Member Spotlight | The Value of Personal Training

Member Spotlight | The Value of Personal Training

by | Nov 11, 2019 | All, Home, Member Stories

“Throughout our sessions [my trainer] was able to tailor specific routines for me and quickly adjust as required for my preferences and accommodate for chronic injuries.”

Martyn D.

LAF Member, LA Fitness

An Unexpected Turning Point 

Martyn D. is an LA Fitness member who changed his lifestyle when he least expected. With a busy work schedule and a long-standing shoulder injury, Martyn found himself “in a slump, with little to no change in [his] routines and inspiration.” 

One day, he won a few free training sessions at LA Fitness and was hooked ever since. “I enjoyed them so much I decided to continue for the 6-month program,” Martyn says. 

If you’re hesitant to start a workout routine due to an injury, or if you’re in an emotional funk, Martyn’s story is the perfect example to showcase how proper guidance from a qualified instructor can help you move towards your goals.

Personal Training Made a Big Difference 

The key to personal training is the fact that it is customized for you. It’s not just about having someone tell you what to do.  

Martyn appreciated that his trainer, Patrick, “was approachable and easy to talk to” and that he took the time to really flesh out his personal fitness goals. 

“Throughout our sessions he was able to tailor specific routines for me and quickly adjust as required for my preferences and accommodate for chronic injuries,” explains Martyn, “he was also flexible with my schedule when I had limited time with work.” 

Overcoming Injuries 

Injuries can pose a myriad of obstacles when it comes to working out. Some people will advise you to use the muscles lightly, others will advise you to avoid all activities that may strain the muscles further.  

One advantage of having a qualified trainer is in your access to their knowledgebase on muscle recovery and on proper form. Martyn shares that despite a shoulder injury that had been bothering him for years, Patrick “has been able to significantly help by strengthening weak areas and improving [his] form, both of which allow [him] to lift more.” 

What’s Next for Martyn? 

“Exercising has always been a stress outlet for me with a sense of accomplishment afterwards” says Martyn. However, “the added improvement really boosts those feelings. Call me a glutton for punishment but I plan on staying active for as long as I can. I still browse online videos for different exercises to try out but having a knowledgeable pro on hand is invaluable. Plus, he would not let me slack–off, which I appreciate afterwards.” 

Closing Thoughts 

Having the help of a personal trainer can make a world of difference. Whether you’re a seasoned athlete who is looking for new ways to test your abilities, or just starting out, some knowledgeable guidance can go a long way. Martyn is living proof that personalized training, paired with a commitment to your goals, can produce real changes that you can be proud of. 

Do you have an inspirational story you’d like to share with us? Email us at blog@lafitness.com for a chance to be featured in an upcoming post! 

 

For length and clarity, minor edits – none of which alter the original or intended meaning – have been made to the quotes provided.

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Member Spotlight | Little Changes, Big Results

Member Spotlight | Little Changes, Big Results

by | Oct 14, 2019 | All, Home, Member Stories

“Consistency is key; Changes do not happen overnight so do not give up. Start with small changes outside the gym…little changes turn into big results.” 

Nick L.

LAF Member, LA Fitness

Nick’s weight loss journey began with the 8-month birthday of his son. He changed his workout and eating habits over the course of the last year and managed to lose over 100 pounds!  

His motivation came partly from witnessing the success of others who have lost as much weight and more. So, if your goal seems too ambitious and you’re plagued with self-doubt, Nick’s story will show you that with consistency and commitment, big results are possible. 

Nick’s Wakeup Call

“I decided to make a healthy lifestyle a choice when my son became 8 months old and I was too tired to interact and play with him. I knew that if I wanted to be strong enough to provide for my wife and son, something needed to change.  

At that same time, I found a channel on YouTube called BrixFitness where I saw that a man had lost 150 pounds. I thought to myself, if he can do it, I can too. The next day I went and got a membership at LA Fitness. A week later, I showed up to the gym at 5am and I have been going at 5am, 5 days a week for the last year.” 

 

Commitment to the New Lifestyle

“I have made many eating and drinking changes which have helped drive my progress in the gym, and I am seeing major results. I am more conscious of the labels on the food I eat along with the portions. I even started measuring and weighing my food.”  

If Nick could give others a piece of advice, he would tell them that “Consistency is key. Changes do not happen overnight so do not give up. Start with small changes outside the gym like drinking diet soda versus regular soda or eating a protein bar instead of a candy bar. Little changes turn into big results.” 

Nick started this journey at 332 pounds and, as of today, he is currently 230 pounds. With his primary focus on weight training and diet over the course of the last year, his plan is to continue that and start integrating more Cardio and Core sessions to continue shaping his body. 

