009: Level Up for Life— The Mindset Secrets to Transforming Your Routine Forever with Sara Denyer

“There was more to getting healthy than going to the gym. It had to start with nutrition and working on mental health.” —Sara

While the gym is where many see visible progress through strength gains and physical changes, true fitness begins from within. Our mental, emotional, and nutritional well-being lay the foundation for any physical activity to take root and blossom. Only by addressing underlying issues can we empower our bodies to perform at their best. 

Sara knows better than most that the journey to better health is a lifelong marathon, not a sprint. After receiving a life-changing breast cancer scare in 2018, she decided to fully commit to her health and wellness. She has lost over 100 pounds through lifestyle changes over the past three years. While she is not competing herself just yet, her goal is to feel confident enough to step on stage by 2025. 

Don't miss this empowering conversation with Sarah as she discusses the importance of whole-body wellness and insights on making lifestyle changes that last.

Connect with Sherrie: 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sherrie.massiakapach 

Instagram: https://instagram.com/mindbodysoul_hypnothetapist 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sherrie-kapach-b5bb26243 

Email: skapach40@gmail.com 

Episode Highlights:

01:29 Navigating Weight Loss Journey

03:36 No Two Stages are the Same 

05:00 Lifestyle Changes DO NOT Start at the Gym

06:43 The Importance of Confronting Personal Issues

Connect with Sara:

Sara is an avid fitness enthusiast and supporter of bodybuilding. After a breast cancer scare led her to lose over 100 pounds through lifestyle changes over the past three years, she found inspiration in her friends who compete in bodybuilding events. 

While she currently observes and cheers on her friends as they train and compete, Sara's goal is to be competing on stage herself by 2025. When she's not in the gym working towards her fitness goals, Sarah enjoys learning from the journeys of others and providing encouragement to those starting their own wellness transformations.

Transcript

Sherrie Kapach: Welcome to Beyond The Prep. I'm your host, Sherrie Kapach.  I'd like to welcome Sara, who has come to watch the event and an observer. So tell me, you're here to watch. Is there anybody in particular why you came for the event?

Sara: Yeah. I have a few ladies that came to watch and support. There's three or four of them.

Sherrie Kapach: Nice. So what's gotten you interested in bodybuilding?

Sara: When I started way back two years ago, I've been on a weight loss journey, health and wellness. I mean, off and on for the last, probably 10 years or so. I started having kids and kind of took off from there. But what really happened back in 2018, I had a breast cancer scare. I realized that I was quite overweight. And then over the last three years, I've taken off 100 pounds. And then last year, I met a bunch of really cool and inspiring people, and it just lit that fire that I needed to keep going.

Sherrie Kapach: What's your goal?

Sara: At this point, I have some things on my plate that I just need to get through obstacles. Everybody has them, but I'd like to see myself on that stage by 2025. So 9 years, but I like to be there.

Sherrie Kapach: So you started this journey of weight loss, and you said you've dropped 100 pounds.

Sara: Yeah. 100.

Sherrie Kapach: And how are you feeling?

Sara: I feel good. I feel healthy and strong. That breast cancer scare did not happen. Nothing came of it. But I did end up with cancer in 2020. Again, that was just another eye opening moment that I needed to get my act together for myself and my kids.

Sherrie Kapach: So seeing all these, you said you have friends here and they're competing. So you're a support group.

Sara: It's been really fun just to watch them through all their preps. Some of them are first timers. Some of them have been here for 10 years.

Sherrie Kapach: Wow. Yeah. So you have quite a variety, and you've seen it all.

Sara: I've seen it. This part, what to practice, everything in between.

Sherrie Kapach: So from the 1st timers, from the first one who ever experienced. So what similarities there, what do you notice during their practice in that?

Sara: Everyone starts at the beginning. Everyone has their day one. The people who've reached out to me and tell them my day, or your day one is not gonna look like my day. Do you know what I mean? You can't compare that. Because then you're in first mental challenges, mental health challenges.

Sherrie Kapach: It is definitely a mental game, for sure. And the comparison would say, they've all started somewhere. And they've all experienced it differently depending on what they're going through and whatnot.

Sara: All walks of life, different ages and stages.

Sherrie Kapach: Yeah. Yeah. That's a great way of saying it.

Sara: Yeah. Right.

Sherrie Kapach: Because the older ones, they may have to work a little harder than the other ones to build those muscles just because of things in the menopause and whatnot. Everything like that. So you're thinking about another couple of years. You're hoping that you as well will be stepping on stage.

Sara: This is funny. I got a picture in front of the golden handcuffs. And last year, I went on stage after everybody was done and finished taking it down. And I said, I just want this for my memories. So I want to see you on that stage this year. And I laughed. I went home and they did soul searching and really digging deep. I'm like, why not? If it's something, even if I just do it once and see how it goes. But like I said, a few obstacles are for now.

Sherrie Kapach: That's fabulous. That's exciting. Exciting for you, too. You have a goal.

Sara: Yeah, that goal setting?

Sherrie Kapach: Having that goal, and then taking action towards it. Do you feel that you're ready to take those steps?

Sara: Even if they're baby steps, we are still stepping stones. It doesn't have to be--

Sherrie Kapach: Yeah. So the stage will always be there, which is great. So with your weight loss journey, any advice you could put out there for anyone that's looking to even change their lifestyle or something like that? Or thinking like, okay, it's time. What could you give them for advice on that? Because where you've been, your struggles, what were your struggles?

Sara: I'm actually a recovering binge eater. And growing up, that was not something I knew, but knew what that was. And then of course, being an adult and realizing that I did have a problem, I'd be eating full course meals in the middle of night. Waking up, going for a snack, even eating whatever it was. And then eventually realizing that and being afraid of the gym, being afraid of that, like somebody making fun of being, judged me, right? And I think around that point recognizing that I have an eating disorder disorder, if I can call it that, there was more to getting healthy than going to the gym. It had to start with nutrition. And then eventually I realized to start working on my mental health, and then coming to the conclusion to my body, mind and soul. It has to be body, mind and soul because it won't work if it's not. So you've got to do some soul searching and forgive yourself. There's always going to be outside factors, but you have to forgive yourself, and then keep moving forward.

Sherrie Kapach: So that can be hard.

Sara: Absolutely. And it's not just overnight. This is years of reverse.

Sherrie Kapach: So it takes a lot to dig deep and discover.

Sara: Adding on to that is I've had a lot of injuries with improper technique, form and whatnot. And the one thing that people often tell me is I can't work out. And oftentimes, your nutrition, your mental health, personal development, things like that is not always about moving your body. That's important too. That will come with time.

Sherrie Kapach: That's a great piece of advice. I would say it's your mind and body. You gotta dig deep for that. And a lot of people don't want to pull that out, and they don't want to bring it up again. That's why it's so repressed. And then when you start, peeling the layers and peeling the layers, it's almost like a weight lifted off your shoulders because you can only move forward when you feel the power. Great story. I want to thank you for coming and telling your story. And I wish you all the best. I can't wait. I will be following you. And congratulations on making it so far with your weight loss journey.

Sara: Thank you so much.