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WHAT HAPPENED WHEN THIS BLOGGER DISCOVERED BARRE3
Real Food Whole Life blogger Robyn Downs is a barre3 client and online subscriber who has lost 5 dress sizes and shed over 50 pounds practicing barre3. We’re so proud of her and inspired by her story. Read on to hear how she transformed her entire body. Here’s Robyn in her own words.
Growing up, I was fit and active. I gained some weight in college, lost it in my mid-twenties, then gained it back as professional and personal demands took priority over health. Then my husband and I decided to start a family. We unfortunately lost several pregnancies in a row, which resulted in additional weight gain.
Thankfully, we finally got pregnant. It was a difficult pregnancy and I gained a ton of weight. The best moment of my life was the day my healthy daughter was born. The only down side? Three months later I still weighed more than I had in my entire life. I was so frustrated; it seemed I could figure out everything else in my life, yet I couldn’t figure out how to get my weight under control.
I tried counting calories, and then points, but all the tracking left me stressed and depleted. Nothing was working. I finally decided to sign up for a workout called barre3. My husband dropped me off for the first class and wished me luck. Despite the positive atmosphere of the studio, I was not feeling it.
I climbed back into the car after class and my husband asked me how it went. I looked at him and immediately burst into tears. Poor guy—not the response he was expecting! Through tears, I told him how demoralizing it was to be the biggest girl in the studio. How sad I was that my body was out of shape. How overwhelming it was to think about how far I had to go.
Without skipping a beat, my husband responded, “Don’t even worry about those skinny bitches. Stop comparing yourself to other people. You can do this. I know you can.” I promised to at least finish out the two remaining classes in the package, which I did. But I didn’t go back right away.
Several months went by and I heard about the barre3 28 to Great Challenge. This time around I was ready. I knew I could—and would—do it. So I went back to barre3 and took a class. And then I returned every single day that week. I stopped comparing myself to other people and focused on myself. I was there for me, to get my life back under control.
Twenty-eight days went by and when we went in for final measurements I couldn’t believe how many inches I had lost in less than a month. Those results, coupled with my newfound love for the workout, made me a convert. I promised myself I would keep going.
As soon as that round of 28 to Great ended, I started another the next day. I had a goal in mind and for the first time in a long time I knew I could reach it. I maintained my commitment through all the ups and downs of life. There were a few splurge meals here and there, but I really did stick to the program because it worked and I felt great doing it.
Nine months later I hit my goal size—officially a size six, down from a size sixteen. It was never about the specific size for me though; it was about looking in the mirror and seeing myself again. Now I just see me. Once I reached my goal I didn’t even consider scaling back on classes or the nutrition philosophy because I simply find so much joy in both.
Today, over two years later, you’ll still regularly find me in the studio or firing up an online workout. Barre3 has become a way of life and inspired me to launch a healthy food and lifestyle blog to inspire others. Through this process, I’ve learned how to listen to my body, the value of connecting with others in this vibrant community, and how to find balance in my own life every day. It’s been a complete game-changer. I started barre3 to lose weight, but for all these reasons I’ll stay for a lifetime.
Real Food Whole Life blogger Robyn Downs is a barre3 client and online subscriber who has lost 5 dress sizes and shed over 50 pounds practicing barre3. We’re so proud of her and inspired by her story. Read on to hear how she transformed her entire body. Here’s Robyn in her own words.
Growing up, I was fit and active. I gained some weight in college, lost it in my mid-twenties, then gained it back as professional and personal demands took priority over health. Then my husband and I decided to start a family. We unfortunately lost several pregnancies in a row, which resulted in additional weight gain.
Thankfully, we finally got pregnant. It was a difficult pregnancy and I gained a ton of weight. The best moment of my life was the day my healthy daughter was born. The only down side? Three months later I still weighed more than I had in my entire life. I was so frustrated; it seemed I could figure out everything else in my life, yet I couldn’t figure out how to get my weight under control.
I tried counting calories, and then points, but all the tracking left me stressed and depleted. Nothing was working. I finally decided to sign up for a workout called barre3. My husband dropped me off for the first class and wished me luck. Despite the positive atmosphere of the studio, I was not feeling it.
I climbed back into the car after class and my husband asked me how it went. I looked at him and immediately burst into tears. Poor guy—not the response he was expecting! Through tears, I told him how demoralizing it was to be the biggest girl in the studio. How sad I was that my body was out of shape. How overwhelming it was to think about how far I had to go.
Without skipping a beat, my husband responded, “Don’t even worry about those skinny bitches. Stop comparing yourself to other people. You can do this. I know you can.” I promised to at least finish out the two remaining classes in the package, which I did. But I didn’t go back right away.
Several months went by and I heard about the barre3 28 to Great Challenge. This time around I was ready. I knew I could—and would—do it. So I went back to barre3 and took a class. And then I returned every single day that week. I stopped comparing myself to other people and focused on myself. I was there for me, to get my life back under control.
Twenty-eight days went by and when we went in for final measurements I couldn’t believe how many inches I had lost in less than a month. Those results, coupled with my newfound love for the workout, made me a convert. I promised myself I would keep going.
As soon as that round of 28 to Great ended, I started another the next day. I had a goal in mind and for the first time in a long time I knew I could reach it. I maintained my commitment through all the ups and downs of life. There were a few splurge meals here and there, but I really did stick to the program because it worked and I felt great doing it.
Nine months later I hit my goal size—officially a size six, down from a size sixteen. It was never about the specific size for me though; it was about looking in the mirror and seeing myself again. Now I just see me. Once I reached my goal I didn’t even consider scaling back on classes or the nutrition philosophy because I simply find so much joy in both.
Today, over two years later, you’ll still regularly find me in the studio or firing up an online workout. Barre3 has become a way of life and inspired me to launch a healthy food and lifestyle blog to inspire others. Through this process, I’ve learned how to listen to my body, the value of connecting with others in this vibrant community, and how to find balance in my own life every day. It’s been a complete game-changer. I started barre3 to lose weight, but for all these reasons I’ll stay for a lifetime.
