A Unique and Special Spotlight

This spotlight is SUCH a cool story! I can’t say I have ever heard a story quite so unique. Katie Lyon-Pingree is shining away and we are BEYOND proud of this cool story. Katie is a harpist. I knew this about Katie from the start, but I never could have guessed what training at Get Fit NH could have done for her special talent. Check out the note we got from Katie a few weeks ago.

“I just wanted to say a HUGE THANK YOU to you all! As you may (or may not) know, I have been subbing down in Boston with the Ballet Orchestra for the past 2 years. This past June, they held their audition for the position of principal harpist and I WON!

My time thus far at Get Fit played an integral role in “making that happen”. What I have learned in a relatively short time from y’all is how to do hard things and not give up. This audition for me I consider the 2nd hardest thing I’ve ever done (2nd only to childbirth). It took all of my mental, emotional, and physical abilities to win. I know for sure that my “practicing” of doing that which is difficult on a PHYSICAL level helped tremendously with that.

This email can’t quite capture the magnanimity of what has shifted in me with your support.
So thank you!”

This note will forever touch my heart on so many levels. Katie has it right. Training is about so much more than changing your body. It is about training your mind too and teaching yourself that you CAN do hard things and not give up. Katie has simply wow’d us recently. She used to come to the 8:30 ladies training and then out of no where she came to 5 AM one day. Now she is faithful to 5 AM. She gets in, gets it done and gets on with her day. The change we have seen in Katie is so special and she deserves a HUGE high five!

Keep making it happen, Katie!
Coach Meagan

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We’re Giving Away $1000 – Want Some?

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How's THAT for some cool news on a Monday?

Yes,  you read that correctly! Our fall through end of year challenge has been established and we are excited to get it rolled out. It doesn't cost you a thing except for time and commitment. If you can handle those two things then you could have some extra spending cash this holiday season. Keep reading...

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Let's start with the purpose of this challenge and then we'll get into the rules. Let's refer to this challenge as, "Show up, Step up, Stick it up" 

This challenge is all about keeping you motivated through the seasonal stress, encourage you to build the FIT3D to your regular schedule and help you follow through with your goals​. It is important for you to stay on track through the holiday season. We know you don't want you to put on the national average of 10 lbs from October to December. So we're going to help you stay on track by staying accountable! Let's dive into the rules. Every awesome challenge with awesome prizes has to have rules and regulations! 

• ​Show up: There are 56 opportunities to train between September 12, 2016 (start date) and December 16, 2016 (end date). In order qualify to win you must attend 50 sessions AND check in to Facebook each session. This piece will need to be initialed by a coach each training with proof of check in. 
• Step up: You must complete a FIT3D scan once per calendar month (1 each in Sep. Oct. Nov. and Dec.) in order to qualify for the win. Just let us know you did it so we can verify and initial your card. The scans can be done anytime of the month between the start and end date.
• Stick it up: This will be a monthly requirement in order to be qualified for the win. Each month we ask ya'll to put a goal up on the "Goal Board." The weeks of Sept 12th, October 3rd, November 1st and December 5th you must show your coach your goal and stick it up to the board. This will be a separate initial on your card that you coach will take care of.

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​ENOUGH WITH THE RULES WHAT DO I WIN?

​On December 16th the challenge will end and we will collect all of the cards. The cards are by 7:45 PM December 19th no exceptions. We will check to make sure all the required info is there, and all of the qualified cards will be entered into a drawing for some CASH MONEY PRIZES!

The first card drawn gets $500 CASH

The second card drawn will get $300 CASH

The third card drawn will get $200 CASH

THAT'S $1000 that we are giving away just for showing up, stepping up and sticking it up. Who else does that? ​Not to mention during the holiday season we could all use a little extra green!

Here are the big take-aways from this blog

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• Monday September 12, 2016 - Friday December 16, 2016 starts our "Show up, Step up, Stick it up" challenge
• Qualified winners attend at least 50 training sessions with a Facebook check in, FIT3D scan monthly, and set a goal using the goals board monthly
• You will need a scorecard WITH YOUR NAME ON IT for a coach to initial daily. Keep it somewhere safe where you won't lose or forget it
• Turn in your card NO LATER THAN 7:45 PM Monday December 19, 2016.
• Three chosen ones walk away with $500, $300, and $200 in cash to enjoy their holiday season! 

