Every month we recognize a woman who stands out as a Super Star. She is a regular and active participant in the Sweat Drop workouts and has an encouraging presence on the forum and private FB page. She has made great progress in her fitness, and/or is a leader, and is a positive and encouraging force within our community.
For the Month of July, we are honouring Diane Coulterman as our SuperStar of the Month of July
Hi from Ottawa Ladies!
When I retired in Jan last year @ 60 years, I was determined to re-commit to regular exercise. I had previously been very active but most activities and exercise took a back seat in the 7 years prior to my retirement. I failed miserably at maintaining a healthy work life balance, and my health suffered. After retiring I returned to the gym, but for the first 5 months was not satisfied with the results. I felt constantly tired and lacked the energy I was expecting would return. I even went to my physician convinced something was not right. When I saw the opportunity to try the Sweatbank 60 day challenge (May 2017) I jumped at it; knowing ‘something had to change’. At the time Kathy told me I was the 100th person to sign up….. (the last spot)…which I felt was significant! During those first few weeks I realized what a game changer this would be. I hadn’t realized how lazy I had become even when I previously thought I was making the effort to become healthier… I really was just going through the motions. Through Sweatbank I’ve gained back part of who I used to know. The routines are challenging (I must admit I have some favourites and others that make me cringe). I love the variety, structure, accountability and the opportunity to identify with a strong community of women who I draw inspiration from. ‘Female Strength’ at its best! I’m still a work in progress and there are many days that I need to press the reset button but I like the path I’m on and I’m happy I get to share it with this group! Here’s to continued success ladies!
For the Month of June, we are honouring Debbie Woods as our Super Star of the Month
This one is LONG overdue. Debbie has been with SweatBank since the beginning. She’s quiet but her actions are loud. I’ve had the pleasure of watching her transform, and personally I do my best to keep up with her strength when she’s training next to me. Not only that, but she was nominated several times over for SB’s Woman of the Year. That’s why Debbie Strik-Woods is our SweatBank Super Star for the month of June. She oozes inspiration and hard work and many of our ladies look up to her. Thank you Debbie! Keep rocking it girl! Here’s what she has to say about her fitness:
I recently just turned 48 and I am definitely in better shape than I was in my early 40s. Growing up on a farm you were always doing physical labour of some sort almost every day and that is why I think I love to work out! I joined Fitness Anywhere with a GroupOn I had purchased at the beginning of 2015. I had put on a little excess weight and I was not happy with how I felt. I did Kathy’s classes, got my butt kicked, but still wasn’t seeing much in the way of results. I thought I just need to work out more. I thought my nutrition was pretty much where it needed to be until Kathy introduced the Little Black Dress Project. This was exactly what I needed! I learned a lot about nutrition and timing and I lost weight, had more energy, was a much happier person and my workouts stayed about the same! Also with the help of Kathy and Andrew, I competed in my first and only fitness competition in 2016 at the age of 45. I learned a lot about myself during my training and what my body and mind were capable of. I have been a member of Sweat Bank since Kathy introduced it last May (you have probably seen me in a few of the workouts). I love the workouts, recipes and the all the ladies who are members, whether hearing from you every day or knowing you are there behind the scenes. I feel truly honoured to be on this journey with all of you and thank you for choosing me as the Super Star for the month of June!
For the Month of May, we are HONOURING THE SWEATBANK WOMAN OF THE YEAR, Donna Rivard. Here are the questions we’ve asked her.
The ladies of SweatBank voted for you multiple times over as the most inspiring person in our community. What is the driving factor that inspires YOU to move and to live healthy every day?
My grandchilren. I don’t want to grow older and have chronic pain and be overweight, I want to be able to travel, play with my grandchildren, and be active right through my ‘golden year’s’.
Have you always been an active and healthy person?
As a child I was into dance up to grade 10, then i stopped and did not do much with taking care of myself until after I had my daughters and divorced. I joined a gym, and started running on a treadmill. I met Keith at the gym, and we have been going to the gym since then, which I love…exercise and eating healthy is a big part of both our lives.. I went to a pescatarian diet 2-1/2 years ago, and love it.
Do you have a physical accomplishment in your lifetime that makes you proud of yourself?
I have ran a full marathon and numerous half marathons. (the time involved for training was too much, so I have not ran any in the last 2 years). Also, i have completed the RHN program (waiting on exam results).
What are your short term goals (6 months) in fitness? What about long term goals (1-2 years)?
