​Brenda Paradis started her journey with us just a few short months ago in September. The transition I have had the honor of seeing this woman make is out of this world. First off, let me just say that her positive and upbeat attitude is contagious. Her humor makes her a great fit at the 5:30 training hour and her work ethic is outstanding. I have had the pleasure of not only observing her body change, but also her confidence and her performance. I truly cannot say enough about how grateful I am to have Brenda as part of the Get Fit Family. I asked her to share her story, because she just started and her positive changes could change your life or someone you know. Just take that first step- listen to how it changed her for the better!

Brenda getting her "I Survived" tshirt on the far right!

1. What was your biggest challenge before starting Get Fit NH?

I had a gained a significant amount of weight over the last 5 years and I slowly became less active. I wasn't making positive health choices and as a result, began experiencing health issues. Fortunately, all of my cardiac and respiratory tests were negative but I continued to have inflammation and terrible joint pain that became self-limiting. One of my biggest challenges, in many ways, was me! I needed to be able to put myself first and make the commitment to make changes in my life recognizing that the weight gain was perpetuating my inactivity and vice versa ...it had become a vicious cycle.

2. How did that challenge make you feel?

Honestly, I was scared! Scared for my health, unhappy and uncomfortable with the effects of my weight gain and deconditioning. I wanted to do something but it was difficult to take the first step. In late August, as I was preparing to send two kids off to college and was contemplating our somewhat 'empty nest' I saw the Get Fit post on Facebook. I looked into it and didn't really spend too much time contemplating - I just jumped in head first and started with the metabolic reboot on September 6th.

3. What changed after starting?

Initially, I thought, Oh my gosh what have you done ... you'll never keep up! Actually, I have really surprised myself and have found that in just 8-10 weeks that I am stronger, healthier and feel so much better! With every class, I gain a little more strength and confidence (all the baby steps are adding up) which is motivating and helps me continue on my journey to health and wellness! I've really not had a day where I didn't want to go to class. In many ways, it's the best part of my day because it's my time ... for me and it's ALOT of fun!

4. What specific results can you share?

First, the coaches have been so supportive and have helped push me in the direction I need to go. I've been able to set challenging goals and achieve them which has been very rewarding! I feel so much better in only a short period of time. I am excited to see the progress I can make in the coming year! I am looking forward to snowshoeing this winter which I used to really enjoy and may even get my skis out!

5. What would you say to someone on the fence about starting?

Don't Think About It ... Be About It! Taking the first step can be scary and difficult but you'll never be alone! What a wonderful group of people and coaches at Get Fit! I would have never imagined such a wonderful experience the first time I walked into their gym! A huge thank you to my Coach Meagan, and Cari, Kristen, and Adam! You guys rock!

And a huge thank you to you, Brenda, for showing up, working hard and making us proud!

Keep making it happen,
Coach Meagan

Since we started Get Fit NH in 2008 we have never raised prices on our training packages. Even as our expenses went up through the early years I did not feel right raising prices during a recession, so we didn't. Even as we added more equipment, better facilities, and started growing our amazing team, prices remained the same. Ask some of our old-timers the difference in all of these things from the beginning until now, and they will confirm; the difference is huge. I have never been opposed to investing in something that will help our clients get better. It's why we invested $4000 in the Intelametrix body composition testers, and why we investing $10,000 in to the Fit3D. It why we have invested thousands in ongoing training, and introduced training tools like the FMS that take a lot of time to administer and keep up on. It's why we pay ongoing license fees for things like the Fit3D and MyZone. It is why we offer free intro seminars into our world class nutrition coaching. It really boils down to helping you (and me) get the best results we can.

Now I know it seems like I am buttering you up for a huge increase in training rates, but I actually am not. In fact if you are a current student your training package price will stay exactly the same as it is now. It is my way of saying "Thank-You" for choosing to train with us and being part of the Get Fit NH family.

We are raising prices on January 1st, but the only way that affects you is if for some crazy reason you decide to leave and then come back, you will be subject to the new rates.

