Sarah Tallent

Hometown: Hawkinsville, GA
Age: 28
Occupation: Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. I work in critical care in the peds cardiac ICU and occasionally in the regular pediatric ICU.

When did you first start Strength & Conditioningting? 
Jan 2010- I was newly engaged and wanted good wedding arms.

What is your favorite movement? Favorite workout?
Movement: Overhead squat and snatch. Workout: Isabel

What is your least favorite movement? Least favorite workout?
Thrusters and any running. Least favorite workout? Ones that contain lots of running.

Tell us about your sports & fitness background:
I’ve always been relatively active, not really an athlete. I did a lot of cardio in college and spent a lot of time on an elliptical machine, unfortunately. I tried a triathlon and a half marathon and realized how much I hated long endurance running, mainly because its always the same. I was craving something like Strength & Conditioning when friend told me about it. Once I got over the sticker shock of how much it cost….I decided to try it out. Mainly because I wanted good wedding arms. My plans were to quit the gym once the wedding was over and just just do “Strength & Conditioning style” workouts at a cheaper gym.  That never happened. I LOVE the Community that a Strength & Conditioning gym provides, as well as the programming.  I can tell you that if it were up to me, there would be no running WODs programmed ever. I need that extra push I get from working out with others. I love the variety. I’ve been doing this for 3 1/2 years now, and not bored yet!

How did you first get exposed to Strength & Conditioning? Do you remember your first WOD? How did it go?
I got exposed to Strength & Conditioning through a work friend. I started with a basics class. I don’t exactly remember my first WOD but it was something with kettlebell swings, a 200m run, and maybe some burpees.  What I do remember is that I couldn’t breathe or walk after. The soreness I felt during my 101 class was almost unbearable. That’s how I knew I had found something that was really going to push me and change me in a good way. I hadn’t felt sore like that from a workout in YEARS…if ever.

What sort of changes have you seen in your body, health and fitness since starting Strength & Conditioning? (before/after)
Mainly, the changes I have seen have been in my diet and body. I have always been pretty healthy and still am. When I started Strength & Conditioning , they were talking about the Paleo diet. I had never heard of this or anything like it before. I remember the first time grocery shopping and having NO idea what to eat since everything I usually ate was on the no-go list. I’ve tweaked things over the years. I eat much less bread and bread type foods than before. Generally, as far as diet goes – I have found what works best for my body and performance and I’m happy with that. Probably wouldn’t have put that much thought into it had I not been exposed to the Paleo diet and thinking about what to eat to optimally fuel your body for daily living and performing in workouts.

My body has much more muscle than before. I like that part. I also really like feeling strong. I never feel more strong than when my hands are around a barbell preparing for a 1 rep max of something.

What is your favorite Strength & Conditioning/CFD moment?
By far my favorite moment was PR on my Overhead Squat. I think I did 165# that day, and it felt great. So Elise said I should try for 180#. In my mind, I thought she had lost hers…but I put the weight on the bar anyway…and then successfully overhead squatted it. That was a pretty sweet moment.

What is your advice for people just getting started or thinking about starting Strength & Conditioning?
-Be safe and listen to your Coaches
-Also, make sure to show up on days when things you really suck at are programmed 
-Don’t eat garbage and expect results. I can say this from personal experience. If you want to get better, you gotta eat right.
-Enjoy yourself and the new things you are learning to do and the new people you will meet.

What are your hobbies, interests, and/or talents outside of Strength & Conditioning?
My favorite thing to do is spend time with my awesome golden retriever, Sloan. Interests: Pediatric congenital heart disease (I’m a real nerd, sorrynotsorry); love to read a good book when I can; love to refinish/repurpose furniture. Talents: I’m pretty good at writing backwards in cursive.