Biggest Loser

Linda, I hope we will see you in the gym. I spoke with you one night and asked you to join us and I haven't seen you since then. Please find a buddy to work with, it makes it soooo much more fun, (even the ellipitical), join us, we laugh a lot. Hope to see you at the gym.

linda,
I too am with the biggest loser. It is not always easy, but stick with it. You will be proud of yourself everytime you do a little more. I know I am. Just keep with it. Kerri is always there to suppor you. This is a good program just hang in there.

Great to see that you are taking that first step Linda! I know exactly how you feel when you go to the gym. I am pretty sure that the feeling you are having is a feeling that numerous people have when they are attending a physical fitness institution. I also feel as though it is always nagging at us in the back of our minds even when we are making progress. I may not look like the most out of shape individual on the face of the planet, but I sure feel like it all the time! The thing about going to the gym and being physically fit and healthy is that it takes time and effort to accomplish it. It is not something that happens in the first few minutes, hours, days, weeks or sometimes even months, but when it does happen you will notice it and you will feel wonderful! I hope you keep up with your Biggest Loser event and learn to love the act of becoming healthy because it has to be one of the greatest feelings in the world. I know that, personally, if it wasn't for Kerri and Dedicated Fitness I would probably be spending my days gasping for breath at work when I'm taking the kids for hikes and that is not my idea of a good time. Best of luck to you Linda!

Hi Linda, I am also in the Biggest Weight Loss program, and I LOVE IT....when I started the gym
a couple of years ago I could not even do a sit up, or run around the block. If it wasnt' for
Dedicated Fitness, Kerri and her GREAT Staff,don't know where I would be if I didn't keep going. I can do situps run or walk around the block, also did the 5K in town,(came in 3rd in my age group) and can ride my bike for miles on the D&L trail. If you just keep going the elliptical will become easier, don't give up. You will love the gym as I do and all of the Friendly people that go to DF. Kerri has put together a Great Program that no other gym has done, she is so good at what she does!! We are so lucky to have Dedicated Fitness in our community!!!

Hi Linda, It takes a strong person to be able to poke fun at one's self, and I truly appreciate your humor. It takes an even stronger person to take that first step on a journey they are already skeptical of. Congratulations!! You've taken that step!!! Weight loss is never an easy accomplishment, and weight loss that's done in a healthy way is even harder, however it is the MOST REWARDING with the best long-range results for continued fitness. If it were easy, we'd all be walking around with supermodel bodies and fitness centers would be obsolete. As a Dedicated Fitness member, I can tell you that you will NOT find a more encouraging, positive, motivating group of trainers or workout partners. Always remember you are much stronger than you think, and every workout is one step closer to your goal. By taking steps to be a healthier person, you are already a WINNER!! I look forward to hearing your future progress reports, I guarantee if you stick with it you will amaze yourself and emerge victorious!!! GO LINDA!!

Linda,

Kudos for sharing your pain/frustration so honestly. I'd be willing to bet that the majority of the people who go to any gym have felt exactly the same way you described at some point. I know I did. I've been going to DF for three years now. Looking back, if I had been at any other gym, I know I would have quit within the first few months. I've NEVER been one to push myself, and for the past three years I've relied on the DF staff and members to motivate and challenge me. Without them, I'd never have stuck with it.

In fact, I've never met anyone who is as dedicated to others success as Kerri. She is like no other gym owner I've ever met. Many of them sit behind a check in desk and make sure you pay each month. Usually they don't even know your name, let alone your fitness goals. Not Kerri, she not only knows your name, she knows what you need to push yourself to the next level. She does everything in her power to provide her members with the confidence they need to succeed. You are in good hands.

Stick with it. I know it seems impossible, but one day you too will heft those 45 lb weights around as though they are cotton balls. Good luck!

