Member Spotlight: Annette
What brought you to Gifford Fitness in the first place?
My sister Mary invited me to try it. I was overweight and out of shape. I could hardly walk 3,000 steps a day.
What really did it though was a knee injury I got one day from chasing kids on the ballfield. The next day, I had to use a walker to go see my daughter’s softball game. How embarrassing!
I wanted to find a way to get and stay healthy and fit so I could enjoy time with my very active family.
What was your first impression? How has that changed?
Honestly, I thought I would never be able to do any of the stuff at the gym. I could not even do a full air squat. When Nick said, “do a pushup,” I laughed!
Actually, I laughed at everything with a, “WHAT?!? Are you crazy?!?”
The other day we were doing single-leg pistol squats in class, Nick reminded me of those early days, “remember when you couldn’t even do an air squat to parallel and now you’re doing one legged squats!”
Not only that, I can hang from the bar for 30 seconds, can do all the movements (modified on some), and I will get a real, strict pushup any day now. I am sooo close!
What was your first “bright spot” or big achievement at the gym?
Oh, there were so many, I am unsure of the first.
I think the best was when I did my first CrossFit Open, wow was that fun! I felt so accomplished to be part of that craziness.
Another one was when I got my first overhead squat with a barbell. I’d started with a PVC pipe and slowly added weight, 5 pounds at a time.
What are you working on now at the gym? Where is your focus?
Pushups! I will get there soon.
How has Nutrition Coaching helped your health, wellbeing, and progress?
OMG, this is amazing! I used to yo-yo diet and feel guilty about my food choices. I thought I knew something about nutrition, but I have learned so much. For me food is emotional. I stopped eating tons of processed foods and wheat (I grew up on pasta and bread).
Now when I have some wheat I notice it in my body, and inflammation in my hands. I used to have arthritis, but it’s gone. A year ago, my body fat was 43.2% and my lean mass was 103.4 pounds. Now it’s 35.7% and 112.2 pounds. Meanwhile, my weight is essentially the same. I am so much stronger! Because of the pandemic, much of the strength I gained was from doing at-home workouts every day, on my own. It is REALLY GOOD to be back in the gym!
If you could go back in time, what would you tell the Annette of 1 year ago?
I cannot hardly believe I did at home workouts every weekday for a year, by myself for the most part. I am so glad I did them!
What would you tell the version of Annette before she started?
Just get started! It will literally change your life.
Anything else you’d like to share?
I want everyone to know how much I love this community. I call the coaches and athletes a community because we are like a family. It is so positive and encouraging for everyone. It’s not just the “top” performers who get praise but anyone who makes an improvement. And, the 6am crew is a staple of my day. We have fun every day!