 He says that his “ultimate fitness goal is to do one pull up as [he has] never done one in [his] entire life.” We’re rooting for you Nick!  

 

The Takeaways

  1. Odds are, you’re not alone. Look for success stories that prove it!

     

  2. Small changes build up over time and really make a difference

     

  3. Keep it consistent and remember that changes don’t happen overnight 

Do you have an inspirational story you’d like to share with us? Email us at blog@lafitness.com for a chance to be featured in an upcoming post! 

For length and clarity, minor edits – none of which alter the original or intended meaning – have been made to the quotes provided.

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Member Spotlight | The Reward is Worth the Effort

Member Spotlight | The Reward is Worth the Effort

by | Sep 16, 2019 | All, Home, Member Stories

“There have been days where I really didn’t want to attend a class, but I convinced myself the reward was worth the effort”

Henry B.

LAF Member

Henry has been a member at LA Fitness for the last 10 months, and if you’re not sure how to take advantage of what the gym has to offer, then his story may be just what you need to read today.

Henry’s Story

“I had a regular fitness routine that included 6am brisk walks with weights, followed by various sit-up/push-up exercises. While this regimen kept my heart in good shape, the rest of the body was ‘soft’.

I did monitor my weight but stopped getting on the scale when I saw the number 215 pounds. This was about the time I separated from my wife of 20+ years, so I used this event as the beginning of the ‘transformation’.

I changed my eating habits and met a wonderful woman who was an LA Fitness member. She convinced me to ‘try the gym for a week’ to see how I would like it.

I was very skeptical at first, I mean, I knew how to work out so what benefit would a gym bring to me? We started with a daily exercise class routine, from Body Works Plus Abs, to Power Circuit, to Cardio Jam, to Boot Camp Conditioning. After the first week, I signed up for the annual membership and have been very active since. We have now added yoga to our routine and attend a class 6 days a week. My current weight is 165 pounds, and I feel fantastic!”

Like Henry, many people who want to make changes to their health and fitness don’t know how to navigate all that the gym offers. For him, what worked was to pretty much try everything! He eventually found a routine he enjoyed and customized his workout schedule to include his favorite exercises or classes.

The other major influence was the support of his gym companion. Having someone to attend class with can be a great motivator, can help keep you accountable, and can help push you through the last 5 minutes when your body would much rather quit.

What’s Next for Henry?

“The only next step is to maintain what we have built. Perhaps a role as a motivational speaker at LA Fitness?”

Henry, you may be closer than you think! Just by sharing your story, others who aren’t sure where to begin can look to your success story.

A Piece of Advice

If Henry could offer you a piece of advice from what he learned along his journey, he wants to emphasize discipline.

“My dad was an MP at a Marine air base, so I knew the meaning of discipline from a young age. As I have gotten older, this has become necessary to maintain the routine. There have been days where I really didn’t want to attend a class, but I convinced myself the reward was worth the effort. My wonderful woman agrees!”

Closing Thoughts

The major takeaways from Henry’s story are:

  1. Try as many classes as you can to find what works best for you
  2. Having a gym buddy can be a great advantage
  3. It is important to cultivate the discipline needed to maintain your new routine

Do you have an inspirational story you’d like to share with us? Email us at blog@lafitness.com for a chance to be featured in an upcoming post!

For length and clarity, minor edits – none of which alter the original or intended meaning – have been made to the quotes provided.

Member Spotlight | Devin Ryan: My Journey in Fitness

Member Spotlight | Devin Ryan: My Journey in Fitness

by | Feb 18, 2019 | All, Home, Member Stories

Fitness was indoctrinated very early on in my life. Healthy competition and athleticism began with seasons of tee-ball, basketball summer camps, and track and field in high school, supplemented by dance on the offseason. With a buzzing household of four active boys and my bountiful curious female presence, my parents always encouraged us to “go outside and play.” My household was never not moving!

My earliest (and perhaps fondest) memory of fitness was watching my mother every day after school. She hastily preheated the oven before going to her bedroom as she got us settled into our school work. There, she removed her tailored office clothes, kicked off her favorite black patent-leather “cockroach-killer” heels and traded them for one of my dad’s t-shirts and her favorite spandex biker shorts. With her work files piled high on the kitchen counter, she threw some pasta sauce on the stove with a heaping amount of fresh and dry herbs simmering over low heat for that evening’s dinner. At exactly 3:30 pm every afternoon, she popped in her early 90s aerobics VHS tape and jumped right into her enthusiastic stepping. I marveled at the overly-animated, permed out fitness instructor sporting spandex and white ankle socks motivating my super-hero of a mom to “go for another 30 seconds more” as she panted between incoming house calls and me racing my sibling’s toy-cars by her feet.

