Please meet our Member Of The Month, LeeAnna!! LeeAnna joined our Hers Family in December 2023 and we want to spotlight her success! Let's find out what LeeAnna has to say about her journey thus far..
What initially inspired you to do the challenge?
I was initially inspired to do the challenge because I was seeing a plateau in my own fitness progress. The scale was not budging and I saw no difference in how I looked. Altogether, I felt unmotivated and unable to lose any more weight on my own. Doing this challenge was a great way of keeping myself accountable and adding more movement and fun into my routine.
What were your goals and how did you track your progress?
My goal was to lose 15 lbs. and to lower my body fat percentage. Keeping track of my progress was made easy with accountability coaches like Vanessa and Sharon! I input my meals into an accountability App in which I could communicate with Vanessa regarding meal ideas and macro intake. The accountability App was also a community, one where I could communicate with other members also taking part in the challenge. Being involved in a platform where we can support each other's wins and work through our challenges together was inspiring and kept me motivated. Throughout my meetings with Sharon, we would take measurements, use the body fat scale, and take progress photos to compare our results from previous meetings and ensure I was on the right track. I remained honest with my accountability coaches about what was working best for me and what I was struggling with. In all instances, I was able to get support and advice. As for keeping myself accountable, I used food scales to track my calories, and eventually moved to Apps like MacroFactor to track my nutrition.
What did your weekly exercise routine and nutrition look like?
My exercise routine included three to four 30-minute walks a week and three to four kickboxing classes weekly. If I needed an energy boost before classes, I would use pre-workout supplements. As for nutrition, I stuck to three meals each day, with two snacks. I aimed to get 1 gram of protein per 1 pound of bodyweight. Whenever necessary, I would supplement my protein with protein shakes, powders, and bars. My snacks would be a handful of healthy fats like nuts or seeds. I also incorporated veggies into each of my meals and aimed to drink 3L of water daily. Throughout the challenge, I avoided alcohol, sugary drinks, and processed foods.
What kept you motivated?
At first, I was motivated to learn a new skill. As a correctional officer I am always looking for new self-defense techniques to keep myself confident and safe at work. When I first started the challenge, I did not have much knowledge of kickboxing and I was just trying to keep up with the rest of class. After a couple weeks, I started picking up the combos quicker and adding power to my movements, while having a lot of fun! By my first check-in with Sharon, I already saw significant progress which made me want to work harder. In the past, any progress I had made towards my fitness journey has been only through hard work, and although I enjoyed the results of the journey, the actual work wasn't always enjoyable. This challenge was the opposite of that and showed me that working out did not always have to be something that you dreaded. I looked forward to coming to class, learning more, and getting better at kickboxing.
How did the challenge impact your life?
This challenge has reignited my passion for exercise. This challenge has shown me that your goals are within your reach always, but you must be consistent and hold yourself accountable. That's the only way to see results. For too long I felt as if I was unable to reach my goal, but through this challenge and with the help of the team at Hers, it was attainable and enjoyable!!
What would be your advice to new members starting the challenge?
Push yourself and reap the results. When you're in class, listen to the coaches and when they say 'yes, you can' - believe it! Keep telling yourself that, because it's mind over matter. You're capable of doing anything you put your mind to with time, effort, and practice. This challenge is asking you to focus on your lifestyle for six weeks and has the potential to change your life if you stick to it. Your future self will thank you!
What do you love most about Hers Kickboxing?
The community! I love that we are all women who are coming together through our busy schedules to have fun and lead balanced lives. I love the positive energy that the environment exudes. I love the coaches who make 45-minutes fly by and motivate us through each and every part of the class. Among everything, I love the feeling of being strong mentally and physically, which is exactly how I feel when I attend a class here. Thank you, Hers!
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