As all fitness businesses in NY, we temporarily closed in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. We pivoted to online video subscription since in-person wasn’t an option. Chloe diligently continued with our weekly videos! When we were allowed to reopen, she was back in the studio training smart and enjoying the group setting. Three years later, I sold my commercial space and moved my entire fitness business online. I was continuing the monthly video subscription program, but also doing live Zoom classes and private training.
At the same time as my business transitioned, Chloe was transitioning her exercise routine and goals. She wanted something more personal to help her with her running. She asked me to write her a personal workout program to help her stay strong and injury-free. Of course I’d help! This goal morphed into three personal programs and a half marathon! Here’s what Chloe had to say about this transition and experience:
“I started the 30MoE functional strength training program with Tanya back in 2017 when she had a studio location about 10 minutes drive from my house. I was very quickly hooked, loving the body-friendly (there were NO mirrors!), all-levels-welcome atmosphere that she created, while meticulously ensuring we stayed on form to avoid injury.
So later, when she announced she’d be closing the studio and moving South, my heart sank. The 30MoE family collectively wondered how we would be able to find a program to match hers. I tried a couple of other gyms, but Tanya’s incredible knowledge and attention to form, her functional strength program design, and the use of Ultimate Sandbags, really suited me. I got my own equipment and asked Tanya if she would write a personalized program for me.”
I was so excited to write a personalized program for Chloe! While she’d been in the 30MoE program for 5 years already, she’s never had a personalized program. I was excited for both of us!
My goal for her program was to build up single leg strength, improve core strength, and add some power and agility to her training. We were 17 weeks out from her ½ marathon. She was currently strength training, but we changed things up:
- 8 weeks of heavy strength training – focusing on all primary movement patterns.
- 1 week off from strength training
- 4 weeks; incorporating more single leg movements, cross-body patterns, power movements, & shorter work – longer rest time intervals.
- 1 week off from strength training
- 4 weeks; rotational & anti-rotational training, bodyweight workouts, & more power.
Chloe had sandbags, kettlebells, bands, and a TRX at her house so we had a very well-rounded equipment toolbox. She had options for training, which gave me options for programming. Workouts were rep based, work: rest timed intervals, no rest, and “rest as needed.” These changed over the course of the 17 weeks. We tapered the intensity as it got closer to the half marathon.
Chloe’s shift in exercise mentality made this program a huge success for her. She had a new purpose.
“In the past I used running, and exercise in general, as a means to lose weight. And while it may have helped with weight balance to a small degree, I never succeeded in living in a body that was comfortable and felt healthy for me. I was also suffering from a severe food addiction to sugar and flour which would lead to intense binges. I was caught in a vicious cycle of binging and trying to purge with exercise.
It wasn’t until I joined a food addiction recovery program in 2020, gave up sugar and flour, and found peace and freedom with my food that the path was cleared to reclaim my relationship with exercise and running. I am now aware that the benefits of exercise extend far beyond the physical (which are NOT about body weight… cardiovascular, muscular, brain – mental cognition, better immunity, etc), and into the mental and spiritual… being out in nature moving, feeling those feel good neurotransmitters, and watching myself improve in something that I never thought I could do. I decided to take the leap and sign up for a half marathon. I reached out to Tanya to write a functional strength training program of 2 days a week (running 4 days a week) with my half marathon goal in mind. After working with me for so long, she was keenly aware of my abilities and potential for growth. I truly believe that this work paid off in dividends on race day, with finishing the race strong, avoiding injury and needing a shorter recovery time afterwards.”
- About half way through her 14-week half marathon training program when her miles were revving up, she started to notice increased hunger. At that point, she added carbohydrates to dinner (approximately 4 ounces of quinoa, brown rice, potatoes, sweet potatoes, or polenta).
- Before her morning runs, she would have ½ rice cake with some peanut butter and banana.
- She made a sugar free “goo” out of chia seeds, bananas, and mashed up sweet potato for her longer runs.
- During the taper week before race day, she added more starchy vegetables to her dinner plate (winter squash, carrots, corn, green peas).
While the 30MoE program does offer nutritional coaching, this isn’t what Chloe needed from me. She had a great program and plan to fuel her training needs. She was in charge of her eating plan. She just needed the exercise programming from me. This was a successful, supportive collaboration of our two passions. Oh, did I mention the name of her business? It’s Real Forking Change! Yes, you read that correctly – Real Forking Change! Chloe’s personal journey with food addiction and poor relationship with exercise has morphed into a beautiful means to help others find peace with their food & body relationships. I’m so unbelievably fortunate to know Chloe, work with her, and benefit from her passion! You might want to get to know her too! Check her out at Real Forking Change.
And if YOU are interested in a workout program designed especially for your needs/goal in mind, you’re at the right spot! Send me an email, text, or call me. I’m always excited to help people be their strongest, healthiest, best self!
