Stories & Info

Erica Tuell, 28

Posted: August 10, 2018
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"I didn’t know what I was missing out on until I joined! It’s like I joined an adult women’s sports team where strength is celebrated, listening to your body is key, and cheering each other on is part of its DNA.”

Member Of:

Farmgirlfit Spokane

Occupation:

Grad Student. Research Study Coordinator. FGF Admin Assistant!

Tell us about your fitness journey. How did you come to Farmgirlfit?

I grew up playing lots of sports on teams and with my family. I love playing sports!! In high school, I discovered I enjoyed weightlifting. Then in college, I learned about all the muscles and even took classes for my Community Health major on all areas that affect health including physical. When I was thinking about moving back to Spokane post-undergrad, my friend Emily Farness used Farmgirlfit as one of the draws! When I got here four years ago, I connected with childcare (had been an Americorps Volunteer without extra cash), started my membership, and never looked back!

If you could tell your Farmgirlfit story in 100 words or fewer, how would it read?

I didn’t know what I was missing out on until I joined! It’s like I joined an adult women’s sports team where strength is celebrated, listening to your body is key, and cheering each other on is part of its DNA. There’s always something new to learn or improve upon. It’s a place that I can either show up to work hard on my goals or simply just come and move when life gets a little crazy. Both are ok, good, and necessary.

What has been your greatest fitness/performance accomplishment so far?

Watching my Olympic lifts slowly PR over the years. And kipping pull-ups!

What are your next health and fitness goals?

Get abs!! Jk ðŸ˜‰ Probably working on my flexibility.  

Who/what inspires you to be fit?

All the other Farmies! And Spokane’s wider fitness community 😊

Favorite workout song?

Man…maybe “Remember the Name” by Fort Minor. Any 2000s rap though!

Favorite exercise at FGF is? Least favorite?

I like snatches! I’m not sure if it’s because I’m flexible or because I like the technical work and thinking involved. Least favorite: Wall balls and lately squat thrusters!

When the Grind is kicking my butt, I’m thinking…

“This sucks, but I’m here today. Keep going, one rep at time, don’t stop!”

My favorite thing about Farmgirlfit is:

Weights and the people of all ages – including the Farmkids whom I have a soft spot for!

Do you have a funny Farmgirlfit story, or favorite memory?

I’m not a good story teller, but Sav and I used to do this thing called “Fact Friday” when I did childcare. We’d ask the moms to tell us one fact that no one tells you about being pregnant or a new mom. Yah… I had no idea that all your hair falls out and you have your period for weeks after having a baby!  

How has the rest of your life been influenced/impacted by Farmgirlfit?

It’s helped my mental toughness. That’s always been a weakness in sports for me and in life, but I think my mental toughness in my workouts here has translated into everyday life! Also, my eating habits have changed A LOT. It’s all a journey.

When you're not pumping iron at FGF, what does the rest of your life look like?

Exploring the city of Spokane, enjoying the outdoors, driving to Tacoma to hang with my family, church stuff, and being with my friends are a few favorites. Living with three other ladies (all Farmgirls!), keeps our house alive and bustling which has been a fun way to live my 20s. I’ve also tried lots of jobs to see what to do forever (which is way too much pressure for someone interested in a lot of things). I’m so glad I discovered the Master’s in Social Work because I love learning, talking about, and trying to figure out how to solve social justice issues and how it relates to a person’s whole health. My practicum is at the Spokane Fire Department CARES team where I am until I graduate, to learn all the social work skills. I’m hoping this profession will keep me interested for life!

As a kid I dreamt I would grow up to be:

A missionary.

My happy place is:

With my family or in nature.

You might not know this about me:

I feel very connected to the Liberian, West African culture because both my brothers were born there!

Guilty pleasure:

Doritos or the Flying Goat chips

Team I’m always rooting for:

Go Eagles!! I’m an EWU gal all the way!

My heroes are

My parents!

My trademark dance move:

LOL, just dance! I love dancing.

My favorite holiday and why:

Christmas? No…MLK Day so I can talk about racial justice issues that our country still faces!

Words that inspire me?

“Wherever you are, be all there.”

I’m proud…

That I’ve tried lots of new things in my 20s, even if it’s meant not making a lot of money, because it’s made me more confident with where I am today.

My favorite post workout meal:

Some fruit and a couple boiled eggs

My healthy indulgence:

Sweet potatoes, green smoothies, and recently steak!

Any advice for new members or your fellow farmgirls?

Don’t be hard on yourself. Show up, have fun, and enjoy the process of getting stronger!

Anything else to share?

I would encourage all women to get their iron checked to see if you’re anemic. I found out I was anemic January 2017 and literally my life has changed (hence steak). I thought I was just getting fatigued in the longer workouts and needed to ‘rest’ more on the weekends than average people. My doctor said a lot of women have low iron levels but don’t do anything about it. Once my iron got to normal levels, my workouts got better, and I jumped a whole FGF Grind level! There are a lot of reasons why people have fatigue, but getting iron levels under control is a simple thing anyone can do with a doctor’s help!

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