Those who approach tasks with a positive outlook tend to see favorable results.

That credo is a shared belief at Dedicated Fitness in Palmerton, which on Saturday celebrated its first expansion in eight years.With an upper level that now boasts a sports training center that will feature climbing ropes, pull up bars, speed, strength, plyometrics and agility drills, as well as group classes for yoga and body-sculpting, the facility at 450 Delaware Avenue has grown from 250-square-feet to 7,000-square-feet.Current members, new members, and friends and family turned out to celebrate the extension of the facility with owner Kerri Jahelka."I'm thrilled with the turnout; I feel very fortunate," Jahelka said. "We've had tons of people I've never seen before."Those who attended received discounts and free giveaways, Jahelka said. In addition, 20 people signed up for the facility's Biggest Loser competition, and may do so up until this Friday, she said.Candice Keck, Kayla Bradberry, Alyssa Acker, and Shaelyn Heft, all of Palmerton, said the facility is everything they could ask for and then some."Everything's hard," said Bradberry, 14. "But, it's worth it."Acker, 13, who first came to the facility five months ago, said "you can tell the difference", while Heft, 13, explained, "it's very good training for sports."Jahelka said the center has outgrown its current makeup, which prompted the need to expand."Our youth program has gotten so big, because we stress being one-on-one with our students," she said. "We ran out of space, which is why we expanded here."Jahelka said the facility emphasizes sports performance strategies to work on strength, speed, power, agility, and balance.The gym area is a complete, full gym open from 4 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. every day, holidays included, with the use of a key card system.A Student Center offers camps and clinics, and currently works with the Palmerton High School boys and girls basketball teams, Palmerton Booster Club football, and the Palmerton Youth Wrestling program. It has also worked with local athletes who have gone on to become state qualifiers and champions in various sports.The facility offers a wide variety of group classes that have produced adult athletic competitors such as runners and Tri-and biathletes, Jahelka said.For more information on Dedicated Fitness, contact Jahelka at 610-390-8321,

kerri@dedicatedfit.com, or visit

www.dedicatedfit.com.