Ashley

It’s been a long, on-and-off fitness journey for me. I first started with Imago back in 2016 at what I thought was the heaviest and unhealthiest I had ever been. I was never able to really stick to being disciplined once I was “off program.” My mentality was “I’m free” and could go off and eat whatever I wanted, then snap back into it once I felt that I started to put my progress in jeopardy, but that didn’t work. It eventually got to the point where I would get comfortable and ended up adjusting to losing the progress I had made.

Over the years, once I’d hit a “rock bottom” in my journey, I’d rely on Imago to whip me back into shape in hopes that one day, I’d be disciplined enough to JUST STICK TO IT. I was always so ashamed and mad at myself, but never once did Coach Huong make me feel that way. She learned about me, my mental state at times and how I reacted to stressors in my life and was always supportive in helping me stay on track in a way that wasn’t forceful. If I needed a break during the program to adjust to whatever was going on in life, she understood and made it ok for me to have one.

I always referred to the saying that “a fitness journey is a marathon, not a sprint," whenever I beat myself up about not sticking to / maintaining my progress and routines. Going to Imago all these years helped keep me accountable with having fitness on my mind even if it wasn’t top of my mind. It was that reminder in the back of my head that I needed to not lose complete control, and it was the support I needed regardless of where I was.

This last stint, I started up again in 2019 a bit before the pandemic hit full blown. I was getting married in 2021 and knew it would take me a long time to get to where I wanted to be for my wedding so I figured the sooner start, the better. I was doing well, then covid hit. Our worlds were turned upside down, kids were home for school, I started working from home and had to learn how to juggle this new life. It was such a stressful time and I was resistant to this new world for the first few months.

After adjusting, I told myself to stay on top of all the progress I had made, and not gonna lie, having a wedding in the works definitely helped with my discipline - something in me just clicked! Before I got too comfortable not working out due to all the gym closures, I decided to get a Peloton to at least stay on top of cardio until I could return to the gym. It definitely helped and once I was able to make the return to Imago, I was at my peak! I had found the work/life harmony I never knew I could have which also included my workout routine. Although I wasn’t on a program, I was able to find the discipline of balancing my diet well enough to still be able to eat what I wanted and still work towards my personal goals. I had cardio down and kept up with personal training to help me focus on toning and gaining strength. Thanks to Coach Huong and Coach Hien for helping hold me accountable and for being my support in working towards my fitness goals.

Persistence

Raven:

“Like a lot of you out there, I’ve tried every diet and trend there is. Hiits, Yoga, spin class, jogging, beach body, whole 30, paleo, low carb, vegetarianism - you name it, I’ve likely tried it. Generally speaking, I ate pretty healthy and led a moderately active lifestyle and could NOT figure out why i was unable to lose weight or any belly fat. After a lot of research, I reached out to Huong at Imago.

She was amazingly fast at responding back, generous with answering questions and made me confident that working with her would be a great start to my fitness journey. I signed up for the 12 week transformation program and it was the best decision I’ve made. Huong has been amazing, guiding me through meal planning and macros; teaching me how and why weight lifting can really help with fat loss; and being that pillar of support to keep me strong through my journey.

Where every fad workout or diet has failed, I’ve seen results working with Huong. The best thing is, it’s up to you to decide when you are ready to spread your wings and venture off solo. As long as you feel that you need structure and guidance, Huong and the Imago family are there for you. I can’t wait to continue working with Huong and feel so lucky to have found her.”

Teamwork

Reggie:

“For a majority of my life I’ve been athletic and have lifted weights. Then came kids and COVID and I started slipping. I did a lot of “supporting my local restaurants” during lockdown which led to some rapid weight gain. My wife gifted me a fitness transformation to Imago for Christmas. Perfect - I hate crowded gyms and large gyms were closed due to the pandemic. 12 weeks and 30 pounds less I’m feeling great. Coach Huong was supportive and customized my meals to my liking - even though she never included ribs on my meal plan. She knows best!”

