INSPIRATION ALERT

Since January 1st

65 lbs. total lost

55 lbs. total body fat lost

Decreased body fat percentage by almost 16%

WHY WE LOVE AMBER.

Her determination and drive is an inspiration, and we couldn’t be more proud of her. She’s been on an incredible personal journey and we’re honored to be part of it. We’ve watched her grow STRONGER with every class, and we love catching her smile as she powers her way through the burn. Amber has made invaluable contributions to our community - remember that 30 minute plank challenge with our Crazy Craig? Well, we can thank Amber for the idea of turning it into a fundraising event and helping us make it a success by using her incredible tech and zoom skills. Thank you, Amber, for your awesome generosity and support. We can’t wait to continue growing with you!

Why X-CORE?

X˙CORE is the first method I have stuck to for longer than a couple of weeks. I used to walk by the Grand location almost every day and wonder what those crazy machines were; one day I looked it up and booked a class. It all seemed impossible at first and for the first year, I was terrified of taking anything but a Basics class. Even when things felt like they were falling apart, I tried to show up for at least those 40 minutes and focus on myself. X˙CORE has helped me to strengthen my commitment to myself and I feel a million times more confident than a few years ago. Twenty-eighteen Amber could not comprehend what 2021 Amber has accomplished and I absolutely owe some of that to the support I get from the X˙CORE fam.

How long have you lived in Oakland?

I moved to Oakland from Sacramento in 2000 for art school. I spent a few years in SF, but have been back in Oakland for the last 4 years. Living in SF, I really missed the community vibe of Oakland. Other things have changed, but that certainly hasn't.

What is your favorite restaurant in Oakland?

Grand Lake Kitchen!

What do you like to do for fun? Hobbies?

I love seeing movies at the Grand Lake Theater (they're open again, yay!) and traveling - I've driven Iceland's Ring Road twice!

fun facts about AMBER

I studied graphic design and printmaking in college and had my internship doing letterpress. I have a big orange cat named Leo and I'm also related to Blackbeard the Pirate!

What's your day job?

IT Program Manager for the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative - it's great to work with an organization that's supporting change in the world.

Favorite quote?

"Find out who you are and do it on purpose" - Dolly Parton

Who inspires you?

Right now, myself! Over the last 6 months, I've lost close to 60lbs. I've been unhealthy most of my adult life and around Christmas 2020, I decided I wanted to change that once and for all. I committed to healthy eating, with X-Core and 10,000 steps/day as my exercise. Once I got into those habits, it was amazing to see other habits outside of my appearance change as well - I've been able to drop most of my medications, perform better at work, and become physically stronger. It's also been amazing to see changes in people around me! Coworkers have been inspired to adopt healthier habits and I love that my friend Rachel is coming to all the hard classes with me.

Favorite xBURN move(s)

Leg sweeps (fka scrambled eggs)! It's unassuming, but super effective and challenging. And any of Elaine's sea related moves - dolphin, Captain Morgan, swimmer.

Did you learn any new skills in COVID?

Is Zoom a skill? I would say communication. Starting a new job during COVID and never meeting any of my coworkers in real life has been super challenging. Learning how to express my thoughts effectively has been integral - and absolutely something I will take back to real life.