#RIPPEDFamily, meet Bridgette Kahanaoi our August RUMBLE MVP!

Just like many of our other family members, Bridgette was introduced to R.I.P.P.E.D. through a loved one. She joined her husband for his R.I.P.P.E.D. class while waiting for another fitness class. She thought she was just passing time, but little did she know, destiny was working in her favor. Cheesy? We think not! Because Bridgette fell in love with R.I.P.P.E.D. in 2013; and after a year, she became a certified instructor. “I dedicated myself to R.I.P.P.E.D., and I felt it was more challenging and body-changing than the other fitness class.”

R.I.P.P.E.D.: What do you enjoy most about RUMBLE?

Bridgette: I enjoy the MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) style of RUMBLE. Endurance was always my favorite part of R.I.P.P.E.D. class and what would be better than a whole class of that?

R.I.P.P.E.D.: How has R.I.P.P.E.D./RUMBLE impacted your life? What changes do you see?

Bridgette: I was a size 22, with hypertension and lower extremity vascular disease. I was contemplating gastric bypass and was all ready to have surgery, but my insurance gave me a hard time, so I had to find another way. Then I changed my diet and started going to R.I.P.P.E.D. Now I’m a size 9/10 and so much healthier. The vascular disease is gone, and so is my hypertension. In fact, now my heart rate is really low like an athlete’s.”

R.I.P.P.E.D.: How does it feel to be the August MVP?

Bridgette: It feels amazing to be recognized by the fitness organization that I hold dear. It’s such an honor to know Terry and Tina and to have met them. They are the nicest people ever and have always made my husband, and I feel like Ohana. I hope I can continue to be a source of motivation for others.

R.I.P.P.E.D.: Have you participated in R.I.P.P.E.D. 2 Fit in the past? If so, tell us about your experience. How has it changed your lifestyle? What improvements do you see?

Bridgette: I have participated in the R2F and really believe in the concept of exercising and changing your diet. There really is nothing better than good old-fashioned clean eating and exercising. I rarely get sick, and I’m stronger and healthier at 50-years-old than I ever was at 30. I don’t jiggle as much in my legs and butt, I look better in my clothes, and I have a waist. I can actually see muscle tone.

R.I.P.P.E.D.: Do you have any inspiration for people who have a desire to live a healthier lifestyle but think it’s too hard?

Bridgette: I would tell others to care and love yourself the way you love your husband or children. Do the same things you tell them to do: eat right, stay away from sugar and white carbs, exercise at least 3x a week, be healthy and do things that make you happy. Be good to others because people don’t always remember what you did, they remember how you made them feel.

R.I.P.P.E.D.: Just when we thought Bridgette couldn’t be more inspiring she closed our interview with this touching statement:

Bridgette: “Thank you so much for making me feel so special. I love teaching R.I.P.P.E.D. and RUMBLE. I teach FREE (that’s right she said FREE) classes in a small country town of Waianae on the island of Oahu in Hawaii. Many of my students would have never exercised if they had to pay because living in Hawaii is such a struggle. I want to help make my community a healthier place as many of the Hawaiian People battle with diabetes and other health problems. Plus, I love having others to exercise with. We always have a great time together; we are an “Ohana” which is family in Hawaiian. They love R.I.P.P.E.D. and RUMBLE just as much as I do. I love teaching, and I love my students and the community.

Bridgette teaches R.I.P.P.E.D on Mondays and Wednesdays at 5:15 pm. She also teaches RUMBLE on Thursdays at 5:15 pm and Saturdays at 9:30 am at the District Park in Waianae. And as she said, her classes are always free. Thank you, Bridgette for sharing your story and being such a strong fitness advocate in your community. That’s what our R.I.P.P.E.D. Ohana is all about—sharing our love of fitness so more people can live happier, healthier lives.

We also had the pleasure of getting to know R.I.P.P.E.D. MVP, Dee Dee Phibbs. Learn why she takes pride in being a R.I.P.P.E.D. Instructor and how she found her love of fitness after struggling with pushups in the past.