Client Showcase: Ashley – “the first time in my life I’ve ever had abs”
In today’s client showcase, I’m highlighting my client Ashley who I’ve been working with for about five months. A busy marketing expert for small businesses, she came to me a little burned out from Weight Watchers. But she was ready to commit to a new version of self-care, and she has reaped the benefits. In less than six months, she has lost:
- 3 inches off waist
- 4 inches off hips
- 21 pounds of fat
And, perhaps most importantly, she is feeling strong for practically the first time in her life! Like many people who have weight loss goals, her previous weight loss efforts had not been exercise-centric, and strength training had been punted in favor of cardio. But now, Ashley has nearly doubled many of the weights she was using when we first started working together, and this has helped her get and stay leaner while she’s losing weight.
In fact, she has gone from 35% body fat to 25-26%, and she’s still going!
I’ll let Ashley tell her story in her own words, but I want to say upfront that Ashley has demonstrated the ideal balance of self-discipline, flexibility, and openness since we started working together. This is the perfect recipe for making real progress that lasts!
Now here’s Ashley herself…
Client Showcase: Ashley
After gaining weight during COVID, I joined Weight Watchers (WW) in 2021. I used that program consistently for about a year and a half and lost around 50 pounds. I know WW gets some criticism (and I have my own — keep reading!), but it really helped me learn how to be more intentional about eating. It taught me how to measure portions and track my food consistently.
What it didn’t teach me was how to eat balanced meals with protein, carbs, fats, and fiber. The points system also felt disproportionate to what I was eating at times. A 100-calorie snack bar would cost me 5 or 6 points when I only had 23 for the day. There were days I would go way over on points but didn’t even consume 1,500 calories.
Eventually, I burned out and then quit altogether.
Rachel here: this is my primary issue with WW. Often, people learn a version of more intentional portion control, but don’t develop a deeper understanding of how foods feel/act in our bodies. The end result is often over-restriction. Now back to Ashley…
Looking for a Change…
After stopping WW, I kept off most of the weight for a while. Over time, though, I became less mindful about what and how much I was eating, and I stopped working out as much as I had when I was actively working to lose weight. Without those habits in place, my weight gradually started to creep back up. My clothes didn’t fit as well, I felt sluggish constantly, and I started to avoid the scale because I knew it would only make me feel bad about myself.
That went on for a while until eventually, I got tired of feeling that way. I knew I didn’t feel good in my body and wanted to make a change. That’s when I started to look into online personal training. I didn’t necessarily want to work with a trainer in person, but I felt that having some accountability and guidance would go a long way in helping me get back on track.
I figured I could try online training for a month or two, and if it didn’t help, I could move on and try something else. My biggest doubt about online training was whether it would be worth it. I wasn’t sure if having a virtual relationship with a trainer would produce real results. I also worried that I wouldn’t get the personal attention I needed for accountability or that I would get generic advice that didn’t reflect my goals or capabilities.
Rachel here again: there is a huge difference between having an online personal trainer and participating in a group program created by a personal trainer. The way I work, everything is 100% personalized, from your Zoom calls to your workouts to your nutrition goals.
More than weight loss…
I started working with Rachel primarily to lose weight, but I’ve gotten so much more from the experience than that.
Of course, it’s been a great feeling to see the scale go down. After working together for about six months, I’ve lost 20 pounds — nearly all of the weight I had gained back after stopping WW.
Since working with Rachel, I’ve lost several inches off my waist and hips. My clothes fit well again, and I feel confident when I look in the mirror and see the noticeable changes in my body.
And while that feels like such a testament to the work I’ve done, it’s not the only accomplishment I’m proud of…
The biggest result that I wasn’t necessarily expecting to see, at least so quickly, is the muscle I’ve gained. I can literally feel the muscles I’ve built in my upper legs, and I’ve even been surprised to notice some definition in my core. I told my husband that I think it’s the first time in my life I’ve ever had “abs”!
I am not an athletic person. People close to me have described me as someone with “the strength of a small child.” Believe me when I say: if I can get stronger and build muscle, literally anyone can do it.
Rachel here again: my approach is very “exercise-forward,” because one of my primary goals is to get someone leaner, not just lighter. This is often a surprise to people who have been exclusively focused on weight, that there are results beyond weight loss. Building lean muscle mass tends to help with keeping weight off, in addition to health benefits like better blood sugar balance and improved life performance. If you want to learn more about fat loss vs. weight loss, you can check out this article of mine. Now, back to Ashley…
The best “results” of all…
Finally, working with Rachel has really helped with my mindset around food. I finally understand what foods will help me get the fuel I need to feel good.
While it felt like a big change at first, she really helped me understand how to make sustainable choices that don’t feel impossible to stick with.
Personally, the best advice she gave me was that not every meal needs to be an “experience.” I’ve come back to that advice again and again, whether it’s a random dinner on a Saturday night or a quick lunch while traveling. It’s OK to let food just be food — and when you think of it that way, it’s easier to accept that some foods just make you feel better, even if they’re not the most exciting to eat.
A better toolbox for challenges…
I started working with Rachel about five weeks before a week-long anniversary trip to New York. By that point, I had built some momentum and did not want to lose progress by taking a week off. At the same time, I knew I would want to indulge and enjoy myself.
Mostly, I was nervous about how I would sustain good habits when I wasn’t in my normal routine.
Ahead of the trip, Rachel encouraged me to think about things a bit differently. She gave me tips that allowed room for indulgence but also factored in some balance. For example, if I had a special dinner planned one evening, I could have a healthy breakfast and a lighter lunch. This advice helped me get past the all-or-nothing approach I can sometimes have, especially when I’m working toward a goal.
It reminded me that healthy habits need to make sense in all parts of my life, including travel and special occasions when I’m not in my normal routine.
Rachel here: I am a major travel nerd, and one of my favorite things is to coach clients through periods of travel. It really does not have to be all-or-nothing!
Words of wisdom…
Consistency is everything. You need to be willing to make the time and do the work. That gets easier (at least it did for me) when I decided that it needed to be a real priority, not just something I did when I felt like it or when it happened to work in my schedule.
Rachel here again: if you want to learn more about how I handle the concept of “willpower,” check out this video by psychologist Kelly McGonigal.
If you’ve come this far and you’re thinking about taking the next step, I’d encourage you to do it. I doubt you will regret it!
Rachel here again! I am so impressed by Ashley, the hard work she’s put in, and the results she’s experienced. If you’re interested in this balanced, personalized approach to fitness, weight loss, and habits, click here to set up a one-on-one Zoom consultation to discuss your goals!
