Meet the Coach: Jill Koel

Curious about how to overcome "gym intimidation" and create a supportive fitness environment? Tune in as we chat with Coach Jill, the dynamic client coordinator at Fit Body's central location, who shares her secrets to making every client feel at home from their very first visit. From pre-session outreach to thoughtful follow-ups, you'll learn how personalized support can shatter fitness anxieties and pave the way for a healthy lifestyle.

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Transcript

Fit Body Client Coordinator Interview

Speaker 1 0:00

What is going on, my friends, Welcome to the next episode of the Fit and Healthy Sioux Falls Show. We have some fun planned for you today as we dive into another episode of Meet the Coach with our client coordinator of our central location, who I tell you what, without her organizational skills and without her making sure we're all staying on track I don't know, but all of our energetic, off the wall type ideas it might just throw our business into a whirlwind. Let's thank the good Lord for our friend and guest today, Coach Jill. Let's dive in to today's episode. Well, Jill, welcome to the show.

Speaker 1 1:03

Thank you, man. This is fun. So we've recorded Ryan's and Jason's. Now we get to sit and have some chat with you, and it's been awesome because I've been able to actually learn stuff about both of them that I didn't even know. And I think what's so fun about this is our clients. Right, we're a 30-minute gym, so they come in 30 minutes and all the attention is on them. Right, we're a 30 minute gym, so they come in 30 minutes and all the attention is on them, which it should be Right. But this is cool because it kind of gives everybody watching or listening kind of an inside look to our lives, right? So what I want to first start out with, jill, is number one like, what is your role here at Fit Body?

Speaker 2 1:42

Sure, so I am the client coordinator. Yes, I'm also a coach, yep, so part of my time I'm coaching on the floor, or I'm the floor coach. I'm also the client coordinator, which means I'm very focused on the trials, the people coming in for the first time, walking them through that process, just making sure they have the best experience possible up until they decide to join us as a member.

Speaker 1 2:06

Yeah, cause joining a gym can be and it was for me back in the day as well it can be a very intimidating thing.

Speaker 2 2:12

Oh, absolutely.

Speaker 1 2:13

Have you ever experienced like I think they they coin it gym intimidation like gym intimidation? Have you ever like experienced that yeah, absolutely yeah.

Speaker 2 2:22

A couple of different times, a couple of different places that I've gone, yeah.

Speaker 1 2:26

And you just you don't know what to expect and you walk in. You feel a lot of place. So how important is it to well FitBody? But then, obviously, with you being the client coordinator, how important is it that we, you know, are really giving those coming in for the first time a great experience.

Speaker 2 2:44

I think it's huge. Just based on past experience, you know walking in and being intimidated and no one introducing themselves, no one kind of taking you under their wing. You know, so to speak, to help you understand or like hey, I'll be your buddy, I'll walk you through, you know. So I feel like in my role I make sure that that happens. One, I reach out before they even start in most cases and just say hey, just so you have a name, I may not be there at your first session, but just so you have a name to connect with, I'm going to walk you through this process.

Speaker 2 3:17

Here's what you can expect on your first visit and then obviously it's communicating with the team. I mean, we all know who is coming in for their first time and we all know who is coming in for their first time. We I feel like we do a really good job making sure that that doesn't happen, that people have that best experience. They don't walk in and feel like they're not welcome, they don't feel like intimidated, that they're not going to be good enough, that you know. A lot of people that are starting haven't been working out for quite a while.

Speaker 2 3:40

And I think that's one of the biggest fears is I don't know if I'm going to be able to do it.

Speaker 1 3:44

Yeah.

Speaker 2 3:45

And so it's really walking them, you know, letting them know what to expect, walking them through. But then, when they get here, taking the time to say more than just our normal walkthrough, saying here are the exercises for today, but here are some ways that you can, you know, adjust it and wait, and not making them wait until the warmup to actually see that there are ways they can adjust Um, just letting them and letting them know and convincing them that we're going to meet you where you're at. This is. You are going to love it here.

Speaker 1 4:12

Cause everybody starts at a different point, absolutely, and that's one thing that really I have enjoyed about FitBody is, um, we literally do have every fitness level, every size, every shape, every ability, and it's fun to see them all working together in a group setting, because that can be intimidating, like the gym itself is already intimidating, and then to add, like the group aspect of it. And so you're there, already reaching out, making sure that they know, hey, I might not be there, but I'm Jill, I'm going to help you out with this trial. Sure that they know, hey, I might not be there, but I'm Jill, I'm going to help you out with this trial. And uh, and then, after their first workout, we also then always do like a first workout call. So why don't you explain a little bit what? What is the first workout call and why? Why do we do it?

Speaker 2 4:54

Sure. So I think it's really important. Sometimes, if I do happen to be here, I, you know, give them great job, nice job, awesome job, here's what to expect. But then I also reach out and I call them. Well, if they work out in the morning, I'll call them that afternoon and say, hey, how are you feeling? If it's a night workout, I'll reach out the next morning. Sure, just to reiterate, it's common that your muscles, you're going to be feeling it.

Speaker 2 5:15

You might be a little bit sore, it's okay. Don't feel that you can do to combat, combat that, but it's absolutely normal. Um, you know you're working some muscles that you may not have worked for a while and they're just letting you know that you worked them hard and that's good.

Speaker 2 5:33

This is to be expected here. Here are some things you can do to combat that really. Also just encouraging them like, hey, that might've been the roughest day that you've had, but it's going to get better from here. Like, I know your body's yelling at you, but keep moving. The best thing you can do is come back, keep moving those muscles. Also, just asking them about the experience so that if, for some reason, they did feel confused or they weren't sure what to do, they didn't understand the format, getting that feedback from them right away so that we can make the next experience when they come in even better. Or, you know, fix whatever. Maybe they didn't understand.

