Inspiration of the Week: Karen S!

Meet Karen S!

Back in the middle of the pandemic, April of 2021, Karen joined FCF at the recommendation of a good friend and man do we love having her apart of our community! Since joining she’s lost over 17 pounds, 14.7 of that has been fat! She has also seen her visceral fat drop by 4 points and she has gained strength and balance. All of this has made her feel lighter and daily activities seem easier. She has also seen a big increase in her energy level; she doesn’t get sleepy every afternoon while working from home, she can get up and down from the floor with greater ease, gets out of the house and enjoys the outdoors more and is just plain happier! She even went on a 4 hour hike a few months back with us that included stream crossings and some bouldering while walking one of my German Shepherds, King, and she did amazing! (see pic)

The best part has been watching her transformation over the last year. She came in with a positive mindset, even on the tough days, she showed up, put in the work and part way through the session you could see her spark come back. She works hard, is the first to welcome new members, crack a joke and give Coach Jack a hard time and that’s why she’s such a pleasure to have in our community and to coach each week.

Here’s her story on what pushed her to make a change…

In early 2021 with the stress of the recent election, changes to her work schedule, lack of work travel, and isolation from living and working alone at home during the pandemic she was feeling like many….she didn’t have control over all these changes and felt isolated. So, she made a massive shift in her mindset and decided she could control one thing…

To use this time to get herself healthy!

When Karen started at FCF she has already made some dietary changes and had lost over 20 pounds, but she wanted something that would provide mental stimulation, improve her stamina & cardiovascular health, continue her weight loss, improve balance and increase her strength. Once she tried her first session she was hooked!

For the last 10 years she has been doing pilates a couple of days a week with her good friend, Karen. Yep they have the same name! But she wanted to work on her stamina and cardiovascular health a bit more and the small group sessions at FCF were just the right fit for her. When we asked her what keeps her coming back each week even on those hard days she said:

“To me, the people. I look forward to meeting up with so many like-minded people. Everyone is so generous in sharing information and we all support and push each other. The whole coaching team is the best – all very positive and welcoming. Personal attention and care is so important since we are all at different levels. I could do exactly the same exercises with a personal trainer or in a busy gym but it wouldn’t make me smile like at FCF. If I have had a stressful day at work at 5:35pm I can forget it all. I love the other activities hiking and Tai Chi in the park.”

​Along with the changes to her exercise routine, she made a few changes to her nutrition as well. In early 2021 she did a keto diet for a bit and has now moved to a mostly Mediterranean diet and is gluten free. With these changes she now feels so much better, doesn’t feel sluggish after meals, and no longer has acid reflux at night. On top of that she has been taken off a blood pressure medicine!! Karen acknowledges that it is definitely a process and continues to learn what serves her body best so she can continue making progress.

Karen says her commitment she made to herself, the people, and the feeling she has after a good training session is what keeps her consistent and coming back even on those tough days when she doesn’t feel like it. Living alone she needed human interaction and not only did she find that, but she’s made good friends as well. Coach Mercedes knows just how much to challenge her, but also have some fun in each session and there’s nothing like coming in for a work out and knowing you will have some fun while doing it too!

If you want to kick off your own journey like Karen did, we would love to guide you on your journey to a happier, healthier you! Just shoot us an email, info@fcfitness.com or call us at (957)231-6207 and we can chat about you.

Life’s too short to wake up each day feeling sluggish, weighed down and not living up to your best.

What will you decide today?

Talk soon,

Rosa

Inspiration of the Week: Meet Karen!

Joining a gym can be scary, but it’s the best thing Karen did for herself 4.5 years ago and she’s still going strong!

A bit quiet and reserved, Karen’s quiet demeanor surprised us at the beginning. Once she was in a routine after a few weeks, her strength and determination came out. She loved lifting weights and was always up for a new challenge. We love that she simply just doesn’t stop, never gives up and is never not challenging herself. Karen consistently increases her weights and makes sure she is progressing in each of her exercises. Her great attitude and determination is so exciting to watch. In each of her training sessions, she is very jovial with other members, which is always a help, as we can see that it helps others keep going and stay motivated and challenge themselves just a bit more!

