I’m your average American mom trying to get through each and every day with joy in her heart… I’ve been blessed with an incredible husband and two wonderful children. I believe that women need to take more time to take care of themselves so that they can then care for everyone else effectively. Fitness is a passion of mine and I believe that God intends for us to take care of our bodies as stewards of His creation.
I’ve been teaching fitness classes as a hobby since 1996 (1996-2006 with the Firm, 2007-present with bodyFIT) and I’ve also led some workout videos as well. I want women to see that they are called to be examples of fitness for their families and that God has made each and every one of us to be strong and powerful according to His purpose. My fitness certifications include Group Exercise Trainer, Personal Trainer and Internet Trainer, all by AFAA.
August 16, 2008 at 7:12 pm
Dear Stephanie,
I’ve worked out in many ways over the last 20 years (I just turned 50), but your FIRM DVDs have by far been the most challenging. I have a FIRM box (the blue contraption), but like the Transfirmer better. I’m a science teacher, and since I’m short, brought the blue thing to my classroom to use as a step stool since the Transfirmer seems to work with all the DVDs I have. I told my husband last night I found your blog (he’s watched me do your DVDs), and just tonight, he found a DVD of your’s at Ross for $5: Express Cardio. I’ll do it tomorrow. I go to a gym, but only so many good step classes. I love most of the FIRM DVDs (Ultimate Calorie Burn is killer), and I would love to hear from you…maybe you could give me some advice as how to keep doing step and aerobics which I love so much as a 50 year-old woman who is sometimes having feet and knee issues…being that they get sore and make it harder to work out. I have the energy and the stamina, but sometimes my feet and knees bother me so much, I have to take time off. Take care, and God bless you and your family. You sound like a good, Christian woman, as I am, and I look forward to getting up tomorrow at 5 a.m. (ugh!) to do Express Cardio of the Fast and Firm Series before going to teach Sunday School, and then Church. Take Care,
Debbie Fulton
New Port Richey, Florida
August 16, 2008 at 9:56 pm
Debbie:
Thanks so much for your post! I hope you enjoy doing Express Cardio tomorrow morning. I’ve heard some feedback that the steps can be kind of tricky at first, but that once you get them they’re a lot of fun, so hang in there! You may want to take it easy on the tall box climb portion if your knees bother you and do it on a regular step the first few times.
As far as the knees and the feet are concerned, I always first remind people that I have no medical training at all, so all I can do is make a few sugggestions, so now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, here goes
- I take glucosamine and it really does make a difference for my knees. You may want to talk to your doctor about it if you’ve never tried it.
- Make sure your shoes are in good shape and that they offer plenty of support for your feet. Bad shoes will hurt your knees as quickly as they’ll hurt your feet.
- If an impact move gives you trouble, keep it low impact – but DON’T lessen the intensity of your move. I know this sounds kind of confusing, but let’s say plyometrics bother your knees so you stick with a grounded side to side squat. Make sure that you’re sinking deep into the squat for maximum muscle recruitment and not just going through the basic motion.
- If something on the tall box bothers you, just take it down to the step box – making sure that you go through with a full range of motion so that you’re not shortening your moves any more than you have to for good form.
- If you can do leg press without weights with no problems, go for it! It’s such a great exercise so if you have to trade having no weights in order to do a set, that’s what I’d recommend.
-And you may want to be sure that you’re putting in rest days appropriately so that when you push your lower body, you give your legs plenty of time to recover.
As far as being a good, Christian woman, that is my goal. I know that accepting the gift of the grace of Christ has made me a Christian and that He loves me and has a plan for me (despite all the ways I’ve tried to ignore Him and go with my own plan). I don’t know how anyone can go through life looking only inward. God’s plan is so much more exciting than anything I could ever dream of! I want all women to see that God has great things in store for each of us and that we are all uniquely gifted according to how He has made us in His image.
Have fun in Sunday school tomorrow and please keep in touch!
Steph
August 23, 2008 at 9:31 pm
Hi, Stephanie! I just discovered your blog through Video Fitness forums. I remember you from the Firm workouts you instructed, and also some of the ones you appeared in, I think maybe the Core Cardio workouts. I have all of the pre-2000 Firm workouts, and still do them here and there, alternating them with other instructors. I just wanted to say that I appreciate your Christian testimony and your commitment to family. My son and daughter are now in college and high school, but those early toddler years seem as if they were just yesterday. It’s a blessing to read about the joy you have in God and in your family. I’ve been so encouraged by your blog. I’ll keep you and your family in my prayers. I look forward to future updates in your blog. Thanks.
August 25, 2008 at 3:55 pm
Well hello stranger! I’m so happy I happened upon your blog site…i’ll be sure to bookmark it so i can check back often and stay in touch.
hope all is well by you. things have settled down here. Em starts back to school 9/3.
hugs!
