I'm Alyssa, and this is my story.

I really hope that this inspires others to take their health seriously, because I never want to go back to the weight I was. I was so unhappy, and now at 130 LBS and feeling strong and healthy, I can't imagine living any other way!

I started at about 210 pounds.

I never expected to be skinny. I made fun of people who liked to run and I really didn’t want to try doing anything myself. I just wanted to embrace my fatness and make it part of my personality. A friend of mine convinced me to start tracking calories with her. I really didn’t expect anything to happen but I figured the easiest way to get her off my back was to just do the damn thing with her until it didn’t work and then give up, as usual. So, I started tracking calories with my friend and suddenly I started losing weight. Quickly, I lost a lot of weight. I was shocked to find out how much I actually consumed on a regular basis. Although I was losing weight, I was still extremely unhealthy. After about 30 lbs of weight loss I realized that in order to avoid looking like a deflated balloon I would have to start exercising. I’ll say this, though, I hated exercise. I hated feeling sweat dripping down my face. I didn’t want to go to the gym. I was nervous to make myself look like a fat idiot who had no idea what she was doing with all the confusing equipment in the gym. I had no idea what I was doing and no idea how to achieve fitness so I just started doing cardio. Lots of cardio. More cardio. I was up to seven miles a day.

Skinny But Not Strong

The weight was coming off but I looked terrible still. I had no idea how to get my body in shape. One day I came across a BodyRock advertisement on Facebook. It was free, the videos were only 12-15 minutes and the trainers were awesome. Once I liked the BodyRock page on FB and signed up for the emails, something would show up almost every day. A new diet tip, an awesome workout, some major encouragement. I loved it. I started watching the videos. I would try the moves out here and there. I would take the moves into the gym and go find a corner to stumble around in. Eventually I started getting pretty good. BodyRock motivated me to keep trying new things. As I began to like so many articles that popped up on my Facebook feed from BodyRock, it became half my newsfeed, but I loved it. When I found the Beginner Bootcamp I was stoked. I did it and broke a heavy sweat every time. Although I loved the moves, I still thought I had to cardio my ass off, literally. I used BodyRock as a supplementary tool. It was great; the best part about it was the constant stream of knowledge and encouragement it provided. I was doing great. By this point I was working out about 2 hours a day 5 days a week. I was down almost 80 lbs from my original weight, I felt strong and lean, and capable. I was proud of my progress.

Car Accident Number One

Then BAM. Car accident. I was t-boned at 40 mph. It was a hit and run. My car was totalled and my back was wrecked. I was a mess. I was determined to maintain my progress, but my body wouldn’t let me. Cardio hurt, standing hurt, sitting hurt. The drugs they gave me for the pain wiped me out, I couldn’t do anything on them. I was put into physical therapy. Everything hurt and my body stopped working for me. I was so worried about gaining the weight back I put myself on a 1200 calorie diet. Fast-forward six months. I am finally able to move around a bit. I was super excited to be getting back into the gym, but I was still so restricted in my moves. I didn’t have nearly the same strength or stamina. I couldn’t last 30 minutes let alone get my 2 hours a day in. I started working my way back up. Baby steps were better than no steps. I would do Bodyrock routines here and there, I would go for runs, I would hit the gym, but I had little consistency. It was so hard to find the passion I once had.

Car Accident Number Two!

A few months in to this next attempt at fitness I was driving to work and was rear-ended!! I couldn’t believe that this had happened a second time! I felt like I must be the most unlucky person in the world, like I was being punished for something, but I didn’t know what. I felt immediate pain shooting through my neck and shoulders. I was done for. This was it, I thought. I was toast. I had severe whiplash and chronic muscle spasms. I re-entered physical therapy and chiropractic care, but the injuries were much worse this time, compounded as they were by the first accident. Several different types of failed treatments later, I thought I was done with physical activity forever. After nearly 15 years as a bartender and waitress I could barely get through my shifts without pain. My neck and shoulders were in constant spasms. I gave up. I lost my motivation to be healthy too, it wasn’t just fitness. I gave up on myself.

I Gave Up On Fitness Completely

I stopped eating healthy and I gained 20 pounds. None of my clothes fit anymore, I hated to see myself in the mirror, but I just couldn’t find any motivation to do anything about it. Despite the PT and treatments I was receiving, the constant pain in my neck and shoulders really kept me down. Then suddenly I just decided that I was tired of being weak. It was a normal day, and I was moping around, and then I just got really sick of myself! I was tired of giving up. I had to find a way to regain my strength, my motivation, and my fitness. I got a pass to the gym and started working out again. Every single workout ended with my shoulders and neck swollen and in spasms. I realized I had to counter the pain by building my muscles so that they could support my body again. Regular workouts were not working for me. I turned to BodyRock again. This time I committed fully. After years of dabbling in and out of BodyRock workouts I decided that this time I was going to do it right. I started doing BodyRock daily.

Re-Discovering Motivation

For the first time in nearly two years I started looking forward to my workouts again. Although I still found myself in pain during and after the workouts I could also feel my body getting stronger. The trainers always offered modified moves, so eventually I discovered ways to “stay in the work” without hurting myself. As I began to move through the selection of workouts I started getting more and more enthusiastic. I was excited to buy the equipment so I could follow along and complete all the moves. Slowly I built up my home gym, I canceled my gym pass and committed fully to BodyRock. I was so excited I even got a buddy to start working out with me. It has been 5 months since I decided to commit to being a full-time BodyRocker. The results are nearly unbelievable. I have lost about 20 lbs, which means I’m at my lowest body weight ever. But this time, I am not just skinny. I am strong. Not only can I do a pushup, I can do 10. I can see and feel muscles I haven’t ever seen. The pouch on my tummy is lifting for the first time ever.

Healing Myself In More Ways Than One

But the biggest accomplishment I have made is overcoming my injuries. I had given up on myself. BodyRock helped me find my motivation again. I believe in myself and I have the tools and motivation to keep it going. BodyRock is not like any other fitness program I have participated in. They have an extensive variety of workouts and offer fitness for every level. I love how the trainers provide modifications for beginner, intermediate and advanced levels, which makes the every single workout tailored to your own personal fitness level. They also always have suggestions for ways to do the moves by using things around the house for equipment in case you don’t have something you need.

A Community I Didn’t Know I Needed

I really love the Insiders Group. The Insiders Group that comes with SweatFLix is like having a thousand cheerleaders on call. The support the group offers is simply not comparable to anything else. You get to share your experience with thousands of other people who are having a similar experience. They are there to cheer you on when you are doing well, to pick you up when you are down, or offer some advice if you have questions. You will never be alone in your journey if you are a part of the Insiders group. I am a part of a community I didn’t know I needed. One of the best parts is that the trainers you work out with everyday even reach out to you on the Facebook page, it makes you feel so connected to the community. I remember the first time Lisa commented on one of my posts it made my whole day. It makes you feel connected and excited to continue working out with everyone in the Group. I have even started a challenge with BodyRockers all over the world through the Insider group. It is the most supportive and non-judgmental fitness group I have ever seen. I will be a part of BodyRock for the rest of my life. It has given me all the tools I ever need to be successful. Not only has BodyRock changed my life, but it has helped me to motivate and inspire others. Thanks for reading!  ~ Alyssa

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Want To Follow The Same Journey As Alyssa?

Sign up for SweatFlix, and discover the benefits of BodyRock Workouts that combine cardio with strength-training, which, as Alyssa has explained so well, are the only workouts that work to help you lose weight and keep it off, and build lean muscle that will stay for the long term, if you keep it up!

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