April 2024 Members of the Month: Melissa and Ellie!
Meet April Epic Members of the month Melissa Carter and Ellie Kirkos
We are pleased to introduce you to our mother, daughter duo, Melissa and Ellie! Melissa started her journey at FUELhouse with Coach Brian’s Simple and Sinister Camp in July 2022. From there, she got her family involved to do foundations with her and then Ellie and her stayed on to partner train with Coach Kathryn! They’ve been going strong with their partner training since November 2022! We love to see families working out together! 🫶
Check out what some of the coaches have to say about them, and continue reading to learn more about them in their own words :)
“Melissa and Ellie are so much fun to work with. Every session is full of jokes and and songs and sometimes mini dance sessions all while moving their bodies. It’s been awesome witnessing their strength journey. They’ve both made amazing progress and I’m excited to see where their progress takes them in the future!” - Coach Kathryn
“I met Melissa when she and a friend signed up for a small group of mine during summer of '22. While Simple & Sinister may not have been her long-term goal, she did very well getting out of her comfort zone and trying something new! I was so stoked to see her continue her time at FUELhouse when she & her family took up private training w/ Coach Lehner shortly after our small group wrapped up. It's been so much fun to see Melissa & Ellie's consistency and progress! Plus, Melissa gives me kudos for my playlists!” - Coach Brian
“It’s so awesome to see family getting stronger together!” - Coach Dre
Names
Melissa Carter
Ellie Kirkos
Pronouns:
Melissa: She/her
Ellie: She/her
Occupation:
Melissa: Attorney
Ellie: Student
Where can you be found outside of the gym? What do you do for a living?
Melissa: I fight bullies for a living and bust my ass 24/7 for my clients. I also have a super groovy family for whom I never cook, but dine out with often.
Ellie: At school or doing homework. Pretty boring, but thankfully only one more year till college.
What are your hobbies?
Melissa: Wrecking my hearing at rock concerts and enjoying good wine
Ellie: I am always listening to and education myself on music, I love any and every genre! I also enjoy cooking and baking, though I may not do it as much as I used to.
What brought you to FH in the first place?
Melissa: A friend convinced me to join a Simple and Sinister class with her (I was WAY out of my element and I loved it), and I never looked back
Ellie: My friend had been talking to me about FH for a while, so, once my mom gave me the offer to sign up I took it gladly.
How are we so lucky you picked us (what are your favorite things about FH)?
Melissa: Katherine is my superhero and I love her! Also the music is always poppin in that place.
Ellie: The incredibly welcoming community of people and most importantly, the amazing, kind, and strong Kathryn!
What sports or fitness things did you do before FH?
Melissa: Long distance running and cycling
Ellie: Not much other than the occasional run or P.E. class.
What programs are you currently involved in at FH and why?
Melissa: My daughter and I do personal training with Katherine. She rocks! Someone get that woman a cape!
Ellie: Personal training, because it’s allowed me to receive personalized tips to improve my form and how to properly execute the exercises on my own time. Whenever something doesn’t feel quite right, I can picture Kathryn’s voice in my ear saying exactly how to fix it.
What goals are you working towards and/or what’s on your FH bucket list of things you’d like to accomplish?
Melissa: One of these days I would like to master the Get Up. Until then, I enjoy embarrassing my daughter by singing and dancing loudly in the gym. She secretly loves it.
Ellie: I’m working towards improving my balance. Specifically, being able to do a Get Up on my strong side (as opposed to my stronger side) with a yoga block balanced knowing I won’t struggle or drop the block.
What makes you commit to training even on days you don't feel like it?
Melissa: Repeating the mantra, "There will be tacos" over and over in my head.
Ellie: Knowing how good it feels after showing up no matter how rough my day may have been.
What's your favorite movement/exercise?
Melissa: Swings! And swinging while metal is blaring = bliss.
Ellie: I love core exercises like dead bugs or hollow holds. Also, while in the moment I may be exhausted, and it’s difficulty tends to creep up on me, I do really love using the sled.
What have been your “bright spots” (PRs or accomplishments are you most proud of)?
Melissa: Getting stronger and figuring out how to adjust my form without prompts.
Ellie: I may not have realized the change in weights I’m using, but looking back I originally would have been using a fraction of what I lift now!
How have these accomplishments affected your life?
Melissa: Momma's life is stressful, and I always feel better after a training session. I sleep better, and I'm less grumpy. And I'm totally rocking 50 and I know it!
Ellie: Feeling so much stronger has improved my confidence significantly. Additionally, knowing everything I’ve accomplished since joining FH makes me feel a type of proud I can’t get from anything else.
What is on your general bucket list for life?
Melissa: Learn the cello, meet Barack Obama, visit Tokyo, write a book
Ellie: Traveling the world and conquering my fear of heights. (I would say my fear of spiders, but I have a feeling that’s not gonna happen)
Tell us a little known fact about yourself or what’s something most people don’t know about you?
Melissa: I was hit by a car in 3rd grade and lied about it to my parents because I thought I would be grounded. Pretty stupid, huh?
Ellie: Last year my choir sang with Harvard at Carnegie Hall in NYC in a national showcase
What's your favorite thing about being a FUELhouse member?
Melissa: Getting and feeling stronger
Ellie: Knowing nobody in the gym is ever judging you! As a high schooler, I’ve heard one too many stories of kids running into classmates at the gym and being left with nothing but self-consciousness or embarrassment.
What was your first impression of FH? How has that changed?
Melissa: I was immediately struck by how open, supportive and non-judgmental everyone is. That has not changed!
Ellie: I was slightly intimidated at first, but, now I know there’s absolutely nothing to fear.
What advice do you have for new (or experienced!) new friends trying out FH?
Melissa: There will be tacos
Ellie: Challenge yourself and never give up. Regardless of how tired your body may be the sense of accomplishment will make everything worth it.