Category: Uncategorized

  • Rachel // “Finding my stride…”

    Before I started the program, I was pretty active and trained for marathons and went to the gym regularly. After training for 3 different marathons, I began to have knee problems from so much running that I had to stop. I’ve also had some success in the past with losing weight on my own through diet and exercise but it was never consistent; especially my diet, so my weight would fluctuate. I would workout regularly but couldn’t really stick to a meal plan. When I went to the gym, I shied away from lifting heavy weights because I felt like I couldn’t lift heavy and stuck to light weights. I became a cardio bunny and stuck to spinning because it was easier on my knees and also did HIIT workouts but I just wasn’t getting the results I wanted. Disappointed in myself, I began to binge eat and my weight slowly started to creep up and my clothes began to feel tight. I started feeling uncomfortable in my own skin and that’s when I knew something had to change.

    “Disappointed in myself, I began to binge eat and my weight slowly started to creep up and my clothes began to feel tight. I started feeling uncomfortable in my own skin and that’s when I knew something had to change.”

    When I started the program, I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to stick to the meal plan. As a self-proclaimed foodie, I absolutely LOVE food and trying new restaurants and cooking new dishes. I was also worried about how time consuming meal prepping would be that I just couldn’t imagine adding another task to my never-ending day. However, my worries slowly subsided because the meals were quite tasty and if I craved something, Coach made it happen — ice cream and cookies on my meal plan?! WHAT?!

    As a busy mom of 4, life can definitely be hectic. Finding balance between raising children, working full-time, and nurturing and maintaining a healthy marriage is no easy feat. I work swing shift (11:30AM – midnight) and usually not in bed until 1:30AM or 2AM and wake up at 6AM to get ready and drop my kids to school. But because I work 12 hour shifts 3 days a week, I had 4 days to meal plan, workout, and manage the household. I usually meal prepped twice a week — on Sundays and Wednesdays. During the first few weeks, I had to get the hang of meal prepping and as time went on, it became easier and I found that it only took a couple hours to cook 4 days worth of meals.

    My workouts usually occurred in the mornings after I drop the older kids to school and during my 15 month old’s nap time or before work. Luckily, I have a gym within walking distance of my apartment. My youngest would go down for his nap in his stroller and he would be fast asleep next to my husband and I while we worked out (out of harm’s way of course!).

    These past 12 weeks were definitely not a walk in the park. Throughout the program, I’ve gone to social events, family vacation, and even done a day trip to the snow. But I’ve been able to stick to the meal plan during these events by planning ahead. Before going to social events or parties or dining out with family/friends, I would eat my meal beforehand and drink water throughout the event. When we went away for vacation, I cooked all my meals for the weekend and brought it with me. When my husband and I did a day trip to the snow to snowboard, I brought my meals with me as well. I would heat my meal at the gas station and ate it on the road.

    The Transformation Program has made such a positive impact on my life. It has changed my mentality for the better. Meal prepping has actually made me feel more organized during the week. Knowing exactly what I’m eating and having it readily available has been such a life saver. With the guidance of Coach and Sarah encouraging me to lift heavier during our PT sessions, I feel stronger, healthier, and have more energy. I no longer have knee pain when I run. I relied heavily on coffee and drank 3 cups a day before I started the program. I now find that I only need 1 cup a day and no longer feel that afternoon slump. More importantly, I feel comfortable and confident in my own skin again.

    The Transformation Program has made such a positive impact on my life. It has changed my mentality for the better. More importantly, I feel comfortable and confident in my own skin again.

    Thank you to Coach and everyone at Imago Fitness. I am forever grateful for your guidance and support during my journey. Because of this program, I have the tools to continue my fitness journey and crush new goals. I am well on my way on becoming the best version of myself.

    RACHEL

    OVERALL INCHES LOST: 8.5″
     

  • A Physical and Emotional Transformation

    A Physical and Emotional Transformation

    I’ve had some success training and eating on my own but I was never consistent. Every time I made some progress, I’d sabotage myself with poor eating. I would slowly gain the weight back, plus more. The situation got worse when I returned to school full time, about two years ago. I was working during the day, then would commute an hour and be in class from 6pm until 10pm, three times a week. I was completely stressed out and I knew working out and healthier eating was the solution but I didn’t have the mental capacity to contrive a plan for myself. I was only eating 2-3 times a day, mostly processed and fast foods. I told myself I would focus on my health and fitness right after graduation. Just before graduation, I got a new job and delayed the start further. 

    I knew if I continued on my own, nothing was really going to change. I was tired of feeling sick and tired. I needed help.

    I finally reached a point where I was disgusted with myself. I was the heaviest I’d ever been, most of my clothes barely fit. I knew if I continued on my own, nothing was really going to change. I was tired of feeling sick and tired. I needed help. My friend was raving about Imago and her trainers for almost a year. She thought I’d really enjoy training there. I had tried one of Imago’s fitness classes, Pop Pilates, last year and I had a blast. But I was still was apprehensive about signing up since I already had another gym membership. Not that I was really going much! 