To do 3-4 SD each week, as i would like reach 280 SD by the end of October. Long term goals, is to complete all 365 SD, and to increase my running back to 10K
If you could give your younger self one piece of health advice, what would it be?
Not to be so hard on myself (even my older self needs this advice). I have never been overweight, but still when I gain a few pounds, i beat myself up quite a bit.. I also, would have got my daughters more active in their teenage years.
What’s your favourite type of SweatDrop to do?
It’s a love hate relationship, but 100’s….I feel so accomplished with myself after I complete them.
For the Month of April, we are honouring Jessica Anderson as the Super Star of the Month
Here’s our girl for April! Jessica Anderson is our SweatBank Super Star of the month. She’s only been with us a few months but is already making some incredible changes to her lifestyle, keeping herself accountable to our community, and inspiring our ladies to make time for themselves in doing so. She is not only a Super Star but a Super Mama and manages healthy eating and exercise regularly with her kids around her. Thanks for inspiring us Jessica Anderson! Here’s her story with fitness:
I’m Jessica. I have a love/hate relationship with fitness. I love the idea of being active, of hiking and doing lots of fun stuff like that, however after 5 pregnancies and 2 c-sections, my body hates it. I joined Sweatbank because I decided I needed to do something that had accountability (money paid 
🙂 ) as well as had a community of people who would encourage and inspire me to be healthier. With 2 young boys, I want to be able to go out and do fun things, like ride bikes and climb and wrestle without feeling exhausted after a few minutes. After 8 weeks, I feel great. I feel like the SweatBank/Additional Nutritional program as it has helped me create a better relationship with food. It has taught me when to eat and how to eat to help my body get its groove back. I feel stronger, leaner and overall like I am on the right path to be the best self I can be. The body achieves what the mind believes has become my motto. I know I can achieve so much more!
For the Month of March, we are honouring Charlene Miller as the Super Star of the Month
Here’s our girl! You may have seen this one coming from a mile away, but our Super Star for the month of March deserves this recognition for lots of hard work. Ive had the pleasure of knowing Charlene for a few years and am so happy to see that this time around she’s embracing all aspects of a healthy lifestyle with regular fitness and help with properly timed nutrients throughout the day and she’s doing so great.
Here’s Charlene’s fitness bio:
I started training with Kathy after I had my son three years ago. I was trying my hardest to get back into shape. I eventually lost all motivation and stopped training, and let myself go. I became uncomfortable in my own skin, I was at my highest weight I had ever been at. I started taking medication for anxiety and that made me gain weight as well. I finally decided that I was tired of being uncomfortable and I needed to make a change! I signed up for Ladies on a Mission, did the SweatBank workouts, did workouts of my own, attended Kathy’s classes, followed the nutrition plan, and to my surprise, I won the fat loss contest! I have recently signed up for a running class at the Vollmer, which is something that I have always wanted to do and continue to be on my way to a healthier me!! I have two young children who keep my very busy, but I make time for what is important to me!
For the month of February, we are honouring Annie Ethier as the Super Star of the Month
For the month of January, we are honouring Sharon Kawai as the Super Star of the Month
For the month of December, we are honouring Stacy Wetherup as the Super Star of the Month
Here’s she is! Stacy Wetherup is SweatBank’s shining Super Star for December and her efforts this past month will continue to motivate and inspire as we move into 2018. I’ve had the pleasure of witnessing Stacy grow from a fair-weather fitness person to an all out athlete. She’s embraced regular fitness as a lifestyle and has made it a habit. Like the rest of us, she’s had her fitness ups and downs, but she’s in it for the long haul, and that’s what matters. Thanks so much Stacy for your inspiring posts, your consistency and hard work this month, and not to mention, for helping us raise funds for Holiday Helpers. If she’s not training, you will find her using her strength to heal and restore others through massage. If you’re looking for an RMT, and are in my area, give her a go at her new location on Sandwich Street, formerly Shar’s Spa. Here’s her personal fitness story below.
