The spotlight is on…

The spotlight is shining bright on 5 AM superstar, Marky Mark. If you have ever been to a 5 AM class then you know Mark- he is the one with the “Fox Fancy Pants” and adds a rock n’ roll jump to every squat jump. Mark has the ability to make a whole room full of people laugh and brighten your door all before 6 AM. Aside from an awesome personality, Mark also works his butt off. You can also count on him working through every second of every set. I am thrilled to put the spotlight on Mark. Here is what he has to say!

“I started at Get Fit NH January 2011, just earned my 4 year strong shirt. My wife was enrolled about 1 month before me and said this is something I would like. I was running in the early hours and I needed something instead of the run in the winter. I’m an active person, I play baseball in an over 40 league, I play softball, I play indoor soccer. All activities are afternoon or at night. So I wanted an early morning class to get me motivated, build some muscle and lose some unneeded belly. Well the 5am class is just what I needed, every day is different (just like my own job). You get to train and work with different tools. Some items work small areas on your body and some items work big areas. Each day is as important as the
next. I found that, yes I was sore some days, but always push myself to get into the training and get myself better.

I love the fact that this is available and I go in with an open mind and know that the trainers
will provide an hour of work with fun mixed in to make me a stronger, fit and a better
person. The group who have been with me for the past 4 years I consider all close
friends including the trainers past and present, they all encourage and laugh and
give feedback in a non stressful environment.

I personally have seen many changes- from having my food log just tossed in the trash
and getting the right food to eat, to going from a 34 waist to a 32 waist, and
shirts down from a XL to a Large. When I went through kidney cancer, that was the
longest month of my life. I couldn’t train and I can’t sit still, I need to be active! I
lost all my strength and my weight was wicked low at 165. I pushed myself to get back
into the training and all has been fantastic since. I have noticed that since I’ve
been in this training I have not been as sick as I have in years past.

My weight has been up and down started at 185 and has been as low as 165 but with
added body mass, running around 175. I know I have work to do and I know my BAD
HABITS, that’s what keeps me going. I enjoy the challenge and will work hard, and
I know the training and trainers at Get Fit NH will provide the way to get me there.
Thanks again for ALL YOUR work.” -Mark “Marky Mark” Dartnell

Mark is 4 years strong and I couldn’t imagine not getting to see him everyday. He is such a special part of this family. Thank you for choosing to train with us, Mark and thank you for sharing your story.

-Coach Meagan

The Spotlight is on Sara and She is Shining Bright

In each training session, there are those who take charge of their crew and lead with a loud voice, others lead using charisma and charm, still others lead with their actions. Sara is a leader who shows you her determination and strength through what she does. It is a true joy to have Sara train with us at Get Fit NH. Because of her schedule she makes her training a priority but that also allows so many of us in Epsom to know her. She has hit every training time. Enough from me, Sara has kindly written down her story.

“I’ve always considered myself to be an athlete, and feel best when I’m moving. I played all kinds of sports growing up, was a rower in college, and love being outside and hiking in the mountains. Up until my first son was born, being active and strong was a routine part of my life. I have two little boys who are 5 and 3, and about two years ago, once my youngest turned 2, it was harder and harder to honestly look in the mirror and see myself as the active, strong person I knew I wanted to be. I started to look around at gyms in the area, I knew that I wanted to go someplace where I’d be held accountable, and could rely on somebody besides myself to get back in shape. As a wife and mom and professor, looking back, I think what I was really looking for was an hour of time where I didn’t have to think or be in charge or make decisions—I could just show up and do what I was told. I looked at my time as a break from the rest of my life—a little bit of time when I could take care of only me. And from the beginning, I loved it. And was reminded of what had been missing from my life for the past few years. And the longer I’ve been with Get Fit, the more tools I’ve been given to keep feeling better and better.

