After thinking about it for 25 years, Anita decided she was ready to become stronger and more physically fit. She hoped this would allow her to spend more time dancing and eliminate the need for medication. “I’d also like to look nice for pictures at my Granddaughter’s wedding.”
It’s been 16 months since Anita began training with Lisa and people are noticing. “I’m getting compliments, which builds my self esteem, buying new clothes, and I have more energy.” Personal training keeps Anita disciplined and committed to working toward her fitness goals. “You have to trust the trainer’s knowledge and respect their decisions. Because of the healthy changes I’ve made, both my personal and public life are better organized!”
Going forward, Anita would like to lose more weight and be physically active at least 30 minutes a day. “I’d like to lose another 80 pounds and maybe run or walk a marathon.”
“Without a trainer, you get no-where on your own. Trainers are not just training! They listen, encourage, praise, mentally stimulate you, befriend you, and set a good will example.”
About seven years ago I decided to make a change. I was worried about the possibility of looking for a new job and didn’t want to go to an interview looking “unhealthy”. I got on the scale and was somewhat stunned to see I had hit 240lbs.
I started walking and watching what I ate which started the ball rolling but I quickly realized that this wasn’t going to be enough. Chrystal, who had recently become certified as a personal trainer, told me to start writing down every calorie that I consumed in a day, and don’t cheat! It was the 2nd best health tip I ever received. When you are standing in line at a store and don’t buy that candy bar or bag of chips because you don’t want to have to write it down, that’s motivation!
The best advice I got was to try group fitness. Chrystal was trying to get me to personal train with her. I had been walking, biking and even tried P90X in our basement but I just didn’t have the confidence to try training yet. She had just become certified as an Insanity instructor and convinced me to try it. It was the day before Thanksgiving and I tried in my head to come up with every excuse I could, too much traffic, too much to do, etc….but I went. I wasn’t instantly hooked but I did prove to myself I could do it. I talked Mark Zeratsky into trying it with me to help hold me accountable and now almost 7 years later we still workout several times a week together and we are both hooked. We do a boot camp near our homes in Howard at Bode where Brian does a great job and I take every class I can at Pro Fitness.
I now have the confidence to do some personal training, which I like to mix in with the group fitness and love the special events that Pro Fitness offers. The Spartan training we did was the most rewarding and motivating class I have ever been involved with. The trainers at Pro Fitness do an incredible job of making every workout seem tailored to your level. You can always amp it up or modify if you need to work around and injury or some other obstacle. The other clients are what keeps me wanting to come back, they make it fun, they make it hard and they make it the fastest hour of my day and one I’d hate to miss.
I’d like to thank Doug, my wife Chrystal and the entire Pro Fitness team for not making this a diet, but rather 60lbs. later, a life style change.
Gary started training at Pro Fitness about a year and half ago. His initial goals were to improve balance, flexibility, mobility, and most important, because of Asthma, Gary wanted to increase his lung capacity. Gary’s asthma is improving, his balance is getting much better, and he feels a lot better overall. Amazing accomplishments considering how much his life changed 23 years ago. Gary’s inspiring story, in his own words:
“My fitness journey began on an icy morning, December 9th, 1994. I was struck by a truck while attempting to assist people in a van that had rolled over. I endured a broken right hip, broken left leg, broken ribs, ruptured spleen, and had multiple fractures. I was confined to a wheel chair until my broken bones healed enough to put weight on them. Dr. Grace stated if I do it right, he would get me walking again. Dr. Grace referred me to the CP Center for treatment in their aquatic pool. The staff at the CP Center was terrific and did a great job in getting my mobility and getting me back walking again.
After I completed my therapy, I did not want to lose mobility, so the staff at the CP Center referred me to the YMCA. It was there during a class that I noticed a group of runners on the track above. They invited me to join them and my running took off from there. It was after I started running that I was diagnosed with Asthma. Just another obstacle to overcome in my fitness journey.
I continued taking classes at the Y and some time ago, I took a class that Chrystal was leading. After class we got talking and she invited me to stop over at Pro Fitness and try one of her classes there. After some thought, I decided to take her up on the offer. It was one of the best decisions I have ever made. Her first class was kind of tough but I survived. The people I have met and friendships I made have made Pro Fitness a dynamic place to work out. I have also done personal training at Pro Fitness and will be signing up for additional personal training sessions this fall and winter. The staff is great and has been so helpful in keeping me motivated.
I would like to thank the staff at Pro Fitness for all their help in keeping me on track and everyone will know I am there when you all hear Chrystal proclaim “Breathe Gary”. Thank you so much for all Pro Fitness has done in keeping me focused and on track to reach my health fitness goals.”
