The Secret Life of a Fit Pro

[secretlifefitpro]

Day 155: A Walking Challenge

It's rare that I join something fitness challenge related; I'm usually hosting it!

My workplace (one of them ;) ) created a 2-week walking challenge. Anyone interested could sign up and teams were randomly generated.

It's hosted through this tricky app that features like zombies or something. There are these weird challenges you have to complete as a team and get to the 'safehouse.' Low key I'm not worried about that part.

I walk a considerable amount each day, less at this job than my previous job, so I wanted to add onto my routine.

I started walking early in the morning, before work, now that the sunrise is early! I love getting my morning miles done, coffee in hand, podcast on my beats, enjoying that early sun.

I'll alternate my lunchtime walk - sometimes I run, sometimes I hide. lol. Sometimes I walk. I've been aiming for 18,000-21,000 steps a day, though the challenge requires 5,000/day.

I love switching up my routine for the season. In the winter and spring I focused my lunchtime workout toward strength. In the summer, I just want to play outside!

I'll usually wrap the evening with a sniff walk with the pup and then maybe a mile or so on the treadmill after sunset.

Super 40 year old statement - I prefer running and walking longer distances while wearing my compression socks. Game. Changer.

[secretlifefitpro]

Day 154: A Visit to Glacier Bay, Alaska

We made it to Alaska! I've been dreaming about this trip for the longest time and it's crazy that it came and went.

After some research, we determined that the easiest and most cost effective way to travel to Glacier Bay NP is through a cruise. Princess Cruises and Holland America are the two lines that get the closest to the glaciers/furthest up the bay, so we chose between those two lines.

We ended up with Princess Cruises, mostly because they are the premier line when it comes to Alaska. They did it first and they still do it best.

Not only did we get to visit the National Park, we also made stops in Juneau, Skagway, and Ketchikan.

It was such a delightful trip and gives me all the good vibes for our next trips to Alaska to visit the other parks!

[secretlifefitpro]

Day 153: 5 Benefits of Group Fitness

There are so many benefits to group fitness. I'll be honest: I started getting into fitness to change my body composition and lose weight.

I found that and SO MUCH MORE. There's more to group fitness beyond losing weight.

5 Benefits to Group Fitness:

Community - come alone and you won't be alone too long! Make friends, surround yourself with energy and good vibes

Mental Stimulation - your brain gets LIT UP when we do group fitness. When we add moves to the beat, it intensifies. When we're coordinated and doing similar moves at the same time, it is even better!

Endorphins - The happy, natural, feel-good chemicals. These are stress relievers and pain killers. We get to share that energy!

Fun - It's so hard to have the discipline and accountability to challenge yourself with movement. But in a group? We are surrounded and we get through the challenges together. And it's SUCH a vibe.

Better balance/coordination - this was an unexpected benefit of working out for me. All of a sudden, my core got stronger, my balance and dexterity increased - all from attending group fitness classes.

Group fitness + You = Better Version of You

I add context and deep dive on this week's podcast! Check it out on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts.

[secretlifefitpro]

Day 152: Hiking in Mount Rainier

We're on a mission to visit all 63 National Parks in the United States. Mount Rainier marked #35.

The week before our visit (which is the shoulder season, highly recommend being a shoulder season NP visitor), the park and several of the main trails experienced tons of snow. That's always delightful!

With the proper gear (long sleeves and pants, hat, sunglasses, and crampons) it's so fun to visit a park with fresh snow. We put on our spikes and hiked up the mountain until we couldn't get past without a permit.

I love mountain hiking - the changing temperatures, the vistas, the fresh air - it's intoxicating.

We followed the Skyline Trail route in the Paradise area of the park. After hiking a few miles, we drove toward Reflection Lake, which had just opened for the season. It was difficult (icy) to trek down toward the lake, so we walked around it partially.

Funny enough, we saw on IG later that the road was closed just hours after we hiked because of heightened bear activity.

This made me want to revisit Washington for the other two parks. I love the PNW!

[secretlifefitpro]

Day 151: Now what?

After so many consecutive days blogging about my 40 lessons in 40 years, I'm at a loss for what to post.

So let's chat about it.

I love creating thematic content. I enjoy a nice, creative, little package. The information flows out of me.

Now we're back to business as usual. What's new?

I've just launched the SUMMER 2026 schedule, so I'm working on adjusting to that.

I just returned from a National Parks trip to Mount Rainier and Glacier Bay in Alaska. Alaska! I can write more about those trips...

I'm participating in a walking challenge at work and it's meant to be a competition.

I'm surviving our summer hours at work which means longer days and shorter lunches.

