My goal was to lose 10 lbs and get back into shape after a long recovery from foot surgery. I just couldn’t get myself motivated to get back into exercise with my new limitations and eating right.
After a friend recommended her, I initially met with Colleen Ducke for personal coaching. She encouraged me to set mini goals and to try Chrystal’s boot camp. I went, I tried, and I literally cried, right there in the middle of boot camp. I tried telling myself there is no crying in boot camp but it didn’t help. Looking back, everyone was super encouraging but I was just so very disappointed with how much endurance and fitness I had lost in 1 1/2 years. I survived boot camp, dried my tears, and called for personal training later that day. I needed accountability along with encouragement and I needed to be challenged.
Doug answered the call to all of that and more. When I blamed hormones and menopause, he showed me pictures of women my age and challenged me to keep going. When I blamed pain in my foot, he gave me different exercises. He didn’t allow me to have any excuses. He also helped me find a new way of eating, where I no longer have cravings for sweets or any time where I am feeling famished. I can travel all day and not miss having to eat. I travel a lot so that was a huge victory for me.
As far as my goals, I couldn’t have done it without the encouragement of Doug, Colleen, Chrystal, and Lisa. I am down 2 clothing sizes, hiking with my grandchildren, wearing a swimsuit in public, and I even did push-ups on a glacier in Alaska. I can’t wait to see what I will accomplish in 2019!
Pro Fitness is excited to put the spotlight on Laurie Walters this month! Congratulations from staff and friends at Pro Fitness!
I started coming to Pro fitness about 11 years ago. I was an avid runner and would meet up with friends twice a week to run. One day I pulled up injured and had to discontinue my running routine. My friend suggested we start going to a gym, and get a trainer to stay focused, help us get into a new routine and back on track to health.
This has been one of my best lifestyle decisions. I find that having friends that you work out with to keep you honest, accountable, motivated, and on track is invaluable. Working with Doug has been a lot of fun, yet intense, hard work resulting in great core strength and mental health. Pro fitness offers specialized training that will target whatever activity is next on your ticket. Whenever one event has passed, Doug will ask what is next and he will tailor our workout to get us ready to tackle our next adventure.
I currently do some running at a more relaxed pace, and I just completed the Door County Fall 50 relay with a great group of friends. I also did my first Triathlon this year (a bucket list item I had retired and now I can cross off as completed). This is my 6th year of participating in The Warrior Dash 5K obstacle mud run and, many times throughout the course, I thank Pro Fitness for all the core work I have done through the year. I love this!
I was able to ride 2130 miles on my road bike this summer. I find my freedom where I can fly and lose myself, or solve the world’s problems through meditation, or lively conversation with friends as the miles pass by. I also used to drink quite heavily and found myself on a destructive path; but through perseverance and determination I have been drink free for 26 years and counting, as of August 2nd. I live a much healthier, more successful active lifestyle and enjoy every day.
My goals are to be able to go hiking, jump on my bike, curl, row, snorkel, snowshoe, skate ski, rollerblade or whatever opportunity arises now and far into retirement. I know that strength training allows me to be able to tackle simple tasks of raking the yard or shoveling snow along with all my play time activities. It is always nice to know that if I have a question on nutrition or supplements, I can find an answer by asking Doug. If he isn’t familiar with the topic, he will research it and have an answer next time I see him.
One of the things I would like to work on is balance, many activities require you to have a good sense of balance and I find that I am not as strong in this area and need some work. There is a phrase that I live by “you don’t stop playing because you grow old…YOU GROW OLD BECAUSE YOU STOP PLAYING.”
Pro Fitness is excited to put the spotlight on Daniel Pagel this month! Congratulations from staff and friends at Pro Fitness!
In 2009 Daniel was looking for a new place to personal train and discovered Pro Fitness. “I had worked with a trainer in the past. When that person left the area, I was looking for someone new because I would never do the things a trainer has you do. It’s more time efficient, and I work best when I have an appointment that keeps me committed to exercise.”
