Make a Commitment to Finally Keep Your Healthy Living Resolutions in 2020
Why do we find it so difficult to keep the healthy lifestyle resolutions we routinely make each and every year? Our goals were meaningful and achievable. Some of us wanted to lose weight, improve our heart health, lower our blood pressure, and more. These were resolutions that, if achieved, could have had a significant impact on our health, well-being, and longevity. But without commitment, resolutions can soon become just another wish.
In this month’s issue of Everything Knoxville, we are excited to share with you the healthy living success stories of people who, very much like you, are achieving their own personal fitness goals. And while their stories and goals are varied, their common trait is their commitment to the program at Fitness Together, Knoxville’s only true personal private training studio, has set out for them.
Glenda Mabry
Five years ago, after a couple of knee surgeries, I found myself inactive and at my heaviest weight. I needed direction, motivation, and accountability. I knew about healthy eating but needed the exercise component.
Fitness Together has been fabulous in helping me with individual training needs. They have modified lots of workouts and adjusted for all my limitations. And the results have been very gratifying. My fitness levels are now well above average. It hasn’t always been easy, but I believe it has been worth all the hard work because I feel great.
I am so appreciative of the team at Fitness Together for assisting me in the right direction and their constant encouragement. And thanks to them, exercise is now a regular part of my life.
Jan Berry
The first time I exercised was after our second daughter was born in 1970. I ran about 1/4 mile and thought I would die. I kept exercising: Running and swimming in the 1970s, running, water skiing, aerobics, and weight lifting in the 1980s, and step aerobics, water and snow skiing, and weight lifting in the 1990s.
When I turned 50, I started injuring myself when I would push myself too hard, so I quit exercising as often. I gained weight and started having knee and hip problems, and I was told I needed to have my hip replaced. Although I was still able to do “normal” activities, I wanted to regain enough vigor and personal fitness to be active in sports and hiking, so I joined Fitness Together in 2013.
The personal trainers are truly personal. They get to know you, understand how to motivate you, and encourage you to stay committed to good health. I lost 20 pounds and reduced my body fat from 33% to 26%.
I’m 70 years old now and in the best shape of my life. I have good energy and look forward to my personalized training sessions. I play tennis, walk, hike, swim, and generally enjoy life! I am ranked number five in the world in indoor rowing for my age and weight!
Emily Vreeland
I am a 79-year-old retired clinical social worker and happy grandmother. Being outdoors feeds my soul and keeps me physically active.
I’m fortunate that I’ve never had any serious health issues, but at the time I found Fitness Together, my weight was at an all-time high, and I was feeling tired and frumpy and somewhat discouraged about myself.
Driving home one day the new Fitness Together sign “One Client, One Trainer” caught my eye, so I pulled up. I signed up that day. In addition to being impressed with the concept and the convenient location, Fitness Together owner, Andrew Henderson, said they would guide me and give me the necessary tools but reaching my goals depended on my commitment and hard work.
I’ve been working out at Fitness Together for more than 10 years, and I’m more fit than ever before in my adult life. I recommend Fitness Together to everybody I know.
Becca Plank
I am a 27-year-old law student at the University of Tennessee. In my spare time, I love to paint and do all things creative, and I love being outdoors.
I have ADHD and anxiety, and I’ve always managed my mental health, energy, and stress levels with exercise and sports. After graduating from college, I had a hard time maintaining fitness levels and was not motivated to go to the gym on my own. Working at a stressful job, eating poorly, and not getting enough sleep ultimately caused me to gain some weight, and I was extremely unhappy with my physical and mental health.
My parents, Tom and Kathy, had been going to Fitness Together for several years and suggested that I give it a try. For about a year now, I’ve been going twice a week, and it has helped me hold myself accountable for my fitness. In recent months, I’ve been at such a good enough fitness level that I’ve added a weekly run into the mix! I feel about as strong and fit as I did in high school and early college; it’s an incredible feeling.
Anyone who’s looking for incredible trainers who are excellent at adapting a workout to any level of fitness should give Fitness Together a try.
Dustin Burnett
I’m a 36-year-old screen printer and owner of Nothing Too Fancy and Nothing Too Fancy Print Shop with my beautiful wife, Lisa. In recent years, my fitness level was pretty much sedentary. I gained nearly 100 pounds in 10 years from being minimally active and eating garbage. I was in denial about my appearance and weight. I saw a picture of myself from last summer and knew it was time to make a change.
