Rachel
An Inspiration to All Young Women

RGF: Why did you join the gym?

Rachel:  I was sitting at a restaurant on New Years day, when I realized that I was totally unhappy with my outward appearance. That night I made my new year’s resolution that I would lose 50 pounds.

RGF: What was it like walking in for the first time?

Rachel: The first time that I walked into the gym I felt like a fish out of water. I started to think that my new year’s resolution was a joke, and was quickly going to become a failure like previous resolutions that I had made.

RGF:  How old were you and what grade were you in when you joined the gym?

Rachel:  I was 17 years old when I joined the gym and currently a senior in high school.

RGF: What were the benefits of hiring a Personal Trainer?

Rachel:  At first I was very stubborn, and didn’t think that I needed someone to tell me how to work out. I felt embarrassed that I needed help to change the way I looked. Hiring a personal trainer helped me in so many ways. Being accountable to someone who sincerely cared about my outcome was extremely motivating. Having a trainer helped me to be confident every time I stepped into the gym. It helped me feel as if I was really doing something to help myself. Yes, Liza helped me learn the proper techniques, but more importantly she helped me realize that I could do this, and that I WOULD do this. She wasn’t going to let me give up. Having a trainer has changed my life for the better. Liza, words cannot tell you how thankful I am for everything that you have done for me.

RGF:  Did you learn about nutrition?

Rachel:  Yes! I realized that not eating was a BAD thing. I thought that by not eating, I was doing myself a favor. I use to think that nutrition and dieting was the same thing. I now realize that nutrition is a way of life. It is not something that you force yourself to do. It is something you do because you want to do it, to better yourself.

RGF:  Was it difficult to change your eating habits?

Rachel:  In the beginning it was hard. But at the end of everyday I would have the biggest feeling of accomplishment. Going a day without regretting what I ate, felt amazing! Once I found a variety of food that I truly enjoyed, it wasn’t that bad to get accustomed to.

RGF:  What was the hardest part about changing your eating habits?

Rachel:  One of the hardest things for me was eating consistently. In the beginning I felt like all I was doing was eating, and there were days when I had to force myself to eat. Another REALLY hard thing for me was packing all my stuff ahead of time. If I didn’t pack my food then I found myself either not eating, or eating something that I shouldn’t have eaten.

RGF:  Who was your support system?

Rachel:  I have so many people that were supporting me all the way through this journey. When people would tell me that I looked different I felt like crying because I finally felt like someone noticed! I have worked my butt off to get this far and the people that were constantly telling me how good I looked, made me want to work harder. My mom was probably my biggest support. She was definitely my toughest critic but it was because she knew I could do it! She was there when I needed her to push me harder and remind me of my goal.

RGF: How did your friends respond to the changes in your lifestyle?

Rachel:  A lot of my friends come up to me and ask me questions about things they should eat and shouldn’t eat. My friends help keep me accountable, and remind me that I am a role model to young girls out there who are unhappy about the way that they look.

RGF:  What do you feel was the biggest challenge of adopting this lifestyle?

Rachel:  The biggest challenge is not to let myself slip too far off the track. There are days where I have to force myself in the gym, or force myself to do my cardio. Keeping yourself from becoming “lazy” is the hardest part for me.

RGF:  What are some physical changes in you since you began training?

Rachel:  I feel like I have shed off my “outer skin”. I feel like a whole new person. I feel stronger and I have more energy to get me through everyday. I just feel healthy!

RGF:  Have you experienced emotional changes since you started training?  

Rachel:  I have DEFINITELY had emotional changes through this experience. I feel like I can wear girl clothes, and actually look nice. I always had this mentality that those kinds of clothes were not meant for a girl that looked like me. In my mind, working out and eating right has really becoming a routine in my life. It is something I enjoy. It makes me feel good about myself. I don’t feel like a big blob anymore. I feel like an accomplished beautiful woman!

RGF:  What do you enjoy the most about training?

Rachel:  The thing that I enjoy the most about training would have to be the feeling of accomplishment. I feel like I could do anything that I put my mind to now. Having Liza train me helped me to break out of my shell, and helped me to realize that the people in the gym were not worried about what I looked like, and how I was working out.
 
RGF:  What would you say to other young women about training and nutrition?

Rachel:  Training and nutrition are things that you will take with you the rest of your life. Dieting isn’t fun, but I don’t consider this a “diet”, it’s a lifestyle. It’s something that young women can do! It is definitely one of the hardest things that I have ever done in my life, but it is also my biggest accomplishment. Don’t give up, don’t let people bring you down, don’t hold back! You can’t do it half heartedly; you have to give it all you got in order to reach your ultimate goal.

RGF: Do you think you will continue to make it a priority to stay fit and healthy? Why?