Sarah and I started working together so she could gain confidence in the gym. The experience was incredibly rewarding for both of us.

Sarah was new to the gym, and I reached out and asked her — can I help you fall in love with fitness and feel safe and secure in an unfamiliar space? She was open and excited to work with me, and she demonstrated bravery and determination every step of the way.

Here’s her testimonial:

I’ve always felt intimidated, uncomfortable, and honestly pretty triggered by fitness. As a plus-sized woman with a lifetime’s worth of body issues, I’ve always felt out of place or not good enough in the gym, almost like people can tell I don’t belong and am not one of “them.” I’ve also tried to exercise classes and workout routines and trainers before, and have always been made to feel like the goal is losing weight and being skinny, which just reinforced these feeling of self-hatred around the body I’m in, and one that I’m working hard to love even if it doesn’t measure up to mainstream beauty standards. And so, I brought all of this baggage with me as I started training with Abby.

I remember in my first consultation with Abby, almost breaking down in tears as she talked to me about my fitness goals. Instead of weight loss goals or “getting snatched”, we talked about working towards having more energy, improving my mental health, and feeling more confident trying new things. She didn’t make me feel bad or judged or not good enough about my lack of experience, or needing to start small or modify things. She labeled and recognized and empathized with my fears and triggers around diet and weight loss culture and we talked about how to work against them. She was so trauma-informed, thoughtful and intentional with me that it helped me to face my fears and try new things in the gym that always scared me, like going to a new section, or doing a new routine publicly. Before, I was afraid of looking silly, stupid, like I didn’t belong. With Abby’s support I felt strong, empowered, guided, like I knew what I was doing, and that it was okay if I still had questions along the way because she would help me. The gym started to slowly become a place that felt like I belonged.

It’s been a little over a month with Abby and it’s been the most consistent that I’ve been with a gym routine in years. She’s helped to construct a personalized, full-body workout plan for me that feels doable yet challenging. There are whole sections of the gym that I finally feel confident enough to work out in, and recently I started to feel at ease enough to even interact and ask the people around me questions! It sounds simple, but for someone who’s never felt like they fit in a gym, it’s a huge step. And at every turn, Abby has been there — to motivate me, to lovingly hold me accountable, to support and modify, to cheer me on. I am so thankful that she is in this field because the women like me — the ones who don’t see themselves as included in the fitness world — so desperately need her. Thank you Abby ❤