Real WomeN, Real Life.
Resources and Inspiration for Women Who Inspire Us
Real women. Real life.
Meet “Her.”
We have so many incredible women in our DropGym community. So many stories, so many victories. We have seen their good, their bad, their struggles and their breakthroughs. We’ve celebrated them on their best days and supported them on their toughest ones. We present to you Real Women. Real Life. “Meet Her.”—a series highlighting one woman each month from our Dropgym community. She gets a little dolled up, meets us at the gym for a photoshoot, and answers some fun and meaningful questions. It’s not always easy to allow ourselves to be seen, but each one of them is so beautiful and courageous, and we are so inspired by them.
What’s the bravest thing you’ve ever done?
A 17-mile bike ride around a lake when I was 6 months pregnant. I wasn’t sure I could do it and I don’t know where the energy came from, but I did it.
What’s the bravest thing you’ve ever done?
A 17-mile bike ride around a lake when I was 6 months pregnant. I wasn’t sure I could do it and I don’t know where the energy came from, but I did it.
What is the bravest thing you've ever done?
In the fall of 2019, I walked a really popular trail in Spain called The Camino de Santiago. It's a 500 mile trail that starts in France and ends in Spain. I had never traveled abroad before, and I was planning on going alone. It felt like it had always been a part of the plan, and there was no other option for me but to go and walk. I had some people in my life that were doubtful of not only my decision but in my ability - it felt harder to stand in my decision during the period of time before I had left, versus when I was abroad and actually doing the thing. The trail gave me everything it had, but gave me everything I needed. It is my proudest accomplishment to this day, even more than school and degrees.
What’s the bravest thing you’ve ever done?
On January 29th 2020 I started weaning myself from antidepressants. I did not know what this last year would bring as I think I might have chickened out as Covid has been so hard to deal with and then we have had another horrific event with the loss of my Grandson Caleb, who was just 19. I have always been one to mask pain. Even as a little girl, I remember taking paregoric and actually becoming addicted to it, then later addiction to things like Excedrin, diet soda, eating, smoking, stuff (just buying stuff) that I didn’t really need or have a use for. One of the biggest and hardest for me to admit was meth. The thing I learned they all have in common, whether it be an addiction to buying things or taking things that are harmful to you and your loved ones, is that they were coming from a void I was trying to fill: the pain I had felt as a small child, which I was determined to cover up. The shame that I felt and for that I would spend most of my years punishing myself.
One day something hit me and things started to surface. My anti-depressants were just another thing that I felt I had been doing that needed to go away to be able to feel things in this journey since I joined Camp 17 (DropGym). I wanted to feel this time and didn’t want it to be masked by these pills that were just a normal for me. Today I have hope and it is a healthier way of doing things than I have ever done before. It took 50 plus years to build all these layers so I know this will take some time. I am a survivor this I know and I look forward to the years ahead of me today.
What’s your favorite movement? Is there a movement in the gym that has spoken to you or changed how you approach your life?
Sandbag clean and press and punching the bag - my two favorite things to do in the gym. Jumping on the big box - that freaked me out and I didn’t believe I could do it. With the encouragement of a friend, I did it and was so blown away. It taught me that even though things look hard or even impossible, I can’t let fear stop me.
What originally drew you to join Camp17?
I was at a pretty low point about 3 years ago. I was in the “diet, gym, binge, berate, belittle, repeat” cycle. I had been living in survival mode for too long. A friend signed up for Camp17 and told me I had better not leave her hanging! The connections have kept me coming back. I’ve never been anywhere, outside of my own house, where I feel like I belong.
Resources & Inspiration
Want to run farther, but don’t know where to start? You can do it! Here are some important tips along with a free running calendar to help you reach your goals.
Inside is a simple, free guide to encourage and remind you of ways to take care of you. It’s filled with tips to boost your immunity and enjoy being alive, especially when things feel scary.
What Women Are Saying
I am very different than I was six months ago. I no longer feel like I’m hauling weight—instead, I’m pushing forward into the future with my whole heart. I feel incredible power. I am learning to trust myself and my body.
After just a few short months, I feel so much more engaged in my own life. I’m shedding weight and my period is regular for the first time in my life without any medications.