We are incredibly blessed here. Increasing rates does not mean Dean is going to buy a boat or a vacation condo in Hawaii. The reality is that our expenses go up, just like everyone else's. For Get Fit NH, it also means we will be able to continue to provide world class training,  as well as provide my team with a good, solid career path, with good benefits and an opportunity to earn a good living. These guys do some of the most important work in the world; they are truly health-care providers, and it is my burden to keep them in this industry. Did you know the average work-life of a personal trainer is only 3 years? That means if you have a trainer with 3 years experience they are at the top of the heap as far as career longevity. That has got to stop! Great coaches take time to train, and it takes more than a weekend certification or online test to be a competent, career professional. These guys put in the work to improve. If you have trained elsewhere, you know the difference. Enough said.

We are the best training value around, even with these minor training rate increases. I believe that will all my heart. That doesn't mean we are going to stop working to get even better, you know we will. As I said before, if you are a current client, your rate won't change, and I look forward to you training with us for many more years. If you know someone who is on the fence about getting in here, before the end of the year would be a good time to make it happen. 🙂

Thanks for all you do!

Dean

Do you ever read those articles in magazines labeled “6 weeks to reach a perfect body” or “5 steps to 6 pack abs”? Yeah, me too. Those articles infuriate me, because they are SUCH bogus!

You know what isn’t bogus though? Habit building.

Imagine what your body could look like or feel like one year from today if each month you just focused on ONE thing. And imagine what changes you would see if you maintained those new habits month after month after month?

It isn’t easy to take the reigns, but we can simplify it. Here is an entire year’s worth of action steps to get you focused and keep you moving toward your goal:

• Perfect attendance - January
• No takeout food - February
• Keep a food log - March
• Eat breakfast everyday - April
• Eat lunch everyday - May
• No snacking after 7pm - June
• Eat three meals per day - July
• Protein with each meal - August
• Veggies with each meal - September
• Healthy fat with each meal - October
• No added sugars - November
• 80 ounces of water per day - December
  

This is just an example outline. You can go in any order, but I challenge you to start somewhere!

-Coach Meagan

Is it too early for spring cleaning? 

I always welcome an excuse to raid my cabinets, clean out my drawers and go through my closet. I might be a little bit of an organization freak- but hey! You can be too and for a good cause! 

This holiday season we are welcoming all kinds of opportunities to give back. With Toys for Tots in full spring, Friends of Forgotten Children food drive and now Friends of Forgotten Children shoe box drive we thought why not accept Sarra's invitation to clean up the house and donate some stuff! 

Best Buddies is the world’s largest organization dedicated to ending the social, physical and economic isolation of the 200 million people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Best Buddies is pairing up with a program called Savers. Savers is an organization who retrieve donated items and in turn they fund the organization collecting items (in this case Best Buddies) This is referred to as a FUNDrive. 

The FUNDrive accepts the following items:

• Clothing
• Shoes
• Bedding/Towels
• Accessories
• CDs, DVDs, Books
• Electrical Items
• Toys and games
• Kitchen items
• Knick Knacks
• Sporting goods

If you are ready to get cleaned up and organized before Christmas hits then this is your opportunity to make it happen! We will accept donations starting Monday December 5th and we will continue to accept through Thursday December 8th. Savers will be coming to pick up donations on December 9th so we will not be accepting items once they pick up. 

As always, we appreciate your support and willingness to get behind yet another fantastic organization

Coach Meagan​

David Liberatore!

David has been with us at Get Fit for a little while now. He has worked really hard and even has asked multiple times for more corrective exercises and more ways to get better. I am extremely happy to write this for him and get his story out there! He always comes with a positive attitude looking to get better. Here is David's experience in his own words...

Why did you choose Get Fit NH?

I chose GetFitNH because a friend of mine joined and raved about it. He knew that I joined 2 other gyms and dropped out after a couple weeks. He said the first two weeks were free so try it. I met with Adam and knew I was in the right place.

What changes did you notice in the first few weeks?

After two weeks, I noticed that my knee was feeling better and that I had so much more elasticity in my lower back.

