A special shout-out to Sarah Lopes – a positive, upbeat and committed member – who continues to persevere despite a very challenging time. In this inspiring post, Sarah shares what kept her going, the important life lessons she’s learned, and how she kept up with her workouts – even from quarantine at WLU!
 
Sarah, we love you and are so proud of you! Thank you for your inspiration. 
 
To Sarah and the many, many other healthcare workers and everyone else on the front lines of this pandemic – thank you so much for everything that you do!
 

 
The last few months have been a difficult time for so many. And it has been exceptionally difficult for Sarah Lopes. 
 
“There were days I was so scared and stressed about work,” she explains.
 
Sarah is a frontline healthcare worker at a long-term care facility in Waterloo Region.
 
When one of the residents tested positive for COVID-19 in June, she had to self-isolate – away from her family. She lived in a hotel for a few days, and then a residence building on the Wilfrid Laurier University campus.
 
As you could imagine, being separated from her family was extremely stressful. Not only was she away from those she loved the most (her husband and two little girls, 4 and 6), but she felt like her life had been turned upside down. 
 
To keep herself sane, positive, and balanced – she turned to exercise! That’s right, working out! Sarah logged into LIVE Buff Mom workouts from her WLU dorm!
 
“I needed to have something from my usual routine to keep me from feeling completely lost. No matter how stressful the day became, doing a virtual class, recorded video or even just going for a walk always helped me. They kept me in check.”
 
Sarah used to attend in-person Buff Mom classes but had to stop a few years back, due to work schedules and little ones at home. But once the program went virtual this past spring – she joined right away. 
 
What’s incredible is that Sarah continued to exercise despite ALL that was happening around her. Some days were harder than others, but she kept going – taking small steps every day.
 
Thankfully, Sarah is now safely back home with her family. She continues to work long hours on the frontlines of Covid-19, lovingly caring for her patients. 

 
Looking back upon the last few months, she offers this advice to those feeling stuck, unmotivated, or in a tough spot.
 
“Do your absolute best to keep yourself a top priority. It doesn’t have to be perfect. It won’t be perfect. Maybe it means going for a walk when you don’t feel up to running. Maybe it’s making just one healthy meal for yourself. Maybe it’s adding one extra bottle of water. Something little every day just for you will keep you together. For me, these virtual classes and the amazing Buff Mom VIP Facebook group kept me going. Thank you, ladies!”
 
Thank you, Sarah, for all your hard work, inspiration and commitment.
 
What’s Next for Sarah? In addition to The Buff Mom program, Sarah has also started training for her very first half marathon. She recently learned that due the pandemic, the event has been cancelled. But Sarah says that won't stand in her way. She’ll continue her training over the summer, and most importantly now she can “run for fun” and enjoy it!

Our next virtual session starts soon! To register for our 6 WK fitness, nutrition, and wellness program, click here. Registration closes Aug. 8th. Register by July 20 to receive $60 worth of cool bonuses.