Erica Hildenbrand

Hi! I'm Erica, commonly known as Chopz around the Relentless Studio. I heard about Relentless Fitness through one of my best friends who knew Roger from college, and separately from another great friend you may have heard of, Jenn Siegel.

After thinking about it and thinking about it...and thinking about it some more, I finally called Roger in the Fall of 2009. To be exact, our first session was on October 15th in Washington Square Park. I remember it well because we were both at the mutual friend's wedding the next day, and I was definitely feeling the burn from that workout! I also remember sweat dripping onto the sidewalk while I did a plank. I felt bad-ass.

I thought "this is finally happening."

Why the Transformation?

I grew up with excercise and fitness in my life: first ballet, and around age 10, I started figure skating competitvely on a synchronized skating team. My father was always jogging, skiing, jump roping, or doing yoga. We hiked regularly on trips to our family lakehouse in the Adirondack Mountains of New York. I went to a summer wilderness camp where we canoed, swam, and hiked daily. I always considered myself an athlete. I truly enjoy sweating.

Yet somewhere around the end of high school and into college, I stopped listening to my body. I still considered myself physically active, but I was slowly and surely gaining weight. I lost self confidence and only gained it with the help of lots of beer at parties, or by making my friends laugh to distract them from my pain. I was also fooling myself; I got so good at it that I had no idea how unhappy I had become. For another several years, I continued this way. But I FINALLY got tired of using the phrase "once I lose weight, I'll do (insert any statement here)."

I was ready to ask for help. I am so happy and so lucky I did. In Roger (this really goes for the entire Relentless Community of staff and clients) I found someone I could drop my ego around, and admit that I was really unhappy with my body--something I had always been too proud to do. It did take a little while to develop complete trust--as does any relationship--and once we did, things really changed. With the physical strength I've gained, I have grown a great deal emotionally. I finally started setting goals, tackling the obstacles holding me back, and finding new and exciting challenges. My biggest accomplishment yet has been getting certified as a fitness instructor. Now I'm encouraging my very own group of people who look to me for support, strength, and a killer workout.

How would you describe your set of accomplishments/changes?

I would describe my accomplishments as ever-growing. I am getting stronger, leaner, and feeling happier with every day, even though my Transformation period is over. The changes were physical at first with strength gains and weight loss, but translated into mental strength--the ability to say no to choices that I knew would not help me achieve goals.

Compare/contrast life after the Transformation to life before it.

I'm able to say no to people and things that I could not before. I am motivated and I am confident. Before, I was trapped in a cycle of working out so hard, not seeing results, and not seeing the bigger picture of how fitness, nutrition, and rest all went hand in hand. Now I cook all the time instead of buying food to go, and I pay attention to and enjoy the foods I eat. I would say the most general way to put it is that I was unaware before, and now I'm aware. I feel awake for the first time and able to change my life.

"I have honestly never been happier, and it feels great."

What would you say to someone considering the experience?

Here's my advice, if you want it: I know how hard it can be to face the facts when it comes to your body and how you feel about it--to lie to yourself and others about how happy you are, and to try to change it alone. You have to let go and ask for help. It might be embarrassing to admit you want to change, and your friends might not be supportive at first.

"But there is no shame in wanting to be strong, to live better and to strive for something more."

Stop punishing yourself with negative thoughts and forgive yourself for all the times you ate too much or didn't go to the gym. Go get it!!!