`MY JOURNEY WITH REB3L`
After my daughter’s birth, I was exercising using the Crossfit fitness format. I enjoyed it and enjoyed the competition. But found myself constantly fighting injuries, being critiqued to the point of tears, and my body breaking down from overtraining. I battled a thyroid that was in the drain, adrenal fatigue, and several coaches who felt like they could fix me and my squat. I knew I needed to be done for my mental health and quite frankly my physical health. 40 is quickly approaching and I needed to start treating my body like the temple it is versus punishing it. I left Crossfit and started doing yoga. While on my way to class, I heard the music coming from the group fitness room and was instantly intrigued.
In 2012, while pregnant with my 3rd child I was diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes. I knew I was overweight but didn’t realize things had gotten so bad. I didn’t want to take medication for the diabetes because I knew that would increase her chances and mine for Type 2 Diabetes in the future. SO I chose in that moment to monitor and control my blood sugar levels through making sure my nutrition was on point. This was my first dedicated effort into my health journey.
I decided to check out the next class just to see what this awesome music was attached to. I don’t remember any of the songs from that night. All I knew is that I left with the biggest smile. I was pretty sure I didn’t get any of the choreography right, but I knew I was coming back to try again.
This class was completely different from what I understood as group fitness. I burn around 1100 calories per hour of Groove but I don’t even realize that I’m doing it. This is the very first time ever in my fitness journey that I have had FUN with my fitness. I started in the back of the class and quickly made my way to the front. Not because I was super good or anything. But because, as I joined the online program and started learning the choreography better, I became more confident within myself. I wanted to be up there with the people who knew the choreo and were having so much fun during class.
REB3L is completely transforming my body. I’ve lost 25 lbs and am down a pant size just in a few short months. I feel like I am unzipping my old body to show what has always been underneath. But most importantly, REB3L has transformed me mentally. For the first time, I am fully embraced in a fitness format. I’m not looked as less than because I am still in the midst of my weightloss journey. The confidence that I now feel while standing in front of a class is something that I thought was forever lost for me. I thought I was unworthy to feel this way about myself. But because of REB3L and the friends that I have made in the process, I know that not only am I worthy……I’m exactly where I am meant to be. I have found my fitness home and I feel alive!
Shortly into my time with REB3l, I found out that my family would be moving to Northern Colorado. I didn’t want to go without a class. So becoming an instructor was a natural next step. It was so far out of my comfort zone, yet once I was there, I knew this was exactly where I was supposed to be. I was able to really see behind the scenes and why this format is so incredible for so many. And now as I am teaching, I am so glad that I am able to share this format with others and give them the community and environment that was given to me. The freedom to leave your worries at the door and be your most authentic self in that moment.
