Where are they now?
Check-in on past Fit For Life challengers and their continuing health journies!
The Fit for Life Challenge this year was such an incredible experience!
We went into it during a global pandemic, and in unprecedented times, we took an unprecedented approach. Having 11 amazing participants was a unique spin for Orangetheory, and I couldn’t imagine it any other way. Meeting the participants, getting to know them, watching their growth was inspiring.
It’s a blessing as a personal trainer watching strangers dive headfirst into a fitness regimen, starting cautiously, and then immersing into the culture we offer, becoming members of our Orange community as if they had been there for years. Every participant worked incredibly hard; even as we faced varying restrictions, they held strong!
The top three participants are incredibly deserving of their placing, but the positive attitudes, connections and determination of each challenger didn’t make the final decision easy. I’m excited for a future of coaching that includes all of the wonderful people I’ve met on this journey, and I’m eager for the next challenge!
Rochelle Court, head coach, Orangetheory Fitness
They met the challenge
Jody Zachary WINNER! 
In 2019 after a complete ACL tear of my left knee I went from living a very active lifestyle into a full-time homebody, with little to no exercise or motivation to exercise. This resulted in the extra pounds piling on. Being unable to participate in the things I once enjoyed, combined with months of recovery from knee surgery, I fell into a deep depression and weighed the heaviest I’d ever been. My breaking point and wake-up call came when I no longer felt comfortable within my own skin combined with the scale being only a few pounds shy of 200.
I would have to say the hardest part for me throughout this whole competition was submitting my application. Knowing my measurements, pictures and weight would be public scared the bejeebies out of me. Looking back, I can’t believe I considered allowing fear
to win and preventing this journey before it even had a chance to start.
The Orangetheory coaches Rochelle and Jacqueline were truly amazing throughout the whole process, always right there supporting, motivating and encouraging me throughout every step, pushing me to be a better version of myself each and every day.
Dana at Simply For Life was truly amazing, even when she took away my carbs. She’s extremely knowledgeable, easy to talk to, always there to provide alternatives when needed (#fakecarbs). She always took the time to explain everything thoroughly, ensuring I understood each week’s food plan.
Thank you for Orangetheory and Simply For Life and for selecting me as a candidate to participate in this amazing opportunity. I will be forever grateful. Not only was I able to achieve my weight-loss goal, but I also gained strength and endurance and, most importantly, regained my self-confidence.
Tera Grocholski
The workouts at Orangetheory Fitness were challenging and the coaches were encouraging. I must not have been pushing myself very hard when I worked out before because I don’t think I have ever sweated so much in my whole life. I am so surprised with how much progress I made during this challenge.
Dayna was my nutrition coach with Simply For Life. She tailored meals based on my medical history and my diet preferences. (I am pescatarian.) I love the recipes that she provided and I learned so much about my health and why I needed to choose certain types of food to fulfill my nutritional needs. I am sure that fixing my diet is what has led to a complete reset of my hormones. I have actually been able to put my hysterectomy on hold because I am no longer suffering from extreme menstrual cycles. I never expected that this would happen just from changing how I eat. I am so grateful to Dayna for her guidance in my journey.
My life has improved in so many unexpected ways just from joining this challenge. I encourage others to reach out and use these resources that we are lucky to have in Airdrie.
Michelle Turner
The challenge has been filled with ups and downs. Dana taught me that weight loss isn’t linear and that’s okay! At the beginning, I realized just how out of shape I was and how much of an impact on my physical well-being Hashimoto’s disease really had on my body. Everyone at Orangetheory was always so supportive and cheerful that it really made it easy to show up and do my best!
I discovered that by making the choice to remain positive even when the scale wasn’t showing my hard work really helped me to not revert back to the bad habit of self-sabotaging my progress.
My advice to others is to remember to be kind to yourself! Find yourself a cheerleader or a team of cheerleaders to help keep you motivated when you just can’t do it alone.
Follow the challengers’ entire journey below
