I can’t believe it’s already Thursday (yay!).  I mentioned previously one of my goals for 2017 is to workout at least 3 days a week – in order to be healthier as it’s something I’ve always struggled with.  I thought it would be fun to have a fitness guru chat with us about her journey and how she started to get her life back.  It’s a long post but totally worth it 🙂

Let me preface this by saying – this is by no means, trying to get you to sign up as a coach or even to sign up for programs with BeachBody.  Katie’s story is more about showing what positivity working out can do for your life.  I know, I’m also not one to talk.. hello, I don’t work out often BUT I’m hoping this will pump me up to get back out there 🙂 

Katie is one of the sweetest and encouraging girls I know.  With two boys and a little girl on the way, being a full time physical therapist and full time coach, she’s definitely got her plate full!

Katie and I talked about this blog post many months ago but as she mentioned “life has a ‘way of getting’ in the way” and that totally rings true in everyone’s lives.  She’s going to share about her journey through having her first son, post-partum depression, finding what works for her fitness wise and how she became one of her favorite things; a Beachbody coach!

“After a particularly crazy day (like puking toddlers, running on 2 hours of broken sleep, an oil change gone wrong, kind of day…), I sat down and thought about how I used to let the craziness take hold of my life. How I used to prefer to hide in my house, away from anything that required facing real life. How I used to allow depression and anxiety grip me tighter than I ever thought could happen to me. I had allowed post-partum anxiety to turn into ongoing depression and it took over my life. It stole my smile. Destroyed my body. Screwed with my relationship with my husband, close family, and worst of all, my son.

It wasn’t until I saw a little post on Facebook from an acquaintance of mine advertising a new workout program/system that I saw a glimmer of hope. I had always been an active person, played soccer in high school, enjoyed running, etc. But, I also enjoyed my beer, hot pockets, chips, and of course, chocolate! Unfortunately, these indulgences had started to take a toll on my new #mombod and I was feeling the negative effects of feeling “fat” for the first time in my life. I was very uncomfortable in my own skin, didn’t have any clothes that fit “right”, and my energy was severely lacking! Now before you stop reading, thinking I fell into just another “MLM marketing scam”, let me just tell you that I had the EXACT same doubts! But I wasn’t planning on using the program for anything other than to benefit my health, fitness, and waistline.

My “coach” added me into an accountability group she was running on Facebook where I would “check in” daily with my workout, meals for the day, and daily Shakeology drink. I was completely surprised at how tasty the Shakeology was, how it improved my digestion (helllllooooo normal poops!!), and really DID improve my energy without the need for added caffeine. The workouts were a ton of fun, definitely challenging for my #mombod self, and gave me enough variety. I think what kept me going was the other “challengers” in the accountability group were so supportive. I can remember one early morning at about 3am when my son, Jaydan, was awake, yet again, and I was so freaking TIRED and exhausted knowing I needed to be up at 5am the next day to get my workout in before work. I plugged into the accountability group while I laid crying on my hallway floor and asked for some help.

Shortly after posting in there, someone commented and said something so simple “Cherish these moments with him. Soak up the snuggles. There will be a day when he no longer wants them”. Of course, I have heard this before, but it was JUST what I needed to hear at that time and helped me through a tough night/morning. It was then that I really saw the POWER of these groups. The friendships and bonds that could be formed in such a short time were something I didn’t even know I was looking for in my life. I could feel a shift start happening….. (SIDE NOTE: This challenger is now one of my best friends….someone I never would have met without this opportunity.).

I completed the program and lost 9lbs and 12 inches in just 3 weeks. I was FLOORED at my results and so stinkin’ excited that I was able to do this for ME! It was hard at times to realize that just 30-45 min a day of “me-time” is NOT selfish, and in fact, makes me such a better friend, daughter, wife, and MOM….but once I figured out that small little key to my success, I knew I wanted to share it with other moms who may be struggling as well.

After the 21 days, I stopped the shakeology. I stopped the consistency of the workouts. I slowly began to gain the weight back and negative thoughts began to creep their way back in. It wasn’t until then that I realized I NEEDED this opportunity. I NEEDED something to hold me accountable and a hobby to give me that JOY again.

So I dove in. I signed up as a Beachbody Coach. I did the trainings, I learned all the things, I went to events, I held my own accountability groups, I started to see that I, yes little old ME, could help others who were in the same dark place that I was once in. It was official….I was part of an MLM! Haha. My husband cringed and told me I was in a pyramid scheme (NOT true for many reasons, but I can address those with you at a later time if you’d like! 😉 ), my close family didn’t agree with what I was doing but let me go on my way. I had haters. I had people “unfriend” me. But I also had new challengers. I also had moms coming to me for advice. I was also building new relationships with interesting people who are now my friends. I had found my calling. I had found something that made me happy again. I looked forward to waking up again. I had found myself again.

Fast forward almost 2.5 years and I am happy to say that I am still a Beachbody Coach. I am still actively helping other moms find their way in this new crazy #momlife. Or helping both men and women (not just moms) find that happiness within themselves again through health and fitness. It hasn’t been all rainbows and butterflies. It’s hard work.

I am a coach, full time physical therapist, mom of two boys (and a little girl on the way), and some days I wonder how on earth I continue to get it all done. But you can’t pour from an empty cup you guys. And coaching fills my cup…spills it over the brim….so there is ALWAYS time for it. If you’re looking for a change. If you’re sick of feeling “crappy”—whatever that term means to you. If you’re tired of being tired……I may just be able to help you out. All you can do is try – and taking a chance on YOU is always a better choice than sitting back and not trying, wouldn’t you agree?

Thank you Kristi for letting me share my story. Even if it inspires just one other person, I will have lived up to my “job”.

Thank YOU, Katie for sharing your story!  And if you want any information about fitness or the BeachBody programs – you can contact Katie at TeamOvercomersBB@gmail.com or reach out to her via Facebook.com/crothers.katie

Woof – that was a long one, huh?! But seriously so inspiring!  I think we’ve all felt that sometimes we aren’t happy with ourselves (image wise) or we aren’t happy with some things in our lives that we have no control over – Fitness is one that we can work on and take complete control over.

Have any of you tried any of the BeachBody programs?  If so, did you like them?!

Thanks for reading along and I’ll chat with you tomorrow with some Friday Favorites 🙂

Kristi