It’s been too long friends! I hope you all are doing well! Where to start. Somewhere between working full time, crazy workouts, buying a house, and two vacations, I cannot believe the summer is already halfway over! I want to apologize for having really let my blog and social media platform get pushed to the wayside these past several weeks, but I’m excited to share some exciting updates with all of you!
Like I said, it’s been busy! Not sure if you guys can relate, but I’m so bad about getting stuck in my routine and getting so “busy” with life that before you know it the to-do lists and minutia of life make the days fly by, and then the days turn into weeks and before you know it a month’s gone by! Things are good over here though! We’re hopefully closing on our home here in Fort Worth next week! HOORAY!!!! We renewed our marriage vows for our 10 year anniversary in the Bahamas, which was super fun and romantic! I’ve switched teams at work TWICE since May, which was a bit of an adjustment to say the least. The last six weeks have been geared mainly around getting ready to move, and scoping out furniture, light fixtures, and paint colors. SO many decisions to make when you’re decorating a house! We just got back from Vegas for Shane’s birthday, which was a blast, and we’re moving here in just a few short weeks.
As crazy as things have been in the Lynch world, honestly, I’ve really had some good time to reflect and think about where I am on my fitness journey, and how I want to use my knowledge and platform to help others. I was so frustrated with how the last prep went and the outcome gearing up to the show, that I really let it mess with my mindset for a bit. It’s so frustrating sometimes when you start to compare yourself to others and forget to celebrate your own results, hard work, and how far you’ve come. To be honest, I wasn’t being fair to myself. I started this fitness journey for me, and just me. Competing is fun, but it’s not why I love working out or eating clean. It’s a daily effort to keep my mindset in check and remember my why. I have so many friends that compete, and with both my Facebook and Instagram feeds being almost completely consumed with shredded people and bodybuilders, so it’s hard to escape constant comparison and scrutiny. I’m sure those of you that compete or have in the past will agree that you kind of forget what “normal” is. You forget about balance, and it’s easy to let yourself get consumed by your macros, workouts, cardio, and the scale. Am I right? Enough. I needed some time to just train hard, enjoy some time off, and forget about the stage for a bit. The world isn’t going to end if I have a glass of wine with my mani/pedi, or skip 25 minutes of cardio. Fitness is a marathon, not a sprint, and you need to have BALANCE or you will drive yourself insane. I had to remind myself of that! I’m human, not perfect. I took an ENTIRE WEEK off from the gym when we went to the Bahamas. It was amazing, and my body needed the rest. I took the 4 days were in Vegas off too!!! I have more energy, and I’m getting creative with my workouts, which I love. Competing and being shredded is so much fun, but this time around I’ve learned to really embrace the off season too. What’s even cooler is that I’m only up about 6 pounds from my stage weight. AMAZING!!!!! My coach and I have attributed that to my hormones kind of settling down a bit after the whole IUD debacle. Staying pretty lean will hopefully make my next Prep (which will start in just a few weeks—Mid August) much easier.
As many of you know, I’ve been saying for about a year now that I would love to get certified as a Personal Trainer. I’ve have friends and fellow gym goers beg me to help them and teach them what I know and I kept putting them off saying, “I’d love to but I’m not certified”, or “Okay sure, but let me get certified first!”. What am I waiting for? There’s no perfect time for anything. If you are serious about a goal and following your heart, there’s no better time than the present to take a leap of faith and jump. Life’s about pushing yourself and taking chances. If I kept listening to that stupid voice inside my head, (you probably have one too)—the same one that tells me I’m never good enough, or that I’m going to just quit it later, or that I’ll never know what I’m doing enough to teach others–I know I’d regret it. Why should I let fear of failure stop me from doing anything I set my mind to? I have nothing to lose, and at the very least will gain a ton of knowledge in the process. Every expert was once a beginner. Although I’m around a ton of fitness junkies and trainers by being in the bodybuilding circle, and it seems like everyone’s doing “online programs”, there’s still a huge demand for trainers, particularly female ones! **Disclaimer—before starting a fitness or nutrition program, you should see a medical professional and be sure that the person you are working with is knowledgeable and qualified to provide guidance to you. Be smart people! I may not be an expert, but I can start building my client base now, and share what I already know, particularly as it comes to nutrition. I want to help women like myself learn their way around the gym and discover how powerful clean eating and nutrition really are. I’m excited to share with you that I have decided to really take my passion for fitness and nutrition and helping others to the next level. It’s time to turn PLANS into ACTION! Life is too short to wait for the “perfect time” to make something happen.
After a lot of soul searching and research, I’ve finally put together my “business plan” for this, and am getting the study guide and materials from NASM (the National Academy of Sports Medicine). I will have about six months to study the material (there’s a lot of it!) and then sit for the exam. I will spend the next several months studying, and then sit for the test early next year. I love recruiting, and will continue to do that full-time for the time being, but I feel like my heart is pulling me more towards eventually working in fitness and nutrition, at least on the side. In this process of getting certified as a Trainer, I will accept taking on a small number of clients and build out customized nutrition and/or workout plans for them, at a lesser cost, since I’m just starting out. A friend of a friend reached out to me last week, and it looks like she’s going to be my first “enrolled” client! No more turning people down when they ask me to help them!! It’s funny how life works out. I’ve got a ton of experience with leadership training, facilitation and coaching. Since high school, I’ve sort of just fallen into roles and positions that have given me opportunities to lead, influence, and motivate others. Work, Junior League, you name it. Leading others and public speaking comes naturally to me, and I love it! Combine those leadership and communication skills with my love of fitness and nutrition, and the opportunity to build a business, and it’s pretty exciting!
I’m absolutely still planning on competing (my next show is just over 18 weeks out in November), but I’m eager to start this next chapter too. I always say that everyone eats and everyone has a body—fitness and nutrition affect everyone every single day. I can’t wait to help others on their fitness journeys too.
Thank you all again for your support, encouragement, and interest you all have taken in my journey so far. It doesn’t go unnoticed or unappreciated. Lots more updates to come, but as always, feel free to email me, call, or text with questions. If you are interested in becoming one of my very first clients, please email me at MeredithLynchFitness@gmail.com.
Cheers to new beginnings and new adventures!!!
Xoxo,
-Mere