July 2022 Athlete Of The Month

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Name: Emily Tarnaski

Age: 28

Occupation: Social Worker

How long have you been a member at BBS&C? Almost 1 year.

Were you athletic or involved in sports when growing up? Yes. Soccer, cross country, marathon running.

Were you working out regularly prior to joining BBS&C? If so, what were you doing? I was never a weightlifter prior to coming here, but I was jogging a few times a week. 

Why do you workout? When I don’t workout, I get super restless. Working out helps me find balance and structure in my day. After a crazy day of work or just life, it feels great to push myself, lift heavy stuff, and blow off steam.  

What is your favorite lift or movement and why? Back squat. I like that it’s not as technical as the other lifts so I can just focus on the movement and see what these legs can do!

What is your favorite workout or type of workout and why? I love the long and gritty workouts where you have to continue to push yourself minute by minute. It always amazes me what everyone is capable of, and it is so fun to experience pushing through those hard moments with everyone in the class. 

What have you accomplished as an athlete (big or small) during your time at BBS&C? I’m now able to do one non-banded pull-up, which I haven’t been able to do since middle school! I’ve learned how to rope climb and how to do a few double-unders in a row (shoutout to the coaches!).

What fitness goals do you have for the next year? I’m moving to Michigan soon (bittersweet), so I’m worried I’ll lose the progress I’ve made here. I want to continue with my progress in weightlifting/strength and conditioning, gain some PR’s in back squat and deadlift, and do 10 non-banded pull-ups in a row! 

How has your fitness influenced and/or impacted your life outside of the gym?   My fitness has had a major impact on my life outside of the gym. Before coming to BBS&C, I lost a lot of confidence in myself and my abilities. I had been running for many years and used to love it. But, the past few years, I would go on runs and just have negative self-talk every step of the way. I would come back from runs more upset than ever, and I lost the joy in working out. After almost a year at BBS&C, I can say that I’ve gained a lot of confidence back and have found the joy in working out again. The encouragement from the coaches, realizing my body can do some incredible things, and this amazing community of people has given me more confidence and joy in and out of the gym.