I feel like my whole life, I have struggled with my weight. I have never been medically “overweight,” but I never felt comfortable with myself, which led to so many insecurities. I always felt like I wasn’t good enough, not pretty enough, etc. I would get on the gym bandwagon and fall right back off time and time again. My gym back in WV started doing spinning classes so I tried them and really liked them, but it wasn’t something I stuck with. I tried every fad diet out there, I wouldn’t eat some days, took diet pills, I tried everything. I did all this to feel accepted, when I knew I already was.

I moved to Baltimore in 2015 into my sister’s house and worked from home. I had people I knew out here and one of them was Sean Sanders. I met him through mutual friends and found out he was a spin instructor. I felt very intimidated wanting to try one of his classes. I remember after a year of me living in Baltimore, I finally made a friend come with me to try one of his classes on 4th of July weekend. After that initial class, I knew I was hooked. It was something about riding to the beat of the music that just got me. The next week, I bought a monthly unlimited package.

I started going by myself in the mornings to Maddison and Sam’s classes and sometimes I would do evening classes with Barb or Sean. I started watching what I was eating, and I slowly started to see some pounds come off. After two months of my routine, my current job moved me to TX.  I knew I had to stay with my routine, so I joined a spin studio in Houston. It just wasn’t like REV. I didn’t feel like I had a spin family. Since I didn’t know too many people down there, I spent all my time spinning and watching what I ate. I lost 25 lbs., which is the most I have ever lost. Long story short, I moved back to Baltimore after about a year of being away. I hated being away from my family and community.

When I moved back and the first thing I did was buy my REV membership again and got right back into my schedule the very next day. Honestly, it felt so good to be home and more importantly back at REV. I felt like I had my community back.

Now this time was different, I had more friends here than before, I knew more people at spinning and I was somewhat branching out. I started spinning with a few friends and then it became a routine for us. I had accountability partners and it felt so good. In a given week, I will spin about 4-8 times and will double at least twice a week. People think I’m crazy. They think I am addicted to spinning. They tell me I need a break. Honestly, I spin as much as I do because I genuinely enjoy it and it makes me feel good about myself. Right now, I have been maintaining my weight, but I feel stronger. I feel more confident and for the first time, I really feel comfortable in my own skin. There are still some things I want to work on, but overall I feel good. There are times I have bad days, but now I know I can just get back up and I don’t have to beat myself up over a little off day. It’s called balance because yes, there are some days I can totally eat a whole bag of frozen M&M’s  =] Oops.

But, Spinning is so much more than just 45 minutes of intense cardio and that is what people don’t get. It’s not just physical activity, it’s MENTAL activity. I normally go to Sean and Barb’s classes. Both have a different style and I LOVEE that.

Barb is so motivating especially with her words. She will read inspirational quotes or stories and it’s normally something I need to hear in that very moment. She is more than just a spin instructor. She is an encourager, she makes you see a different perspective, she is genuine, and she truly cares about her class and pushing them to reach their highest potential. I remember I had a bad weekend and I specifically woke up on Monday morning to start my week with her words and go figure, it was just what I needed to hear.

Sean on the other hand doesn’t make things easy. He knows what his classes are capable of doing. He pushes us way past our limits and that is something I love about him. He motivates you, he inspires you, he makes you feel alive and tells us to have attitude on the bike. I normally double up on Sean’s classes on Tuesday’s and both classes are straight fire. He makes the atmosphere fun, so you really don’t feel like you’re working out. He also created my love/hate relationship with hover backs. =]

So see, spinning is so much more than spinning. When I am in the spin room or when I finish a class, I feel like I have a whole new perspective on life. I know that when I am in the spin room, I need to leave all my shit at the door because it’s going to be there when I get out. So why worry about it while you’re in there. It gives me time to focus on just myself and see how far I can push myself because I know the pain I’m feeling .. IS TEMPORARY. And, don’t get me wrong, there have times that I have fallen. I feel like giving up sometimes, but that is the beauty about the REVtribe. THEY TELL YOU TO GET BACK UP.

I have never been around such an inspiring group of people. REV has literally changed my life and for the better. I am about to turn 30 and I can say for the first time, I am happy for where I am in life, on all aspects and REV has played a huge part in that. And through all of these, I have really learned what self-love is about. It is loving who you are no matter what, it is about being uncomfortable and pushing yourself out of your comfort zone, it is about taking risks, it is about your courage and your perspective. I look forward to each and every class I have at REV, the instructors never seize to amaze me. We truly are one team and one tribe, and I love it!

-Courtney Bioux