Melissa:

“Meal prep is life. We even meal prep for our raw-fed Great Dane. Even though meal prep takes time, the weeks seem smoother when your meals are done. There was no meal prep during COVID. Just binge grocery shopping and eating everything because the world was a mess. We had to get it together. I knew what to do. I’ve done this before. We needed a reset. I contacted Coach Huong and went back to Imago. I love the intimacy of the gym and the structure of the meal plans. Now we are back on track armed with healthy, balanced meals and work out plans!”

The Journey to the Altar!

It almost feels like I can’t remember life before I joined Imago. It’s been two and a half years and so much has changed in my life: two new jobs, surviving 1.5 years of long distance, and now I’m getting married to the man I’ve loved for the last ten years!

Throughout these periods of stress and joy, I’ve been so grateful to have something constant in my life to come back to. I wasn’t always 100% on my meal plan or workouts, but they were there whenever I needed them and I knew what to do. It’s so empowering to be in control of my weight and body image: I finally have the recipe for success.

Beyond the workouts and meal plans, I have a solid group of women who I know will be my life long friends. We laugh together, we cry together, and we support each other through life’s ups and downs. I love that we all share our expertise with one another: combined, we can do anything! I can’t thank Imago enough for bringing these fabulous humans into my world.

Next time you see me, I’ll be a married woman, but I wouldn’t be the “me” I am today without Imago. Thank you to all the babes who make this community such a special place, and to Sarah and Huong for creating this space for us.

NEVELLE // Balancing the Silicon Valley Hustle

For the last seven years, I found myself keeping up with the Silicon Valley hustle. As I pause and reflect, I realize now that I quickly forgot who I was and where I came from. I lost sight of the fact that I was an athlete —I played basketball and used to wake up at 6:00 am for water polo practice. Over time, I didn't prioritize physical care and instead always had an excuse for not working out. I continued to complain about my weight gain and always being tired during the day.

“I found myself keeping up with the Silicon Valley hustle. As I pause and reflect, I realize now that I quickly forgot who I was and where I came from.”

During the 12-week program with IMAGO I remembered how much physical activity not only helped me lose weight but also brought out my fearless spirit. Now, don't get me wrong, it's satisfying setting a fitness goal and accomplishing it. But it's even better when you and your loved ones recognize your energy level and zest for life is back. Before this transformation journey, I was hesitant to go beyond my comfort zone and pursue new challenges. I realize my resistance was from feeling uncomfortable in my own body —the body I knew was strong, didn't always have back pain, and was willing to try new activities. 

“…it's satisfying setting a fitness goal and accomplishing it. But it's even better when you and your loved ones recognize your energy level and zest for life is back.”

I'm forever grateful for my trainer Sarah for encouraging me throughout the sessions. She always explained the workouts well and helped me build my strength. I have a new love for weightlifting and feel motivated to push myself beyond what I think I'm capable of. You'd be amazed at how those endorphins not only make you feel happy but also more available to be there for others.  I've also loved meeting women with different backgrounds —especially the working mamas who still make time to get to the gym! It's inspiring as I want to be a parent someday and keep these habits.  

As for the food journey, it can be emotional because sharing a meal can bring joy to our lives. I wanted to find the right balance for learning how to eat well while still maintaining some flexibility. The beauty of the IMAGO program is you have a chance to incorporate long-lasting eating habits that go beyond a temporary diet. By the right habits, I mean not only grabbing cocktails or dessert with your friends (because, yes, that's important and fun too!) but also balancing it with taking care of your health. My husband and I love visiting new restaurants and I thought this program was going to interrupt our fancy dinner dates. We ended up cooking more together, which has given us a new way to enjoy our favorite food. IMAGO was also flexible with modifying the meals depending on my preferences. I loved learning about the optimal foods and vitamins to fuel my body before and after a workout. IMAGO is one of the few programs I've found that integrates a workout routine and nutrition to feel strong and see a physical change. 

I encourage you to think about why you want to pursue your own goals. I've learned everyone is different and you can't always compare your journey to others. If you feel that your health or body-consciousness is getting in the way of pursuing relationships and being fully present in life than try out IMAGO. I promise it's more than losing weight and will impact you and others more than you expected.

“I encourage you to think about why you want to pursue your own goals. I promise it's more than losing weight and will impact you and others more than you expected.”

NEVELLE

OVERALL INCHES LOST: 16”

OVERALL WEIGHT LOST: 17 LBS