I was just told that my job was moving to New Jersey. I wasn’t going to leave the Northwest, so I became one of the many unemployed during a tough economic time. I had to make a decision about my health and this was forcing me to do that. I had gained 20+ lbs and really didn’t feel very good about myself. I had endured an unreasonable amount of stress at work, that was now gone and I wanted to do something for my body. Little did I know that joining the Raleigh Hills Fitness Together would change my life. I am a better person from head to toe.

I knew that I needed someone to set expectation for me, I was good at meeting those for others, but not my own. Being a very social person I was always looking for someone else to make me commit to exercise with them. I needed to learn how to do this on my own. I needed a trainer to teach me, coach me and show me I could commit to my goals and hold myself to them.

For most of my training Chris at FT was the person that pushed me and held me to a different level of commitment to myself. He is very knowledgeable with every aspect of getting healthy, workout, diet, commitment and desire to be better. I expect a lot out of myself and I can disappoint myself easily. It is more of a mental game that my mind plays with myself. If I verbally commit out loud to someone, I seem to do better. FT gave me that someone to commit to.

I dug in quickly and worked hard to achieve the goals that we set together. My workouts were the only thing that kept me going every day while unemployed. I got up, ate a good breakfast and went to FT. I did my cardio everyday and 3 days added weight training. FT kept me from being a depressed, fat, unhealthy person, while I was unemployed.

Not only did the trainers teach me what and how to do the exercise. They explained why it is good, what muscle it is working, and how that is different from another one we had done before. I’m learning and growing as a person.

This adventure had changed how I think about things, how I do my every day activities and how I perceive myself and others. It has also changed how others see me. As I found out when Tony, the owner, ran into my daughter and she started to share with him how she has seen me change, inside and out. That was worth all the time and money spent!!

Yes, I lost those 20 lbs, I still have more I want to loose. What I’ve gained is much greater value, my self worth. I am learning how to do this on my own, cutting back to two days a week at FT and still keeping up the same workouts, while enjoying a working girls pay check too.

I am blessed with all the wonderful people I met, the trainers; Tony, Chris, Ashley and all the wonderful people who also go to FT. They helped me keep focused and I hope I helped them.

A life time of Thanks