Thank you for selecting me as client of the month at Pro Fitness. It is an honor to be recognized for the hard work that so many put in here and in our lives.
I met Chrystal in August, 2020. I had recently filed for divorce and had just temporarily moved in with my brother, Steve. Chrystal was coming to Steve’s house on Friday afternoons to work with Steve and another client. I was not a work out person by any means. So, the first four Fridays I was more of a spectator and heckler, but something changed. I decided I needed to start taking care of myself. I needed to be here for my 3 kids, long term. I started that next Friday and have never looked back. Steve was the one that told me about Pro Fitness. He has been coming to Pro Fitness for several years.
I knew I was the type of person that would need to work with a trainer. I would not stay disciplined if I tried to do this on my own. Plus, group training would provide me opportunities to meet new people. I sort of jumped right in and started working with Doug on Monday and Wednesday evenings and with Chrystal on Thursday and Saturday. By November, 2020, I made a decision to stop drinking soda. I had been drinking Mountain Dew since high school and literally drank Mountain Dew from sun up to sun down and then some. This really kick started my transformation.
I am not sure I really had a plan when I started working out. I just knew I wanted to look and feel better about myself. It did not take long for me to notice the difference. I could feel my mind set and see my body changing, and I loved it. I met new people, some which have become really good friends. I love that they keep me accountable.
Since starting to work out on a regular basis, I have become a more active person all around. I have started biking, hiking, and looking for outdoor activities to do. I have always been an active person but not in the sense I am now. I look forward to going for hikes, walks, bike rides, etc. I have also started to take note of my diet. Obviously cutting out all the sugar from my soda drinking was huge, but I also started eating a bit healthier. Just paying attention to what I was putting in my body. I still enjoy a steak or a burger, desserts, and adult beverages. Now I simply pay more attention to the quantities I intake. Thus I have lost 40 lbs., and I am maintaining that weight.
I have also added to those 4 workout times. I have been doing yoga once a week and during summer take Chrystal’s class at the hill in Titletown. It’s hard work and sometimes I wonder why I put myself through these classes, but 5 minutes after each class I get a high with how good I feel.
I couldn’t be more grateful to the friends I have made through Pro Fitness. They have helped me through the last year and half, which has been extremely rough for me. We all have life issues to deal with, but the friends I have made have, and continue to help me change my life for the better. I look forward to every workout and make it a point to get to every class I can.
Moving forward my goal is to simply keep doing what I’m doing. Stay at my current weight and continue to make small changes to my life that will make me a better person. Continue to build on the friendships I have made and meet new friends. Continue to explore new opportunities and activities. I just want to keep improving myself physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
Thank you Doug, Chrystal, and everyone I have worked out with. It is each of you that encourage me to continue. Some friends have left, I miss them dearly, and new friends will come. I look forward to what is next. I need to get my life on track and each of you will continue to help me do that. For that I am forever grateful. To my brother, Steve, I can’t thank you enough for encouraging me to get started.
Thank you,
Rodney Rukamp