Fox Fitness Member Spotlight: April Wilder

Erik Rokeach:  Hey, I’m Erik Rokeach. Today, I’m here with another amazing, amazing member of Fox Fitness, and this is April Wilder. As we’re talking, she’s only been here a short time, been here for about four months, and in those four months, she’s seen some really, really great results, and she’s here to talk about her experience and talk about those results. April, thank you so much for taking the time to come on and share your story. I appreciate it.

April Wilder: Thank you.

Erik Rokeach:  Okay, so let’s jump back. Let’s talk, let’s say, five months ago, right? Let’s talk about that month before you signed up. Share with us where you were at like what was the big thing, the big struggle, issue you were having that you wanted to overcome?

April Wilder:  I was just very unhealthy. I did nothing but go to work, come home, and sit. I felt awful. I had no energy. All I want to do was sleep, so I decided I needed to do something.

Erik Rokeach: Okay. Was there something that triggered that? You’re coming home. Was there a moment that you said, “Okay. Now is the time I actually want to do this?”

April Wilder: No, not really. I just decided that it was time. I have two boys that are both in college now. It’s time to take care of me.

Erik Rokeach:  Okay, so it was “you time?” Okay, so you decided to take care of you, right? There’s a lot of places, there’s a lot of options to train, work out, trainers, all this stuff. What was it about Fox Fitness that drew you and you said, “This actually feels like it would be the best option for me?”

April Wilder:  Actually, I’ve seen a Facebook post of Fox Fitness, and I did a little research on it, and it geared towards women of my age. When you’re overweight and you’re a little self-conscious, you don’t want to go to a gym where there’s a bunch of people watching you. It just felt right, so I sent Becky a message, and she immediately contacted me, and talked to me, and made me feel like this is the place I needed to be.

Erik Rokeach:  Okay, so very comfortable right off the bat?

April Wilder: Oh, definitely.

Erik Rokeach: Now, I’m guessing, right? You probably were a little nervous going in for those first workouts, right?

April Wilder: Oh, definitely. Yeah.

Erik Rokeach: Okay. Now, obviously, as you mentioned, you weren’t doing much, so obviously, there’s exercises that you probably weren’t sure if you were going to be able to do, so did they have ways to get you and ease you into that, and have modifications if there were certain things you weren’t able to do when you were starting out?

April Wilder: Yes. She makes sure that no matter what level you’re at in your exercise program that she develops something so that you can still participate. Burpees is a big one. I still can’t do a complete burpee, but I did the best that I can, and as long as you keep moving and doing your best, it still helps.

Erik Rokeach: Okay, so you’re working along through that. Now, we’ll talk about results in a second, but what I’m curious to know is … A lot of people can go in any gym or any place, and they just go in and out. They do their workouts, but I’m curious to know what the atmosphere is like actually training there, so can you fill us in with that?

April Wilder: It’s like a bunch of girlfriends hanging out together. The first time I went in, of course, I didn’t know anyone. It’s hard to do things on your own, but they welcomed me with open arms. They made me feel like I’ve known them forever.

Erik Rokeach: It’s like a community?

April Wilder: It is. Definitely.

Erik Rokeach: Would you say it’s a family?

April Wilder: Yes, I would.

Erik Rokeach: Okay, so with it being a community and that family, that I’m guessing allows it to be … and correct me if I’m wrong. It’s a support group. It’s a support structure. In a way, it holds you accountable, but it also helps push you forward?

April Wilder: Yes.

Erik Rokeach: Okay.

April Wilder: You also become friends with these ladies and develop relationships with them, and then you want to hang out with them outside of the fitness classes.

Erik Rokeach: Do you notice if you don’t go or for some reason, you have to miss an appointment, do you start feeling like you’re missing it?

April Wilder: Oh, definitely. In fact, I had to miss it just the other night because I thought I was getting sick, and so I decided to stay home just to rest a little bit, and I felt guilty because I didn’t go, but I knew that I needed my body to rest, so I just got up the next day and made sure I made it to that class.

Erik Rokeach:  Okay, and it sounds like, right, training is training where you go to work. You’re going to put in some effort. It can be challenging at times, but it sounds like you’re having fun with it.

April Wilder: I am. I’m having a blast actually.

Erik Rokeach: Okay.

