Story & Lesson Highlights with Abby McQueeney Penamonte of Parker

We recently had the chance to connect with Abby McQueeney Penamonte and have shared our conversation below.

Abby, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Summer in Colorado is my favorite! It’s a season filled with hiking and camping. And sharing these experiences and amazing views with my husband, Jason, and our 2 labs, Molly and Max is what makes it so much fun. We have hiked to several beautiful Alpine Lakes, and a couple of 13’ers (mountains in Colorado greater than 13,000 feet above sea level).

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (20 years) and Trainer (10+ years) and I teach women how to lift weights and fuel their bodies to look and feel good inside and outside of the gym. I help clients focus on losing fat and building muscle to improve their body composition and achieve the athletic physique they desire.

I personally spent almost a decade struggling with an eating disorder and overtraining. I used to run 100 mile ultra-marathons all while struggling with food obsession, body dysmorphia, and orthorexia. I was forced to retire from ultra running, and started lifting weights to support my recovery. I fell in love, and went on to compete in PowerLifting Nationals. Lifting weights truly taught me to becomes obsessed with the weight on the barbell vs the weight on the scale.

It’s now my forever mission to help other women avoid the same mistakes I made. My desire is to impact others and help them improve their relationship with food, fitness, and their body image.

Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who taught you the most about work?
My parents! My dad, John Penamonte, and my mom, Maryanne McQueeney, have taught me the most about work and how to work hard! Growing up, I don’t think either of them ever took a sick day. In fact, they often accomplished more before I got up for school than most accomplish in an entire day. They each ran (up to 13-26 miles) or lifted weights before they even woke me up for school. They taught me about hard work, dedication, perseverance, and how to never give up or quit in school or sports.

When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
My mess is my message.

My passion for working with other women is a result of my own personal struggles with disordered eating and using exercise to deal with pain and run from my personal problems.

I started running at an early age and then got involved with endurance running, racing, and road marathons in my 20’s and 30’s. I competed in several 100-mile mountain races. In 2013, I competed in the Grand Slam of Ultra-Running (a series of 4- 100 mile races within a 10 week span).

Over the years, I used running, food restriction, and a no carb diet to feel like I was in control of my life. Additionally I tried to achieve my lowest body fat, thinking that it would support my training. That all worked until it didn’t and I was forced to step away from running completely. Abusing and depleting my body led to insomnia, thyroid issues, blood sugar imbalances, hormonal and adrenal issues, and non-existent menstrual cycles. I had taken running to an extreme and my body said no more.

I knew the chronic endurance training would put me in the grave if I didn’t do something different. I stopped running and gained 15-20 pounds. It sucked, but I knew it needed to happen in order for my body to heal. However, it was one of the hardest things to deal with and it left me with body image issues, a lack of confidence, and a feeling of insecurity.

In 2014 I discovered strength training and it saved my life! As I started to get serious about lifting, I quickly learned that my no carb diet wouldn’t support my nutrition and fitness goals. That’s when I started to introduce carbs into my diet and learned how much food I needed to support my goals, not to fear or restrict food, and how to fuel my body to be the best I could be. I started to focus on how much weight was on the barbell vs. the weight on the scale and truly healed my relationship with my mind, body, and spirit.

My experiences have fueled a passion within me to help others avoid the same mistakes I made.

My superpower is that I can serve other women and truly help them achieve the body they desire by learning how to fuel their bodies appropriately.

Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
My closest friends would say that health, faith, and family (aka: my husband and my dogs) matter the most to me.

This past Winter I had a medical emergency. My appendix ruptured. After being in agonizing pain for 2.5 days, and being mis-diagnosed by Urgent Care and the ER, I needed an emergency appendectomy.

I learned quickly in the hospital bed that nothing is as important as your health, faith, and family. Everything else in life seems so important until you literally can’t tie your own shoes or take your dogs for a walk. I’m truly grateful to God for being alive, healthy, and strong, and so grateful for my husband, Jason, who was my rock through this really tough season.

Although I’m fully recovered from this ordeal, it’s left a strong impression on me. I don’t take for granted my health. I think that investing in my nutrition and fitness over my lifetime makes me confident that I’ll still be chasing my dogs up mountains with my husband for years to come!

Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I truly believe I was put on this Earth to serve other women as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and Personal Trainer and Coach. That is my purpose, and I’m not mad about it. And I’m sure my parents aren’t either, since they paid for me to go to college to become a RD.

Lifting weights and learning how to fuel my body saved my life over 11 years ago when I was struggling with an eating disorder, and I’m dedicated to helping other women find peace with food and fitness. Inside my program, The Strong & Sculpted Method, I help women build a metabolism that actually supports fat loss (instead of constantly dieting and getting nowhere), and optimizes your metabolism, thyroid, and sex hormones. I help women train for strength and muscle so they sculpt their body, not just shrink it, and eat for long term success- without following low calorie, restrictive diets, and cutting out their favorite foods.

I am so passionate about teaching women how to fuel and train for strength and muscle so they sculpt their body, not just shrink it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://coachingwithabby.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abbymcpabby/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/abby.mcqueeneypenamonte
• Other: Private FB Forum- Weight Lifting, Nutrition, & Lifestyle for Women:
  https://tinyurl.com/AbbyNutrition

Image Credits
Professional Pics (me in the gym/kitchen): Shannon Mack Jockel
Outdoor Pics: Jason Rae
Client Pics: Abby