I have been a member at DF for over 4 years. If you want to make positive changes to your body appearance, it definitely takes time. I actually did all this in steps which has taken 4 years and you really need to be patient. It is SO easy to say you want to quit and just stay at home and do nothing. However, working in the healthcare field as well as my family history, I decided that if I didn't make a change, I was destined to go down the easy road to being overweight, out of shape and poor health. The steps I did were (1) get to the gym regularly and make it a part of my daily routine, (2) get my weight under control by eating the proper diet, (3) buy a new wardrobe and (4) get a haircut that matches my new look. So, my advice is DON'T GIVE UP!!!! You honestly have to ask yourself, "What is the alternative?" (Not good!). Kerri is definitely a person who will challenge you and although there may be days that you think you can't do what she wants, just DO YOUR BEST while you are there, know that you tried your hardest and slowly but surely you will start to notice positive changes to both your endurance, strength and body image. You just keep having to ask yourself, "What is the alternative?" and I assure you, it's not good. Be strong, keep going, challenge yourself to the best of your ability and don't worry about what other people are doing at the gym, how much you are sweating or what you look like when you leave. The important thing is that when you walk out the door, you feel like you have done your best while there and that yes, next time will be just as hard but in the end you will DEFINITELY be a healthier, stronger person and you will eventually start to hear comments from other people about your new image. However, again I stress, it's difficult, it's challenging, some days your not going to like it and IT TAKES TIME and DEDICATION. Kerri definitely has your best interest in mind even though the challenge can sometimes be great. DON'T GIVE UP, KEEP GOING!

Hi Linda!!!!! U CAN b a survivor and at dedicated fitness u will feel like one!!! The gym and the classes there make u feel like one!!! U work ur a$$ off, but as Kerri always instilled in me "no pain, no gain"!!!! It will be painful, but stick with it and u will b a true survivor!!! Being a mom of two and a wife to a husband who travels for a living, there is no time for me at the gym... And u know what I pray for?!?!?! ...I pray that one day I'll be back at the gym!!! I'm determined, one day when time and resources are in my favor, I WiLL be back! I wish u the best of luck!!!

Hi Linda, as a religious fan of the biggest loser tv show and Dedicated Fitness I think it’s so awesome that you are taking part in Dedicated Fitnesses biggest loser program. Reading your article here made me think I was actually watching the seasons first episode of the TV show in a totally awesome way. Awesome in that you are beginning a journey that seems to be somewhat out of your comfort zone and you’re doing this because you have a goal in your sights of a healthier-fitter you and you are willing to go through all of these obvious challenges to make this life change for you, for that I salute you. For some people it’s easier to get into a rhythm in a gym and for some it’s not easy at all. There’s nothing wrong with either of them. We’re all in there, sweating, aching, and even at times feeling like we’d rather be somewhere else all with the same goal in mind, this makes us a team.

My favorite part of the biggest loser TV show is always at the finally where they show where people came from and their expressions and outright discomfort at the beginning workouts of the seasons. Then they come out from behind the curtain today and you can see the amazing transformations they have made not only with their bodies but also with their minds and lives. I’m feeling like Dedicated Fitnesses biggest loser program is now coming to life just like the show right in my own neighborhood and I’m that much more excited to see the results of all of you at the end. I can’t wait to see your transformation and hope I get to meet you at the gym sometime.

Personally, I’ve been floating around gyms for the past 15 years (on and off :) ) and have worked out with many amazing athletes and many beginners. I’ve settled in at Dedicated Fitness because I know that many things make up a good gym, and these things go way beyond just the equipment. They are the community, trainers, the atmosphere… the experience as a whole and Dedicated Fitness has all of these critical tools in one place. Not even a year ago I was about 100lbs over weight and couldn’t run more than 5 minutes. My first step after this 4 year hiatus of fitness of any kind was, “if I can only run 5 minutes, I will run 5 minutes 3 times per week”. Within a month I ran the Palmerton 5k and then booked the warrior dash. Next I ran the 5mi Spartan race at blue mountain. Next I ran the 13mi tough mudder in NJ. My current goal and the reason I train at Dedicated Fitness is the Goruck Challenge for May at 20mi lead by Green Berets over 12 hours throughout Philly with a 30lbs pack on and it all started with that one 5 minute run not even a year ago. The best part is that now my friends and family are setting fitness goals of their own… even my mom :) Motivation is contagious and one positive step leads to another because fitness isn’t something you ‘reach’, it’s a byproduct. My motto throughout all of this has been “one day I won’t be able to do this, but today is not that day”. I wish you all the best in reaching your goals and can’t wait to hear how you did at the end of this biggest loser challenge, I’m a fan and I’m cheering for you, keep up the good work :)