Speaker 1 6:06

Because, as good as we want to believe that we are, at the end of the day we're human and so at the end of the day we can have the best intent, the best process, but then something goes wrong and next thing you know we dropped a ball in some area. And so getting that feedback from them right away and then correcting anything that maybe didn't go to their likeness or their standard, I mean, and it's a lot like they're coming in on their first day and they're learning.

Speaker 2 6:32

They're just hearing a lot of information. So it's. I mean, I was at the noon session today and that was tenured people and they're not. They didn't listen to the warmup and they still didn't know how to do the exercise. So it's just a lot of information coming at them so it's just reiterating that to them.

Speaker 1 6:46

And yeah, making sure that, hey, we're there with you every step of the way, because everybody's steps are different, absolutely.

Speaker 2 6:53

Yeah.

Speaker 1 6:53

I love that. I'd like to dive into a little bit too and this has been fun as I've been talking with some of the coaches when did like health and fitness or the wantingness to embark on your own health and fitness journey, when did that kind of start in your life for you Around, what year was that? And, like, where were you at with your health and fitness?

Speaker 2 7:13

Sure, Like a lot of people say, like I was always an athlete, Like I really wasn't that much of an athlete.

Speaker 1 7:18

I tried to be Sure. Did you play sports?

Speaker 2 7:21

I attempted. Okay, I played tennis when, I was younger and then, but like in high school, I was in gymnastics.

Speaker 1 7:28

Okay.

Speaker 2 7:29

Which is a sport.

Speaker 1 7:30

Yes.

Speaker 2 7:30

It's a tough sport. I was not the greatest at it, but I mean so I was always doing something. Yeah, I just wasn't like. My husband is like the superstar athlete.

Speaker 1 7:38

I was not that person.

Prioritizing Health and Community Integration

Speaker 2 7:39

Yeah. So I mean, I think, as I was getting older because you know we all go through that where we gain 10, we lose 10, we gain 10, we lose 10. I mean that's just life, and I think, as I got older and my metabolism, I think, started slowing down a little bit, you know, and for a while I was not leading a very healthy lifestyle. Sure, you know. So once I quit drinking alcohol and working out a little bit more than it was, I think it's just I got to a point where I wasn't losing those 20 pounds. This time, Like.

Speaker 2 8:10

I've always rebounded back and I just I just couldn't rebound back and I feel like maybe the maybe in my 40s, maybe in my mid 30s, I was still on track, kind of going back and forth a little bit, but then once I hit 40, I actually quit drinking around that time and then I, and then I was healthy for a while. But I moved here from Omaha and I think that I got very comfortable. Um and I was out of my routine. I had um belonged to a gym. I had friends that I worked out with there, we, you know, we went for walks around the lake, we went to the gym, and I didn't have that when I first moved here.

Speaker 1 8:44

That was in Omaha.

Speaker 2 8:45

That was in Omaha, so when I first moved here.

Speaker 1 8:47

What year did you move to Sioux Falls?

Speaker 2 8:48

I moved here in 2016.

Speaker 1 8:50

Okay, this is so wild. So I've I've done Jason's and Ryan's, and now we're shooting yours. Um, and this probably isn't the 2016 wasn't the year that you started, but 2016 was both Ryan and Jason's year that they started focusing on their health and fitness. That's a big year. And then 2016 happened to be a year for you, and I was talking with them later and I told them. I said, well, man, I opened Fit Body in 2015. All of you guys must have subconsciously known like, hey, it's 2016. We better start doing something, because eventually we're going to be working at this gym that just opened. He's going to need us. He's going to need us. He's going to need us.

Speaker 2 9:23

Exactly.

Speaker 1 9:25

So you move here, yeah.

Speaker 2 9:26

So I mean, I feel like I kind of got out of a routine, didn't have that support. So it was maybe a couple of years where I wasn't. I kind of got off track. And then I think in like 2018, I started doing an app that I saw online Yep, it was all virtual, but it was just basically like tracking your food but you could also watch videos.

Speaker 2 9:48

They had recipes, things like that. So I started doing that and I did have good progress, but then it's just me holding me accountable and I don't do the best with that yeah um, I, I really like when I have more um, I wouldn't say competition, like friendly competition, or when people hold me accountable.

Speaker 2 10:04

Yeah, um, so I, I did that for a little while and then I got to a point I think it was probably maybe 2019 or 20 where I I joined a coaching community and I had a one-on-one coach but also community, and that was still virtual as well, and I did awesome, like at first, you know, I was just like, but then as soon as I don't have that accountability, I would I struggle. So I had a lot of progress and I would feel I feel like I've been close to maintaining I'm not. I'm maybe 10 pounds, 15, where I was at my best, I would say my most healthy. But I started working out at a gym and I did really well because I was working out with my husband and it was very close to home, it was very convenient and it

Speaker 2 10:49

kept me going and I probably went to the gym more in that time than I've ever gone in my whole entire life. But then it just got to this point where the culture was not a good fit for me and I didn't want to go anymore, like. So that's when I really realized one, it helps me to be accountable when other people are encouraging me and wanting to see me succeed and they're like-minded Yep. And two, I need to be surrounded by a community of people and I need to have a fun environment where I feel like I matter there. Yeah, and I don't feel like I was getting that. So that's when I came to FitBuddy Yep, I came first to do a trial.

Speaker 1 11:28

And what year was that? Roughly, that was like 2020, was that?

Speaker 2 11:31

like 2022, 2023?. It was, it was 23.

Speaker 1 11:35

Yeah, it was early, though, like January.

Speaker 2 11:37

Cause. Then I did the Spartan in February after that.

