Some people brighten a room just by walking into it, and Cheryl Bradshaw is one of those people. As our August Committed Club Honoree, she’s the kind of member whose presence tells you exactly why consistency matters — not just for strength, but for spirit. Training privately with Coaches Kaela and Jen G., Cheryl brings curiosity, joy, and a trademark smile to every session, turning each rep into proof of how far she’s come. Her year of steady progress, her eagerness to learn, and her way of encouraging everyone around her make her story one worth celebrating.
Why is fitness important to you?
After receiving some concerning lab results at age 56, I decided to focus on my long-term health and find a gym with personal training. Finding out I was facing high cholesterol, prediabetes, and osteopenia was a wake-up call. But I had never really exercised or played sports before and knew I needed to start working out.
What motivates you on the days you don’t feel like working out?
I am motivated to make it to my work out because I know someone is counting on me to show up. To make it easy, I set up my coffee maker the night before. I am a person of my word—if I say I will meet you, I do. Even if I want to sleep in.
I want to keep this progress going because I see so many benefits from working out. I can lift heavy boxes at work, and my stamina for 12-hour nursing shifts has improved. Exercise has also helped my mental health and my overall well-being. My biggest motivator is that my A1c levels dropped significantly over the past 12 months of coming to IA.
How do you stay consistent during busy and stressful times?
Working with Jen G, we plan my training schedule a month in advance, which is key to keeping me accountable. If I ever need to cancel, I always try to reschedule. Jen and Kaela have been so flexible. Jen also kindly nudges me if I’m late submitting my dates for the upcoming month.
What is your biggest obstacle you face in staying committed?
Just like anyone else, my biggest challenge is making time when life gets hectic.
How do you balance fitness with the rest of the things in your life (work, family, friends, etc)?
I got great advice from my daughter: work out in the morning before you can talk yourself out of it. That has completely changed things for me. When my alarm goes off, I see my clothes and gym bag laid out, and I just follow the bread crumbs I left the night before. I am too half-asleep to debate whether I should actually go—I just move on autopilot down the path I already made.
What role does mental health play in your physical journey?
I started out feeling angry and defeated by my labs and what they meant to my future health, but I eventually channeled those emotions into action. Now, exercise is non-negotiable for my physical and mental health. When work stress hits, this is what I need to clear my head.
What role does diet and nutrition play in your fitness commitment?
For me, nutrition and exercise go hand-in-hand. I’ve gotten some tips from Jen and I tracked my blood sugar for a while to see how my body responds to different foods. My doctor also referred me to a nutritionist, which gave me some really helpful ideas. I view my diet as a partner to my fitness commitment.
What advice would you give to someone struggling to stay committed to their fitness goals?
Schedule your workouts ahead of time, ignore the voice telling you to skip it, and tell a friend or do private training so you have an accountability buddy so you actually show up.