[secretlifefitpro]

Day 150: The Next 40 Years

This feels like the natural evolution of the 40 for 40 series. It's the shift from “what I’ve learned” to “how I want to live.”

These goals are rooted in my lessons, my coaching energy, my fitness background, and the embodiment theme I'm working on this year. Mantra: less pressure, more alignment.

10 Goals for My Next 40 Years

1. Prioritize peace over proving.

I no longer want to spend my energy convincing people of my worth. I want to protect my peace, honor my boundaries, and move through life with confidence rooted in who I am.

2. Continue choosing consistency over perfection.

I want to keep building a life through small, intentional actions instead of waiting for perfect timing, perfect plans, or perfect conditions.

3. Treat my body with gratitude, respect, and care.

I want movement, nourishment, and rest to come from partnership—not punishment.

4. Embody the life I coach others to create.

I want my life to reflect the values, growth, honesty, and alignment I encourage in others.

5. Stay open to evolving.

I want to keep giving myself permission to change, pivot, relearn, and grow without guilt.

6. Protect my energy intentionally.

I want to become even more mindful of what fuels me, what drains me, and who I allow access to my space.

7. Choose joy more often.

I want to stop postponing joy for productivity and allow myself to fully experience the moments, people, and things that light me up.

8. Invest deeply in meaningful work and relationships.

I want to pour into the people, projects, and opportunities that align with my values and purpose.

9. Live with honesty and alignment.

I want my decisions, habits, and routines to reflect the life I say I want—not just the life that feels familiar.

10. Fully embody my next chapter.

I don’t want to simply talk about growth—I want to live it, model it, and move through the next 40 years as the fullest version of myself.

The first 40 years taught me who I've been. The next 40 are about fully becoming who I'm meant to be.

WOD: 2 mile walk, strength and mobility set

[secretlifefitpro]

Day 149: 40 Lessons in 40 Years

Here it is: the complete list of 40 lessons I've learned (and learned and learned) in my first 40 years.

Discipline will carry you when motivation disappears.

You don’t need to rush your becoming.

Consistency beats intensity every time.

You can outgrow versions of yourself without guilt.

Boundaries are a form of self-respect, not rejection.

Confidence is built through action, not waiting.

You don’t need permission to take up space.

Strength looks different in every season.

Progress isn’t always visible—but it’s always happening.

Comparison will rob you of your joy if you let it.

Saying “no” creates space for your “yes.”

You are allowed to change your mind.

Walking is underrated and wildly effective.

Small habits create big transformations.

Not every opportunity is meant for you.

Your energy is your responsibility.

You don’t have to prove your worth—you already have it.

Joy is a choice you can practice daily.

Showing up imperfectly beats not showing up at all.

You can hold gratitude and desire at the same time.

Your environment influences your outcomes—choose it wisely.

You don’t need to have it all figured out to begin.

What you do consistently matters more than what you do occasionally.

Your future is built by your daily decisions.

It’s okay to start over—as many times as needed.

The life you want requires honesty with yourself.

Investing in yourself always pays off.

You are allowed to want more—and go after it.

The most powerful thing you can do is embody the life you’re creating.

Your patterns are not permanent—they’re practiced.

You don’t need fixing—you need reflecting.

The right questions will change your life more than the right answers.

Avoidance delays the life you say you want.

You are not behind—there isn’t one perfect timeline.

Growth happens when you tell yourself the truth.

You can hold yourself accountable with compassion.

Your values are your internal compass—use them.

The version of you you’re becoming requires different choices.

You don’t need to be perfect to be impactful.

You are allowed to honor your capacity without guilt.

[secretlifefitpro]

Day 148: 40 Lessons, Day 40

It's my 40th Birthday!!!!!! Saving the best for last.

You are allowed to honor your capacity without guilt.

I learned the term capacity at my last job that burned me out. Technically, it means the maximum (workmaxxx?) that you can hold or do.

It was introduced to me like this "Your capacity is higher than everyone else on the team, so I'm giving you more to handle." Wait, what?

This made me associate capacity with something negative. But it doesn't have to be.

If you understand your limits, and create boundaries around those, you are honoring your elected capacity and not the expectations of others. You don't have to be guilty for doing this. This is protecting yourself, allowing yourself to show up as the best version of you.

Coaching Question: Where are you overextending yourself and why?

ABOUT THE SERIES

As I step into 40, I’ve been reflecting on the lessons that have shaped me—not just as a fitness professional or coach, but as an individual continuing to grow, evolve, and embody the life she’s creating.

These lessons weren’t learned overnight. They came through experience, challenge, consistency, and a whole lot of self-reflection.

So in honor of this milestone, I’m sharing 40 lessons I’ve learned in 40 years—along with a question for each one, because I don’t just want you to read them…I want you to see yourself in them.

