success stories

Personal Training Success Stories

Alan D. before

Alan D. after

Alan D.

I knew I was really in trouble on a backpacking trip in 2008 in New Mexico…we were taking pictures of each other against a beautiful wilderness background…I looked at my picture and remember thinking “I look like a fat troll”, so I deleted picture…my energy level was also pretty low and I needed larger pants (you know, the ones with the elastic waistband!)

I wasn’t happy with circuit training at other fitness centers…it was too easy to quit, do less, or make excuses.

Then Sherry’s invitation showed up…it sat on my desk for three months…I knew I needed to get ready for a canoe trip in Canada in 2009…so, I decided to give the free session a try…it was with Fernanda…my first impression was “I can make this work!”…the variety of exercises was a big incentive (in the past six months, I’ve only done the same exercise twice)…the individual training was something I never tried before, but I liked it!…and since it was in Burke, it had a minimal impact on my work schedule and commute…also a big plus!

As the sessions began, I can remember thinking, “I really like the intensity, I’m always encouraged, and I’m being challenged at every turn by the trainers!” I intentionally didn’t weigh myself the first month…then the weigh-in! 15 lbs down! I was ecstatic! Then came the compliments….that’s when I knew “it” was working!

The “it” was more than the exercise…the “it” was also the food…I love to cook and I love to eat, just ask the scouts I go camping with. So, I knew I’d have to give up something to make this work. Fitness Together provided a nutrition plan…the plan was different, but very doable, so I followed it…the plan helped in a lot of different ways…like portion control, getting out of the 3-squares a day habit, learning to eat around the outside of the grocery store, and it worked with my work schedule. I also kept the journal…the journal was my conscience and it really helped me to behave!

So, I’ve been going to FT together for six months…I’m down 35 pounds (a fist pumping YES!), I got my new pants, but they are a lot smaller (42” to a 36” waist, YES again!)…the arms, shoulders, and back are more toned and stronger (YES again!), even the fat on my face is gone (just look at the picture!) Oh, and the best part, my wife is happy she has the guy she married back again! Now I can’t get enough!

Thank you, thank you, and thank you to Sherry, Keri, Josh, and Fernanda!

Dara N.

In April of 2008, I was at least 100 pounds overweight, self-conscious about how I looked, and worried that I was too out-of-shape to even work out. But, all of that changed when I signed up with Fitness Together and started working with Sherry Nicely. Sherry is not only an energetic trainer who is passionate about fitness, but she is very encouraging as well. She has helped me set realistic nutrition and weight-loss goals and has developed a stength- and cardiovascular- training program that supports the achievement of these goals.

Sherry is the first person to cheer me on when I accomplish an interim goal and also the first one to challenge me to set and achieve the next one. The training sessions are designed specifically for me and address every aspect of fitness including cardiovascular health, core strength, and agility. To maximize muscle recuperation and minimize boredom, Sherry varies the muscle groups we work with each session and varies the exercises as well. I've never had the same session twice!!! Because of Sherry's fitness expertise and her encouragement and support I have lost 40 pounds and dropped two sizes. In addition to looking better, I feel great, too! Although I haven't reached my final goal, I am well on my way thanks to Sherry Nicely and Fitness Together!

Bunny G. before

Bunny G. after

Bunny G.

Going to college for the first time at age 40 was a realization that “you’re never too old to start.” Those words rang true again as I began working with Fitness Together in July 2009.

In my younger days, I lived within walking distance to most places and stayed trim. However, with moving to the suburbs, the car became a necessary evil and my lifestyle became much more sedentary. Work and run errands -- drive here, drive there, arrive home too tired for anything else. Trying to exercise at home didn’t work; too easy to procrastinate. Driving to a gym was also easy to dismiss; “too tired tonight” and feeling as if all eyes were on me as I tried to understand and use equipment properly. As the years progressed, so did my weight. I ate lots of unhealthy foods telling myself, “tomorrow I’ll change.” When those size 18 clothes were getting tight, the alarms began sounding – I didn’t want to gain more weight!

I discovered Sherry’s flier on my door one afternoon; it looked intriguing. After all, it was close to home, they only did personal training, and the website looked as if those promises of losing weight and feeling better would be kept. I called to schedule my free session and remember coming home exhausted, but feeling like I could do this.

After three months, I had lost approx. 10 pounds, my resting heart rate was much lower, my blood pressure was lower, I had more energy and I was wearing pants a size smaller. I had more strength and more endurance, which was a blessing when we vacationed in Maine during October and I was able to do a 4-mile round-trip hike while carrying my backpack. A year earlier, my body would not have been able to accomplish this.

The strength training, cardio workouts, and change of eating habits – never say ‘diet,’ the first three letters are ‘die’ – have given me a more positive outlook on my life and life in general. It’s amazing to see how far I’ve come in the short time I’ve been attending Fitness Together. The trainers are all first-rate. They are encouraging and demand your best. When I feel like my muscles are completely spent, I love to tell Cedric, my trainer, “you know, it’s all good, and I love you!”

The story isn’t over yet…it’s still a work in progress, and the work goes on. Seeing tangible results and hearing the compliments from friends and co-workers make Fitness Together the right “fit” for me!