March Client of the Month - Carlene Canton

As a team, we look to recognize clients with this monthly award that are making progress towards their goals. Now everyone that comes through the door has a different set of goals, which is what makes our job exciting and challenging. No two clients are the same.

When Carlene came two us nearly two years ago she was a completely different person. She started our program with multiple limitations and a distinct fear of further injury. We started slow and gradually built her strength and confidence. Today she does things she never thought possible with a courage and spirit that has every trainer at FTWS cheering.

"What I appreciate the most about Fitness Together is that the goals of clients can be incredibly diverse and yet all are taken seriously by the trainers. My goal is simply to improve my functional fitness level: Get through each day easier, with more enjoyment, greater stamina and fewer injuries along the way. That is happening: I’ve made significant gains in strength and endurance and along the way I’ve seen benefits in overall health, as well.

The relationship between client and trainer in very much one of trust. I trust my trainers to understand my history (and fear) of injuries --and I’m happy to report not a single injury related to my Fitness Together training! The trainers trust me to believe that I can do what he asks of me at each training session –even when my first reaction is “I can’t do that!”

Thanks to their encouragement, patience and willingness to proceed slowly, I have stuck with a workout schedule far longer than ever before – long enough to make exercise part of my daily life and to see progress towards my goal. That is very satisfying and I know I would not have seen those changes without Fitness Together."

February Client of the Month - Lenora Edwards

Consistency and the willingness to challenge one's self. That is what we reward when we select the Client of the Month. For February, the team selected Lenora for her dedication to the program. From one-armed kettle bell swings to bike time trials, and changes to her diet, Lenora has embraced them all despite having a busy work schedule.

Great job Lenora. Keep pressing ahead. Here is Lenora's experience in her own words. “When I joined Fitness Together, it was because I had never felt worse in my life. With very low energy and a low mood, I went to see the private facility. I wanted the benefits of what they promote-- “one client, one trainer, one goal”--provided.

I was immediately drawn to the privacy of the studio’s professional set-up. I learned that there was more, i.e., a very highly educated staff of enthusiastic trainers who know how to motivate me through every tough session. They patiently listen to my concerns and give fitness and nutritional advice realistically meets my needs. And, it shows in our work together. I am getting results.

I feel lighter--in more ways than one. I have increased energy and strength, more physical and mental stamina, lower weight, reduced measurements, and the complete disappearance of per menopausal symptoms. However, the best part of my new body is my improved disposition.

Thank you, Fitness Together, for always being upbeat and creating an atmosphere of “can-do” in a place so that I will perform at my own personal best!”

January Client of the Month - Carmen Hernandez

We start off the New Year with a well deserving Client of the Month Award for January. Carmen was a unanimous choice by all of the staff. With 2 little ones at home to take care of, her time is very valuable. She squeezes every ounce of sweat out in her time at the studio. In addition, she inspires her husband to lead a healthy lifestyle. Great job with your accomplishments and here is to staying ahead of the little ones as they get bigger.

On being selected as Client of the Month, this is what Carmen had to say about her experience at Fitness Together. "Thanks to the training, nutrition program, and advice from the F.T. team my goals are now to not only loose weight but to be conscious about the food I am fueling my body with. Joining F.T. has been the greatest investment I've ever made for my health and well-being. A bit of enthusiastic shouting, "Go Carmen go" and "Go faster", does it for me, they push me to the max with each workout. Each trainer has their own style of working out, which mixes things up and everyday is unique and non-repetitious. I am so excited for my new and improved life-style, thank you all at F.T.!!! Thanks again!"

December Clients of the Month - The Clemons Family

They worked so hard in the Fall Fitness Challenge competing with other clients as well as between themselves that we couldn't just pick one of them over the other. So the team voted to make them co-Client's of the Month for December. Congratulations on your hard work and progress to date. We look forward to upping the ante on your challenges in the months ahead.

