In September, Alexandria Stylebook asked Fitness on the Run and its fitness partners Mind the Mat and Ascend Cycle to work with one of the members of Alexandria Stylebook. Since Amy Rutherford, owner of Red Barn Mercantile and Penny Post, had worked with us in the past, we knew FOR was the place to help Amy on her September Reset.Fast forward to December -- three months later! -- and Amy continues to work hard on her fitness and wellness. Heather is giving her more challenging workouts and homework and filling Amy’s day with her bottled energy (ha, we wish we could!). I asked Amy and Heather how and why they stayed committed and motivated: 

Amy, now that we are in December, can you share what helped you continue your health journey and reset?

 Amy: There are several reasons for continuing, but the number one reason was that I started to see small incremental changes. Remember, slow and steady wins the race. I did not go into this expecting to be ten pounds lighter and run a marathon after a month, or even three. For me, I knew it was going to suck, I was going to be tired, I was going to be sore, and I was going to feel like a failure more often than not. But, and this is a big but, I knew if I tried it, if I kept at it, things would slowly change, and, before I knew it, it would suck less, I would be less sore and have more stamina, and I would feel less like a failure and more like I was succeeding.When I look back to the time I opened Red Barn Mercantile 11 years ago, I can't believe how far the store has come. Each year we make strides -- and sometimes only baby steps -- toward growth and I'm in awe at what we have accomplished. I suspect, that as I keep moving forward at FOR, making more baby steps than strides because that's how I roll with fitness, I will look back soon and be proud of how far I've come. And that is something to look forward to. 

Heather, how have you kept Amy motivated for now three months?

 Heather: That's easy. Amy is motivated! She has been consistent with her sessions and that consistency has developed into a healthy lifestyle habit. Amy is really strong and (I believe) she notices her gains and non-scale victories with every session. Her mobility has improved, her strength has increased, she has endurance, and has developed a much better mind-set toward exercise. She has successfully laid a beautiful foundation of strength and I cannot wait to see her growth from this point. 

Amy, your goal was to do some movement – a 5 Minute Flow at a minimum – every morning as soon as the kids get off to school. How’s that going?

 Amy: Terrible. I don't do my flow every morning, but I am working out at FOR two times a week and walking the dog two miles a week, which is way better than before. I still eat cheese because I just can't quit it, but my next goal is to keep a food journal so I can be more cognizant of what I'm eating. While my diet hasn't changed, the way my clothes feel on me is so much better. I stand straighter and my back hurts less. Achieving at my own pace and not lashing myself with a wet noodle for not being able to run a marathon or even to get into a smaller size in three months are two of the biggest lessons I've learned at FOR. And, I'm grateful.

Heather, now that Amy is consistently exercising twice a week, what are some of your new goals for her?

 Heather: Now that Amy's activity level is up both in the gym and at home through walking/getting in those steps, I'd like to see Amy make a few changes in the kitchen. She has seen some awesome changes in the gym, but she also understands diet is paramount. My goal is to help Amy kick it up a notch in the kitchen with diet and increase her water intake. I know she will see unbelievable results.I also plan to set some movement and exercise goals with her. I will continue to track her accomplishments, so every session she can walk away with some sort of tangible victory (increased strength, or increased duration of a cardio move, or longer sets, etc.). So far, we've used the battle ropes, the sled, the bells, and the bands, but I'm thinking that pull-ups might be a fun goal to pursue! 

Stay tuned for the next update on Amy’s awesome journeytoward her own version of wellness!In the meantime, check us out at www.fitnessontherun.net!