Lis
October 21, 2008 at 5:18 pm
Stephanie:
I just discovered your blog and am thrilled that it’s here! I’ve been doing Firm workouts since my 2004 pregnancy, and “Express Cardio” is one of my favorites. I agree, the footwork took some practicing, but it was totally worth it.
I’m also excited to read that you’re a Christian as well. I lead a program called First Place 4 Health at my church, and I’m a big believer in taking care of ourselves as an extension of our faith. It’s always such an encouragement to hear when a favorite instructor is putting Christ first in her life, too!
Thanks for your work on the blog– I’ll be checking back in regularly!
Sincerely,
Laura Hartness
http://FirstPlaceVictory.blogspot.com
http://www.FirstPlace4Health.com
October 21, 2008 at 7:42 pm
Thanks for the post Laura! Your congregation is lucky to have you I’m sure. I wish more churches would focus on nurturing the health of their members as it’s just so important…
Have a wonderful week and thanks for stopping by!
Steph
November 2, 2008 at 5:20 pm
Stephanie…
Hey! I don’t think you remember me, I only met you for a brief second 2 years ago before I went to run the 1/2 marathon in Columbia. I also wanted you to meet my father a couple of years ago…he loves your SBS video and does it religiously…you were tied up that day so we hung out with Nancy T. at the studio.
I have lost touch with the Firm forum…still do the videos and workouts and I just recently went back and checked Nancy’s site and I didn’t see your name mentioned under the bios…are you still with BodyFit?
Anyway…I love your comments about how we should treat out body and using it the way God created it. I agree strongly with that point. After having been a couch potato for most of my life and then finding fitness and a healthy lifestyle, I can’t imagine going back. Some days I think my mental health has changed so much more than my physical. I just look at life so differently now…and enjoy life so much more now.
I miss hanging out with you guys at the website, but all things must change…after you all left, I found that I needed to use my time more productively. Not that I didn’t get tons of wonderful support from the Firm forum, but I spent too much of my day on it, and decided that is not what God wants for me. I traded my food addiction for a computer addiction:) Now I use my new health and new body to help others and complete my journey down here…whatever that may be. Take care Stephanie…Tell Nancy T. I said hi!
Sherry Lyons
November 7, 2008 at 11:11 pm
Sherry:
Believe it or not, I think I remember us talking about your father and Super Body Sculpt!! I still haven’t gotten the nerve to run the 1/2 marathon here in Columbia…but one of these days I hope to report back to y’all that I did it
It’s nice to see someone else who agrees with me on my philosophy of fitness and how it fits into God’s plan. I’ve been surprised and excited to touch base with other women who get it and who have found out exactly what you said – it can be more mental than physical – but we have to be good stewards of the physical to get that mental/spiritutal connection with fitness.
I do teach at BodyFit every now and then but usually it’s only once or twice a month. I’ve almost become a total “home exerciser” which has been an exciting transformation for me in terms of having a better understanding of what people who work out at home really need.
Please keep in touch and stop by anytime!!
Steph
November 21, 2008 at 11:01 pm
Hi Stephanie,
My name is Jessica and I’m 25 years old. I live in Orange County, CA and am a mother of two. My daughter is four and my son is two. I am in the process of divorcing my abusive husband who nearly killed me about four months ago and is getting released from jail soon. My life has been incredibly difficult lately to say the least. On top of all that my son Nathan is showing symptoms of autism and is being evaluated. During this time, one of the ways I’ve been keeping it all together is by taking time out for myself when my children are napping and doing the Firm Box workout almost every single day. Doing this has really been a blessing for me not only physically, but emotionally and spiritually as well. I can’t explain what prompted me to actually google a fitness instructor but once I started reading your blog I totally understood why God placed it in my heart to seek you out. I want to thank you for everything you stand for, I would have never guessed you were such an amazing woman of faith…but then again, people probably look at my long blond hair, skinny jeans and heels and don’t take me for one either. I feel blessed to have come across your sight and to be able to say I share your beautiful faith. Take care and God Bless,
Jessica
January 16, 2009 at 4:21 pm
Stephanie,
I just wanted to say that I love your blog! Your blog is full of a wealth of information. Thank you for taking the time to post and share!
There’s a message board that is an off-shoot from the original Firm Forum with a lot of members that have followed you through the Firm and bodyFit. This board is starting a “Pro Shop” which is a place for professionals to post informative/helpful articles. We wondered if you would be interested in posting an article on this forum. If you have any questions please feel free to email me.
Thanks,
Sonya
February 26, 2009 at 2:11 am
Hi Stephanie!!
Congratulations on your awesome blog and upcoming website!! I don’t know if I told you this during the videos, but I am a Christian, too! Anyway, I look forward to seeing the final product and I was wondering if you knew where I could get more of those awesome purple bands?
Thanks and blessings!!
Selah