How Working Out 4 Days a Week and Eating Less Salt Totally Changed My Body
One Philadelphian shares her journey to become stronger and more confident.
Part of Morgan Fitzpatrick’s transformation included learning how eating less salt affected her body. Photographs courtesy Morgan Fitzpatrick
Changing your body takes hard work, persistence, and dedication. Here’s one local’s story. Want to share your Transformation Story? Email ccunningham@phillymag.com.
Who: Morgan Fitzpatrick, 29, a hair stylist at HeadHouse Salon from Bella Vista
Why I wanted to make a change: “I’ve always struggled with my weight and exercising. I love taking classes, but on my own I wasn’t confident going to the gym. I’ve tried all different diets. Finally, it was a week before my birthday this past June, and I was like, That’s it, I want to make a permanent change, and I need help. So I contacted trainer Carly Rubenstein from there!”
Height: 5’6″
Starting weight: 193
Current weight: 164
What else changed: “I’m definitely happier and more confident. It’s a great feeling when the first outfit you try on just works perfectly. I’m way stronger too! I was doing an at-home TRX workout the other day and my husband was getting ready to leave for work and as he left he said, ‘Those are some impressive push ups you have there Moe.’ I can do push ups, and that was definitely not a thing before meeting Carly. I stand all day, at work, and it’s important to keep my body strong and healthy.”
How I changed my diet: “I don’t eat starches and try to keep my dairy low. I noticed I bloat really easily, and I have a strong sensitivity to salt. If I eat something salty, I immediately feel my fingers swell. I eat a lot of lean protein and veggies. I like to meal prep now, and I’ll make a ton of vegetables to have with lunches and dinners for the week.”
How I changed my workout plan: “I exercise at least four times a week, sometimes five. I would love to get where I do something everyday, even if it’s just stretching, because I always feel so much better after I exercise. I train with Carly two times a week, where she kicks my butt! The very first session, I nearly died and she had to take it slow with me. That’s the great thing about Carly; she knows when to push you or when maybe you need a minute. We have never done the same workout twice, and she is always switching it up. I do have a TRX at home, so I like to do that two times a week and I run a few times a week too, anywhere from three to six miles is usually my go-to.”
“We all have the fire inside us to change, you just need to light it!”
The hardest part: “The hardest part for me is food. I think I will always struggle with that, but now I’m more aware of how certain foods affect my body. I’m not crazy and going to deprive myself, but I’m going to make healthy choices.”
What I’m most proud of: “I think I’m most proud of the fact that I’ve stuck with it, because it’s a part of who I am now.”
What I want everyone to know: “I want people to take away that you truly can do it. You just need to take that first step, and it may be hard and sometimes you feel like giving up, but you just can’t. You need to tell yourself it’s okay and not beat yourself up if you have a crummy work out or ate a cookie. We all have the fire inside us to change, you just need to light it!”
Let’s get social! Join Be Well Philly at:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | NEWSLETTER | TWITTER