I first started working out at the Concord gym, and for the first six weeks went 4 times a week. I mentioned that I loved the training from the beginning, which is true…but I spent much of the first month with lots of sore muscles! Within a short amount of time, though, I could feel myself getting stronger, and especially once I started to listen to the nutritional part of the training at Get Fit, I could see big changes in what my body looked and felt like. It’s hard to say what’s most important to me about being a part of Get Fit. I am constantly inspired by the coaches, and have trained next to many amazing people. While I see the training as a fun challenge, and look forward to walking in, looking at the board to see what I’ll get to do that day, I think the part that has had a bigger influence on my life is the way in which we’re encouraged to think about nutrition. In the last year, because of detoxes and the summer challenges, I’ve made significant changes to how I eat, and more importantly, how I think about food. Get Fit has reminded me that food is fuel. Do I still love ice cream? Definitely. Do I always drink enough water? No. But do I know what I can do to in order to feel like my body is working optimally? Yep, and most importantly, I have learned to be more in tune to what I need nutritionally, and the steps I can take to get it to that point. I think this combination of being pushed in training to go a little bit harder, longer, heavier, smarter…plus the nutritional knowledge that is constantly shared with us, has made me feel better than I have in years. Over the past year, I’ve run my first half-marathon, finished hiking all of the 4000-footers with my husband, and had to go out and buy a smaller sized wardrobe!

For the past 18 months, I’ve trained twice a week at Epsom, and though there are weeks when I struggle to make it to training as much as I’d like, I can’t imagine life without Get Fit. There are times I fight to balance work and family and training…some months I’m more successful than others at juggling my responsibilities at work and at home. Some weeks I don’t always make it to training as much as I would like—or at all. And there are times when I know I’ll be getting an email from Nancy wondering

where I’ve been! I still struggle to balance all of the pulls on my time and to recognize that it’s okay to take that few hours a week for myself. But thanks to Get Fit, I’m sold on the idea that when I give myself this time, I am a better wife, mother, teacher, and person.”

On top of all this Sara and I share the same birthday. How cool is that? 🙂

Are you ready to start YOUR adventure? Check this out

Coach Nancy

Bonus Spotlight for the End of the Year

Hello, ladies and gentlemen of Get Fit NH. It’s finally time for me to throw my hat into the ring and shine the spotlight on a deserving student. I decided to write my first spotlight on Kristin Wolfe. Before I talk about why she has earned this honor, I’ll let you read about Kristin’s experience with us in her own words:

“I chose GFNH because I wanted and needed to exercise differently; something other than going to a big box gym. That was just not motivating enough and I wasn’t getting the results I wanted by relying on myself to get me there and challenge myself each and every time. When I first started at GFNH, those first few months were difficult. I was overweight and sluggish, I was sore all of the time, I wondered if I would ever be able to go up and down stairs normally again or put on my jacket without wincing. I worried about not being able to execute the exercises correctly and effectively, I felt very uncoordinated and uncomfortable being there. But as I became a little stronger and with the unwavering support and guidance from Dean, within 6 months I could notice a big difference in how I carried myself both in and outside of GFNH. The constant soreness subsided and I looked forward to going to training rather than dreading it. I have lost and kept off 20 lbs.
          I have definitely become physically stronger over the years (yes, I am approaching my 6-year mark!) but I have also gained a considerable amount of self-confidence. Now I feel as though I could take on almost any challenge (BRING IT!), whether it be physical or mental. I try not to let the exercise beat me, don’t let it win, complete the challenge and be ready to face the next one. I dig deep for the “bring it on!” attitude and try to push through anything you guys throw at me. It’s a 180-degree attitude from when I first started. I came to training without the confidence to look the challenge in the eye, even shied away from it; now I come ready to face the challenge head on and hopefully kick its butt! I entered my first 5k road race a year and half after starting at GFNH and was so proud of myself to be able to run the entire thing in less than 30 minutes. That was quite a feat for me! I enter at least 1 per year now. I could barely do 1 push-up from my knees when I started and now I can crank out 34 in 3 minutes!
          We have horses and I don’t have to worry about being able to hoist 50lb grain bags or hay bales or awkward bales of shavings. I know I am strong enough to do it without a problem. I have a 10 year old daughter who enjoys being active and I am able to keep up and even surpass her activity level now. Over the next few years my family and I plan on hiking all of the 4,000 footers in NH and I am confident I can do it. I am still chasing that pre-pregnancy weight number on the scale, despite how unreasonable it may seem and in the back of my mind I know it is just a number and truly means nothing. I’d just like to see it one more time! Sometimes it’s not easy to take care of myself. Juggling the responsibilities of working full-time and being a mom can make it hard to manage time for myself (ie: getting to training) and ultimately I will sacrifice myself (ie: not getting to training) to be there for them.
          I still struggle with my willpower at times, carbs are the devil and I am so much better off without them. The nutritional guidance we get at GFNH is priceless. I have learned an immeasurable amount from Dean and Nancy through their seminars and constant preaching. I have learned how to eat better (no, I am not perfect by any means) and cleaner and how to actually read an ingredient label! The way I cook and even grocery shop is forever changed. While I have made considerable progress since my enrollment at GFNH, I never stop pushing myself. I want to do better, I want to do more. I want to lift more weight, get in more reps and advance to the next resistance band. I beat myself up when I don’t or can’t accomplish what I set out to do but that just makes me stronger and makes me attack it even harder next time. My time at GFNH has had such positive impacts on many aspects of my life, how do I thank someone enough for that? I can’t.”

