Hey There! And thanks for the invite to the group!

I'm Jen, I turn 43 this weekend, been married to a wonderful guy for 24 years, and have 2 fantastic girls ages 11 and 16.

Like too many other American women, I had suffered from poor body image and struggled with
weight most of my adult life. I had tried a number of well marketed diet plans which often led
to some weight loss, but ultimately gained all and sometimes even more back. (check my
photos on my profile, there's a shot of me at @183 lbs- a "comfortable weight" for most of life)

My current journey to lose weight and get healthy & fit started in January of 2009. After suffering
devastating losses in my family(Grandad in May 07', my Grandma 3 weeks later, then my Dad
to cancer 6 months after that, and then my Mom 3 months later), I had a lot of time to think about
life and family and time etc. My parents were only 64 when they died, my Dad of complications
related to kidney cancer and my mom had a brain aneurysm. I can honestly say going through
that time was the most difficult time of my life. I don't want my kids to experience losing their parents
so young either.

So, I commited myself to getting healthier. A new gym had recently opened up one block from work,
and I promised myself to go there over my lunch hour 3 days a week. After a few weeks, after that
I noticed that it felt wierd if I missed a day, and actually increased my lunchtime workout to 5 days a week.
Although I wasn't seeing any real results in the mirror or the scale, I know what I was doing was good
for me and that was the main reason for doing it. Wanting to get more out of my work outs and see
if I could start getting results I could see as well, I started working out with a trainer. He was a nice
enough guy, and taught me a few things on the machines and such, but I kept juggling the same 5lbs
up and down. After about 7 months, this trainer moved, and I was introduced to his replacement,
Ray.

THIS trainer changed my life! Something about his personality just clicked with mine. He is direct, but
patient, kind, supportive and motivating. He takes a genuine interest in my success. He not only instructs
my in the gym during our sessions, he tells me what to do when we are not working out together AND reviews
my diet and makes appropriate recommendations. I started working out with him in March 2010 and by
October of that same year, lost 28lbs! And just as impressive(for me) is I have kept it off! His support of
me goes above and beyond the norm of most trainers- he ran at my side when I ran my first 5K in the
fall of 2011. He was also there, at my side running my 2nd 5K this past October. He cheered me on when
I did an indoor triathalon, and just the past week, he was on the sidelines cheering myself and his wife
(and 2 other gym buddies/clients of his) when we crossed the finish line at my first Warrior Dash!

I continue to hit the gym everyday over lunch, and workout with my trainer once a week not only because it's
good for me and I have some areas I would like to tighten up, and could lose a few more pounds, but also
becasue I LOVE IT! I can't believe I have become a gymrat! lol

Having someone who truly believes in you, and wants the best for you, and knows how to help make it happen
has made all the difference in my success, and my new look on life. I'm so grateful to have him as a trainer and friend.

Hello! My name is Elizabeth. I just turned 29 last Friday. Before all this, I suffered with depression from high school till now. It was much worse when I was in high school. At that time I didn't really care about anything but eat alot of junk food to make me feel good. Because that was the only thing that did. I met my husband in college we both majored in photography. He didn't stay very long in school because he is in the army and they needed him. 4 years after that we got married. He has deployed twice already to Iraq, and most likely he will deploy again next year. I started my goal weight after we got married. We were living in Kansas because he was stationed there. I started out working by my self then relized I didn't know what the hell I was doing lol and didn't see any results. So I finally hired a fitness trainer while living in kansas at the time. She didn't last very long only a month. After that a friend told me about curves. I joined up and I loved it. The owner of that place was really fun and she is also a fitness trainer her self, so I saw some results from working out there. When my husband got orders to get stationed here at fort bragg, I transfer curves here. After awhile it started to become boring for me. I am not sure if it has to do with that the people who work there only sit behind the desk and doesn't really know how to help the members when it comes to working out. Top of that in May 2011 I found out I was pregnant. I worked out at curves till Oct and took a break till I gave birth to my son. I went back to curves in April. When May came I got a phone call from the manager from curves telling us the saddest news that the owner wants to close curves down which will be May 31st. So top of it all, I was almost to my goal weight then found out I was pregnant. So I am working on getting to my goal weight and getting rid of this pregnancy weight. So couple weekends ago my husband and I decided to join a gym and I hired a fitness trainer because I thought I wasn't getting anywhere. So I hope I will see some results from having a trainer. I don't expect to happen over night but I hope soon because they aren't cheap lol.

Hello! My name is Kimberly. Thanx for the invitation. My journey started in December of 2010 after a visit to my daughter's pediatrician. My daughter was so upset and crying at this visit because she weighed in at 180 pounds. My husband and I decided that enough was enough. We had tried losing weight several times before but it never stuck. But we were going to try again for her sake. We joined our local WOW gym and the person that signed us up just happened to be a health coach. He helped us to set up diet plans and set us up with a personal trainer. This trainer was perfect for us just starting out. For myself he had a great personality, he instantly made me feel comfortable and pushed me beyond what ever I ever thought I could do. My husband lost 100 pounds in just over 5 months. My daughter has lost 40 pounds and has more confidence than I ever though possible. The difference is amazing! I have lost 104 pounds and am not looking back. I still have another 80 pounds to go. I have a new trainer now, as my previous one became a manager and could no longer train. I have learned alot and absolutely love the trainer I have now. He has an awesome personality, stays on me for my form and has helped me rehab a knee injury I've been battling. I never could have done this without them. I don't know about anyone else, but knowing that I feel accountable to someone outside my family has really kept me towing the straight and narrow!

Hi everyone - sorry cannot post to much right now, we are away for the holiday weekend and I just found the wifi code for where we are - I will post more on Tuesday when life returns to normal - Michelle