Amy’s Three Years

January 21, 2019

January marks THREE years that I’ve been training Amy. (If you are new to my blog, click here to read her transformation story I wrote a year and a half ago.) Amy is the girl in my Instagram stories who works out with me five days per week in her awesome garage gym. She does a mixture of strength training exercises using weights, a leg press, TRX, and bands, plus some toning/barre exercises. You can often find her in my weekly barre classes, my monthly Legs & Abs class at the Royal Poinciana Plaza, and at the beach for a Sunday morning workout. YES, she is that dedicated. Training her always reminds me that I have a dream job. Her attitude is always positive and her commitment to health and wellness makes me so proud. I’m mostly proud because like many people she’s had to overcome struggles in the past. But no matter what’s going on, she makes time for her workouts and makes clean eating a priority. While feeling good naked is a plus, fitness is so much more than aesthetics. It’s about building a better mind-body connection, improving self-esteem, finding balance, and learning discipline. Fitness means making daily positive changes (big and small) which impact so many other areas of life (in a GREAT way). I help people like Amy create healthy habits that can be life-changing. But being fit requires lots of effort, and Amy is definitely seeing the fruits of her labor. Instead of going on and on about how much I adore Amy and how much fun we have in the gym, I figured I’d do a little Q and A with her to share her perspective!

Q: What do you love most about working out with a trainer?

A:  I love having someone to hold me accountable and encourage me. Life can get so hectic, if I didn’t have someone I was scheduled to meet, I’d be more likely to miss workouts. It’s also nice to have someone push you to work harder and when your trainer looks amazing, it really inspires you to stick with it! 

Q: What are your thoughts on weight training for women?

 A: It’s so important! Before I worked out with Liv, I didn’t understand that. I just ran 5 miles every day and I wasn’t getting the results I wanted. Now that I’m weight training, I feel so strong and healthy! Even my clothes fit so much better. I weigh more, but I’m actually so much leaner. Now I definitely understand why it’s so important to add weight training to your routine. 

Q: How much does diet effect your workouts and overall mood?

A: A LOT! Working out and seeing results inspired me to really improve my diet. When I’m eating healthy, I just feel better mentally and physically. My body feels nourished and strong. I don’t count calories or follow any particular diet. I just try to avoid any added sugar, highly processed foods and limit alcohol. 

Q: What motivates you everyday to be healthy and fit?

A: The results I’ve seen really motivate me a lot. I just want to keep improving, but I’m careful to still appreciate where I currently am. There’s no better confidence booster than feeling healthy. When I look back at how exhausted I used to feel mentally and physically, it’s crazy. Now I just feel so strong and healthy. 

 Q: Describe that feeling when you start seeing your hard work pay off:

 A: Omg it’s AMAZING! I remember going through a period where I didn’t feel like anything was happening. One day it was just like oh wow, I’m started to see some definition… and it just got better and better from there! Now 3 years later I couldn’t be happier with where I am. I feel so proud of what I’ve accomplished and feel so much better about myself. I’m truly so thankful for my workout sessions and the positive impact they have on my life. 

 Q: What is your biggest tip for someone who is trying to live a healthier lifestyle?

A: I would say set reasonable goals for yourself so you don’t get discouraged. If you’re super busy, commit to working out certain days/times. If you don’t have it scheduled in, it’s easier for it to get away from you. I’d also say focus on easy dietary changes. If you’re going to choose one thing to try to stay away from, try to avoid added sugar. Do easy recipes and plan ahead. Foods like frozen broccoli, crockpot chicken and a microwaved sweet potato are so healthy and easy!! 

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♡ Liv