I sought out nutrition advice from Steph 11 months ago, and followed that advice, the weight and fat just came off.  The key for me has been sticking to my macros.  When I hit my macros on a consistent basis, the weight/fat comes right off.

These days I tend to see food as fuel for my body and for my workouts.  My eating is not a random response to hunger anymore (or anger, or stress, or emotions).  I plan my meals and prep them ahead of time so I always know what I am going to eat.  This keeps me on track and out of trouble!  And honestly logging on MyFitnessPal keeps me on track as well.  It helps me to know exactly where I am at with my macros.

But I will readily admit that I do have some bad times or days and eat way too much or things I shouldn’t.  But I try to not beat myself up about it.  I make peace with these moments, or days, and move on.  Guilt is a destroyer.  I don’t give it too much airtime in my head anymore.

We all have days where our motivation wanes, and we don’t feel like chasing our goals.  How do you feel inspired and motivated day in and day out?

For me, I just feel so great physically and mentally and that motivates me.  I think back to how I felt a year ago, before starting FF, and never want to go back to that place.  I didn’t like how I looked or felt, and that is a very strong motivator for me.

Once in a while I will try on a pair of pants that are too big for me now, and that is such a great motivator to remind me how I have changed, and that I never want to fit into those pants again!

And the members of FF, the FF family, motivates and inspires me!  Watching others achieve their goals, watching them go all out at bootcamp, or lifting heavier or with fantastic form at small group training.  And frankly, just watching other members show up, being in the same room with them, and doing the work together is, achieving this thing together, is a huge motivator for me.

What new goals (if you don’t mind sharing), do you have planned for 2016?  Both fitness and non-fitness related.

Fitness related, I plan to continue building strength with weight training, and really want to focus on increasing muscle and strength lower body.  I will be ready to resume running when the snow melts, and am contemplating starting mountain or train running this next year.  And more pull ups!

Non fitness related, I will plan another mission trip in 2016, and plan to volunteer locally as well, with the American Cancer Society  Road to Recovery Program.