Daniel’s initial goals were to have strength to continue working as a hair stylist, and also to look good naked! “Working with a trainer who encourages you to be your best helps me stay focused and make better choices in my diet & exercise, and all aspects of my life. I have better posture and strength, which really helps me get through long days at the salon. My weight fluctuates a few pounds here & there, but I’ve managed to maintain a solid 40 pound weight loss over the past ten years or so. Another bonus is my HDL (good cholesterol) levels are up 12 points.”
In the past, Daniel always focused on final fitness and/or weight loss goals. Now he focuses on the journey, rather than the end result!
“Find someone you connect well with to train you. Jason has made training fun and focuses on my specific fitness needs while encouraging and challenging me with respect for my limitations as the journey continues. Recently, I had trouble getting to my appointment with Jason. He immediately offered to travel to my home and train me there instead. I really appreciate Jason for going above & beyond to help me stay on track.”
Pro Fitness is excited to put the spotlight on Tim & Jodie Olejniczak this month! Congratulations from staff and friends at Pro Fitness!
Tim and Jodie began their Pro Fitness journey after deciding it was time to make some healthy lifestyle changes. “We were looking for a better understanding of workout plans, diet plans, and routines.” That was three years ago, and they’ve been training with Lisa, twice a week, ever since!
Tim and Jodie had a number of goals in mind when they began personal training. “We’d like to improve flexibility, strength, and overall conditioning.” Their dedication and hard work has paid off! “Tim has especially benefited from the changes we’ve made to our lifestyle. He is able to participate in music theatre and has greatly increased his flexibility and strength.”
Positive changes have also made an impact on Tim and Jodie’s kids. Jodie, along with their son, Ben, completed her first Bellin Run this year, and some of their other kids have become gym regulars. Congratulations on completing your first 10K, Jodie and Ben!
Going forward, Tim and Jodie hope to keep up the healthy habits and exercise routine that Lisa has helped them work toward over the past three years. “We are so happy to have found Pro Fitness and we love Lisa!”
Pro Fitness is excited to put the spotlight on Pat Guidry this month! Congratulations from staff and friends at Pro Fitness!
In October of 2015, my husband, Darvey, had a fall and suffered injuries that left him a quadriplegic. He also suffered a traumatic brain injury. Up to that point we both worked out 5-6 days a week at the YMCA, and my only fitness goal was to not gain back the 120 pounds I lost about 12 years ago by eating less and walking more. I only did cardio each day and never even tried any weight training, as I wasn’t that interested.
After Darvey’s fall, so many things changed, and I needed to be strong mentally and physically. That’s when I decided I needed some help. I had known Cindy for awhile because I am a client at her nail salon. She was, and is, so kind and compassionate. Talking with her was so helpful for me. I knew I needed to do something for my stress issues, so joining Pro Fitness and training with Cindy made a lot of sense. My initial goals were to relieve stress, get stronger physically and lose a few pounds.
Working with Cindy has made me so much stronger physically. Darvey is in a wheelchair and I need to be able to push him up hills, take him on long walks, and get him anywhere he needs to go. The chair with him in it weighs 325 pounds. Without training, I would not be able to do that. I was pretty fragile mentally when I started training, and I feel I’ve come a long way in that department also. Just talking with Cindy, other staff, trainers and clients helps keep me feeling happier and motivated. Working out early mornings has been a real blessing for me. It’s great to see the smiling faces at 5:30 in the morning! Tammy always has a kind word for all, and fellow client, Thom, is always rowing and smiling when I get there. It’s fun to watch Chrystal and her fitness group grinding it out.
I’m really grateful I decided to train with Cindy at Pro Fitness. Besides being stronger, my health has improved. I’ve always had high blood pressure which is much better, plus I have great cholesterol numbers. Moving forward, I hope to get even stronger and continue to work on my food choices.
Pro Fitness is excited to put the spotlight on Kimberly Uelmen this month! Congratulations from staff and friends at Pro Fitness!
When did you start training at Pro Fitness?