Linda-

As a member of Dedicated Fitness, I would like for you to know, you are in the best of hands with the entire staff at Dedicated. Joining the gym may be the hardest step for each and every one of us to accomplish but it is the best move we can possibly do for ourselves. Each time you step into the gym for your workout know that you will be pushed and pushed and pushed untill your weakest point, and who is there to support you but only the best supporter Kerri! She will constantly push you to the point where you want to scream and cry but the end results are awesome, and will make you look and feel AMAZING! Stick to your workout, push your body, and BREATH! You can do it! GOOD LUCK!

Linda:

Congratulations on what you have accomplished so far!! The first step of signing up is a terrific start. I too have signed up for the biggest loser challenge along with my husband and we are so glad we did. Kerri, the dedicated fitness staff and all the supportive members of the gym have been nothing short of terrific. I love the fact that Kerri challenges us and tells us to push for "just one more" or "you can add more weight", because without that, I wouldn't challenge myself. At first I was a bit nervous and overwhelmed by the equipment and the "buff" members, but have come to realize that the people are so encouraging and suppotive, no matter their (or my) weight/size.

Please don't give up and yes, you will be a survivor and then some. Keep it up and hope to see you around the gym.....

Connie

Linda,

Please do not give up. You will come to find that Dedicated Fitness is the best gym and has a team of dedicated instructors to help you become fit and healthy. I first started DF a little over a year ago. One of my friends told me how personable everyone was and how they were like a family, all there to help and encourage each other. I found out first hand what a great group of people they are.

I came to the gym not in the greatest of physical shape and Kerri, Mary Jo, Ryan and Arley all have helped me to gain endurance, strength and most of all confidence in myself. Kerri is a great motivator and will help you with any thing you need to learn. I cannot say more about this team and how fortunate I am to be part of it.

I have learned to be strong, never give up on myself and most of all to like the person that I have become. I look forward to every class I take and believe me sometimes after a long day I really have to push myself to go, but once I am there the enthusiasm that I feel from everyone else helps me to get my game on and give it all I have. I leave there completely sweaty from head to to and feel so good about what I have accomplished. I owe alot to this team for making me a better person. It took me many years to get up the courage and I am so glad I did. I am not a kid anymore and I am in the best shape of my life. You can do this too....join us for a good time,a good sweat and a great workout.

Linda,

Please do not give up. You will come to find that Dedicated Fitness is the best gym and has a team of dedicated instructors to help you become fit and healthy. I first started DF a little over a year ago. One of my friends told me how personable everyone was and how they were like a family, all there to help and encourage each other. I found out first hand what a great group of people they are.

I came to the gym not in the greatest of physical shape and Kerri, Mary Jo, Ryan and Arley all have helped me to gain endurance, strength and most of all confidence in myself. Kerri is a great motivator and will help you with any thing you need to learn. I cannot say more about this team and how fortunate I am to be part of it.

I have learned to be strong, never give up on myself and most of all to like the person that I have become. I look forward to every class I take and believe me sometimes after a long day I really have to push myself to go, but once I am there the enthusiasm that I feel from everyone else helps me to get my game on and give it all I have. I leave there completely sweaty from head to to and feel so good about what I have accomplished. I owe alot to this team for making me a better person. It took me many years to get up the courage and I am so glad I did. I am not a kid anymore and I am in the best shape of my life. You can do this too....join us for a good time,a good sweat and a great workout.

If you set a goal and wish to achieve it-Dedicated Fitness is the place to facilitate, inspire, and ensure your wishes will be granted! Combining the enthusiastic personalities of each trainer with the endless possibilities for different workouts each day is just a part of what makes DF such an outstanding place to work out and make lifelong friends. By continuing to attend the program, each six minute run at the beginning and end of class will become less of a task and can be turned into a daily personal challenge. You have taken a step in the right direction! Continue to push yourself and revisit the drive that led you to inquire and sign up in the first place. Many people, including myself, have greatly benefitted from Kerri and the Dedicated Fitness team in many ways. Have faith and confidence in yourself and you too will be able to achieve great things!

“Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it lasts forever.” ~Lance Armstrong.
Don't be afraid of change, Linda, it's going to take hard work and dedication to become a new you. There aren't a lot of guarantees in life, but I can guarantee you will find the people that will help you along your journey at Dedicated Fitness! There isn't a more friendly and helpful bunch of trainers and staff in Palmerton. There isn't anyone more enthusiastic and dedicated than the owner Kerri. And the very large family of athletes at Dedicated Fitness are the most welcoming and inspirational bunch around.
If you keep at it Linda...you are not going to regret it.

First, I want to congratulate on joining the Biggest Weightloss Challenge that Kerri is doing at the gym. Now that you made that decision, ask yourself why you made that decision? Did you join to lose weight (the most obvious answer but not everybody's answer), did you do it just to increase your physical activity, did you do it to to have your "Me" time of the day, to fit into old clothes, or to just make new friends. Once you have that answer, tell Kerri or any of the other trainers at the gym your decision and they will do anything they can to help you achieve the answer. I am also a participant of the Biggest Weightloss Challenge and my reason for doing it is not to lose weight (that is just an added benefit). I wanted to do it to just switch up my workouts and do something new. Like you, I was once new at Dedicated Fitness and intimidated by everything & everyone but you will find that you will not find a better support group anywhere between members & trainers. Kerri pushes me like no other person ever did and I LOVE it. You will find that by sticking with the program you will not only begin to like the workouts you will love them. So when you say that you asked yourself how bad you want to win this & your answer was not so much but just to survive. Surviving the challenge just made you a winner. Since you decided to survive, you just decided to win!! Keep up the great work!!

I'm just going to throw down a tip.

"You're never gonna regret adding in a workout but you will almost always regret skipping one."

Linda, I believe I actually spoke to you about the car accident incident you had, I was truly sorry to hear that. You got to stay strong in this and the outcome will be so tremendous for you physically and mentally. I understand the first day is going to be one of the hardest days because you are starting to change your schedule, doing things you won't like, or just doing things you don't feel comfortable doing. But I don't want you to think, " I just was on the treadmill/elliptical dreading it for the whole six mins." It will happen, but you should find an alternative like putting in your headphones to listen to music that will get you to move your body and stay motivated. I'm always available for anyone that is in this Weight Loss Program that may need a partner or that motivational spirit. Please don't quit or give up on yourself!

All of the actions that you take towards achieving your weight loss goals need to come from an internal motivational strength. Many times people focus on all of these details. They think that there is a magic food or pill that will solve all of their issues. The pain and sweat is a reminder for how hard you are working and it's another step towards weight loss. The fact remains that losing weight is a huge accomplishment. In order to achieve anything the motivation has to be high. Or else when the difficult moments arise you’ll feel like giving up. I want to challenge you to focus on keeping that energy way up there. Keep it really high. Every time I maintain my motivation and place it as a top priority, I’m able to overcome and achieve my goals. It’s all about what goes on inside of our hearts. Through my experience, Dedicated Fitness has showed me how far I can push myself. Not only inside the gym but outside of the gym. Seeing others succeed (like friends, family, public figures) is a powerful motivator, because it demonstrates and makes you believe that if someone else can do something, so can you. Having a friend that has successfully lost weight, and wanting to be like them can be a powerful motivator. If anyone else has ever achieved the weight loss goal that you want to achieve, SO CAN YOU. And the Dedicated Fitness trainers as well as its members are always willing to push you, motivate you, and inspire you to achieve what ever goals you may have!

