Here at runladylike.com, Fridays are all about sharing the inspiring stories of fit people who motivate all of us to be better tomorrow than we were yesterday. My Friday FITspiration series profiles runners, triathletes and casual exercisers who are making choices every day to be as healthy as they can be – in both huge ways and through simple, small victories.

I constantly feel blessed by the amazing people running and fitness enable me to meet and bring into my life. This year, I have been discovering tons of new fitness studios across Atlanta since joining ClassPass. I have met owners, coaches and athletes that are inspiring me beyond measure.

One of those phenomenal women is Missi Wolf. Missi is a mom to two amazing daughters who owns 3 fitness studios with more than 30 employees and is working on the national expansion of her company BLAST.

But Missi hasn’t always been into fitness. In fact, there was a time she couldn’t even walk down her driveway to the mailbox and back without needing to lay down to rest for 30 minutes afterward. Like so many other women, Missi struggled to lose weight after her second daughter was born. At 5-feet tall, Missi weighed 206 pounds and had 36 percent body fat.

Two years later, she was a different person. Everything changed.

I’ve had the chance to work out with this motivating mama, and today she is sharing her story with all of us. Check out what she had to say and her secrets to success.

What inspired you to begin your fitness journey? 
My kids and my life. After my second child was born, I weighed 206 pounds and was at 36 percent body fat. My doctor told me I was pre-diabetic, morbidly obese and at risk for a stroke. I’d never really worked out before in my life, so I started walking to my mailbox and back. It took two years, but I lost the weight and found a new passion – health and wellness!

You lost 100 pounds and 14 percent body fat after having your second child. What is the biggest piece of advice you’d give to others currently on a weight loss journey?
For anyone who has ever struggled with their weight, it’s just a different world. We are all surrounded by people who it comes naturally to – to be fit, thin and in great shape. For those of us who struggle, it’s a constant struggle. I didn’t change overnight, and today I still struggle. I’m not an elite athlete. I’m just a mom who has a business who is trying to balance it all. Surround yourself with people who really know what they are talking about and who are educated in health and wellness. There are a million workouts and diets out there, but until you learn what is right for you, you’re just spinning your wheels. No two people are alike, and what works for one person might not work for another. That is my biggest piece of advice.

Tell us about your fitness company BLAST. What are the workouts like and why do they work?
BLAST stands for Balanced Levels of Aerobic and Strength Training.

We are an interval training studio that does group fitness. We are treadmill-based, alternating blocks of time on the treadmill with strength and resistance work on the floor. Every class ends up with 30 minutes of cardio on the treadmill and a full body workout on the floor. The class is designed for every fitness level. We have runner/jogger/walker speeds and inclines on the treadmill, and the floor is modified for all clients. No two classes are ever the same, so there is no burn-out or boredom factor! Science has shown that interval training is the most effective way to burn fat, increase lean muscle and gain stamina and endurance. If you have 60 minutes and need to get it all in, then BLAST is the perfect class.

Mr. rUnladylike on the treadmill and the floor during a recent BLAST class we attended together:

What I learned during those two years of my weight loss journey and what planted the seed that eventually led me to open BLAST is that I needed a place I could get all my exercise done in one hour or less. I needed a place with a nutrition plan (one I could actually live my life with –remember I have two girls!) and I needed someone to help me set reasonable and attainable goals. I looked everywhere and couldn’t find anything close.

I went back to school, (I was 36 years old in classes with 18 year olds!) because I desperately wanted to learn about the human body. I studied physiology and kinesiology and started formulating a plan for creating the BLAST workout. I knew I could never do it on my own so I put together a team of the smartest people I could find who specialized in fitness and nutrition.

Thus, BLAST was born. I opened my first studio in 2008, and we have been changing lives ever since. BLAST is my third child. I am madly in love with it. I am passionate beyond words about it. Changing lives is one of the rarest gifts a person can receive. I have been given that gift every day since we opened our doors.

What’s the most valuable lesson you’ve learned since opening BLAST?
That I always have so much more to learn. I have surrounded myself with the smartest people in the fitness business. My team is second to none. They are the most incredible group of people in the industry. I learn something from them every day. My clients are my inspiration. Each one has such special meaning to me. More than 45 percent of my clients have been with me since I opened the doors. That is unheard of in this business. They are amazing and I value them each more than I can say. I am extremely grateful for BLAST. It has saved my life many times!

How do you juggle being a mom and a busy fitness entrepreneur? Do you have any words of wisdom for other busy mother runners out there?
It’s not always easy, but it’s always rewarding. My daughters have so much respect for what I have done, and they tell me often how proud they are of me. My biggest struggle is balance. I work on it constantly and try not to beat myself up if I’m not balancing everything perfectly every day. My advice to other moms is the same I give all my clients: Give yourself a break! You’re only human, and as long as you’re doing the best you can that’s all you can do!

Do you have any inspiring mantras or quotes you turn to for motivation?
If you walk into any of my BLAST studios or my home, they are all filled with motivational quotes on every wall! I especially love one that involves women and strength:

Here’s to Strong Women: May We Know Them. May We Be Them. May We Raise Them.

What goal do you most want to accomplish in 2015?
I want to open one to two new BLAST studios outside of Georgia!

How can people connect with you?
Website: www.livetheblastlife.com
Twitter: Missiwolf900
Instragram: Missiwolfblast

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Do you know someone with an inspiring story that should be featured on Friday FITspiration? If so, email runladylike@gmail.com.

What inspires you most about Missi’s story? Do you incorporate interval training into your workout week? If you’ve ever been to BLAST, tell us about your experience.