Personal Training Success Stories

Joel Roettger

Frokm Desk Jockey to Pull-Up Machine!

Meet Joel Roettger, our October 2011 Client of the Month!  Joel started training at FT about 1 ½ yrs. ago because “I wanted to get back in shape after years of sitting behind a desk.  I tried working out on my own but after a few weeks I couldn’t stick with it and lost my motivation – other programs just didn’t work for me.  I was too busy at work and needed motivation and accountability.  I liked the idea of having a program tailored toward me by trainers who understand my needs and goals and who will push me harder.  Since starting, I’ve noticed increased energy and endurance as well as an increase in overall strength and broader shoulders. ” And Joel’s numbers don’t lie!

 *Lost 3.5 % body fat

* Increased from 25 to 49 push-ups

* From 2 to 17 pull-ups

*Resting heart rate is down by 11 beats/minute

Joel and his wife (and FT client) just had a baby girl, and Joel intends to stay active and healthy as she grows up.  He also hopes to increase his bench press weight and his flexibility moving forward.  Based on his effort and gains so far, there’s no doubt he will do it!

Before

Todd and Denise Duncan

TWO clients, 1 trainer, 1 great workout!

While we typically work with one client at a time, every now and then we bend the rules and train a well-matched husband and wife or pair of friends together.  Todd and Denise Duncan are an example of how much fun and how effective partner training at FT-Northshore can be!  As busy owners of Structural Engineering Assessments, Todd and Denise struggled to find the time to fit regular exercise into their schedule before.   After committing to train several mornings a week at Fitness Together, they noticed that their fitness was improving, but the weight loss still wasn’t happening as quickly as they hoped for.

The final piece of the puzzle for Todd and Denise was to re-evaluate their diet and change the way they were eating.  By paying closer attention to portion sizes (Denise now occasionally allows herself a single chocolate square  or a single serving cup of ice cream to control her caloric intake), they are seeing the inches fall off!  They both have more energy and stamina to do more around the house and yard, and feel like their friends sometimes move in slow motion compared to them now!  In addition, their overall fitness has dramatically increased – see for yourself:

Denise                                                               Todd

Resting Heart rate dropped from 72 to 48             Lost 25 lbs. and 6% body fat

Aerobic endurance increase of 44%                      Aerobic endurance increase of 27%

From 36 to 70 push ups                                      From 17 to 35 push ups

12% Increase in bench press                               12% Increase in bench press

 Todd and Denise like the fact that training at FT is convenient, and they don’t have to worry about what they are going to do for their workouts.  “We just show up and Larry has a workout plan ready for us and he keeps us moving for the entire session!”  They also enjoy exercising together because they can encourage and challenge one another throughout the session. 

Before Fitness Together

What a difference exercise and good nutrition make!

Sandy Redmond

I made my first visit to Fitness Together-Northshore on June 5, 2008. Since then I’ve lost over 100 pounds! My goal is to lose 140 pounds.

Sandy’s Keys to Success

• Show up for Fitness Together appointments-I go to FT 3x per week.
• Do extra cardio-I do at least 30 minutes of cardio before or after every FT strength training session AND at least 30 minutes of cardio at home 2-3 more times per week.
• Keep a food journal and follow a nutritional plan. Whenever I stop seeing results, I realize it’s because I am eating too much. The food journal makes you think about what you’re putting into your body.
• Carry a “before” photo to help remind you where you’ve been and why you’re working so hard to get healthy.
• I changed my magazine subscriptions. I used to subscribe to Paula Dean’s “Cooking” and “Southern Living”. Now I subscribe to “Oxygen”, “Fitness” and “Shape” because they contribute to my new, healthier lifestyle.
• Maintain a positive attitude!

Why Fitness Together is for me

• Private atmosphere-much less embarrassing than large gyms
• Trainer knowledge and commitment
• Fun exercise-based outings
• Meeting new people who are also interested in lifelong fitness
• I love the massage therapist at FT Northshore. Getting regular massages has helped my muscles to repair and it helps with flexibility.
• I’ve tried so many diets and weight loss programs. I know FT works for me.
• My life and health have changed for the better since I started training at Fitness Together.

Before

Harold Silber, DDS

Dr. Silber has been busy building a successful dental practice over the last thirty years, so it would be easy to use the "not enough time" excuse to not exercise.  However, Harold has accepted the challenge of balancing a busy career and maintaining his health and fitness.   Harold has trained at Fitness Together - Northshore since they opened in 2007, and believes that his hard work is paying off; in the last 4 months, Harold has lost 14 lbs and increased his cardiovascular endurance, running faster and longer every week!.

