Personal Training Success Stories

Before

After

Danielle Reel

This is NOT a DIET....this is a LIFESTYLE change!

Danielle's Stats (6/9/11 - 12/27/11)

54.35 total inches lost

9.75 inches lost in hips & 9.8 inches off waistline

Body Fat 38.4% down to 25.1%

28 pushups (from toes) in 1 minute

32% increase in upper body strength (based on Bench Press Test)

increased flexibility by 2.75 inches

Danielle came into Fitness Together 6 months (on her birthday) ready to make a change. Like many individuals she has been up and down the rollercoaster of trying to lose weight, but this time she was ready, ready to keep the weight off and make positive lifestyle changes for a new healthy self!  When Danielle started her goals were weight loss & overall improvement of  health/fitness, now nearly 60 pounds later we asked how Fitness Together helped her:

 What other fitness programs did you try before starting at FT?  How did they work?

     In the past (years ago) I was active. I would walk, run, or work out on an elliptical machine by myself. I also did some weight training with machines. Though this did work- the training I had done in the past was not at the same intensity as FT. I think I have had much quicker results working out with a trainer that knows how to push me and tailor the program to my needs.

 What, if any, obstacles had prevented you from achieving your fitness goals in the past?

      I think the biggest obstacle has been that life is stressful, complicated and busy. I am very good at starting exercise programs, but not following through. In the past, I would be diligent for a week or two and then when life got complicated I would just give up. From my personal experience there is significant amount of stress and little spare time associated with going through veterinary school and completing a residency program. After I finished my training I moved away from my husband to take my first "real job" in North Carolina. Being separated from my family was difficult. Thankfully, I was able to find a job in Knoxville and I moved back. Unfortunately, around this time, both my husband's dad and my dad died; their deaths occurred within 3 months of each other and this was incredibly devastating. These events (and a variety of other factors) contributed to depression which lasted for a long period of time.

 Why did you decide to train at Fitness Together?

     I had been completely inactive for at least 3-4 years before coming to FT.  I felt hopeless and like I did not know where or how to start. I am not sure what it was, but this year (on my birthday), something inside me just snapped and I decided I was ready to make significant changes in my life in order to be healthy and happy. At FT I have the trainer’s undivided personal attention with one-on-one training that is tailored to my specific needs and goals. I was also very self-conscious about working out in front of other people. At FT it is just you and your trainer, so you are not concerned about being embarrassed or having a bunch of people in the gym staring at you while you work out. Another important feature would be the accountability that training at FT provides me. The trainers are incredibly supportive, knowledgeable and professional; they put together the plan and I just have to show up and do the work.

 What are the most noticeable changes you have made since starting?  

      My favorite change has been being able to shop for a new wardrobe! My old clothes are way too big, so I decided to donate them to Goodwill. Five months ago I could only shop at plus size stores and it was just plain depressing to shop for clothes. I did not like the way anything looked on me. Now I can shop anywhere and can wear styles that I had always wanted to wear before I lost the weight. On an almost daily basis, people ask how much I have lost and are curious how I did it. I have told them I did it the old fashioned way.... diet and exercise. The other day I was discussing my weight loss journey with someone and they said to me, “you are a real inspiration”. That is probably the most rewarding compliment I have received.

     Another noticeable change is my attitude. I no longer feel trapped by inescapable sadness. I was always tired, irritable, and felt hopeless. I just did not care about anything anymore. I now have more energy, a better outlook on life and I feel fabulous!!

What are some of your current goals that you are hoping to achieve at FT?

     Now that I have lost most of the excess weight I would like to work on developing better muscle tone and continuing to improve my overall fitness. I am thrilled to be a healthy size/weight; I now feel comfortable in my own skin.

     I am 100% certain that I would not have made the progress I have to date without the help of the trainers at FT- especially my primary trainer Melanie. I must also say thanks to Eric and Adam for their efforts. I could not be more pleased with my experience at FT. Thank you so much!!!

Chad Phillips

FT Client loses 11% body fat with clean eating and great workouts!

Chad has only been training at FT - Hardin Valley for about 4 months, but his results speak for themselves and are a testament to Chad's hard work.  Watch this short video to see how Chad is transforming his body at Fitness Together!

Before

After

Kippie Lowry

I FEEL GREAT!!

My name is Kippie Lowry, I am (cough-hack-cough) ----years old…OK—OK! I am 63, the mother of 4 and Baba of 6. I like to travel, paint, carve, read (anything – even bathroom walls if I cannot find one of the six books I usually have going) and caring for my grand kids.