I have always exercised off and on over the years, but always allowed other things to come first. I believe this is the case for most moms. As moms we always have someone or something to take care of. I also had a poor self image for many years and went through phases of constantly stepping on the scale. A few years back many changes happened in my life. I became a single mom and put myself through school to better my life. I accomplished that, but allowed my fitness to take a back burner for a while. I started exercising some, but it was Kathy’s workouts that really got me back on track. I recognized it’s not the scale that counts, but just staying fit and challenging myself. I no longer step on the scale constantly (only once in the past 3 years). I love the variety of workouts and that I can do them right at home. Along with her workouts I challenged myself to start running. I could only run for maybe 5 minutes and now I can run over 5k easily. SweatBank has helped me with running, as well as keeping me fit for my job as an RMT. I have excellent support from my boyfriend who constantly encourages me and of course it’s a great support system with everyone that is part of Sweat Bank. I still have my challenges, but am so happy with my accomplishments in this past year with my fitness and in all areas of my life.
Thanks Kathy and to everyone that is part of Sweat Bank!
For the month of November, we are honouring Enricha Boucher as the Super Star of the month
For the month of October, we are honouring Kate Maheux as the Super Star of the month
I am an athlete at heart! I have always loved competition. I been involved in recreational and competitive sports since a young age. Now, being a wife and mom to 3 busy kids under the age of 6, my fitness level, goals (and body!) are different. I wanted a new challenge & to get my game back!!! I didn’t want to do the “typical” join a gym and I’m so thankful for Kathy’s post in a mom group that caught my eye. It feels good to see positive changes not only in my strength, endurance, muscle tone (& just looking better in my “old” jeans!) but also my increased energy level & mood boost! I’m so thankful to be a part of this great community of women who are challenging but realistic; encouraging but have a sense of humour about fitness!
For the month of September we are honouring Donna Rivard as the Super Star of the month
I am 52 years young, married to my wonderful husband Keith, with our blended family including 5 beautiful adult daughters and 6 grandchildren.
I have been avid gym goer for over 20 years, running and doing resistance training. Two years ago my body and mind changed with a full hysterectomy. I was not sleeping, moody, no motivation and gained some weight. I was not working out like I had been in the past then I joined SweatBank, getting daily workouts, joining a community of ladies that support each other, has gained my confidence back, and Keith comments about how hard I have been working out and how much stronger I am, so thank you Kathy for introducing this platform!
For the month of August we are honouring Cassidy Kormant as the Super Star of the month
I have 3 kids, a four year old son, 2 year old son, and one year old daughter. After lending my body to my three babies for the past 5 years or so, I was very excited to have my body back and determined to get back into shape. I started working out when my daughter was about 5 months old, doing at home work out videos. I lost a lot of my excess weight but had hit a bit of a plateau in strength and toning. That’s when a friend introduced me to SweatBank, and I thought it was worth a shot. I have lost inches, toned muscles, and become stronger than even before having children. I continue to feel motivated because I can see the benefits I am getting from participating in this workout group. I do this to help keep up with my three young kids and to take some time to focus on myself a few times a week so that I feel fulfilled and energized to be the best mom that I can be.”For the month of July we are honouring Jill Kirchmann as the Super Star of the month
Big thanks to Kathy for SweatBank! And thanks to all the amazing women in this community who are so supportive and encouraging! I’ve always been an active person but I need a routine that’s easy to stick to. When I moved to Norway a couple years ago, that routine was gone and I just couldn’t get one going. I started doing Kathy’s online workouts back in January and it has been perfect for me. I love that I can do them at home and they are challenging, and I never get bored because everyday there’s a new workout. I also appreciate that Kathy is hands-on and responds to our questions quickly. And big props to Kyle for all his help too! Since I started in January, I feel so much better (physically and mentally) and I can wear clothes that haven’t fit me in a long time… like my “these-shorts-are-probably-too-short-for-a-46-year-old jean shorts! Yay!”
For the month of June we are honouring Cathy Buhlman as the Super Star of the month.
Kathy, thank you so much I feel honored.
I am 59 years young in July and since retiring from nursing felt my life was getting sedentary. In Dec when I saw this opportunity I jumped on it. I have previously joined gyms, played sand volleyball, did karate, swimming, bike riding and thought it was time to get active again. I did the 30/30 then the 30/30 plus. I did not do the ultra as my knees where killing me. When we came home from Florida had an ultrasound and nothing showing to prevent me from exercising. So back at with glucosamine as my desert after breaky… I love doing this in my home, while rocking to the 80’s (yup I am old) on the satellite and usually in the morning then I start my day.The support from all you ladies that we get and give is awesome. The recipes, different challenges makes it easier for life style changes.
I love it and want to thank all you sweat ladies. Keep on sweating and here’s to more drops in the bucket!PS I think I am feeling something in my arm aka biceps yeah….
