“I didn’t know I needed the community.” – Read Theresa’s Story!
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Breakthrough Spotlight – Theresa Girch!
Breakthrough: So, Theresa it was a year ago that you initially started with us by doing our Drop 2 Sizes Challenge. Tell me, how you were feeling before you started the challenge? Where were you at?
Theresa: I knew I needed a change, but I was extremely nervous! I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to keep up with the pace of the classes and would not be successful in the challenge. And I was concerned with how doing the challenge would fit in with my lifestyle, and how busy work gets and knowing it was going to be people’s birthdays, and the Super Bowl, and all sorts of events, multiple trips to disneyland and things like that… All the normal excuses everyone has… Haha! But even being basically a beginner again from not having worked out consistently for a good period of time, I was able to keep up while increasing my skill and difficulty level each week.
Breakthrough: And even with all of that craziness happening and a very busy lifestyle, you really committed to it and you did drop the two sizes in 8 weeks! So although you were nervous, what made you feel ready to take action?
Theresa: I never really “needed” to exercise growing up and didn’t start seeing weight gain until a couple of years into college. I joined gyms and did gimicky and not so gimicky weight loss programs and would sometimes see small successes. But I would quickly plateau and then eventually give up. Long term consistency was a big problem. It was so hard for me to see that the biggest factor in why I wasn’t getting where I wanted was because I wasn’t getting, or asking for the right help. Then I started to see people I knew at Breakthrough have success in losing weight, and I realized this was something I needed to do.
Breakthrough: What do you think was holding you back from staying consistent and getting results in the past?
Theresa: Other than my excuse of being “too busy”, I would say definitely not knowing what to do. I would exercise, but wasn’t really focusing on the right things, and I would try to “eat better” but I didn’t really know what that meant. And when I didn’t see results in a month, and no one else noticed, then I would get discouraged and give up.
Breakthrough: Right. We all need guidance and support to help us do things we haven’t been able to do on our own.
Theresa: Yes! That’s been the biggest thing for me – I didn’t know I needed the “community” part. I knew I needed coaches, but I didn’t know that I needed the other awesome training partners! I didn’t realize how much I was missing that and how much that is a driving factor in me wanting to come in and train. Because when you’re not here, people will say to you the next time they see you “we missed you”, and they’re not picking on you or trying to make you feel guilty. It’s because they genuinely miss you and they want you to work out with them too. I think that was the biggest awakening.
Breakthrough: That’s so great! Being around other like-minded people is a huge contributor to success for sure! Is there anything that surprised you?
Theresa: I feel like I’m constantly surprised at things that I can do, things that I never thought I’d be able to do like lift heavy things. I have never enjoyed “working out.” I like being active and doing things like hiking, and swimming, but never had fun in the gym or doing more structured training. I feel like a different person sometimes because I now look forward to seeing what’s next on my program and what new things I will learn. I still have to tell myself to stop the “I can’t do that” thoughts and reactions when something is new and challenges me not only physically but mentally as well. But what’s amazing and awesome is that no matter what, you coaches find a way to help me accomplish the exercise for where my skill is at the time, and also make sure to push me to get to the next level of difficulty. And again, it helps being around other incredible training partners who are working just as hard. I’m inspired by this crew everytime I walk through the door!
Breakthrough: Awesome! And from starting feeling nervous, and not sure you could do it, how are you feeling now?
Theresa: For the first time in years I have started to see real positive changes in my body and my happiness. And other people are now noticing as well! I’m down over 4 sizes from when I started. I can’t quite explain what it is, but I finally feel like even on my hardest day, and days where I’m feeling terrible, that where I want to be is Breakthrough. Even just being in the room lifts my spirits and gives me energy.
Breakthrough: Well, you sure contribute to the positive energy flowing around here! Any words of wisdom, or motivation that you want to share with other people who might feel like you felt? People who maybe feel like they have plateaued and know they need help, but feel nervous to get started?
Theresa: First off, stop being hard on yourself for not already being there. This has been another big hurdle. “I shouldn’t have waited so long to get serious about this.” What matters is that you are doing it now. As I’ve seen with both of my parents and other super strong Breakthrough members, there is no such thing as “It’s too late.” You can do so much more that you think you can do and it’s ok to be a beginner. As Coach Caleb said recently, if we were all experts already why would we need to be here? That really resonates for me.
Breakthrough: Thank you so much for sharing part of your journey with us Theresa! I know it will inspire others that they can do it too!