I am at somewhat of a disadvantage here because I have only been here for the last year. I wasn’t able to see the beginning of Kristin’s journey. What I can tell you is that since day one I have been impressed with her effort day in and day out. I have always said I would take heart over talent in any situation. In my opinion, it’s the person who works the hardest day in and day out that deserves the praise and the accolades. Ironically, it is often those who work the hardest and have the most heart that achieve what they set out to. When it comes to heart, I don’t look much further than her, because she has it in spades. Keep up the hard work, Kristin!!

-Coach Adam

One more spotlight for the year

The spotlight is shining bright on the one and only Mama B! That’s right- Coach Meagan’s mom- Lisa Baron! Since joining Get Fit NH just over a year ago I have had the opportunity to watch my mother’s body, mood, and health change drastically. She is leaner than I have ever remembered, stronger than I have ever seen her and HAPPY with her results. I am so proud of my mom and I am so glad she took a leap of faith and walked through the doors. Here is what she has to say about her journey.

“I chose to check out Get Fit NH. because I was desperate to work out again- but NOT get hurt again. I needed real coaching plus I was encouraged by a certain daughter/coach! After my first two weeks I learned how much I missed group training. I found both the coaches and the clients to be so supportive. I had done kickboxing when my kids were younger and tried working with a trainer at Planet Fitness a few years ago, but both lead me to injury. My main concern was protecting my back. I had tried a whole year of seeing a chiropractor religiously and had no luck. Massage therapy was incredibly helpful, but unrealistic to keep up with treatment financially. I love Get Fit NH because I have had great results. I feel great. Even when my shoulder was “frozen” I never missed a training session. I was very grateful for all of the modifications that the coaches provided. Since starting Get Fit NH I have lost over 25 pounds and have successfully kept it off. The results were slow at first, but after my first 21 day detox and changing my eating habits the results came quick! After years of Prilosec and Tums I have not had to take either since the first detox- what a discovery that was! My one regret is that I did not keep track of inches- I know I have lost there because I am definitely down a few sizes”

There you have it. Another story of real life results. Here is my tip for you- it took me a couple of years to talk my mom into walking through the doors of Get Fit NH. She had a lot of excuses NOT to join (time, money, distance…) I didn’t give up, because I am confident that what we do here actively creates happy and healthy! What more could I want for the people I love? Who have you given up on? Spread the word. Help us create happy and healthy- together we can save lives!

-Coach Meagan

Sandy Stands Tall in the Spotlight

Sandy and I go back, way back. When she became part of the our Get Fit NH family I have seen so much more of Sandy and I wanted to have her share her story. She is one of the quieter students, but one that works hard each session. She puts her entire attention into the training. She wanted to not just come ‘workout’ but to change her entire well being. I am so proud of Sandy. Once you’ve trained with Sandy, you’ll see that persistence that I see each day.

Why did you choose Get Fit NH?

