Whoa! I am surprised and honored to be chosen for the May spotlight! May is the month my oldest daughter was born. After Addison was born back in 2006, I needed to get back into shape, but I was hesitant. I love the gym, I love to be active and I love to work-out but after having my first child, it suddenly wasn’t my priority. I had been active and into sports my entire life with softball, track, tennis, cross-country and volleyball so I needed to do something. Kerry has been friends with Jeremy, my husband, for a long time and he suggested that maybe Kerry could get me motivated. So, I started back to the gym working out with Kerry at good old Bally’s in East Providence. He helped me to focus on myself and eventually I got back to running and completing my first half-marathons. As Kerry quietly told me that he was planning to breakout of the corporate gym world and go solo, I panicked… I was truly happy for him, but I don’t love change! I had been a Bally’s member for 15 years and leaving my comfort zone is not easy for me.
Fast forward a few months after he left…. I missed the challenge Kerry presented in our one-on-one sessions, in the group classes he taught and the big old “Hey” he shouted out when I walked into Bally’s. Jeremy was already with Kerry at Punch (212’s old name). So, I finally decided that I needed to check it out.
It took me a little while to get used to some of the new faces and a new way of working out that didn’t have mirrors every three steps, but I was easily hooked! It was ropes and tire flipping, kettlebells and intensity that I loved, and no work out was ever the same as the last. Punch shortly thereafter became 212 which benefited everyone as Kerry continued to grow the gym and himself. He started his search from some additional trainers and a manager. We then had some new trainers to push us and Heather who took the day-to-day things off Kerry’s plate. Heather started to keep Kerry focused on what he loved to do so he could inflict pain to all his grateful clients and let Heather bring his ideas to life.
I was blessed with my second daughter, Avery, 8 years ago and found myself panicked when I learned I was pregnant. During my first pregnancy, I took it easy as most first-time expectant mothers do. I walked and did the elliptical and maybe used a couple of light weights. However, I needed Kerry to get me back in shape after Addison was born and had a tough time getting motivated as I already shared. This time, I was pregnant and hooked on heavy kettlebells and early morning classes that I didn’t want to give it up. My doctor told me that I could stay active with what I was currently doing but NOT exert myself since I was “older”. I didn’t realize that 35 was old but anyhow, how is that supposed to work with kettlebells??? Luckily, it was never an issue for me. Kerry and Colin both helped me feel comfortable maintaining what I was doing so I could keep going. People would look at me and ask how I could still be doing kettlebells soooo pregnant!? Well, I realized that it was okay to be strong and pregnant and was able to swing the kettlebell around my big belly right up until two days before Avery was born, 10 days early….
I had a quick and easy delivery with Avery, and I believe that my workout routine at 212 was the reason. When I was ready to get back to the gym, Kerry and the team were there for me again and Avery would sit in her car seat on the grass over in the corner as I was tortured.
Now, here we are! I travel for work and maintain my roles as both a Swim and Dance mom. I also have 212 classes and small groups to look forward to (even during COVID-19)! Kerry and the 212 team have been there for my family as well. My oldest daughter started young. Addison loved to come in to watch Jeremy and I work-out and she’d do her best picking up the tiny kettlebells. She then went on to do the summer camps and now she does small groups with Colin, Alicia and Kiki at just 13.
I have a friend who recently joined the Drop 2 Jeans Sizes Challenge and shared with me that she was intimidated by our gym as she was about to get started… She said it seemed like it was a cult! LOL… I have made many friends at 212 who challenge me, know when I am missing from class or a small group to hold me accountable or tell me “great job” when they know I challenged myself. They are younger than me and older than me and I really don’t care. Age nor ability means nothing at 212…It’s not a cult, it’s a family. They are here for me on my good days to challenge me, my bad days to lift my spirits and now for my girls to grow into strong women. So, to all the trainers and staff, thank you soooo much for the brutal workouts, laughs and continuing to push us even during a pandemic! I know that many of us like to complain but if we really hated it, why do we keep showing up!?!?