Her inspiring return to strength and self even caught her by surprise.
Meet Adriana Salerno, a driven mechanical and biomedical engineering student at McMaster with a competitive volleyball background. Like many students, Adriana’s demanding academic life had her spending countless hours sitting at her desk, drinking several coffees a day, and constantly battling fatigue. As exams approached this year, Adriana found herself at a breaking point—not only physically drained but emotionally overwhelmed after losing a family member. She knew it was time for a significant change.
Feeling intimidated by the crowded, confusing environment of her university gym, Adriana recalled a positive experience training with Outlaw North during her volleyball years. She decided it was time to revisit those familiar grounds. Despite initial jitters, she immediately felt welcomed back into the Outlaw community by members who remembered her from previous online Zoom workouts. That sense of belonging was exactly what she needed.
A pivotal moment arrived unexpectedly during a challenging Saturday partner workout involving running—a task Adriana had always dreaded. To her own surprise, she found herself genuinely looking forward to the running segments, marking a significant shift in her mindset. She realized at that moment how much progress she’d made and felt immense pride in overcoming what she had always considered a weakness.
Since consistently attending Outlaw, Adriana has experienced profound changes. Her energy levels have significantly improved, and she has cut her coffee consumption down to zero most days. She feels stronger and more confident, noting how clothes fit better and how she genuinely feels like herself again. Beyond physical changes, Adriana is reconnecting with her passions. She’s reading more frequently and even picked up photography as a new hobby. She’s also noticed enhanced focus and reduced anxiety, making her optimistic about maintaining these changes once school resumes in September.
“Also a little confession here… my original game plan was to come to outlaw for a few months, have it jumpstart me and then pause my membership at the start of the school year and start working out independently. After my first 1-2 weeks I realized there was absolutely no way that was happening.”
Smart, Adriana! We don’t need another inspiring return!
Adriana’s advice to anyone feeling stuck or hesitant to start their fitness journey is simple yet powerful: “Just send the message. The hardest part is starting.”If Adriana’s story resonates with you, take that first courageous step. Reach out—we’re excited to welcome you to our community, just as warmly as we welcomed Adriana.
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