What outside of Get Fit NH has become easier since starting?

I set a personal goal to lose 100 lbs. to stay in the program for one full year.

What have you accomplished so far?

After two months I have lost 23 lbs., my knees feel much better, my back doesn’t constantly hurt and I can walk long distances without gasping for air. My eating habits have improved as I am eating much healthier. I eat more veggies, less meat and less carbs. All that know me never would ever have imagined me drinking more water and NO soda.

What is your favorite part of Get Fit NH?

The things that stick out to me about what makes GetFitNH so different from any other gym I have belonged to is the caring attitude of everyone at the center. From the owner, to the trainers to the members, it is astounding. We train with people who have been there 3 weeks to people that have been there for 3 years and they are all encouraging. I like the fact that training is geared to your ability. A trainer is constantly showing me a more appropriate exercise if I am struggling because of my ability. GetFitNH has it all and I know I have changed my life by changing my life style. I actually look forward to coming to exercise rather than trying to find an excuse to not go. I highly recommend GetFitNH at whatever level you think you are at.

Keep up the hard work, David!
-Coach Adam

We are very excited to get behind another fantastic opportunity to GIVE!  It is such a special time of year where generosity and positive energy is in full swing. We want to help make Concord a happier place and we know you want to be part of it too! 

For the past few years at the Christmas party we have done a yankee swap. This year we want to trade that for a the shoe box drive. While the yankee swap give us laughs and joy the shoe box drive will fill your heart and also somebody else's. 

What is the shoe box drive?

Friends of Forgotten Children in Concord does a toy and clothing drive for children during the holiday season. They take in toys and all kinds of clothing items and then separate it so that each child gets 2 toys and 2 clothing items. This year our Christmas party falls on Saturday, December 17th. That is cutting it awfully close to Christmas, so instead of having the volunteers of Friends of Forgotten Children separate the items, we thought we would take care of that for them. So here is what we are looking for:

1 Shoe box for a little boy or a little girl (or unisex)

2 small toys

2 clothing items (hats, gloves, scarves are best!)

There are example boxes at both gyms so you can check out what we're looking for (you don't have to be fancy and wrap the boxes like Coach Meagan did!) 

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If you are coming to the Christmas party you can bring it with you at that time and you will earn one extra raffle ticket! If you are unable to come to the Christmas party, but would like to give then we are asking those be brought in by Friday, December 16th.

This is different than the Toys for Tots drive we have going on. That ends on December 11th. There are a lot of families in need and we want everyone to be smiling this year!

Thank you for your undeniable generosity and fantastic attitudes!

​

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How does the holiday season sneak up so quickly each year?

I absolutely love the season of friends, family and giving!

Coming up on Saturday December 17th we will enjoy our annual Christmas Party, and we want you there!

 We take great joy in these parties, because we get to come together as one big family. This is an opportunity to bring along your family and share with your loved ones where you have been "Making It Happen."

An opportunity to come together in “regular people” clothes and share a meal and also an opportunity to GIVE.

In place of the "Yankee Swap" we have had the last couple years, we are going to change things up a bit. This year we would like to get behind a local organization called, "Friends of Forgotten Children." One of our own, Tom Rochette, is involved with the organization so we asked him if we could do a toy/clothing drive for local children in need.  Totally optional, but instead of a yankee swap gift, would you bring a shoe box with 2 toys and 2 clothing items. Clothing items could be hats, gloves, scarves, etc. During the holiday season we love to share the spirit and make Concord a happier place. 

Of course this years party will include food as always, student superlatives (so make sure you R.S.V.P so we know who we are choosing from!) and lots of laughter and joy!

We do not take for granted that YOU choose to train with US. So, grab your ugly sweater (because oh yeah, that’s a new added feature!) and sign up below!

When: Saturday December 17, 2016

Time: 10:00am until the Party is Over!

Where: Get Fit NH Concord

See You There!

As a coach, I have challenged a few people. Sandy is one of those people. If I had to describe Sandy with one word, it would be Determined. She sets her mind to something and then figures a way to make that happen. This determination makes me proud. I am proud of Sandy for putting the work into herself. That work is showing in many different areas. 

