Lisa Woods

Giving Up is Not an Option in FITNESS!!!

At one point in my life, I used to weigh a little over 200 lbs. I have battled with eating/weight issues since high school/college. I became very depressed and my self-esteem and self-confidence were on an all time low.  I finally decided to take a stand and become active and lose weight; and I did just that. I have realized that to live a healthy lifestyle, one must take a step back from the number on the scale.  We put too much value on the number that is one the scale and it is more than about losing weight.  The journey to living an overall healthy lifestyle is to feel better about yourself.  I wake up in the morning knowing that I have succeeded in me journey, I have broken down barriers in order to succeed and come out on top. 

In addition to proper nutrition and exercise, I am living a healthy lifestyle by educating others and have been a Certified Personal Trainer since 2005. I am letting individuals in my community know that giving up is not an option. As a personal trainer, I am a role model for others. Knowing that I must lead by example, and having people look up to me keeps me motivated and on top of my exercise regimen and my nutrition habits. I inspire my clients with my own personal struggles with eating issues, body image issues and weight issues. They are able to look at me and see that I am not perfect; I am the average person just like they are and if I was able to rise above the negative and do what I needed to do to become active and healthy, they can do it too.  Most of the clients I train are looking for someone that they can admire and look up to.  I inspire my clients because they know my story, they know my struggle and they admire the fact that I can be honest and tell them about my struggle without being embarrassed about it and without feeling as though I am less of a trainer because I have dealt with the same issues as they have. When they look at me, they see hope.

One of my clients came to me at 205 lbs, with very low energy and poor eating habits.  Since starting her training program with me, she has lost 40 lbs and is currently training for her physical exam for her local police department.  Another one of my clients came to me at 281 lbs, on medication for high blood pressure, low energy and very low self-confidence.  She starting her program with me she has lost a total of 39 lbs.  Both of these clients were inspired by my own struggle with weight issues and how I was able to overcome my struggle with my weight to become a personal trainer. They see me as a positive representation of how they want to live their life and I give them hope…if I can do it, they know they can too. 

I take pride in the work that I do every day as a personal trainer; I value each of my clients.  I bring professional credibility to the fitness industry because as a trainer, I am on equal ground with my clients.  I can relate to what they have gone through because in my previous weight loss journey, I struggled with the same issues.  I was on my weight loss journey for quite some time.  I have battled with my weight off and on for many years now.  The first time I lost the weight, it took me roughly about 10 months.  I lost close to 70 lbs within that time and was able to keep it off for a few years but then I started getting back into some bad habits and ended up gaining ½ (approx 35 lbs…weight was 171 at that time) the weight back when I got engaged.  For my wedding, I got back on track and lost the weight I needed to lose in order to fit into my wedding dress (which fit at the time I bought it but because of the weight gain, 2 weeks before my dress fitting it didn’t fit).  After I got married in June 2007, I continued doing what I needed to do in order to get myself back on track. The whole time I was still working out; my downfall was the food.  I wasn’t counting calories and holding myself accountable for what I was eating.  That time around I was able to lose a total of 50 lbs.  Then in January 2010, I was pregnant was my first child and gained 36 lbs (which brought me back up to 171).  Right after I had my son, I was back to working out and lost all the baby weight and a few extra pounds.  Pre-pregnancy, I was 134, and to date I am now 125. 

My clients know they are getting a trainer that is real.  I know what it is like to binge on foods and keep going back for more even though you know you shouldn’t.  I know what its like to throw food in the garbage and then go back for it and even though you know it’s wrong to do, you do it anyway because it’s still in the bag or the box.  I know what its like to feel sick to your stomach after you have spent hours bingeing on food and not know how to handle the aftermath.  I know what its like to feel disgusting and not want to be around yourself because you of your eating habits.  I know what it is like to feel your legs, arms, everything on your body itching because you consumed so much sugar that your body can’t handle it.  No, I wasn’t morbidly obese, but if I kept doing what I was doing, I probably would have ended up that way, but I didn’t.  Instead I chose to get fit and get healthy!  And I haven’t looked back since!

My overall outlook on life has changed since I got into shape.  The world is no longer dark and gloomy.  I can see the bright side of things and see the positive, rather than the negative.  I am no longer depressed (I was on anti-depressant medication when I first started gaining weight).  I have a lot of energy and look forward to being active and staying active.  Before getting into shape, I was never a runner and never saw myself running.  Since getting into shape, I have run countless 5Ks, 10Ks, a few 15K races.  Before I got pregnant at the beginning of 2010, my goal was to run a half marathon.  By the end of December 2009, I had run 5 half marathons before getting pregnant.  It goes to show that anything is possible.  I am currently training for a half marathon scheduled for October, 2012.