It is my pleasure to introduce you to Robbie!

Robbie has been a part of the Finally Fit family for just a few short months. She's just begun Phase 6 of her new program and is finding it a bit more challenging as we progress deeper into the Phases. She has increased her strength, fitness level, gives David a hard time for us :) and most importantly she doesn't quit!

She continues to work hard with every session and comes in after a long day at work, fighting traffic and passing the way to her house to get here. We all have been there, right?! When home is just where you want to be after a day like that. Robbie's commitment to her appointments keeps her on track and she always feels better after coming in!

THANK YOU Robbie for inspiring others and continuing to work on improving your health and fitness. Keep it up!

It has been my pleasure to have the opportunity to coach Laura!
She has had quite the journey even before her hip replacement surgery.
Over the last few months since her rehab, we have used a non-traditional, creative approach to get her muscles to activate or "wake-up."

Laura has been able to progress to the next level of her program and is eager to try new movements.

It's been amazing to see her transition from a walker, to a cane, to not using her cane during her workouts. She has gotten so much stronger and move with confidence as her mobility improves!

Keep up the great work Laura!

Check out her video to hear more about her journey!

Last week I shared with you about Drew hitting his personal best on bench press. What I didn't share was the amount he lifted for that press.

For a long time, Drew has had a goal of hitting 200# on his bench. He's had goals of a certain amount of push-ups as well but the bench is something I've noticed he's really been wanting to tackle.

When we started our Strong Challenge last month he said, "I'm hitting 200# on the bench." He hasn't hit that since college. We worked on a periodization of a certain amount of reps and weight and then slowly dropped reps and increased weight with each set.

Last week was game day. He had been thinking about it all morning and was ready to take it on. We did a few light warm up sets and longer rest periods. Our first main set was an easy 185# for 6 reps. Next set, another easy set of 195# for 5 reps.

Last set, best set. I put a total of 205# on the bar and he looked at me and said "how much is on there?"

"205" I replied.

He took a deep breath and jumped right in and said "let's do this."

Another easy set of 5 reps!

The grin is priceless as you can see below. He also tackled the Dirty Dash with his daughter and is working hard to be a good role model for his family.

Great job Drew, keep it up!

David came to us just over a year ago. He had a couple of goals in mind but the biggest one was to compete in the Laramie Enduro August 2016. This is a 75 mile mountain bike race climbing elevations over 8,600 vertical feet, all at elevations over 7,500 feet.

This was an epic goal and we had entire year to plan. This year went by fast! Before we knew it, it was race time!

First, a big goal was to lose about 40 pounds before the ride. There is a category "Clydesdale" that riders would register under if their weight is over 220 pounds. David didn't want to be in this category.  He worked his butt off, literally, and was able to reach 218 pounds!

In March, he amped up his time and miles on his mountain bike, setting new PR's each week and crushing times with others who ride on their road bikes!

David successfully completed his race (there is a cut off time and many didn't complete). He shared his grueling story of the rocky climbs, carrying his bike through the river, climbing through tall grass, and getting chased by a badger!


An amazing transformation, an amazing journey and also (as his socks say) to be able to "do epic sh*t!"

Just wanted to take a moment to recognize Shelley for a huge project she has been working hard on!

For those of you who know Shelley, she joined forces to compete in a figure show with me this year. We started this process back in November and she worked extremely hard to change her physique!

In May, when she found out I couldn't compete this year, she didn't stop her training! She changed her focus back to film and continued to prepare for her short film "Critter Chase" that made the "Best Of" category for the 48 Hour Film Project.

She was our Success Spotlight in May for all of her hard work and she continues to do so and making huge progress!

Keep it up Shelley!

Check out Critter Chase here!

www.facebook.com/videotero/videos/1081358598584808/

When choosing our October Success Spotlight, it was a no-brainer that this month belongs to David. David is no stranger to exercise, he is an experienced cyclist and full of enthusiasm and passion for health, fitness and life. In fact, his top 3 goals in life are to achieve an overall high level of fitness, to help other people to reach personal goals and to set a good example for his children. He has worked extremely hard and diligently on his program and it shows!  When asked about his training program he replied with:
 
"In one word Rebecca. She is by far the most attentive and educated trainer I have worked with.  She makes sure that I am getting what I need out of my program, and is constantly shifting it to meet those needs.  I see her do this with each client, and that is quite a feat, as we have a diverse mix of people from fitness levels to personal goals.
The motivation for me is the way I feel and more so the way my body is being transformed.  It is hard for me to believe how far my fitness level has risen since I started!
I will just say that I am completely satisfied with my program, with this style of gym, and with Rebecca.  She truly is a professional and that shows in every aspect of the program. I love it! I always feel like I am accomplishing goals while still staying challenged. The way it makes me feel and changes I see in my body and well-being.
 
