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Life and Work with Carmen Whisenhunt

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Carmen Whisenhunt.

Carmen, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I have always been “heavy.” Back when I was eight years old and visiting Disneyland, I was too big for many rides. It wasn’t until high school that I realized that I could make changes myself and I didn’t have to have my parents decision making or leadership. I joined an aerobics class and the summer before my senior year, I joined a gym. I probably lost 70 pounds but before long, I was out of high school and on to adulthood where adult fun helped me gain it all back.

Fast forward many years, past many ups and downs and weight loss and weight gain, loss of many cherished family members and divorce, and weight gains again, I found Beachbody. I believe my first time seeing or hearing about them was on a late night infomercial. Shaun T and his workout program T25. I couldn’t afford the program but was interested, so I found it on Craigslist. It was missing a bunch of stuff but had most of the discs so I got it and was hooked. I found out there was much more to this big Beachbody world and made my way through other programs. I loved it. The community. The support. And it was working out when you had time AND at home. It beat the gym any day. Especially when you’re heavy and self-conscious and then trying to hurry to get off to work or school and waiting for machines. It was such a good thing for me.

I started while I was in nursing school so time was limited. 30 minutes a day got me good!! Before long, I was back down 60 pounds and feeling the best ever.

I became a coach in 2017 so that I could help lead and inspire other people to change their lives and live their best life.

Fitness and nutrition rule my life now and I have been able to help family and friends make great changes. I meet people all the time and I have been able to help many learn to be active and make better nutrition choices and it gives me goosebumps every time.

I have run races I never thought I could, I have hiked and backpacked mountains I never imagined I’d be able to. I hope everybody realizes their full potential and lives up to dreams they think they can only dream.

I love motivating and inspiring people, no matter how big or small.

It fills me with happiness to help people live their best!!

Has it been a smooth road?
I started working out after a divorce. It was hard to see that I deserved to be healthy and happy again. I also started while in nursing school, and it was really tough because I was really strapped for cash and had to work full time to afford everything. I was bitter because my ex-husband was supposed to support us financially while I was in school and here, I had to do it alone. I stretched myself in order to buy my first workout program but I was mentally stressed out and emotionally beat. I needed something and I knew it had to help my body and mind. Working out did just that. I could focus better in school because I was eating better and sleeping better and because working out helped balance my mind, it all fell together.
It is hard work but you get stronger and it gets easier as you go. You can’t stop if you want to see any change – and that’s with anything in life. You have to push and feel the burn and keep trying. Punch harder, run faster and just let the emotion fuel you.

Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I’m a nurse and a Beachbody Coach. I live, eat and breath better health. In the nursing world. I’m a cardiac nurse. In the Beachbody world, in the one who supports you no matter what.

I love that people know I’m the healthy one. They know that I probably have a healthier version of a meal, my cookies aren’t the kind grandma makes, and I’d rather be active than watch Netflix. In fact, I have no clue about half of the shows on TV right now.

I’m super proud that I’m human and I’ve made mistakes and learned the hard way and that I’m solid proof that you can do anything you set your mind to. I think that my background sets me apart because I have paved my own way and continue to do it alone, as a strong woman.

There’s a wealth of academic research that suggests that lack of mentors and networking opportunities for women has materially affected the number of women in leadership roles. Smart organizations and industry leaders are working to change this, but in the meantime, do you have any advice for finding a mentor and building a network?
I follow many leading coaches in the industry, not to follow in their footsteps, but to see that even they have hard days and that even their “fabulous” lives through curve balls at them. A mentor is there to help you realize that the hard days can be worked through and that tough times only make you tougher!! My mentors have been a great support in seeing things in hindsight!!

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Carmen Whisenhunt

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