A Journey to Being More Fit

By Ainsley McSorley

I feel compelled to share my journey with fitness. I had on the surface what most would envy. I developed what appeared to be such extreme self discipline (seemingly out of nowhere) that had I been an onlooker I would have thought wow that girl might be on stage with Tony Robbins before I know it.

When I look back on it now I'm not sure if it was discipline or the fueling of my ego.

I was addicted to – those words of affirmation I so deeply longed for.

I was studying Human Nutritional sciences in university. I was working in a restaurant/lounge constantly surrounded by food and drinks and indulgence. I was coming off a run of weekly nightclub appearances and late night fast food...you know the life of a university student at its finest!

I had gained weight yet for some reason I hadn’t quite noticed until one day in 2006 I looked down and my body looked foreign to me.

Lying in bed that night I was reading a fitness magazine and saw an ad for a fitness competition coming to Winnipeg…boom, done I was going to compete to lose this weight and to learn how to workout. I had approx. 12 weeks. Right then and there I began researching, I began dieting – not 1 cheat for 12 weeks – I began working out 6 days a week and my 22 year old body easily transformed to a 4th place victory on that stage. I remember friends saying “its only 12 weekends until you party with us again,” or myself counting down the days until I could inhale a bag of chips the second I stepped off the stage. I was officially addicted…all the words of affirmation, the incredible photos, the attention!

Not knowing at the time, words of affirmation being my love language and being surrounded with loved ones who didn’t speak the same language I was in my glory.

From that 1st competition I completed 3 months of dieting – compete – binge - repeat cycle for the next 6 years. I won titles, competed all over North America (have you ever seen a fitness competitor win 1st place, have her friends waiting in the audience and go straight to a Miami nightclub to binge on alcohol and late night pizza? Healthy for sure).

I became a sponsored athlete with a major supplement company attending tradeshows, I won Pro titles and I even accomplished my lifelong goal of being on the cover of fitness magazines.

I opened my own business throughout all of this and it was immediately successful.

I had it all didn’t I?

Well no. I had a degree I was barely using. I lived a severe binge/restrict lifestyle. I was emotionally shut down. My emotions were screaming for love, for connection, I was living in loneliness. Sure I had a fiancé by this time, I had friends and family but I couldn’t let them in, I didn’t know how. In efforts to satisfy my unsatisfaction I kept attaining to accomplish more, it gave me a (short) sense of love and quieted my inner voice. Thankfully my business exploded and it was a newfound pleasure for me, I stopped competing and learned a more balanced approach to life but the deeper cycle continued on to the point where I ended up

34, two kids under 2, had sold my business and I was stuck.

Luckily for me my scope of fitness had expanded during my pregnancies leading me to further study Holistic Health Coaching. This traumatic event jolted me into an awakening where I decided to look inwards for the first time in my life and I found the strength to dedicate an entire year (and forever of course) to learning about myself, the mind-body-soul connection.

I grew exponentially as a person but I also grew exponentially as a coach.

Having lost everything and learning to accept my place in life at the time allowed me to graciously accept and love the real me. Not the me with abs. It's this, that I want for every person I work with. It's been 3 years now since I moved into a small rental house completely on my own with my pack in tow and I have recently been able to relaunch the piece of me who helps others. I could not be more proud to say that even with close to 15 years experience I am a brand new Personal Trainer. Coach Ains was born; your holistic, emotional – physical – mental wellbeing coach.

Wellness is not about the scale, burpees and abs. Wellness is healing from the inside out, its practicing positive mindset, its releasing fears and limiting beliefs, and its choosing to believe in yourself.

I would love to have you join me on my virtual bootcamp. Mention this story for a free week with us. Email and train with me today!

Ainsley McSorley has worked in the fitness and nutrition industry for almost 15 years. Her passion for wellness has not changed yet her scope of practice continues to grow. Ainsley believes that fitness isn't about the scale but more so about the entire umbrella of wellness encompassing the body mind and the soul. Ainsley carries a BSc. in Human Nutrition, a diploma in Holistic Nutrition Coaching, is a certified Personal Trainer and is an entrepreneur at heart. She is a single mother of 2 and takes a realistic approach to inspire you to be your best YOU!