 “I have known Dean and Nancy for a long time…since before Get Fit NH existed. My daughter was one of the early clients. I thought about joining, but wasn’t sure I could commit the time or that I could actually participate because of back and shoulder injuries. “

What did you notice that changed first?

 “In August I decided to talk to Nancy about my concerns. She has been amazing at working with my limitations and helping me to overcome them. I have no more back pain, greatly increased flexibility and balance, better posture, strength and endurance. I have also begun to lose weight. “

What is your favorite part of Get Fit NH?

“Nancy has been very flexible with my constantly shifting schedule. Everyone has been encouraging and helpful. The atmosphere at Get Fit NH is positive and confidence building. I am glad I finally got started.”

Quiet determined persistence. I’m so glad Sandy took that first step into Get Fit NH.

Coach Nancy

Great Spotlights shining in!

As if training isn’t challenging enough? Here is another success story from the one and only Becky Lovell. Becky trained right up until the day she delivered! I am talking this woman training every single training day. This woman did not miss a day of training her entire pregnancy – 9 months! Perfect attendance in itself is impressive- perfect attendance while pregnant? Now that is something worth sharing! I am so proud of Becky. She has been an inspiration to me since long before she was expecting. Becky prides herself on “keeping up with the boys” at 6:15 AM! She can definitely hold her own and then some. Her story is so awesome and I am so excited to see what happens next!

Here is her story!

“I started training at GFNH in 2010 to help maintain my 40lb loss and have become leaner and stronger over the last 5 years.  I have set and reached goals in and out of GFNH that I never would have dreamed possible.   One goal that I achieved in October 2014 was to run and finish the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, DC.  Ironically, if you had asked me 10 years ago if I would ever run a marathon, I would have laughed and thought you were crazy.   Last fall my husband, Garrett, began at GFNH and gave me a little friendly competition which helped me to set some new goals for 2015.

This year I started out with my new goals, one of which was to get stronger, so I joined the small group training, Training for Warriors (TFW).   About a month into TFW training, I found out that I was pregnant.  I have always wanted to be a mom, so at 36 I was thrilled, but knew that I would have to make some modifications to my goals for 2015.  With my doctor’s approval I was able to continue with both GFNH and TFW.

Not much changed with my training in the beginning other than the addition of a heart rate monitor with instructions to stay out of the red training zone.   Yes, I was a little more tired, and I did have some nausea, but I began to notice on the days I made it to GFNH I would feel better and have fewer pregnancy symptoms.  Over the past few months, I have continued to train at both 6:15 and TFW in the afternoon.  Depending on the day and how I was feeling I have not always been able to train as hard as I would have liked.  One of the big lessons I have learned with my pregnancy is to listen to my body, and not be hard on myself if I physically couldn’t do some of the more advanced work I am used to doing.  The added pregnancy weight and my changing body with baby bump have made a lot of things much harder than before.  Yes, it has been frustrating to have to do some of the regressions, or even ask for modifications, but it would be more frustrating to not be at GFNH at all.

Over the months I have only missed a couple of classes and my plan is to train right up to birth.  There have been plenty of days that I have not wanted to go to work, let alone walk through the doors of GFNH.  Those are the days I had to dig deep and know that I have friends who would look for me and wonder where I was.  Right, Stacey Haggett?  When I needed some motivation, I just look to some of the other people in my 6:15 or TFW classes.  I watched Sarah Smith make it to training everyday of her pregnancy at 6:15, and she is now working hard post-pregnancy.  Not to mention training at TFW with a pregnant Coach Meagan who has helped to push me to get better.  Both have been a source of inspiration. 

My due date is nearing, in fact I am 39 weeks, and still trying to train as hard as I can.  One goal I had during my pregnancy was to be able to do a chirpee at 9 months, crazy I know, but when you are handed a challenge by a fellow classmate… I was able to perform one at 8 months however I am sad to report that as of last week I could not get my chin over the bar.  I have spent the last 9 months training hard for a different kind of Marathon in mid-October, with a goal to maintain my strength and deliver a happy, healthy baby. 

Now it’s time to set some new post-baby goals for 2016!”

