Elizabeth Mamerow Success Story

I remember the first phone call I had with Liz.  She was frustrated from a knee injury that was holding her back from doing the things she once loved doing.  But instead of throwing the towel in, Liz sought out help at Wild Workouts and Wellness.  After her consultation Liz started with our boot camp program.  The encouragement of the other clients helped her get over the hurdle of feeling self conscious.  After a few weeks of workouts her knee pain gradually decreased.  And now that knee pain is history.  With the knee pain gone, her confidence increase to try running again.  Liz did Run Wild and this year ran her first 10K race!

Along the way, Liz shed over 20 pounds.  She is conscious about what she eats and how food makes her feel.  After battling anxiety and panic disorders, Liz found that she no longer has to battle because she has found the best remedy – her workouts.

We are so proud of Liz and all she has accomplished.  We asked Liz a few questions about her journey at Wild Workouts and Wellness and here is what she had to say.

What made you decide you wanted/needed to start a program?

I had always been an athlete growing up, but when I had torn my ACL three times by the time I was 18, I had practically given up on being active altogether.  I stayed on the couch for over 10 years! But when a close friend of mine started working out with a personal trainer and being so enthusiastic about the strength she was gaining and weight she was losing, I decided to stop being afraid of reinjuring and start rebuilding the muscle to prevent it.  Plus, I had to be honest with myself, I was at my heaviest weight and the older I got, the harder it was to get rid of it.

What results have you achieved since starting your program?

I’ve lost over 20 lbs, but frankly, losing the weight feels like the smallest of my accomplishments.  I have built up the necessary muscles to support my knee and now feel comfortable running, jumping, hiking, dancing—all things I had avoided due to fear and pain.  My self-body image has done a complete 180° and now I focus on how strong and healthy I feel as opposed to comparing myself to the Hollywood Standard. In my world, fit is the new skinny and I’ve learned to appreciate (and enjoy!) the hard work it takes to get fit.  I’ve unintentionally begun eating much healthier, not only because of the nutritional support offered at WILD, but also because I’ve made a bunch of friends at WILD who make healthy eating a priority in their own lives.  It’s contagious. Finally, and most importantly to me, making exercise a routine in my life has radically improved my mental health.  I have an anxiety-panic disorder that can cripple my ability to work and socialize.  Since I’ve introduced exercise back into my life, I haven’t had a panic attack in over 2 years.  Nothing clears my head better than a good workout.

What do you like best about our program/having a trainer?

Working with a trainer is invaluable to me.  First, I like not having to decide what to do in order to get a good workout.  The trainers at WILD come prepared with workouts they’ve written and all I have to do is follow instructions.  Second, I feel safer knowing that the trainers are always making sure my form is correct so I don’t injure myself. Third, in the event that I do tweak something/feel extra sore/develop a running blister, WILD trainers have always given me expert advice on how to recover faster. Fourth, the trainers make me set goals for myself. I never understood how valuable this could be until I started actually meeting the goals I set.  The feeling of rising to the occasion is intoxicating and makes me want to try even harder.  Finally, each of the WILD trainers has their own training style and flair. Switching up the motivational tactics really helps things stay fresh and helps me perform.

What would you say to someone on the fence about joining our program?

Do not let fear prevent you from kicking butt! As someone who is incredibly self-conscience and self-aware, I can honestly say that there is no culture of judgment at WILD, just a supportive team environment.  I find the other WILD members to be just as good at motivating me, challenging me and holding me accountable as the WILD staff! I used to scoff at people who had a “gym family” but now the social and supportive aspects of WILD keep me coming back time after time.  Most importantly, you are not intrinsically different than me or anyone else here at WILD! Our bodies aren’t special, we don’t have more will power or a higher pain threshold or naturally greater mental strength.  Getting through the workouts and pushing through to the next level is a practiced skill. Come practice with us! Shared success, just like shared pain, is a very powerful thing.  I’ll help you get there. We all will!

Liz’s future goals include doing an obstacle course race and running a half marathon. Congratulations to Liz on all her success!