Karen says 4.5 years ago she was looking for a gym where she would not feel intimidated, where it would be similar to working with a personal trainer and where the exercises could be adapted to her body. She was just coming off a shoulder injury and physical therapy so there were some limitations. After seeing an ad on Facebook to try out FCF for 30 days, she figured, “What do I have to lose.”

After just 1 week, she says, “I was hooked.”

The small group personal training sessions of no more than 6 people were just the right amount of personalized attention and comradery for her. Initially she wanted to increase mobility, strength, muscle tone and lose weight. At that time she was struggling with things like balance, standing up and getting down to the floor with ease. She saw some of the other women moving so easily and wondered, “Will I ever get there.”

Well, with time and practice, she did! Kudos to Karen for her dedication, persistence and never giving up on herself!

Her favorite part of FCF are the variety of other activities, like book club, hikes, and specialty programs. She continues to do balance exercises daily that she learned in one of our balance program. This is her secret to progress…incorporating small habits on a daily basis that have become part of her lifestyle.

It also doesn’t hurt that she’s made friends at FCF, she loves the variety of the training sessions and the coaches. She says, “Even on days I am not feeling 100%, after I workout for 30 minutes I always feel better.”

Currently she’s enjoying additional challenges in our Pure Strength session by increasing her weight, reps and building more muscle in her arms and legs. She’s on a roll and we’re just excited to continue coaching and guiding her!

If you’re hesitant about joining a gym, I’ll leave you with Karen’s parting words…

She says, “Over the years I have been coming to FCF I have become more comfortable in my own skin and accepting of my limitations in both energy and time. The positive environment in the gym reinforces the idea that each person is only competing against themselves to make improvements in flexibility, strength and nutrition to live a better more active life in the next chapter of our lives.”

It won’t happen overnight, but if you would love to change the way you feel and are aging, we would love to help you find a realistic balance and create a program just for you, just call or text us at (657) 231-6207 and we can chat!

~Coach Rosa

Inspiration of the Week: Meet Beth!

Meet Beth!

To say Beth has made progress in just over a year at FCF is putting it lightly! We’ve watched her build strength with just over 2 pounds of muscle, improve her balance, drop 19 pounds of fat, and reduce her visceral (bad) fat by 5 points!! But that’s just the number’s the more important part is that all her blood work is within normal range, a dramatic difference from 2 years ago, and she’s able to keep up with her grandkids now. She’s internally healthier, feeling more energetic, noticed a significant improvement in her balance and endurance so she’s participating in fun activities and has regained a zest for life. We absolutely love having Beth in our training sessions each week, she comes in with a smile, encourages others and is a genuinely wonderful human being. We are honored to coach her and watch her continued progress.

Here’s a bit more on her journey and what keeps her going…

When she joined FCF in March of 2022 her goals were to improve her endurance, increase her strength and improve her gait and balance as she noticed all of these things were declining. She dreaded stairs so much she would go out of her way to avoid using them and would get out of breath easily walking around. Overall, she just wanted to feel better and be able to keep up with her grandkids so she could enjoy their time together. During the pandemic, Beth says, “I was granted the time to figure out what direction I wanted my life to take. I made a decision that whatever I had left of this life, I was going to live it fully and with intention.” Beth had previously joined FCF a few years back, but didn’t stick with it. This time she was determined and committed! To truly see real, long-lasting change you have to dig deep, truly find your inner motivation, something bigger than just weight loss or toning. Those aren’t wrong, but for so many people, they continue to struggle because there’s not a meaningful purpose to their journey. For Beth it was quality of life for herself and being capable for her grandkids.

It all started with a lifestyle and nutrition program which helped her start losing some weight and then she took the next step to add back in exercise. Beth absolutely loves the small group training sessions because she loves getting to know the other people on the journey and is inspired by their progress. You will find her in the studio 3 days a week working her hardest. Most of all, she loves the team at FCF, she says, “You all are so great at what you do that it makes me want to be better. You are all so encouraging and understanding. You all have been such an important part of my journey. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.” This is what helps keep her successful in coming, an expert, caring team and the community.

