Long before becoming a Coach herself, Heather partnered with her own Coach at Anytime Fitness to transform her life and take control of her wellness. We sat down with Heather to learn more about the ups and downs of her inspiring story. She opens up about the journey that led her to a happier, healthier life, and instructed her own personal Coaching philosophy.
When did your fitness journey really start?
Well, I was a gymnast in high school and always enjoyed staying active, but when I went off to college, I traded sports for studies. My daily movement waned and, as a result, my health declined. I became overweight and I had to take multiple medications daily for conditions I know I could have controlled with regular exercise and proper nutrition. The hardest pill to swallow was realizing that I was not healthy, yet still so young. I knew things needed to change, I just needed to find the motivation (which isn’t easy).
Was there a specific turning point that motivated you to make a lifestyle change?
Yes, looking back, I remember it clear as day. I was working as a middle school science teacher full-time, going to grad school, working a part-time job, and raising my five-year-old son, Jackson. My energy levels were at an all-time low and I had nothing left for my son by the time I got home. The night before I started at the gym, Jackson asked me to read him a bedtime story and by the time he had picked out a book, I had fallen asleep on the couch. I was not the mom I wanted to be and the mom he deserved.
I knew enough about biology to think, “Hey, I bet physical activity would help give me more energy and feel better mentally too.” I googled “gyms near me” and found Anytime Fitness West St. Paul. Because of my crazy schedule, the 24-hour access sounded ideal. So, at 28 years old, I joined as a member and took a huge step in my fitness journey. With the goal of losing 80 pounds, I signed up for a basic membership with the plan of hitting the elliptical for 30 minutes, three times a week. Little did I know I was about to totally overhaul that journey in that first week when I met my Coach.
Can you tell us about that first stage of getting set up and working with a Coach?
Immediately after I got my purple key fob, the manager asked me when I was available to do a Fitness Consultation. I had no idea what that was, and he explained, “It’s free and all members get one when they join, so we can help you get accustomed to the gym!” I thought, well, signing up and just doing it will be easier than trying to make up a reason I can’t attend, so I scheduled it for the following week. I was nervous to follow through, but I did it and that ended up being one of the best decisions of my life, because it’s how I met my Coach.
At the consultation, I explained my goals and my reasons for joining the gym. Of course, I wanted to feel better about myself and fit into smaller clothes, but my main reason was to be healthier in my lifestyle choices so I would have more energy for my son. My Coach encouraged me to really evaluate my values. He asked me, “What are the three most important things to you in your life?” My answers were my family, my education, and my health.
At the time, I wasn’t doing anything at all to improve my health, even though it was in my top three. My Coach helped me acknowledge this disconnect between my priorities and my actual lifestyle, but he did it in a refreshingly supportive and motivating way. We tried a sample workout, and I left that first day with a sense of accomplishment and personal pride that I had not experienced in a long time.
Anyways, at this point I knew what the logical next step was: Hiring a Coach for myself! After I signed up for coaching, we then laid out a plan to fit three workouts per week into my schedule. He guided me along the way, and it wasn’t long before I fell in love with the feeling I got after a great workout, knowing that what I just did for myself was a “positive cope” to handle the stress of daily life–instead of a nap or a cheat meal!
Can you tell us a bit more about your professional transition into the fitness industry?
Knowing firsthand what a profound difference a Coach and fitness could make in someone’s life, I began shifting careers towards the fitness industry and considered becoming a Coach myself. I knew that if I could give this experience to even one person, it would be worth it.
I became a Certified Personal Trainer and launched Group Training at our location in 2016. I was there for seven years before joining the content team at Anytime Fitness where I’m able to apply my love for coaching and education into practice everyday!
