F45 LAFAYETTE LA

“I’ve been a member of F45 Training since it first opened its doors in Lafayette, and joining this gym and community ended up being one of the best decisions I have ever made. I’ve always been active when I was younger, but as I got older and work and life got in the way, my fitness routine fell by the wayside. My workouts were inconsistent at best, and my overall health was not where it should be. However, when I joined F45, this all changed. As soon as I took my first Saturday Hollywood Class, I was hooked. I left my first workout feeling challenged but extremely accomplished at the same time. Workouts are structured in a way that they are accessible to all fitness levels, and I really like how any movement can be modified to your own comfort and fitness level. With warm, friendly and knowledgeable coaches guiding you along the way through every class, it was easy for me to show up every day and in a judgement free space, work on my skills, push myself a little harder, lift a little heavier, and try out moves that pushed me out of my comfort zone and allowed me to get better and grow. Above all, being a member of F45 showed me the value of consistently showing up for myself and reaching milestones that once seemed out of reach. Before I joined F45, I was bench pressing with 15 lbs dumbbells. Today, I am able to do a bench press with 55lbs dumbbells. Before I joined F45, I couldn’t even run a minute straight without huffing and puffing. Today, I can run 90 minutes straight without stopping, and I am currently signed up to compete in a Hyrox Race. Probably what I am most grateful to F45 Training for is allowing me to fall in love with fitness again. Fitness has always been a passion of mine, and for a long time, I had lost that. It feels amazing to have found that love and passion for fitness again and coming to a F45 class has now become one of my favorite times of my day. Oh, and the people. The people and the community here at F45 Training Lafayette are one of a kind. I’ve met the most wonderful people during my time here, and it is such a great environment to be in where both coaches and members inspire, motivate, and root for each other and celebrate each other’s milestones.”

Most of my life I struggled with bowel issues. Because I could rarely go to the bathroom, I was constantly full, in pain, and uncomfortable. I didn’t play sports or stay very active because moving my body hurt. Over time I gained a lot of weight and felt trapped in a body that wasn’t working the way it should. When I was 18, I had half of my colon removed. After that surgery, I started making progress with my weight and my health but still encountered some trials with my health but always pulled through stronger!! Then COVID happened. During that time I got pregnant and gained about 80 pounds. It was such a hard season for everyone, but my family was hit especially hard. My husband started a new business,my dad got cancer. My aunt got cancer. My uncle passed away & my husband’s sweet cousin passed away. On top of that, I went through a very dark season in my marriage. It felt like everything was happening at once. After having my son, losing the weight felt impossible. Every time I said I was going to do it, I would lose about 40 pounds… and then gain it all back again. It felt like an endless cycle. From 2022 until recently, I’ve been walking through secondary infertility. After having one successful pregnancy, I couldn’t understand and sometimes still don’t understand why my body can’t do it again. That season was incredibly dark for me. I felt like I might never see the light again. Even though I’m still walking through that struggle, it feels different this time. I remember the first time I went through it after losing 40 pounds. I was so upset and discouraged that I ended up gaining all the weight back plus more. I truly don’t care because at that time I was only blinded by my pain. Looking back now, it’s powerful to see where I am today and how much strength I’ve gained not just emotionally and mentally, but physically too. Even though my body hasn’t been able to do what it did once, I’ve started to see all the other things my body can do now that it couldn’t before. I can stand up and sit down without needing help. I can get up off the ground in an instant. I can take the stairs with no problem. I can run around and play with my son. I can do so much now!! And my marriage today is a beautiful testament to God’s redemption and love. After hitting what felt like rock bottom..one day I drove past F45 on Johnson Street. Something in me told me to call. When I did, they asked me one simple question: Can you commit to the 5 AM class and not let us down? I said yes. I walked through those doors at 5 AM weighing 300 pounds. And I never walked back out the same. I just weigh 190 now. Today I’m down a little over 100 pounds with about 20 more to go. Getting here was not easy. I went through marital struggles, infertility, grief, and some of the lowest moments of my life. But that 5 AM decision changed everything. Sometimes the smallest decision can be the one that saves you. Be brave, be bold but most importantly do it scared!!