Speaker 2 11:39

Yep. And then I came back, I think like in June or something, after the Spartan. So I was a member for not a real long time before I applied to become a coach. But I knew immediately like this was the environment that I was looking for. Like I said, I did the workouts but I wasn't feeling motivated to do it. I only went because my husband was going and you know he would hold me accountable, but then I didn't enjoy the experience. So I love being here because it's something I look forward to doing. I know the workouts are always going to be fun.

Speaker 1 12:13

There's always going to be people that I want to see, that are going to make me laugh, that are going to make me smile, and I do better in that type of environment than just going at home and doing weights, and what's cool is like you and I didn't plan this, but we both happened to work out at the same time today, right, and we had Coach Carly on the mic and there's always just some type of I would say outside of the norm banter that happens among the coaches and among the clients during that session, and it just so happened that today's was an AMRAP, which was six minutes at each station, right, and coach carly had more than enough time to just sit there and talk about whatever she wanted and she did, and she did and and throughout that workout, we ended up kind of really having some fun with her and then even saying like, hey, we'll pay you to stop talking, and and just that.

Speaker 1 13:02

You don't get that via online. No, you don't get that via virtual. Right, and that is only something that a live, in-person group environment can offer, right, and it does. It just keeps you going. I remember we left there smiles on our face, you know, feeling accomplished, feeling proud of ourselves for doing that workout, sweat dripping, yeah, and that is what it's all about. And every different fitness level doing it together, yeah, right, so I love that. So 2020 is when you really kind of 2018, you decided, hey, I needed to start doing something more. You joined that coaching community. 2020, you start joining a gym. You're doing with your husband. You know how important and maybe even how do you and your husband, you know, incorporate the healthy lifestyle as a married couple and you guys don't have kids. Chad does, right, he's a stepson.

Speaker 1 13:57

A stepson, okay, but none of that. Live at the house, right? So it's you and him. But you've got dogs, yes, and those are like your children, right? Yes, how many dogs? Two, two. What are their names? Again, you've got dogs?

Speaker 2 14:06

Yes, and those are like your children, right? Yes, how many dogs? Two, two.

Speaker 1 14:08

What are their names again Jake and Josie. Yes, two Basset hounds.

Speaker 2 14:10

Didn't Jake just have a birthday? He did just have a birthday.

Speaker 1 14:12

He just turned five. Oh, my goodness, and how old is.

Speaker 2 14:14

Josie. Josie will be yes.

Speaker 1 14:25

Okay.

Speaker 2 14:25

So they are brother and sister. They're just a year apart.

Speaker 1 14:27

Sure.

Speaker 2 14:28

Um, yeah, so it's a lot of fun. They keep us uh, they're very spoiled, but they keep us very busy and we just got new furniture and we had to clean the old night. Told Chad, I said this is why we're not getting dogs anymore but it's fun, I mean they, they're, they are little kids, they're very spoiled spoiled.

Speaker 1 14:53

I, I, uh, I know about a month, maybe two months ago, uh, you were going through a hassle trying to get a new door doggy door, doggy door, um, and I remember that was throwing you for a whirlwind. Yeah, um, but to the point that these dogs are spoiled. But you also want to make sure that they get their activity because, yes, your health and your fitness, just for you and Chad, also bleeds into your doggies.

Speaker 2 15:07

It really does. And you know, and I told Chad the other day, cause I had to run home, cause it was storming, and I'm like if it, if the door blows open, you know. So I ran home and I said, man, I wonder how many miles I've put on my car just going back and forth. And that's partly why it's like when I'm here, I want to be focused and I don't want to be like, ok, I know I have 30 minutes, but I'm going to run home and check on my dogs, go there for four minutes and come back, and it's just silly. So they do need to go out during the day.

Speaker 2 15:31

But that just gives me peace of mind.

Speaker 1 15:32

So yes, they're very spoiled, but what does Chad do in the winter when it snows? And we? I do know the answer. I'm leading the witness here. They are, they're lowriders, so they don't do well like stomping through the snow. So what does Chad do for them?

Speaker 2 15:50

So first of all, chad made them little ramps, because the doggy door is in the glass patio door and they can't get to the ramp or the door without a ramp. So we have steps on the inside and he made little steps on the outside. Go, chad, and you know, like the first winter we did the you know obligatory, like shoveled a little circle and now chad goes in the back and he snowblows. Yeah little pat, and like not just a little area, like paths, like a race track, so that they have?

Speaker 1 16:19

does he like, almost do like, um, like a maze where like?

Speaker 2 16:22

some. Some ends are dead end and they have to turn around like that's a good idea for next year, okay, so 2024 winter um chad. Your job, buddy is to make these dogs.

Speaker 1 16:34

Yeah, chad, not jill chad make these dogs a maze where only certain paths lead to the start and others, yes, stop. But that's fun. So you and Chad, though, incorporating health and fitness, it sounds like you guys have both done it together now for a while Chad has been super consistent. You have been consistent making sure that whatever gym you're at or virtual program, you're doing that. You're continually doing something, so how do you guys find the time to fit it in?

Speaker 2 17:08

How do you do that? I feel like I mean, it's definitely more fun when we can work out together, but some days I work at nights and he works out when I'm working, and when I first moved to Sioux Falls with him in 2018, oh, so many restaurants.

Speaker 2 17:26

Like we lived in a very small town before we came here, and so once we moved to Sioux Falls, we kind of went crazy at first and we ate out all the time and we both got to a point where, like, oh, we just got to stop. And I actually joined a gym first and he came with me the first day and, like many of our clients, he was like I'm never doing that again.

Speaker 1 17:44

Yeah.

Speaker 2 17:44

And then he was like man, I used to be an athlete, I used to be able to do this stuff, and so now I feel like it's very much a habit, like we feel it's just part of our routine.

