Amber’s Success Story
Rescued from myself: a story of success by Amber Foucault
I bought the magazine when I was at the grocery store. I was eyeing the KitKat bar but decided that some calorie-free celebrity smut would be better for the waist-line. When I got home I threw it on the coffee table and puttered around the house putting away my groceries. I looked down at the cover as I was walking by and I thought to myself, “Wow, that woman is SO pretty and SO thin and obviously SO lucky to be both”. I caught my reflection in the mirror just then and did my own version of a caliper test, using my fingers to pinch the extra ‘cushioning’ around my mid-section. Isn’t it funny that 5 months after Christmas, the holiday weight was still kicking around? Can you still call it holiday weight in May? Maybe not…
The next time that I wandered by the magazine I thought “her arm looks really thin, hmmm, she must be naturally skinny.” But then I brought the magazine right close to my face, so close that I could see the pixels in the picture. There was something not right about her face either – her eyes seemed hollowed out and her smile was barely stretching from cheek to cheek – she almost looked angry. What would make her so angry when she is SO skinny and SO pretty? Then it occurred to me, I knew exactly what it was - SHE WAS HUNGRY!! Someone needed to feed the poor woman! Give her a piece of bread or a muffin or something!
So there I was AGAIN. I had been dieting and daydreaming about being skinny for the better part of 10 years and the people I wanted to look like were the ones that were miserable because a slice of cheese pizza was enough to push them over the edge. I couldn’t live like that. I needed to find a balance between wanting to lose a few pounds and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
I realized at that moment that I had a choice to make. I could continue spending half my time being hungry and consequently being angry about being hungry or I could decide that fitness and a balanced diet would set me free. And so I began my journey with Booty Camp.
Why did I go right to Booty Camp you wonder? Well I am the girl that still says “Go big or go home” and I wanted to feel like I was boldly making a difference in my life from day one. The more I worked out, the stronger I became and the more capable I felt. It stretched to different areas of my life and each class I kicked and lunged my way through helped me to put down the cookie and pick up the apple. It was a life transformation and I was really diggin’ it.
I had made the choice to work hard and feel good – I didn’t need to diet, I just needed to be smart which was significantly easier with all the healthy, daily recipes that Booty Camp provided to me.
As my body started to change, I became more confident and more enthusiastic about my work-outs. I could see and feel the definition in my arms and legs. I was embracing the strength that was building inside of me. I felt like I was finally doing something that was completely selfish. We worked out in a park, with the sun setting over Lake Ontario and the CN Tower in clear view as dusk approached – I was taking time to enjoy MY city and enjoy MY life. I often felt like I was in my own episode of ‘Sex in the City’ only I was also working my booty off.
Of course it was hard-work! This was no ‘walk in the park’. Committing to Booty Camp meant making better, healthier meals, bringing my lunch to work and giving up my dessert some nights. It meant showing up twice a week with the right attitude, the head-space reminding me that every punch and push-up was making a difference about how good I felt. It really helped me to set proper goals for myself and in a world that is celebrity obsessed, I stopped using the beauties on screen as my benchmark for looking good. This time, I focused on the star athletes of the Olympics. I saw qualities in their characters that I wanted to find in myself; determination, perseverance and will-power. Slowly, I started to believe in my own ability to take down any obstacle that stood in the way of how I wanted to feel.
Here I am eight weeks later and looking better than I have since high-school. I still glance at the skinny women in the spotlight, but more and more I am noticing the winds are changing, looking toned and fit is making a come-back and I am right on trend. After only one week, I already miss the camaraderie I had with the women in my class and the never-ending support of my instructor. I even miss the lunges, the push-ups and the burpes. I am lighter – but more importantly, I am stronger. For the first time in my life, I can honestly say – I look good on my own terms and I am proud of it.