WOD: outdoor hike

[secretlifefitpro]

Day 147: 40 Lessons, Day 39

You don't need to be perfect to be impactful.

Perfection is a myth. There's experienced, there's prepared, there's consistent, there's even adaptable.

Embracing your flaws is how you connect with others. I used to get overly upset if I messed up something, forgot something, had a choreo blunder. But now, I laugh it off and work to make sure I commit to learning it better for next time.

Coaching Question: Where is perfectionism holding you back from making a difference?

ABOUT THE SERIES

As I step into 40, I’ve been reflecting on the lessons that have shaped me—not just as a fitness professional or coach, but as an individual continuing to grow, evolve, and embody the life she’s creating.

These lessons weren’t learned overnight. They came through experience, challenge, consistency, and a whole lot of self-reflection.

So in honor of this milestone, I’m sharing 40 lessons I’ve learned in 40 years—along with a question for each one, because I don’t just want you to read them…I want you to see yourself in them.

WOD: 2 mile walk, strength and mobility workout

[secretlifefitpro]

Day 146: 40 Lessons, Day 38

Avoidance delays the life you say you want.

Avoidance keeps us stuck. It's a protective reaction toward something. It's an aversion to change sometimes.

Sitting with discomfort, working through something, is often the best way to get you to your goal.

The life you want could be on the other side of discomfort. Don't avoid the hard stuff.

Coaching Question: What are you avoiding & what is it costing you?

ABOUT THE SERIES

As I step into 40, I’ve been reflecting on the lessons that have shaped me—not just as a fitness professional or coach, but as an individual continuing to grow, evolve, and embody the life she’s creating.

These lessons weren’t learned overnight. They came through experience, challenge, consistency, and a whole lot of self-reflection.

So in honor of this milestone, I’m sharing 40 lessons I’ve learned in 40 years—along with a question for each one, because I don’t just want you to read them…I want you to see yourself in them.

WOD: 2 mile walk

[secretlifefitpro]

Day 145: 40 Lessons, Day 37

Your patterns are not permanent, they are practiced.

"That's just the way things are" is not a valid reason. You're allowed to change things. Even if it feels impossible.

It's a pattern, not a practice. A practice is malleable, it can change. A pattern feels like sacred, but you have full control of it.

As a fitness professional, I'm a master behavior change specialist. Patterns are behaviors. You can make a change if you go all in.

Coaching Question: What pattern are you ready to interrupt?

ABOUT THE SERIES

As I step into 40, I’ve been reflecting on the lessons that have shaped me—not just as a fitness professional or coach, but as an individual continuing to grow, evolve, and embody the life she’s creating.

These lessons weren’t learned overnight. They came through experience, challenge, consistency, and a whole lot of self-reflection.

So in honor of this milestone, I’m sharing 40 lessons I’ve learned in 40 years—along with a question for each one, because I don’t just want you to read them…I want you to see yourself in them.

WOD: 2 mile walk, Dance Fitness Class, 80s dance class

[secretlifefitpro]

Day 144: 40 Lessons, Day 36

You can hold gratitude and desire at the same time.

Two things can be true at the same time: wanting more and being content.

You're allowed to be so grateful for everything you have now and still want to grow.

I love where my fitness business is at the moment and I'm also anticipating growth in various ways.

I love what's happening now and I'm so grateful for it and I also am excited for what is coming.

Coaching Question: What are you grateful for, and what are you still calling in?

ABOUT THE SERIES

As I step into 40, I’ve been reflecting on the lessons that have shaped me—not just as a fitness professional or coach, but as an individual continuing to grow, evolve, and embody the life she’s creating.

These lessons weren’t learned overnight. They came through experience, challenge, consistency, and a whole lot of self-reflection.

So in honor of this milestone, I’m sharing 40 lessons I’ve learned in 40 years—along with a question for each one, because I don’t just want you to read them…I want you to see yourself in them.

WOD: 2 mile walk, Pilates class, Dance Fitness Class, Line Dance Class

[secretlifefitpro]

Day 143: 40 Lessons, Day 35

Strength looks different in every season.

Being strong can have so many different meanings.

For some, it might be the ability to get out of bed and get off the floor. For others, it might mean adding a certain amount of weight to a movement. And still for others, it might mean making it through a group class.

When I started embracing that strength has seasons, my workouts changed. No longer did I feel like I had to 'go hard or go home' or go 'balls to the wall' for every workout.

My workouts look different now. I don't prioritize the same types of movements in each season. I love that.

Coaching Question: What does strength look like for you right now?

ABOUT THE SERIES

As I step into 40, I’ve been reflecting on the lessons that have shaped me—not just as a fitness professional or coach, but as an individual continuing to grow, evolve, and embody the life she’s creating.

