All of my clients are special. I’m grateful to serve clients who have similar priorities and values as me, so finding a new client is more than just business; I find a new friend. That description couldn’t be more evident than what I’ve found in Heather. She inspires me daily. Whatever benefit I’ve been to her, she’s been for be tenfold. She has more determination and more heart than most women I’ve met in life. 

This is just the beginning of the story God’s writing in you, Heather. And you’re stuck with me for the rest of it. Thanks for being a continuous blessing in my life!

Here’s Heather’s story:

After three years of miscarriages, surgeries, tests, and treatments, to finally sustaining two complicated pregnancies that both ended in C-sections, my body had taken a beating. My boys, born 19 months apart, both came out with colic and after ‘surviving’ the pre-pregnancy road I had just walked down, I then found myself battling post-partum depression.

Working full time, while trying to maintain being a mom and a wife, only meant that I put myself last in every area of my health because I just didn’t have the time or the drive to do anything about it. In a nutshell, I let myself go. And in doing so, my weight got to a place where I could hardly recognized myself anymore.

I was always tired,  stressed, and grumpy. I turned to food for my comfort. Emotionally, I was disgusted with myself. I started retreating from people. I didn’t want to look in the mirror. I didn’t want to be seen. I was embarrassed for my husband. I was too tired or physically capable of even getting on the floor and playing with my kids.

More than just being physically overweight, I was completely emotionally and spiritually drained.

Last December, I hit a breaking point during a routine physical. Due to some complicated health issues (which developed into PCOS and insulin resistance), he told me that if I didn’t do something about my weight now, my future path would be a road that led to Type 2 diabetes and hypertension.

I was stunned. I mean, I’m only in my 30’s.

It was then I realized it was time to do something about the state I was in. I wanted my husband to have a wife and my boys to have a mom that was physically capable for them. I was desperate for help, but I had NO idea how or where to start.

And then I found Michelle. Or maybe she found me. Thanks to a mutual friend and work companion who had joined Michelle’s Myers Cross Training Community. I gave my friend permission to give Michelle my name & email address, and she emailed me soon after.

Honesty time: I gave Michelle the ‘run around’ on this whole challenge group thing. Even though I knew I needed help, I didn’t think I could do it. I thought it would end up like every other ‘scenario’ I had tried in attempts to lose weight. So I did what I had always done in these situations:

I proceeded to give her every excuse in the book. Every excuse.

But she stuck with me. And despite all of my whining, she helped me realize how much I needed this. So I agreed to give her 30 days, changing my habits to eat healthy, replace one meal a day with Shakeology, and begin working out with T-25.

I didn’t know it at the time, but that was the start of my new life.

Not only has my body changed, but I rediscovered my drive, my emotional stamina, my thought process, and my spiritual life.  I learned how to celebrate my little daily victories. To take my journey one day at a time. To see myself as God sees me and learn to accept that I was ‘Fearfully and wonderfully’ made and believe it. And walk it. And live in it. It created this passion inside that I knew existed but honestly had not felt or seen for a very very long time.

Here’s what I realized: I was more emotionally overweight than I was physically overweight. But once I broke through the negative thoughts I had about myself, I was able to find the physical energy to do what I needed to do.

So far, I’ve lost 40 lbs. And I know I’ve lost way more inches than I can track because I was too insecure to even measure my body in the beginning. Weight loss aside, my body feels completely different. My muscle tone is defined in places I didn’t realize existed on my body. I feel confident and comfortable in my skin. I have joy again. I have discovered heart health in every sense.

But my biggest victories have happened off the scale, what Michelle calls NSV’s (non-scale victories.) For almost two years, I wore a fake wedding ring…because my other rings just didn’t fit anymore. I would often look at my rings and get sad, thinking, “I’ll never wear those again.” We even talked about having them sized up. But just two weeks after working with Michelle, she asked us for victories off the scale, and I thought about my wedding rings. I thought, “I’ll just try to skip them over my fingers.” But I didn’t really think they would.

I went to the bathroom, grabbed my rings…and they fit. I sat on the floor and cried. I didn’t realize how truly important that was to me until I actually felt them slip over my finger again. That was all the motivation I needed to keep going.

I also ran my first 5K this July. I hate to run. The Color Run was coming to Asheville, and it seemed like the most ‘fun’ 5K to do if I was ever to do that kind of thing. Michelle had formed a team here locally for whoever wanted to join. So I signed up. And I did it. I crossed the finish line running all but maybe 5 min of that 5K beside the person who believed in me most from the beginning. Needless to say, I had another good ugly cry moment walking back to my car. I could not have done that 6 months ago nor did I ever think that I would.