Speaker 2 17:56

We have to make sure that it's a part of our routine, like if one of us, if we don't work out for a day or two, like it's just something's off, and so you know being able to talk about, well, what was your workout like today? What was mine? Oh, I did this instead of this and um, you know. So now we're on this track where we do plan our meals. We're not perfect. The other night he was like I think Qdoba sounds really good. Oh yeah.

Speaker 1 18:18

And I don't know when Qdoba doesn't sound good, I'm going to just throw that out there.

Speaker 2 18:21

That's true, that's true, um, you know. So he just gives me this look like, so what? Are we having for supper tonight. And as soon as he says that, I know, but I mean we used to literally go out to eat like many times a week, and now we, you know we're at this point where we're putting in all this hard work we love working out. We, we spend the time and we commit to doing it. What's the point of ruining it with not following our nutrition.

Speaker 1 18:44

So, and you've been doing really well, um, because at fit body, we have a fit body nutrition app. Yeah, and you've been doing really well, um, staying consistent. And we we have green rings. Right, why don't you tell maybe anyone that doesn't know what? What's a green ring like? What is that?

Speaker 2 18:59

sure, so the we focus on the grams of protein, carbs and fats that we eat per day. Ideally, if you're eating each of those within what is recommended for you to either lose weight or maintain weight, you get a green circle within so many. So so like, for example, if I'm supposed to have 120 grams of protein and I get 118, I'm still going to have a green circle.

Speaker 2 19:25

So, it's, you know, like people with their Apple watch and closing the ring. It's kind of like that. So it's a very good. If you're a visual person and you're very competitive with yourself and you need to, you feel very accomplished by getting those green rings.

Speaker 1 19:38

Yeah, because otherwise they're not green, right, right. So if you hit, green they're either blue or red, yep. So blue means you didn't eat enough Right, and red means you ate too much Right, yep. So the goal is three green rings every day and carbs, fats and proteins.

Speaker 2 19:51

I don't get three green rings every single day. I get pretty close like I eat a lot of the same things, so that that's beneficial. Um, but I'm also Vicky. Also challenged me to track for 100 days straight yeah, so. I'm on day about 42 yeah um, so I've tracked every day. Even if we went to Qdoba, I still tracked it because, that's reality. Um, because what I find is, if I, if I say, well, I'm going to Qdoba, I can't really track that.

Speaker 1 20:21

Yeah.

Speaker 2 20:21

Then I just eat whatever I want that day because I'm like I'm not going to get the green circle anyway, so I might as well just eat everything, sure. So I have to be very disciplined with that, and tracking every day is very helpful for me, even if I don't get the circle.

Speaker 1 20:34

But yes, the goal is always to get the green circles and that makes me feel pretty good I feel like so many times in the fitness industry and in losing weight and I actually did a podcast on this a while ago but about like ditching the all or nothing mentality because to that point, if I can't track all of it and get a green ring every day, well then I won't track anything. That's all or nothing, and we know that that's not going to help us. Even tracking as much as you can or to the best of your ability is going to be a better, right idea and provide a better outcome than just throwing it to the wayside and say whatever you what.

Speaker 2 21:09

I want today that's something that I really really struggled with, and this, the challenge of tracking for a hundred days, is really helping with that, because I'm I'm very black and white with a lot of things, I'm very all or nothing, um, but I also then that sets me up, because I set expectations for myself that are not realistic and that I can't possibly achieve. Yeah, um, like if I would think I could get a hundred green circle, you know green circles for a hundred days it's just not reality and it's not going to happen.

Speaker 2 21:38

I mean, I guess it could, but I know myself and I know I have to be able to commit to something and that's where the little wins come in. I know we talked about this is kind of going off topic, but I know we talked about making our bed and that one day we joked with Jensen and he said but did you, was your goal to make your bed? And he said no, because I said I always make my bed, because that's at least one thing I can say oh, I made my bed today. I have nothing else. You know, maybe I didn't get all my water in or maybe I didn't get all my protein in, but I made my bed. Like.

Speaker 1 22:07

I'm starting the day with a win.

Speaker 2 22:08

Exactly, and I feel like um with the all or nothing. It's like I didn't get the circle so I did nothing. Right today. So, there always have to be, in my opinion, some small wins. So I also set my water goal like in my head low so that, no matter how bad my day is, if I can say I had, let's say, 32 ounces of water, which isn't enough, but it's better than none, I always have some goals that I set low so that I always have a win every single day.

Speaker 1 22:38

And I think that that's really important to kind of stop for a second and highlight, because I feel that if you watch the TikTok Instagram Facebook, you know famous people. There's a way to do it and it's their way Right, and the truth of it is is that every single one of us are our own person and we have what works for us Right. Someone out there might be listening and say you set your water goal low at 32 ounces, Like that's not the way to do it. But if that works for you, then who is that person to say that that's not the way to do it?

Speaker 2 23:14

And I, to be clear, like I drink more than 32. Yeah, but one. Now I feel like, oh, I just kicked that goal because I got way more than I. You know, I make sure that I get at least half my body weight. But I know that if there's a day where I'm sick and I'm laying on the couch and I can't even hardly move, I can at least do 32 ounces.

Speaker 2 23:32

So, no matter what, even if I didn't eat that day or I was feeling bad so I didn't eat the right things, I can always at least have that one. So I do drink more than that, right.

Speaker 1 23:44

But that's just one of the wins, exactly, I just have to have some.

Speaker 2 23:47

Like, for example, I usually get 15,000 to 20,000 steps easily just because of my job.

Speaker 1 23:54

Yeah.