One of the biggest things Beth has learned is how to make her movements more intentional. She has learned so much about shifting body weight and balance in Rickye’s Tai Chi practice and continues to build strength in her small group sessions with Coach Mercedes.

But here’s the part we love most…

Beth says, “I even joined the hula-hoop contest at my grandson’s school last week (I was terrible, by the way). I never would have done that before. Stairs are still not my favorite things, but I no longer walk out of my way to avoid them. A few weeks ago, during a walk in the neighborhood, my granddaughter Sawyer said, “Gus, you can walk fast! Look Seamus, Gus can walk fast–she’s not like a grandma at all!”

THIS!

This is what it’s all about folks. Not what the scale says, not what anybody else says you need to be, etc. It’s all about being comfortable and capable in your own body, loving yourself each and every day and to have fun and enjoy life!

I hope Beth’s story inspires you to make one positive step to improve your life today. Some days it’s so easy and then some days you want to throw in the towel, I get it, but you can’t give up. Life’s too short and tomorrow is not guaranteed, so make the most of your time on this wonderful earth and if you need some help making any changes, we’re here for you.

If you’re ready call or text us at 657-231-6207 and we’ll start with a chat to discover more about you and put a plan together so you too can live your best life!

~Coach Rosa

Inspiration of the Week: Meet Julie!

Meet Julie!

Julie walked in our doors 5 years ago and has been a constant joy to work with each and every week. In the 5 years that she has been at FCF we’ve seen her strength, mobility, and body awareness grow exponentially. She always comes in with a smile, has a positive attitude, wants to continue learning how to challenge herself and works hard in each training session. She loves trying new challenging exercises and knows her regular fitness routine along with a healthy lifestyle are what will add quality to her years. Her dedication to a healthy lifestyle is unwavering and we just love watching her grow. Just check out her pushing the sled below, that’s 100 pounds with just the sled itself! You rock Julie!

But, it’s not all about the physical for Julie, read more…

“I joined FCF because I want to stay physically and mentally fit for as long as possible. Now that my parents and in-laws are in their late 80s/early 90s, I think a great deal about the aging process. Everything that I read confirms that exercise, socializing, healthy diet and cognitive engagement are vital for quality aging. FCF ensures that I am getting the proper exercise and also adds a special component to my social life.

I truly feel that FCF is the most significant factor in my ability to age well. I have been working with a personal trainer on the weekends for about 15 years, and he told me that he hasn’t seen any real decline in my muscular health, strength, mobility or balance. In fact, he loves to tell me that I am at the same level as many of his clients who are 20 years younger.

I am at the studio 5 days a week when we have Dance Party and 4 days on the other weeks. Each day, I look forward to the physical challenges that await me and the warm environment where I feel so welcomed and encouraged. It is for those reasons that I have never wavered in my commitment to being there. The only time I cancel is when I have out of town guests, am out of town myself, or aren’t feeling well, which is rare because of the way my exercise routine contributes to my overall health.

Although I was active on and off throughout my life, my time at FCF has been the most consistently active I have ever been. I like that I feel accountable.

What stands out to me about FCF is that the coaches ensure we are doing everything with the proper form. I love when I am told to move my foot a quarter inch! That tells me that every detail is being watched. I also love the variety, just when I am getting a little comfortable with a workout regime, it changes. Most of all, I just can’t say enough about the environment. It truly feels like my home away from home because of all the wonderful people who work there and the like-minded clients who want to age as well as possible.”

Our philosophy at FCF is to support the things you love to do outside of the gym. You don’t need to be in here for hours at a time to see and feel the difference, just 30 minutes 3-4 days a week will do the trick to build strength and improve balance, mobility and endurance.

If you want to start your journey to a healthy, balanced lifestyle we would love to help you! Send us an email at info@fcfitness.com or text (657) 231-6207, and we’ll connect.

Start living your best life today!