Who is super, extra-special, whipped cream with a cherry on top ex-CI-ted? (Coach Dean wants to know!)

Let’s Celebrate Carol

Did you hear about our Sizzlin’ Summer Slimdown 2.0 winner? She deserves to be shouted out from the rooftop so that is EXACTLY what I am going to do. I am also very excited to share with you the interview we had about her training experience thus far. Carol Hann was this year’s S3 2.0 winner and let me tell you this was WELL DESERVED! I remember her sharing a story with me during the challenge about how her husband wanted some ice cream so they went to this ice cream stand and he got a banana split and how amazing it looked, but it was near the end of the challenge and she had set herself a goal to lose 6 pounds and she wasn’t going to let any ice cream cone stand in her way. Instead she sat there and watched her husband eat the banana split and guess what? She lost the 6 pounds that she was striving for (not to mention the 14 pounds from the first go around on S3)

Carol winning is really special for a lot of reasons. She worked hard. She stayed on track and she got results, but you want to know the best part about Carol being the winner? She is 73 years old. That’s right- please pick your jaw up off the floor now not only because she looks as amazing as she does at 73, but also because she proved that age ain’t nothin’ but a number. Carol lost 20 pounds in a matter of 12 weeks, because she changed her eating habits and she stayed on track. Proud is a complete understatement of how I feel about Carol winning. I am proud. I am ecstatic. Amazing work, Carol. Thank you for setting a fantastic example. Enjoy your $250 shopping spree- you earned it!

Here is what Carol has to say…

How long have you been training with Get Fit?
I started my training at Get Fit the first of January of this year. Previously, I had been working off and on with a personal trainer over the period of several years and my training sessions were becoming somewhat boring even though the trainer would change my routines on a regular basis. Aside from the strength training, I was encouraged to extend my session by using one of the cardio machines. That was even more boring and, when I wasn’t at the training studio, I felt guilty that I had no desire to voluntarily go in and work out or go through a home routine that had been given to me. I clearly needed to do something different.

What results did you earn after S3?
I feel like a new person and my eating habits have changed for the better. I’ve lost fat, increased lean muscle, and have more energy. There are so many things in life over which we have no control we owe it to ourselves to do everything possible to be physically and mentally healthy.
What is your plan to continue moving forward?
Moving forward, I need to keep the momentum going and plan to purchase a heart rate monitor and participate in My Zone to optimize training sessions.

Meal Prep Tips and Tricks Workshop with Coach Meagan

What?! Why is Coach Meagan doing a meal prep tips and tricks workshop, isn’t Coach Nancy the nutrition guru? The answer to your question is YES! Coach Nancy is the expert by far. I am putting on this seminar, because I DO NOT enjoy being in the kitchen and this workshop is designed to show you my tricks, tips, and tools that keep me eating clean AND get me out of the kitchen faster!

At this hands on workshop we will be utilizing Pampered Chef tools which will be available to order if you’re interested (but there will be no pressure!). We WILL have food which we will prepare together. Some of the tools I want to show you are the veggie spiralizer, the manual food processor and the veggie wedger (among a few others tools!) but those three things in particular help me keep my nutrition in check and keep it quick and delicious too!

We are starting to stock up early on our “free” give away pile for things like the Christmas party and challenges. We love giving you guys free stuff – specifically free stuff that will help make your life easier and keep you tracking with your goals, so that is why we are going to kick “the free stuff” up a knotch. Starting in OCTOBER if YOU get perfect attendance then your name will be put into a drawing to win some Pampered Chef tools.

Here is the recipe we will be preparing together!

This is a FREE event for you and whoever else you think may benefit. If your spouse helps you out in the kitchen then bring them along and together you may learn something new. Not everyone likes to cook and spend time in the kitchen and that’s okay! But food dictates your results so let’s figure out a way to get in and get out and still look n’ feel great!

