Holly Harris

It is with great pleasure and deep gratitude to Holly that I share her amazing fitness journey.I have always known from my own personal journey that health and fitness is so much more than a numbr on the scale or a jean size. Hollys journey will inspire you and help you dig deep into your own heart – that is where the courage to change comes from- deep inside each of us. I love you Holly, thank you for sharing your very personal pain and triumph with us all.

Hollys Story…..

“I have worked out my entire life with varying results. There were times when I was able to combine the perfect workout with the perfect diet and see some good strides made. There were also times when I didn’t feel like going to work out or couldn’t stay focused to eat the right things and my fitness level would decline. I realized that I needed an objective source of information to truly challenge me and help me achieve my goals so I started working with Traci about 5 years ago.

I began to see huge changes in my body, my metabolism, and my overall sense of fitness capabilities within days and within weeks, my body began to transform in ways that it never changed before. I was able to push harder than ever with Traci’s gentle coaxing and I was able to see my workout routine and my body in ways that I hadn’t previously and at the age of 39 I realized that I was truly in the best shape of my life. It was as if I needed that alternate perspective to get me over that threshold that I had been approaching but unable to jump past for so long.

It was about this time that my husband had a heart attack which altered both of our lives forever. He suffered an anoxic brain injury and required constant care for over two years. I felt that the only way to care for him was to put everything on the back burner including the things that probably would have helped the most, such as working out with Traci. I genuinely felt that I didn’t have time but in retrospect, I now know just how essential it is to work even harder physically when we are in emotional turmoil. During my husband’s treatment, I began having depression and anxiety and I lost a substantial amount of weight. I didn’t have the desire to eat because I was constantly upset and worried and I didn’t feel that I had the ability to carve out time to work out because it made me feel guilty or that I should be spending that time caring for my husband.

A few months ago, my husband passed away from his injuries and I became unable to not focus on myself at least a little. I made a list of the things I felt I had been unable to do such as get back into shape and read a book. I started working with Traci again about 12 weeks ago and the first thing she asked me was what my ultimate goal was and I told her that I wanted to be in good shape by the holidays. As I write this, we are days away from Thanksgiving and I can tell you that at 42 years old, I am in better shape than I ever have been including when I was in my twenties or thirties.

Traci is able to push me to remember my goals while also remembering my adversity and the end result is a drive that pushes me past the last set or how hard the workout might feel at that moment. I am reminded of all the obstacles that life has presented me and it makes me want to push past it, and overcome these barriers. It makes me feel strong and provides a balance in my life between feeling good and knowing I can feel even better.

For those of you who haven’t made the decision to train with Traci or are trying to make that leap, I can tell you that regardless of your current situation, you will benefit with her training skills and you will benefit from the objectivity and kindness that she couples for that perfect workout experience. We are only given one body and it is ours to either hone or neglect and if you are in a place where you want to truly see what your body is capable of, working with Traci is a great way to push past any limitations you might have and toward your goals. She is part mentor, part counselor and I’m proud to say she is also my friend. There is no way I would be anywhere close to the level of fitness that I am without her.”
Holly Harris 11/2011

To share comments with Holly please email them to me at

traci@trainingbytraci.com or post them on my blog under  HOLLYS STORY

Holly @ 27+% Body Fat

Holly @ 19% Body Fat