I’d lost myself. Well, that’s not entirely true. I’d lost my inner athlete and had become instead, Studio Manager of the Year Nominee. My first year with Orangetheory Fitness and I was nominated. Our metrics weren’t there…but I wasn’t sure of that until the day of the announcement and naming of Studio Manager of the Year. Sharing a stage with two other very successful and super talented OTF Managers, my name wasn’t called as the winner. I’d made a joke about it that they’d mispronounced my name, and with a strong hug and appreciative eyes, I’d been told that my metrics weren’t anywhere what they needed to be to win, but they couldn’t ignore the quantity and the quality of the nominations. My new network of OTFamily franchisees, managers, coaches and friends had gone to great lengths to be sure my efforts didn’t go unnoticed. It was really such an amazing adventure that once again solidified that professionally, I was in the right place.
Personally, however, my pants were tight.
What you eat in private, you wear in public. I’d told my clients that for years when they insisted they were following our plan. Yet, here I was, wearing my same size since opening, albeit not the same fit. At all.
I wasn’t running or training as I was. Hell, I’d run ten miles for FUN on a Saturday morning. I’d bike through towns and counties and hills and state lines just because I could. Because I could…not because I had to. I chose to. And now I’m choosing success, financial security, work, and opportunity over my health and fitness. At the time, it didn’t seem so bad….I mean, sure, I was putting on a few pounds but it was nothing I couldn’t handle. Or so I thought.
Man, was I wrong.
Gym Girl Dana 