When: Wednesday August 31,2016
Where: Get Fit NH Concord
Time: 5:30 PM
Cost: FREE

Coach Meagan

Shining the Light on Betsy

I am excited to shine the spotlight on Betsy McNamara today. Betsy is so inspiring to watch. She is consistently on the perfect attendance shout out, she works her tail off when she is in the gym, and she absolutely killed it on this year’s Sizzlin’ Summer Slimdown Challenge. As a coach, it is so cool to see students come in here and grow so drastically often in such a short period of time. Betsy is getting results because she is consistent and engaged. I am so grateful that she joined our family. Here is what she had to say…

I looked into Get Fit NH because I always assumed I would be fit and active when I’m older. But I turned 50 this year, so “older” is getting awfully close (my kids say I’m there), and I realized I can’t assume I will be fit. I have to make it happen. So I started looking around at options. I found that I know some people who are members and they rave about the gym.

Then, my friend Karen joined and was hooked and encouraged me to try it out. At first, the hardest part for me was getting into the routine. I had to figure out how to build that time into my mornings, what I had to do be sure I got to the gym on time, and then got to work on time. That took about a week. It’s also always intimidating to join a new gym. But here I felt welcomed and supported. Coaches learned my name really quickly. Other members were really nice. And the coaches were constantly providing support and corrections. I loved it. I could tell that it was working because I was sore after the workouts. That’s a good thing!

After the 2 week trial I learned that Get Fit NH is committed to getting their member fit without getting injured. Coaches are so good about offering suggestions on how to do specific exercises so that a) you don’t get hurt, and b) it’s having the best result. They adapt exercises for all kinds of fitness levels. I came to understand that if I just show up and give it my all during class, I’ll see positive results. The coaches do the rest of the work. I feel stronger. I have more energy. My sleep is better. My clothes fit better. And I’ve reversed the trend of slow weight gain I was experiencing in my 40’s.

Less obvious is the sense of accomplishment I feel from setting out to do something and doing it. I feel challenged at the gym and there are always new challenges to work on. How hard I work in class is within my control. I feel like I’ve joined a health community. Coaches talk about nutrition and sleep and rest and exercise — a great reinforcement for healthy habits. The Myzone technology is really fun to use both in and outside the gym. Also, it’s been a hoot to have joined at about the same time as my friend Karen. Even though we are not in the same class, we have a great time comparing notes and encouraging each other. I’m really proud of her and she’s proud of me."

-Betsy M.

Betsy and Karen have both done AMAZING since starting their journey. I am proud of both of them. What friends can you encourage today to get the ball rolling?

-Coach Meagan

Thank-You For Your Generosity!

My heart is so full after our incredibly successful Operation Hat Trick Extravaganza! Here is one of the many things about the Get Fit NH family that I love so much- you NEVER disappoint. Never. We had easily 70+ people come through on Saturday and 27 Strongman/Strongwoman competitors!

Do you remember what my goal was for competitors? 25! THANK YOU for helping us reach that goal. The band was awesome. The competition was friendly. The weather was PERFECT and the food was delicious.

To everyone who came out- thank you!

To everyone who donated- thank you!

To everyone who competed- thank you!

To everyone who brought food- thank you!

To all of our sponsors- thank you!

This event would have been a dive without each and every one of you.

Thank you so much.

If you were here to listen to the founder of Operation Hat Trick then you heard the passion behind the organization. ALL of the money we raised stays right here in NH to help OUR local heroes. The exciting news? We raised just over $1500 on Saturday!!! I had to pick my jaw up off the floor when I counted that. My goal? $1000. Once again you guys made it happen and I just can’t express how grateful I am.
I feel so lucky to know such unbelievable, generous people.

A shout out to all of our sponsors:
S&W Sports
Live Juice
Runner’s Alley
Things are Cooking
Chichester Massage
Under Armour
31 – Sonia Cormier
Rodan & Fields – Marybeth Vozzella
Debra Todd
Deb Richey, Maria Gilbert, Anne LaForce, Helen Dutton
Granite State All Naturals

And a congratulations to our 3 winners:
Jayne Millerick- Strongwoman winner
AJ George- Strongman winner
Tracey Sweet- Side dish winner

Check out our Facebook Page for more pictures!

Thank you so much!