Mark’s journey at Pro Fitness began in May after his physical therapist, Dr. Andy Taber, from Advanced Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine, recommended Mark see a personal trainer to help reduce pain in his hips and lose weight.
Mark signed up with Jason and began training three times a week. In less than three months Mark has lost over 40 pounds and counting! “Training has made me more mobile and I have less pain in my hips.”
Mark also meets with Nutritionist, Alicia Slusarek, every two weeks to discuss diet and lifestyle habits and incorporate real-life nutrition strategies. They set weekly goals together, which holds Mark accountable as he works toward his short and long-term goals.
Going forward, Mark would like to continue losing weight and restructure his body mass. “I’m very satisfied with the results so far. Working with a trainer is very helpful and I’d probably lose interest if I wasn’t working with Jason.”
I started training with Doug in 1999, in order to build strength, equilibrium, flexibility, and accelerating levels of fitness in the knowledgeable and factual guidance that Doug Van Iten and his team can provide.
I led an aggressively satisfying physical fitness regiment of running, hiking, biking, and weight lifting for about 20 years prior to joining Pro Fitness. Doug found ways to add to the strength and stamina I had enjoyed as a Marathon runner in the New York City Marathon, Marine Corps Marathon, and in a number of other athletic challenges and fitness contests. I also enjoyed encouraging others to experience a fitness goal for the first time in charity races I ran for my local church for many years.
Working with a trainer allowed me to build on those gains I had made and be prepared to take on new and harder fitness challenges. Doug has a personality that encourages his clients to have a can-do attitude. He knows how to motivate clients to push themselves beyond their self-imposed past limits, and rejoice in the successes gained from that philosophy. Since I have always shared Doug’s philosophy in life, working with him was a perfect fit for me the past 18 years.
Through the skills and levels of strength, equilibrium, and flexibility I learned, I have been able to add a specially selected list of home fitness routines in addition to my weekly session with Doug. I do 100 pushups and a 2 minute plank each day in my home garage, a low-impact exercise routine 3 x a week, as well as biking and occasional running on weekends.
The outstanding gift of fitness training has helped me not only achieve and keep building on my fitness goals as I have reached my 70th year, but to enjoy the confidence and fun of realistically setting new fitness goals. Like Doug, I believe that your goals expand when you push yourself – and that the confidence gained keeps pushing you on to be even healthier. Not a week goes by without Doug sharing some new research or knowledge that helps me understand the body and its potential, and he uses that knowledge to help me in the specific ways that match my own strong goals and match my potential.
Even though I have had numerous sports, health, and other life events that have challenged my fitness goals, Doug was always knowledgeable in helping me work through those interludes and adjust my rehabs at those times realistically through positivity. As a result, I have unlimited confidence that I can achieve the highest possible level of fitness, far beyond what I myself could have ever imagined. Thank you, Pro Fitness!
Pro Fitness is excited to put the spotlight on Julie Green.
After deciding she wanted to lose weight and feel healthier overall, Julie contacted Pro Fitness in August, 2016, and scheduled her first appointment with Lisa.
Julie’s initial goals included losing ten to fifteen pounds and firming-up muscle. “In the past year I’ve already lost ten pounds, I’m less tired, and feel better in general.”
Julie knows personal training isn’t only about exercise. Nutritional guidance is a weekly part of Lisa’s wellness plan for Julie. “Going forward I hope to continue improving my eating habits. I’m also focused on at least maintaining my weight or losing another five to ten pounds.”
“Lisa is great and I enjoy working with her. Her program works and is worth it!”
Eight hours a day, Joan sits in front of a computer at work. As the years went by, she began to notice how weak and achy she was getting every time she stood up. Joan also noticed her weight was slowly creeping up. “I knew I had to do something. I would work out off and on but lacked motivation and also felt like I was never sure of what I was doing or if it was even helping me.”
Joan started training at Pro Fitness about a year ago. This is where her story takes a bit of a twist. “I actually won a free training session at a ‘Girls Night Out’ event at the mall. I wasn’t even sure if I was going to take advantage of it, but figured I had nothing to lose. I never thought I would like working with a trainer but Lisa showed me exactly how to do things, kept me motivated, and gave me the encouragement I needed! It was one of the best decisions I have ever made!”
Initially Joan wanted to build up strength and endurance, and lose a few pounds. “My husband and I also like to bike together and he was always way ahead of me. I felt like I struggled so much just to keep up, it wasn’t much fun! So one of my goals was to be able to keep up with him and enjoy the ride! We have gone out a couple of times now this year and I am amazed at how much easier it is for me to keep up with him! I am enjoying it so much more! (He is impressed)!”
