Its always the quiet ones. Amy is one of those quiet people. She gets to training, gets her things ready, finds a space in the room, (she doesn't need a special spot), and she gets right into work. Her quiet demeanor inspires the rest of us. Its no wonder that after getting to know her she reveals her profession as the owner of Chichester Massage. She has a calming effect on my usually stressed and hyped up self. I'm so thankful for Amy. 

"Wow! I can’t believe it’s been 8 years training with Get Fit NH. When I started the building in Epsom wasn’t even complete and we trained outside in the yard with the chickens. So much has changed in those 8 years.

I started training after meeting Dean and Nancy in a business referral group that I had joined to promote my business Chichester Massage. As a massage therapist their integral training program made sense to me combining cardio, core, strength/resistance exercises to maximize the potential of your muscles. The best way to refer someone to a business is to try it yourself so I decided to give it a go. I did not struggle with maintaining my weight but I became winded very easily and felt pretty weak so my goals where to improve in those areas. I remember being very sore in the beginning but also excited as I noticed my energy increase, endurance and strength develop so everyday activities were easier.

At age 38 I felt like I was in the best shape of my life thanks to Get Fit NH and then I became pregnant. I was worried that I would lose all I had gained but I soon realized it was the best thing to set myself up for success. Despite my age my doctor didn’t consider me “high risk” because of the shape I was in and the training actually prepared my body and the baby for the birth process. I trained until the day before I had my daughter, with modifications of course but I believe that had a huge impact on the ease of my pregnancy and getting back in shape post baby.

These days I struggle with balancing the responsibilities of being a mom, wife and business owner but my main goal is keeping up with my 4 year old and being a good role model for her with healthy eating and exercise. There is no better role model for me than Nancy. The way she “makes it happen” is such an inspiration to me that I truly have no excuse not to. I love the support of the 9 am ladies. Everyone encourages each other and even when training is challenging there is lots of laughter. Get Fit NH has been a wonderful asset to me both personally and professionally. I have been a massage therapist for 19 years and keeping my body strong and healthy has contributed to the longevity of my career. I am so thankful for their support these past 8 years and look forward to training with them for many years to come."

"My health was the last thing on my mind for most of my 20’s and 30’s. I was too busy with raising children, working and managing a household. I wasn’t raised in a family that made health and wellness a priority-but I’ve always considered myself ‘kind of’ in shape. I managed to walk 2 miles most days, mostly as a stress-reliever, but when I started to experience some medical issues in my 40’s I knew in the back of my mind that my physical health was going to need to be a priority someday soon. I managed to avoid that until I was 51 when I realized that the walking wasn’t cutting the mustard anymore. I was mad at my jeans, mad at my body, mad that I couldn’t eat what I wanted to any longer and mad at myself for being mad.

It was hard for me to make a plan to deal with my health. I had never joined any sort of gym, never been to a work out, and I struggle with issues around putting myself first. I hate asking for help. I was also worried about fitting something else into my busy life. But I kept going back and forth and finally I promised myself that if I could just fit into my old jeans I’d be happier and therefore my family would be happier and I could resume walking and everything would go back to normal.

I had a few friends who were going to this “Bootcamp” in Epsom. Just the word conjured up images of drill sergeants and crawling under barbed wire. One of them kept saying ‘you should try it’ but I was convinced I couldn’t do it. Plus it would be an expense that my budget didn’t welcome. But I saw one of those women one day, and she seemed to have this new attitude and looked amazing!

So I made the call and started my free 2-week trial of Bootcamp. I was scared walking through the door that first day, I saw a white board with a lot of writing on it that I didn’t understand, I saw big iron thingys with handles and some sort of crazy bar with straps hanging down. I felt like everyone was staring at me and I wanted to slowly back out the door and run. I remember doing some baseline tests and not being able to get off the floor one inch when trying to do a pushup. Then the class started and I followed along, with encouragement by others. I had no idea what I was doing, and at one point I was going to throw up so I walked outside to take a breath. I made it through.

I kept going for those 2 weeks and by the last day I knew I had made the right decision. I knew that because the bootcamp lady was genuinely interested in me and my reasons for joining. She talked to me and listened to my goals and encouraged me without ever being one ounce of pushy. In addition to the workouts, I was surprised that there was a whole other side to GetFitNH which is the nutrition aspect. I attended a free workshop and began to eat better. It didn’t happen overnight, but within 8 months I felt stronger, lighter, and more in shape than I had my entire life.

