My Journey: The good, the bad, and the ugly

Who is Danielle?

I am a 41 year-old mom of 3 (Cassie-12, Cayden-9 and Cambrie-5) and married 14 years to my amazing husband and biggest supporter, Dave. By day I am a high school English teacher and by, well all of the other pockets of time in my day, have my own health and fitness business as a coach. In addition to this, I teach group fitness classes at the Beaver County YMCA and am an unpaid Uber driver for my kids’ activities (which I wouldn’t trade for the world!)

Family Vacation-July 2019

Where it all started….

I was always the person who started on January 1st, the person who waited for Monday to roll around so I could “start again.” I’ve done and tried it all and yes some stuff has worked and others didn’t last long or were so crazy that I can’t even believe I tried it in the first place. Ups and downs and self-sabotage galore but it was in 2007 that things started to change. That was the year I was introduced to Shaun T by one of my co-workers. I had just started a new teaching job, was 6 months postpartum from Cassie and desperately trying to lose some weight. So me and a few other teachers would stay after school, go down on the cafeteria stage and did his program with him, Hip Hop Abs. Who remembers that one??? I loved it and him so much. He was so positive, had such an amazing energy about him and was adorable as heck! At the same time, I was following Weight Watchers because it was a solid program, but I would lose some weight, take that as a pass to go off my diet, and gain it right back again.

Fast forward to 2010. New school. New classroom. Now 8 months postpartum from Cayden and looked to Shaun T for help one more time. Insanity was my go to this time. Again, I did it in my classroom after school but this time I was alone and thought I was going to die. I was waaayyyyy out of my league with this one. But you know what....I didn’t give up or quit. I had no shame in the modification game because at least I was doing it! I lost some weight, became a little stronger and used his energy to fuel me when I had none. But, I was still at my heaviest. That’s when my friend Jamie suggested we sign up for a 5K, my first 5K, called The Great Race in Pittsburgh. We finished and even took a picture to commemorate our achievement. I often look back on that picture never having realized at the time just how overweight I was, not to mention, unhealthy and out of shape! And I felt it….in every step I took that morning. But….I also completed it and was so proud of doing so!

Great Race-2010

But, even feeling the way I did, I still wasn’t ready to really make a lifestyle change. It would be Halloween soon, then Thanksgiving, then Christmas. I couldn’t possibly start a diet during those “major food months” I convinced myself. So, at the start of 2011 (because I was a January resolution kind of girl), I signed up for my first Beachbody product, 21 Day Fix. I needed help with my eating and I needed structure. The containers that you used with this program helped me immensely! It taught me how to portion out my food because I was WAY out of control! I started losing weight, doing some of the workouts that came with it, and more importantly, feeling better! This program saved me and gave me the confidence to start doing other things. I started signing up for more 5K’s, and taking step class at the Y with Rhonda (who ironically enough, ended up getting me into becoming an instructor at the Y teaching step). My love for fitness started slow…really slow (it was more of a like than a love)! And I had setbacks. Plenty of them. I gained some weight, I lost some weight. I bounced between 21 Day Fix and Weight Watchers for several years and had success with both! But I was never consistent…that was my problem!!!

After two rounds of 21 Day Fix

Self-sabotage 75-Danielle 0

But...one thing I became consistent with was working out! I can’t pinpoint when it started. There were more 5K’s, more classes at the Y, more 21 Day Fix workouts at home and then somehow I got nudged into becoming an instructor at the Y. I have no idea how that happened, but Rhonda was quite convincing! LOL! I taught step classes for awhile before branching off into other classes. Next thing I know….I’m getting certified to teach cycling (that was a Kim Williams nudge) and becoming a personal trainer-think she talked me into that too! I was adding other Beachbody programs into the mix along the way (22 Minute Hard Corps and Shaun T’s T25) and even got certified in P90X, which took place last year (This certification proved to be a pivotal moment in my life, but I’ll talk about that later). I began moving beyond 5K’s to 10K’s, ½ marathons, then eventually completed 2 full marathons and a triathlon (Completed my second triathlon this past May and took 3rd in my age group). The working out stuff became a true passion for me. I loved how I felt during and after the workouts. I had a blast leading a group of people in a class and witnessing their accomplishments. And more importantly, I loved meeting all the new people in the classes that I was teaching and forming great friendships with. But even with all of these workouts….my nutrition was always a hurdle for me and to this day, still is!