I have always enjoyed working out but was always a pretty bad eater. Lisa, on the other hand, has always been a pretty “healthy” eater, but she hated going to the gym. We made a deal: I would focus on eating healthier if she would commit to going to the gym. That’s where Fitness Together came in.
After talking with a friend and fellow Fitness Together client, I thought it would be the perfect fit. I couldn’t have made a better choice. So far I have succeeded in achieving several intermediate goals on my journey to my ultimate weight loss goal. And I’m eating healthier, more active, and my mental well-being is great.
The Fitness Together team is awesome!
Lisa Burnett
A former athlete, I enjoy being outdoors and spending time with family, friends, and our dog, Elvis. But it was when I took a hike with friends to House Mountain and had to stop to rest several times while my friends had no trouble at all that I knew I was out of shape. I was in denial.
I was ready to make a change, but I was hesitant to repeat the same old gym experience again. Fitness Together was different; we would be held accountable by our trainer.
Not only did I hit my first goal at one year, but I was also able to achieve a major life goal. When signing up, overall health was certainly a goal, but my husband and I also hoped to improve our chances of starting a family. We had been trying to have kids for more than a year and a half before starting at Fitness Together. We both knew that if we were healthier, our chances would be better. We found out in August we’re expecting our first child; a baby girl is due in May. Our continued devotion to exercise and eating better will just make the pregnancy and parenthood better for all of us.
We would 100% absolutely recommend Fitness Together to everyone.
John Hoffman
After a 30 year career in the medical device industry and teaching, my overall level of fitness was reasonably good, although I was beginning to see declining strength and balance coupled with modest weight gain. I also had a severely arthritic knee from a sports injury that hampered my ability to exercise, and I was inconsistent with my exercising when going it alone. I didn’t know appropriate exercises to accomplish my objectives and was injuring myself doing exercises incorrectly.
Fitness Together provided me with quality training, using good technique that was age sensitive. They enabled me to get as much as possible out of my bad knee for as long as possible and provided great pre-hab/re-hab support when I had knee replacement surgery. I’ve recovered from knee replacement, recovered from recent hernia surgery, and am able to play/run with my grandchildren, travel the world, and enjoy life.
I strongly recommend Fitness Together to anyone. There is something of benefit for everyone, from a young athlete to us elders who were athletic legends if only in our own minds. They provide expertise, accountability, camaraderie in the health journey, and deliver results.
Susan Hoffman
My life as a stay-at-home mom evolved with time, and today I am a volunteer with the Integrative Healthcare Program at the University of Tennessee Cancer Institute. Prior to retiring I had been working out with one of the gym teachers and some fellow employees.
While I had reasonably good stamina and strength, my spouse recommended trying Fitness Together to add variability to my workouts, as well as some adjustment as a function of strength/endurance gains. I found that the trainers were able to work the same or related muscle groups in different ways and keep my programs interesting while continuing to make progress. Fitness Together was convenient to my home, and I found the trainers to be motivating and to genuinely care how I was doing.
It has been roughly 13 years since I first started with Fitness Together. During that time, I have gone through two bouts with breast cancer and a serious back injury. Because of my training, I recovered faster and was able to resume doing many of the activities that I really enjoy. The folks at Fitness Together were caring and compassionate and gently pushed me to be the best that I could be.
I have recommended Fitness Together to many friends and acquaintances. I believe it to be nearly impossible for anyone other than a trained trainer to adapt workouts to compensate for injuries and to keep programs dynamic and fun over an extended period of time.
Trainers:
Andrew Henderson
What I love most about personal training is getting to congratulate someone on doing something that they didn’t think they could do. The first time a client does a pull-up, completes a 5K, 10K, or a marathon, or steps on the scale and sees a number lower than what they’ve seen in 20 years is what keeps me excited to improve at what I do!
My advice for making 2020 your best year yet is to dream BIG and set goals that will truly inspire, challenge, and excite you. When your WHY is big enough, you’ll find that the daily disciplines of exercise and healthy eating become a little easier to stick with.
Margaux Cowan-Banker (Trainer)
It’s rewarding to see people tap into a potential they didn’t know they had, whether working towards weight loss, athletics, or other pursuits. I love seeing how this changes people’s lives in profound ways. When we believe we can do great things, we do great things, and if I can help clients realize this, then I’m at my happiest.
Embrace an attitude of balance and commitment to all the various aspects of a healthy lifestyle in 2020. It’s only when we take care of the many little things that the big picture successfully comes together. Being your fittest, healthiest self means prioritization and the knitting together of nutrition, activity, recovery (sleep/relaxation), and emotional needs.