Rebecca’s constant analysis and tuning to my program has helped me stay on track.  The most important result I have seen is how I feel.  I feel stronger and healthier than I ever have.
After doing research on several trainers in Albuquerque, I found that Finally Fit’s one on one fitness and nutrition approach was what I needed. I was out of shape, I had not worked out for a couple of years.  I was lost on my nutritional needs, it turns out I really have never known how to eat properly for my body.
Firstly I have changed inside. I FEEL stronger and more focused in everything I do.  Then there is the actual BE stronger part!  I am wearing jeans I have not fit into for years, I am able to work out harder and lift heavier weights." 
 
What an incredible journey so far and be sure to keep your eyes peeled for more adventures on David. He is training for something that is truly fantastic and life changing! Stay tuned!!

Our Success Spotlight for September goes out to our very own Shelley Carney!

Shelley is one of our most dedicated clients and it shows in her strength, endurance and physique! She is starting her third year at Finally Fit and has some BHAG set ahead and I'm so excited to be with her on this next chapter of her journey!

Read below for more of Shelley's journey and transformation story!

"My top three goals in life include growing a thriving video production business in Albuquerque with my business partners, seeing that my children become successful and productive adults, and continuing to be strong, vital and motivated throughout my second half of life so that I can continue to work and create valuable projects. The customized training I receive is important to me because I feel that these exercises are tailored to my needs and will help me to get the results I want. That motivates me to keep coming back and giving it my best. What I enjoy most about my training program is seeing results and being able to lift more than before, having more endurance than I used to and the excitement of seeing progress in my physical fitness. 

What I would change if I could is seeing more dramatic results more quickly. However, working toward self-improvement is a journey, not an instant gratification moment. What has helped me on my journey is the support of family, friends and especially, my trainer, Rebecca. I feel strong, cared about, involved and I know that I am putting in the necessary work to move forward and improve myself every time I walk through the doors at Finally Fit.

I chose Finally Fit because of Rebecca. She genuinely cares about her clients and their needs, goals and health concerns. She gives me the kind of motivation and confidence that lasts a lifetime. I've never been an athlete, just an average person with good health. But age has been catching up with me. When I started at Finally Fit, my posture was poor and muscle tone was fading. I felt, if not afraid, then very hesitant, to try physically challenging activities. I was starting to feel middle-aged and defeated.

Now, my posture is excellent and muscle tone is great. I have better balance and endurance than ever and when I need to lift and carry items for work, I am confident in my physical ability and stamina. I receive frequent compliments on my beauty and vitality and people cannot believe my true age. What motivates me most is results, the way I feel and look and those supportive compliments I receive from others.

What makes Finally Fit unique and better for me is working closely with Rebecca and having that positive relationship of support and caring that keeps me coming back.

Thank you for being there for me! I'm looking forward to another year at Finally Fit."

I know September is almost over but it is my absolute pleasure to announce our August Success Spotlight to Tammy A! In just 3 short months Tammy has made DRAMATIC improvements in her nutrition and fitness. We have only focused on ONE thing with Tammy's nutrition and it was something as simple as coffee: Where she was getting her coffee, what kind of coffee, and how much she was consuming per day. We made one change which compounded into several little change and is down 14 pounds in just 3 short months!

Tammy says:
I am really enjoying my customized training plan – it never gets boring or routine and the ongoing changes push me to work and achieve my best every session.  I am doing things now that I could not have done 3 months ago and would never have thought I would have been able to do. I enjoy the constantly changing program and working out with people who, like me, are striving to do their best every session.  Having people to work and laugh (and whine) with really helps me to stay motivated.  Going to Finally Fit has become a part of my life and I would not change anything. Rebecca’s encouragement has helped me – she is a wonderful motivator.   I would never be able to do this on my own.  The most important result I have seen is I have realized that there is a place in my life for my health and that the time I am putting into this makes my entire life better.   I can no longer imagine not working out and trying to make healthy eating choices every day – Finally Fit has become a part of my daily life.  I really miss it on days when I cannot go.  Even on days when I feel like just going home and being a couch-potato, I am always happy that I went to FF within minutes of starting my workout.

