Sonki Fitness - All-Star (Jessica Racioppo)

How long have you been working out?

I have had stints of working out since college, including running, kick-boxing and ballet classes. I’ve been taking Sonki Fitness classes consistently for a year and a half.

What is your current exercise routine?

I attend Sonki Fitness Boot Camp three days a week in Westwood. My weekends are usually spent doing something outside (riding my bike and hiking).

What is your motivation to stay in shape?

I am motivated by the change I have experienced since joining Boot Camp - I look and feel so much better than I ever have and that keeps me motivated to stick with it. Also, I love to eat, and I love being able to eat most of what I want (in moderation of course) because I am working it off.

What is your greatest challenge to staying in shape?

My greatest challenge is mental - on the days that I feel too tired or stressed out (or Boot Camp days when it’s rainy and cold outside), I struggle with getting out of bed to work out. But once I get past that and show up, I have realized that those end up being the best days to get out there because it makes me feel so good when I’m done. The days I feel the worst tend to be the days I need it the most - it’s just getting over that initial mental hurdle. And if I’m ever in a bad mood, the easiest cure is working out.

What is your key to success?

I would say the biggest key to my success was signing up for a program that required me to make an appointment to work out a few times a week. As simple as it sounds, showing up to work out is half of the battle. The second half is fear. When I first started Boot Camp, I struggled with the fear of not being able to do it - like getting in shape was such a monumental task, it would physically be impossible for me to do. I adopted the method of taking it one day and one step at at time, and I have been using that method ever since. Each time I go to work out, I make a point of staying in the moment and mentally focusing on the physical task at hand (like a minute of push-ups or getting to the top of a switchback when hiking), rather than thinking about the fact that I have an hour of class ahead of me or 5 miles until I get to the top of the mountain. While I’m focusing on the task, I really try to concentrate on form and how I feel - if I feel like I can push myself harder, I do. If I feel like I am pushing hard enough or need to take a break, I do. This method has really worked for me because I always feel like I am in touch with exactly how much I can physically achieve on a given day, and I never feel overwhelmed or want to give up. With time, I have gotten stronger and I’m able to do more and more.

How long have you been doing Sonki Fitness Boot Camp?

Consecutively for a year and a half.

What do you like about Sonki Fitness Boot Camp and how has it affected your life?

Joining Sonki Fitness Boot Camp is one of the best choices I have ever made. Since I never played sports or had a consistent physical activity in my life before joining Boot Camp, I had no idea of my physical potential or the amazing benefits that exercise has had on my entire life. I love the supportive, positive atmosphere and the great instructors I’ve had at Sonki Fitness that have given me the confidence to keep at it and continue challenging myself. I have been going to the same class for over a year, and the friends I’ve made in that class are a constant source of inspiration, especially when I don’t feel like getting out of bed to work out on Monday morning! Boot Camp has changed my body in ways I never imagined, not only losing weight, but now having the strength to take on activities such as hiking and back-packing that I never could have imagined doing before. I manage stress better, and I feel so good that I have been able to move forward in so many positive ways in all areas of my life. Boot Camp has changed my life so much that I seriously tell everyone I know to try it out - I just love it!

What advice would you give to others about fitness?

To make a commitment, show up to your work out, and then be patient and kind to yourself. Start small and slowly build on what you do— the results will be amazing.

August 2006 Sonki Fitness All-Star (Chris Berryhill)

July 2006 Sonki Fitness All-Star (Jayne Runels)

June 2006 Sonki Fitness All-Star (Jeremy Osher)

May 2006 Sonki Fitness All-Star (Roy Sekoff)

April 2006 Sonki Fitness All-Star (Joan Hanson)