Thank you Neil, Jennifer and Paola for I have reached my program weight goal and it didn’t hurt a bit. Well, maybe a little bit. More importantly you have taught me that my real goal was changing my physical fitness and eating habits for life. If I may, I’d like to share my great experience with your readers.

I want to be thin, I want to be in shape and I hate dieting. Sound familiar? The hardest part is to get started. The best part is when you are successful. Neil can get you on the road to success and has put together all the elements to train you in total physical wellness. Then it is up to you to succeed and make the changes necessary to make a better life. All I can tell you is that I am pleased with my results.

WHY AND HOW I GOT STARTED

I actually like to exercise and have fairly decent eating habits. However, throughout my life I’ve gone “a bit over” at each decade celebration and I have to readjust my habits to stay within my weight range. I’ve gone to gyms, trainers, whatever was around at the time for physical fitness and counted calories to lose weight. I’ve spent my life fighting that range and I have never met anyone until now who put the whole lifestyle in proper perspective.

Unfortunately when I turned 50, a series of events and family tragedy led to four years of “a bit over”. When I turned 54 I didn’t like what I saw in the mirror. Way outside the range. I didn’t like the fact that every time I picked up one of my grandkids it took me a week to recover from the back pain. And I sure didn’t like my blood pressure and lack of energy.

Neil had just opened his business about a month before my birthday and I gave my husband the grand opening advertisement and told him that’s what I wanted for my birthday. I signed up for 3-months, 3-days a week training sessions. My intent was to use Fitness Training to force me into a “healthy” routine which I knew I would procrastinate doing if left to my own will. I figured after 3-months I’d have the will power to go on my own. I had my plan and a very strange birthday present.

EXERCISE: IT HAS TO BE DONE

I won’t insult any readers by saying working out is fun and the first thing you want to do in the morning. It’s hard work especially when you first start out. The FT team won’t cut you any slack and if you’re like me and can’t keep your toes straight then your workout will be relentless. The important point, however, is the team is professional at physical fitness and training. They have a regimen that is tailored to your specific needs and advancement capabilities. It took me 3 or 4 months before I seemed to cross over a point where my mind and muscle worked together. (Although I have to confess I’m still not very good at keeping my toes straight.) From that point forward, the strength training became more enjoyable, albeit hard! However, as a result I now routinely lift items and work around the house doing things I would never have attempted or been able to do previously. I seem to know how to do it right now. As a side benefit to my new found core strength, I find myself wanting to ride a bike or go kayaking rather than sit at the computer playing games. Lifting the grandkids will never be a problem again. Now my muscles work with me not against me. I feel strong in a way I’ve never felt and that far out ways my initial need to look good in the mirror. But the real success is easily measured in my lowered blood pressure and heart rate WITHOUT MEDICATION. I still have more improvement to make, but I’m happy at what I’ve accomplished in the last nine months.

FUEL POWER: WHAT TO EAT

Exercise is only one element. Eating correctly for your “body” and not to “diet” for that big event is the other big key. As Neil calls it – the “Efficient Fueling System” needs to be developed. Well, eating was an issue. I love to cook, and although I cook relatively healthy food, I ate too much and not efficiently. I also have a very difficult work schedule and tended towards not eating regularly or eating badly it was quick and I had no time to cook. Neil is associated with PurFoods Fitness and introduced me to their program which has made a significant impact on my eating habits. It’s not frozen, it’s cooked fresh weekly. It’s conveniently delivered to your door per your schedule. The food is delicious and I say that as a critic. The meals are well balanced so you don’t have to worry about figuring it all out, the hardest part in any weight loss program. I have been eating their food for 4 months now. I buy 5 days of food and cook and/or eat out the other 2 days. I purposely set it up this way because you have to “cheat” once in a while but more importantly you have to learn to change your cooking habits. Incidentally as a side benefit, my monthly food bills have actually gone down and my husband has lost weight! Wine bills still the same though.

The program is set up and the point Neil makes is to eat several smaller, well balanced meals a day to make your body work more efficiently. The concept was hard for me to adapt. It requires learning how to eat during the day to maintain a neutral feeling about eating – neither the feeling of being hungry nor full. When I started I had to time myself to eat on frequent intervals. Jennifer has been great with helpful hints and guidance. (She’s pretty good at giving you wine recommendations too.) It took me about 3 months, but I now have a body clock in my head not my stomach that says “eating time”. I know what kind of food to eat for the kind of day I’m having and when I need to increase/decrease calories to compensate for burning more/less calories than on an average day. I find that I enjoy “tasting” different foods all day and I like not feeling stuffed. I have consistently lost weight and have now achieved my weight goal. But the real success is in the result that by eating efficiently I have eliminated the physical problems and pain caused by bad eating habits and am hopefully fueling my body correctly which is important for my muscle vs. fat change.

