Dominica

DEC 17, 2020

THE ATHLETE
I have always been an athlete. I played fast-pitch softball and got a full ride scholarship to college. While at school, I either trained or had practice every single day. I learned how to lift heavy. After my softball career ended, I started to gain weight because my eating habits didn’t reflect my dramatic decrease in exercise. It was then when I really began to watch the habits of my mom. As I went back to school for my master’s degree, she taught me how to eat healthier, and I got my weight under control. I was still strong, and worked at a restaurant that was physically demanding. During this time of learning, diet was always based on 1200 calories and I put a higher emphasis on cardio. I started running, and I am NOT a long distance runner. I started with a few 10ks, did 2 half marathons, and when I finally trained for my full marathon my mom and aunt flew out to Savannah GA to do it with me!

THE DEPRESSION
Shortly after that marathon goal, I got my first desk job and moved in with my boyfriend. He worked side gigs as a personal trainer. I held onto my diet mindset for a while, but as time went on I found it harder to find time to get that cardio in with my job. We both stopped working out, and when we did work out my boyfriend wanted me to join his workouts which was at 6am--WAY too early for me (I have never been a morning person) It was also the kind of workout I basically hated. But since he had that mindset of being a personal trainer--even though he let his license lapse--he refused to let me get a personal trainer of my own. Slowly, I gained about 18lbs. And although I was never considered obese on the scale, I felt I had lost the athlete in me that I had always so connected with. I was weaker than I had EVER been, I felt slow, and would notice how heavy my breathing would be with simple tasks like climbing a short flight of steps.

THE COMEBACK
A year and a half ago, my relationship ended. And I soon realized that I had been in a depression for years. I lowered my alcohol intake, and joined a A-league weeknight slowpitch softball league (not my fast-pitch past but it’s something). I got a little stronger and a lot happier, and lost the weight I had put on without trying. I realized that it wasn’t my desk job but depression that had put that weight on by creating bad eating habits and a lack of activity. I started going back to the gym doing my own workouts that I liked. It was then that I really wanted to get myself a personal trainer, but wasn’t sure where to go. My mom kept telling me that I needed to find a gym like Jackie’s, where they have semi-private classes and I can reconnect with that team-mentality where everyone supports each other. But classes like that in LA are at private gyms and are SO expensive. I was almost at the point where I thought what the heck, I’ll try one out.

Enter coronavirus. Possibly the best thing for my health that could have ever happened. Los Angeles shut down so suddenly, we all began working from home within a week. The gym that I was going to right next to my apartment shut down. I was stuck inside with no outlet, when Mom told me Jackie was doing her workouts on zoom! I asked if I could join just for a little while until we went back into the office and the gyms opened back up. I got so strong so quickly! When I began, I could not do a single triceps pushup. I was so sore I could barely move, but I made that commitment to 5 days per week, I enjoyed the workouts and seeing everyone’s faces every morning, and that kept me wanting more. The date to go back into the office kept getting extended, and every time I thought GREAT, I CAN KEEP WORKING OUT WITH JACKIE!

 THE 8 WEEK CHALLENGE

I was strong, I was 130lbs, I was happy. And Jackie said she was doing an 8-week challenge. Why would I need to do an 8 week challenge? I was already there! Goal reached! But my mom (always the motivator) convinced me to do it. My sister was going to do it, it would be a fun family challenge. I didn’t want to, I was eating things I liked and burning enough calories to not gain any weight. English muffin in the morning, sandwich and chips for lunch, pizza for dinner. I wasn’t completely ready to make the sacrifice of my food.

Peer pressure made me say that I was in. And well, I am the kind of person that doesn’t like to do things half-way. So on the challenge I went 100% in. And the first week was HARD. I didn’t know what to eat! Nothing on my previous diet was allowed because it was 90% carbs or came in a bag. As a vegetarian, I didn’t know how to get all the protein that Jackie wanted me to eat. She wanted me to eat things that come from the earth, when everything I ate came from a food packaging plant.

That first week I was angry. My body was going through literal withdrawals. I was super irritable and short-fused, and felt sick. How could this be good for me? I kept considering quitting, but the money paid was the motivator for me to continue. It’s 8 weeks, I’ll SUFFER through it. But I persevered through the carb and sugar withdrawals. And the second week I felt better. The third week--even better than that. I started waking up ready to tackle the day (still not an early bird though) My focus in work and workouts increased. I felt GOOD!

After 8 weeks, I had lost about 6 lbs, while eating MORE calories than I ever have before. No more 1200 calorie goal. Just high protein, greens, and clean unprocessed carbs. I look great, and felt fantastic. My change in diet melted the excess fat I was carrying in a thin layer throughout my entire frame, and I am leaner than I have ever been.

In the weeks since, I have on one occasion had Pizza Hut, and felt disgusting afterwards. I felt how that unhealthy meal directly affected my body. And a friend reminded me that I probably felt that way before the challenge, but it was just so normal that I didn’t notice. I’d rather continue “the challenge” way of giving my body the nutrients it needs.

My body and mindset has changed, and I am so glad I have been able to have Jackie help me find something that I enjoy so much that keeps me so healthy. I am glad I asked to join her morning zoom workouts. I’m glad I did the 8 week challenge, and I’m glad I made this commitment to myself to keep working hard for my health. My mom calls us “Jackie Junkies” and I couldn’t find a more perfect description. I am a Jackie Junkie, and will see you (almost) every morning on zoom!