Chris's FT Experience

"I'm highly susceptible to the powers of inertia. When at rest I tend to stay right there until an outside power gets me in motion and I had been at rest for a pretty long time. Trisa and I had talked about trying to put some form of physical activity together, whether it be at a gym or structuring something at home to burn off those extra calories but the grip of the couch and the lure of the television prevented us from reaching our goal. The FT training team has done an excellent job at being that outside power for me and has appealed to my competitive nature with the latest exercise challenge. Along with their encouragement, I have learned the skills to a healthier, more active life."

Trisa's FT Experience

"I've tried many different fitness programs over my life in an effort to increase fitness and manage my weight. My work at Fitness Together has really been different for one main reason. . . the trainers. What I appreciate most is how knowledgeable the trainers are. They work with me to ensure I'm getting the most out of my workouts even when faced with injuries, aches and pains, and those low-energy days. My time at Fitness Together is more than just a workout; it's an education."

November Client of the Month

She maybe a little shy about being recognized; however we aren't. E.A. (she wants to remain nameless) has worked extremely hard in her time with us. In her time away from the studio, she has fun doing Scottish dancing. All of the burpees, box shuffles, and squats have helped increase her endurance for her weekly dancing events. No more sitting on the sidelines trying to re-cooperate - she leads the group now.

EA proves that age has no limits on what you can accomplish. Sky's the limit E.A. - keep up the hard work and have fun in the process. Here is what EA has to say about her experience. "Fitness Together! How can I begin to say what that title meant to me. Instead of a cold neon lit gym with lots of sweaty, muscle bound people showing off their bodies on numerous machines; I found a warm friendly atmosphere and trainers who really cared about their clients needs and abilities.

I belong to the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society and used to get a real workout, but as the summer began, the dancing stopped. So I had to look for exercise elsewhere.

I timidly phoned Fitness Together and was delighted with their response. All of the trainers are dedicated and have endless patience, and with all I have begun to feel real improvement in my strength. I couldn't even use a treadmill when I started and now I can work up to 30 minutes on it at a fairly good pace. My dancing ability has improved tremendously. I can now dance for 2 hours and not sit down to rest.
So 3 cheers for Fitness Together. I will not go anywhere else as I find my sessions really enjoyable."

October Client of the Month - Matt Y.

We always love to see clients return to work on their health and fitness goals. In his first go around, Matt had his workouts in the evenings, but with his return to the studio he has moved to the early morning sessions. Not only is his energy level higher, it has been more conducive with his work and travel schedule.

Despite his frequent travels to the east coast and back, Matt has really pushed himself not only on the strength side, but with his cardio workouts here and at home. Great job holding yourself accountable Matt and we look forward to helping you continue to raise the bar!

In Matt's own words: "The Fitness Together experience has been positive both from the gains I have made physically and the way I feel as a client. The trainers are genuinely interested in my success. Their positive attitude and commitment reinforces my desire to stay committed to the process. The individually tailored sessions make a real difference in getting great workout in a short period of time, which is important with a busy schedule. Thank you Fitness Together team for doing a great job."

September Client of the Month - Wendy Cullen

For nearly two years now, Wendy has traveled across town to train with us. We all love working with her and are amazed at her strength, of course she's very modest and will deny her excellent fitness. She's gone through a tough time lately , with her father passing. So it's great to see her renewed focus on her health. During any given session with Wendy you may hear her say "I don't know if I can do that, but I'll sure try." Wendy always makes it happen. Go Wendy!

"After a very challenging first six months of 2009, I recommitted to my goal of getting in shape, and have been working out three times a week since mid-July. I have been an FT client in West Seattle since 2007, but my father's death in July spurred me to strive harder. The trainers are always so supportive and keep the workouts interesting. I'm starting to feel results, even if I can't SEE them yet."

August Client of the Month - Sangree Froelicher

For August, we selected Sangree as our Client of the Month for the progress she made since her last assessment. She has been pushing her boundaries both physically and mentally about fitness and it shows not only in her dedication but in the bottom line results. Great Job Sangree. Keep on swinging with the kettle bell!

