ANDREA McDONALD
This girl has goals and nothing will get in her way!! After breaking her foot during the Easter 2015 school holidays (not at training!!) and being put in a moonboot for 6-8 weeks Andrea has continued training 3 times per week. Andrea was a regular at our FAST sessions and has previously attended Mackay Bootcamp for Women but with her foot in a moonboot she has switched to Personal Training sessions to focus on her upper body strength. She has been a champion, staying focused on the positives and working hard on her nutrition as well. The effort this woman puts in to her sessions is incredible and even though she is unable to use her legs at the moment she is still making amazing progress towards her goals!!! her admirable attitude and consistency and personal growth has earned Andrea our April “Client of the Month” Award!
Congratulations ANDREA!!
What was your motivation to start training with us here at Red E?
I’d previously lost a lot of weight on my own and hit a plateau and was so confused about what I should do and I was finding being on my own without support hard and wasn’t achieving anything and putting on weight. A friend of mine had been going to Red E’s Mackay Bootcamp for Women for a while and it seemed like fun. And I just thought – I’ll try it for a month and if I don’t like it I can stop.
Over a year later, I’m still here. I switched to the Semi-Private FAST Training and I love it! I also do PT sessions and have been involved in the RED E run training for the Marina Run.
What were your goals?
Originally my goal was to lose weight however the more I trained it was about being the best version of myself and that wasn’t weight orientated. Listening and learning from the trainers at RED E I have new goals that have nothing to do with weight. Of course I want to look good but my main goal is to be HAPPY with myself. Ways I achieve this goal is becoming stronger in my mind and body through exercise (yes I have my brain exercised at the gym too) but learning about nutrition and learning that through good nutrition and exercise and being kind to yourself that you can achieve and surpass all your goals. I have found this an important lesson as my goals change all the time.
How have you gone with your goals? What achievements have you made? What benefits do you feel?
I am a continuous work in progress!!! I am definitely stronger than a year ago lifting weights I didn’t think possible. I’m increasing my weights with my exercises and as a result I’m getting a more defined body and reaching new PB’s.
One of my earlier goals was to get a PB in the 8km marina run – last year I took off 2 minutes and that was due to the running training program at RED E.
My fitness has improved to a high level standard where I feel that I am capable of anything. This was tested a couple of months ago when I decided to do one of the enticer triathlons the night before. I finished in the top 15 with no triathlon training.
I feel and look healthy and strong – I’m not beating myself up so much and accepting all the wonderful things my body can do for me.
My biggest achievement and benefit is I chose health and fitness and muscle and how I feel over what the scales tell me.
What did you do to achieve your results?
I asked for help and advice (I still do) – surrounding yourself with a network of positive people helps so much. Then I had to be consistent with exercise and nutrition. I really believe consistency is the key. I had to be patient (takes time) and believe in myself. I also had to be honest with myself when I got frustrated why I wasn’t hitting my goals – I knew deep down why I wasn’t!
What permanent lifestyle changes have you made?
Nutritionally – I have changed the way I look at food – I eat nutritionally dense clean food now rather than low fat chemically enhanced food. I try not buy processed food and make everything from scratch experimenting with cooking with food in the most natural form. I am lucky my kids are really good sports and eat even my not so successful experiments.
Exercise – I have included weight training into my exercise schedule and no longer just focus on cardio.
Mindset – I try not to be so harsh on myself when I look in the mirror – focus on the positives and not the negatives.
In general I have learned that a balance is needed in life and for me that is exercise, nutrition and mindset.
Fave “clean” food: Homemade Spinach & Basil pesto over zucchini noodles
Fave ‘not so clean’ food: Packets of chips – does not matter what flavour as long as they are salty and crunchy!!!
Fave exercise: Single arm DB/KB cleans from the ground – makes me feel graceful and strong at the same time!!!
Most “Dreaded” exercise: Man-makers with a push up in between each row is the worst!!!
Favourite Quote? “You’ll never regret doing it but you will regret it if you don’t!!!”
Advice for others starting out…
Consistency is the key and be honest with yourself. If you want it you will achieve it. Don’t listen to negative people – you are doing something worthwhile for you – there will always be an excuse why you think you can’t but there are so many more reasons why you can.
Want to get results and feel like a new person like Andrea? Start with your Free Consultation today!