This past year has been a roller coaster ride for me. I was overweight, but you don’t need to know how much and when I say but----I literally mean BUTT!! The extra weight was causing complications with my heart, BP, Diabetes, breathing, you name it and it was bothering me. The past 25 years I have lost the same 20 pounds at least 2000 times. With the advice and encouragement of my husband-Tom, I decided to have gastric bypass surgery. I was the perfect candidate and it was nice to know that the ability “Not” to lose weight was not all my fault. I had the surgery in October and for the first time in years I could walk up a flight of stairs without stopping to breathe. I decided that just losing the weight was not enough and that was when I talked my husband into visiting Dan. I must admit, after just the fitness test----I was sooooooo sore, I almost did not come back. Sorry, Dan, but the truth hurts!!!!! I had almost reached my weight goal but the exercise has done wonders for both my husband and myself. I have lost 7.5 inches. My husband and I are now walking 2 to 4 miles daily and for the first time in years I can pick myself up off the floor!!!

I could not have done it without the encouragement of my husband, the care that my sister gave me post-op, and the velvet glove instructions that Melanie provides me at Fitness Together. I thank you all for giving me my life back----

PS  I am now off all medications and I FEEL GREAT!!!!!!!

Kippie’s stats since starting her program with FT:

• Body fat down 10 %
  
• 19 total inches lost
  
• Weight lost over 115 lbs. total since surgery and training
  
• Flexibility Up 2.7 inches
• Exercising heart rate Dropped 22 bpm
• Upper body strength is up 65%

After

MR. THOM MILLS

Fitness Together

I had been telling myself for years that I need to be on a routine exercise program.  I have joined a few gyms over the years but the “stay with the program mentality was not there”.  After turning 49 during the summer of 2010, I decided that I had to change some habits.  I made myself several goals.   Make healthier food choices, lose some weight, remove inches around the waist, improve body tone, and to reduce my cholesterol and blood pressure. 

I saw Fitness Together’s advertisement in the local paper several times.   So I made the call and met with the FT Hardin Valley manager.   During the meeting, we talked about my goals, we worked through an exercise/assessment routine, and I was sold.   This was just what I needed, someone three times a week dedicated to me for 45 minutes, working on my goals.  

I started out in July 2010 at 191 pounds and a 36 inches plus waist.   Today, I am 168 pounds (my lowest weight so far) and have a thirty four inch waist.  Even the thirty four inch pant size is starting to get a little loose.  I feel better, I have better endurance and my heart rate and blood pressure are the best they have been in years.  

My trainer, Melanie has been developing my custom fitness program and training me since early fall 2010.   Her patience, consistency and drive for her clients to exceed their goals are key factors in my success.    I am very grateful to her knowledge of the muscle groups and how to focus on my body being in shape.  She can give you some key stretches to relieve soreness; and yes, there are days I am sore.  

I am healthier, I feel better and I don’t have the “belly hangover” any more.  Thanks to Fitness Together, I look forward to 50 and beyond.     

Thom Mills

Before

Dr Thomas Lowry

The Doctor is ready to see you now!

Tom came home and said that Dan told him I had to write and essay for him...ha...I know Tom; he just did not want to write it himself!  if Tom dragged me kicking and sreaming to have a gastric by-pass then it is true that I dragged him kicking and screaming to Fitness Together.  If I am going to live longer, then I want Tom beside me and the only way that is going to happen was if he started a healthy lifestyle, as well.  Tom has been amazed how working one-on-one has changed his outlook and how he feels about life.  He can get up off the floor (after I have knocked him down...just kidding), when he plays with the grandkids.  He can get out of his small car with ease; he may have aches and soreness after a workout, but it is a pleasant soreness and not the soreness he had from weak and tight muscles.  His great pleasure is that he is now able to walk two to four miles daily (of course, he still eats my dust when we walk, but he is catching up).  Working with Dan and his crew is something tha we are doing for ourselves; they have encouraged us, and that means alot.  We both think and feel like we are getting younger and stronger by working with Fitness Together - Hardin Valley.  Our thanks to everyone who is helping us along this journey! 

After

Kyle Spafford

Taking Oak Ridge by Storm!

Kyle has lost over 50 lbs with hard work and determination driving him to live a healthier lifestyle. He continues to build lean muscle, strength, and drop even more body fat on a daily basis whether meeting with his FT - Hardin Valley trainer 3 times per week or on his own doing cardio.

More muscle and strength than ever before!

Barton Baskette

"100 pushups is now easy!"

After

Nat Reeder

Fitness Together has added YEARS to my life!!

