About Holly Ryan

---

 Before I began my fitness journey, I had tried EVERY fad diet out there! Probably since I was 16 yrs old. Growing up in the 80’s-90’s it was NOT ACCEPTABLE to be fluffy, fat, overweight, pudgy , obese etc. Society stated that in order for you to be attractive you needed to be thin, and the thinner the better. Boy did that mess with my body image and insecurities. With every fad diet I tried I would lose a good amount of weight, not all were in a healthy way and then I would gain it all back. By the time I was in my early 30’s I was beyond frustrated and super insecure with my body, and my own image of my body.

In 2018, I found a Coach that would help me and help my Roller Derby career take off. I heard that she was super nice and had fun challenges all the time. I looked her up and I was like um, wow, this is probably for real, like I am going to have to really work at this and it will be a life change and I probably will have to give up all food’s blah blah like all the other dumb fad diets.  BUT I wanted to hear what she had to say, so I booked a call with her.

After my call with her, my eyes were opened and I really felt like… “If I do not do this now, what am I going to be like in my 40’s, 50’s”? I need to make a change PERIOD. So, I signed up for the program and committed the next 12 weeks to learn how to change my lifestyle. Once I finished the 12 weeks, I wanted MORE and signed up for the 1-year program!

One of the BIGGEST things I learned during this time was there is no such thing as good for or bad food. Food is fuel for our bodies. Also that there is NO SUCH THING as a magic pill or “diet” to make you lose healthy weight! And keep it OFF!!! During this time, I learned SO MUCH! The biggest thing I learned was more about self love, finances and boundaries in life. I learned how to love myself and to be nice to myself, treat myself well.   

While going through the program I wanted to up my derby game and play with higher ranked teams and challenge myself more. In the beginning of my journey, I could not do 25 laps in derby and non-derby direction (which was my eye opener that I needed to change) I was at my highest weight when I started and by the time I finished, I was down 39 lbs, playing derby for a recreational team, transferred to a MRDA (Mens) team and started playing rugby. I was also dropping into 2 other WFTDA leagues to challenge myself.

WHO WAS THIS NEW PERSON!  Then dreams really came true, I made NYS Allstars Roller Derby Team! WHAT??? This was HUGE considered where I HAD originally started.  I had sooo much more energy, my crap body images were going away! I got married and had the body I wanted! The dress I wanted! Then the last thing…. That after 2 miscarriages I never thought would happen…. I got pregnant and had a beautiful baby boy!

 I felt on top of the world! I was SOOO freak happy. I have formed habits into my lifestyle that make me happier than I have ever been in life!

The community in these programs REALLY helped me get through it all. Not only did I have accountability buddies, but also finding other women that are or were going through the same thing I was!!! I had 2 hands and they BOTH needed to be held! The community was SO supportive, NO JUDGMENT! That was huge to me. There are so many people that go through the same thing and do not even know about it. When you have the right support, you can do anything!!!

Once I finished these programs I wanted more and with the help and encouragement from the community and my trainer, I became a personal trainer and joined the Coaching team so that I can help people that join and let them know I understand them, and support them in any way I can! Now I’m flying on my own, and creating a new journey in my life, and I want to help anyone I can!

So if you are going through the same thing I did, or even just a part of what I went through, why wouldn’t you want to put in the work for yourself that you deserve and change your lifestyle and stop living up to society to drive what you lifestyle should be like.

I created programs promoting nourishment, Self-Love, body awareness, and self-acceptance, challenging societal norms. You learn foods to fuel your body and how to make this a lifestyle and still enjoy ALL FOODS and best of all, love yourself, your body!