Meet our Superhero of the Month for July: Brenda Austin!
Brenda has been part of Mo-Tribe since 2016. Since the day Brenda started at Mo-Mentum Fitness she has been a bright light, an inspiration, and a warm welcoming friend to everyone she meets.
Brenda is determined and consistent. She’s non-negotiable about maintaining and constantly upgrading her health and wellness. Since Brenda’s been with us, she’s obviously aged like all of us. Instead of getting “older,” Brenda continues to grow BOLDER! Brenda is an excellent example of making your health a priority, and everything in life working better because you are stronger outside and inside.
In the years I’ve known Brenda, she’s traveled to Africa for a safari trip, she volunteers regularly helping kids in need, she paints murals as a volunteer too, she’s an actively involved grandmother of 5 grandkids, she works with her husband in his consulting business, she’s an avid walker and photographer of the wetland’s animals and she’s extremely competitive in our yearly challenges! Seriously! You want to be on her team!
Brenda has made exercise a non-negotiable part of her life so she can continue living her best life. This is an extremely STRONG “WHY,” to create and maintain the habit of exercise.
I’ll be honest, I believe for all of us, how we look is important and exercise definitely helps with this part of our goals. But your why must be BIGGER than the number you’d like to see on the scale or the size of jeans or dress size you want to fit into.
Brenda knows that our lives are the result of our everyday, seemingly small habits. She understands that it’s just more fun to exercise with other people and she knows and she is proof that accountability is one of the biggest predictors of success, especially when it comes to making exercise a daily habit.
Brenda is a small group fitness member. She trains through our small groups personal training sessions and takes our yoga and Pilates classes to balance out her fitness routine. One of the things I run into with a lot of women like Brenda who’ve worked out for many years is the misconception that we need to work out “hard” at maximum capacity every day to reach weight loss goals. Brenda is an example of following your body’s communication with you. She is able to stay consistent with her exercise habit because she balances her routine with weight lifting, recovery, stretch, mobility, and mindset work.
We chose Brenda for superhero of the month in July because she is an incredible example for so many women about how you can live your best life one day at a time, at every age, by communicating with your individual body (not your head and not crazy quick-fix plans)!
Brenda is one of the strongest, heart-centered and dedicated women I’ve ever known. I’m so proud she is a good friend and an inspirational member of our Mo-Tribe!
Thank you for being you Brenda!
Love,
Amanda and Team Mo
A few words from our Superhero herself…
Specifics: age, job title, children, partner?
Age: 66 years old
Job: I don’t have an official job title, but I do whatever is needed for our construction business.
Family: I have a fabulous husband Jeff, 2 children and 6 grandkids.
Describe what your life (and your health) was like before fitness.
I’ve always been active, but when you have kids, you tend to spend time doing things for then and neglect yourself. There was more time sitting in the car, in gyms and on sports fields. Less time for planning meals, less energy.
Was there ever a low point or an experience that made your priorities change?
I started gaining weight, not feeling good about myself, and then Jeff (my husband) hurt his back.
How did fitness come into your life (or back into your life)?
When Jeff hurt his back and was told he had to start working out daily to avoid surgery, we joined a gym. That’s when we both realized by just taking an hour a day, we were much healthier and happier.
What kind of results have you seen since starting a regular fitness program
I have more energy, and my attitude is better.
At one time I was taking care of 5 of my grandkids at the same time. So, it was very important for me to take that hour a day to workout. I needed to be strong enough to move car seats, pick up kids, get strollers out of the car and keep a dog under control. It gave me the energy to keep them entertained for 8 hours a day.
Let’s focus on blood work. What kind of changes have you seen there? What do these changes mean for your lifestyle, longevity, finances, etc.?
So far so good.
Why do you make fitness a priority in your life?
I want to be able to take adventure vacations for many years to come. I want the grandkids to keep telling me I’m too old to do what I’m doing. I want to stay Healthy.
These days, what makes truly happy and feel at peace?
I love being outdoors. I walk 5 miles almost every day. I take my dog, my camera and sometimes Jeff and enjoy the peace in the park, wetlands or the beach.
How do you feel compared to 1 year ago?
The same. Which means I must be doing something right.
What is your favorite thing about Mo-Mentum Fitness?
I love the people, trainers, the variety of classes and the Challenges. ( I never knew I was so competitive LOL.)
What would you say to the person who knows they need to start exercising but is afraid to start?
Find an exercise class you think you’ll like and GO FOR IT. Take it one day at a time
HOW WE CHOOSE OUR SUPERHERO OF THE MONTH
Team Mo and I choose our SUPERHERO OF THE MONTH based on several important factors that we believe reflect the values on which the Mo-Mentum Fitness world-class culture has been built upon.
Mo-Mentum’s Core Values Include:
· Mindset for growth, constant never-ending learning – if you’re not growing, you’re shrinking.
· Over-deliver on all we do.
· Tribe – we all need a supportive and inspiring tribe, people we can be ourselves around and who nudge us to be one percent better every day.
· Transparency – We believe in honesty with ourselves and with others of course.
· Vitality – We believe in living vibrantly and living all out with courage and passion.
