A couple of weeks ago, I walked into Synergy at 5:30am to Rob’s “Good morning Sunshine” and instead of my normal response, I plopped down in his office and just started crying. Poor Rob – Coach, Trainer, Therapist, “One of my girls,” and a true friend – He sees it ALL. I was in pain and couldn’t understand what happened to the progress I’d made over the last 15 months. I was feeling pretty defeated and like no one could possibly understand how both physically and emotionally painful this set back is for me. In typical Coach Rob fashion, he gave me some sage advice and asked me to write a blog about my set backs because, “It’s real life.”
From 2011 to mid 2013, I had gotten much healthier and was in great shape, so I was devastated when my car accident restricted my ability to work out for almost a year. I gained at least 40 pounds and felt like I was back at SQUARE 1. Let’s BE CLEAR, I am NOT one of those girls that can work out 3x a week and eat healthy and stay in shape. It takes work. At any size, I have been very active, able to do yoga, and run around in stilettos; after my accident, I could do NONE of these. For me, this was unacceptable! 
When Rob and I started working out, I took breaks between exercises within a set and often times, I would have to sit on the floor and stretch before I could continue. But I WOULD NOT QUIT – I persevered! 
There were days I would work out 3 times a day, once with Rob, once in the pool, and then cardio. I was on a mission. From the end of April 2016, only 3 months out of surgery, to December of last year, I made huge strides. I dropped weight, was able to regain some of my balance, and could workout without taking breaks! I could see the light at the end of the tunnel!
During my recovery period, I have been plagued with a lot of emotional life changes. I am going through a divorce, I lost my career, because of the extended leave of absence, and I was/am (2 years later) in a horrific lawsuit with my car insurance company. So, I threw myself into looking for a new career and working out. After several months of looking, another of Coach Rob J’s Real Warriors, Steph, helped me find a new career I LOVE! Her team at Hire Ups is AWESOME! I was finally feeling like I had gotten my life back! Within 3 days of being back in an office environment and sitting, I was in excruciating pain and absolutely ready to give up. You know that saying, “a body in motion, stays in motion?” Ummm that’s TRUTH right there!
Due to the pain, I went to my surgeon and received less than stellar news about the future of “my back health.” My last few sessions with Rob had been emotionally taxing, because I had lost a lot of my agility, balance, and stamina. The biggest deterrent for me, the pain. I was/am scared of the pain that is waiting for me with every workout. I told Rob through tears, “I just can’t do it (I have never said this phrase to him until that day!), I am just so frustrated.” He let me cry and rant and curse a little about the uninsured driver that changed my life and then he leaned across his desk and said, “I’m sorry Sunshine, but you can do this. We just need to go back to what we know works. Baby steps.” So here we go, BACK to the beginning…For the record, I HATE BABY STEPS!
As human beings, many of us naturally have a fear of the unknown. Over the next few Thursdays, I will be sharing the process I follow with my “private session” clients. This series will take you from when a client chooses to take that leap of faith all the way through when we celebrate their goal achievement and the milestones along the way.
Over the next several weeks, I am going to share some of my favorite sources of inspiration. This week, I am giving a shout out to 
He is also committed to help others achieve their goals and make their dreams come true by his charitable works and special projects. His “Project Rock” offers personal motivation for individuals “to help many people get after their goals as possible.” 
He is also known to be 
I admit it, I am one of those gym-goers that walks around a little unsure of where I should start and in what order I should work out my muscle groups. I have always been athletic, but I wouldn’t have considered myself strong. I would walk in to the gym and feel like I was not maximizing my time spent in there. Well, that is the person I USED to be. 
Thank goodness I have never been one to watch the scale because I weigh 10 pounds more now than I did when I started. By the BMI chart at my doctor’s office, I am considered over weight! HA! I have only increased my endurance, feel that I can protect myself if necessary, and I am stronger than I have ever been! The benefits of starting my weekdays in a positive and productive environment, with my fellow boot-campers pours over into every aspect of my life. I am living and loving sharing my life with like-minded people!
Healthy eating is an integral part of any weight loss or healthy lifestyle plan, but we also know, you shouldn’t deprive yourself. With this weekend being filled with barbecues for Labor Day and the Fresno State Bulldogs tailgating season kicking off in full swing, I decided to share something healthy BBQ side options. Let’s just assume we are all going to indulge in something tasty off the grill but this does not mean your entire meal has to be “an unhealthy indulgence.”
Do you dread Mondays? Do you sit at work on Mondays struggling to get in to the groove of a new work week? For some, just getting out of bed on Monday is a struggle. After a leisure weekend, working out before work, prepping your meals for the day, and making it to work on time, can make any Monday feel overwhelming. 
I also checked in with some of Coach Rob J’s Real Warriors to see how they maintain motivation and asked for some of their favorite resources to kickstart their drive, when they are feeling a little sluggish. Chef B-rizzle, Bryan, isn’t one for social media or inspiring quotes; his motivation is fueled by results! He said, “results become an addiction.” From fitting into smaller sized clothing, the number on his scale decreasing, and consistently noticing improvements in his health, Chef B-rizzle is his own motivation. I can personally attest that Bryan reigns himself back in and seeks guidance and motivation when he needs to refocus. 
In my opinion, Deb isn’t motivated by a number on the scale. When she came to me, she said that she didn’t care what she weighed as long as I could help her get to a healthier version of her old self. Baby steps Sunshine, back to baby steps. 
As a trainer, I recommend that you begin a new eating regimen by first understanding what types of foods you are currently consuming by creating a food journal, even if it just for a week or two. This article from 
When you have a handle on what you are consuming, educate yourself on what you should be consuming. You can consult with a nutritionist, a healthcare professional, or a personal trainer like myself that is educated in the types of nutrition necessary to achieve your health and fitness goals.
When people see good things going on in your life like physical changes, healthy lifestyle choices, and an overall change in your mindset and focus, they want to know what you are doing! Stephanie, from 
Coach Rob's Fitness Training 