blog

Member Stories: Marta Z.

Marta has been a member of RECF since last fall. She’s a constant ray of sunshine in the gym (and on Zoom) who is quick to smile, always works hard, and is just a joy to have around. A former rugby player, it took a while to find a fitness program that worked for her. We asked her to tell us about her fitness journey at Ripple Effect, and this is what she had to say!


Before RECF, I often felt floaty, and not in a good way. Most days I fought to clear brain fog and fatigue. My body didn’t feel capable or strong like I knew it could, it was kinda squishy/limp. When I was at my peak in-shape level (early 20’s) I set a lot of goals that centered around the appearance of my body. Worrying that I didn’t have a 6-pack took away from my awareness of being able to play an 80 min rugby match. I was so focused on how my arms looked that I couldn’t see the progress I was making in the amount of weight I could lift. When I finally hung-up my boots, I dove straight into cardio 100%, thinking that would help me slim down and tone up. Of course, that’s not how my body works so I eventually stopped working out altogether.

This time around, I’ve focused on feeling healthy. I wanted to regain strength, up my energy levels, and not feel so blah overall. The combination of the RE classes/community and my realistic goals have allowed me to celebrate small achievements. After a 6 am class when I sit down to begin my workday with a smile on my face, I take notice of how good I feel. When I haul huge bags of dog food/composting soil/drywall with ease, I feel pride in my body’s abilities. Instead of focusing on my, still squishy, stomach in the mirror, I amuse myself by flexing my “bulky” arm muscles and wonder if I can causally flex like that the next time a friend tries to take a photo of me. ?


POPULAR Posts

RECF 2023 Pride Apparel

We’ve got some awesome new Pride-themed apparel coming in hot! In an effort to try to get the shirts in before Pride weekend at the

Body Positivity: A Golden Rule

By Head Nutrition Coach, Rachel When it comes to body positivity, the term can be said easier than it can be embodied by most people.

START Today

Fill out the form below

Learn more about how joining our community can help you reach your health and fitness goals.