I’m honored to be the November member spotlight. Every month I look forward to reading the stories of other members and the journey that has led them to 212. I’d like to share a little bit of my story and how I got here.
My name is Robin. I’m a wife, mother to 17yo twin boys and work as a Dental Hygienist here in Rumford. Like many people, I always had an excuse as to why I couldn’t exercise. I was too busy, too tired, and felt too guilty to leave my kids. At my husband’s encouragement to do something for myself, I started to look into joining a gym.
It was the Fall of 2016 and a friend had just joined 212. She raved about how comfortable everyone made her feel and encouraged me to check it out.
I was in my early forties and had no consistent routine for a healthy lifestyle. My body was definitely starting to feel the effects. I was stuck in a rut, unmotivated and exhausted. I knew something had to change. My kids were getting older, giving me some free time while they were at their activities. I went out of my comfort zone and made the call to set up a consultation. I met with Alicia and immediately felt at ease. She was easy to talk to and really listened to my concerns. That first day was just stretching and assessing my abilities. Well, let’s just say for the next week I could barely walk! I was in worse shape than I thought. I continued one-on-ones with Alicia until I was comfortable enough to try a group class.
I took my first class in early 2017 and haven’t looked back. I had never picked up a weight or belonged to a gym prior to joining 212. I gained confidence with each class I took, and in the Spring of 2017 joined my first Jeans Challenge. I absolutely loved it! I was hooked. This determined, competitive side of me came out that I didn’t know I had. Alicia and my JC group made working out fun. The program wasn’t just about exercising, a big part was nutrition and making healthier choices.
Through the years I’ve taken advantage of several challenges offered by 212. Most recently, achieving the goal of 42 classes for the Summer challenge. It’s amazing how motivating a bragging rights t-shirt can be!
You can usually find me running into class late, trying to find an open spot. I’m a little bit all over the place with the time I work out. It could be 6am, 6pm or anytime in between during the week. This has given me a chance to meet many of my fellow 212 members.
Joining 212 has been one of the best decisions I’ve made. The staff truly care about each and every member. You are not just a number, but greeted by name each time you walk through the door. Every team member brings something different to each class. I love that no two classes are the same, you never know what you’re in for!
I am especially grateful to Alicia for taking me under her wing and breaking me out of my shell. Encouraging and motivating me from the beginning.
Kerry, Alicia, Sean, Heather, Kim and Scott, THANK YOU for helping me become a healthier person who actually enjoys going to the gym! ( most days..lol)
