Dara Ellen

Step into our new group training program and experience the power of functional kettlebell training! Join us, here at Anytime Fitness Raleigh on Glenwood, to build resilience, improve coordination, and see real results—all while having a blast with a supportive community!

It's ✨️official✨️!!

After working in the health and fitness industry for years, I finally made my first official website!

I love posting about health and fitness on social media. But I wanted a place with a little bit less restrictions, where I could share even more.

It's just getting started, but the goal is to continue to share the things I've learned about health and fitness in the last few years. Along with new things I learn, as I continue to get more certifications and experience.📚

I'll also be sharing more behind the scenes of my own story, especially how I reached my own fitness transformation.🤍

Check it out, if you're curious

Www.daraellencoaching.com

(🔗 in bye-oh)

I’m so proud of my client Ashley! She made the decision to make a change AND committed to herself and her goals. And she is ✨️GLOWING✨️, inside and out.

She has been implementing strength training, and is getting stronger every week! She has made some healthy habit changes. But she didn’t need to slash calories, or go on a crazy diet to see results. She has simply been more mindful around food, and nourishing her body. She is a great role model for the “food is fuel” mantra. 

Ashley, I’m so happy to have you as a client! It has been an honor to watch you grow. Your commitment is inspiring! I can’t wait to see what the next few months bring for you! ❤️✨️

I do feel Bonita. ✨️💅

How I stay lean and healthy year round. 👇

1️⃣ I worked on healing my relationship with food. Instead of just trying to eat *as little as possible* to lose weight. I eat (at least) twice the amount of food I used to when I was “afraid of gaining weight.”

2️⃣ I strength train 3 - 4 times per week. I took my focus away from cardio, and focused more on strength training. This process transformed the way my body looked.

3️⃣ I try to hit 7,000-10,000 Steps daily. (lately it’s been closer to 7,000 due to some life changes. And that’s OK.) It still works even if I don’t hit that *perfect* 10,000 all the time.

4️⃣ Patience. I stopped expecting to see the changes I wanted in 3-6 months. I focused on small habits, and trusted myself. (This was the hardest part. Working with a coach really helped me to cultivate my own self trust and patience.)

Happy crimmus & Merry Chrysler ❤️🎄

In my glitter nails, passenger princess era ✨️

On a side note, TBT to when I used to be insecure about my thighs when I sat down. Glad that era is over.

Molly is ready to go. 🐶✈️🧳❤️

I just finished my last bartending shift. I've been working here as a part time to full time bartender for almost 3 years now.

Working here allowed me to have the time I needed to:
• update my old certifications,
• take some new certifications to grow as a coach, trainer, and business owner,
• mentor under (and work for) a successful online coaching business,
• build my ✨️own✨️ online coaching business,
• and then take on a part time job training clients in person.

Now I'm excited to say that I get to prioritize both my in-person, and virtual clients at a full time capacity.

Being able to prioritize something I'm so passionate about is such a gift.

I'll miss everyone I've worked with at the bar, but I'm so excited to pursue something that changed my life: health and fitness coaching.

Now, there are two ways you can work with me:
1. in person training, at the gym
Or
2. online, as your one on one fitness & nutrtion coach

I'm so excited to see what 2024 brings! 🩵

On the left, I was the most unhealthy I have been in my life. But I wouldn’t have admitted it at the time.

*trigger warning*

I was skipping meals, barely eating 800 to 1000 calories per day, and spending HOURS doing cardio. I was *constantly* thinking about food; Both because I was worried about consuming too many calories, and because I was starving.

I was running on pure adrenaline, with no energy, until my hair started falling out.

This is where my relationship with food became disordered.

Eventually, all of the unhealthy habits caught up to me. My body retaliated against me. My metabolism slowed down to where I couldn’t keep the weight off anymore.

I started gaining weight uncontrollably. I started binging, and restricting even more. And I kept falling into the same unhealthy patterns for years. Hoping that the next diet would fix me.

So much has happened between these two photos. It took me years to finally get out of the diet mentality. To learn how to eat in a way that supported my body, instead of trying to attack it.

I look back on that girl with such compassion. I felt so insecure, and lost. I thought that being as small as possible would make me happy. But all it did was make me sick.

Today, my whole outlook on food and health has changed completely. I eat almost three times as many calories as I used to. I have energy throughout the day. I enjoy all the food I want. And I go to events and parties without stressing about the food.

I wish I could go back, and tell that girl on the left what I know today. But, mostly, I’m just happy that I didn’t give up on myself.

I’m fortunate enough to be able to tell my story. And to help other women to let go of the diet mentality, and heal their relationships with food.

It *is* possible to reach your goals in a healthy way. Don't give up on yourself. ❤️

*If you are concerned that your eating habits are too extreme, or that you may be experiencing an eating disorder, please reach out to a qualified mental health professional.

"What are you guys doing after this?"

"Getting some gluten free bread!" 🥳💃🏼🥖

Thank you all so much for making me feel so special on my birthday! 🩷

🤔🤷🏼‍♀️