I had my second and last child in April 2013.  While I love being a mother, no woman is going to argue that having a baby (or multiple) fundamentally changes your body.  It became really important to me to get in shape.  Why not?  I’m not having any more kids, I’m not quite 30, so now’s the time to do it.

I have a very limited fitness background.  In June 2013, I started jogging.  Very, very slowly on the treadmill because I was embarrassed to do it outside.  By August, I took it outside.  In October, I ran my first 5k- the Komen Race for the Cure.  It was a huge goal accomplished for me, but I’d barely lost a pound and realized that I’d have to really step it up if I wanted to make a lifestyle change.  It was that critical point for me where I’d realized a goal and could fail, or I could make it happen.

I started contacting people at CrossFit.  I have a number of friends that do it.  I even signed up for an intro class, but I chickened out.  I was slow jogging a 12 and a half minute mile with no other physical activity to speak of.  CrossFit would have annihilated me.  I committed to personal training and started searching.  My first meeting was with Megan and Mirna at MFP.  Gyms scare me.  They aren’t fun, they’re intimidating and I’m certain that I always look completely incompetent.  From the get go, they both made me feel comfortable, reassured me that they knew just what to do, and explained the very basics of fitness and nutrition- things that I fundamentally had never known.

I started my 2 day a week sessions with Megan James in October 2013.  My goal was not to lose weight, I was comfortable with the number on the scale.  My long term goal was (and is) to be in the best shape of my life, but short term I just wanted to feel comfortable in my clothes, regain my confidence, and learn how to take care of myself.  Megan is a rockstar.  There is no other way for me to put that.  She taught me how I should feel when working out, the muscles I need to pay attention to, what it means if one thing hurts and the other doesn’t, and how to appropriately condition and stretch to prevent injury.  She fundamentally taught me how my body works and showed me that there is no limit.  She kindly challenged me every single day, and pushed me to do things that I never would’ve thought possible for me.

I’ve done a 5k a month since starting with Megan- one in November, December, and January.  I’m signed up for one in February (with the fabulous MFP team!) and a 10k in March.  I’ve dropped 12 pounds in 3 months and have gone from a size 10 (12 in some pants) to a size 4 (2 in some dresses!).   I am comfortable with my form, I know how I should be feeling.  And, most importantly, I feel fabulous about myself.  I know now that I’m capable of anything I put my mind to and that I can walk into a gym and feel at home, not intimidated.  My regular sessions with MFP may be over, but I know that I’ve gained a friend and a second family.  I know now, too, that I can continue my fitness journey with success and strength and I owe it all to Megan.  I’m telling you, the girl’s a rockstar.