Lisa Koehler
Drab to Fab Life
Like many women balancing work, motherhood, and rebuilding through life’s hardest seasons, Lisa Koehler pushed through until burnout forced her to pause. Her comeback didn’t arrive in one big breakthrough. It began with “tiny, almost unnoticeable choices. One glass of water. One workout. One quiet promise to myself to keep going.”
Instead of jumping into strict routines, she began with grace choosing things she enjoyed rather than things she “should” do. Morning stretches, dancing in her kitchen, a walk in the sunshine—small joys became the foundation for real change.
Time, she believes, isn't found, it's created. Ten minutes here, twenty minutes there. “When you stop waiting for ‘the perfect hour,’ you realize you had time all along.” For her, three things made the biggest difference: staying hydrated, moving for at least 20 minutes most days, and prioritizing protein at every meal.
“I focus on how I feel, not just how I look.” After losing 60 pounds, she says she feels proud knowing she did something good for herself.
Her advice? “Everyone’s comeback looks different. Listen to your body, honor your season, find the joy in it and give yourself permission to begin again today, in the smallest way possible.”
Jenise Bryson
bodybyjenise
When people don’t know how to begin, Jenise Bryson always brings it back to mindset. “I would tell someone who doesn’t know how to get started to start with intention. The mind wills the body what to do every time. Start by programming your mind. Daily affirmations. How you start will be how you finish! Thoughts have wings. ‘I am strong.’ Then act. Example: How do I make myself strong?”
Just like her mindset approach, Jenise keeps fitness simple—and effective. “My sessions are only 30 minutes. I tell my clients you can accomplish just about anything in 30 minutes. If your fitness goals are important enough to you, you’ll make the time. Once you put forth effort two to three times a week, you’ll notice a difference in how you feel and then you’ll see the importance of slotting at least 30 minutes every day to move your body.” Her favorite challenge? “Find a hill in your neighborhood. How many times can you go up and down that hill in 10, 15, or even 30 minutes?”
Nutrition, she says, is non-negotiable. “Portion control is the one thing most people can do to get results. Abs are made in the kitchen. Eighty percent of the battle is your food choices."
And her final words of advice? “Never give up on being your best self, your best fit self. If you’re struggling and you need accountability, hire a fitness trainer someone who understands your journey and is willing to go the distance with you. A strong body speaks discipline on another level!”
“Time isn’t found; it’s created. When you stop waiting for the perfect hour, you realize you had time all along.” -Lisa Koehler
“Start with intention. Thoughts have wings. Tell yourself, ‘I am strong’ then act on it."-Jenise Bryson