Pregnant or not- you can make it happen too! I am so proud of Becky and all of her accomplishments. Some of the accomplishments she is too humble to share are 2 Reach the Beach events, a lot of half marathons, maximum deadlift of 225 lbs, 6 unassisted chins, and so much more. This woman is strong. She is not afraid to pick up the heaviest weight in the gym and squat with it! You too can make it happen!

RTB 2013

Marine Corps Marathon 2014

RTB 2014

Indoor obstacle course 2015 (yes, she was pregnant here!)

The spotlight is shining

I asked Lori to do a student spotlight, because her story is so easy to relate to and so awesome! I remember when Lori came to me just before our annual summer challenge this year. Lori was ready to take the reigns back on her health and fun fact about her? She NEVER turns down a good challenge. In fact, she embraces a challenge and takes off running with it, which is one of the many reasons I love being her coach. Not only did she smoke check our Sizzling Summer Slimdown challenge, but she didn’t stop there. We set a new long term goal which she has been successfully chipping away at. Here is Lori’s wh0le story. I think we can all relate to this story…

“I came to Get Fit NH September 6,2011 in rough shape! I watched and listened to my dear friend Colleen talk about the “bootcamp” she was going to in preparation for her wedding. I watched her body change and just before her wedding thought, Wow, she looks awesome! I wanted what she had. It sounded challenging and I thought  was I really up for that but knew something had to change.
I walked in that first day 4 years ago SO anxious I really wanted to walk out. I almost did not make it through that first training session. Remember distinctly Coach Erin asking me if I was OK. I hated they way I felt both physically and mentally. I did survive that first day and the next and the next. I set a goal after my free 2 weeks to drop 50lbs. And I almost did it, I was 3 lbs shy. I got very frustrated like always and fell back into old way. Gained some back. Then did S3 and was part of a great group of ladies and we won that challenge. Then again fell into old habits. Not really sure who I was fooling and it was mainly myself! I COULD NOT out train my bad nutrition . I was right back into the vicious cycle.
Once again I found myself hating how I felt both physically and mentally . I saw so many success stories happening all around me but I could not get out of my own way.
Get Fit is a great place and full of great resources. From the wonderful ladies I train with at 8:30 and great coaches and I was wasting it all. I was truly just going through the motions.
So, when S3 came around once again I was determined to completely change my mind set because I was not fooling anybody. It was so helpful to be part of Team Meagan. The support was incredible. Not only did I not want to let myself down , no way was I disappointing my team and coach.
Not going to lie. It’s not easy. It does not happen over night. It takes work .There is no magic. It takes knowing what works or doesn’t work for me.It takes knowing that I’m not the only one that has traveled down this road. It takes knowing I can ask for help and get it from any of the coaches. I’m so very appreciative of all of Coach Meagan’s support over the last 5 months .I’ve had a lot of life changes just recently and I’m still managing to stay on track. (Even needing to switch from my comfort zone of the 830 ladies to the 5 AM class).No more excuses. I feel the best I’ve felt in about 3 years. I am no longer falling asleep mid afternoon. My sugar addiction is under control. I feel stronger. I finally feel like a better me. With the best me still yet to come!”

We have been there, right? We have fallen off the wagon and tried to tell ourselves we would just train really really hard to burn off our sugar addiction, but it doesn’t work that way. Your coaches will tell you that and here is another awesome student telling you her experience. It’s true. You can take control. Lori did it and because of that she is reaping the benefits. It isn’t too late to take the reigns back. The results Lori has achieved in 5 months are do-able for you too! You just gotta make it happen!

Thank you, Lori for sharing your story and thank you for choosing to train with us!

Coach Meagan

The Spotlights Continue to Pour in!

Maryann celebrates one year with Get Fit NH on July 24^th!!  It has been a very exciting year!  Maryann’s changes did not happen overnight.  There have been some struggles but she has worked hard and it is paying off!  Maryann’s commitment and enthusiasm make her a very special part of the Get Fit NH Family.  I hope you all are inspired by her story!