Until next year….
Coach Meagan

Keep em’ Shining!

Eileen McCarthy is representing the spotlight today! You know what is too cool about being a coach? I get to see people make incredible changes both physically and mentally. I was looking at Eileen the other day and I was like WOW! Look at her arms! They are beautifully toned and I distincally remember her sharing with me that she wanted her arms to have more definition and boy, did she make it happen! Eileen recently did our annual Sizzling Summer Slimdown transformation contest and it was during that challenge where I saw her tone right up. I am proud of Eileen, because she makes it happen at 5AM and she does it with a smile on her face!

What drove you to check out Get Fit NH?
My work is very sedentary; sitting at a computer from 7am to 5pm and often times even later. I realized I needed more exercise than just a half hour on the elliptical trainer at Planet Fitness every Saturday and Sunday when at the end of the work day I was so sore just from sitting! I could feel myself just getting more and more out of shape and my energy level was so low.

I knew I needed a formal “class” to go to and first looked into Pilates, but found the class times weren’t convenient and I wanted a more active, cardio and strength training type of exercise program. I found Get Fit NH by doing research online and signed up for the two week trial.

What did you learn after your first two weeks?
I knew immediately I’d found the right place! Everybody was so friendly. The workouts were fun and challenging and the coaches were very helpful. All I had to do was show up and follow directions; exactly what I needed at 5 o’clock in the morning. I started to feel better and more energetic within a few days of starting. I was sore; but it was a good sore!

What made you choose to stay after your two week trial?
I chose to stay after the two week trial because the increase in energy I felt was significant and I wanted to continue working towards developing increased strength, stamina, cardiovascular ability, flexibility, & balance. I was hooked on feeling good!

What results have you seen since training with us?
The most significant changes I’ve seen since I joined in February are the loss of fat, increase in lean muscle and improved levels of energy. For example, last summer I wouldn’t wear a short sleeved shirt because of my “bat wings”. This year I think my arms are more toned and I feel okay in short sleeves!

I’m really glad I found Get Fit NH and the Get Fit community. I’m not typically an early morning person, but I actually look forward to setting my alarm for 4:37AM and getting to the 5AM class four days a week. By 6AM I’ve usually had a few good laughs, a great workout and am energized and ready for my day. You can’t beat that!

Thank you for always making it happen, Eileen. You are an inspiration to more than you know!
-Coach Meagan

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EXTRAVAGANZA of the YEAR

I am beyond excited to invite you to our 2nd annual Strongman/Strongwoman competition Olympic style and our first ever Operation Hat Trick (OHT) Extravaganza. This is going to be the party of the summer so mark your calendars and invite your friends. As most of you know OHT is a veteran’s organization we support. This organization helps New Hampshire’s own heroes. All of the money raised stays right here in NH.

With a $15 donation you will get:
•Entry into the Strongman/Strongwoman competition (optional)
•A custom Get Fit NH/OHT ball cap

You can come to watch or you can come to play – everyone is welcome! We even invited our local news stations in hopes to make this event a big deal. Our NH veteran’s deserve our support.

Here’s what you can expect:
•A rockin’ band
•Strong people
•Happy people
•Insane amounts of fun

I would be delighted if you came and supported this amazing cause. A lot of time and hard work went in to making this happen and I want to make it HUGE!

Strongman/Strongwoman competitors this is what you can expect:
•Sled pushin’
•Car pushin’
•Boulder movin’
•Ax holdin’
•Rope pullin’

Who’s in?

When: Saturday August 13, 2016
Time: 10 AM
Where: Get Fit NH Concord
Cost: Donation

Spotlight Couples Edition Ray and Anne

The spotlight is shining bright on a very special Get Fit NH couple. Ray Orzechowski and Anne LaForce. These two train so hard every day and they bring smiles and encouragement to everyone they encounter. I am so glad that these two choose to train with us. I am reminded every year that it is because of Anne that Concord came to be! It is very much because of Anne that I get to have the best job in the world and it is very much because of Anne that YOU are here too! So whenever you are sore, thank Anne ;-)! In all seriousness, these two are so influential and I am excited to share a little bit of their story today.

