Yes, believe your eyes. Amy Lane lost 30lbs and 25 inches in JUST six months!

I vividly recall when I first met Amy. She came to my evening class at Flybarre, drawn to my Flybarre Bio because of my experience with yoga. My first impression was that she wasn’t happy with her body. She was overweight, wore lose clothes, and picked a mat toward the back of the room—as if to hide her physical self as much as possible.

She was intimidated at her first Flybarre class. I flashed her a smile and told her that Flybarre is designed to be challenging; if she didn’t take breaks because it is too hard, then I’m not doing my job. Do what you can, with what you have, and from that place you will grow. I told her.

Something clicked for Amy that day; she said she’d worked harder than she ever has in her life. Amy hoped that, by doing Flybarre consistently, she would be able to lose the weight that was plaguing her for the past six years.

And that’s when she started taking photos and measurements. 

Amy comitted to her own Flybarre Challenge, doing four classes a week for six weeks, and Emily and I coached her through it. I can’t express how astonishing it was to watch the weight melt away. Each week she would send her measurments, and I was absolutely floored by the results.

On the left, you see Amy after her very first Flybarre class, and on right you see her after her 75th Flybarre class, roughly 4 months later. Yes, it was Flybarre that shed 30lbs off of this petite woman!

No, Flybarre isn’t magical, but it is incredibly effective at building lean muscle mass, and Amy had the nutrition to support this transformation. Flybarre will give you the benefits of a bootcamp, but it’s a bajillion times more fun, musical and consistently will kick your butt. Every single class is challenging, and those who attend regularly say that this exercise never becomes easy.

For this reason, we see bodies transform often, but Amy Lane is a special case. Amy knew that it did her a disservice to compare her body to others or to hate her body, so she approached each class with a smile and an I’m-doing-the-best-I-can attitude.

She had no idea the results would be so profound, but after doing her own six month Flybarre Challenge, and acheiving 100 Flybarre classes, she is finally wearing rings that she hasn’t worn in 16 years!

Now I’ve said enough. Below read about her journey in her own words. 

What prompted you to seek out Flybarre?

I was out of shape for about 6 years. I tried a few ways to lose weight—diet, exercise, even laser treatments to zap fat cells! I couldn’t find anything that worked for me. I knew that I needed to lose weight for my health and happiness. I was so unhappy with how I looked that I refused to visit old friends, and avoided having my picture taken.

I learned about Flywheel in NYC and came in for a spin class. But, it took only one FlyBarre class for me to know that this was the kind of exercise that could change my body and transform my life.  

What was it about Flybarre that made you stick with it??

In the past I did a lot of Pilates classes, which I loved because they made my body FEEL really good, but I didn’t see transformation, so I quit doing it. FlyBarre is similar to Pilates in some ways, with lots of core work and muscle strengthening, and using light weights. But, what quite literally kicked my butt was the unique combination of fast-paced moves, adding that cardio element to an incredible full-body workout.

Another key ingredient was motivation from the amazing instructors! The class is fast-paced, and the instructors will encourage you to work to your max. Having someone push you harder than you would ever push yourself is intense and really, really difficult. But, the work pays off and delivers results. The results kept me coming back.

I also believe that the measurements were a key component to my success; they provided instant feedback. After 6 weeks, I lost 12 lbs. and 11.5 inches. I famously tell everyone that I lost an entire index card at my waist line. Try holding an index card up to your body (lengthwise away from you) and those are the 5 inches I lost from my belly in 6 weeks!

What was your most profound insight during your 100 classes?

As I progressed, my motivator was always my health, but my motivation shifted a bit. Now, I am motivated to be a good classmate! I feel a responsibility to help maintain upbeat energy in class, and to share the strength I’ve gained with the friends I’ve gained. I am also sensitive to people who are new to FlyBarre. I wish I could run over and tell them how I could barely lift my leg to start, and how I struggled through the arm work using only 1 pound weights!

I had to conquer feelings of inadequacy (am I doing the exercises right?), feelings of insecurity (does the instructor like me, do the other students?) and working through inevitable aches, pains and plateaus. I learned not to focus too much on any of those things, and to just focus on having great form. Having the proper alignment became very important to me, and I continue to work on going deeper into the exercises with the best form I can.

Did you change your diet during your Flybarre challenge?

