Ashley's Fitness Journey

 I have always been into fitness from a very young age. My Mom enrolled me in gymnastics at the age of three, in hopes of curbing my excessive activity. This led to a fourteen year career, occupying much of my childhood, and laying a foundation for physical activity in my life. In a highly competitive sport and my desire to be the best, I spent hours in the gym every day, forgoing other activities of what one might consider a normal childhood. This eventually took its toll and during my high school years and the desire slowly faded. So, like many teens I rebelled and quit gymnastics. Fitness overall took a distant back seat in my life. This would last throughout my college days.

Fast forward ten years, I married my best friend and we started a family. I was working night shift as an RN in the NICU at Kosair Childrens Hospital. Fitness seemed a luxury that I simply could not have time for. I know now that you must make time.

My husband had taken up running along the way and had completed the Triple Crown and the Mini Marathon with some friends. So after the birth of our second child I figured why not join him. Nothing like some friendly competition between spouses to motivate you. I started training on a tread mill and hated it but eventually completed my first Triple Crown series in 2007 at the age of thirty three with my husband by my side. While I did not properly train, I again found that drive to compete and complete what I set out to accomplish. The thrill of crossing the finish line is pretty amazing! Recovery from each race was difficult because I did not train properly but we got it done. From there I exercised sporadically but fitness was not yet a priority. Through it all I did find a fondness for running.

I completed another Triple Crown series and Mini Marathon in 2009. My goal was to run each race in its entirety. I accomplished that goal. It was not fast or pretty but I ran every mile. This time I ran alone but seeing my family and friends at the finish line was rewarding enough to keep my drive alive. I’m pretty sure I was crying as I crossed the finish line of that 13.1 mile race.

In 2010 life became a little crazier as we added a third blessing to our family. Going from two to three children is difficult. The parents are outnumbered and someone always seems to need something, leaving little time for you. So I thought.

Fast forward again to 2013. I’m not one for New Year’s resolutions but my Birthday is in January and I was turning thirty nine. I felt as though I had let myself go. I was not consistently doing anything in the way of exercise or for myself. I was still working night shift but now with the demands of three kids, two of whom were already in school and involved in their own activities as well. I felt exhausted most of the time. I knew turning thirty nine that the big 40 was on its way. I hate to admit it but that age is what motivated me into a fitness routine. My goal was to get toned and feel better. I did  not have lots of time or extra income so I figured the best plan was to start working out at home. I picked a program, Jillian Michaels Thirty Day Shred and committed to completing it. I made it known to my husband so that he could help hold me accountable. I feel if you make your goals known, you are more likely to complete them. My husband would work out with me as he could. We would work out after getting all three kids tucked into bed, or I would get it in while the older two kids were at school and while my youngest played around me or joined in. I finished the program two times but each time took a little longer than the actual thirty days. The important thing was, I completed my goal.

Along the way a funny thing happened, I began to feel much more alive. I quickly found a renewed passion for fitness. Seeing changes in the way I looked and how I felt inside spurred me on to want to do more.

One at-home workout led to another. A friend eventually introduced me to the Insanity workout program which is a 60 day high intensity program. Even with my new found drive and love of fitness I was intimidated by this program. But I knew all along in the back of my mind that I would complete it. I did complete it! Although it took me more like five months rather than sixty days. This program made me not only physically strong but mentally strong as well. During this time another friend invited me to join her at an Insanity class at FitMeStudio. I was nervous. Group exercise was not my thing. Working out at home was what I did and what I loved. It was my comfort zone. But being that I had done Insanity at home I thought I knew what I was getting into. I gathered up my new found mental strength, squashed my fears and took that class. It was amazing! I don’t know if it was the simple fact of sharing a sweat with a group of welcoming and encouraging people or the motivation from the instructor or that little competitive spark still inside me. These group exercise classes ignited my true love of fitness that I still have today.

In January of 2014 I turned 40 and was in as good of shape as I had been in a very long time, perhaps ever! It was also rubbing off on the people around me. My kids would often join me at home when I would work out there. My Husband and I would take Insanity classes together when we could and coworkers started asking me for fitness advice. I tried other classes at FitMe Studio and fell in love with Zumba which was unimaginable from this 40 year old who does not dance! Feeling stronger each week and knowing that variety was keeping this whole fitness thing a priority for me, I took up running again. I could not believe how much easier it was for me now having a stronger body, properly trained along with a stronger mind and will. A highlight of my 40^th year of life along this journey was completing the Rugged Maniac. The Rugged Maniac is a 3.1 mile course through the hills of a ski slope (Paoli Peaks Indiana) with 25 obstacles thrown in along the way. Self-doubt be damned! I completed the course and managed every obstacle except for one. I ran this course with an amazing group of friends and my husband. I don’t think I would have done as well as I did without the push, encouragement, and support of those people. It was a challenge but a fun one, and I can’t wait to run it again this year!

People often say, I just don’t know how you have the time or how you keep going. To this I often simply say that you have to make the time somehow, some way. Like anything in life, if it’s important to you, you will find a way. It’s not every day I wake up and think I can’t wait to work out, but I get it in because I know afterwards I will feel so much better. My body needs it and my mind needs it. It makes me a better Mom to my three, a better wife to my husband, and a better me to myself. Somewhere along the line in these past two years it has simply clicked for me. I know how good we are meant to feel; how surrounding yourself with others who share similar goals can provide you with the motivation you need on those days when you just don’t want to do it. Being strong is more of a mental feat than a physical one. That one good habit can snowball into a mountain of change for the better in your life. And how the support from those closest to you can build you up and lead you to believe that you can accomplish anything.

As I go into my 41^st year of life my fitness journey will continue to evolve. I work out five to six days a week. I schedule time for it in my calendar around my work schedule, kid’s school, and activities. I actually write it down so I will hold myself accountable and check it off as it is completed. I run one day a week, do Zumba twice a week, Insanity class once a week, and fill the remainder of my days at home with weights, Insanity, T25, Circuit training, and Yoga. I listen to my body as well and will do what it tells me it needs.

A few goals I am striving for this year are to keep up my current pace at which I work out, try new classes when they’re available, run the Louisville Triple Crown of running (already signed up), and maintain my 8 minute mile pace for each race. I want to overcome a fear and actually teach/instruct a fitness class. I want to continue to motivate and be motivated by those around me, especially my family. I will focus on nutrition and make why whole health circle complete. I believe I will do all I set out to do.

What has worked for me is to first set small goals that you know you can achieve. As you achieve the small goals your confidence will grow and eventually you’ll feel like attacking the larger goals. Take it one day at a time. You will have road blocks, one step forward two steps backwards! Focus on the forward and stay positive. This is a constant struggle for me. Find your passion for fitness. Variety is what works best for me. Keep it interesting. Find the support you need and embrace it. Surround yourself with goal oriented friends and let your goals be known to those people so that you will be held accountable! Finally, don’t let one bad day get you off track. Bad days happen, life happens, but refocus and move on anew to the next day!