Before coming into this I wasn’t sure how my body was going to react from all of my injuries and recent triple surgery. I played basketball since I was 5 and went on to play at Stanislaus but had to cut my career short due to my body practically falling apart. I frequently dislocated my elbow from a previous basketball injury and messed up my knee pretty badly at Stanislaus which left me with 30% nerve damage and practically no cartilage. Basketball and working out was my life and when that ended it was pretty difficult. I didn’t think I’d ever be able to get back to that level again. I was really hopeful coming into the boot camp but, skeptical at the same time. I didn’t want to get my hopes up and then have something go wrong during the 6 weeks that would cause me to drop out. And I am so glad that, that couldn’t be farther from the truth! Coming into the boot camp I could hardly flex my quad (bc of surgery), I ate terribly, and probably worked out once a week. I just didn’t even know where to begin. Once boot camp started I was so thankful, and I really began to feel better. When I said my eating habits were bad before, I mean bad. I didn’t eat vegetables, ever. And I had fast food or some sort of processed food at least 10 times per week. With your help though, now I stay as far from those foods as possible and don’t crave them at all. As for the working out portion of the boot camp, I LOVED it. I loved that the weeks seemed to get progressively harder. I loved that you provided assignments. But most of all I loved that you pushed me past points I didn’t think I could reach and do things that I didn’t think I’d be capable of doing! Over these 6 weeks I’ve seen my body change, I can flex my quad now, and overall I just feel stronger. I really missed exercising/working out at a competitive level and I am just so excited that my body is responding so well to this program. Now instead of working towards goals in basketball, I work towards goals for my body and push myself to new limits in a different way. I love it. I still have a lot of progress to make physically but mentally I’ve now realized that this is a life style change. It’s not a diet and it’s not a phase for me, it’s about being healthy and staying healthy and I think that’s the biggest thing that you’ve taught me. You’ve inspired me to make a lifestyle change and have given me the tools to continue for the rest of my life. I seriously could not be any more grateful for you or this program you’ve created. It’s changed my life and I will forever be grateful for you and this experience!
-Erin Santiago
