Today, I am shining the spotlight on HomeBodies’ member Michele Schaechter.  I met Michele several years ago at the gym.  She started taking my small group TRX training class and that is when I really got to know her and witness her dedication to her health & fitness.  TRX is not an easy class (especially my way-lol) and Michele was in it 100%.  She had the strength for it -that was evident.  She focused on her form and balance.  She understood what the class required.

One day during a TRX session, Michele told our small group that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer.  And while I have no doubt it was a very scary time for her, she never let the uncertainty get in the way of her fitness.  In fact, I think she pushed harder.  She stayed incredibly positive and she came out the other side even stronger.  I am in awe of her.

This past winter, Michele and her husband rented a place in Florida to test the waters for a possible move down south.  She NEVER missed a HomeBodies class while she was down there!  In fact, she celebrated a 365-day exercise streak while she was there!!!  She brought her weights, her bands and her yoga mat and she set up shop in her apartment.  She logged in every morning and she worked hard in every single class.  Her dedication to her fitness is so impressive.  Here is a bit more of her fitness story:

Q: Have you always exercised or is it something that you came to later in life?

A: Exercise has always been part of my life.  Over the years, I have increased the number of days I exercise in a week.  I’m now at 7 days a week.  I attribute the increase to Covid and my Apple Watch that tracks my workouts.

Q: Why do you exercise?  What do you enjoy about it?

A: That’s a loaded question.  I have always been neurotic about my weight (not necessarily a healthy thing to be).  So my initial reason I started exercising was to maintain my weight.  But I realized that I get so much more out of it.  Exercising has benefited me both physically and mentally.

Q: What is your favorite exercise?

A: I like to work out my arms the most.  I also like to do cardio.

Q: What is your least favorite exercise?

A: I don’t like to go on any cardio machines.  I find it monotonous and boring.

Q: Tell us about your 365-day exercise streak! Was it intentional? Accidental?  How did it make you feel?

A: It started at the beginning of Covid.  Since everything was shut down, there was very little to do.  It was never my intention to work out every day for a year. But the closer I got to the goal, the more determined I was to achieve it.  I’m now at over 420 straight days of exercise (longer now).  It stresses me in a way because one day I know that I will have to break the streak.

Q: What do you see as your biggest improvement?

A: My stamina has definitely improved.  I also have more arm and leg strength.

Q: What is your next personal fitness goal?

A: 730 days of straight exercising!

Q: You took HomeBodies with you on your extended stay out of town.  How was that?

A: Since I was living in Florida for a few months, I didn’t feel any differently about exercising while I was down there.  It was my home away from home.  I never thought about not doing it.  It’s part of my daily routine.

Q: How do you stay motivated?

A: I love the way exercising makes me feel.  I also saw how quickly I recovered from my breast cancer surgery.  The surgeon said that was mostly due to the shape I was in going into the surgery.  I know as I get older, the shape I’m in can only help me.

Q: Tell us 1 thing about yourself we may not know!

A: I eat sweets every day!  Not healthy sweets either!  That’s my biggest vice and I’m never going to give it up!