This month, we’re highlighting a special member of our community who has experienced an incredible transformation. Barbara Russell-Mahoney has shed weight, gained muscle, and is now in the running to win Ms. Health & Fitness. Barbara has beautifully shared her story with us below, and she is a true example that it is never too late to change your life for the better! We’re proud to introduce you to our ElliptiGO Rider Of The Month July 2019 in her own words:
I am 52 years young and married to my soulmate, Craig, whom I met at the local coffee shop. We have a beautiful 10-year-old daughter named Emma and two handsome black labs, Pepper and Prince (Charming). We live in Sioux Lookout in the North-Western third of the province of Ontario in Canada. I have been working as a Family Doctor in the Sioux Lookout region for the past 23 years. I also work as the Chief of Staff of the Sioux Lookout Meno Ya Win Health Centre Hospital where we strive to be a centre of excellence in First Nations and northern health care for the region.
My late father, Peter Russell, a retired Royal Canadian Airforce Pilot, had introduced me to running when I was in my early teens and I soon became a competitive runner. I then suffered from an acute knee injury, which prevented me from running. After several years of riding an elliptical machine at the gym, I wondered if someone had invented an Elliptical machine that moves outdoors. I searched online and discovered ElliptiGO bikes. ElliptiGO is a godsend and has enabled me to exercise and train with no joint pain. It is running without impact and has become one of my passions. I am very thankful to Bryan Pate, Brent Teal, and the entire ElliptiGO community!!!
In 2017, my father passed away from postoperative complications. I struggled with his passing, found comfort in food, and reached my highest weight in January 2018. At that time, I saw an advertisement for a 12-week bodybuilding transformation challenge. I reflected on my late father’s teachings regarding reaching for optimal health and decided to take the necessary steps to get myself into shape.
I reflected on “why” I wanted to transform my health and set a goal. This goal along with commitment, a calorie deficit, cardio, and weightlifting, brought me positive results.
Incorporating ElliptiGO training as my cardio, both indoors and outdoors for up to one hour twice daily, and weightlifting one hour a day for 5 to 6 days a week, has enabled me to lose over 55 pounds.
I feel very fortunate to have discovered the ElliptiGO community. I am thankful for the camaraderie, support, and challenges that are offered. ElliptiGO bikes have significantly changed my life for the better. I try to ride my ElliptiGO bike daily and often twice a day through the summer season. In winter, or when necessary to ride inside, I will hop on my ElliptiGO bike on a trainer. I often do high-intensity interval training workouts, and both my endurance and core strength have significantly improved. I have a true passion for riding my ElliptiGO. I currently have two 11Rs as well as a green 8S, which I keep at my mother’s home in Alberta, so I can continue to ride there when visiting.
A friend recently encouraged me to enter the Ms. Health and Fitness contest. I have also recently entered the 12-week Oxygen 5 Challenge for women. In the Ms. Health and Fitness contest, there were several groups of 60 women. I am currently in 4th place in my group and the top 5 women in each group of 60 will make it to the next round. There will then be two final rounds to choose the overall winner. The Ms. Health and Fitness contest, Oxygen 5 Challenge, and the ElliptiGO community have provided me with motivation to continue striving for optimal health and to share the message that it is never too late to transform. I am thankful to so many ElliptiGO riders around the world who have inspired me to improve my health. Make the commitment, set a goal, celebrate the positives, learn from the challenges you face, and you will succeed in obtaining optimal health and fitness. We are all capable of more than we think possible when we choose to improve our health. As we mature in age, achieving and maintaining optimal health is vital to enable us to make an optimal contribution to family and the world around us. Make the commitment and identify why you want to transform. Set a goal and let your “why” help drive you forward. Let’s continue to GO for it. We’ve GOt this:)!
You can vote for Barbara in the Ms. Health & Fitness contest. Simply click here. You can vote once every 24 hours. We’re all rooting for you, Barbara!