IT’S YOUR LIFE: LIVE IT WELL

Changing your life style is not easy or we all would accomplish it on our own. It is challenging and I certainly needed a professional to get me where I am today and where I want to be tomorrow. What I have learned from Neil, and I cannot stress hard enough, is that a “total body workout for life” means literally. Neil’s workout is not designed to make you look like a body builder or anorexic. The workout is designed for body core strength and physical fitness so that you can enjoy every day events.

I started my program last September. Needless to say, after my initial program commitment I stayed on the program. Neil’s dedication is to the well being of his clients, especially the clients who know they need him. He worked with me to set up a continuing program that works with my very hectic work schedule. I currently workout for 2- days a week at the Fitness Together and have a home gym program that Neil set up for me and which he monitors and changes as required. I no longer have arbitrary timescales; I plan on continuing this program indefinitely. I have set a new weight goal, and this one will be achieved with more participation on my part with cooking but I intend on continuing with PurFoods Fitness because it is healthy and makes it easier for me with my crazy schedule.

MY NEXT BIRTHDAY

My birthday this year will be spent on a romantic cruise with my husband. I’ve already started buying “the wardrobe” and for the first time in a while I’ve enjoyed shopping for cloths. Neil and Jennifer, my first click of the wine glass will be in toast to you.

To the FT Team, thank you for helping me on my road to being fit for life. For those of you who made it all the way through this too long of a letter, congratulations, you have the stamina for the program.

Sincerely,

- Audrey Marshall, El Dorado Hills

I was literally sitting around feeling badly about my weight and fitness when my husband handed me the mailer from Fitness Together. I decided that I needed a huge change in my life, so I gave Neil a call. I made an appointment for that day and the rest is history. I could not be any more grateful than I am because Neil and the wonderful staff at Fitness Together – El Dorado Hills gave me my life back.

The part of the training I like the most is the trainers! Everyone is so wonderful, positive and supportive.

The most positive and unexpected surprise was that it’s not intimidating. I really do look forward to every session.

The single biggest benefit I’ve experience through my training at Fitness Together – El Dorado Hills is feeling better about myself. This has allowed me to feel better about everything else in my life as well.

Everyone wants to know the “trick” to losing weight & inches. When they tell me how good I look, I love to tell them about Fitness Together – El Dorado Hills and how this is the only thing that has ever worked for me.

The first thing I would say to someone considering Fitness Together – El Dorado Hills is that this is the most worthwhile thing I have ever done for myself. I would recommend it to anyone and everyone.

I worried that the trainers would be intimidating, instead they are caring and supportive, and they make all the hard work fun.

- Jessica Harris, El Dorado Hills

I came to Fitness Together because I wanted to be somewhere where I felt the trainers would understand my “special needs” and really focus on a program to tend to those. I didn’t want a program that was generic and rote. Prior to training, I was feeling that it was really time to focus on myself again and finally reach the goal of a fit body and mind – a goal I kept saying I needed to reach but was struggling with. Things are different now because I really believe I can reach my goals. Before, I would doubt it because I wasn’t seeing the results I needed to.

Because my workout at FT is so efficient and effective, I have seen results quickly, and that is very motivating. I am still very busy and it is still very difficult to do all of the exercise I need to, but I don’t get discouraged like before.

Now, I re-motivate and just focus on moving forward. Before, it was easier to allow “missed exercise” to become more “missed exercise” and so on. I still have some behaviors to modify, but I know I can do it.

I thoroughly enjoy all of the FT trainers and really like that my program is a bit different each time. I also love that each exercise is actually 2 or 3 in one! Less time and more results!

I’ve seen and felt results more quickly than at any other gym or with any other training program.

The single biggest benefit I have experienced training at FT is the belief in myself that I can really create for myself a stronger, healthier, better functioning more efficient and more positive body and mind.

I have been told that my energy seems better – especially in the late afternoon – and that I am more cheerful. I have also been told that there is a difference in the way my body looks.

I would tell someone to definitely get an evaluation and talk to and ask questions of the people there. I would tell them they will learn something about their body and/or lifestyle that will make a difference to them.

I had general nervousness about starting something new, but that subsided almost right away after seeing my program was something I felt “fit me”.

I am please to already see changes in muscle tone and strength. I am most happy that my energy has improved. I no longer “crash” at 3 every day, and that is very important for my family! I am generally more motivated and am excited to see what changes occur over the next few months.

- Julie McBride, El Dorado Hills

- Lindsay Moore, El Dorado Hills

I have a history of knee problems which have restricted my activities due to pain. When I first began working with Neil he was very thorough in understanding my history and goals and really listening to my concerns. In just a month I've noticed a big difference in both my cardio fitness level and my strength. The best part is that my knee pain has actually decreased even though my activity has increased. Plus I've had several comments from coworkers asking if I've lost weight! I'm so excited about continuing my training with Neil and eventually being able to do activities that I had thought I'd never be able to do again.

