“I can’t thank Josh enough for the support he has shown me.”

I struggled with my weight and after a job change, 20+ pounds climbed back on. I joined in January 2011 with my husband and decided to lose the weight and tone up to support him as well as be a healthy role model for our teenage daughters. Emerald City truly helped me achieve my goals in a healthy way.

I have much more energy and am much better equipped to deal with the demands of life. Eating a clean diet with lots of the local fresh fruits, vegetables, chicken and fish is not too difficult once you lock in that routine and understand the power of protein to build muscle. The yoga and zumba classes are also a great time to relax or have fun and are well-taught.

What I gained the most from the personal training were nuances to make your workouts (and meals) be the most effective. The trainers were also very motivational and a few phrases stick in my mind and make me feel confident I will achieve my next mileposts on this lifelong fitness journey. The time and effort it would have taken to learn and implement the training techniques on my own was well worth the costs of just a few personal training sessions and the encouragement was great!

Aside from pushing me to do my best in all my workouts, Josh really concentrated on my diet and what I put into my body. He also worked with me to develop a workout that accommodated a back and ankle injury.

I can’t thank Josh enough for the support he has shown me. Thank you for pushing me physically and mentally!

Jen

“Frank helped me tweak my supplements and eating strategies in order to avoid the pitfalls of daily stress.”

My name is Jillian Matlock,

It seems to always start with the doctors. I have laser surgery to remove polyps from my larynx on a semi-annual basis. After the last one, my doctor told me they had complications during the procedure. My oxygen level wasn’t high enough long enough to perform the full procedure. It’s the fist time my weight has cut an operation short. Freak me out! When I stepped on the scale I was the heaviest I’ve ever been.

I’ve had gym memberships before, but nothing like I was in for when I walked into Emerald City Athletic Club. I like the idea of having the monthly accountability meetings, so, I signed up. I received a month free pass to give to my husband so he could start with me. My husband Travis liked it so much that we signed him up within the week.

My weight loss was slow, but I was happy it was at least moving in the right direction. Travis and I took advantage of a couple MetCon classes and got our butts kicked by Frank. I secretly was hoping I NEVER got him for my reprogramming. I thought for sure he would make me hurt.

Of course I got him. He wasn’t nearly as bad as my first impression led me to believe. My husband and I took personal training classes from then on with Frank.

The fitness challenge was just that for me. As the weeks went on into the challenge I wasn’t getting the results I expected. I discovered I am compulsive, emotional eater. Frank helped me tweak my supplements and eating strategies in order to avoid the pitfalls of daily stress. I am still learning what triggers my binge eating, but now have the understanding to avoid it.

I was worried about being judged for my size. Not once have I ever felt uneasy discussing my weight loss with anyone at Emerald City Athletic Club. I wouldn’t be where I am now without Frank and Emerald City Athletic Club. I am still impressed with the amount of encouragement and support I get not only from the staff but also the members.
Thank you.

“I lost 17lbs in the 60 day Fitness Challenge.”

My name is Laura and I joined Emerald City Athletic Club in June. I was in the Marine Corps years ago and had been in good shape. I worked out 4 times a week and took a fitness test every year. After I got out I had two children and it was pretty easy to lose weight I had gained with them, but when I had my third child I was unable to lose the weight I gained. With trying to raise three kids and working a full time job it was hard to find any spare time to work out. I slowly started gaining more weight each year. It got to the point where I didn’t want to have my picture taken anymore. As a former Marine I didn’t like how I looked or felt.

I started working out with Frank for the 60 day Fitness Challenge and I couldn’t have asked for a better fitness trainer. He challenged me every week with a new workout program and kept me motivated to keep going when I felt I couldn’t do anymore. The meal plan he gave me was easy to understand and follow.

I lost 17lbs in the 60 day Fitness Challenge. I have also changed my eating habits and I continue to work out every week. I am still losing weigh and I can’t wait to reach my goal by the end of the year.

“I come to the gym now with so much joy versus the dragging and time watching I used to do.”

My name is Leslie, and I joined Emerald City in October 2010. At first I was regularly attending, but then I blame it on the holidays coming. Instead it was stress and anxiety of a past that I had been fighting. I thought the gym was going to help alleviate the stress and anxiety that was consuming my life. My past was full of hurt; I walked out of an alcoholic relationship, now 20 months ago, where emotional abuse was strong. I said goodbye to friends and a home and moved back to Everett to remove myself from this hurt, and to start taking care of myself. I needed to get both my heart and mind on the same line.