I looked at Finally Fit online and it seemed to be what I was looking for – and I was right. I was a very inactive person who was not making good food choices and as I have gotten older my health was suffering.  After only 3 months I am already stronger and healthier.  I do not get tired as quickly doing daily activities.   I cannot wait to see what the future brings! I think I have changed a lot since starting at Finally Fit.  I never considered myself as an athletic person and I never tried to work towards that goal.  I see now that I can work towards any goal I want – I see how others are working towards and achieving their goals and I now know that I can achieve my goals too! I want to get to a healthy weight and become stronger and healthier.  I also want to learn to make the best food choices every day so that I can be healthy and active all of my life. I think that working with a small group of like-minded people sets Finally Fit apart from other gyms.  There is no way I would be able to go to a gym on my own and achieve what I am achieving at Finally Fit.  I would consider going to other gyms in the past but never was able to get past the packed parking lots and “horror” stories I heard about never being able to get to use equipment because of the crowds. (and of course, I would have had no idea what to do even if I went). Knowing that Rebecca is there to help me with anything I need, whether it is an exercise or nutrition question, and that the other people I meet at FF are all working towards the goal of being healthy keeps me motivated.  The success that I have had so far also motivates me to keep going and working. I am so happy I found Finally Fit and Rebecca – my life will never be the same!


Congratulations Tammy, YOU have done all of the work! Stay Awesome!

When we chose Alberta to be our very first participant for the Leslie Jean Scholarship, we immediately knew we had someone special. In reading her application, I felt an immediate connection with her and the relationship she had with her daughter. It reminded me of mom and me. So when Berta came to Finally Fit she quickly became part of our fitfam. Over the course of 16 weeks, Berta dedicated herself to her new program without fail. She stuck to her nutrition program and lost over 9 pounds of fat mass and dropped 4% body fat! Numbers aren’t the reason why she was chosen, in fact, she was already chosen before taking her most recent assessments. Berta was chosen because she did not let anything get in her way. Her strong, tenacious approach is something to be admired and getting to know her was an honor.

Berta says “Before Finally Fit I enjoyed working out, but had many physical challenges. Finally Fit helped me to accommodate my challenges and feel fulfilled in my efforts to achieve a great work out. It has been empowering to experience adaptation to my needs!  My Nutrition was clean, but I think I still was eating too many carbohydrates; my health was in a state of repair due to a really stressful 2 year divorce. Every number that could be off -was, and after 3 months of Finally Fit diet and exercise, not one number was out of range.  My activity level prior to Finally Fit was dependent on my ability to push through chronic pain. I have had some issues here and there, but for the most part have been able to push through in adaptation due to specialized attention to my body and its needs. I am very grateful for that approach. My diet was pretty clean before, but now it's more balanced with protein and portion appropriate; my activity level has increased 100% due to Rebecca's care to details about my individual needs in order to have a challenging, fun work-out. My health improved in combination of diet and consistent exercise, and I had amazing lab work this annual exam.

My goals beforehand included finding a medium to achieve a level of fitness in spite of certain physical limitations.  Watching my girl graduate and celebrating the milestone with her; forcing myself to take a baby step in the direction of living my life as a single person (not just a single mother).  Now, life is good. Life is filled with celebrations -- from the simple (not vomiting after an amazing workout) to the complex -- celebrating ever-growing commitment and awareness to oneself. I see myself continuing to improve my level of fitness and I hope to one day soon be able to reflect on the OUTside the level of fitness that I have achieved on the inside. To continue to strive and be aware of my own needs, and to learn to value myself enough to not feel guilty for nurturing my goals.  Allowing myself to reach those goals, enjoy the journey, and CELEBRATE all the milestones along the way.”

Thank you Berta for being our first recipient for the Leslie Jean Scholarship and for making an IMPACT on my life as well.