Member Spotlight: Ranie Verby
We are very excited to feature Ranie Verby as our Member Spotlight this month. It is always fun to talk with Ranie when she is in the gym and you know from watching her that she is gaining strength with her workouts. She has included some fun before and after pictures for this article. The first is a picture that was taken when she joined Forward Fitness in 2016 and the other is from last week, she just happened to be wearing the same shirt! Ranie took my questions and wrote a great article that needs no editing from me so here is a little bit about Ranie.
“Before Forward Fitness… I am a CPA and had just transitioned over into the Financial Planning world before I joined. I had been through my spinning phase, my running phase, and my yoga phase, when my friend Katie told me about Forward Fitness. She and I had lost and regained weight together before, and she was loving the gym and lifting heavy, so I decided it was time for my training phase! I joined for the 2016 Spring Fitness Challenge. I have since had 2 daughters, now 7 and 8 years old, and Forward Fitness supported me through both pregnancies, which were only 17 months apart. I took a gym “sabbatical for a while after my second daughter, and rejoined in July of 2023. I’m so happy to be back.
Health and fitness are SO important to me because I met my amazing husband and we had our daughters later in life, and I want to be healthy and self sufficient for as long as humanly possible, to prolong my health span where I can take care of myself (and my husband). I want to be here for them, and hopefully for grand babies (I hear that’s where it’s at!).
I re-joined Forward Fitness because of the expertise of the trainers and the community. I’ve always loved that the trainers are involved in continuing their education and evolving workouts as they gain knowledge. They’re always seeking to get better, something I do in my day to day, and I really respect that. The community of members at Forward Fitness is unparalleled. I love that it’s multigenerational and nonjudgemental. I never, ever feel uncomfortable trying something new, because I know everyone is there to learn and the trainers have our backs – literally. At the same time, there’s always someone motivating you to get better, lift a little more, push a little harder. I remember watching Jenelle in FIT camps for years and thinking “I just want to be as strong as her, I know I can.” Kati Bonesteel is a LITERAL cheerleader. Nicky Hogg is such an inspiration. And so many more… I’ve met people who are going to be lifelong friends.
I’ve always suffered from depression, and a big challenge for me on this journey has been postpartum depression, and a lot of weight gain that came along with it. I don’t think I was able to truly address it well for years after having my second daughter. When I rejoined, Suzanne was so encouraging and helpful to me in setting realistic goals – like planning on coming to the gym twice a week instead of 6 times and feeling like a failure if it was only 4. She helped with mindset coaching and keeping my goal – healthspan – in front of me at all times, reminding me it wasn’t about looking good in jeans or anything like that, it was about being healthy for life. I joined a weight loss coaching program in 2023 as well, and alongside the gym it has been a real lifesaver for me. I have lost about 55 lbs since then, and changed my life for the better.
I think that fitness has always been part of my life, since watching my mom do Richard Simmons videos in our living room as a kid. I’ve always been a tap dancer, and I still dance. Movement is a lifeline for so many people with depression, myself included. So it’s always where I turn when I’m struggling – to movement and to fitness.
I’m so proud that at 45 I feel better than I ever have. I love lifting heavy, and I love being challenged. Life is just getting better and better.
If you’re considering adding a fitness routine, my best advice is to start slowly and be realistic. Don’t reach for working out 7 days as hard as you can – it’s a recipe for not meeting your expectations and feeling disappointed in yourself. Set achievable goals with a positive mindset and positive language. Saying “more vegetables” or “more water” versus “no more breakfasts without veggies” makes a shocking difference. Language is powerful, and our minds are powerful. Start small, and keep growing.
Fun facts: My daughters, my dogs, and my family are my whole world. My husband Doug is a high school teacher and head football coach at Clayton, and one of the many things I love about him is his passion for educating and supporting young people. I’m passionate about helping people with their money, and I’m now in leadership at a Wealth Management firm, Plancorp. I speak and write about women and money, and I have a blog called girlmeetsmoney.com, where I share some musings from time to time. I still tap dance for fun, and if I’m not working out or working, you can find my nose in a book. I try to read about 60 books a year, in all genres, but sci-fi and fantasy are my favorites.”
Thank you to Ranie for sharing with us and for being such a great part of our Fit Fam!