These lessons weren’t learned overnight. They came through experience, challenge, consistency, and a whole lot of self-reflection.

So in honor of this milestone, I’m sharing 40 lessons I’ve learned in 40 years—along with a question for each one, because I don’t just want you to read them…I want you to see yourself in them.

WOD: 2 mile walk

[secretlifefitpro]

Day 142: 40 Lessons, Day 34

Saying no creates space for your yes

I'm a fan of yes - positive creates more opportunities.

But sometimes, NO creates even better opportunities.

You have to decide what your priorities are with your goals. Do you want more opportunities or do you want the right opportunities?

I've found that saying no to 'free' or 'lower cost' opportunities makes space for the right price point for my offerings. It seems like it wouldn't work, and that first 'no' can feel especially hard, but it can be worth it.

Related: if it's not an easy and resounding YES, it's a no.

Coaching Question: What do you need to say in order to honor your priorities?

ABOUT THE SERIES

As I step into 40, I’ve been reflecting on the lessons that have shaped me—not just as a fitness professional or coach, but as an individual continuing to grow, evolve, and embody the life she’s creating.

These lessons weren’t learned overnight. They came through experience, challenge, consistency, and a whole lot of self-reflection.

So in honor of this milestone, I’m sharing 40 lessons I’ve learned in 40 years—along with a question for each one, because I don’t just want you to read them…I want you to see yourself in them.

WOD: outdoor hike

[secretlifefitpro]

Day 141: 40 Lessons, Day 33

The most powerful thing you can do is embody the life you're creating.

Embody is my Word of the Year for 2026! It means to be a living example of something or to include something or make something concrete.

Using this word for the year means I want to exemplify, to live, the life I'm selling in fitness and wellness. Instead of "do as I say, not as I do," I'm working to be the living proof of my programming.

High energy vibes paired with consistent strength training, daily walking and mobility training, and mindful nourishment.

That's what we're going for this year.

Coaching Question: What would it look like to live as your next-level self today?

ABOUT THE SERIES

As I step into 40, I’ve been reflecting on the lessons that have shaped me—not just as a fitness professional or coach, but as an individual continuing to grow, evolve, and embody the life she’s creating.

These lessons weren’t learned overnight. They came through experience, challenge, consistency, and a whole lot of self-reflection.

So in honor of this milestone, I’m sharing 40 lessons I’ve learned in 40 years—along with a question for each one, because I don’t just want you to read them…I want you to see yourself in them.

WOD: 2 mile outdoor walk

[secretlifefitpro]

Day 140: 40 Lessons, Day 32

The version of you that you're becoming requires different choices.

If you are at Point A and want to get to Point B, something has to change.

Usually, it's something in your daily life. Even the smallest daily decisions can compound and move you toward something different.

For example, if you wanted to move more and be more mobile in general, that's something to work on every single day. Eventually, all the daily movement will equal better overall mobility.

Different choices = different results = new version of you.

Coaching Question: What choice would your future self make here?

ABOUT THE SERIES

As I step into 40, I’ve been reflecting on the lessons that have shaped me—not just as a fitness professional or coach, but as an individual continuing to grow, evolve, and embody the life she’s creating.

These lessons weren’t learned overnight. They came through experience, challenge, consistency, and a whole lot of self-reflection.

So in honor of this milestone, I’m sharing 40 lessons I’ve learned in 40 years—along with a question for each one, because I don’t just want you to read them…I want you to see yourself in them.

WOD: 2 mile outdoor walk

[secretlifefitpro]

Day 139: 40 Lessons, Day 31

Your values are your internal compass; use them.

Values are like Coaching 101. It's often the first session I'll have with a new coaching client.

Here's why.

Your values are the compass and guidebook to everything else. We have a coaching activity that articulates 3 core values.

My values are creativity, flexibility, and energy.

Anything that doesn't align with those values? Out.

Caveat: something might look like it doesn't align with those values, but I understand that it's a stepping stone, a way to get me toward those values.

Only you know your values and it's up to you to align toward them.

Coaching Question: Are your current choices aligned with your values?

ABOUT THE SERIES

As I step into 40, I’ve been reflecting on the lessons that have shaped me—not just as a fitness professional or coach, but as an individual continuing to grow, evolve, and embody the life she’s creating.

These lessons weren’t learned overnight. They came through experience, challenge, consistency, and a whole lot of self-reflection.

So in honor of this milestone, I’m sharing 40 lessons I’ve learned in 40 years—along with a question for each one, because I don’t just want you to read them…I want you to see yourself in them.

WOD: 2 mile outdoor walk, 1 mile run, 45 min bootcamp class