Sangree talks about her experience at Fitness Together in her own words. "I entered into this collaborative agreement with Fitness Together West Seattle based on synergistic goals and opportunities that would help me address the health and fitness issues I was facing. From the beginning, I felt that we were aligned around the defined goals I had for myself. Throughout my affiliation with Fitness Together, I have used this partnership as a means to tackle these goals, and to make the most of the situation. By pooling knowledge and competencies with the Fitness Together team, I have been able to realize great progress toward my health and fitness goals.

I have increased my capacity to generate new (to me) and better ways of thinking about health and fitness. Working through a training and nutrition process that encourages exploration is what has allowed me to break new ground (rewire my brain) and challenge some of my accepted wisdom.

Embarking on this new undertaking has seemed costly in time and money. However, these additional costs have been demonstrably worthwhile. After my 2nd evaluation the report of findings was a thrill to read. Overall, I improved greatly in both fitness performance and indicators of health. The report helped to demonstrate the changes I was making to my health and fitness, and have motivated me to continue down this path. The cost in time and money has proven to be worth the investment."

July Client of the Month - Megan G.

For July, we selected Megan as our Client of the Month for her dedication over the last 4 months. She has been training consistently 3 times a week with a trainer and doing cardio here and at home. Every month we see the improvement in her times and overall endurance. Keep up the hard work Megan - we are all behind you!

Megan describes her experience at Fitness Together. "I think the main advantage to the personal training environment is accountability. You can have all the desire in the world, but if you don't have anyone looking over your shoulder and holding you accountable for your everyday decisions it's easy to slip back into bad habits.

I started at Fitness Together in December of 2008 with the goal of improving my overall health and resetting my own patterns for diet and exercise. I came in determined to commit to the process and see it through, and I've been noticing improvements in my health ever since. I truly get the sense that the trainers I work with at FT all have my best interests at heart and are rooting for my success. Their encouragement and my own determination are driving me to achieve my goals one session at a time."

June Client of the Month - "Everyday Ada" Rodriguez Brown

Since joining Fitness Together, Ada has become a fixture in our studio. If she is not in for strength training or nutrition consults, she is in for her cardio workout. We deemed her "Everyday Ada" since we don't go a day without seeing her. Ada's consistency is paying off with the changes she was looking for and is an inspiration for other members. She is leading the Mt. Rainier cardio contest, pushing everybody else to try and catch her. Way to go Ada!

"I joined Fitness Together in January of 2009 to get rid of the lard I was walking around with and to get into shape. At 23, I already felt that my best years were behind me. I have shed many tears of frustration when it comes to my body and my capabilities. I am shocked at every session by how far I've come. The clothes from the back of my closet now fit. I am no longer intimidated by the Seattle hills. The nutrition and training sessions have transformed my relationship with food. I am more concerned about having enough energy for my workout, than the convenience of my meal.

FT is the best investment I've made in myself and I truly regret not starting earlier. I feel like a new woman with endless possibilities. I am a difficult client and want to thank the FT Team for dragging me, kicking and screaming, through the last four months. I think I ♥ working out."

May Client of the Month - Bette Joram

We wanted to recognize Bette for all her hard work since she started with us. Here is a little bit about Bette from Duncan "I remember Bette's first workout back in September as slow, cautious, and unsure. Bette was suffering from years spent hunched over a computer keyboard writing her doctorate and everything seemed to hurt. She barely had the strength to walk on the treadmill at a slow pace. The slightest intensity would make her dizzy and lightheaded.

Now, Bette is 10 pounds lighter and quite a bit stronger. She is consistent with her workouts and always willing to learn and try new and challenging exercises. She recently won the Most Improved in our 1 mile time trial on the bike contest by increasing her resistance level from 7 up to 15, still maintaining the same completion time of just over 3 minutes. That's a huge improvement that Bette should be very proud of, especially for someone who had trouble walking slowly on the treadmill. I expect to see more greatness from Bette in the coming months."