- Meera Datta, Folsom

I’ve worked out for just over 4 years now. At first I lost about 25 pounds which was great, but then I gained back 10 pounds. I continued to work out on my own but could never lose the 10 pounds I gained; no matter how hard I worked. That’s when I decided to get help and started training with Neil. Since training with Neil I’ve lost 8 pounds. My cardio endurance has increased significantly, and I have gotten much stronger and toned due to my weight training. I have had friends and co-workers make comments about my weight loss which was great! But the most amazing thing was when my 12 year old son said “Mom your arms look really good” that pretty much made it all worth while. Neil is a great guy to work with. He has an amazing knowledge of what to do and how to do it to achieve the fitness level you want; whether it is to lose weight, get toned or to just be healthier. He developed a plan for me that was challenging, but it absolutely helped me achieve my goals. He is very professional and knowledgeable, and he completely cares about me and my progress. I would highly recommend him to all my friends and family.

- Kelly Reese, Shingle Springs

I am a petite female. In other training environments I felt frustrated with my physical limitations, and I personally did not have the physical and mental understanding on how to make body mechanics work for me rather than against me. Neil immediately recognized my needs and trained me accordingly. Neil has an intuitive style of teaching; he aligns himself with students’ needs, and customizes his instruction to deliver the best training possible.

He understands human anatomy and how it relates to the physics and motion. Coupled with his guidance and patience, he has inspired me to exceed my own expectations both physically and mentally.

- Liana Bailey-Crimmins, Martial Artist, Sacramento

Since the birth of our second daughter five years ago Natalie has had a difficult time trying to rid herself of the pregnancy excuse eating fest weight she had acquired. We tried regular gym memberships at $140/month plus signup fees, but with no support or guidance it was mostly a wasted investment. As with most gyms the self motivation lasted for a week or two then the muscle pain, tiredness and boredom kicked in and she would never go back. Have you ever tried to cancel a gym membership? I think it might be easier to get shampoo on an airplane.

I was concerned about spending the money at FT. The thought that it could possibly be a waste of money crossed mind. Because of Natalie's desire to get back into shape and because of her family health history of diabetes, I decided to bite the bullet and agreed to let her spend the money on a 36 session package at FT. She goes three days a week for about an hour each time. They first started her with a fitness assessment. The report they provided ranked each of the tests against a national average. Needless to say had this been a final in school a big F may have adorned the cover. But instead of feeling worthless or out of shape, it acted as a motivator. The report sat on the desk at home as a daily reminder of where she did not want to be any longer. Right away, the dietary suggestions were enacted. Fast food was out. Portion sizes were smaller and these strange things kept showing up in the fridge. I Gobbled them and found out they are called fruits and vegetables. I was expecting the usual batch of diet this and diet that to show up in the house. However, instead of these evils, 5-6 smaller portion meals per day of real food showed up. It was a nice change.

The first two weeks were hard for her, but as soon as her body adjusted to eating healthier and the exercising, everything changed. She started to shed pounds and old clothes started to fit again. She started to smile again, often for no apparent reason. She had a new spring in her step. I walked in the door one evening and the kids were both laughing and screaming. I came around the corner to see what was going on and saw Natalie chasing them around the house--something I am fairly certain she had not done in a very long time. At about 8 weeks into it, 15 or so pounds had disappeared. She hadn't been sick, tired in the middle of the day, or grumpy since she started the personal training. I cannot express the attitude change she has undergone. Her body was on its way back to her pre pregnancy shape and weight.

When she approached the end of her 36 session package another reassessment was given. The improvement which was obvious by her looks and attitude was even more amazing seen on paper. The measurements showed a total loss of about 15" and a weight loss of about 25 lbs. Add to that, the eating change which is now a family second nature for all of us, caused me to loose over 15 lbs. She is a whole new woman.

Yes it is expensive and yes I thought it would be a waste of money like all the other gym memberships and exercise machines we have used and bought in the past. But I was wrong and I will be the first one to admit it. One unexpected benefit of this has been the amount of savings from reduced grocery and eating out bills. It has been significant and when taken into consideration, it reduces the total overall cost of the training. Putting aside the physical and mental improvement in Natalie, the physical improvement in myself and our kids just from the eating changes are worth it. The entire family is happier and healthier. The benefits easily outweigh the costs when looked at as a whole. I willingly and proudly paid for her to sign up for another 72 sessions with no hesitation or regrets.

- Hank Hultin, C.E.O. Direct Automotive Products El Dorado Hills, CA