Speaker 2 23:55

So my goal is like 8,000 steps a day. Yep, like that's pretty easy for me to hit, but internally my goal is higher. But at least I know that I can say okay, I got that.

Speaker 1 24:07

And again it gets me on that streak. And that's the crazy thing, because when you're working 15 to 20, no problem, right, but then a Saturday or a Sunday come around.

Speaker 2 24:13

I have to push for it sometimes. You have to push it for sometimes because 8,000 is still a lot of steps.

Speaker 1 24:17

Exactly, and that's just it, because we're looking at doing something that progresses you forward for an extended period of time, consistently, exactly, and because that's how you achieve success. So many people are the all or nothing for a short time, and the truth of it is, and that's why a lot of different gyms or programs they do these short challenges and it is all in, and that's great, because sometimes we need that kickstart, that kick in the butt to get us going. But we need something that we can do for a consistent long period of time, because that's how we're going to find sustained success. Your health and fitness and kind of where you're at, where would you say, is kind of the next goal that you want to achieve with your health and fitness or something that would really make you proud as it pertains to kind of your health and fitness, sure.

Speaker 2 25:07

The 100 days is a huge goal of being able to track and you said you're 42-ish I know, july 31st is the last day.

Speaker 1 25:14

I already got my 30-day badge of honor that I did that so.

Speaker 2 25:18

I know, I think when I counted it out, July 31st.

Speaker 1 25:21

And that's so in my head.

Speaker 2 25:22

I'm like ooh, what did I all have in July?

Speaker 1 25:23

Yeah, so this episode will actually be coming out like early August.

Speaker 2 25:27

So I'll have already crushed it, yeah.

Speaker 1 25:29

Heck, yeah. So now, when people see that like they can be asking like Jill, did you do it?

Speaker 2 25:33

Yes, and obviously biggest goal is to focus on increasing my muscle. I've been, you know, I've had a bum knee for a little bit, and so I think it's really easy for me to use that as an excuse, yeah, and so I think I've been kind of doing that and saying, well, I really can't do a lot with my legs right now, or whatever. So then there were days where the all or nothing well, if I can't get it, if I can't do that in the workout, why even go? And I don't know if it was you or if it was, I think it was Vicki that said if a client came to you and said I can't do this exercise, you know, if I come to the workout today, I can't do three of the exercises.

Speaker 1 26:18

So why even come yeah?

Speaker 2 26:19

And she said and what would you say to them? And I'd say I would still tell them to come. And so that was kind of. You know, I got off my little pity pot and I was like, yep, that's exactly what I need to do, and so I would think I was using that as an excuse. And I've there have been times in my life where I was a lot, I had a lot more muscle mass, and so I think right now that's my goal. You and I have talked about that as far as lifting a little bit more weight.

Speaker 1 26:42

Yeah.

Speaker 2 26:47

Um, I we just rearranged my house this weekend, where I moved my weights upstairs. So they're like right there and it's. I don't have to like go down there, but they're like right there.

Speaker 1 26:52

And that's important too, and I think that people watching or listening could even take that away as a tip is like life is full of obstacles. So if we can take any obstacles that we have control over and eliminate them you know for you and maybe it was an obstacle you didn't see the weights, they weren't easily accessible, you had to go downstairs into a separate space. Well, now they're right there, ready to go, Like that is eliminating obstacles so that it's more convenient. So we need to do what we can to set our lives up for success.

Speaker 2 27:20

And I think we, you know, like I know myself, I might be able to fool myself in my head sometimes, but I know myself better than anybody. Like I know what excuses I'm going to come up with. I know what I'm, you know, I know what I'm going to say as to a reason why I can't do something. And so, yes, I get, I'm trying to get those obstacles out of the way. I am getting them out of the way little by little. Yep, you know, with the shed it, while I'm working out over there, it was. My excuse was well, I don't know how to use the machines, yep, and then I was silly enough to bring that up to you. And then you're like well, let's fix that.

Speaker 2 28:01

And then you showed me me how to do them, so but I mean, but that's what I have to do is, I know what excuses I can come up with, and I don't want to be a person full of excuses, so I find ways to um, you know, I think about that Like. I try to plan my week. Here's the days I'm going to work out, here's the workouts I'm going to do here. I you know, I plan my meals for the week. I don't always get them in the app for the whole week ahead of time, but I plan my meals for the week so that I know like, okay, this is a day that I know I might have to work a little later. I might have to. I have to bring my car in that morning, so I'm not going to have time. So I need to make sure I get my workout in.

Speaker 2 28:28

And then you know, planning ahead for me is huge. And then, like to that point is looking ahead and saying I know I'm not gonna feel like working out, but this is what I can do to kind of combat that, or this is what I can do to make sure that it happens, and that's how I find the most successes yeah, I having that game plan yeah.

Speaker 2 28:46

I'm, it's very huge for me, like I sometimes will even like write it down, like I don't have kids, but like I'll have a little like whiteboard thing that I will have to write like here's my schedule for the week and here's what I have going on, and if I don't plan, I can easily say oh yeah, you know.

Speaker 1 29:02

Yeah.

Speaker 2 29:02

And something comes up. You know, more often than not that might change it, but I already know like I've committed to working out that day.

Speaker 1 29:09

Yeah.

Speaker 2 29:09

So even if it's at eight o'clock, when I get done at work, it's going to get done.

Speaker 1 29:12

There's no question to ask Right, I'm going to do it. I I didn't do this with Jason or Ryan, but it's kind of like came to me. I want to like break the script a bit, because I think it is fun to be able to kind of peel back the curtain into our lives a bit and just kind of get to know us a little better. Super easy question but is there like a favorite trip that you have been on? So not health or fitness related, but just thinking about vacations or trips or places that you've been? Is there anywhere that you could say that you went and that?