When I started coming back in late February it all started with a phone call from someone I never met who ends up being my new trainer, Frank. I am not sure I would be back at the gym as focused and committed as I am today if it was not for his phone call to use my monthly re-program training session. It took one more session after the first before I signed up for personal training on a weekly basis, as there was one final thing still lingering from the past that had to close. On March 5th I learned about the food plan, and I was skeptic. It did not look like a lot of food, and my only thoughts were, I am going to starve. I was used to eating two plates of food during one meal and any type of sugary dessert after the meal, but there was one thing that was asked of me this day, “give me 45 days without cheating.” To help me with this, it was going to take more than my own will power and telling my family of the changes I will be making with my food and meals. Being a new woman of God, I took this 45 day challenge and paired it with God’s 40 day challenge for the Lenten season that began March 9th. I now had two to answer to if I was to cheat, Frank and God. Alongside my spiritual walk with Christ I needed my own discipline too. I needed to get rid of the excuses on when I was going to go to the gym with the other commitments I already have going on.

I knew I was ready to start the program as my past had officially closed; it was now time to focus on me. I spent too long always worrying about someone or something else, I forgot about myself. This food challenge has brought me closer to God, fighting every bit of temptation as it was all around me. Instead I found my inner child to run, play, and just have fun, not be weighed down. I come to the gym now with so much joy versus the dragging and time watching I used to do. How different of a feeling it is that the combination of spiritual discipline, eating right, and daily exercise would actually work. March 5th began a new chapter in my life, and after surviving the initial food challenge, I still follow the food plan to heart. 20 weeks into personal training, I have lost 50 pounds, and I am down to 16.8% body fat (losing 17.2% body fat). I have gone from a size 14 down to a 4, and I used to be an x-large, and now I’m a small. I have a triathlon coming up August 21st, so having reached my weight loss goals, my new goals are to learn maintenance while training for my triathlon, to continue to build my endurance, energy, and strength I have not had in the years before.

The triathlon will be (and shown in order) ¼ mile swim, 10.2 mile bike ride, and 3 mile run. This will be my third time doing this triathlon, but it is my first time for actually training for it ahead of time rather than one month before the race (and not getting anywhere). I need to be able to go 2 hours without fading so I can make it through the triathlon with better success than before. I would like to actually be able to run the 3 miles this year versus walking it. I am looking forward to actually competing with others, rather than just striving to finish the race. This year I am looking to complete the triathlon under 1 hour & 30 minutes. The previous two years I was at the 2 hour mark when crossing the finish line and right around last place for my age group. Be sure to look for my results…

Thank you so much for taking the time in reading my testimony. I want to express many thanks to Frank and all the trainers, as their commitment in helping not only myself, but those wanting and needing a life style change. I no longer wanted to accept what I was 50 pounds ago and just settling. The changes in my life have been for the better, and I only see good things happening with the new people I am meeting. Happiness is all I feel now. I feel like a child again with all my new found energy and confidence. I am a whole new person, and it is an awesome feeling to have.

Leslie-Ann E. Boone
&
WINNER of the Fit Challenge: July 25, 2011
(lost 26 lbs & 9.3% body fat during the challenge)

“I do say, however, that I do exercise because it gets the results I want.”

I began my road to a “new me” when I joined the Emerald City Athletic Club in December 2010. In January 2011, I began in earnest when I began training with Ayla. Initially I trained with her only one day a week. For several months, I have been training with her twice a week. Working with a personal trainer, especially with Ayla, has made all the difference on my journey and my results.

My goal in joining the gym was to lose weight and get more fit. I do not expect to ever say I love to exercise. I do say, however, that I do exercise because it gets the results I want. Those results keep me working with my trainer. Yes, it costs money but it is money well spent. Even more important for me, having paid that money pricks me to never miss a session.

So far I have lost 30 pounds. I am half way to my goal. I have also lost body fat though I don’t seem to keep that number in my head I do like the pounds. I am working with Ayla all the way to my goal. I just booked 15 more sessions with her.

Not to be discounted is the greater endurance and fitness I have achieved. While I was aware of the weight loss, the level of fitness hadn’t really registered with me. One day, this past spring, while in Washington DC, I just noticed I had walked all over the Capital Campus and up and down the marble stair cases in most of the Capital buildings with ease. I make this trip to DC every year. It was late in the day when I realized I had done it without huffing and puffing, I felt like throwing my hands in the air and doing the triumphant Rocky dance.

I can truly say that working with Ayla has made all the difference as I work toward my goal. I highly recommend working with a personal trainer. Of course I highly recommend Ayla.

“3 years ago I was diagnosed with diabetes.”

