Personal Training Success Stories

Julie before

April 15, 2011

Julie Andrews

I’ve been on a mission to get healthy and lose weight since Jan 2010 and have been working out at Fitness Together since April 2010.   The Fitness Together concept of working out one on one with a trainer is a huge part of why I’ve been successful.  Having an appointment means I show up because someone’s waiting for me and it makes me block out time on my schedule in advance so nothing else gets in the way.  Working out with Matt as my trainer has been excellent – he is encouraging and always pushes me to do more – often surprising myself at what I can do (yeah, real pushups!).   

After a little over a year with a healthier lifestyle & working out at Fitness Together, I am proud to say I have just hit a major milestone of losing 60 lbs!  I am stronger than I’ve ever been in my life and have the added bonus of better balance & flexibility.   Getting healthy is about more for me than losing weight & building muscles; I am happier, more positive and have an inner strength now that stays with me all the time.    

I would highly recommend Fitness Together to anyone as a key element in their fitness routine and healthy lifestyle.  The people are great and the results are beyond measure!

Kind Regards,

Julie Andrews

REALTOR®

375 Atlantic Blvd, Suite 1

Atlantic Beach, FL 32233

Office (904) 241-2417

Fax (904) 212-0657

www.jandrews.prudentialnetworkrealty.com

Chuck in ACTION

Showing the GUNS

Chuck Schoonmaker

Hey Wes-

Big THANK YOU to you and Casey for what I was able to accomplish this past weekend.  Some friends/family and I ran the FL-ROC race.  3.3. miles of mud, obstacles, and more mud.  The high point came when I was about ½ way through. Starting in a waist high creek I was able to do a 12 ft rope climb.  I would have never thought that possible.  I am now newly inspired and have set some new goals for myself.

Thanks again sir for the inspiration.

Chuck Schoonmaker, Ponte Vedra

Carol Lokietek February 2010

Carol Lokietek June 2010 (minus 50lbs!)

Carol Lokietek

January 2010 clicked by and I made myself the same promise I do every year. This is the year I am really going to loose weight. Hey, pass me those chips…..

I am 5’ 4 1/2” and was 218 pounds. I looked and felt awful. January was half over and I had not done anything regarding my resolution to change my weight and health. I heard a doctor I work with say he was in the best shape of his life so I joined the conversation to hear about his success. I told the doctor I wanted to exercise and feel better and he had a gift for me. Later that afternoon he gave me a gift certificate for three free visits at Fitness Together with a personal trainer.

I had only dreamed of having a personal trainer and given the opportunity to workout with one for free was not an option I would pass up! I met with Giles for my first session and when I left I knew I would be back.  I finally found the atmosphere I could be successful in. I love the privacy of working out in a studio with a trainer. I don’t have to worry or think about anything but just getting here. My trainer Matt has my whole routine planned out and I just have to do it. Even when I show up grouchy or tired he gets me to work and I leave feeling less stressed and happy that I completed another workout and I am moving forward to my goal of loosing weight and feeling better. I would never push myself as hard as I do working out with Matt and there are many days I would have made an excuse to not work out if he was not here waiting for me. Working out helps me manage my calorie intake too, because I am not squandering calories I just sweated off on overeating or junk food!

Today is June 28^th, 2010. My first Fitness Together session was about the third week of January. I have lost 50 pounds and gone from a size 18 plus to a size 10. I am a nurse and I see the price people pay every day for their unhealthy lifestyle. I realized that you can invest in your health now or pay later for medications, surgeries and the like. I know I made the right decision; I feel better than I have in 30 years and I never want to turn back.

Sincerely,

Carol A Lokietek RN

Erin Stehl of the Dr. Phil Show 1/17/10

Erin at the 'big reveal' show!

Erin Stehl

Wes Greer

Fitness Together

41 PGA Tour Boulevard

Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082-3081

May 10, 2010

Dear Wes,

Thank you so very much for helping me get motivated, get direction and get in shape! I could never have reached my fitness goals without working with you and your team at Fitness Together.

You helped me set realistic goals, held me accountable and taught me how to properly work my body.  No magic bullet! Your Fitness Together Personal Trainers encourage me to reach just a little farther. The energy I experience from a well trained, leaner, more efficient body is amazing!

At 49 years old, 30 pounds crept up on me and slowed me down. I was miserable! I had no idea how poorly I felt until I lost over 25 pounds of fat and gained lean muscle mass. I could hardly walk ½ mile without being out of breath. My cardio fitness went from horrible to incredible. My waistline went from 37 inches to 32 inches. Everyday tasks no longer cause pain and I am able to keep up with my energetic grandchildren.