Speaker 2 29:44

I would say I mean I, I've been, I've been to like Poland a couple of times.

Speaker 1 29:49

Really.

Speaker 2 29:50

Yeah, I've been to Turkey, but honestly so as a kid. I grew up in Minnesota, right across the border, okay. And so, you know, as a kid we went to the Black Hills one time maybe, like you know. Sure, I can remember getting in the station wagon and driving out to the Black Hills, sure, but Chad and I went there. Like we've gone there the last two falls like in.

Speaker 1 30:09

September and honestly, that's just awesome, like being there the first time we we went I think it was COVID because I remember wearing a mask and we did the whole touristy thing.

Speaker 2 30:17

We went to Mount Rushmore, we went to Bear Canyon you know we did all the touristy things, but it was just that one was fun because I hadn't done it since I was a little kid. And to see it like, for example, going to Mount Rushmore and learning about the history and how they actually accomplished it, I didn't care about that as a kid but now as an adult it was very interesting. And even going through the Badlands and stuff or Spearfish is beautiful and just seeing things now as an adult I think it's just so different.

Speaker 2 30:53

Like as a little kid I probably didn't even pay attention to the beauty of nature in the scenery and um and so now last year when we went um, it was for our first anniversary and we did a lot of hiking, which is I've never gone on a vacation and actually done healthy things.

Speaker 1 30:59

So I know, it wasn't about health, but to my knowledge, chad is um your first husband that you've had. Cause you've had because you've had a couple. We've got backstories about our previous lives. He's not my first husband yet, but he's the first husband that you've had that's been physically active and actually encouraged and promoted health and wellness in your marriage.

Speaker 2 31:23

Yes.

Speaker 1 31:24

And so this is the first trip that you've taken where that was part of it.

Speaker 2 31:27

Yeah, and so now, and we were climbing up, I forget now what it's called something peak People listening will know, but we ran out of daylight and so we had to decide to turn back. And we were so close, we were like a quarter mile from the top.

Speaker 1 31:41

Yeah.

Building Confidence Through Fitness Journeys

Speaker 2 31:41

And we had, and so now our goal is to go back this year and finish it. Cool, I think it's Harney Peak, but anyway. So now, to me that was one of the most enjoyable vacations, because one it just we got away from reality and yeah, and it was just being with somebody like-minded and making fitness a part of it, like before.

Speaker 2 32:11

It would have been, honestly, in my younger days. It would have been about drinking and going to the bars and going gambling or going to deadwood or doing something like that and, um, you know, now it was completely like okay, what, what can we do?

Speaker 1 32:15

outside. What can we go?

Speaker 2 32:15

visit things like that. So it's just a whole nother. It's all. I'm a grown-up now yeah, yeah, right it's like an adult thing to do yeah, absolutely, that's awesome.

Speaker 1 32:24

I do want to like dive in a little bit, though. You said poland and turkey. When, when did you go there?

Speaker 2 32:28

so my ex-husband is was from poland. He was born in poland okay, so he still had no this yeah, so he still had family there has still has family, so like his grandparents and stuff, and he spoke fluent polish okay so we went to poland a couple times you learned how to speak polish I tried, it wasn't.

Speaker 2 32:45

It's not an easy language to learn I don't know any other language and I was, you know I. I think it learned from a baby, not when you're yeah, when you're 30 years old but, um. So I went to poland a couple times, which was very interesting.

Speaker 2 32:56

It's very beautiful there yeah, I bet um and then I have a friend from omaha that was from turkey, okay, and she went back every year. She isn't um, she actually is. She just got a really good job. She was at Georgia Tech and now she's going to Clemson, I think.

Speaker 1 33:12

And she's like the head.

Speaker 2 33:14

She's like the Dean of Engineering.

Speaker 1 33:15

Oh cool, she's really important.

Speaker 2 33:16

Yeah, yeah, yeah, but anyway, so I went back with her. She goes back every year and they go. She has an archaeological dig that they continue to work on every year, so somebody guards it during the time they're not digging, and then she takes a class from the college every summer and they go work on this dig.

Speaker 1 33:30

In Turkey.

Speaker 2 33:31

In Turkey, oh wow, and so I went with her and I didn't go on the dig, but I met her. How long ago did you go there? 2010 was the last time I went but she goes every year, so I could go.

Speaker 1 33:48

Do you think you'd go back Like? Do you foresee in your future going back to Turkey or Poland, for that matter? Not probably.

Speaker 2 33:50

Poland, not Poland. I don't think I have those memories in the past. Leave those memories in the past. My ex-in-laws, no, I mean, it's a beautiful country, yeah, but Turkey I definitely would. Yeah, we were very short so we went to on time, so we went to Istanbul.

Speaker 1 33:59

Okay.

Speaker 2 34:00

Which is absolutely beautiful. Yeah, didn't know it's. There's a bridge between two continents, so you're right, on two continents I did not know that um me and geography in europe.

Speaker 2 34:09

I know, I didn't know that either horrible um and so, but we had to see the city in one day and it's absolutely, I mean, like we don't have stuff like that here that's that old and yeah um, but anyway, so I would definitely go back. We were so rushed and we stayed at a resort on the caribbean yeah, and do you think ch Chad would go with you to Turkey?

Speaker 1 34:26

I don't think Chad would be invited. Sorry, chad, sorry buddy.

Speaker 2 34:30

Yeah, sorry he is, but not. I mean we both like, if I'm gone for like 10 days, like that's the max, I'm not the best traveler, sure I'm kind of a homebody. But I don't.

Speaker 1 34:41

he probably would enjoy it, Sure, but it would be more meaningful, I think, to me just because it's my friend and where she's from and stuff like that. So you would probably go back there with your friend, not really foresee going there without her.