“Anne started training at GFNH 7 years ago, after seeing an ad for a “bootcamp” that looked very intriguing. Even though we lived in Concord, she traveled to Epsom 4 days a week for the 9am ladies class. It was March of 2009, and it was a recovery week the third week she was there. She was bummed, as she was just getting into her routine, and even asked Nancy for some exercises to do on her own. Anne now looks forward to those weeks off!

She kept bugging Nancy and Dean about when they would have a class in Concord, and a few months later they started at Concord Dance Academy. She was nervous to train under Dean, as he was pretty intimidating, but we’ve now come to realize that Nancy is really in charge!

It was Anne’s continued enthusiasm and excitement about the training that got Ray interested. Ray started training in January of 2010. He has been a faithful “ 5 AM’er” for the past 6 years, and truly enjoys the special bond that has formed with his fellow early birds! We both have definitely gained strength and muscles and are truly enjoying the daily challenge and variety. As we’ve continued to train, we have seen such great improvements in our outside pursuits. We have become better mountain bikers and skiers, and feel so much stronger and more fit. For Anne, the nutrition coaching has been very beneficial and she has made positive changes in her eating habits. Although Ray has not participated in the nutritional benefits available through Get Fit NH, Anne’s healthier habits have certainly made him more aware of the benefits that eating a healthier diet can make.

Training together at Get Fit has been a blast. We are able to commiserate about sore muscles, compare our workouts, and stay fit together. We bike and ski often and it is such a great way to stay in shape. Working out at Get Fit NH has provided tremendous balance to our lives as we try to manage the everyday elements of work, family, community involvement, and all the other aspects that we all try to master. I’m certain that the level of stress in our lives would be far greater were it not for the “release valve” that training provides!

Even after all these years, we love the variety of training. No two days are ever the same. With the MyZone we can monitor our workouts in real time to track changes. Anne uses the HRV to assess her daily readiness for training. We try to take advantage of everything Dean and Nancy have to offer. With their desire to constantly change and improve, we are all the beneficiaries, and we both anticipate being with them for many more years!”

So there you have it. It is amazing how someone else’s influence can change your life and because of that touch hundreds of others. Who are you influencing to be better?

Thank you Ray and Anne for being such a bright part of my day. Your hard work is more appreciated than you know.

Keep making it happen,
Coach Meagan

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Another Couples Edition Spotlight

Our next Spotlight Couples Edition is Dan and Kelly Gauthier. Dan recently started with us at 5 AM and it has been super fun to have him join the family. Kelly has always been a joy to coach and seeing them together now is so special. There is really something special about couples who train together. It definitely makes for a fun training hour! Here is what they have to say about their experience.

Who started training here first?
I (Kelly) started training here first, it was 5 years in June!

How long did it take you to get your spouse on board?
Dan mentioned “maybe” wanting to try it out a couple summers ago. At that time my
thoughts were, “well…you see honey, that’s kind of MY time”. That was the end of
that (very brief) interest. He jumped board with me back in November 2014 for a 21
Day Detox, lost (a lot) of weight, and then decided it was time to tone up! He
joined “another” local gym when they opened last May, he soon lost interest and
phased out of that. So, I guess it’s taken me/us almost 5 years to get him on board!

What was the break through moment that made him join?
Having successfully lost weight, and turning the big 5-0 in February, he decided
it’s time to get in the best shape of his life! He also figured that if I’ve stuck
with Get Fit for this long, it must be good! 🙂 #becauseitoldhimto

How has training together affected your home life?
I think I’ve told him every day since he started, how much I love that we get up and train together. It makes such a difference getting out of bed at 4:15am, and being able to turn the light on to get dressed! It’s always fun to re-cap the training together and give each other a hard time about who lifted more weight.
#sofarthatisme

What do you love most about training together?
Training together makes it easier to have similar goals. We support each other 24/7,
now both inside the gym, and out!

I love this little interview! It is so special to see these two supporting each inside and outside of the gym. I am so proud of Kelly for finally letting Dan rain on her hour a little bit and I am so proud of Dan for making this move and getting here to train with us. 5 AM is even more special with these two
Keep making it happen,
Coach Meagan

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