Athlete of the month

OCTOBER ATHLETE

Tyler Alaric

“I started training with Jordan Jeske at the PROJCT in November of 2019 after I got back from a trip to Mexico, where I was ashamed of myself. I had always been an athletic guy growing up, but not on this trip. I had trouble keeping up with my friends on hikes and swimming in the ocean, basically anything that was physical. The only thing I didn’t have a problem with was drinking beers, and I wasn’t impressed by that. When I got back to Edmonton, I told myself: “Today is the start of the rest of my life”. For the first couple of months I  trained with JJ twice a week, and then I swam once a week. The first time I got in the pool I couldn’t even swim a lap.

After a couple months of working out and seeing some progress I had the confidence to sign up for some group classes. Talk about intimidating at first glance! I walked into a Sunday funday class pre Covid that had about 35 people in it (the good old days) and everyone seemed to know each other. And then there was me: overweight, unfit and unsure if I could keep up with all exercises. But in true PROJCT family tradition, I had the awesome coaches checking in with me and helping to ease my anxiety. After the warm up, I was taken under the wing by the group I was with and was shown how to do everything. They instantly made me feel safe and a part of the PROJCT family. I remember leaving that class saying that was the hardest thing I had done in a really long time but I couldn’t wait to do it again. I was hooked. I kept training with Jordy two times a week and started incorporating two classes a week. The coaches and my new found fitness family accepted me with open arms and that is where things really started to take off.

Fast forward to the lock down (shit what am I going to do?) without the PROJCT. Without the support of the coaches and my fitness family, I was worried I would gain the 30 lbs I’ve lost, back. I was crushed, but I didn’t want to let up. I wanted the progress to continue. Thankfully the coaches came to the rescue: they created an at home program with FB live classes. Yeeesssss! This was exactly what we all needed while we were locked in our houses. I started doing a class everyday and even though we weren’t physically in class, the coaches made it feel like we were. They did such an exceptional job during this very stressful time.

I honestly owe them so much for doing that. Thanks to these classes, instead of gaining weight I was able to continue losing. Through the online classes plus the nutrition challenge Coach Stacey ran, I was able to excel at weight loss and understand the significance of fuelling my body with the proper nutrients. I came out of lock down, down another 40 lbs. Little did I know, now came the real challenge, the real world with all of its temptations and it’s distractions. At that moment I decided this was no time to give back on the progress I had made. It was time to buckle down. I got right back on where I left off, training twice a week with Jordy and going to two classes a week. Because it was golf and mountain bike season, I made myself a deal: if I went for a ride or I walked the golf course I was allowed to have a couple beers. Let me tell you nothing tastes better than a beer after a round of golf or a good ride on a hot summer day. It’s all about balance, right?

Unfortunately long gone are the Sunday funday classes with 35-45 people, but the resiliency of the PROJCT family and coaches in bringing the energy and fun with limited class sizes is unparalleled. As I become accustomed to the classes and the workouts and right when it feels like there is a little rut in my training, the coaches at the PROJCT throw a curveball and here starts the October Comeback challenge (Don’t call it a comeback I never left). Awesome! I think to myself. Here comes one last push before the one year mark comes up on my new found wellness journey. We are on the home stretch of it and I have lost 110 pounds and I am noticeably stronger than I ever thought I could be! I have no plans on slowing down or stopping what I’m doing. Like the PROJCT mentality, I have a continual goal of Progress over Perfection. I will continue to always strive for more and more progress in my fitness journey.”

-Tyler Alaric

NOVEMBER ATHLETE

Chelsey O'Hara

“I first stepped into the doors of The PROJCT in January 2019. I was consistently working out, mostly cardio based. I wanted to try something new and add more strength-based training into my routine. Fast forward to almost two years later, and I am so glad that I found The PROJCT community.

The trainers at The PROJCT are always motivating you to keep going and pushing you to be stronger. They are personable, high energy, knowledgeable and teach you proper form. The encouraging atmosphere at The PROJCT is contagious. There’s something about the feeling of everyone pushing through class together, finishing strong and accomplishing common goals. I have met some amazing people along the way and I really enjoy the variety of classes offered.

Through the pandemic, working out has been my outlet. Modifying to at home workouts has allowed me to keep my progress while still feeling connected to the community. In October, I finished the Come Back Challenge, and I was very proud to see my strength and stamina increase. The saying goes, find a workout style that you’ll love, and that way you’ll have no problem sticking with it. For me, The PROJCT is it! Proud to be a part of the PROJCT family!”

– Chelsey O’Hara