Harold cites that he "likes the personal attention I get form my personal trainer, Shea Sims.  Even though I have a busy schedule, I know that at the end of the day I can get a good workout to releive some stress". Harold enjoys spending time with his family, walking, biking, and anything having to do with his beautiful wife Susan (who was an FT client of the month in 2009!).  

Harold attributes his healthy eating (salmon night instead of wing night) and drinking plenty of water to helping him out along the way.  Overall, his fitness has become a lifestyle, and that is our goal for every client we work with!

After

Jacob Lowe

140 lbs. lost...and counting!

     I’ve always been a heavy set person, about the last time I was a “normal” size was when I was a child.  I tried to lose some weight during high school, but it didn’t take and I went through the rest of high school and college on a downward spiral. In April of ’10, I had a motorcycle accident that put me up for a month where I gained an extra 30-40 lbs.  I went to the doctor to get a check up and I stepped on the scale.  I was astonished, 360 lbs.  I had hit my rock bottom.

     Fitness Together - Northshore was my outlet to freedom from my old self.  When I started, my fundamentals of health were completely backwards and, thankfully, FT offers a complete program through weight training, cardio, and nutritional instruction.  After 8 months of coaching, monitoring my food intake, and thorough training, I have managed to lose over 100 lbs.  As of this day, I have lost over 140 lbs and I am well on my way to a new healthy lifestyle.  Without the thorough programs and helpful trainers from Fitness Together, I definitely would not be where I am today.

 - Jacob

Before

Tim Wynn

Tim Wynn is October’s Client of the Month. In Tim’s time here at Fitness Together - Northshore, he has made drastic improvements that are very apparent. Not only has he become stronger, the physical capabilities he now has are impressive.  To name a few, he can do 16 pull-ups in a row, almost 80 push-ups in 60 seconds, and a max lift on bench press of 250 lbs. From the time that Tim started, his body fat percentage has dropped 3 percent. He has also gained several pounds of muscle. Overall, he is very happy with the progress that he has made. He really enjoys training at Fitness Together because he feels that the accountability is a must for staying in shape due to his hectic schedule. “My trainer always keeps me motivated and moving, even when I don’t think I can.”

Dr. Phil Seifert "hanging out" at Fitness Together

Dr. Phil Seifert

 Some people stop and start a new exercise program or diet plan every other month it seems.  Whenever a change in their life happens, they get thrown off their routine and have to start all over again.  Well our client of the month, who we affectionately refer to as “Dr. Phil”, is NOT that person!  As an emergency room physician with an ever-changing schedule, Phil has a lot of reasons to be inconsistent.  But no matter what his schedule is, Dr. Seifert makes the time to exercise with his trainers at Fitness Together.

 Phil originally came to FT with the goal of becoming stronger and more fit.  And while he has made significant gains in his strength and reduction in his body fat, he also credits FT with helping to preserve his mental health.  The mental and physical demands of the ER can be enough to “burn out” some physicians, but by setting and KEEPING his appointments, Dr. Seifert maintains a balance in his life.  Recently, Phil started a medically based weight loss program called “Ideal Body” at Mercy medical center, adding one more thing to his already full plate.  But he doesn’t let that keep him from coming for his sessions and always putting in great effort.  And for that we vote you “Client of the Month”!      

Joyce Ryan doing a Kettlebell swing with her trainer Jasen Bradley

Joyce Ryan

Joyce Ryan is our client of the month. Not only has Joyce seen progress, but her quality of life has also improved. She looks and feels better. When asked what she enjoyed about her training at Fitness Together she simply stated, “I enjoy the individual attention I receive during my work outs. I feel like there is no one being focused on but me.” She also likes the fact that her program is specifically tailored to meet her needs.

   When asked what the main factors were in her weight loss, she believed that it was mostly due to her being ready and willing to do so, and now she takes pride in taking care of herself. Another main key is that she is watching what she eats very closely. She keeps a food journal and closely monitors all nutrition. Joyce is now seeing results starting with the fact that she feels better in overall daily activities.

