Donna Shannon

As both a member and a new addition to the Concierge staff at Liberty, Donna Shannon shares an infectious personality and an enviable workout commitment!

A Michigan cold winter, with never ending snow, brought Donna through Liberty's doors, a year and a half ago. "I had worked out elsewhere," she explained, "but something was missing." "I found my way to Liberty and instantly fell in love. I joined because of the swimming pools and the extensive group fit schedule."

"I was inspired by Andrea Kahn's Extreme Pump and Jump fitness class," Donna continued. "The winter was sucking the soul out of me, and I drove through the snow to get to her class. I was moved by her energy and loved the 'group' environment. I got from this club, something I hadn't found anywhere else, a sense of community."

Donna had battled her weight her whole life. Swimming for enjoyment, mixed with some cardio exercise, was the extent of her original workout regimen. A few years ago, while working in Washington, D.C., though, she met a woman at a dog park who convinced her to try weight lifting. Donna tried it and was immediately inspired by the results. She found that she was burning fat faster, than she had with any previous program, as well as building muscle.

Originally," Donna explained, "I bought into the idea that weight lifting would make my body bulky." "Main stream media had convinced me that cardio (exercise) was the best way to tone and lose weight."

Today, she exclaimed, "Weight lifting has changed my life!"

Donna's fitness turnaround is impressive. She competed in her first triathlon in 2013. Races, since, have included half marathons, Sprint triathlons, distance swims and a mud obstacle race. Her upcoming schedule lists the Ann Arbor Tri: Wolverine Man; the Swim to the Moon open-water swimming event; the Michigan Tri/Du Championship or the Summer Island Lake Tri; and the Michigan Tough Mudder!

To prepare for such a rigorous schedule, Donna's weekly fitness regimen includes two or three high intensity fitness classes, with weights; one cardio distance workout; and one or two heavy weight training sessions.

"I grew up with my weight always on my mind, always wanting to be skinny," Donna concluded. "Now, during my fitness journey with weights, I've stopped wanting to be skinny, and now I want to be strong, because that is what I can do. I've quit worrying about the number on the scale, and now I'm focusing on the number I can lift!"