My first marathon/Teaching classes at the Y/My 2nd triathlon

Then….Beachbody helped me out one more time when I needed it most and released their newest nutrition program, 2b Mindset, designed by a registered dietician and former yo-yo dieter. My 40th birthday was approaching in June 2018 and I was bound and determined to lose the weight that I was desperately struggling to lose. It was honestly the easiest program I had ever followed. I watched the videos, I listened to what Ilana had to say, I journaled daily, I used the scale as a tool and learned not to dread it and here’s what happened….I lost weight! Weight that I thought I couldn’t lose because everything else I was trying wasn’t working, except this time, it did! I wasn’t counting calories or tracking my macros or counting points. And I wasn’t letting food control me anymore! I was like, ”Where have you been all my life, Ilana? I could have used this program years ago!!!” I started having a healthier relationship and mindset with food and it was magical!!! LOL.

Following 2b Mindset/My 40th birthday

Now remember that p90X certification I mentioned??? Well, the trainer from that certification (Kam Niskach), who I had followed on social media, was not only a master trainer for Beachbody, but also a coach. She reached out to me and invited me to her 2b Mindset challenge group. I jumped at the chance. I needed all of the support and encouragement I could get and I knew that she was the right person to help me. This whole challenge group thing was pretty new to me but I loved the idea of being a part of a supportive community. It was cool to see other people going through the same stuff I was going through but then at the same time celebrating our successes together as a team. The accountability of this group was so key in me succeeding at this new lifestyle change. So when Kam said she was starting a new program (LIIFT4) and a new group, I was all in! After LIIFT 4 came another group, Shift Shop Proving Grounds, and yep, you guessed it. All in on this one too! But the next invite was a little different and came in December. She told me that Shaun T’s new program, Transform 20, was launching in January and there was a special early access option if you signed up as a coach. No pressure she said. Just think about it.

So, 28 days passed….and I thought about it! January 3, 2019 I sent this to Kam:

“Okkkk so I’ve been tossing this around for awhile now and really thought about becoming a coach. I was sitting there thinking all day yesterday....why can’t I do it? What’s the worst thing that would happen? Nothing! But this could be something that I could rock the heck out of and I want to do it!!!! Help me please!!! Lol.” Followed by, “I love all that is fitness and love helping people achieve their goals so this seems to be the right avenue for me!!!”

A few hours after I sent this text, I signed up as a coach with a Transform 20 challenge pack for $160 (of course after getting the green light from Dave).....and never looked back! I hit the ground running. Two days later, I was messaging everyone I knew to share with them how much these programs and products had impacted my life. Of course, this wasn’t without doubts, reservations and fears. Was I really qualified to be doing this? What would people think? What if I offended someone by sending them a message or reaching out to them? Would anyone actually be interested in what I was offering? What if I failed? Those were just some of the thoughts going through my head but I didn’t let them impact me for long. Because, I also had thoughts like….What if I can help people to change their lives like someone helped me change mine? What if I can have more financial freedom and not feel like I am living pay to pay check with having a full-time job? What if I can be successful at this and really make this more than just a side hustle? I knew what Beachbody had done for me and I knew what it could do for others and although I definitely had some limiting beliefs at first that were bogging me down, attending my very first Super Weekend (an event that happens four times a year in different locations all over the US) changed all of that. I was surrounded by coaches from every walk of life and got to listen to other women share their stories about how they got started, why they decided to become a coach and how their lives were forever changed and I wanted that! By the end of that first month, I signed up 12 customers.