Before

After

“I came to Get Fit NH because I knew that I had to get fit or face potentially deadly health issues.  I always tell people “I went to GFNH so that I could live.” I was having some health issues related to my weight and stamina and I knew something had to change.  I remembered a friend had mentioned GFNH a long while back and it had stayed with me.   I was so nervous when I came in to test with Erin to see what my ability was.  There were so many things I couldn’t do!  Her response was that the first step is making the decision to do something positive!  The first two weeks were so intense!  I loved that at GFNH there was only positive energy. The people around me encouraged me and it gave me a lift. I was hooked! You do the things that are safe for you to do and are encouraged to do your very best 100% of the time!  Challenging yourself safely is the goal, but the expectation is that you will challenge yourself.  I leave the gym feeling powerful and that I’ve accomplished something for myself and my health!

What I’ve learned at Get Fit NH is that the passion you feel for your health and wellbeing should be greater than your passion for what doesn’t benefit you!  Sounds crazy, I know!  But for someone who loves food and is willing to eat regardless of the consequences, it’s an important lesson.  Using the passion that I have for food in order to get comfort from the stressors in my life has not worked for me. It has led me to health problems, stress and low self-esteem. Yet it was a behavior that I just couldn’t seem to change.  Through my many talks with Erin, Dean’s blogs, Nancy’s seminars and more, I have learned to focus on my accomplishments and remember that the feeling I get from meeting my goals, is more fulfilling than that ice cream sundae on a bad day!  I also learned that when I do fall down and make choices that do not benefit me, that is not the time to get discouraged and quit!  I have learned that when I fail or don’t meet a goal, that is the time to work harder! 

A few years ago on fb, there was some kind of a list where you put down a wish.  I remember I put “I wish I could be athletic again.”  I was a very good athlete in high school and college.  Now, I am a nurse and like many nurses, I have a bad back.  I also injured my shoulder moving a patient and the injury put me in physical therapy for a year.  I constantly took the elevators at work because I didn’t have the stamina to walk up a flight of stairs!  How do I feel a year after joining?  Like I’m athletic again.  I can do push-ups.  I can lift weights.  I ran/walked a 5k.  And I have not felt this good in about 15 yrs.   Since I joined GFNH, my back doesn’t hurt, my shoulder is stronger and I feel great!  At the hospital, I can walk up two flights of stairs and I NEVER take the elevators anymore!  I just won’t do it!   

My experience at Get Fit NH has been life changing.  Although I still have a long way to go, I know I can make it happen!  I have met wonderful people and made friends who support the positive changes that I’ve made in my life.  I love to walk into GFNH and see the friends I have made all gathering to work out and have fun!  I love the encouragement, competition and positive energy every time I walk through that door!  And I am grateful to Dean, Nancy, Meagan, Adam and especially Erin-who has walked beside me every step of the way!  They have all created a place of acceptance for all people no matter how they look, or what their abilities are.  I love GFNH!  BAM!”

And we love you too, Maryann! Thank you for your continued hard work and dedication! We are SO proud of you!

Keep making it happen,

Coach Erin

And the Answer Is……

When you walk into a gym you usually don’t think, “How is this place going to help me to eat better?” Get Fit NH strives to help you with just that. The first time I talked with Mae Lynn, she wanted to know how Get Fit NH could help her with running. Once she started and now over three years later, Mae Lynn gives us a little insight into more of the things Get Fit NH has helped her to change.

I asked Mae Lynn one question after our Sizzlin Summer Slimdown Challenge ended.

What do you find was the easiest new habit to change and which one was the hardest?

“Easiest? I found changing my cooking and shopping habits to be very, very easy. It simplifies the shopping process so much when you don’t have complicated recipes and long lists of ingredients to deal with. I go in, grab eggs, bacon, one or two big cuts of meat and 5 or six fresh veggies and fruits and that’s it. Maybe a package of salad and grape tomatoes. I always keep cans of olives and roasted peppers and artichokes in the pantry, and frozen peppers and onions in the freezer. It’s easy to stick with shopping this way when you find you are eating leftovers a lot and therefore cooking less! One big roasted chicken or a pot roast and two big pans of roasted veggies? Boom. Several meals.

