Samantha Barron

 

From Zero to Black Belt Leaving 90 Pounds in the Dust!

Warp Fitness Inc.  Certified Personal Trainer and Registered Yoga Instructor

Facebook: Warp Fitness www.warpfitness.com 

Contact info:  SBarron@warpfitness.com

About Sam

I am grew up on the Eastside of St Paul.  In high school I played varsity golf and tennis.  I have always been an active person just not always a healthy person.   I am married and have three busy children.  For many years I let life take over my health.  Now my life is focused on health for myself, my family and my clients.

Yoga and Personal Training

I am currently a certified personal trainer and registered yoga instructor.  I do in home training for people looking to lose weight or to simply have a better quality of life and health.

Sam’s Journey of Greatness to Black Belts, Marathons and Teaching Yoga

In 2011 I was 90 pounds overweight and looking for something.  Even being overweight I was still an active person but not happy with where I was physically in life.  In September of that year I decided to join karate.  Even though I loved going to class I hated looking in the mirrors that stretch down the front of our class room.  I was able to do everything that was asked of me but I wanted to be able to do more. By the next spring I was in love with the sport!  In April of 2012, I sat down with one of my instructors to discuss where I would go in martial arts.  While I was assured that I would be able to receive my black belt in my current physical state I knew in my head that wasn’t what I wanted.  I wanted to get my black belt in the best possible physical shape I could be in.  In that moment I made a decision to change.

Over the next eight and a half months I lost ninety pounds.  No pills, no gimmicks, no weight loss surgery, simply working out six days a week and watching what I ate.  Who knew, it really is diet (not starvation diet but what am I fueling myself with diet) and exercise.   Karate, lifting weights, yoga and running (well walking to start) took the place of sitting on the couch.  For ten years I had struggled with my weight but in eight months with the vision of what I wanted to look like at my black belt exam everything changed.

Running

In Nov of 2012 I ran my first 5k.  The first time I had ever ran 3.1 miles straight through! I have since ran over 30 races including several ten milers and two half marathons.  In Jan of this year I ran my first full marathon in Walt Disney World.  Finishing 3,904 out of 19,970 total runners. I would have never thought of myself as a short distance runner yet alone a long distance runner.  If someone would have told me I would run a marathon I probably would have laughed them.  But here I am after five months of training running 26.2 miles for the thrill of it and ready to do it again!

    

Karate

As for my martial arts…after three years of training I did receive my black belt this past Dec.  Not only did I receive my first degree black belt but I have already started working on my second degree and will continue to grow and learn in the sport I love.  I also compete on a regular basis.  Recently taking first place in three different form divisions and second place in sparring at the Diamond Nationals Tournament.

 

 

Emotional and Physical Challenge

Being fit and healthy isn’t something you do and then you are done with it.  It is a conscious way of living your life.  Especially if you are someone who lived any amount of time being overweight.  I believe it is always in the back of your mind.  Not in a bad way but certainly as a reminder that you don’t ever want to live that way again.  To truly be healthy you have to, not only do those things, but it has to become part of who you are.  There is never a day that I question whether or not I will work out (there are days that questions whether or not I will eat chocolate cake, but we all have to enjoy things, sometimes).   It’s who I am.  It’s as automatic as breathing.  There is a joy in pushing myself beyond where I thought my body could go.  Challenging myself both physically and mentally is part of this ongoing journey.

The thing about weight loss that no one tells you is what an emotional journey it is.  You find yourself questioning why you allowed yourself to be unhealthy for so long.  There’s soul searching that goes along with the pounds coming off.  In losing what you don’t need physically you will find what you do need emotionally.  There will be people, lots of people that will tell you, “you are fine the way you are.”  What they really mean is you are fine the way THEY are.  Push past that.  Find the person you are meant to be.  Take responsibility for finding your own happiness.

It is import is to find your own fitness path.  If you don’t like what you’re doing change it.  No one will continue to do something they dislike.  Find something you can’t see going without for any length of time.  I would never expect someone to be a runner that hates running.  Or doing yoga if the idea of being quiet for any hour in not in their nature.   Exercise comes in many forms.  While you don’t have to love every workout find something that you enjoy and include that in your plan.  Who knows maybe there’s a marathon in your future!

Once you make the decision to lose weight or tone up whatever it is, your life changes.  Your vacations are more exciting because you can do more.  Your kids are happier because you are playing with them not watching them play.  Your days are full of more life, really!   There are new challenges and adventures all around.  It will be the greatest decision you will ever make!

Looking into the Future

My fitness journey did not end when the numbers were right on the scale.   I will continue to push myself, to register for races that scare me, to compete in tournaments, to want to improve in everything I do.  In March of 2014 I received my certification in personal training.  Followed by a 200 hour yoga instructor registration.  I am currently taking courses for specialty certification in sport nutrient and strength and conditioning and will be adding on to my yoga certification.  I am also looking for a space to open an obstacle course training gym.  I assist in karate classes at Woodbury National Karate, that is after all where this all started.

There is no easy way to go about losing weight.  It doesn’t come off over night.  It takes weeks, months maybe years but I promise once you make that change you will never want to go back.

 Sam’s Biz

*I currently have openings to take on new personal training clients.  Yoga classes are taught at the Woodbury National Karate.  Woodbury National Karate has on going classes for students of all ages.

Contact info:  SBarron@warpfitness.com

 

 A Note from Heather – Get Fit. Go Figure:

Sam is a truly amazing, tenacious person. Whenever she wants something, she gets it. Trust me. 🙂 She is a very knowledgeable motivating person that I know you would love to work with. Check out Warp Fitness and see where it will take you!

Can you relate to Sam’s Story? If so, tell us about it in the comments below. We wold love to hear about it! Or contact me if you are interested in being featured on Get Fit. Go Figure!