A recent post from TCS/LIFT Coach, Jen Shaw, has to be shared. As you will read, this is a story about one of Jen's LIFT athletes that has made an incredible transformation - both physically and mentally. Enjoy!

Erin Miller is fun to coach. She's one of those clients that when you see her on the roster, its going to be a great class. She is in a great mood even when she trips and falls over the rack. Loves herself enough to laugh at herself while doing it, and then shrugs it off and lifts heavy shit. She is definitely the girl I want to see in the morning! Recently she shared her background story with me, and I knew it had to be public. Here is her story from sedentary person to athlete:

Around 2008 I gained about 75 lbs in a year and a half due to sedentary lifestyle and an undiagnosed thyroid issue. Once my disease was diagnosed and I started to feel better, I knew it was time to become healthy again. I started Weight Watchers and began jogging. I lost some weight and joined a gym and started using the weight machines. I was upset with my progress, though, I just didn't seem to be getting stronger, and had plateaued, no longer seeing results.

I joined Crossfit, which led to me to LIFT. Both were life changing. In total, I've dropped from a size 16-18 to a size 8. Once I started lifting, my weight actually steadied and though I lost 13% body fat and around 14 inches, I only lost 7 lbs because of all the muscle I gained.

Now I don't even look at the scale. My health and well being are based on how my body feels. If I'm not feeling well, it's usually because I haven't been eating clean or have missed workouts. Food is no longer an enemy. I enjoy eating, and I eat things that don't make me feel like crap (mostly). It's weird looking back at seeing how far I've come because it was a steady process with a lot of hard work. Now I'm ready to keep lifting more and reach new goals.

Miller's Stats since starting LIFT:

Backsquat from 155# to 205#
Deadlift from 225# to 255#
Trapbar deadlift from 265# to 280# (just in the last month and a half)
Shoulder press from 85# to 100#
Floor press from 95# to 115#

As promised, we are continuing our weekly "Guest Blog" - especially after seeing how so many of y'all enjoyed Coach Nyki Helmcamp's post last week.

This week we are giving the floor to Coach Crystal Bold. Not only does Crystal possess a wealth of knowledge in the coaching realm, but she also has a vast understanding of nutrition and overall health and holistic well-being.

To be truly honest, TCS and the surrounding local gyms that host her nutrition lectures are incredibly lucky to have such expertise so easily accessible to us and our communities.

With all of that being said, I asked Crystal to write a quick blog focused on what she will be covering in this Friday night's Nutritional Basics w/ Crystal Bold, NTP.

I think that there are a lot of misconceptions of what is actually covered and discussed during these nutrition seminars, so this is meant to clear up any preconceived ideas that we will be forcing you to follow some starvation diet, or count calories, or jam supplements down your throat. That's not really our style...

It's very, very simple:

This is an introduction to holistic health and how to start making informed decisions so as to live your life at the highest quality. But enough from me. Here's Crystal's post:

Killing yourself in the gym and not getting the results you want? We like to think that if we just work HARDER we will get the results we want with little regard to what we are fueling our body with and how much rest and sleep we get. Ironically, it doesn't matter how hard you work but how SMART you are with your dietary, lifestyle and training choices. What most people want is to be happy, feel good with no aches and pains, move well, sleep well, love the skin they're in, perform well in the gym, and enjoy life.

For the past 6 years, I have taught nutrition to thousands of people in several locations in the United States, Europe and the U.K. Over this time I have come full circle on what my thoughts are on how to guide others to be healthier and happier individuals through simple yet effective dietary and lifestyle changes. This Friday at 6pm at Travis County Strength, I want to share with you how to make those changes starting as soon as you walk out the door.

Whether you are a person that is knowledgeable in nutrition or have no idea what the difference between a carbohydrate or protein, I guarantee you will walk away with at least one new piece of information that is going to make a difference in your health. We will be covering everything from the importance of digestion, blood sugar handling, what food to eat, symptoms to look out for and what those mean, how I make this work for my lifestyle, stories of how my clients live, and much, much more!

The goal of this nutrition seminar is to bring helpful information to everyone at a price that is affordable (only $15 online/$25 at the door; ages 18 and under are FREE!). This is completely open to the public so bring a friend or family member. I hope to see you there!

Erin Miller: Sedentary to Athlete!

Miller's Stats since starting LIFT:

Guest Blog #2 - Crystal Bold

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