The Wake-Up Call
Have you ever woke up one day and realized, “Oh boy, I need to start making some changes…”? In 2020, that moment hit me hard.
For six years, I was a group exercise instructor. I loved teaching Body Pump and Body Attack classes and was on stage nearly every week. It was an amazing season of life, but eventually, I “retired” from teaching in October 2019—just months before the chaos of 2020 hit.
After retiring, I traded dumbbells for a couch, a bag of Juanita’s chips, and guacamole. Four months later (and about 30 pounds heavier), I realized something had to change. Seeing my first-ever side roll was the wake-up call I needed.
At the time, my mom and cousin were working out together virtually. They kept encouraging me to join them, but since I was a Les Mills snob, I resisted—until my clothes started getting tight. Finally, I gave in.
I joined their “workout group,” and I’m so thankful I did because… I lost 40 pounds!
Accountability Was the Game-Changer
Here’s the truth: I don’t think I would have lost the weight without my small workout accountability group.
Our group was just three people—one in Washington, one in Arizona, and me in Idaho. We never worked out together in person, but we texted daily to check in, share tips, and encourage each other. That accountability kept me going on days I wanted to quit.
If you’re starting your own weight loss journey, my #1 tip is this: don’t go it alone. Find at least two other people to go on the journey with you. Three is the magic number!
Why I Fell in Love With Beachbody (Now BODi)
As a former Les Mills instructor, switching to Beachbody workouts took some adjustment. But once I gave it a chance, I fell in love with the programs.
- Workouts are structured start-to-finish.
- BODi (formerly Beachbody on Demand) gives access to every program EVER created.
- It’s way cheaper than a gym membership—just $12–14/month if you pay yearly.
👉 Click here for 15% off BODi (affiliate link).
Programs That Helped Me Lose 40 Pounds
During my first year, my mom, cousin, and I went through:
- 80 Day Obsession
- LIIFT4
- #mbf / #mbfa
- Core de Force
- 10 Rounds
- Insanity
- 6 Weeks of THE WORK
We often repeated our favorites (#mbf and #mbfa are just 3 weeks each). Progressing to heavier weights round after round was so motivating.
My Affordable Home Gym Setup
One of the best parts of home workouts is saving money on a gym membership while building your own setup. My current home gym includes:
- Dumbbells (10–30 lbs)
- Resistance bands
- Sliders
- Yoga mat
👉 Click here to see the gear I use (affiliate links).
Tools That Made a Huge Difference
While the programs were amazing, a few extra tools made my journey even smoother:
- 21 Day Fix Containers – simple portion control without ever feeling hungry.
- FitBit + Aria Air Scale – easy daily tracking of weight, steps, food, and water.
- Protein Powder + Ninja Blender – my daily shake made staying on track enjoyable.
My Thoughts on Supplements
I’m not big on relying heavily on supplements, but I do use protein powder. I started with Shakeology (which tastes amazing but is pricey) and eventually switched to Orgain Vanilla Protein Powder from Costco or Amazon.
My go-to shake:
- Frozen strawberries (purple container)
- Fresh spinach (green container)
- 2 scoops protein powder
- Coconut milk
Blended in my trusty Ninja Nutri Pro.
What I Learned (And What You Can Do Too)
Looking back, my 40-pound weight loss journey wasn’t about perfection—it was about community, consistency, and tools that worked for me.
Here’s what I’d tell anyone starting:
- Don’t wait for another Monday—start today.
- Find two accountability partners.
- Pick a program and stick with it.
- Use simple tools to make it easier (containers, trackers, a good blender).
If I can do it, you absolutely can too. I’m rooting for you!
👉 Want to see what foods I actually ate to lose 40 pounds? Grab my free grocery list here!