08/27/2025
"You don't really post progress pictures of members anymore."
It's true. I don't.
But it's not because it's not happening.
It's because I decided I wanted to go a different direction with this program, focusing inward on confidence, healthy relationships with food, getting strong for life, enjoying life without guilt, etc.
From there, letting that inner shift reflect outward.
That is the criteria for progress pictures, now:
1) Have they done and are continuing to do the inner work?
2) Is that inner work reflected in their life? (Physical changes, confidence, strength)
Once those are met and the member CHOOSES to give me their story, that's when I will share it.
And that is exactly what happened here for Beth! š«¶
Help me congratulate her on all her success on her journey! š
She truly shines from the inside out āØ
Read Beth's badass full story here:
"July of this year marked my fourth anniversary with Strong by Ash B. When I started, I believe it was still called Ash B Fitāthis program has truly come a long way since then!
When I joined, I was in the thick of what I now call the perimenopause from hell, quickly transitioning into the menopause from hell. I was overweight, constantly dealing with joint and muscle pain, brain fog, and balance issues (I even broke my ankle in 2022 just tripping over my own feet). My back āwent outā regularly, and my life was largely sedentary thanks to a high-stress job as a school district administrator in the post-COVID era.
Back then, I told myself that if I managed just one or two resistance workouts a week, it was still more than nothing. I dipped in and out of the program over those first three years, always intending to do moreānot just for my weight, but for my overall health.
In June 2023, I retired after 29 years in education. The photo here was taken at my retirement party, and truthfully, I was miserable in my body. I was dealing with knee pain from an injury I couldnāt even pinpoint. An MRI later showed my meniscus was shredded. The orthopedic doctor told me surgery wouldnāt help, and that Iād likely need a knee replacement within 18 months. I was only 54 years old and devastated.
I spent weeks icing, stretching, and babying my knee, adding supplements and researching ways to minimize arthritis pain. I eventually returned to workouts that fall but still lacked consistency. Around the same time, I was working with a functional medicine doctor who recommended supplements, hormone replacement therapy, and a GLP-1 medication (semaglutide). While I lost about 18 pounds on the medication, I stalled out, especially after having a full hysterectomy in April 2024.
At some point, the lightbulb went off: I had to do the work. Supplements, meds, and inconsistent workouts werenāt enough. In September 2024, I committed to nutrition and consistency. I converted a basement room into a home gym, bought a walking pad (eventually upgraded to a treadmill), and modified exercises to accommodate my knee. Slowly but surely, I began to notice progress.
I started tracking my workouts and holding myself accountable week by week. By August 25, 2025, I had completed a full year of trackingā260 scheduled resistance workouts. I only missed 18 (and not because I skippedāseveral of those were for medical procedures like varicose vein treatments). That means I hit 94% consistency in one year, something Iāve never achieved in my entire life!
The results speak for themselves: Iām down 60 pounds, I feel stronger, and I move through daily life with less pain. I walk 8,000ā10,000 steps a day, sometimes adding in a quick Ash 15-minute cardio session for extra movement. I track my food on MyFitnessPal, focusing on protein and balance (yes, even with the occasional giant margarita - see photo).
Most importantly, I feel better than I have in 15 years. My cholesterol and inflammation markers are in the green, Iāve stopped taking blood pressure meds, and while my knee still reminds me to be careful, Iām nowhere near needing that replacement.
I call Strong by Ash B part of my ānursing home prevention programā (thank you, Dr. Mary Claire Haver, for that phrase). And itās true. This program has given me strength, confidence, and the tools to take charge of my health in midlife and beyond.
Iām also deeply grateful for the community. I love doing this program with friends and family who keep me motivatedāthank you, Cara, Cynthia, and Jennifer. And Ashleeāyou are the most real fitness expert Iāve ever known. Your honesty, humor, and ā3, 2, 1 with Ash!ā approach keep me showing up.
This program has changed my life."
