Pacifica Fitness Spotlight

This week Terra Nova Fitness member Monica Chandler is featured in our Member Spotlight. She has been a TNF member since 2013. I asked her if she would share her story with me/us and she obliged. I am going to let her describe her experience in her own words. I think so many of us can benefit from reading her story. Thank you so much for sharing, Monica!

My Gym Journey by Monica Chandler (Video highlight below of Monica)

I didn’t join the gym to lose weight or to look great; I joined the gym just to feel better.

I just had my second child and had just lost my dad to a long, heroic battle with cancer. I believe I was deeply depressed and maybe even suffering from some postpartum depression, however, I never sought any professional help or was ever diagnosed by a doctor. I just knew that everyday was a struggle. It was tough to get out of bed, yet I had a newborn that required little to no sleep with very early mornings. It was supposed to be one of the happiest times of my life with having completed our little family, watching him grow and thrive, yet I felt clouded in total sadness. My dad was my best friend, after being there for him and helping take care of him, it was difficult to have to move on with life so quickly without him. I desperately needed to get out of this terrible funk I was in. I decided that I had to do something that was truly just for me….that is when I discovered Terra Nova Fitness.

Excitement and nervousness overwhelmed me as I met with Chris to sign up for the 6am bootcamp classes for the first time. Could I handle being at the gym that early? With little kids and no sleep I was very hesitant. Chris went through the assessment testing and I asked a ton of questions. I really had no idea what to expect from a bootcamp class. I remember asking him if he was going to yell at us? Because that is what I pictured happening in a bootcamp, lots of screaming at people to do push ups. However, he does not yell. In fact, he and his staff are incredibly caring and thoughtful. They make sure you feel comfortable at all times and are aware of all your injuries and needs.

It turned out that 6am Bootcamp was a perfect fit for me! I was able to get my workout done and over with and be back home before the kids even woke up. It felt awesome to get my day started in such a positive way. I was doing these incredible workouts that I would have never tried on my own. Doing pull ups, pushing the sled back and forth and using battle ropes! I felt so proud of myself and I had this confidence in myself that I never in my life had before. Soon after I felt comfortable in my gym routine at TNF, I went back to school and finished earning my degree while at the same time going back to work and receiving my Real Estate License. Everything just started snowballing into more and more accomplishments.

 I absolutely believe that it all started with taking that first step of joining the gym. Sticking with it during an incredible dark time in my life, made me feel like if I can do that, I can do anything.

I’ve been at TNF for 6 years now and I still love it as much as the day I started. Everyday is a new workout. They listen to my needs and make the appropriate changes to my workouts. I have made really amazing friends there. TNF is my second home. I don’t know where I would be without having discovered this amazing gym. I just wanted to feel good about myself and it has given me that and so much more. I’m forever grateful TNF.