This week our Member Spotlight is focusing on Natalie Ferrini – who was coached by Coach Jeremy Galo.
What’s your name? (First and last names, pretty please)
Natalie Ferrini
Tell us a little about you in 5 sentences or less. Where are you from? Are you a parent? What are your hobbies? Anything unique about your life that you want to share?
I was born and raised and live in Chicago. I have been married for almost 8 years and have 2 amazing kiddos. My daughter Makayla is 6 and my son Landon is 5 . I work for a large software company in their named accounts division and have been there for 12 years. I travel about once/twice a month on average but work from home when I’m not on the road which is great because I can see the kids off to school and be there when they get home. My hobbies are my family, we live very close to my parents and my sister’s family, I love to work out and combine spinning and boot camps as my go-to’s. I also love the summer when we head up to our cottage on the lake in Michigan and sloth around 🙂
What led you to join Stronger U?
My neighbor Carrie Stachnik was doing it and I remember seeing her at a holiday event and was speechless. She has always been beautiful but I couldn’t believe her transformation. When she kept it off I realized it wasn’t a fad diet and I needed to give it a try.
What dieting experience have you had previous to Stronger U? Was there a reason you were or were not successful? Why did you stop?
You name it I tried it. I tried the cabbage soup diet in high school 🙂 I tried the low carb and high protein diet where fat was considered your friend….and carbs your enemy, I tried the “outrun your diet” diet where I would eat crap and then workout 3 hours a day 7 days a week. I would fast, I would juice, I would binge, I would fast, I would binge, I would juice, etc., and that got me nowhere but to a place of self-loathing, and being hangry. I never had energy and always felt like I had to work out so I never enjoyed it.
It’s clear Stronger U worked for you. Why do you think Stronger U worked so well when other programs or diets may have not?
For starters, it took the guesswork out of everything and I had a framework of what I needed to eat. I also love the flexibility that I can eat what I want as long as I fit it into my macros. So when I get burnt out or sick of something I can change it up. I also now know that if I have a bad day I am not going to gain 7lbs bc as my coach Jeremy Galo always said it’s about consistency, not perfection. This is a lifestyle it’s a marathon, not a sprint which was hard for me to first deal with bc I like instant gratification. I remember my coach telling me early on when I wasn’t seeing the changes as soon as I wanted to trust the process and he challenged me and said “Natalie has anything you have done before worked? No so listen to me and give this a chance”. This leads me to the ultimate reason why I think this worked, my coach Jeremy Galo who has always provided a healthy dose of tough love and compassion it’s great to be held accountable. I also love the Facebook group and the support and ideas that people provide.
Can you give some insight on your eating habits BEFORE joining Stronger U?
They were all over the place. I was a late-night eater, a bored eater, and a dazed eater. What I mean by that is I would grab a bag of chips and finish it while watching tv and not really enjoying it. And then I would try and convince myself that the bag was already half gone before I started eating. I would feel gross and drink too much and the juice did 3 days straight or do some type of a cleanse expecting a miracle and the cycle would continue. I also would feel like I could eat anything if I had a hard workout like I deserved it.
Now that you’ve joined Stronger U, how have your eating habits changed?
So much better! For one thing, I know how to fuel my body so my performance in the gym is awesome and I finally have muscles that people can see in my arms and legs, and stomach. I don’t go off the deep end anymore with binging and I also don’t beat myself up if I have a bad day.
If you exercise or train for a sport, what does a typical week look like? Did Stronger U have any impact in your decision to start exercising or training for a sport?
I always exercised but now I love it because I feel strong and I’m seeing results. I typically work out 5 days a week, which consists of 3 days of spinning and 2 days of boot camps.
Has your change in body weight or composition improved other areas of your life? If so, explain what areas and how.
Yes! First off I feel way more confident and sexy and I don’t dread having to get dressed in the am when I come off a bad day of eating or drinking. I have more energy with my kids and am just happier with myself. I also feel like a true athlete in my workouts now seeing my performance improve.
Are there any tips or advice you’d give to new members of Stronger U to help them succeed early on?
It’s all about consistency, not perfection. In the beginning, it is overwhelming and feels like a lot of work…but if you stick to it, it will become second nature. Just like any good habit, it takes a while to create.
If someone is thinking about joining Stronger U, what would you tell them?
JOIN. Best decision I made other than saying yes to my husband to marry him!