In the spring of 2009 I started experiencing hip and lower back pain that was diagnosed as a cracked vertebra which was impinging on my sciatic nerve.  As my activity level dropped I gained about 25 pounds, putting me at my heaviest ever at around 270.  After a year of chiropractic care and three epidural cortisone shots my back pain was manageable to the point of being able to work out again.  My wife Kris and I came to the open house in August of 2010, and signed up that night.  I truly believe the Team at Fitness Together - Hardin Valley has added years to my life.  I've lost over 20 lbs of fat, made huge strength gains, and am close to being off my cholesterol and blood pressure medications.  Training here is not easy, the results do not come overnight, and it requires a huge amount of dedication to keep the schedule.  However, that is a small price to pay for the results, increased energy, and sense of accomplishment that comes with being a client. 

Before

Anne Marie Wilson

Anne Marie Wilson is our November 2009 client of the month.  Before starting Fitness Together in October of 2008, Anne Marie had not had much guidance in her exercise routines. She had tried the big health clubs, but nothing seemed to work for her.  Since starting at FT - Northshore, she has dropped four pants sizes, her eating habits have improved, and her energy level has increased drastically.  But most importantly, she has found that she has become more social and is more willing to try new things, which has brought more enjoyment to her life.  She feels the exercise appointments and accountability have been key to her success here and recommends Fitness Together for others who are ready to get their health back on track.

Some of Anne Marie’s key improvements include a weight loss of 58 pounds, a decrease of 10% body fat, a 75% increase in number of pushups per minute from 32 to 56, improved cardiovascular endurance overall.  She also improved her bench press 93% to 100 pounds and has lost a total of 54 inches! 

Before

Michael West

Michael West is our March 2010 client of the month. Since starting at Fitness Together - Northshore last September, Michael’s overall health and fitness level has improved significantly. Specifically, some of Michael’s improvements include a weight loss of fifteen pounds, a ten percent decrease in body fat, and an increase in push ups from five to fifty-five in one minute. He has also gotten much stronger on his bench press, improving by 70% the amount of weight he can press for ten repetitions.

Overall, Michael has lost 7.25 inches to date!  Michael credits his accomplishments to the Fitness Together methodology.  He likes the private setting, the one on one attention, and how client feedback about likes and dislikes is incorporated into the workouts.  Training by appointment has kept him accountable to the plan and his results have kept him motivated.  But when asked what he likes the best so far, he will tell you that it’s the fact that he is down 2 to 4 sizes in his pants and his overall energy level has increased.  This will make it much easier to keep up with his new daughter in the years to come!

Before

After

Rose Foster

Rose Foster has been a Fitness Together - Hardin Valley client since February 2010. Since joining, she notes that the biggest difference besides feeling better and having more energy is her change in blood pressure, sleeping better at night, and a more active lifestyle in the day. The results from Rose's last evaluation certainly reflect all of her hard work!

*Lost 25 lbs. and 22 inches total!

* Increased from 17 to 50 push-ups!

* Increased her bench press from 54 lbs to 100 lbs (an 85% improvement).

*Improved low back and hamstring flexibility by 38%.

 She enjoys the variety of exercises she gets while working out at Fitness Together, as well as the team of trainers and their complementary training styles. "The trainer/client rapport is great; they all show genuine interest in my goals and what I am trying to accomplish. I only have a few more pounds to lose, but I will continue to exercise the rest of my life.  Even my husband loves the results that I've gotten, both in mky physical changes as well as the mental and emotional benefits I've gotten.   Fitness Together has given me the foundation and drive that I need to carry on!"

 Congratulations on your great results Rose, and thanks for your hard work and commitment.  Clients like you keep us going!

After

Kevin Kragenbrink

Next stop - Tour de Fance!

Email From Kevin:

I am on my last day of vacation getting ready to head back to Knoxville in the morning.  I wanted to tell you a story about how much working with you and your team at Fitness Together - Hardin Valley has helped me.

 My father-in-law is an avid bike rider.  He and one of his sons ride all the time and often go on very long rides.  I, on the other hand, have not ridden a bicycle in about 30 years and even then I was only a recreational rider.  I don’t think I have ever ridden more than about 10 miles in my life.  So when I got to Tallahassee on Thursday and George suggested that we go for a ride on Saturday morning, I was a little skeptical.  But hey, I am always up for something fun.  I said yes to the ride and off we went.

 We rode for about 20 miles on Saturday and I was never challenged.  It was amazing.  One of my other in-laws (Kim’s brother who is 38) rode along and was out of gas and strength after about 10 miles.  I got back and felt great.  So, George suggested we go again on Sunday morning and maybe try something more challenging.  Of course, I said sure.

 On Sunday it was just George and me.  Blair decided the workout on Saturday was more than enough. George and I discussed our options and decided on a 50 mile trip.  We set out at about 8:00 a.m. and had a very good time.  I was able to keep up with George the entire trip with no struggles.  We completed the 50 miles in just over 3 hours.  It was truly a fantastic weekend.

