Our Spotlight Member this month is Gina! Her consistency over has led to big improvements over a short period of time. In her interview Gina shares about the importance of self-care, and persevering through challenges.
BREAKTHROUGH: Gina, thank you so much for sitting down and chatting with me. I am really excited to hear how you are feeling after several months of training.
GINA: Yes, I think it was summer that I joined here.
BREAKTHROUGH: Right. I remember when you first started. To see the change in what you can accomplish now versus what you were doing at the beginning is amazing! So, tell us about what brought you in in the first place.
GINA: I came in because I really wanted to start working out again. And I was getting really dizzy so I needed somebody to help me figure out how not to get dizzy when I am working out. And it hasn’t happened since I’ve been here. And that is great!
BREAKTHROUGH: Yes!
GINA: And I feel a lot stronger.
BREAKTHROUGH: So, before you came in, you had been working with a physical therapist concerning the dizziness you mentioned.
GINA: Yes, I have neck and vestibular problems – cervicogenic vertigo.
BREAKTHROUGH: Right. I remember us talking when you first started about how you had been feeling and how this is different from the more common vertigo that makes people feel dizzy getting up and down off the ground etc. You were dealing with some pretty serious stuff.
GINA: Yeah.
BREAKTHROUGH: And you did a lot of work with the PT to get your body ready to start lifting. You deserve a lot credit for that because that is hard work to do, and takes some time. So, when you started with us, we took things slowly to make sure we didn’t aggravate your neck, and to see how you have progressed is just so inspiring. You have been doing amazing!
GINA: Yay! Thank you!
BREAKTHROUGH: So how do you feel after training consistently for over half a year now?
GINA: A lot stronger. And a lot more confident.
BREAKTHROUGH: That is great. Is there anything that has surprised you about your training that you weren’t expecting?
GINA: I didn’t think I would get this far this fast.
BREAKTHROUGH: In what way?
GINA: Like how much I could lift.
BREAKTHROUGH: Yeah, yeah! It’s so cool to think back to the first phase of training when you started, and you were deadlifting an 8kg kettlebell. Now in the past couple of phases you’ve been deadlifting on the barbell…
GINA: Yes, a little over 100 pounds!
BREAKTHROUGH: That is a huge accomplishment! So many people look at the barbell and are like, I don’t know if I could do that. It seems intimidating. But you just jumped in, and it is amazing! So, is there anything else that you weren’t expecting?
GINA: Just how strong I’ve gotten so far!
BREAKTHROUGH: One of the things that I love is noticing how my strength carries over to things that I do outside the gym. Are there things like that in your daily life that you have noticed?
GINA: Yeah. I can pick up gallons really easy and just walk with them and it is not like they are too heavy.
BREAKTHROUGH: Yes, it is supposed to make your daily life easier.
GINA: Yes, exactly!
BREAKTHROUGH: Another thing we like to ask is what is your why? What is the thing that motivates you to do this even on days when it hard to do.
GINA: I like it. It is what I do for me. My self-care.
BREAKTHROUGH: And that is important. You are a mom, and you have other people to look after and you need that time for you, for sure. How do you notice that impacts your daily life?
GINA: I notice I feel bad when I don’t get to come… like if I’m sick or something.
BREAKTHROUGH: Right.
GINA: It makes me feel good when I come and do my workout.
BREAKTHROUGH: Yeah! And it should not just feel physically good, but in other ways too.
GINA: I feel like I accomplished something, yeah!
BREAKTHROUGH: Cool! This was awesome. I appreciate you sharing all this, and we look forward to seeing what you can accomplish next! Thanks so much, Gina!
GINA: You are welcome!