I began training at Pro Fitness in December 2016 when I received a coupon from my best friend Maria, who has trained and exercised at Pro Fitness for many years. At the time, I had thought that I’d only train for the five sessions that the coupon offered, but I have now trained at Pro Fitness for almost two years.
Why did you decide to being working with a trainer?
My first training sessions were with Doug. At that time, I thought I was in pretty good shape, but I clearly remember feeling like his sessions were a whole new level of fitness that I wanted to be part of.
I have worked with each of the trainers in some aspect, and each one brings a different fitness aspect to our session. All of the trainers at Pro Fitness are easy to talk to, tailor the workout to the individual, and are invested in the trainee’s life.
I am a highly competitive person, and, primarily training with Doug and Lisa, I greatly appreciate the toughness they provide during my session. They constantly push me to be better than last time and to push to my limits, which is something I would not do working out on my own.
I am also a huge proponent of teamwork in my everyday life and fit life, and I absolutely love team training sessions with Cindy and my friends Kirstin and Alicia. It provides an amazing workout and a building of camaraderie.
Finally, Jason’s timed obstacle courses and Crystal’s Strong by Zumba classes are perfect for when you are ready for a high energy, fun, and sweaty workout.
What were your initial goals when you started?
When I walked in the doors of Pro Fitness, my goal was simply to feel good. Doug pushed me to make more tangible goals, so we worked on toning my arms and achieving a certain weight in the bench press. I am proud to say that I recently benched 145 pounds, which is something that I could only achieve with the help and support of my trainer.
How have the changes you’ve made impacted your lifestyle?
I believe in a healthy body leading to a healthy mind. When I started training at Pro Fitness, I was working out 2-3 days a week, and I have now transitioned into exercising 5-6 days a week. The 30-60 minutes of daily exercise have become my favorite part of each day as it allows me to burn off my (for those who know me) plethora of energy and to think and reflect on the day.
This increase of exercise stems from wanting to push myself to be better when I have my weekly training session. I want to be the strongest and fastest I can be when I work with my trainer because I see it as a weekly test that I want to get an A on.
I have had multiple knee surgeries, and, since training at Pro Fitness, I have less pain and irritation seeing as the muscles surrounding the joint have been greatly strengthened. The trainers also listen to what my body is telling me during the workout. If I am experiencing pain in my knee, they tailor the exercise so that we are still working the muscles, but without joint pain.
Going forward, what are your new goals?
The man who trains before me competes in Spartan races, and, I must say, my interests are piqued. It seems, though, that upper body strength is a necessity in those competitions, so a new goal I have set is to be able to complete 10 body weight pull ups by the end of the year. I also want to continue to learn which foods best compliment my fitness practices so that I can live a well-rounded and healthy, yet balanced, life.
Extra thoughts:
Fitness is not worth it unless it’s fun, so I must give a huge shout out to the Slusarek and LeMieux families for making Pro Fitness a blast for me. I am so thankful that my best friend Maria sparked my passion for fitness, which remains something that we talk about regularly as we share in each other’s excitement when we achieve goals.
Some of my favorite things about going to Pro Fitness each week are my annual team training session with Kirstin on my birthday each year, and beating Bob in “horse” and/or “pig” every Friday in the summer. Finally, Alicia of Nutrition With Alicia is an amazing resource when it comes to food choices and nutritional direction.
Pro Fitness is excited to put the spotlight on Sarah Stumpf and Diane Clemens this month! Congratulations from staff and friends at Pro Fitness!
Sarah has been training with Doug for more than 8 years and Diane started about a year ago. Both women knew they needed to invest time in strength training to stay healthy for other sports as they aged. “By organizing and committing to a schedule with a trainer, we began strength training regularly and have been ever since!”
Building overall body strength with an emphasis on core were intial goals Sarah and Diane both wanted to achieve through personal training. “Doug tailors our training to help us stay strong and lean vs. strong and bulky. We have a fun strength routine day with friends at least once a week. Doug has also helped us maintain our healthy lifestyle choices by talking about diet and other findings through his research.”
