Archive for category CLIENT STORIES
Tightening the Belt(literally)
Posted by Laurie Stilwell in CLIENT STORIES, Tightening the Belt(literally) on February 15, 2012
One day while driving down Scottsdale Road I got a phone call from a guy named Mike. Turns out he was driving behind me and saw the ad on my car. Ironically, he had just been thinking about hiring a personal trainer. We chatted on the phone for a few minutes as he told me how hiring a trainer was the only way he felt he could get in shape. He needed the motivation and accountability. He was honest enough with himself to admit that these were two things he lacked.
I suggested that we didn’t waste another second and that we take action immediately. So right then and there, he followed me to my studio where we had our very first meeting. I could tell he was fired up and ready for a change. He was sick of how he felt, and how he looked. Mike was finally ready to take the leap of faith needed to get in shape. I admired his “RIGHT NOW” mentality. He signed up and we started the next day. He committed to three days a week.
Just months later, Mike is now 25 pounds lighter and stronger than ever. He is more confident, has more energy, and he likes the way he looks. His belt loop is down 5 notches now and his pants are falling off him(good problem to have I guess). He is constantly “tightening the belt”!
I am so proud of his commitment and follow through. He rarely misses a session and does everything I tell him to do with all his effort. Mike owns his own business, which keeps him insanely busy, but he carves out the time to get his workouts in. He comes in with a smile on his face, a good attitude, and a desire to sweat.
Look at how his sweat has paid off !
BEFORE:———————————————————— AFTER:
- BEFORE!
- AFTER
Scale Before 305/ Scale Now 280 and continuing to go down.
Body Fat % Before 33%/ Body Fat % Now 27%
Waist Before 48.75/ Now 45
Chest Before 50 / Chest Now 47.5
Hips Before 50 / Hips Now 49
25 pounds down
5 Belt loops Smaller Now!
THE POWERFUL YOGI
Posted by Laurie Stilwell in CLIENT STORIES, The Powerful Yogi on November 21, 2011
As a personal trainer, I have the amazing honor of helping people reach their fitness goals. I get so much joy and satisfaction when a client puts in the time and effort needed to really see results. Clients who are willing to sweat and push their boundaries are the ones who see real changes in their bodies.
Heidi is one of those people.
She came to me just two months ago and has been a complete pleasure to train. Heidi isn’t afraid to push herself and work hard. Heidi’s ” 100%” attitude make our sessions not only intense, but fun. I have loved watching Heidi grow stronger each week, taking on heavier weights, using better form, demonstrating incredible control and straight up raw power.
I look forward to seeing her every week, knowing that she will be eager and ready to learn and soak up all the information/exercises I give her.
Listen to Heidi’s story:
“I have been a practitioner of yoga for five years, and teacher of Bikram Yoga for three years. Flexibility came easily to me with practice, but strength and endurance were two things that I didn’t feel I was building with my regular practice of this style of yoga. In the last couple of years, I have run into some trouble with my body because of this- relying solely on my flexibility to perform the postures, and not enough on strength and stability has caused minor injuries in my body. I needed to see someone outside of the yoga room- someone who hadn’t seen my body day in and day out- that could give me a fresh perspective on how I was using my muscles, and give me the tools to strengthen the areas in my body that are weak. I began seeing Laurie once a week and within two sessions, I began to notice a change in my yoga practice- I had more endurance and the strength moves came with more ease to me. After a couple more, I began to see noticeable changes in my body mechanics and my ability to hold positions for longer periods of time. I have lost some of the length in my muscles- but I don’t see this as a loss at all- rather a gain in my ability to do the postures more effectively, using the correct strength to perform the postures gives me more benefit from them, and keeps my body free from injury. There are several arm- balance postures that I have never successfully done until now- and I credit my strength training with Laurie 100%! I have been enjoying my new found strength and the ability to try new things in my yoga practice as a result. I am also enjoying the perks of new muscle tone, agility, and a much deeper respect for how I use and train my body. I have never enjoyed working out at the gym on my own- but I look forward to my sessions with Laurie every week- and even wish I could do them more often! I am always challenged, surprised by my abilities, and feel encouraged by her enthusiasm (and sore from her workouts!). Thank you, Laurie, for taking me to new places in my yoga practice, but for giving me a new found appreciation for the strength and determination I can build in the gym, a new activity I enjoy, and always being as pumped as I am for the results! “