I recently passed the 2 year mark with GetFitNH and I continue to go 4x weekly. I love the variety of exercises and the consistent positivity displayed by my trainer Nancy. I appreciate that there is much thought and planning put into each session by professionals so that my entire body benefits. I’ve lost weight and inches, but what I’ve gained is more important to me. Ya I’m happy about fitting back into those jeans, believe me, but what I’m really grateful for is that I feel strong and fit. I feel in control again. By putting myself first for once, I’ve had a positive impact on my family. I recently signed my teenager up for the Athlete Academy run by GetFitNH and he actually likes it. I think he just doesn’t want his mother to be in better shape than he is! I don’t see an end to my connection with GetFit…infact I’m looking forward to the next few years and working more closely with my trainer on nutritional challenges. I have to say that the investment is worth every penny. As I continue to help my elderly parents with their substantial health problems, I know that every hour I train is one less hour my own children will have to spend taking care of my when I’m old."

Does this sound like you? Because I hear it a lot. It’s hard. It’s hard to think about and it’s hard to talk about and I’ve been through this before. I have struggled with my weight for years. I have always been overweight. I began to feel so physically awful that I knew I had to make some changes. The thought of needing to lose weight is many things - it’s daunting, it’s embarrassing and it’s just downright hard. When it comes to hard work, I'm reminded of Kim. 

Kim is amazingly stealthy. I say that in only a good way. She gets her work done in training. She asks questions and moves forward in her nutrition. She sticks to it. She doesn't waver...... much. She is honest and straight forward. I couldn't ask for a more open minded student. I'll let her tell you the results. But as you read them, remember it took hard work to get her where she is today. Consistent daily work. What Kim doesn't do is make a big deal of it all. She just gets it done.

 "I came to Get Fit NH because I had been hearing great things about them and reached out to a FB friend to further inquire (thank you Paulette for saying the right things at the right time). I knew I needed a more personal approach and not just a $10/month gym because I knew I lacked discipline and had simply been out of the loop for far too long.

 What I learned after my first two weeks is that I can actually go to bed early and get up early for a 5 a.m. class if I really put my mind to it! I learned that my kids were capable of getting ready on their own and that I could make this new schedule work. I learned that when that little voice on the monitor tells me to “rest” that it really doesn’t mean rest. It’s more like “get your butt to the next spot you’re supposed to be and get ready”.

 I took the leap mid-April and then not long thereafter I started S3 with a fantastic partner that I had never met before. I have hypothyroidism and I had been struggling with fatigue. Once I changed the way I ate, I almost immediately felt such a huge difference in my energy levels which has really been great for both me and my family. I have had days that I’m sore from working out, but it doesn’t bother me as I can tell that I’m slowly making progress and getting stronger. I don’t know if I will ever fully look forward to waking up for a 5 a.m. class time, but I truly look forward to class and it’s been such a great way for me to begin my days. With the kids out of school for the Summer, I find that I have time to relax after my morning class w/ a cup of tea and just enjoy a little peace and quiet before my work day begins.

 My overall experience with Get Fit NH has been phenomenal. I remember the first time I got a post card in the mail from Coach Nancy and I cried like a baby. I was just so touched that she took the time reach out to me. Then I remember the other day I was at work and I got a call on my cell and well . . . nobody ever calls me . . . lol. It was Coach Nancy so I figured that I should actually answer it. I thought I was in trouble for something?! She called to tell me what a great job I was doing and how proud she was that I came to class during my vacation week. It’s mind-blowing to have someone actually call you and say that. I think that this is just one of the things that probably sets them apart from other gyms. I was also so inspired when I listened to Coach Dean share a little bit of personal journey in the intro to S3 - I’m thinking there’s a book deal in here somewhere for him. I like his approach of good, better, best and I appreciate his candidness when he answers your questions. Honestly, I don’t think that there’s anyone there that wouldn’t try to help you or answer your questions and that includes my classmates. They’re all so gracious in letting me follow along like a lost puppy at times and each one of them is willing to encourage you. They don’t even know this, but each of them inspires me differently and makes me want to continue to come to class and work hard. For that I am so thankful.

Well Nancy, there’s so much I can say but it’s hard and I certainly don’t want to become over-confident or cocky. I’m pleased with what I have done so far but there’s much more work to do. Maybe I’ll eventually get strong enough that I can actually hang on the bar?!? or something crazy like that?!"