Salisbury, MA
Ever since I stopped group sports and cheerleading (back in high school), I've tried to find new ways to trick myself into a regular workout routine. And for me, the classes that have worked best have been those that are close to my house, have a coach/trainer that holds me accountable, and that I don't dread waking up for. Believe it or not, that is not an easy combination to find.
When we moved the New England during the pandemic, workout classes were not really an option, so we braved the cold and ran outside a lot. That was great! And it was a fun way to explore our new neighborhood but once the snow came and the rainy days persisted, our list of excuses grew, and our workout routine fell off a cliff.
In July, Edgar found out that an F45 was going to open less than 10 minutes from our house and so, we decided to do a weeklong free trial.
If F45 Training sounds familiar that’s because there's been a lot of talk about it. I mean, Mark Wahlberg backs it! Anyway, it's based out of Australia and features 45-minute cardio and strength HIIT workouts—and has classes all across the globe. So what’s all the fuss about? Well, a few things. The format of the classes helps to keep things exciting. If you hate or love a class one week, don't expect to see it around for too long because the workouts change CONSTANTLY. Workouts consist of 15-25 “stations” where you complete a one-minute (or shorter) exercise. The constant movement, short time frames, and high-energy music help the time pass really quickly. Ok, so here's how it's been going.
Weeks 1-3 The Shock
Jumping headfirst into a workout like this was a shock to my system, to say the least. Those first few weeks, I averaged about three workouts a week and felt completely exhausted after each class. Not only was I wildly out of shape from my many months off, but I had it in my head that the classes were not for me before I even started. "I don't lift weights," I thought, but what I would soon find out is that there was a lot more to the workout than that.
I told myself it was something I'd try for 3 months and since Edgar was committed to going every day, I knew I would have the motivation to get there so I kept going. I could trick myself into going for only 45 minutes and as cliche as it sounds, the more I went the more I enjoyed it.
From week 3 on
After 3 weeks, my body got used to waking up and going to class. The coaches at F45 Salisbury, MA are incredible. They motivate us every day, they bring the fun, and they go out of their way to get to know us on a personal level. The 1:1 style coaching we get there has been unlike any other workout class I’ve attended.
After about a month, I really started to notice a change in the way I felt. I started getting a hang of the different workouts and had a much easier time keeping up. While the cardio classes are still really challenging and sweat-inducing, I am now able to finish strong—and stay energized throughout the day. As for the strength training days, I have to say, I look forward to those the most. It's wild to think of how much stronger I've gotten over the past few months. I mean, I used to lift 3 lb weights in my barre class and call it a day, so squatting with 13lb dumbells feels like a major feat.
Where I'm at now
It's been almost five months and F45 has become such a positive part of my day. We try to get there 4-5 times a week and not only does it get us up and active early in the morning, but we've met a community of people in our neighborhood who are fantastic (a bonus!) The coaches make my mornings happier and they’ve helped me realize that while I've been doing various workouts over the years, many of my movements were, well, sloppy and a bit all over the place. I’ve really made it a point to do the exercises correctly and learn about what muscles I am working at each station.
I feel like I am stronger physically and mentally since starting at F45, and I am grateful that we have one so close to our casa.