I didn’t really change my diet in a specific way. We don’t eat fried foods and one key thing for me is that I have limited alcohol in my diet. If I drink, I tend to have a glass of wine after my meal—I treat it as a dessert!

So, I eat pretty well, but intuitively I began to reduce my portion sizes and eat more vegetarian meals. Recently we started tracking our food, and having that insight has moved my weight loss beyond a plateau. My husband is a very tall, hungry man, so I had to learn not to eat the same portion size as a 6’4” person!

What is next for you?

I am open to trying new and different exercises and activities because I have more confidence and strength. What I would like to do is continue FlyBarre and add in other exercises, such as yoga or taking nice long hikes.

I also love FlyWheel spinning—my husband and I do Flywheel together every weekend; this way we can spend time together in a healthy way. My challenge is to maintain my health and accept that, while I can’t expect to always see such dramatic results in the future, I can focus on long-term, healthy lifestyle habits to keep me fit and vibrant for the rest of my life.

So, you feel sluggish lately.

You’re addicted to coffee (and sugar and wine), and you can’t seem to kick those dark circles under your eyes. You’re looking to jumpstart a return to clean eating, restored energy and better digestion, and nothing sounds better than a light, restorative juice cleanse. But should you do it?

If you’re thoughtful about the juice you choose, and you’re aware of what your body-type needs, then your answer is a resounding yes. You will emerge from a juice cleanse feeling restored, your palate will mostly re-set, and many cravings and addictions will fall to the side.

Yet, to enjoy the rejuvenating benefits of a juice cleanse, the single most important thing you must do is prepare your mind, body and life.

Your Mind
Check in: why exactly are you doing this juice cleanse? While the juice will definitely flush your body with vitality-promoting micronutrients, phytonutrients and antioxidants, it will not change your relationship with your body or weight, and it won’t change your beliefs about food.

It is heartbreaking when people use juice cleansing as a binge/fast mechanism or as a vehicle to perpetuate self loathing. A juice cleanse is not punishment for poor eating, nor is it a magic pill for health. If you have a testy relationship with food or your body, dig deeper and seek professional guidance. 

Your Body
Many toxins—heavy metals, pesticides, alcohol, pollution—are fat soluble and stored in your body’s fat reserves. During a cleanse, your body uses adipose tissue (i.e. fat) to fuel itself. Thus, these toxins are dislodged from storage and enter your bloodstream as free radicals. Yes, you become MORE toxic initially in order to detox!

We’ll explore the mechanics of cleansing in the next post, but for now it’s important to note that without dietary preparation, you may experience some unpleasant symptoms from the newly free toxins in your body: headaches, fatigue, nausea, heat waves, and/or diarrhea.

These symptoms are no bueno, as they interfere with your day-to-day living, and they place extreme stress on your body. Luckily, simple changes to your diet pre-cleanse will ease the stress and prevent symptoms when it’s time to juice. Three days prior to your juice cleanse, be sure to do the following:

• Remove coffee, soda, dairy and alcohol
• Remove excess sugar, such as candy and baked goods
• Emphasize cleansing foods: asparagus, broccoli, garlic, arugula and kale

Your Life
I hate to break this to you, but most friends and family will not support you while you cleanse. Your peers don’t want to worry about food, they question the benefits of a juice cleanse, and they really want you to join them for that margarita after work!

Moreover, a juice cleanse is kind of a big deal to your body. Recall that your body is already under lots of stress cleansing toxins! So, while cleansing it’s best to limit high-intensity workouts and super-active days. Your body needs space to restore and eliminate.

Strategize your life and prioritize your cleanse for success. Look at your calendar and clear any social obligations that involve eating out or drinking. Plan for a day off of work or a mini-getaway to a relaxing place, and plan for lighter exercise—such as walking, hatha yoga or a light jog.

You’re Ready!
A juice cleanse is an opportunity for self love and nourishment. It is recognizing that you have aches, pains and addictions, and it is taking proactive steps to heal. Detoxifying isn’t that pleasant, and it can be quite challenging. But, with proper preparation, your results can be life changing.

JuiceBox and I are coordinating a Community Cleanse in Seattle this July. This exclusive program will have limited space, and it will involve one-on-one nutrition guidance and daily engagement. We will help you prepare, adjust for your body-type and lifestyle, and help you to disengage safely.

To get first dibs on the Community Cleanse pricing and registration, add your name to the pre-enrollment list here.