Personal Trainer

They call me Mega…

Now, after many successful years of working out correctly, eating correctly, competing in fitness, becoming a personal trainer and highly respected group fitness instructor, and learning my profession first hand, I now possess the body I always wanted and I am an efficient and healthy machine.

One day, right in the middle of a class, the BODYPUMP Instructor that had talked me into going to Instructor training myself popped a microphone on my head for the first time. There I was, face to face with 55 dedicated BodyPumpers, dedicated to her, not to me. I watched a look of disgust pass through the crowd and I could actually hear what they were thinking: “Oh great, a newbie, she’s probably going to suck at this!” For a split second, I was in agreement with them. What was going on in my head? “Sink or swim Reilly, what’s it going to be? You’re going to have to do this. No fear. You can do this; you can do this…say something funny.” Somehow I pulled my tongue back up from my stomach and squeaked my way through the lunge track. The initial shock of hearing my voice through a microphone almost made me pass out, and I was fairly certain that I had peed myself, just a little.

Five minutes later, a small victory. I wasn’t great, but I wasn’t bad either. They even clapped after the track was over. That was a defining moment. I had to suck it up and do my thing, I couldn’t run out of the room, I couldn’t put it off till tomorrow, I couldn’t make an excuse to hold myself back from something I really wanted. What I really wanted, that day and every day since, was to be the best Instructor. I had to start right then, right there. That was the day Mega was born.

Teaching Group Fitness and becoming a Personal Trainer changed my life. Confidence. That is what I want for my RatZZ. It comes from camaraderie, strength in numbers, but it also comes from a place deep inside of you. Motivate and be motivated, look around the room and feel what your neighbor is feeling, empathize, then push yourself harder to make them push harder. It comes from needing that extra push from a coach that you are accountable to. Personal training is just that– one on one guidance that will ensure you don’t fail.

I’m not going to lie to you—working out kind of sucks, doesn’t it? You sweat, you’re hot, you can’t breathe, you don’t look your best, and you might even be in pain. Why would anyone want to put themselves through that?  Most people show up at the gym because they know they should. They heard on the news that they will live longer, look better maybe. There are probably some extra pounds to be lost…a little excess weight around the middle. These people are feeling lazy, angry at themselves and remembering the “good old days” when they were lean and mean and could eat anything.

I see these people. They show up in my class and in my Studio. Apprehension and fear in their eyes. I have one chance to hook them—to win them over—to distract them from the sweat, the out-of-breath feeling, the heat, the self-consciousness that is surely distracting them. I have one chance to get them invested in their fitness.

“Get through this…I think I can, I think I can.” I can see it on their faces, that combo of love and hate.
My job is to keep pushing. I will lead you there, and when you think you have given me all you’ve got, I will ask for a little bit more. Build it up. Get stronger. Hold your head up higher. Know that you can do it, believe it, and watch your body change. Confidence. Goodbye oversized T-shirt, hello healthy body!

The best day of your life is the day on which you decide your life is your own.

GYMRATZZ are committed to a healthy lifestyle.
GYMRATZZ support other GYMRATZZ to achieve their goals.
GYMRATZZ don’t cry; we are grateful to have able bodies and use them.
GYMRATZZ love push-ups. When in doubt, knock out 20!
GYMRATZZ never give up. Never, Ever, Ever.

As a GYMRAT:  You will work hard, you will fight to find the body you want, you will succeed, and you will change your life!

Most people who fail in pursuit of their goals do not fail from lack of ability, but rather from lack of commitment. You can create the body you want. You can look any way you want. Believe in yourself and all that you are. Visualize how you will look and how you will feel after one month, three months, and one year. We are talking about a lifestyle change!