This image of my multi-faceted mother trying to balance work, family, and self-care is forever engraved in my mind. I understand now why it was necessary for my mother to commit to fitness. To my mother, fitness was loving herself and caring about how she felt regardless of the external demands life asked of her to fulfill. To this day, I credit my mother for not only being an example for healthy living but continuing it as a practice today. She was, after all, the person I went to get a gym membership with. We worked out together, supported each other, and reminded one another (while thrift shopping) that the number on the tag of that dress is not as important as the way you feel in it.

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Footsteps Leading to Success

Footsteps Leading to Success

by | Dec 5, 2016 | All, Member Stories | 1 comment

Footsteps Leading to Success

After taking just one footstep in the gym door, Kimberly K. knew she was taking a step towards a life change. Kimberly, an active LA Fitness member, was born and raised in Florida and has recently reflected on the last year of her life, realizing how much her lifestyle has changed.

Stepping Forward

What caused this lifestyle change? Kimberly’s motivation, dedication and her commitment to going to LA Fitness. “What triggered my interest in LA Fitness was the pool,” said Kimberly. “I love swimming, so when I first joined I figured I would just swim and do some cardio.” With her passion for swimming, she decided to take those first steps into the doors of LA Fitness in June 2015, little did she know she would fall in love with the place and keep coming back for more.

Walking into a gym can be intimidating… racks full of weights, lines of cardio machines and other members walking around doing their scheduled workouts. Where do you head to first? Kimberly said she wasn’t sure where to start, and felt a little hesitant when she walked in to her local LA Fitness in Florida.

Warm Welcome

Greeted by a kind face, Kimberly decided to start her first initial fitness assessment, get her schedule sorted out and eventually start going to personal training regularly. Who is her trainer? His name is Alex and according to Kimberly, he has made a significant impact on her fitness journey.

Alex, a passionate master trainer says, “She is very motivated and has gained a lot of endurance! Kimberly has improved her quality of life, inside and outside of the gym. She has more energy and has become more active as a result. It is not only my job to motivate my clients in the gym, but to give them motivation outside as well. We can CHANGE LIFE HERE!”

Pro Results® Personal training helps Kimberly stay on track with her workout schedule. “Having someone go through this with me and make sure I am doing things the right way and pushing me, makes me work even harder,” said Kimberly.

Kimberly & her trainer Alex getting ready for a workout at LA Fitness!

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Overcoming Obstacles

With her work outs in full speed, Kimberly started to see changes in other aspects of her life. “I have severe asthma and my breathing has been one of the biggest obstacles I have overcame since I started working out,” stated Kimberly. Alex works diligently with her to make sure she can breathe correctly while she works out. Now Kimberly feels that she can breathe better than before!

Along with asthma, Kimberly was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes about six years ago, but being physically active and changing her diet has helped tremendously. “I have gone from being a diabetic to a pre-diabetic,” said Kimberly. To accomplish such a healthy lifestyle, one that changed her diabetic stage, really shows her dedication towards an overall life change.

With all of these lifestyle changes and commitments, Kimberly looks back on who has really supported and encouraged her throughout this journey: herself. “I have a few friends who have been supportive, but this has really been all on my own,” said Kimberly. “It’s a lifestyle change.”

Renewing Passions

With her sound body and mind, Kimberly is learning new things about herself and her new lifestyle has even improved some things she participates in outside of the gym. She dedicates her free time to a hobby she loves, horseback riding. Not only does she ride horses, she helps teach disabled children how to ride them as well.

Since she has changed physically she essentially learned how to re-ride a horse. “When I ride, I can tell my center of balance is different,” said Kimberly. “Even my horse is trying to adjust! It’s a challenge, but I love challenges.”

Horseback riding and personal training have been Kimberly’s outlets. If she has a stressful day at her job, then that can all be released when she steps inside those doors at LA Fitness. “When I am around a horse, it’s just like everything goes away,” she said. “It’s the same with the gym, I have two different outlets for my stress and anxiety.”

What’s the Next Step?

The environment of the club has helped her overall mindset as well, “I have people even come up and cheer me on while I am working out!” While having the accountability of a trainer, constant encouragement and a healthy mindset, Kimberly feels like this is a permanent life change for her. Since her journey started, Kimberly has bumped up her personal training schedule and is in the gym almost every day of the week!

Kimberly’s overall goals are: 1. Remain within this lifestyle, 2. Get to her ideal weight, and 3. Get stronger to lift heavier weights.

We are so proud of Kimberly’s journey and very thankful that she decided to take that first step into the door of LA Fitness in her local town. If you have any questions on how you can get started in Personal Training please click here.

Have an inspirational story of your own? Email us at socialmedia@lafitness.com and let us get to know you!

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