What first brought you to BFT originally?
I joined BFT South Tempe in January because I wanted to lose weight. At the time, I was 206 pounds, the most I had ever weighed in my life. For some people, that might not seem like a big deal, but for me it was. I felt my confidence slipping and knew I had to make a change.
I still remember my very first workout at BFT South Tempe. It was the first gym I had ever signed up for. I walked in feeling nervous and out of place. That first session pushed me so hard and I had to take multiple breaks. Instead of quitting, I left even more motivated than ever. Chris, my coach, made me feel welcome right away. He checked in on me during that first workout to make sure I was okay, and told me something that really stuck with me: consistency is the key. He encouraged me to come five days a week. Once I started doing that, I began to see real changes. I was burning fat, gaining muscle, and slowly feeling my confidence return. What meant even more to me was that people in the gym and the coaches noticed my transformation. That support made me feel seen and gave me a boost to keep pushing forward.
What kept you motivated to keep coming back to BFT?
One reason that I stayed consistent was the community at BFT South Tempe. From day one the coaches and members made me feel like I belonged there. They encouraged me when I struggled, celebrated the small wins with me, and kept me accountable without even realizing it. I didn’t want to let them down, and that pushed me to continue showing up. On top of that I had the support of my partner, Mariah. She has been there with me every step of the way, motivating me on the days when I doubted myself, holding me accountable when I needed it most, and celebrating my progress with me. She made the journey feel less like something I had to do alone and more like something we were building together. Honestly, she was one of the biggest reasons I was able to finish strong and ultimately win the 8 week challenge.
Why did you decide to join the 8 Week Challenge?
I joined the next 8 week challenge basically on a whim. I told myself, why not? Even if I didn’t win, I would still accomplish something and build healthier habits along the way. When I put my name down on that sign-up sheet it felt like a switch flipped in my head. I thought to myself, this is it, it’s go time.
Nothing in my life could have prepared me for what was waiting ahead. The challenge pushed me in ways I had never experienced before. Some days I felt on top of the world, hitting workouts harder than I thought possible. Other days were tough. When my body was sore and my mind tried to convince me to slow down, I still showed up. I walked out stronger both physically and mentally every single session.
How did the training blocks keep you engaged each day and keep you from plateauing?
Training was never boring because of how the program was set up. The variety of cardio, strength, and hybrid sessions kept me engaged and prevented me from hitting a plateau. Every day felt new, and even at 5 a.m. I looked forward to being at the gym. The leaderboard also kept me motivated. Seeing my heart rate feedback in real time pushed me to keep going until I hit the goal PXI. Between the training blocks and how I was eating, I found it easier to manage my energy and recover day to day.
What was the biggest hurdle you had to overcome with the 8 Week Challenge?
Looking back, the biggest hurdle I had to overcome during the challenge was changing the way I ate. Staying consistent with my diet was probably the hardest part overall. One of my favorite moments was when I realized I was so close to hitting my goal weight. By the first few weeks I had already lost a large amount of weight and my Evolt scans were showing progress. My body felt tighter and stronger, my clothes were looser, and I carried myself with more confidence. That moment of seeing my progress so clearly gave me an incredible push to keep going.
has your mindset or habits changed since participating in the 8 Week Challenge?
Outside of the workouts, I built new habits that have changed the way I live. I learned to count calories, watch my portions, and avoid overindulging. I also started listening to my body, knowing when to push myself and when to take it easy. These habits helped me stay consistent long after the workouts ended and gave me more control over my progress. My mindset and relationship with fitness have completely transformed since day one. Going to the gym at 5 a.m. has become the highlight of my day, and I now leave every session feeling unstoppable. This was the first challenge I had ever entered, and winning it has been both humbling and surreal. Competing against members from over 50 gyms nationwide and coming out on top feels incredible, especially knowing I am the second member from BFT South Tempe to win the national contest.
How are you feeling after completing the 8 Week Challenge? Has your relationship with fitness changed at all?
I am most proud of going from 206 pounds to 178 pounds in less than a year while also gaining two pounds of muscle in the process. I would not have accomplished that without Mariah. She has been my biggest motivator, always hyping me up, making sure I got the rest and support I needed, and going out of her way to meal prep for me. I could not have asked for a better teammate in this journey.
Today I feel like I can do anything I set my mind to as long as I put my heart, mind, and soul into it. Nothing feels impossible, especially with all the support I received and continue to get from my BFT community. My next fitness goal is to continue building muscle and getting stronger. What made me sign up for the challenge in the first place was simply wanting to see if I could hang with the athletes at my gym and push myself in a way I never had before. I am proud to say I did exactly that.
What would you say to someone who is hesitant about starting BFT’s 8 Week Challenge?
If I could leave one piece of advice for anyone thinking about starting their own journey it would be this: no matter who you are or what you have been through, you can always climb out of that space. You have the power inside you to be great, but you have to make the choice. Choose to go the extra mile, choose to stay consistent, and trust that the rewards are worth the obstacles.
I know what it feels like to doubt yourself and to wonder if you can really make a change. I know what it feels like to stand at the bottom of the mountain and think the climb is too high. But the truth is, the hardest part is just starting. That first step into the gym, that first workout when you feel out of place, that first moment when you push through instead of giving up, those are the moments that create real change. It will not always be easy but every small choice adds up and one day you will look back and realize how far you have come.
If you are waiting for the perfect moment, stop waiting. The perfect moment is right now. You do not need to have everything figured out. All you need is the courage to take the first step and the determination to keep moving forward. Believe in yourself even when it feels impossible, and lean on the people who support you. Progress may be slow at times, but it is still progress, and it will take you closer to becoming the person you want to be.
So, if you are looking for a sign, this is it. You are capable of so much more than you realize, and you deserve to see what is possible when you give yourself a real chance. Be patient, be consistent, and never forget why you started. Go be the best version of yourself, because that version is already inside you. You just have to decide to bring it out.
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