Speaker 2 34:55

Not without her no. And it's nice to have her because they lost my luggage. There's only one flight from Chicago to Turkey every day, so I had to wait 24 hours. And it was very beneficial for her to speak Polish or Turkish because, I didn't, so I think I would go back with her. Yeah, chad and I talked about it. We're not. We're just not big, huge travelers. So, although it would be great to see all these places, yep, overseas.

Speaker 2 35:21

Realistically, not realistically, I do have a friend in Canada that lives in Australia and I would go with her. That would be awesome.

Speaker 1 35:27

Sure.

Speaker 2 35:28

I just I think Chad, that's just a long trip. Yeah, super long, yeah Like seven, 10 days, that's like my max.

Speaker 1 35:34

Yeah Well, that's cool. So kind of reeling it back into fitness and Fit Body. What would you say is like your favorite part about being a coach at Fit Body?

Speaker 2 35:50

I think, just being able to build people's confidence. So I was I was going to say like to be a part of the experience, but the way that I would say that is, when we talked at the beginning about that uneasy feeling, or I myself like, um, when I was coming up with my why a long time ago, it was like think of all these words that you know, that mean something to you. And confidence was one of them. Yeah, and that one stuck out to me because I've never been a confident person Like I just have never my husband, naturally confident.

Speaker 2 36:19

I am so not. And so I've been. I've struggled with that a lot of my life, where I I don't have that confidence and I don't think I can do things. And so, like the Murph was the perfect example, like I mean, like it was almost emotional, like watching people that never thought they could do a pull-up and doing pull-ups with bands, and they just didn't even think they could.

Speaker 1 36:43

I actually don't know if you've seen it, but I got some footage back from our videographer. I haven't shared with the team yet, but I was looking at some of it and um, and it might even be in the one video that we posted, but there's a small clip where you're there and you're helping do pull-ups and, um, you're like counting them uh, eight, nine, and you could just see the smile in your face because it is, and I can relate to well two things that you just said. Number one I can also relate to not having a ton of confidence and still to this day, like daily working on my confidence. But then, number two, just being part of that journey and helping others achieve something like that and getting emotional about it, but like being able to be there and just you're holding on to like their calves, their knees, and you're just there's a little bit of extra support, a little bit of extra to help them get those pull ups in, and it's such an accomplishing feeling to be part of that.

Speaker 2 37:38

And I think, just to be able to, you know, like we talked about having a safe place to work out and having a fun place to work out, and you know, so, being able to bring the energy and and making people feel comfortable and feeling that they can do things and celebrating them. You know, even if they, you know, if they say, well, I can't do a push-up, can you do one on your knees, can you do one on the wall? There you go and just helping people see themselves how I see them.

Speaker 1 37:59

Yeah.

Speaker 2 37:59

Like that's important to me, because I know there are still people, especially with a confidence thing, that look at me and they see me different than I see myself, and so for me to try to be able to help people see how amazing and strong and wonderful and beautiful they are, like this is the perfect way for me to be able to do that, because I I'm in their lives daily and you know, no matter how confident they are, there's a new exercise or there's a new personal record or something else that they want to try and just to be able to, like I said, I know people were that for me when people didn't believe in me, or when I didn't believe in me and people believed in me and told me, yes, you can do this, yes, you know you will get there.

Speaker 2 38:42

I know it's day one, but you'll get there, like.

Speaker 1 38:44

So for me to be able to be a part of that for someone else is just huge and I can actually remember sitting and normally I don't really have a lot to do with like the interview process.

Speaker 1 38:53

I remember, but I can remember kind of sitting there with you during that and until that point you had worked kind of in a similar industry but mainly worked in more basically corporate America type jobs, and in that ability to be there for someone like that you didn't have that and so I can definitely see, since you've been with us at Fit Body, that is something that continues to have you shine, continues to have you putting in the early mornings and then the next week the late evenings and having that kind of schedule. That sucks, if we're being honest. Right, having a coach's schedule isn't the best. We have to be working when others are not so that they can come work out. Right, but being there for others in that way it's something that you know keeps me going. I can see that it keeps you going, yeah.

Speaker 2 39:43

Super cool. You made me cry in the interview. I do remember that I was like, oh my gosh, I don't know why I'm getting so emotional yeah, and that we were talking about the Spartan race for that one where I got to be a part of that and there was like 150 women that completed a Spartan and you know, and some all fitness levels, yeah, you know some that couldn't barely walk a mile.

Speaker 2 40:03

it's some that could run and and, just to be able to see, I mean, like some of them would cry. They were so proud of themselves and they went into it thinking there's no way I could ever do this. And so just to be able to help people see themselves like that it's. It fills my cup.

Speaker 1 40:20

It's just it's.

Speaker 2 40:21

There's nothing like it.

Speaker 1 40:22

Yeah, what would you say is something that you kind of look forward to, um, as we continue progressing with FitBody and kind of like looking at FitBody, where we're at, where we're trying to go, what we're trying to do. What is something that you're looking forward to as we look kind of into the future with our careers and FitBody and what we do for others?

Speaker 2 40:42

I think, just to be able to you know, like as be, even being the client coordinator. So like, coaching is awesome and I love it, but I've learned more about people and gotten to know people even more by being the client coordinator. So, I feel like being in that role where, as we grow, continuing to know every person individually. So no matter how big we get it's that we don't ever lose sight of that, and we, the client is the whole reason we're doing this and not just.

Speaker 2 41:15

You know somebody will, and you know there are times like today. There was somebody that was in the 815 that I didn't know, which is rare, but I, you know, I introduced myself and I said I'm sorry I haven't met you yet. And you know I mean, and I said I'm sorry, I haven't met you yet and it's going to happen sometimes, but I just coming from corporate America where they don't care who you are I mean as?