Hardest? At first, probably the no added sugar beverages. I never drink soda anymore, I gave that up cold turkey years ago before I even did Weight Watchers. But when I gave up soda, I would still enjoy sweetened iced tea or lemonade especially in the summer. Now I have lemon water, unsweetened green tea, etc. I think people don’t realize real change takes time and often needs to be gradual. I quit soda in something like 2009, did the other sweetened stuff for a few years, and eventually got here.

I think that once you have the basic habits ingrained, having some treats once and awhile isn’t the end of the world.

Once and awhile I still have a sweetened iced tea and I almost always have chocolate milk after a long run. But it’s all about balance, and I feel okay with that as long as what I USUALLY do is a good habit. I have to remind myself it wasn’t always this way! I used to have soda or a sweetened beverage with every meal! Those things add up. When people ask me what they can do I always say change that one thing first. Now I always have water with my meals, and drink a lot of water during the day. If I do ever have a sweetened iced tea I’ll water it down, or ask for half sweet half unsweetened on the rare occasion I’m getting one at Dunks. A little sugar goes a long way for me now.

By the way, I love the new accountability idea. One comment I made on Facebook is that I will probably end up asking for more body fat assessments because my scale really hasn’t moved all that dramatically since I started with you guys, but I have gone from a size 12 to a size 4. Every summer, without exception, I have to buy new summer clothes. The lady at Eddie Bauer couldn’t believe it when I told her I lose weight over the winter.”

Keep on surprising all of us Mae Lynn!

How would you answer that question? 

What do you find was the easiest new habit to change and which one was the hardest?

Another noteworthy piece Mae Lynn added was,

“For as long as I can recall, my cholesterol has been high, and every health professional who ever had the opportunity has ‘strongly urged’ me to get on Lipitor. One stress test technician, after I ran the equivalent of Heartbreak Hill on the treadmill and passed with flying colors, was still downright nasty to me when I told her I intended to continue trying to handle it with diet and exercise and that I simply didn’t agree that statin drugs, designed to indiscriminately remove all fat from the blood, are a good thing for anyone. She said I was being irresponsible and that ‘some people are genetically predisposed to high cholesterol.’ Given that many relatives were on Lipitor, I might have had to concede that point.

Who has earned their way into the spotlight?

Annmarie Timmins! Annmarie has been a fantastic addition to the Get Fit NH family. We are so blessed to have her train with us 4 hours a week. Annmarie is an incredibly hard worker and she always has a smile on her face! Her positive attitude and willingness to be patient and get better have served her well as she is conquering a lingering shoulder injury. I am proud of Annmarie for keeping her eyes on the prize. She has earned her way into the spotlight for her all around dedication toward bettering herself both during training and during the 164 hours per week where she is not with us. Here is what she has to say:

When I left my former career last year to return to school fulltime, I gave up my gym membership elsewhere and joined a local chain gym for $10 a month. I figured I could save money and train myself. I was wrong. When I began looking for a new gym in September, I wanted a place that was supportive, serious about training, and fun. Get Fit NH was an easy choice.

I have been training with a persistent shoulder injury for months with modifications from Coach Meagan and Coach Adam. My goal was to maintain my weight during my toned-down training. Then I did the S3 challenge and saw my body change in ways I never expected just by pairing good nutrition and consistent training. I went from about 140 pounds to 135 and lost eight pounds of fat. Even better, my longtime allergy symptoms, migraines, and digestive ailments have completely resolved for the first time in my life.

I had thought I was eating pretty well before I did the S3 challenge. I already ate lots of raw veggies and good quality protein and was drinking loads of water. But I was also eating dessert daily, cereal for breakfast, and other foods that had hidden sugars. Once I cut those out, my body changed quickly. I feel better now at 46 than I ever have.

I’ll mark my one-year anniversary at Get Fit NH in September and am looking forward to renewing for another year. I like lots of things about Get Fit NH – the schedule, the training routines, the challenges – but it’s the coaches that make Get Fit NH extra special for me. They give me the perfect mix of motivation, support, and challenge.

Thank you for choosing to train with us, Annmarie! Keep making it happen!

-Coach Meagan