Each month we like to put one member in the limelight so that more people can grow familiar with the spectacular individuals that make up our communities at both the Yakima Athletic Club and YAC Fitness.
Some have gone through tremendous transformations, some are in the middle of their transformations, and some are simply hard working individuals who may inspire more people, to get more active, more often!
Read about our February Member of the Month for YAC Fitness: Alexandra Marshall!
Where did you grow up/ go to school?
I grew up in Yakima, Washington and attended Eisenhower High School. I am currently attending Central Washington University for a degree in Clinical Physiology for Pre- Physical Therapy.
What is your favorite style of training?
My favorite style of training is weight lifting, specifically for muscle growth and physique. I also like to do some Olympic lifts occasionally, just for fun!
How often do you work out per week?
I work out 4-5 days per week.
In your opinion what is the biggest benefit of exercising?
By far the biggest benefit of exercising is the mental clarity I gain from it. If I have a rough day, I always know that I can go to the gym and forget about everything that happened. Exercise has become a form of therapy/ medicine for me. Another benefit is that I am able to live a healthy and happy life. Before I lost weight and adopted this lifestyle, I was unable to do a lot of physical activities with family and friends. I was also very unhappy with my appearance, and exercising has boosted my confidence 110%.
What was your intended goal when you first joined?
I’ve been an active member of the athletic club since I was 13. My mom was a fitness instructor, so I would take her classes all through middle and high school after any sports practices. After my first year of college I gained ~40lbs and moved back home for a year. My intent had changed a lot since I had first joined at age 13. At 18 years old my only goal was to lose the weight that I had gained so that I could be more comfortable in my skin.
What advice would you give to someone who recently joined/ someone who has similar goals to yours?
The best advice I can ever give anyone is to never give up. It took me 3 months to start losing any noticeable weight, and if I had given up half way through, then I wouldn’t have reached my goals. Stay consistent, stay determined, and stay disciplined. It became a mental game where I would have to constantly tell myself that someday I would be glad I never gave up.
What obstacles did you have to overcome along your journey?
Through my journey the biggest obstacle has been to find a balance. It is easy to become obsessive over every little thing that pertains to fitness/ goals. If I missed the gym I felt bad, if I ate something unhealthy, I felt bad, if I looked in the mirror and didn’t see the progress I wanted, I felt bad. I’ve learned that it’s okay to let life happen sometimes, as long as I live a healthy lifestyle for the most part.
What was your proudest moment/accomplishment/breakthrough during your journey?
My hugest accomplishment through my journey was losing weight. My start weight was 190lbs and my current weight is 145lbs. I also had a huge career breakthrough. Through fitness I found my true passion in understanding the human anatomy and physiology and pursuing a career that embodies it. This year I took my love for fitness a step further and became certified as a personal trainer and get to share my knowledge and love for fitness as a PT at Central Washington University. I value everything that the human body is capable of, and if I never made the decision to change my lifestyle, I would be going down a completely different career path.
If anything, in what ways have we here at YAC Fit helped you to get this far?
YAC Fit became my second home. It was the one place where I felt like I could be myself. I befriended members and staff alike and looked forward to going every day. YAC Fit is where it all started, it will always be my home and hold a special place very close to my heart.