 I am telling you this story because I don’t believe I would have been able to do any of this if I had not been working out at Fitness Together.  You and your team have helped me get in great shape.  The total body approach you guys use got my legs as ready to ride and gave me the cardio strength to keep moving along no matter what pace George set.  I could not be happier with how far my fitness has come working with you and I can’t wait to get back and get started with training again.

 Best always,

 Kevin

Before

After

Brandon Martin

Unhealthy to lean machine!

Brandon's stats since starting at FT - Hardin Valley:

• Has lost more than 20 lbs and 8% body fat
• Increased upper body strength by 20%
• cardiovascular endurance improved 37%
  
• Improved flexibility by 16%
  

After

Bill and Linda

Bill and Linda Nichols conquered the hills and the brisk early morning weather on the campus of UT this past weekend during the Knox Marathon 5K! The happy couple are two of our All-Star clients that participated in the days events with Hardin Valley Fitness Together Team. Bill has lost over 20 lbs while working with his FT trainers! His wife Linda has doubled her push -up total and is fighting off arthritis on a weekly basis here at our Hardin Valley studio. Linda is staying in shape to ride her horses and as she grows stronger her chances of winning her next horse show are increasing! Congrats to Bill and Linda for a great 5K!

After

Ken Wellborn

Back in the Saddle!

After years of extensive travel, poor eating habits, gaining weight and no energy, it was time for a lifestyle change.  At Christmas 2009, my daughter presented me with a series of personal training sessions at Fitness Together (FT). It was a wonderful (and much needed) gesture. I was unsure if I was ready to take on what I knew would be a difficult challenge.  With my daughters encouragement I took the first step and made the call.  The rest is history.

Since December, I have been working with the staff at Fitness Together.  My Personal Trainer Melanie Wright has done an amazing job.  She and the FT staff provided a realistic structured fitness program and nutritional plan specifically developed for me.  A private room was used for the fitness training, which saved me considerable embarrassment.  My personal fitness needs were always the focus of my training.  Training sessions were extremely professional and efficient with close monitoring of my progress.  I can honestly say the guidance and support of the Fitness Together staff is the only way I reached the much improved level of physical fitness I enjoy today.  Fitness Together provide everything I expected from my training experience and more.  I could not be more pleased.  

Mr. Wellborn's Stats:

• Lost over 22 lbs,  7% Body fat, and 17 total inches
• Improved his cardiovascular endurance by almost 20%
• Upper body strength has increased by over 60%
• Hamstring flexibility has increased by 3 inches

After

Sandy Rice

Hardin Valley congratulates its first client of the month for 2010!

Sandy leads an active lifestyle however like most individuals reached a plateau when it came to her weight loss and fitness goals. She turned to Fitness Together - Hardin Valley in November 2009 hoping a one-on-one approach to personal training would be the answer.  “I have been trying to lose weight and get into shape for a couple of years now. I have used other gyms and various home exercise programs and equipment but never got the results I was looking for. Fitness Together has helped me get over the hurdle of being stuck and I am seeing the results and feeling much better. Thanks to the staff at Hardin Valley  I am getting closer to my goal.”

Twelve weeks later, Sandy’s motivation and perseverance paid off.

• She has lost a total of 15.45 inches
• Lost 10 lbs and 4% body weight
• Now Bench presses 69% of her body weight, with a total improvement in muscular strength and endurance of 49%
• Can now do 42 regular pushups in one minute

After

Eugene Long

FT helps local Farmer!

When Mr. Long first painfully shuffled in to our studio he complained of knee pain and lack of strength. His goals were simple:  better mobility, less pain, weight loss and more strength to work on his farm. He has worked hard to change his diet with information from Peggy Pratt our registered dietitian. I am happy to say Mr. Long can now do activities he hasn’t been able to do in years, pain free!  We started him off with basic range of motion and strength movements to work on his gait and ability to step up on objects and walk with better functionality.  All of his exercises were geared toward allowing him to get out on to his farm and work with his cattle with greater ease and safety.

• He has been able to stop taking his BP meds and has lost 14 inches of total body fat.

• His wife says she no longer worries about him working out on the farm because he is so much stronger and he moves significantly better!

• When we started with Mr Long he could not complete the required test for Cardio vascular endurancedue due to lack of strength and stiffness in his joints, now he can not only complete the test but scores above average and is regularly exercising on one of our bosu trainers and using all our cardio equipment each week!

 Eugene’s perseverance and dedication are what really make him stand out as a client at Fitness Together. You can always count on Eugene to go above and beyond what is asked, whether it’s coming to do cardio on a Saturday afternoon or sneaking in an extra rep or two just to show his trainers Marco that he is working hard. This determination has progressively shown through in his mobility, balance, and overall cardio vascular health.