Speaker 2 41:33

long as you come in and you answer the phone or you do what you're supposed to do, nobody really knows who you are and doesn't care.

Speaker 2 41:38

So I think that is a fun, safe, encouraging place to work out. I think that is important and you know, I'm just so excited to be a part of it and, wherever we go, I'm just excited to be a part of it and I would love that to be expanded. Like I said I, we talked about this. Like you can get on the mic and you can be a coach and you can inspire people, but that's that's not your whole job. Like you know, anybody could come in and pretend enough to get through a 30 minute session and just get on the mic and say the right things. Enough to get through a 30 minute session and just get on the mic and say the right things. But to be able to have the opportunity outside of that role to be involved with members and you know family Friday, you know fun days and the outings that we do and things like the MRF, where you truly get to know people on the individual level and see a different side of people that's what I would love to be part of.

Speaker 2 42:48

You know, and like Vicki talked about the other day, you know, like never forgetting that people aren't just people. Like they're not just clients.

Speaker 1 42:56

Like we care about every person that walks in our doors, everybody has their own story, everybody's going through something we don't know about, and the cool thing is is in the role that you're in, you get to learn about those things. I do know about Exactly, and the cool thing is is, in the role that you're in, you get to learn about those things and then you get to walk side by side with them and walk through those with them.

Speaker 2 43:12

And you know, just even from life experience like, um, you know, you know most of my, my struggles and my addiction and things like that in my life and I've had so many jobs where nobody's ever even known that about me and that's like the biggest part of who I am and who brought me to who I am today is what I've gone through and I've shared that with more people here than I've ever shared at any job, just because I know that if it will help someone else even if it's my fitness journey not not anything else about recover or anything like that but I'm in a place where I can share that. And you know it isn't just sitting down next to somebody at a corporate world, you know job that you don't know the first thing about them, or you know, or they go to the bar after work and that's the only way you know somebody. So I just can't ever imagine even going back to that because it's so different.

Speaker 1 44:03

It is very different and I tell the team this I don't enjoy working but we have to right, and so the fact that we get to do this as work and overcoming obstacles whether they're health and fitness related obstacles or just obstacles in general is such a crucial part to becoming that version of ourselves that we all so badly desire to be.

Speaker 2 44:24

And being able to share that with people, if they, they, you know, if somebody came up to me and said like well, you know, you're a coach, you've probably always been fit, and it's like no actually I haven't come sit with me, friend and I still struggle.

Speaker 2 44:37

I, you know I still have struggles every day and you know I like we just talked about excuses, and I mean it's a constant, it's a I constantly have to work on myself and I constantly want to be better. You know I, I'm not OK to just go in and do my job and go home and not be affected by it and not be able to share experience with people that if I think it will help them.

Speaker 1 44:59

Yeah, absolutely so, as we kind of wrap up our time together, which I do think we could like keep talking.

Speaker 2 45:04

It's been awesome together yeah.

First Step to Fitness Success

Speaker 1 45:05

Oh, I know we were Michigan. Think we could like keep talking. Um, it's been awesome together. Yeah, oh, I know when we were in Michigan we had how long was that drive 14 hours, Like we just talked the whole way. Um, but what is something? Someone's watching listening. Maybe they're thinking about starting their health and fitness journey, Like what would be a tip that you could give them today that they could kind of take action on to help moving them in the right direction?

Speaker 2 45:22

Sure, Um, I would say don't be afraid to take that first step. Yeah, you know, even if it's going to be going for walks outside and maybe you're not ready to walk into a gym, find what brings you joy, yep, and what brings you a peace or a sense of value and peace, and just know that you're worth it for a long time, and I hear this from other people. You know, when I reach out to people and say, hey, I haven't seen you for a couple of weeks, what's?

Speaker 1 45:50

going on.

Speaker 2 45:51

And they're like oh, I started putting everybody else first. Yeah, you know, I think not nothing against guys, but I think, as females especially, we seem to do that so much. Absolutely Everybody else is more important, and I think realizing your value and realizing that you are worth it, first of all, um, because you have to want to invest in yourself and you have to think that you're worth investing in, and I can tell you right now that you are.

Speaker 1 46:18

Yeah.

Speaker 2 46:19

Um, I think that's the biggest hurdle. And then the second one is actually walking in the front door and you know, making that phone call, picking up that heavy phone, which doesn't make sense anymore because we have cell phones, but you know that 10-mile phone, you know and making that call or sending that email and saying, hey, I'm interested. Like that's a scary thing to do.

Speaker 1 46:38

It's super scary.

Speaker 2 46:39

I would say you wouldn't. You'll never regret it. Like putting yourself first and making yourself a priority is never going to be something that you'll regret.

Speaker 1 46:50

I love it. That is amazing advice and if you would like to take more action on that advice, you can find a link kind of down in the description of this video. Or if you just go to 605fitbodycom, you can either claim a free week or we have a new trial program going on that you can click on and that you can partake in, and with Jill being our amazing client coordinator at the central location. If you come to the central location, jill will lock arms with you and be on that journey with you. But thank you so much for taking the time to be with us, jill. Thank you for taking time to be here. This has been awesome.

Speaker 1 47:26

Jill, thank you for taking time to be here. This has been awesome. I'm assuming that kind of this meet the coaches series will be quite a lot of fun for our clients and just for those that kind of know a little bit about us but want to know more about us. We'll probably have to do a meet the coaches too, where we kind of come back down the road. But, jill, thank you so much to everyone else watching, listening. Go out and be that amazing person that you are today and do us a huge favor like, subscribe and share this episode, because fit and healthy Sioux Falls would not be here without you. Have an awesome day, you guys.