Booty by Krystal- Body by Kate

Krystal: I may have mentioned in a previous post that I am seriously, gravely concerned with the size of my Veg-a$$. Or I guess, to be more accurate, the size of my PRE- Veg-a$$. I have had numerous comments throughout the years about the junk in my trunk (cue “I Got it From My Mama” by Will.I.Am.). A friend’s husband, Cliffy-doodle, calls me his “booty girl”; a fellow Zumba chick once said to me, “For someone with such a small frame, you have a huge ass.” Well, how’s that for honesty?! And at our most recent MVMS holiday party, a co-worker told me black men must love me...so yeah- it’s a thing.

While it’s fun and all- all this attention, I suppose I do want to get into fighting shape. All the Zumba-ing just ain’t toning it; I need a SERIOUS muscle building plan, and THAT is where Kate comes in.  

Kate: Exercise has always been an essential part of my life. Being an athlete growing up, I developed a love for being physically active. Once I was no longer involved in competitive sports, I explored other fitness avenues and came to find out that I really do love anything that involves an increased heart rate and sweat (for those of you who have worked out with me, you know that there is usually A LOT of sweat. I am my father’s daughter). Working out for me is not a chore or an obligation; it is part of my lifestyle. I can honestly say that it is my favorite way to spend my time outside of work. It is often what gets me through difficult days.

Running has taken the forefront of my exercise routine in the past couple of years, but this winter I was feeling I needed something else to break up the monotony, especially considering it is difficult to get outside in the Polar Vortex and all. Plus, I have a thing against running on the treadmill. It just isn’t the same. So I went to a bootcamp class I had been eyeing for some time. I already knew that I loved the bootcamp model since I had had some exposure to several classes previously. After my first day at Jeremy’s Bootcamp, I was hooked.

Krystal: A note on running: those Letendres are relentless. They are serious about their training, dedicated to the sport, and they are persuasive! As anyone who knows me can attest, I think the farthest I had ever run prior to my Letendre years was from my couch to the fridge… no joke. But alas, we are coming up on our 5th BAA 5K race, which gave me yet another reason to try to get into better shape. While I’ve managed to break 30 minutes once before, this year, I want to crush it.

Kate: Her “training” usually involves a one-time 20 minute outdoor session one week before the race in which she claims she will never be able to finish so she should just watch instead. This has happened every year for four years.

Krystal: True story. Just ask Art; he’s a big fan of my training methods.

While we couldn’t be more different in this area, I knew that if I just swallowed my pride and asked Kate for some help, I’d be in great hands. Her bootcamp attendance has seemed to inspire her in new ways, and while I knew sh*t would get real, I was curious to see what she could do with me.

Kate: One of my many dreams of the future involves being a fitness instructor, so I am always up for a good training session. It’s nice to be able to share what you know, but mostly, it’s awesome to help other people realize that they are capable of more than they know. Fitness is as much, if not more, about mental strength as it is physical.

Krystal: I only realized this after about...5 minutes under Kate’s training. When I whimpered, “I can’t.” I realized that the can’t was way more about my mind and way less about my body’s ability. Kate, encourage me, coached me, and reminded me that I am stronger than I believe I am. It sucked and I was super sweaty and my arms, legs, and other muscles I didn’t know I had were quaking like crazy...but I did it. Only a few mouth pukes and a single tear...

Kate: And some guttural noises once in awhile. But that is a good sign because it means work is being done.

Krystal: I’ve only survived two Body By Kate sessions thus far, but I already feel stronger- mentally as much as physically. I think that is a sign of a great trainer and a great friend. She didn’t let me quit even as I bitched and whined because she knows how important a smaller ass is to me.

Kate: Yes, that’s exactly why I did it. I’m committed to helping my friends make their dreams come true, whatever they may be, big or small.

That and I love exercise and a good playlist that sends subliminal messages (i.e., Power, Burn, Stronger, Take on Me). 

Krystal: Wait a minute…! I was tricked!