As we did deadlifts in training, I challenged those around Sandy to pick up heavy weights. The group starting naming things that they thought were heavy to pick up. Dogs, animal feed, groceries, small children popped up in the conversation. ​I'm not sure how it happened but airplanes came up. Quite sincerely Sandy said, "I can't pick one up but I can push one."

Sandy is just over 5 feet tall. But she packs a lot of power in herself.

Sandy's determination to do a task doesn't stop with planes, which by the way, she is a pilot. Sandy showed that determination during Ski Erg World Sprints. I challenged her to join in the challenge. She didn't shy away but took it by the horns and finished the 1000 meters with her crew at 9am cheering her on. 

Sandy is determined to one day do a perfect, magnificent push up. Why does this 5 foot tall lady want to be so strong? Her goal is to be able, if necessary, to fireman carry (putting a person over your shoulder to carry them) her son. Matt is an adult, but in an emergency he wouldn't be able to move fast enough to get out of a building. He is in a wheelchair. Sandy, as his mom, wants to know she has the ability to bring him to safety. Her determination is bound in love. 

Keep Making It Happen, Sandy, because you inspire me each day to have that kind of determination.
-Coach Nancy

It's a GOOD thing that there is a special day set aside to remind me to be grateful for what I have. 

It is SO easy for me to focus on the "negative" that I forget I have so many blessings.

I really feel like I owe many people in my life an apology. I am so caught up in me at times that I overlook all the kindnesses and grace that I receive every day. For that I am sorry.

I wonder what kind of a world it would be if we all expressed gratitude for something and to someone - every day?

​A world where we tried to out-do one another in kindness, thoughtfulness and gratitude?

This is not a "kumbaya, pie-in-the-sky, love, peace, joy" thing. 

I know how it makes me feel when someone expresses gratitude to me. It makes me feel GOOD. I need to pay that forward more.

For what are you grateful? To whom are you grateful?

Tell them today.

And Every Day.

Let's start a new tradition in our lives by making it Thanksgiving ALL the time.

Thank-You for being part of my life.

Coach Dean​

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I am writing this blog sitting at the airport in Columbia, South Carolina. If you have ever traveled alone then you have probably overheard some interesting conversations. I just overheard a long conversation about weight loss that struck a nerve. It is hard to keep my mouth shut sometimes, but I did it! Instead, I decided to share it here just in case anyone out there has this same mindset.

The relevant piece of the conversation went something like this:
“I really would love to lose 30 pounds, but I am so busy. I just started with a new job and the girls have dance almost every night. It makes more sense to start after the holidays when I can have a fresh start and things slow down."

Her friend then agreed that this was smart decision.

If this is your mindset, allow me to be a GREAT friend and coach and tell you no, no, no!

1. Things will NEVER slow down. Nope. After the holidays, life goes on. Guess what? Work isn’t going anywhere. Your kids (probably) aren’t going anywhere. If you don’t find a reason to start, then you will find an excuse every single time. We all have the same 24 hours. Those who plan their time and include themselves in that time are the most successful. I say this because I love you…you’re not getting any younger and time isn’t slowing down so let’s go! Get started.

2. 30 pounds seems like a big number. If you keep putting off when you are going to start, that number will only get bigger. After the holidays do you really want to say you’d like to lose 40 pounds? How discouraging. The national average of weight gain through the holidays (October-December) is 10 pounds. Stay out of that category and do something now.

3. You don’t have to change who you are to get results. In fact, you only need to focus on one thing at a time. I bet between now and the New Year you can build 2-3 new skills to increase your performance and results. Focus on one habit each month to help you get closer to your big picture goal. Your coach can direct you. Results are about a lifetime of building habits and improving skills.

If this stuff was easy, then no one would ever say they are going to wait. It isn’t easy, but we have a simplified system to help you. You are NOT in this alone. Do not wait. The magical right time you are waiting for is not coming.

It is up to you to make it happen,
Coach Meagan