Going forward Sarah and Diane would like to lose another 5-10 pounds, continue to stay healthy for their active lifestyles, and be happy and healthy, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and physically, as their bodies and lives transition between ages.
Sarah adds, “The power of routine, structure, and being with friends have been driving forces in our success working with a trainer. I lacked commitment for my strength prior to training with Doug. Doug created a routine and structure for us that is fun and has been there for us for many years! We in turn have made our Pro Fitness training fully part of our lifestyles. I look forward to my early Friday mornings as much as my other workouts with friends. Thank you Doug!”
Diane adds, “I love working with Doug! He is always reading and coming in with new ideas or solutions to our concerns. I do not like working out in a gym so I appreciate the diversity of not always being on machines and taking us outside during Summer.”
Pro Fitness is excited to put the spotlight on Kris Stencil this month! Congratulations from staff and friends at Pro Fitness!
I started training at Pro Fitness 15 years ago. I would have periods where I slacked off, but now I have been doing sessions with Doug and going to group classes consistently, multiple days of the week and I can see the improvements in not just my physical appearance, but my overall health.
I decided to begin working with a trainer because I not only needed motivation, but someone who knows the right and best techniques to workout regarding my age, focus areas, and ultimate fitness goals. All the Pro Fitness trainers have a genuine care for their clients that go beyond just the numbers on the scale. Pro Fitness is such a strong close knit family, that they know who you are, and want you to succeed and achieve your fitness goals. They are an amazing help on your fitness journey through their training methods, health tips, and overall push to do things outside of your comfort zone, but measures that make a dynamic improvement in your everyday life.
My initial goals when I first started would be that I wanted to be in better shape. I was very involved with athletics (skiing, tennis, golf) all through my younger years, and then they ended up getting lost in all the craziness of work/life balance. Raising a child and going through hard times, I started putting everything in front of my own health and well-being. Going to Pro Fitness for the first time was a big step to take, and the continuous support from the trainers and other clients was instantly contagious. Sure I fell off the bandwagon multiple times, having to cancel appointments; however the important part is that I worked out when I could even if it was once a month way in the beginning, and just the overall environment at Pro Fitness started igniting a fire inside me because I was now accountable to people. To be a part of a community should never be something someone does not get to experience in their life. Pro Fitness is a judgment free zone, where people help each other accomplish their goals and grow together.
I feel like a million bucks! I have less stress, not only because of the intense workouts, but also because I am dedicating time to take care of my body’s health. Through the knowledge of Doug, Lisa, Steve, Chrystal, and the other trainers, I am constantly hearing new health tips to better enhance my life. From recipes to newly found health remedies, my skin, my energy, and even my outlook on life has greatly shot up in a positive direction. Even on my worst days, going to Pro Fitness just changes me for the better through the work outs, positive reinforcements, and kind people.
Going forward, I would like to continue attending group classes and being a positive person for newcomers, reach my goal weight, and continue to build muscle and to push myself on those days when you just do not want to work out. I would like to be a figure that when people look at my transformation they get a spark inside them to live a healthy lifestyle that focuses on them and their overall success.
I am so fortunate to have found Pro Fitness. Because of them I have made lasting friendships, a better lifestyle for my future, and I have become a stronger person than ever before! Thank y
Pro Fitness is excited to put the spotlight on Thom Cody this month! Congratulations from staff and friends at Pro Fitness!
When did you start training at Pro Fitness?
I believe that it was May of 2016 after meeting Cindy.
Why did you decide to begin working with a Trainer?
I had made the decision to get back in shape and then I had met Cindy through one of my clients. Cindy was kind enough to offer me 5 free sessions as a thank you gift – Crazy Like Fox! I came in for my first session and was humbled in 15 minutes to realize how far out of shape I really was. With this in mind, it made sense to have a true professional help me on my journey so that I did not hurt myself!
What were your initial goals when you started?
