Member of the Month (Jan 2018): Kathy & Karine

So January is known to be “New Year New You” month right? Well if there was a story that should motivate you to get up and get moving, it’s this one! I’m so proud to announce this month’s memberS of the month, Kathy and Karine. Yup.. we are congratulating a duo this month… these besties, who are moms in their late forties, are my morning BEASTS. They are strong, fit, energetic, and endlessly motivated. I’m continuously amazed at their abilities, from a fitness trainer’s perspective, and for the past five years, I have loved to call them my friends as well. Congrats ladies.. we applaud you! Check out my interview with these beauties below:

Congrats ladies on being the first member of the month of 2018, and our first DUO winners! So let’s start off by establishing your ages:
Actually we’re both 47 and we both have 2 kids haha.

Kathy: I have 2 girls… Karine: I have 1 boy and 1 girl.

How did you hear about KEEN? And what made you try it out?
Kathy: I found KEEN on Instagram actually … I totally remember that day to be honest with you. Karine’s cousin was coming here, so I asked her how is it, how she liked it ? She loved it so I decided to give it a try.

Karine: So Kathy and I were going to Total Woman gym for years, and when Kathy discovered KEEN, we decided to try it. Ankeen had just opened her doors for only a couple months actually, and we were getting really bored of Total Woman, so it seemed like an exciting thing to try.

Can you describe you first day and what you thought?
Kathy: I remember it sooo well. I’m not sure if Ankeen remembers. Ankeen was actually kind of impressed by our abilities. We were doing wall balls and it was doable for us, since we had always been into working out and fitness.

Karine: I was stressed and nervous to start something different, and I had never boxed. With Ankeen it was love at first sight.. I must say. And the workout ended up being totally doable, and not what I had hyped it up in my mind to be as far as the impossible.

How Long have you been coming?
Both: Ever since she opened really.. since June 2013. Wow it’s almost been 5 years. We should really celebrate our 5 year anniversary!

What is the biggest progress you’ve had?
Kathy: for sure strength. I couldn’t do any weight lifting before… I was a total cardio junkie. Gradually I increased my weights, and now I feel so strong.

Karine: At Total Woman, the heaviest weight I would pickup was probably like 8 lbs. Now I’m lifting 70-80 pounds consistently. Oh and push ups… I couldn’t do ANY pushups before, and now I’m proud to say I have mastered that.

How do you stay so driven?
Kathy: FOR SURE ANKEEN is a big part of that … she constantly motivates me.

Karine: Ankeen totally motivates me to get up early and driver over here, and our class is full of friends for me. I love seeing these women first thing in the morning.

What’s one of your favorite exercises?
Kathy: I love the bear complex a lot! Coming from a ‘cardio junkie’ that is a surprise, I know, but I love lifting the weights in this exercise. You want to know what I hate? Burpees and thrusters.

Karine: I love burpees actually… and back squats. Lower body exercises for sure.

Haha what is there to like about burpees?
Karine: I feel my whole body working… my arms, my core, my legs. It’s also great cardio so I like the efficiency of it.

Does your husband know how much of a bad ass you are?
Kathy: (quickly responds) YES! He knows how strong I am and wouldn’t mess with me haha.

Karine: I hope so…. (for his sake right?). There was a partner fitness challenge at KEEN and I asked my husband to come, and he said no twice. I don’t know if he was intimidated, but he didn’t come.

Any feedback about Ankeen?
Kathy: 10 out of 10 stars in every category. Everything she does is perfect.

Karine: I call her my sunshine, because we start our day with her and she gives me good vibes and energy every single day.

Kathy: Oh ya.. Even if you come into class not feeling it or having a bad day, you leave feeling phenomenal. She is that kind of unique soul.

Tell us something that we don’t know about you?

Kathy: I used to work at a pharmacy, and it was super stressful sometimes, and one day I told a difficult customer to ‘shut up’ over the phone. Straight up told her just to shut up. I was pregnant and not very patient (obviously), and I definitely got written up by my manager after that. I didn’t work there much longer after that .. oops! Haha.

Karine: I used to make shoes in Armenia. Like literally make them using my hands. It’s usually a male-dominated industry, but I worked at a shoe company, and I actually physically sewed the shoes.

Were they cute shoes? Ya men’s shoes that you had to sew the souls with heavy duty tools. Oh and another cute fact: I have known my husband since I was 8 years old. We went to school together all throughout and got married.

What is your food indulgence?
Kathy: I love sweets. Any kind of pastries actually .. but I control myself and not eat it =( I love to cook (and I would say I’m really good at it) so I make healthy versions of things that are still very tasty.

Karine: Ice cream…. and chocolate. With my coffee. Any favorite ice cream flavor? Ya the Russian Vanilla ice cream cones, called “Dadu”.. Those are irresistable.

What’s your jam right now?
Kathy: Hip Hop and Rap: I really like Post Malone and Black Beatles. Oh and Travis Scott.

Karine: I love love love Latin music.. Marc Anthony and Maluma.

Restaurant:
Kathy: Amici at Americana.. I always enjoy going there. I love to get their salmon with quinoa.