So my story starts like many others: I was a high school athlete, and loved working out and competing. After high school, I struggled to find a method of exercise that I enjoyed, and ultimately stopped working out. Due to the absence of physical movement, my mental health got worse, and I stopped taking care of my body and mind. My friend, Victoria, who is also an instructor at the St. Louis location, encouraged me to try Shred. She said group exercise with an instructor would feel similar to a team environment. I begrudgingly tried it, and to my shock, I didn’t hate it. I started to come to shred once a week for about 3 months and started to see some improvement in my mental health, my eating habits, and just my overall care of self. I then started coming more frequently, and really started to see results in all areas of my life. I was fueling my body with balanced foods to prepare for my workouts. I was getting the physical movement my body needed to operate. I was performing better at work than I ever have. I noticed my anxiety and depression becoming much more manageable, and now a year later, I am going to Shred 4-5 times per week and am training for a half marathon in April. The transformation in how I take care of my body has been astronomical, and I am proud of the work I have put in to be at this place in my life. I certainly would not be where I am today without the support of friends like Victoria, and the St. Louis Shred team. Thank you to everyone who has played a role in encouraging me to take better care of myself, and most of all, thank you to myself.