Survive and not hurt myself!! As I said earlier it was a humbling experience to realize how far away from health and fitness that I really was. I started shortly after my 50th birthday and my goal was to get back in shape and to be healthier, stronger, thinner, and in better shape at 55 than I was at 40.
How has the changes you’ve made impacted your lifestyle?
Meeting and working with Cindy has truly been one of the greatest Blessings of my life! Not only has she helped me get back in shape, but she has helped me and my family with nutrition and eating healthier. Because of her council and hard work with me around nutrition, in particular giving up sugar and grains, I am pain-free in all my joints for the first time since my mid 30’s. This combined with my overall physical heath and strength has allowed me to live the more active lifestyle I am accustomed to! What a gift!
Going forward, what are your new goals?
It is my goal to build on the three days a week that I am at the gym at 5:30am. In addition, I am going to continue to build on the progress made and focus on getting down to my goal weight and improving on my overall strength and health. I would like to be a positive example to my kids, family and anyone else who believes that it is too far, too hard…It is hard, it is early to be at the gym at 5am waiting for the doors to open, but it is worth the effort!!! If I can do it, anyone can!
Any extra thoughts you would like us to add
My final thoughts are simple but important…Thanks!! I would like to thank the whole team at Pro Fitness – Cindy, Doug, Tammy, Crystal and the wonderful early birds Pat & Gary that I have the honor of spending time with each morning! You are all an inspiration to me and to all who come in contact with you! Thank you your positive, loving, caring spirit and for being my family, my peeps!! THANK YOU FOR THE GIFT OF YOU!
Pro Fitness is excited to put the spotlight on Pam Heiser this month! Congratulations from staff and friends at Pro Fitness!
August 1st, 2017, was the first time I walked in to Pro Fitness to meet Jason (My daughter took the 1st picture just before I went). I was very nervous because I’d never been to a fitness place before. The last time I did regular exercise was Jazzercise in the late 80s!
I’ve had back trouble all of my adult life and later a herniated disc which eventually led to 9 epidural steroid injections. There were days I couldn’t walk much farther than my neighbor’s house or get in and out of a car. I was also feeling the general aches and pains that come with aging and the scale kept creeping higher and higher. The final straw was arm/shoulder pain that was hindering my work as a professional pianist. I checked with two doctors to make sure it wasn’t serious and then after several massages with Jackie Bushner, I realized that if I could make time for these appointments, I could also make the time to exercise! Jackie highly recommended Pro Fitness and working with a trainer. I’m so thankful we had that conversation and I acted on her advice!
My main goal was to reduce pain and get more motion in my arm. At the time, I couldn’t get dressed easily or turn pages at the piano without pain. I also had no clue how to begin which is why I needed a trainer to guide me. I was afraid I would make things worse for my body but everything has improved from head to toe and I’ve lost over 12 pounds!
I have more energy and improved posture.
I eat healthier and drink more water.
I don’t need to rely on coffee and ibuprofen to keep me going anymore.
I have not been sick since I started exercising regularly.
I’ve been able to go back to my full work schedule after taking a semester off to focus on rehab.
I can now keep up with my husband and his love for really long walks and bike rides.
We also want to vacation more but I need to be physically fit to enjoy that. I was pain-free during our last trip and able to stand, sit, and walk with ease and even played beach volleyball with my kids!
I feel like I’ve just started this journey. The toughest part will be continuing to make the time in my schedule. I can easily tell when I’ve waited too many days to go back. Core strengthening and increased balance, flexibility and muscle strength will continue to be goals.
Jason is a truly gifted teacher. Shortly after I started training, I sent this text to a friend “He’s super nice and doesn’t make me feel stupid, old, or inept!” He’s super attentive with how I’m doing the exercises so that I do them correctly. He’s an expert at how muscles work and makes modifications on the spot if I’m struggling. I could not have made these improvements on my own!
Pro Fitness is such a friendly and supportive environment. There’s always a happy face there to greet you! I was impressed that they knew me by name after one visit.