As a result of the Fitness Together Personal Trainers coordinating my exercise plan for my individual maximum benefit, I no longer have back pain.

No back pain is priceless!

I am very thankful Dr. Phillip McGraw arranged for me to work with you and the Fitness Together Personal Trainers. Dr. Phil talks about “getting real” and you made it happen!

Thank you for helping me change my life.

Sincerely,

Erin Stehl

Darron Murrell Before

Darren Murrell After

Darren Murrell

Mandarin

Celeste September 15, 2008

Celeste April 15, 2009

Celeste Mercer

Ponte Vedra

I am so glad that my son talked me into joining Fitness Together. I was very skeptical whether this would work for me; after all I am sixty three years old and have tried every diet and joined several gyms over the past 35 years, all to no avail.  I love the one on one experience that is central to Fitness Together.   It is personal, someone to whom I am accountable, someone who knows me and what I am capable of, even though quite often I question them on that topic, they are always right.  I can’t believe some of the exercises I have done. But with the guidance and encouragement of Wes and Michael, I have lost over 20 lbs, gone from a size 14 to an 8, gained muscle and balance and best of all I am confident that I still have many years in which to enjoy the things I love most, hiking in the mountains, snow skiing, horseback riding, playing ball with the grandkids, dancing etc.  I still have 15 lbs to lose and I am certain I will be able to reach my goal.  God gave us these wonderful bodies; it is up to us to take care of them.  Fitness together is one of the best things I have ever done for myself and I highly recommend it for anyone at any age.  It will do you good mentally as well as physically.

Farley December 15, 2008

Farley March 14, 2009

Farley Grainger

Jacksonville

Farley lost 9 inches from his waist in 3 months!

Sue Phillips August 8, 2009

Sue Phillips February 8, 2010

Sue Phillips

Mandarin

Dear Joe-

I was working out on my own 5 days a week with no results.  Fitness Together helped me make my workouts more intensive and efficient while also helping with an approach to changing my eating habits.  My workouts now take less time but are much more focused and efficient and I have changed my eating habits.  The results are in the numbers!  43 pounds and 22.75 inches lost so far!

Pete Chesney 12.24.09

Pete Chesney 3.19.10

Pete Chesney

Pete Chesney of Jacksonville has lost nearly 40lbs in three months at Fitness Together!

Laura January 8, 2008

Laura May 12, 2008

Laura Wright

Jacksonville

Let’s face it, we live in a fast paced, high tech, competitive and sometimes troubled society.  Often the result is chronic stress.  Too much stress can causes serious problems. Researchers have found that the people most likely to be stressed are two to three times more likely to die from coronary heart disease.  Second, and related, stress can actually make you fat.

Fitness Together’s ‘Win and Get Thin’ Winner Laura Wright of Mandarin knew that fact all too well.  The stress in Laura’s life was one of the major drivers for her unhealthy lifestyle.  She explains it best.

“I think the biggest benefit coming from my Fitness Together workouts is STRESS RELIEF ....  I have had so many stressful situations going on in my life for the last several years and I resorted to FOOD to find relief and/or comfort.   Food comfort wasn't working for me - actually it made it so much worse, but it was hard to see beyond that moment…” 

So why is exercise an antidote for stress?  The fact is our bodies cannot tell the difference between stress caused by a physical threat, one we must physically fight or run away from, and the chronic, emotional stress we are most likely to face everyday.  The body therefore releases the hormones adrenaline, cortisol, and insulin. The result is 5 – 10 minutes of quick energy due to the release of stored fuel in the body (fat and glucose).  That’s great if you must fight or run away from a physical threat, but when was the last time you did that?

So what happens to all that fat and glucose in our blood stream that was supposed to give us quick energy?  The job of insulin in the body is to get the fat and glucose out of the blood stream and store it for future use.  The insulin often does this so well that we feel hungry.  So the insulin stores the fat and glucose as fat, most of it saved in the middle section of the body.  We eat more because we are hungry, and that gets stored too.  If we face prolonged or chronic stress, this cycle is repeated over and over, storing more and more fat on our midriffs (and possibly leading to other physical problems)!

Exercise is the cure, plain and simple.  Physically, exercise burns fat and glucose, reduces cholesterol and triglycerides, improves all cardiovascular functions, and keeps hormones balanced.  It helps our bodies work efficiently and well. Mentally, exercise calms our negative emotions and actually stimulates positive biochemical changes that improve mood and relieve pain.  A fit person can deal with stress much better than people who are sedentary.  Ask Laura Wright!

Valerie May 12, 2008

Valerie December 6, 2008

Valerie Phillips

Ponte Vedra

Valerie Phillips of Ponte Vedra lost 48 pounds in four months!

