Simmy Hassan, a Supervisor at Peloton, has been around fitness and sports for her entire life. But after the 31-year old had her first child and her weight neared almost 300 lbs, she was determined to get back to the athlete she once was and even created a wellness brand to inspire other women to do the same. Keep reading to learn more about the Arlington, TX native’s healthy journey and the ways she shows up for herself daily.

Tell us how your winning photo came about?

This photo was from a shoot I did with one of my friends, Blair Smith, @MsTooUncool. It was actually the first photoshoot that I did with her where I was open to trying new things and poses, just feeling more like myself. 

Please briefly share your fitness journey with us.

I’ve literally been playing sports my entire life, even at a college level. Honestly, I was never concerned about my weight until freshman year in college, and my coach told me I needed to lose weight. I said okay. But in my mind, I was dying of laughter and went about my business after that conversation. 

I stayed in shape throughout college, but once I got into the real world, reality hit. I was getting older, and I really didn’t have a reason to stay active. I was in the shower one morning. I looked down and saw nothing but TUMMY. Y’all, that has literally never happened to me in my life, well, at that time anyway.

Immediately I got it together, joined 24-hour fitness, and was obsessed with turbo kick. Soon after joining CrossFit, I fell in love because it made me feel like a real athlete again. 

I found my groove. Then life hit. Sis got married, then pregnant. I ate all the food, worked out 10 times during my pregnancy, and gained more than 70 pounds.

 After I had Ash, I was determined to lose weight. I was nearing 280 pounds on the scale, which is almost 300 pounds. Can you ladies believe that? I type that out now, and it is wild to me. I will never let my weight get that far from me again. I was definitely in dangerous territory.
That being said, I took the necessary steps in the gym + kitchen to get where I’m at today. 
I know I will always strive to be better, but working out has become my solace. Especially dealing with postpartum depression, and even now, it keeps me sane. 

We believe fitness + friendship = FUN! What is your favorite group fitness workout? 

My go-to group fitness workout would have to be a Cycle class. I love the movements on the bike and how it gets you pumped. It is always nice to switch up my workout routine and mix in something different. 

While working out is essential, so is eating the right foods. What is your go-to pre-workout meal? How do you refuel after a workout?

I typically start exercising from anywhere from 4:45 AM – 5:15 AM, so I’m always doing a “fasted” workout. I usually make sure to drink a glass of water and a pre-workout supplement. After I work out, I’m refueling my body with a protein shake to make sure I’m getting all the nutrients I need to recover. 

What is one item that is always in your gym bag?

You will always find wrist wraps in my gym bag because lifting heavy weights can put a lot of pressure on your wrist, so it is nice to have that extra support.

What are your top 3 fitness Instagram accounts to follow?

My top 3 fitness Instagram accounts to follow are:
Quiana_welchBrittneBabeTiffanyy__Nicole

What is one thing people would be surprised to learn about you?

People are always surprised that I have an eclectic taste in music. I literally can listen to everything. And that I’ve been a huge fan of Harry Potter since day 1.

What are the top three goals you hope to accomplish in life?

My top three goals that I want to accomplish in life right now are to: 

1. Continue to improve my health and wellness all around and never let up
2. Expanding my reach to more women and help them reach their own goals 
3. Start my own business

What does PRETTY GIRLS SWEAT mean to you?

What PRETTY GIRLS SWEAT means to me is such an easy question. When I first found you guys, I was like, okay, PGS represents everything I stand for. I felt it was kind of synonymous with my brand, BarbelleBeautyy. To me, it’s like yeah, I can do all the girly things like make-up, dress up, and all the other stuff. BUT, I still can throw down in the gym!

Since PRETTY GIRLS SWEAT, what is your favorite deodorant?

I’ve currently been obsessing over Lume deodorant ($14.99)!

Favorite quote: 

Be your own body goals!

How can readers stay in touch with you on social media?

Of course on Instagram at Barbellebeautyy, and I also have a blog Barbellebeautyy.com.