My body, my attitude, my outlook—it has all changed dramatically on this amazing journey, and honestly, I’m having the best time of my adult life.
Growing up in Kolkata, India, the concepts of working out, staying in shape, and eating healthy were pretty much nonexistent to me because I got caught up in the academic rat race typical of an Indian upbringing. When I came to America for college in 2006, academics and my subsequent job search again took priority over my health. These pursuits definitely paid off however, and after graduation, I landed a great job with global professional consulting firm Ernst & Young. Unfortunately, my personal well-being took a backseat to my career, and the pounds started to add up.
In January 2016, two work colleagues and longtime Shredders Ryan Butman and Christopher Mark introduced me to Shred415. After trying a few classes, unfortunately my work responsibilities increased, and I once again (but for the last time) adopted an unhealthy lifestyle that no longer included regular workouts. I weighed myself in November 2016, and to my shock I was at 175 pounds. With this weigh-in, I finally decided enough was enough. It was time for a lifestyle change.
I returned to Shred415 in December 2016, and I remember having a conversation with instructor Alex Pintia during which he encouraged me to take early morning classes due to my unpredictable work schedule. This conversation was transformative. Shortly thereafter, I bought an unlimited membership, and started going to class four times a week (sometimes even five). No matter what work threw at me, I made it a point to go to class four times a week. There were times I was operating on 3 to 4 hours of sleep the night before, but the motivation of the amazing Shred415 instructors kept me going. In December, my ending warm-up pace was 5.8 mph, and I’m proud to say that today, 28 pounds lighter, it is 7.4 mph. Last year at this time I couldn’t have even imagined running a couple of miles without losing my breath; however, this past summer I completed the Chicago Rock and Roll 10K, and even more recently, I ran a half marathon at a pace of 9:45/mile. I’m a runner!
My body, my attitude, my outlook—it has all changed dramatically on this amazing journey, and honestly, I’m having the best time of my adult life. Shred415 has been a tremendous confidence booster. It has made me healthier, happier, and it has enabled me to reduce my stress levels. A special shout out to the amazing instructors at Shred415 in Old Town, particularly Fadil Chosovich and Katie Dimond for their unwavering treadmill motivation and Alex Pintia, Jazmina Pumputis and Mariah Carroll for the intense floor training. Thank you Shred415!
To become Shredder of the Month, submit your Shred415 success story to [email protected]. Whomever is chosen will receive an unlimited month of Shred415 classes. He or she will also be recognized on our blog and social media channels.
