AGE:  26

PROFESSION:  Textiles/Fashion

BACKGROUND:  I have always been an athlete throughout my life, playing soccer from the age of five and through college, so losing weight and getting in shape was never that difficult for me. Exercise was my way of relieving stress and feeling some sort of control over my life. The past four years, however, I got trapped in a vicious cycle where I would eat very well, exercise everyday and feel amazing, then go through a period where I would eat whatever I wanted and not exercise for months. Then I got married a year ago…and I don’t know what happened, but I gained 20 pounds. Maybe it had something to do with my admiration for cheeseburgers and fries?? Or the beer my husband makes me drink?? I am really not sure and don’t want to place blame, but I felt it, and it didn’t feel good at all. So I got back on my “friend,” the treadmill, and started my run at a 7 minute/mile pace with the intention of going 3 miles…and I could not even get to a half mile. I was so disappointed and frustrated that I could not run the same pace/distance I was used to that I got off and never got back on. Then I went to the gym and saw these tiny girls with huge boobs posing around the gym and got further discouraged, realizing this wasn’t the place I wanted to be.

So then one of my best friends (Alex) told me she was starting a boot camp, which made me laugh. Out of curiosity when I called her to see if she was still alive, she told me how much she loved Sonki Fitness. So then I joined too. 🙂  Sonki Fitness is my ideal workout environment as it reminds me of soccer practice in every way – the exercises we do, the camaraderie with the other Sonki Fitness Warriors, and the admiration I have for Sonki like a coach. I don’t just love going to Sonki Fitness, I’ve become addicted. I remember after my first class I couldn’t wait to go to the next class. Sonki Fitness Boot Camp is so much fun. My friends and I laugh and have a great time, and by the end of the morning we are not talking anymore but encouraging each other with high fives and shouts of inspiration. This is what I needed to get back into shape and begin enjoying working out again.

When I started Sonki Fitness, I ran my mile in over 7 minutes on my fitness assessment, and can now run it in 6:33. My goal is to run the mile in less than 6 minutes, and my fellow Sonki Fitness Warriors are pushing me to accomplish this. I feel so much stronger and feel capable of achieving anything now.

Hi, my name is Jocelyn Mayer and I am a Sonki Fitness Addict.

What is your current exercise routine?  Sonki Fitness (Mon, Wed, Fri) at 6:30am and a run with my dog once a week. Does riding around on my beach cruiser on the weekends with my friends count?

What is your motivation to stay in shape?  My passion for clothes because I like fitting into them. My husband Randy because he is losing more weight than me. And I just want to feel good about myself and feel confident. I am more confident and have a better outlook on life when I am in better shape.

What is your greatest challenge to staying in shape?  Getting out of bed at 6am is very challenging, but after Sonki’s class I feel so wonderful. To know that by the time I get to work in the morning I have already had a productive day, have already seen the ocean, hung out with my friends, and got my exercise out of the way is an awesome feeling at 7:30 am! My greatest challenge to staying shape is definitely not to fall out of my routine and out of shape. Once I do that it is SO difficult for me to get back into it. That’s why Sonki Fitness is perfect for me. When I sign up for the 5-week session, I know I have to go Mon, Wed and Fri. There is no backing out.

What is your key to success?  My key to success is to stay focused. It is so easy for me to lose my focus and to become lazy. I really want to achieve. I want to lose this weight and get back into top shape.

How long have you been doing Sonki Fitness Boot Camp?  This is my fourth 5-week session along with one XT (Xtreme Training) week, which was the best week EVER!!! I am trying to convince Sonki to do another XT week soon!! (But he says he needs vacation). In one week of XT, I have never felt so good about my commitment and focus. The camaraderie you gain with the others is so strong and being able push your limits is unbelievable, which at the end of the morning feels amazing. I was so proud of myself, and we need another one soon!

What do you like about Sonki Fitness Boot Camp and how has it affected your life?  Well besides that I am completely addicted, I love the positive group environment, how fun the program is, and nice and encouraging everyone is to each other. Sonki has affected my life because I never knew when I would get back into working out again, if ever. My energy level has completely changed. I remember my first session with Sonki I was SO exhausted and could hardly keep up. I now notice how much easier exercising is for me and how less of a struggle it has become. I am not saying it is not extremely tough, so don’t get any ideas Sonki !  My Husband does it now and my two best buddies are Sonki Fitness Warriors too so we have fun with it. Sonki’s presence is uplifting and encouraging so you can’t not like him. You don’t want to let him down…and sometimes when you have NOTHING left running up the stairs, he is at the top waiting to give you a high five, and suddenly all the pain was worth it.

What advice would you give to others about fitness?  Find a plan that works for you. And find an environment that you feel you can succeed in and make a commitment to stick with it no matter how hard or challenging it gets. For me, the excuses hurt more than the physical pain, so I would rather live with my legs being sore from pushing myself than my attitude being down because I know I didn’t try my very best.

Any other comments?  Yes, I have some other comments. First, I want to thank Sonki for pushing and encouraging me, changing my entire outlook on exercise & fitness, and being so very cool. Secondly, I want to say that Alex and Erin are going to give me a lot of s**T for being the Sonki Fitness All-Star of the month, and all I have to say is BRING IT!!!! We all know who will win this war!