My first 5K with my new fit family.

Michelle is full of great practical knowledge, but she is first and foremost concerned with where your heart and head are. That was where MOST of my weight loss came at the beginning. I just needed someone telling me I could do this. That it would work if I did. That God loved me and saw me as beautiful. She poured prayers over us. Loved as He loves. And honestly cared for each of us every single day. That made all the difference in my success.

My one piece of advice to those of you considering taking a leap of faith to accomplish your health goals is to stop making excuses about time and money, and just do it. My turning point in making the decision to try came when Michelle told me it’s not a magic pill, but it’s also not rocket science. I would see results if I simply committed to follow the plan. Exercise, eat right, rest, and love yourself. I promise you, it works. Take it from the biggest, most pessimistic excuse-giver than every was.

I’m only halfway to my goal. It might take me another year or longer to get there. But I’m going to get there.

And after that? I’ll keep going.

Stay connected with Heather’s journey here. 

Interested in learning more about the Myers Cross Training Community? Watch the video below, and fill out the form here. 

I’ll never forget meeting Alison. When she shared her story with me, I wept. I wanted so much for her to know her worth and to know God had not forgotten her. Her transformation on the outside is incredible, but the inner strength of this amazing woman would bust through every shirt if inner strength could be flexed. You are amazing, Alison, and you inspire me!

This is Alison’s story… 

When I first came across Michelle on Facebook, my personal life was falling apart. I was intrigued by her combined approach about faith and fitness, but one day, she posted and asked, “Does anyone ever feel like you’re not enough?” She coupled it with God’s truth that I indeed am enough, so I reached out to her about joining her community.

My health wasn’t where it needed to be, but I honestly just needed that gentle reminder in my life that I am enough.

I got started with PiYo, the PiYo meal plan and drinking Shakeology daily. Between September and April, I started to see muscle tone appear in my body that I hadn’t seen since I was a teenager…and I had just turned 40.

My awe turned to shock when I moved into Insanity: Max 30. I couldn’t believe what my body was able to do now!

As of now, I’ve lost 20 pounds and 11 inches. My progress has been slow, but steady. My greatest NSV (non-scale victory) continues to be that I got up again today to work out. I’m consistent now, and I’ve never done that in my past.

My consistency stems a lot from Michelle’s constant encouragement and the community of accountability and prayer I’ve found in the Myers Cross Training community. There were definitely times I thought I would have to quit…but with the encouragement of these ladies, I was consistently reminded that these failures were temporary and I was going for a long-term win. 

If you’re considering beginning your health journey, just get up and try. And then do that again tomorrow. One day at a time is how real success is achieved. And the people who around you who become inspired to get healthy because of your journey are by far the best prize.

Need an extra helping hand in your journey? I would love to see if us working together would be the right fit for you. Watch the video below, and fill out the info here. I’ll be in touch soon!

In seminary, Jenn and her husband, Jason, were two of our closest friends. Our husbands even worked together while we were all getting our master’s degrees. It has been such a blessing to watch them continue to pursue the Lord wholeheartedly. Watching their transformations from the inside out has been such a blessing. They have been such a team through it all. Their encouragement to one another has not only strengthened my faith and encouraged my own health journey, but they’ve been such an example of how building our spouses up publicly and privately is so powerful.

Here’s Jenn’s story:

I have been overweight and struggled with up and down weight all my life because I’ve always tried diets and exercise that weren’t realistically sustainable. After having my two boys, I never lost the baby weight. Then, after two miscarriages, I was the heaviest I’d ever been and struggling with depression. My doctor told us to wait two months before trying for another baby, so I chose to try Insanity because I knew it was 60 days from seeing infomercials. I had tried the gym and a personal trainer, but I couldn’t get to the gym enough to make a difference and I didn’t know what to do with my nutrition, so I felt desperate.

After my first day of Insanity, I contacted Michelle in tears because I thought I was going to die. I couldn’t even complete the first 3 minutes! Michelle encouraged me to continue pressing play each day, doing the best I could. She also told me not to be afraid to press pause…that was freedom in itself. She promised me that as long as I showed up every day and stuck to the plan, I would get stronger every day and get the results I wanted. So while I thought she was crazy, we met in seminary, I know she was a woman of integrity and that she wouldn’t promise me anything that wasn’t true. I trusted her, and she was right. It did get a little easier every time I just showed up.

