SLAM Stories
Back & Hip Pain Relief

As a lifelong athlete and primarily a distance runner, the saying ‘no pain…no gain’ certainly resonates with me. Unfortunately, I learned the hard way that pain doesn’t always equal gain. This was true for me both as a runner and as a mother who gave birth to two big boys. I never knew what diastasis recti was until well into my second postpartum recovery…thanks, doc.

I pushed my legs to run while my body had very clear imbalances and I did all the crunches, sit ups, and planks. Seeing what Ashley did to close her DR gap and how informative her Instagram and website were, made it an easy decision to join her program and trust the process. I forced myself to slow down, despite my innate desire to go fast and hard (that’s literally the only way I know to work out).

My goal was to close my DR, but all the full body workouts including isometric training and body weight exercises actually helped me with chronic hip pain and general imbalances. It is so true what she says—everything is connected and how we move in everyday life matters also. My DR isn’t closed yet, but I regained my booty, and I run and do plyos without chronic hip pain. No pain…no gain, sure…but also, you can’t get strong if you’re always hurting. So like she also says… Gotta fix that ish!

On the way I realized I wasn’t able to engage like I was supposed to. I was extremely fatigued from pushing too hard which was resulting in repeated injury. I reached out to a few pelvic floor physical therapists. That’s when I learned my cesarean scar had adhered to my bladder, which was causing that urgency to pee all the time (plus pain in the bedroom). It was also affecting my ability to lift my pelvic floor and fully engage my lower abs.

MY SLAM GAINS

My diastasis recti is functional! I don’t have excruciating lower back pain anymore. My pubic symphysis dysfunction is so much better, and I rarely have a flare-up!

I haven’t really changed my diet, but I do try to get more protein and water into my system. That makes a huge difference in reducing the bloat, especially in the summer heat. Started in June 2020 at 174lbs and finished today months later at 126lbs, not that weight matters.

Ashley’s SLAM program has been so influential in changing the way I function throughout each day – especially as someone with scoliosis who was just resigned to thinking I would always have low back pain (and I’m only 27!).

MY SLAM GAINS

I’ve done Core Basics and am just 8 weeks into SLAM Bridge and I have so much less pain, so much more strength, and so much more knowledge about how to use and care for my body. Ashley even personally replied back to me on IG and helped me work through correcting my form for squats to stop having knee pain. I now know how to properly do squats and can knock out all that are required in each day’s workouts!

We have two kiddos (3.5 and 1.5) and want more. Again, I’m just so grateful for all I’m learning and the strength I’m building as we anticipate trying to get pregnant in the next year or so. THANK YOU!!!

LONGSTANDING PAIN

I had loads of hip and knee pain even years after delivery. A dislocated coccyx in 2015 still bothered the movement in my hip flexors due to weak muscles all around.

MY SLAM GAINS

Now I am almost pain free and have a SLAM booty! All with a workout regimen even someone like me loves to do (I hate sports)!

If you want to take care of your body the right way please try the SLAM program!

DISCOVERING MY SLAM GAINS

I was telling my husband I’m frustrated none of my shorts fit well anymore. He asked, ‘Is it tight in the waist?’ I told him, ‘No…it is the butt in the thighs.’ Which prompted both of us have the same thought at the same time: These are my gains!

CELEBRATING SLAM GAINS

Even though it is a little frustrating because I don’t want to have to buy new shorts, I’m proud of myself. My back and hip pain are pretty much gone and I am strong! Not to mention my mental and emotional health. I can’t wait to see what the future holds as I stick with this program, because for the first time in my life I look forward to my workouts and it is not a chore!