Meet Michelle – our Member of the Month for August!

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Welcome to another edition of our Member of the Month series, where we feature some of the amazing people who are part of our Loyobo FIT family. We think it is important to share their stories to help inspire others and to celebrate their amazing accomplishments!

This month that member is Michelle Anstey, who is one of our VIP members. Our entire team has been so impressed with Michelle’s consistency in joining our virtual classes over the last few months, her willingness to embrace different class formats, her enthusiasm and vibrancy that shines through her computer screen , and the support and love always shows towards our member community.

This month, MICHELLE, we celebrate YOU! We are so grateful to know you. Thank you for being a part of our family and for sharing your story with us!


How long have you been coming to Loyobo FIT and what initially inspired you to try a class? 

I joined Loyobo FIT in the fall of 2019 after seeing one of their ads on Facebook. Their message spoke to me and seemed to be the answer to the type of gym I would thrive in. I started on a health and wellness mission (primarily focused on dietary changes) at the beginning of 2019 and after losing just over 100 lbs, I joined Loyobo FIT to address the fitness side of my health and wellness goals.

What are your top 3 health and fitness goals? 

  • Build strength, movement and flexibility in my body

  • Continue to heal my body and keep my PCOS symptoms in remission.

  • Fuel my body with nutrient dense foods.

What is one of the challenges that you have faced in your health/fitness journey? What have you found most helpful in working to overcome it? 

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There are two things that I have had challenges with during my health/fitness journey. One main fitness challenge I had was not knowing how to incorporate any type of movement or physical activity into my daily life. I was active when I was in school but the reality of graduate school then entering the workforce made it difficult to make physical activity a priority. Joining Loyobo FIT has been instrumental in overcoming this challenge for me. Having structured classes in my schedule, signing for them ahead of time in MindBody (making the commitment) and instructors that know you personally and care about your wellness has been awesome!

The other challenge I faced with respect to my health is finding a way of eating and lifestyle that my body thrives on. I was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), which is a fairly common syndrome in women but has a spectrum of symptoms that make maintaining a health body weight and metabolic health difficult. Along with the classic symptom of ovarian cysts (for which I had to have one of my ovaries surgically removed about 5 years ago), it also involves a large number of metabolic symptoms related to insulin resistance and hormone imbalances. My diagnosis was one of the reasons I chose to make a career change after graduating from my Master’s degree (in the molecular biology of breast cancer cells). I entered into a Nutrition and Dietetic degree program in order to learn more about how nutrition impacts health. Through trial and error I finally found a dietary approach that worked for me and my body and along with the incorporation of physical activity I have been able to reverse nearly all my PCOS symptoms.

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What was your life like before you started at Loyobo FIT? How did you feel about your body? 

Before Loyobo FIT, despite my recent weight loss, I knew I needed to make changes to my physical activity and movement. I felt I was letting my body down and felt lost as to how to start.

What has changed since you joined the Loyobo Family and started coming to class regularly? 

I feel empowered and like I have taken control of my health on a whole new level. Since joining Loyobo FIT I now KNOW that physical activity will be a part of my life permanently. It gets easier as daily physical activity changes from a chore to a habit to a lifestyle.

What is your favorite memory or achievement of your time at Loyobo FIT? 

There are many great memories I have with my time at Loyobo FIT including attending the various classes and member socials. As a relatively new person to Guelph, I do not know many people in the city. Getting to know the instructors and other gym members has been great! A few memories that stand out to me include the secret Santa at Christmas, the item swap events and achieving my 50 and 100 class bracelets.

What advice would you give to someone just starting their health and fitness journey? 

Just start. It may seem impossible to conceive of the fact that you can become a healthier version of yourself but it is possible! It is the small things that add up on a daily basis over the course of time that make the difference. Start small but be consistent, you would be amazed at home much you can do when changes start to accumulate and grow over time.

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What is your favorite class and why? 

There are so many great classes that I enjoy at Loyobo FIT but I have always loved Tone & Flex. It was the first class I tried out at the studio and is now one that I don’t miss out on (even through virtual classes). I love how it makes me stronger and is fun with all the choreographed songs!

What is your favorite inspirational quote?

This is a hard question but I think I will leave a recent quote I came across that hit me and was particularly relevant to my journey at Loyobo FIT. “All big things come from small beginnings. The seed of every habit is a single, tiny decision. But as that decision is repeated, a habit sprouts and grows stronger. Roots entrench themselves and branches grow. The task of breaking a bad habit is like uprooting a powerful oak within us. And the task of building a good habit is like cultivating a delicate flower one day at a time.” (James Clear)

Anything else you would like to share? 

Thank you to Loyobo FIT for all your efforts and pivoting over the last few months. Being able to attend classes has added a sense of normalcy to my day-to-day life and allowed me to continue to optimize my health / immunity in the face of the pandemic.


Congratulations Michelle! You deserve this moment in the spotlight as we celebrate the awesomeness that is YOU.  THANK YOU for including us as part of your journey and for sharing your story.  Your positive spirit, perseverance and determination inspires us all and we are so grateful to have you as part of our Loyobo Family!

Feeling inspired? You could be our next Member of the Month! Try an in-studio, outdoor or virtual class today with our 3 class intro trial pass. Our classes and community are a source of love, support and strength as we navigate the uncertainty that surrounds us!

See you all again soon!
– Sobia