Other than my physical transformation, (To date, I’ve lost 60 lbs. and 33 inches), the biggest change I’ve seen is becoming a person who loves fitness. Michelle helped me see physical, emotional, and spiritual fitness all go together. I had to face myself and realize that I was not a disciplined person in these areas and that to honor the Lord, I had to make some changes. While this was a hard reality for me to face, following Michelle has given me some tools to help incorporate discipline/consistency in these areas and have success.

I didn’t realize what a gift fitness can be to your family. Because Beachbody is in-home fitness, my children and husband have been a very real part of my journey. We’ve done it together. We’ve dripped in sweat together, encouraged each other to finish strong, tried new recipes, failed together and then picked up and started again. These moments with my family have been greater than any pounds lost.

My biggest NSV has been the freedom to say “Yes.” Yes, to my kids wanting to play chase and tag all day and know I could keep up with them. Yes, to going swimming and not being embarrassed. Yes, to going places with my husband and not feeling ashamed or crying because I felt horrible in my clothes. Yes to not being afraid to try new things.

Outside of encouraging me through my personal fitness journey, Michelle introduced me to coaching. I never thought I would be able to help other women reach their fitness and nutrition goals, but I am so thankful to experience the joy that comes in helping other women not feel trapped inside their bodies like I once was.

If you’re struggling with getting started…Just do it. There is no excuse or fear that outweighs what you have to gain in building your fitness. If you are willing to try, I think you will find that not only will your strengthen your physical fitness, but you will increase every other area of your life in a positive way.

Watch this video below to see if you’d be the right fit to join us in the Myers Cross Training community.

Still here? Fill out this application, and I’ll be in touch about getting you connected to the Myers Cross Training community very soon!

My challengers are truly the backbone of what keeps me excited about showing up for work every day. Their commitment to their from the inside out transformation is truly inspiring. That doesn’t mean struggle doesn’t exist, but these women are serious overcomers of logic obstacles. I love sharing their journeys with you as a reminder that external change is truly just a mirror of what’s happened on the inside. 

This is Lita’s story:

I struggled to lose weight for many years. After giving birth to my second child 1997, I was almost 200 lbs. At only 5’4″, I struggled to even carry myself. I admitted defeat & labeled myself a plus size woman.

I tried many different programs that I would borrow from the library. I always started excited, but I never finished. Even if I would exercise, I still didn’t eat healthy. I was still in the same boat – little to no results. Only frustration.

I followed Michelle on social media for almost two years before I made a decision to join her community. I’m thankful for her consistency in reaching out to people like me. If she had stopped posting her journey, I would probably still be searching and struggling. But her daily reminders of including God in her fitness journey inspired me to get close to God. I asked Him for wisdom to take this journey seriously.

Slowly, my perspective changed from self-centered to God-centered. I realized losing weight wasn’t just about me, making myself happy and feeling better (although I do feel better & happier), but this was about obedience to God & honoring Him with the body He gave me.

Since May 2014, I have lost 45 lbs and 20 inches. My biggest NSV (non-scale victory, which Michelle emphasizes celebrating) is that I’m off blood pressure medicine! My doctor was elated and encouraged me to keep doing whatever I’m doing.

I’ve done several programs from start to finish including TurboFire, 21 Day Fix, 21 Day Fix Extreme, Insanity Max 30 and PiYo. I’ve also drank my Shakeology daily in addition to following a healthy eating plan.

Joining the Myers Cross Training Community changed my perspective to help me see myself as God sees me. This community has become an extension of my family, where I get and give support. I love how we share our successes and struggles. But most of all, I love how we pray for each other.

But it doesn’t end in the community. I’ve been able to inspire my own friends & family who have watched my transformation over the last 14 months. So my advice to the one thinking about getting started is the same thing I tell them. Take that first small step, one day a time. Stick to the program, follow the meal play, and stay connected. Don’t hesitate to share your struggles – someone will always be able to relate. Michelle and the other community group members will lift you up and motivate you. Bigger than that:

Get excited because God is on your side. 

My life journey has changed because God has allowed me to join Myers Cross Training Community. My family and my ministry received a great benefit from me when I improved my life by eating healthy and exercise daily.

Most of all, God gets all the glory.

For more information about joining the Myers Cross Training community, watch the video below:

Still with me? Fill out this form, and I’ll be in touch soon. I look forward to working together!