Here is Bette on her experience with us. "I joined FT in September of 2008 to complement the progress I was making with my chiropractic care. I realized I needed balanced muscle tone and strength to keep the new alignment in place.

After 6 months of working out, I am astonished and pleased with the results. Each session has been tailored to my specific needs and has progressively challenged my "AWOL" muscle groups to show up, wake up, and step up to strength and health. My chiropractor can see the results

Each trainer at FT has been conscientious, concerned and knowledgeable. Willing to research alternative exercises to approach correction without harm to progressively strengthened muscles and protecting areas that are not ready for the head on approach. I really value everyone's willingness to work with me to get fit and have fun doing it. I feel healthier and stronger than I have in years and less risk for injury. Thank you Fitness Together."

April Client of the Month - Kathy Herigstad

Kathy was named Client of the Month for all her hard work and dedication both here and outside of the studio. Not only does she work hard during her session, but also she inspires other clients while doing her cardio work. She even braved the snow to post a new personal best at the St. Patrick's Day Dash Race. Keep up the hard work and good luck as we head towards the Seattle Rock-n-Roll 1/2 Marathon in June.

Here is what Kathy has to say about her experience at Fitness Together. "The trainers at FT are great to work with. The benefits of working with a trainer one-on-one have brought my overall fitness to a higher level. The last 8 months working at FT have helped me to remain motivated to expand my workouts in and out of the gym.

FT has more than met my expectations for helping me to build overall strength and muscles, which help me in ALL my sport activities and life. Each day I workout, I know my trainer is ready to raise the bar with new workout challenges to help me achieve my goals, while keeping me smiling during those booty kicking workouts! I see this as an investment in myself and a commitment to my overall health. I'm glad I have a team on my side like FT."

March Client of the Month - Anne Galt

Anne Galt was selected as our Client of the month as she sets the example for consistency. Anne has been coming in a half-hour early to do cardio, then working out for another 45 minutes, 3 times a week without missing an appointment. She frequently says " I can do more" and is putting all the important components of wellness together; strength training, cardio, and nutrition . It's great to work with such motivated client. We can't wait to see the results of all her hard work.

In Anne’s own words. “In December of 2007, my son sent me an e-mail with the message said ‘check this out – Fitness Together West Seattle’. He has been encouraging me to ‘take care of myself’ and so I thought I owed it to him to at least ‘check it out’. It is now a little more than a year later and I am still excited about coming ‘to the gym’.

The staff has been friendly, encouraging, supportive and understanding. The trainers focus on me (they aren’t gabbing with other people like some trainers I have had at regular gyms) and show me how to do the exercises correctly and encourage me to give it my all. Just about the time I think I have it ‘nailed’ my trainer bumps it up a notch. All good things!

I like the one on one with the trainer. It keeps both of us focused on our ‘job’ of getting me in better shape. My workouts are tailored for my personal needs. My trainer listens when I tell her/him that a body part is being cranky – and he/she works around the cranky part. But they still gives me a good workout and push me to my limits. The fitness evaluations help me to see my progress and also what areas I need to work on harder.

November Client of the Month: Ce Ce Justice

"I'm a person who likes routine. In fact, I can get stuck in a routine very easily. For the past 30 years I have stayed active, from jazzercise to step areobics. I come to Fitness Together, because they keep me accountable for my work outs but they also mix up the routines, so I don't fall into a rut. The trainers push me to go further than I would push myself and correct my form so I can do the exercises safely. I'm in the best shape I've been in for a long time." Ce Ce Justice

Ce Ce Justice has been a client of West Seattle Fitness Together since January and was one our first clients when we opened. We're so happy to have her and her husband Verne as our clients. Ce Ce is a great client to train because she gives 110% every workout, and it shows. We think she looks great! Keep up the good work Ce Ce!