So where am I now

In 12 short months, I was able to accomplish a lot of things:

• I earned a free ticket to our big conference in July (which means I was able to help at least 3 new people in January, February, and March)

• I won a ticket to a VIP party and meet and greets with a few of the super trainers from the workout programs at that same conference

Meeting Shaun T/Winning the Team Builder award

• I was asked to speak on stage, alongside some really successful coaches, at our July Super Weekend event-remember….those big events I was telling you about earlier.

• I currently work with over 90 amazing people working on their health and fitness goals

• I have built a team of 14+ coaches, with some of those coaches building their own team

• I rank advanced in my business in 7 months-building my team=moving on up!

• I earned an all-expense paid trip for me and a guest (Happy Anniversary Dave) to Punta Cana

Inspiring ladies I surround myself with

• I earned the Team Builder award for 2019 in the month of September-again, building my team

• I’m ranked #10 on the Top 100 New Coach Success Club Point earners of 2019 who were vying for the Punta Cana trip-which means, I was busting my tush to earn this trip!

• And I ended my first year moving my team to a 1 Star rank (I know....may not mean anything if you aren't in my biz, but it's pretty big!), earning a trip to a really cool leadership conference and finishing out 2019 with my team at 932 out of 350,000 teams.

So why am I telling you all of this? To brag? Certainly not. Furthest thing from what I’m trying to do. I’m just trying to show you that I was able to achieve all of this while working a full-time job, a part-time job, momming my face off, and doing just about everything else that comes with a busy life. I found pockets of time in my day that worked for me and was consistent with that time. I discovered early on that when you are serving others and helping them reach their own goals, you will reach YOUR own goals in ALL areas of your life. For this reason...I MADE the time. I had the support of my upline sponsor and fellow coach community, the amazing training that Beachbody affords you access to, and everything else, I just figured out! I added personal development to my life and was reading books that were helping me grow from the inside out. I made the most Pinterest-y vision board you could imagine and have it in my office/gym so I can see those goals EVERY SINGLE DAY. But besides all the shiny things on this list (although I am proud as hell and worked my butt off for them), my two most important accomplishments are getting to run this business with my husband and friends, and getting to celebrate the successes of all of those around me.

My hubby/The POWer Krew

My journey has been a LONG one. It didn’t happen overnight. It wasn’t easy. There were ups and downs and a whole lot of mess in between. It wasn’t quick. It took A LOT of hard work. There were so many times I quit. There were so many times I failed. But then, after years of trying every fad diet known to man, something clicked. I finally stopped quitting on myself and started fighting for a better life, a healthier life. A life I was deserving of. There’s no quick fix, magic pill, drink, or overnight remedy. There’s nothing easy about it. I just got so tired of hiding in the back of family photos, having anxiety over putting a bathing suit on to wear out in public, feeling insecure and frustrated, and tired of dealing with the stop/start cycle that I was living in. I discovered that if you’re willing to put in the work and stop quitting on yourself, you can achieve any level of success that you want.

Who I am now

As you can see, I’ve made lots of changes in my life over the years to get to where I am and I am always working on improving myself. I surround myself with people who love and support me, push me to work harder and be better and who inspire me daily. You will have people who doubt you, those who challenge you and a heck of a lot of people may even be waiting for you to fail. Those aren’t your people! Surround yourself with those who are lifting you up instead of tearing you down. Cheering you on instead of mocking your attempts. Celebrating your successes instead of pointing out your failures. Those ARE your people! ⠀⠀

I set some big goals for 2019 that I was able to reach because if you know me….once I set my mind on something, I do it, come hell or high water! Beachbody has changed my life in more ways than I ever knew possible! And I can’t wait to see what the future has in store for me!!! Bring it on 2020...this will be my best year yet!