Skip Clark

Skip July 14, 2008

Skip Clark

Jacksonville

In January of 2008 after being retired for a year I went from 175 to over 200 pounds.
I had constant heartburn and was in constant pain from my back and knee. In fact, I was scheduled to have knee replacement surgery in August            .

My wife took a picture of me in January 2008 and after seeing it I went on a diet by myself. After losing some weight I weighed in at 199 Ibs. My doctor told me that I needed to weigh 170 Ibs and strengthen the muscles around my knee.

I started Fitness Together and within 2 months I lost 20 Ibs and I strengthened and toned all of my muscles. I am in the best shape I’ve been in a very long time. I even postponed my Knee surgery.

Thanks to Chris and Sherry at FT for their dedication to my personal goal. The 1-1 training at FT helped me to strengthen my body in the right way without injury. I feel like a new person!

Thank you FT

Corri Davis

Ponte Vedra

Dear Wes,

I have always been active. I play tennis three times a week and have been going to the gym for years. Even with all of this, I still felt and looked like I was missing out. I was in bad shape when I was referred to Fitness Together back in August. I was heavier than I should have been, my clothes weren’t fitting like they used to, and I had no muscular definition. I felt like I was ‘spinning my wheels’ in the gym – I was working so hard but got no real results. I had no direction.

Thanks so much for getting me back on track! In just eight weeks of training, my results have far exceeded my expectations. With your help, I have trimmed off almost 3% of the fat on my body, my heart rate has improved dramatically, and I am stronger and more flexible than ever. My tennis game has also improved dramatically. A once sub-par backhand is now my power shot. My partners can’t believe the improvement! Most importantly, I feel better about myself, and this positive outcome is just as important as the change in my physical appearance.

Thanks so much for motivating and holding me accountable – I look forward to continuing my success with you and the other outstanding Fitness Together trainers! With Fitness Together in my corner, it’s so much easier!

Sincerely,

Corri Davis – Ponte Vedra

Michelle Goff

Ponte Vedra

I'm not one of those people who like to go to a gym to workout with a lot of other people, especially when I was the heaviest I had even been in my life. I was so thrilled when I received a mailing about Fitness Together opening in Ponte Vedra Beach because it was exactly what I needed to finally get me back on track to a healthy lifestyle.

A scheduled appointment with a personal trainer in total privacy is the perfect combination for me. So I persuaded my husband to give me a certificate for Christmas.

The results have exceeded my expectations. The staff at Fitness Together is very professional, knowledgeable, and thorough in developing a program for me that involves weight and cardiovascular training as well as diet and nutrition.

After only seven weeks, I am proud to report that I look and feel better than I have in a long time; my weight is down by 16 lbs., my body fat has diminished by 7% and I have lost inches everywhere. As of today, I am well on my way to achieving my goals in fitness, weight and lifestyle.

It's still hard work, but it's much easier when you have a partner like Fitness Together.

They are the best!

Michele Goff

Sam Maury

Ponte Vedra

Dear Wes,

In the business world, it's the numbers that count.

I want to congratulate you and your staff for helping me not only meet, but exceed my goals. Within a 6 week period I have lost 15 pounds of fat and gained 7 pounds of muscle. You work me hard, but each session becomes easier as I feel myself become stronger and more flexible.

I feel better, I look better, and I have a great deal more energy. My wife says coming to Fitness Together is the 2nd best decision I have ever made…the best of course, having married her.

Thanks for the professionalism with which you conduct your studio and outstanding training regime. I look forward to building on the great progress I have made so far.

Sincerely,

Sam Maury

Laura Hamil

Ponte Vedra

I have every exercise and diet book ever written, but I have never been able to 'stick' to anything… until now. The one-on-one concept here at Fitness Together is outstanding. I love the personal attention I get from my trainer. Hillary is not only very knowledgeable and professional, but she cares about me and my goals.

Private training suites are the perfect solution to really reach my fitness goals. When I'm training, all the attention is on me, not a big group or any one else. This personal attention and the private training rooms allow me to focus on my workouts and with the help of my trainer get great results.

In a matter of only 6 weeks, I have lost 7% Body fat and inches everywhere. My heart rates have improved by 50% and I feel and look better than I have in a long time. I have so much more energy and flexibility and that is important to keep up with my 7 grandchildren.

People make the difference. Wes, you should be proud of not only your beautiful studio and equipment, but also your trainers. Everyone here at Fitness Together really wants me to succeed - and that makes all the difference between actually getting results (losing fat, gaining energy, strength, flexibility, etc.) and just going through the motions with other programs.

Thanks for the motivation!

Laura Hamil