 Joyce has noticed an increase in her energy level, and is able to do much more without feeling fatigued. Even more, she has noticed a drastic drop in weight in her mid-section. She has a hiking trip around the corner, so she is excited knowing that she will not be "bringing up the rear" this year. When asked about what is keeping her motivated, she just said, “Seeing progress: My family and friends notice the difference, I feel better, my pants and other clothes fit me differently, and that is reason to keep going.” Her clothes definitely should be fitting her differently with these results:

*A drop in 17 lbs and 3 percent body fat to date

*An improvement of 30% in her cardiovascular endurance

*An increase in her bench press by ten pounds for ten repetitions -*A decrease in inches of 10 inches

Congratulations on your success and hard work Joyce.  Way to go!  

Rose Foster making it look easy!

Rose with trainer Shea

Rose Foster

Rose Foster has been a Fitness Together 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!

Before

Kathy Jessing

Kathy started training with Fitness Together - Northshore  in January 2008.  Her goals were relatively simple:  “Gain strength, agility, and firm-up”.  However, while many people come to Fitness Together with similar goals as Kathy’s, the level  of effort and commitment that Kathy has put towards reaching her goals is rare.  Kathy trains with the Fitness Together trainers between 2 to 3 days times per  week, as most of our clients do, but it is her regular commitment to cardiovascular exercise and  healthy eating that has helped her lose 13 lbs (almost 10 lbs. In lost fat!), Increase her push-ups by almost 100%, Go from the “Well-Below Average” to “ Above Average” category on the 3 minute-Cardiovascular step test, and lower her blood pressure.

 In Kathy’s own words, “I had tried a lot of other health clubs and gyms before, but I never got the motivation I needed-I found myself just using the machines they told me use and going through the motions.  Doing exercises the right way and being pushed further than I would push myself at Fitness Together has made all the difference.  I’ve lost two whole pant sizes, firmed up, have more flexibility, and just feel better overall.  I’m even eating breakfast every day now!  The trainers are all very professional, and I enjoy the privacy.  At Fitness Together, there is no intimidation that many women experience at large health clubs.  I would recommend them to anyone”. 

Before

Heather McRedmond

"I have tried several other weight loss programs, including fad diets, but always put the weight back on because it wasn’t a reasonable way to eat.  The problem was, I never kept a consistent exercise program in place.  I knew that exercise and good nutrition would allow me to lose the weight, but I wasn’t sure if I could stay committed to it.  Now I don’t feel like my day is complete until I work out." 

                "Fitness Together has been the most supportive and non-judgmental exercise facility I’ve ever come too.  The trainers are all great: they push me on when I need it and encourage me to keep working towards my goals.  They are kind, but don’t sugar coat the truth -  they tell it like it is.  I much prefer the small, private setting of Fitness Together over the large, wide-open health clubs in town." 

                "Since starting at Fitness Together - Northshore, I have lost over 80 lbs. and 50 inches, dropped my body fat by 10%, increased my aerobic endurance by 40%, tripled the number of push-ups I can do, increased my bench press by 70%, and increased my flexibility by 23%!  And now I can do things that I never dreamed of doing, like biking the Virginia Creeper trail, playing tennis, and ice-skating! 

Matt Pih

Matt Pih

Matt is one of many Fitness Together -Northshore success stories.  Matt started training at FT in October of 2008, and in just 11 weeks made this incredible progress:

*Body composition: Lost 25 lbs., 3% body fat, and 20 inches.

* Endurance: Increased running from 3 miles to 8 miles, Increased aerobic capacity by 35%

* Muscular strength & endurance: Increased Bench press by 37% and went from 21 push-ups to 40 push-ups.

“I had tried several of the big gyms in town but knew that they weren’t going to work for me.  I played sports in high school, but once college started I became more sedentary and started gaining weight.  The personalized, one-on-one training approach towards my fitness has been great – they understand my goals and don’t try to get me to “bulk up”.   The trainer’s ability to constantly vary my program keeps me from hitting plateaus – I always feel like I am making progress.  The nutritional counseling with Becky, their Registered Dietitian, has also been especially helpful.

Anne Marie Wilson, November 2009 Client of the Month

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, I hace dropped four pants sizes, my eating habits have improved, and my 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 79 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!

Rich James

June 2011 Client of the Month

Congatulations to our FT - Northshore June 2011 Client of the Month!  Rich has lost 10 lbs. of body fat, increased his strenght and endurance, and feels like he is finally being challenged again in his training.  Check out Rich's story in this short video interview!