Jay McLucas
I truly enjoy helping people feel better and look better. I encourage people to be the best version of themselves in 2020. Being healthy is being happy. Get out of your comfort zone and challenge yourself to be your best.
Evan Simpson
I love being a personal trainer because I enjoy tapping into the potential people often didn’t realize they had. I love meeting and engaging with new people, building relationships, and watching them better themselves.
The most important advice I can give someone hoping to improve their health and well-being is to just be consistent. If you consistently show up no matter how you feel that day, you will see results.
Rufus Ross
I enjoy being a personal trainer because I enjoy helping people reach their health and fitness goals. It is very fulfilling when a client hits a breakthrough or accomplishes something they thought they couldn’t do. It’s all about feeling better, looking better, and being healthy and happy!
In 2020, start off small. You don’t have to do anything too drastic. Just start with a 10 minute walk a day, drink one less soda a day, try and stretch for five minutes a day, add in one or two vegetables a day. Just make a few small changes, and over time, they will make a big difference. And finally, if you fail or mess up, don’t beat yourself up over it. Just get back on track and focus on the present, not the past!
Tanya Bruner
I wake up every single day excited to help people create the best version of themselves and to share my love and knowledge for all things health, fitness, and proper nutrition.
Here are a few recommendations on how to make 2020 your fittest and healthiest year yet:
1. Eat more veggies: Shoot for three one-cup servings or more per day.
2. Make sleep a priority: Seven to nine hours per night.
3. Try something new, like a small group fitness class: Fitness Together offers a small group personal training program called PACK.
4. Drink more water: Drink half an ounce per pound you weigh.
Chip Gibson
I love inspiring people to live vibrant, healthy lives. As a trainer, I have the opportunity to influence someone’s life. Motivating people to make positive changes and showing them the tools to thrive physically and mentally is a unique opportunity I don’t take for granted. Seeing a client walk out of a session feeling more confident with a smile on their face makes my day.
If you want to make 2020 the year you take charge of your health and well-being, stop procrastinating. In a word – start. If you eat healthy, get moving. If you exercise regularly but eat terribly, then focus on your nutrition. We all say we’ll exercise or eat better “when we have time.” Guess what? Everyone’s busy. Make time! Get off your phone/tablet/TV and go to bed earlier. Don’t make your favorite show or meeting up for happy hour a priority. Prioritize yourself, because if you don’t take care of you, you can’t take care of others. Investing in your health, a minimum of 30 to 45 minutes a day, is all it takes. Get moving and push away from the table before you’re “stuffed.” Beginning is the hardest part. What are you waiting for?
Shea Sims
Reflecting back over the past 12 years as a fitness professional and thinking about why I’ve chosen to stay in a field where the hours are long, the “hustle” to stay relevant with the newest science and research is never ending, and the need to stay on your “A” game is crucial to retention, I still believe I’m fulfilling my life’s calling.
Earlier this year my mother passed away, losing her battle to brain cancer. During that period of time, I was in awe of the overwhelming outpouring of love and support of those whose lives she touched. She had a spirit unlike anyone I’ve ever known, and she lived and loved with everything she had… every day.
My passion is to make a difference in the lives of those clients I come in contact with each and every day, even if it doesn’t necessarily relate to exercise. If they walk away from our session feeling better than when they arrived, I’ve helped make a difference.
As many look to make New Year’s resolutions, try to remember that each day is a gift. Change is hard, so start small. Acknowledge the victories, as well as the failures, and grow from each of them. Most importantly, above anything else, don’t give up… don’t EVER give up!
Mac Bowers
Being a trainer means more than counting sets and reps; it means becoming a part of your client’s journey and their story. I get to be there for it all and get to watch them accomplish more than they ever managed was possible.
To make 2020 you best year yet, I recommend that you should have fun, set goals, drink more water, eat more fruits and veggies, and accept a challenge that will help you reach your fullest potential.
If you are ready to commit like these clients and make more than a resolution but a commitment to a healthier lifestyle, be sure to contact the pros at Fitness Together today.
Fitness Together
Bearden
6513 Kingston Pike, Suite 112
865.212.2322
Farragut
11521 Kingston Pike
865.671.2022
Hardin Valley
10752 Hardin Valley Road
865.249.7630
Northshore
9430 S Northshore Drive, Suite 102A
865.357.8663