With some training on balancing my diet, I was able to slow the progress of my disease for the first couple of years. But this last year my resting glucose reading where inching up to the 180 – 190. My Doctor wanted to move me onto oral insulin stimulate. I was resistant to that idea. I knew that the oral medication losses effectiveness over time. The next step would be insulin injections. I wasn’t ready to start down that road. So I begged for more time to get my life (and glucose readings) back under control. My Doctor and I agreed that I would retake the AC1 test in 3 months and if my result were the same (7.5) or worst I would go on the oral insulin stimulate.

I start to come to the gym (Emerald City Athletic club) on regular bases. I lost 6, 7 pound on my own. But then my progress stalled. I was frustrated. Ben, on eof the trainers, assured me I would make progress with him. I was skeptical.. I had, in the past, had a couple of different trainers. I had done a hundred different diets in my lifetime. I thought I had seen it all. But I was also feeling a little desperate. So I gave it a shot.

It is the best decision I have ever made. Three months have gone by, my AC1 test isn’t just better, it is great. A test score of 6.5 or above is considered Diabetic. My score is 6.1. My resting glucose is running 105 to 115. I am total out of the diabetic range. I am still slightly above normal. But I have made such great progress in such a short time. I think if I keep going, I’ll have “normal” scores by the next round of test. I have lost 25 pounds, 18 of those pounds were fat. I have lost a total of 13.5 inches. I was wearing sizes 18 – 20 when I started, now I am wearing sizes 12 – 14. I am about half way to my goal.

I want to thank the staff at Emerald City. They have all been so warm and welcoming. They keep the workouts interesting and challenging. But if something is too hard they adapt it so I can still work the muscle group. When I slip on the program they just encourage me to get back on it. I would definitely recommend the program and the staff to anyone interested in making a positive change in their life. It is a wonderful experience.

Sincerely,

Alisa La chney

“I was mistaken as a pregnant woman.”

My life seemed all too well placed; I was a stay at home mother of two children. I ignored my health and sacrificed for my families well being.

My health and weight issues went unnoticed until an unexpected stranger mistook me as pregnant women. I wanted to crawl inside a hole and hide, I had never been so embarrassed!

But that comment lit a fire inside me; I stared viewing the person in the mirror a whole new way. I was no longer satisfied with mediocrity.

The club staff was knowledgeable and friendly from the moment I walked in the door. I could tell they were empathetic to my situation and designed a fitness program that helped me reach my goal.

The trainers  were courteous and helped motivate my success. I owe my success to the club and their fantastic staff.

With all the love I have Thank you!

“I couldn’t even do 3 push-ups…”

I sat outside the building for 30 minutes before I could muster up the courage to walk in the door. I had never been in a gym in my life, was intimidated by the thought. I was 33 years old and 320 plus pounds and have been very overweight my entire life. We toured the facility and the entire time and the whole time I kept thinking to myself “what the heck am I doing here?”

I signed up for my first workout and the trainer introduced herself to me. We did our first workout together and I couldn’t even do three push-ups. I was so very embarrassed. Then 20 minutes later during the same workout she says to me “lets do some more push-ups”! I was so discouraged, frustrated, and ready to give up on day one.

When it was done she looked me in the eye and proceeded to tell me that if I stick with it, she will stick with me and we will make it better.

So I came back for day two. I was sore, and tired and I know I looked it. When I walked in the door EVERY trainer greeted me. Maya made sure that I had my blue card and that I knew what I should be doing. What a feeling of support and needless to say, I stuck with it.

First two weeks I lost 13 pounds. At this point I was motivated. Here I sit nine months later. I have made it into the 230’s. I am wearing pants that are ten inches smaller in the waist. I still workout nothing less than five times a week and realize that the only thing that can hold me back is a lack of belief in myself.

I honestly think that if I have tried the gym experience anywhere else I would not be where I am today. I realize it is not the facility, it is the caliber of people that facilitate it and these people are the real deal!

Thank you to the staff for showing me that I could overcome a fear of failure and that all I needed to do was believe in myself, and put forth honest effort and the possibilities are endless.

Moving here  last year not only affected me emotionally but also physically. I was at my heaviest weight that I had ever been. I came into the club to do a personal weight loss contest with my cousin.

Over the last three months I have accomplished more then I ever expected in such a short time. Without the help and encouragement of my trainer, I can truly say I would not have accomplished what I have today! Not only has he helped me overcome some of my biggest weight loss obstacles, but has also been there for me as a friend!

My trainer NEVER gave up on me, and for that I will be forever grateful. Thank you!

There were many days when I came into the gym, mad, upset or very emotional, but I ALWAYS left the club feeling GREAT!!! The staff has been awesome to me! They are always friendly and make me feel at home.

I have set new goals for myself and expect to reach EVERYONE of them!

With the help from my trainer and the team at the rest of the team, I know anything is possible!