Congratulations to the May 2016 Member of the Month, Elicia Holien! Elicia has been a member for 3 years. She has been an inspiration to so many people. In those 3 years, she has spent just as much time (if not more time) working out pregnant than not pregnant. Amazing right?! And now is a busy mother of 3 kids, 3 and under. She has been a continuous example of determination to be the best version of herself.
“Three years ago, I found out I was pregnant with baby #2. Despite a very “average” weight gain with my first, I had just spent the past 10 months struggling with post baby weight loss. I had finally reached my pre-pregnancy weight (still not where I wanted to be) when I found out I was pregnant again. I made a decision. I wanted to come out the other end of this pregnancy not struggling so much to lose weight. It shouldn’t be so hard, there had to be a better way. So, three years ago, I walked through the doors of Barefoot Fitness and my life was forever changed.
It was intimidating at first, with all of the new faces and crazy workouts with no shoes. The trainers were inspiring! Jess was warm and encouraging….and then there was Abby: standing outside all female Maverick-like in her aviator sunglasses. She.Was.Cool. I looked around at my new found gym and discovered something wonderful. Everyone was helping each other, talking through the workouts, pushing each other to go just a little further. The support structure I found here was amazing!
I pushed myself for the next 6 months. I was shocked at what my body was able to accomplish, let alone pregnant. I was able to run Rumble on the Ranch at 24 weeks pregnant. I was surprised how strong and capable I was becoming. I didn’t expect to feel these results while I was pregnant.
After Henry was born, things returned to normal much faster than before. By 8 months out, I was 20# below my pre-pregnancy weight, and back to high school weight. All I had to do was walk through those doors three days per week and follow the nutrition guidelines laid out before me. If ever in a rut, the trainers were there. If I was unmotivated, my friends came looking for me. I was being held accountable, and I loved the ever changing workouts.
A year later, we were expecting #3. Through my training at Barefoot, I was able to maintain my current program. I pushed harder this time and was able to break through a few PRs. It wasn’t easy, but I felt just as good pregnant as I did before. On the days I felt less than great, a workout always made me feel better. I maintained my strength level through the pregnancy and did a body weight chin up the day before I went in to labor. (Sorry, toot toot on the horn there, but that was a serious goal!) Oddly enough, in all three of my pregnancies, I ended up at the same weight. Now, seven months after baby, I’m back to pre-pregnancy weight (I know, I know, Abby: “Chuck the scale!”) I have come to realize that any struggle with my weight is because I am not following the tools laid out before me. You have to give it your all, in and out of the gym.
Thank you Barefoot for pushing me to be strong, for showing me I can, and for giving me a group of people that are my closest friends. Through your training and my barefoot family, I am the happiest and healthiest I have been in my adult life.
***Before Photo is 3 months after our wedding and prior to children.
***After Photo is 7mo post baby #3 in my High School jeans!”