Mackenzie Dickens has always been an athlete, as she had been training for softball until she was 22 years old. Afterwards, life really started to ramp up, and working out started to look a lot different.  When we asked Mackenzie about her fitness journey, she started with 

   “lol where do I start.” 

From D1 Sports to D1 Mom 

Mackenzie is a math teacher, a wife, and a mom to two girls, where her days start early and don’t seem to stop. Work starts for Mackenzie at 6:45 a.m. and goes til about 3:45 p.m, but that’s just teaching. Afterwards, she is a full-time mother until bedtime. Due to her schedule, Mackenzie comes to OSI early in the morning 

Why She Keeps Showing Up

She found us through a referral from Haley and Scott Colley, and started showing up before the sun most days. We asked Mackenzie what the gym actually does for her. Her answer was immediate:

   “It keeps me sane! The workouts are my outlet and the people are my motivation”

We are thrilled that between Mackenzie’s teaching, parenting, and everything else life throws at her, we at OSI can make her free time and spare energy count. Even within OSI, Mackenzie has found her group of training partners—the ‘Barbell Besties’—to help her continue to show up!

Obstacles of Being a Parent

Like most parents, Mackenzie’s biggest obstacles have been the obvious ones: money and time. Despite the challenges she’s faced along the way, Mackenzie says 

   “I’m choosing to prioritize myself to be a better mom for my kids.”

New Training, New Progress, New Goals

Before stepping into OSI, Mackenzie thought that lots of cardio and HIIT training was the way to lose weight and tone muscle. However, she also mentioned how she always loved to lift heavy weights and that sense of accomplishment after doing so. Since joining, Mackenzie’s proudest wins so far: her body composition, her confidence, and weight gains – the good kind 

   “Weight gains… and not the bad kind. Keep adding those plates!”

Her current goal is straightforward: lose weight and tone her midsection without giving up any strength. She’s not interested in getting smaller if it means getting weaker. She wants both!

A Few Fun Facts about Mackenzie

• She played D1 softball at NC State
• She loves the beach
• She can do plate math in her head
• Her go-to meal is a good BBQ chicken pizza
• Her Favorite exercise is squats

Advice from Mackenzie

When we asked what she’d tell someone thinking about starting their own journey, Mackenzie kept it simple:

   “Just start somewhere! ”

Her advice for herself back on her first visit to OSI?

“Get to know the people!!” 

Ready to Start Yourself?

OSI provides more than a facility and knowledge. It’s a community of like-minded individuals that can help and support you when you’re ready to throw the towel in! If 1-on-1 coaching or classes seem intimidating, try OSI’s semi-private sessions, with only 2-4 individuals alongside you and an OSI instructor! 

Book a free Discovery Session or stop by in person for your two-week trial.