“At first we had no idea what we were doing, we were SUPER sore, and we had no idea how important lifting weights is. Now we know! And we wish we started earlier!”
Stephanie: Bookkeeper for a law office
Amanda: Family Support Specialist for Spokane Public Schools
We met in a mommy group about 16 years ago then started doing Zumba & other classes at the Y. As our kids got older and we went back to work outside the home, working out got to be less. Realizing we were losing muscle and just couldn’t squeeze fitness regularly into our busier schedules, on the advice of a friend (Ashley Strine!!) Amanda booked a free trial class at FGF and Steph agreed to come along. We could barely walk when we left the first class, but we both went home and signed up to join. That was nearly 5 years ago and we continue to show up every week!
At first we had no idea what we were doing, we were SUPER sore, and we had no idea how important lifting weights is. Now we know! And we wish we started earlier!
Amanda: Consistency. We show up. Every time. I sometimes have a hard time committing to the workout but would never stand up a friend! And then I am always glad I did the workout afterward!
Steph: Showing up! And being able to climb the rope…I remember when I first started and looking at those like “oh there is no way”. It didn’t happen for a while, but keeping after it and eventually when my feet left the ground and I was like “I did it!” What a feeling!
Amanda: To keep showing up. Keep building muscle and flexibility to live without pain.
Steph: To keep after it. I’m realizing how good it is for my body and my mind!
Steph: My most favorite exercise is Deadlifts. I have several least favorites, the absolute worst of them is a plate push!
Amanda: My favorite format is Tabatas because I can do anything for a short period of time. I could pick lots of least favs! We complain a lot! But I think burpees might win the biggest groan.
Amanda: I’ll be glad when this is done, I’ll be glad when this is done…
Steph: I can do this, I can do this…
The community. Everyone is present at their own level and is a champion for everyone else. And, it’s always great to see new faces, and to give them a smile or a little encouragement, like “girl, you can do this!”
Amanda: I used to have chronic pain- back, hips, knees. My pain is virtually gone and my mood is lifted every time I visit FGF.
Steph: Confidence! When my husband looks at me, smiles, nods his head and says “that is not the body of a 50 year old” I’m like, ok, it’s all worth it to get a reaction like that!
Work, friends, family, lake time! And travel!
Steph: Definitely Amanda! Every week she texts asking what days we should work out. If it wasn’t for the consistency of those texts, it’d be a lot harder to keep showing up.
Amanda: Awww! I show up to talk to Steph. She’s like a counselor for me… sometimes I feel like I owe her a copay!
Gosh, so many! We often laugh about our first classes when we could barely squat…and the exercises the coaches had us doing to improve. We looked like strippers sliding up and down the walls. Now we joke about making “poor decisions”—realizing we put a little too much weight on the bar, not remembering if the reps are “total” or “per side,” or getting a gentle push from the coach when she knows we can do more. At some point in every workout, we look at each other and just start laughing!
And we do not plan to dress alike at the gym although many days we do. We just shop together and have similar tastes!
Steph: Anything old school…rap, classic rock. I love any song from the 80s!
One of us has a comedian for a husband… anyone want a free ticket to the Spokane Comedy Club on March 9th? I can hook you up. Seriously ;-)
One of us has been in love with the guy who asked me to dance at our senior prom 33 years ago (we were both there with friends) and we’ll be celebrating our 30th wedding anniversary in March!
Steph: Any show about the paranormal. I am a sucker for them and I will binge watch them for hours!
Amanda: Wine.
Steph: The first (and only) time I did an unassisted pull up. I had never been able to do one, and my goal was to be able to do it before I turned 50. Mission accomplished
Amanda: She was awesome!! I was cheering on the sidelines!
Keep showing up! And don’t be afraid…to ask for help, to modify, to groan if an exercise is kicking your booty. We have ALL been new members and we know what you are going through!
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