April Wilder: I don’t think that I would ever enjoy exercising, but when I miss it, when I miss a class, I really … I can feel that I miss it.

Erik Rokeach: Okay. All right, so now, that’s a big part of it, right, in motivating you, having that atmosphere, that support group, the people that are becoming friends. What about the result side of it? What have you seen? In these short four month, what types of results have we seen?

April Wilder: The biggest result I’ve seen is I’ve lost about 18 pounds.

Erik Rokeach: Wow.

April Wilder: I never thought that I would lose that amount of weight in this short time. I’ve lost probably five or six inches.

Erik Rokeach: Okay. Okay, so you lost 18 pounds, five or six inches. That’s a big deal in a short period of time, so just that alone, before we begin to other stuff, how does that make you feel?

April Wilder: It makes me feel awesome. It makes me want to keep going and work even harder so that I can reach my ultimate goal.

Erik Rokeach: Okay. Now, with the weight loss and with the inches, all that stuff, there’s always side benefits of it. What else have you noticed? Have you noticed things along the lines of energy or things like that? Has that stuff improved?

April Wilder: Oh, definitely. Of course, my clothes are fitting better. I don’t feel like I’m stuffing myself into my pants anymore. I get home. I don’t want to just sit down in bed. I start doing other things. I love to do crafts. I love to bake, so I’ve started back doing the things that I really love to do.

Erik Rokeach: Would you say in a way, it’s giving you your life back?

April Wilder:  Oh, definitely. Definitely.

Erik Rokeach: How about, let’s say, stress, right? Sometimes, during the day, we have some stressful moments and days. Have you noticed that’s been easier to handle?

April Wilder:  Yes, and if you do have a stressful day and you go and work out, you relieve yourself off it, so it makes you feel even better.

Erik Rokeach: Okay, and sleeping. Are you sleeping any better?

April Wilder: Yes. I’ve always had a really hard time sleeping. I’m waking up multiple times during the night. After a good workout, you’re tired. You’re ready to go to sleep and sleeping much better through the time.

Erik Rokeach: Okay, and I’m guessing too, right? You’ve had the physical changes. You have, right, right, some of the emotional changes. The stress levels are down. Things like that. Have other people noticed? Have they seen this difference in you?

April Wilder: Yes. Everybody at work has noticed that I’m a lot more lively and that … They can tell that I feel better.

Erik Rokeach: That’s cool. Family. Have they noticed?

April Wilder: My family? Oh, yeah. Yeah. I don’t see my oldest son a lot because he’s away at college, and he came home for Thanksgiving, and he was amazed by how much weight I’ve lost. It felt good.

Erik Rokeach: Yeah. I was going to say it’s got to make you feel amazing.

April Wilder: Yeah.

Erik Rokeach:  That’s really cool. That’s really cool. You have had these results where you’ve got the support of community. Let’s say … Right? Let’s say someone maybe in similar situation where you were, and they’re looking for a place, but they’re confused or they’re not sure. They come across Fox Fitness, and they hear the story, and they’re still 50-50. What would you want to tell that person? Maybe push them off the fence and let them know this is a good option for them.

April Wilder: I would tell them, “Just try it. You can try it for six weeks and see if this is what you want or if this is the place that you need to be. You’ll know as soon as you start working out and being around all these ladies. They make you feel great. They include you in everything. Just try it.”

Erik Rokeach:  Okay. Would you go as far as to say this has been life-changing for you?

April Wilder: Yes, I would. Like I said, before, all I did was come home and sit, and I was getting to be very unhappy with just everything. I think this turned my life around.

Erik Rokeach: Okay. Now, to the last question. Since it has been life-changing for you, let’s say, right now, Becky is deciding to close the place down, close the door, turn off phone, email, all that stuff, and this is the last time that you could ever say anything to her. Knowing it’s the last time, what would you want to say?

April Wilder: I would tell her, “Thank you. Thank you for changing my life. Thank you for giving me back my life.”

Erik Rokeach: Very cool. Very cool. April, thank you for coming in, sharing your story, sharing the results. It’s been amazing just right in four months what you’ve been able to do, and I know you’re just going to have continuous success moving forward, and I want to wish you the best of luck.

April Wilder: Thank you so much. I appreciate it.

Erik Rokeach: All right. You take care.

April Wilder: All right.