Going forward, Joan’s strives to continue with a healthy lifestyle, challenge herself a little bit more, make exercise a priority, and be healthy and active for many years to come. “I have gone from hating exercise to feeling like I NEED to exercise and looking forward to it! I have so much more confidence, energy, and just a much better sense of well-being! I also find myself being much more aware of what I am eating. I am overall living a much healthier lifestyle.”
“I just want to thank the staff at Pro Fitness. From Steve at the front desk who always made me feel so welcome, to all of the staff who made me feel so comfortable from day one! Everyone there is so friendly. I especially want to thank Lisa, because I would NEVER be where I am now if it wasn’t for her encouragement and making me fell that I could do things I never thought I would be able to do, or want to do! Also, Doug, whom I have worked with a few times, and always learned so much from him! I love Pro Fitness!!”
Pro Fitness is excited to put the spotlight on Leeann Busse.
Impressed by another client’s experience training with Chrystal, Leeann was inspired to work on her own health & fitness goals. She and a friend began team training with Chrystal at Pro Fitness in August of 2016. “I’ve struggled with weight since college and I’ve always known there was an athlete inside. That athlete needed to come out to be able to play and be active with my children.”
Leeann initially wanted to lose weight, get toned and get in shape. “I wanted to be able to jump on the trampoline with my kids and not get winded or worry about getting hurt! A big goal was to someday cross those monkey bars at the gym! I just did it last week!”
The changes Leeann has made have affected her life well beyond the gym. “I have so much more energy. I am taking better care of myself and feel good about it. The people I’ve met along this journey have been amazing. It’s given me a whole new outlook and has made me realize the need to be around those kinds of people.”
Going forward, Leeann plans to continue her weight loss journey by staying active and working out at Pro Fitness. “I would love to do something like The Warrior Run or Cellcom 5K.”
“Chrystal, my workout partner Jennifer, and inspirations Colleen and Clarissa have been HUGE motivators for me. Jennifer is truly the best workout partner a person could ask for! Fun but tough! I started a “group” on Facebook at the start of 2017. I chose people I knew would be supportive of my journey and have kept them updated on my progress. People share recipes, meal plans, give encouragement, set weekly challenges, and are amazing! Back in December I went to Colleen Ducke’s presentation and it had a big impact of me. One quote she shared stood out and remains in my heart…”Making a lifestyle change can be tough, but you know what’s worse? Regret.” I don’t want to regret being an out of shape mom or crabby wife! I want to be the happy, healthy person I know I can be.”
Pro Fitness is excited to put the spotlight on Tammy Mocco this month!
Knowing the increased importance of fitness as we age, Tammy decided to set new goals for herself and she thought of a place where she had past success – Pro Fitness! To achieve her goals, Tammy met with Doug for personal training sessions and also regularly attends group classes at Pro Fitness. Challenging herself in these workouts has led to great results for Tammy. She is down 6 sizes, going from a size 12 to a size 6!
When asked how the changes she has made impact her lifestyle, Tammy says, “I have four grandchildren aged 8, 6, 6, and 4, and being able to keep up with them feels great!” Going forward, Tammy would like to focus on nutrition and would like “to be more aware of what foods I am using to fuel my body.”
“I am very thankful to all the staff at Pro Fitness for their support and encouragement through this journey.”
Pro Fitness is proud to announce that Kirstin Slusarek has been selected as our Client of the Month!
In 1995, Kirstin met Doug while he was giving a presentation at St. Vincent Hospital. With encouragement from her sister, Amy, Kirstin contacted Doug at Pro Fitness and set up her first personal training session. She’s been a client ever since and has been training with Cindy for the past three years. “Cindy has really helped me reach my goals and challenge myself to do more.”
Initially Kirstin’s goals were to lose weight and get in shape, but she soon realized that living a healthy lifestyle made everything easier and gave her a lot of additional energy. “My daughter, Alicia, and Cindy always remind me of the importance of healthy, clean eating, along with personal training.”
Going forward, Kirstin’s main goal is to maintain her healthy lifestyle, but knows it won’t always be easy. “I realize it will take effort and commitment to continue healthy eating and working out three times a week. I am grateful for the support of my family. My daughter Maria’s commitment to fitness and my daughter Alicia’s commitment to our totally healthy lifestyle, inspire me to be the best I can be.”
“Cindy, Doug, Tammy, and the entire staff at Pro Fitness make it an enjoyable, do-able journey.”
