Category Archives: Real Stories
Inspired by Kayaking, Harry’s First Day in a Gym at Age 57
When he talks about his childhood and growing up, Harry doesn’t describe himself as an athlete. In fact, Harry never stepped foot into a gym during the first 56 years of his life.
But that would all change, and so would Harry’s life. Read the rest of this entry
Fun, Get in Shape and Help Augie’s Quest by taking a ZUMBA class? Yep!
It is perhaps the best opportunity of the year for you to feel great after a workout both inside and out! On Saturday, February 23rd at 3pm LA Fitness is holding a special Zumba class that you can attend in order to support Augie’s Quest and help find a cure for ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease). CLICK here to learn more about this event and make a donation. *LA Fitness clubs not participating in this promotion: Grove City, OH (Former Urban Active), Grandview, OH (Former Urban Active), and Presale locations.
You probably want to know more, right? Well, who better to tell you than Augie Nieto himself? So, we contacted Augie for a Q&A about Augie’s Quest, ALS and the LA Fitness Zumba event.
Why is it important for everyone to participate in this event?
Augie: The fitness industry has been instrumental to MDA’s Augie’s Quest…we’ve raised over $35 million to date because of clubs and members around the country. YOU have the opportunity to be a part of history and help families fighting ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease). Plus, I can’t think of a more entertaining way to get a workout!
How will the donations received from the LA Fitness Zumba event help Augie’s Quest, ALS and MDA?
Augie: Donations received will go directly to fast-track research for ALS. Our goal is to find an effective treatment for this disease as soon as possible.
How far has research and treatment come since you were first diagnosed?
Augie: When I was first diagnosed, there were ZERO dollars being invested in ALS research from ‘Big Pharma.’ We’ve been able to change the landscape of ALS research drastically. The lab we fund is called ALS TDI (www.als.net). It’s the largest ALS research lab in the world and we are focused on finding drugs to treat ALS. We currently have two drugs moving into Phase 2 clinical trials and 11 more in the pipeline. I know that one day soon, thanks to the support from the fitness industry, we’ll have effective treatments for ALS.
Your challenges, and the challenges faced with treating ALS are daunting, and yet you continue to persevere with Augie’s Quest, how do you do it?
Augie: What keeps me going is the momentum we have right now…we are truly making great strides in ALS drug development. Right now there is only one FDA approved drug on the market for ALS patients and it doesn’t do much. I’m confident the research we are funding will result in new effective drugs for the ALS community.
What would you like to tell those who are attending the Zumba event?
Augie: THANK YOU! Most people who attend probably haven’t had their lives touched by ALS…it’s amazing to me that so many people come out to support our cause. Oh…and get there early to get a front row spot!
Fun Question: What would you like to tell those who are hiding behind their poor dance skills as an excuse to skip the Zumba event?
Augie: If I can do it, you can do it! Zumba isn’t about perfect choreography…it’s about having fun. I promise you won’t regret it…no one has ever left a Zumba class and said “that wasn’t fun!”
How Roy Lowered His Blood Pressure Through Fitness with 3 Simple Steps
Like many people, small business owner Roy Amor, 59, watched his blood pressure rise as his sales decreased during the recent recession. Though he could not control the state of the economy, Roy read an article that gave him confidence that he could control his blood pressure and his health. He decided he needed a more dedicated approach to his health and fitness to get his health back on track. So, Roy made 3 simple changes to his lifestyle; changes that he attributes to lowering his high blood pressure to a now healthy level. To find out the 3 healthy lifestyle changes that Roy made, simply click the play button on the player above.
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They’re Going the Distance, They’re Going for…Fitness
Say what…If it is just half of a marathon, then how come it is still so far to run? Read the rest of this entry
Sandy’s Triumph – Love and Weight Loss
Her story is a heart-touching tale of the human spirit. Sandy suffered a great loss with the passing of Eddie, her husband and best friend, but their philosophy of living, loving and laughing has endured. Sandy uses the strength from the life they had together to continue to be the best she can be every day. Her journey of weight loss is evidence of her power to overcome life’s obstacles. Please enjoy and share this video about Sandy Aker that is certain to inspire you, your friends and family to LIVE, LOVE and LAUGH.
We are honored to have had the opportunity to meet Sandy and share her Real Story with you, and we will be sure to check in with her to give you updates as she continues her journey. Living Healthy is heading north for our next segment of Real Stories, so be sure to FOLLOW US by signing up for email updates!
Yay a Camera! Jenn Shares her Story of Losing 45 Pounds
Jenn is no longer afraid of cameras, and she is proud of the images that she sees of herself. What better way to close this chapter of her journey than with a video segment featuring Jenn on camera?
Click the play button on the video below! For HD click the top right corner!
Next week we check in with Clay to update you about his latest and greatest accomplishments, and we also have some more great Top Tips to share with you too! Follow us by signing up for email updates so you don’t miss out!
Clay’s Journey to the Summit
It has truly been an amazing journey, and Clay will let us know how the trip went upon his return. Next week marks the beginning of a new journey; come back on Monday for the next series of “Real Stories” or FOLLOW us by receiving new posts automatically to your email.
LA Fitness “Real Stories” Coming Soon – 1/16/12
Come back January 16th, 2012 for our first “Real Stories” blog post featuring LA Fitness member Clay Valstad!
Her Goal was to Lose 100 Pounds, So Shannon Gave 110 Percent
Jun 7
Posted by Adam W.
Shannon actually surpassed her goal and lost 110 pounds! When we last caught up with Shannon, she was struggling not to plateau and decided to quit drinking diet sodas as a way to curb her late-night cravings and snacking. She felt that the diet sodas she was drinking, which had no calories, were causing her to crave sweet and sugary foods. Read the rest of this entry →
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