    I started the 12 week transformation program in January. During the first week, I had to get the hang of meal prepping and working out again. With Coach’s easy and tasty recipes, I was well on my way. After the first ten days, I felt energized and was less bloated. There were a few vacations and business trips that felt like it held me back but Sarah and Coach taught me not to be too hard on myself. I just started again the next meal or day. I really like that my meals changed often enough, so they never got boring. I looked forward to each one. Weight training also included a lot of variety. In the past, I easily got bored doing the same routine repeatedly. 

    My journey with Imago Fitness has truly been transformational, physical and emotional. For me, the key was consistency, accountability, and variety. I achieved all my goals and can’t wait to conquer new ones. I now crave the gym. It gives me the strength to get through the day and relieves stress. I don’t crave the same junk food I once enjoyed. If I am out with friends, I am better at selecting healthier alternatives or even choosing restaurants that have those options. I’m excited to continue on my fitness journey with the great foundation that Imago has helped me build. 

    I’m excited to continue on my fitness journey with the great foundation that Imago has helped me build. 

    KASHANA
    OVERALL INCHES LOST: 7 1/4

  • Working-Mommy-Fitness Balance

    I plan events for a living, so when my son, Regan, decided to grace me with his presence a few years ago, my world turned upside down and inside out (for the better of course)! 🙂 There were no color-coordinated spreadsheets or timed agendas I could have put together that would have prepared me for motherhood, and all plans that I did have went out the window. Before I joined Imago, Regan always came first, then my career, and then myself. It was so easy to put myself last because my life became a balancing act between raising my little human, being a partner to my significant other, fostering my career, and being on a plane or train 1-2 times a week on business travel. My eating habits were terrible, my exercise routine was non-existent, and I was officially at my heaviest weight (excluding pregnancy). I thought I was crazy for wanting to add fitness into the mix because when the heck would I have time? But I felt myself going down a deep, dark hole where I hated how I felt on the inside, hated how I looked on the outside, and just stopped loving myself. I knew something had to change before things got worse. I had to make time to be healthy and for myself!

    My close friend put me in touch with Sarah and Coach Huong at Imago, and once I started my 12-week transformation program, my priorities were balanced. I put myself first for the first time in years, and that alone made me a better mother, girlfriend, and employee! But the process definitely was not easy. I recall my first PT session and almost blacking out… but it hurt so good! 😉 Below are my tips, tricks, and best practices that worked for this full-time working mother.

    1. Establish a schedule. With my demanding work and home life, I needed a schedule. Fasted cardio was done on the weekends and during the week before my family woke up. If I couldn’t do fasted AM cardio because of my work schedule, I did PM cardio with Regan in the jogging stroller. Strength training was done during the week on my lunch breaks, grocery shopping was done every other Friday, and meal prep was done every Sunday.

    2. Get everything ready the night before. Before my work day even began, most of my mornings consisted of fasted cardio, getting myself ready, wresting my toddler to get ready, and then dropping him off at school. I barely had time to brush my hair, so I would pack my gym clothes and lunch bag the night before. I would leave my gym bag by the front door, and I would put my car keys with my lunch bag. With so much already going on, I had to make sure I didn’t forget!

    3. Be flexible. Things didn’t always go by plan, so I would have to improvise, and you can’t beat yourself up when this happens. I once had to buy a tank top and shorts at the studio because I forgot my gym clothes, and another time I had to do strength training in Uggs because I forgot my sneakers. When I didn’t have my food, I kept it simple and went with salads or turkey sandwiches. And when I didn’t have a babysitter, I brought Regan with me to the studio. If there’s a will, there’s always a way!

    4. Communicate regularly with your personal trainer and Coach. I couldn’t always make it into the studio for strength training, so I would work with Sarah on alternative workouts I could do at home or in my hotel room when I was out of town. When I wanted to add ice cream–yes, ice cream!–to my meal plan, I told Coach what I was craving and she made it happen. Remember that it’s a two-way street. You won’t be happy if you don’t provide feedback on things that work and don’t work for you. Communication is key and don’t forget to ask questions.

    5. Appreciate your support system. I wouldn’t have been able to get through the 12 weeks if it weren’t for my support system: my family. They were the ones who ate all of the leftovers so I wouldn’t be tempted to eat any of it. They were the ones who took care of Regan when I was having extra “me” time working out. And they were the ones who always said I was beautiful no matter what.

    But here I am, -15 pounds and -14 inches later, and I am the happiest and healthiest I’ve ever been, mentally and physically. Imago helped me to become the best version of myself, and I am determined to keep up this lifestyle for as long as I can! Fasted cardio is seriously better than coffee and the days I don’t exercise, I feel sluggish, unhappy, and incomplete. I will forever be grateful for Coach Huong, Sarah, Char, and the rest of the Imago team!! 

    Regan still comes first, but now, so do I.