Darcie Allen

Why is fitness important to you?

Fitness has always been part of me.  I used to play sports, run marathons, league sports, and was more competitive.  As I’ve got older, my priorities have changed, I’m not looking to be all American.  I want to be the healthiest version of myself and that is a work in progress.  If I can get better by 1% in and out of the gym, that is a success.  And I feel better and healthier the more I pour into this.  I am truly humbled by this designation, there are true athletes in this gym that inspire me every day.  I want to be the best person I can be, but honestly, over time I have put others first, my job first, and myself second.  Physcially I enjoy Padlleboarding, Hiking, Skiing, Playing Tennis, and walking around fitness.  I also enjoy spending time with my family & friends, traveling, playing poker, gardening, attending & watching sports.

What setbacks did you experience last year?

In the past couple of years, my mom, dad, and myself were all diagnosed with cancer.   My mom and dad were both fighting the disease and my dad lost his battle pancreatic cancer at the young age of 66.  I was then diagnosed with Breast Cancer last April.  I underwent surgeries last summer.  Then completed 10 rounds of radiation.  In the scheme of cancer, it was the best-case scenario, however, if something could go wrong or be hard, it was.  It was hard all around. There were other setbacks, but that whole experience put it all in perspective.

What was your biggest “health hurdle” in trying to come back?

5 days after my first surgery, I worked out for 10 minutes and then ended up in severe pain that evening.  I ended up an emergency surgery for a blood clot the next day.  We have no idea if it was from working out, but I was scared to death for that to occur again.  I was told after my second surgery to not pick up anything including my purse, a far cry from a dumbbell.   And then my energy level was not the same for 7 months.  Radiation took all of my energy.  After work, I wanted to sleep, not workout.  And then when I wanted to come back, I was out of shape.  My MyZone was in the red immediately even with light exercise, that was not fun!  And then my immune system struggled, I ended up sick a couple of times taking me out completely for weeks at a time.  Additionally, I have a high-level job where I am very busy without control of my schedule.  I would be signed up for the 5:30 class and then not able to get out of work.

How did you find such commitment during the COVID-shutdown?

I’m the VP of HR in the Healthcare industry.  COVID was super stressful (especially early on).  But I am working remotely which helped tremendously.  I decided that this was my opportunity to take care of myself as I had more time by just not having to commute and all of the other things that come with my role.  I know I couldn’t control much in this crazy in the world, but exercising I can control.  My goal was to move twice a day in some way, it wasn’t always hardcore, but it was something.  And now that the gym is open, I have been able to continue this.  I block my work calendar for my workouts.  I have to be creative, sometimes, I am sitting in my car taking conference calls before or after working out.  I have the highest MEPs in the past 3 months than I ever have working out here and almost 2 times more than my normal months of MEPs.  I used to do anything I could to get to the minimum and now I am making weekly goals to hit to get to the 5000 MEPs or more monthly.  It has been fun to fly by my original goals.  I couldn’t do it without the gym and e3’s motivation.

What is your plan to leverage that success as we reopen our lives?  How can the e3 Community support you best?

It will be hard when things open more.  However, I am hopeful that having this routine in place, I can make it work.  I am trying to get up earlier now and come to earlier workouts at E3 than I need to.  That will help with the routine long term and be a habit. I don’t want to lose this momentum.

The gym can continue to do what it has been to support me.  Hold me accountable and being you all is what matters.  This is the first gym where I feel at home.   This is the first place where I haven’t felt judged for not being as strong or as in good as shape others.  I truly believe if I can do this, anyone can.  I hear people say that you need to get in shape prior to coming to E3.  As you all know, it is HARD work, but if you put your mind to it, you can do it.  I still have a lot of goals and I’m not where I want to be, but with this support, I can get there!