Client of the Month - Shana Hattis

Our next client of the month - Shana Hattis! Over the year and a half that she has been with FT, she has shown nothing, but resilience and dedication! Her story is pretty amazing; check it out!

Q: How long have you been with Fitness Together, and how often are you working out both inside and outside of the studio?

I’ve been with Fitness Together for just over 18 months. I’m in the studio 3 days a week, and I’m working toward going out on my own another 3 days per week. There aren’t any inactive days in my house, though – my husband and daughter are always up for a hike or a bike ride or another fun outdoor activity.

Q: What are the results you've seen so far?

Wow, where to start with this question? In my first year, I saw strong traditional gains: increased cardiovascular stamina and muscles building in places that had always been weak points, such as my transverse abs, calves, and triceps. Then I got hit by the proverbial lightning bolt – I had a major, body-altering, 15-hour-long surgery and was out of the studio for three months. I came back weaker than my starting point; in fact, I couldn’t lift my legs while lying on my back.

My return date was October 17, 2020, and my progress since then has been mind blowing in its rapidity. I owe it to the FT team’s meticulous attention to detail. Every routine was designed to take me a step further than I’d been the month, or the week, or even the day before. They knew when to push me (“You can do farmer walks with these giant kettle bells!”) and when to keep me from aggravating my body (“You are NOT doing that exercise on the floor until your core is more healed!”).

Because of their efforts, the days of not being able to lift my legs are long behind me. Now it’s hamstring curls and bicycles and leg lifts. Oh, and real sit ups, which I did for the very first time last week. I had it in me to go the distance during my recovery, but without FT’s support, I might have given up in frustration or injured myself by trying to do too much, too soon.

Q: What can you attribute mostly to your success so far? What hurdles did you have to get over in order to succeed?

If you’re like me, you battle your own doubts and anxieties about your body. This is still a fight inside my head, and some days, self belief doesn’t win. But even then, there’s a spark of determination that makes me lace up my sneakers (or put on my barre socks) and get out the door. I think everyone has this spark! Support is another crucial piece of the puzzle. I know I can count on the FT team to encourage me, no matter the circumstances.

I’ve also learned how to praise myself. For me, Ms. Type A, there will always be another achievement to chase and another mountain to climb, but I’ve learned to embrace small victories. They add up! And they make me stronger, both mentally and physically.

I’ve spoken about my surgery (huge hurdle, right?), but left out one thing: because I knew about the procedure in advance, the team was able to help me focus on strengthening my arms, legs, and back this spring to maximize mobility during my recovery. This all had to happen over Zoom due to the pandemic, but our efforts paid off. The day I came home from the hospital, I was already strong enough to walk up and down my street.

Q: What are some of your goals with FT moving forward?

Now that I’m past the bulk of my recovery, I want to continue to build my strength and increase my cardiovascular endurance. I’d love to be strong and fit enough to do a half marathon. I heard the Disney Princess one is amazing! I also want to be able to plank on the Bosu ball for more than 20 seconds without falling and to get to my pre-pregnancy flexibility level (legs over my head and feet on the floor in Plow position).

Q: Anything else you would like to share with others looking to hit their goals?

I don’t know your goals, and I might not know you, but I know this: you can achieve what you want to achieve. FT will help you get there, and I think that’s the beauty of this place: they know how to help you get yourself where you want to go.