Linda,
I am not currently involved with the Biggest Loser program at dedicated fitness but I have been a member there for many years. I can say without a doubt that you are at the right place. The more you go the more you are going to feel better about yourself and more confident when you walk into that gym. I too hate the treadmill. Every morning I tell my friend that I do not want to go on the treadmill and every morning I get on there and push myself to go further than I did the day before. Why do I do this? Its because I want to see results. Im not worried about looking like a super model and being a size 2. I just want to feel good about myself. I have struggled with depression in the past. Hating my body image and the way my clothing fit. Even though I wake up every day "not wanting to do this" I do it and when I am done I feel great that I did. I can promise you the more you do the better you will feel. Do not give up. I would suspect that giving up in the past is what brought you to dedicated fitness. Trust in Kerri! She will help you and change your life. My schedule has not allowed me to get to the gym like I have wanted to but Kerri is always there for me to answer any questions I have and to encourage me to push harder and go that extra mile. It will change your life, you just have to let it even if the journey is hard!

Here is to a new you!!!!!

Linda I too hate the elliptical and am not fond of sweating. I would love if the elliptical was my friend!! The first bunch of workouts were so tough. It took all I had to go back but the hate I had I turned into a personal challenge. My biggest challenge the elliptical but I keep going back and the other day it got easier. That's right I'm not dying anymore. The last time I actually added minutes. I am not a thin fit person. I am a mom of three children that has not seen thin since I don't know when. None of this was easy but you know what was, talking to Kerri or MJ or any of the others that are involved in this awesome program and awesome gym . I watched two women cry at weigh ins the other night because one lost ten and one lost eight. I had a tear in my eye for a stranger that I knew exactly how they felt inside. We all welcome you back. Come talk , come ask questions, come let us all help you!! And remember its not about doing six minutes right away or weights its about coming and doing two minutes or whatever you can do. This is a means to a start a new habit.

As a reader and member I felt a bit compelled to comment. Personally the first couple of weeks or even days or months at the gym can be somewhat daunting. Not only does coming into the gym not being in tip top shape make you tired and left with a lingering feeling of not wanting to go back, but also seeing people in prime condition acts as a another discouraging factor. It's been the case with any gym I'm ever joined. And I've been a member of a few. As a former collegiate athlete trying to regain a former fitness level also detracts from any reason for wanting to continue down a seemingly endless journey to physical fitness. However to touch on several topics here:
I am extremely sorry to hear about your accident, thankfully no one was uninjured. Further more, if you want something different from what you have now, while pertaining to fitness or anything really, changes are simply a necessity to bring about any new occurrence. It's cliche and hardly motivating but anything worth having or doing definitely will not be easy.. especially at first. I really must say smoking a pack a day and not caring about what I ate or my activity level was a lot of fun and pretty easy to accomplish. But whats more fun is being able to be active and not feel like I've got cement shoes on afterwards. Not having to drink multiple energy drinks or cups of coffee just to be motivated to go to a friends house makes me feel a lot better about things also. This may seem absurd but really I'm speaking the truth. Speaking, once again, from personal experience Kerri and the people at DEDICATED FITNESS are a true family, no matter how "cookie cutter," that may seem it's legit. They want me to show up for classes and workouts, not because of a check left in a box. But because they would really like everyone involved with the DF community to feel the empowerment of being (in his or her own right), at a fulfilling personal fitness level. When I smoke they let me know I'm stopping myself from reaching my full potential. When I don't eat right to stay on a proper nutritional routine they let me now, "hey, it's ok and everyone loves to pig out once and a while, but see how you feel after getting back on track." The fact of the matter is I'm not training for a marathon. I don't plan on trying out for a professional athletic organization to relive my glory days. I go to the gym, specifically Dedicated fitness, because the people care, they truly love the fact that you are there. And at the end of the day these people motivate me in a way that ultimately is making me feel very good about myself. I'm reaching fitness goals and having a great time on my journey with the people who are helping me accomplish them. This isn't a comment with the intention of boasting. It's someone in the same program, within this community that is asking you, for your own good, and because we'd like the extra company DON"T GIVE UP. Surprise yourself and your muscles! The feeling of accomplishment is a truly satisfying and invigorating one. If you don't want to do it, thats your choice. But if you do, we're all here and we all really do love seeing the faces, whether new or old every time we walk in the door at DF. GOOD LUCK! It's not easy.

Linda, starting anything new can be challenge but like anything its so...worth it. I started going to dedicated fitness several years ago and it has been nothing but a total blessing for me. I love working out with the team and rooting for eachother to suceed because that is what it is all about, having a team of people chasing the same goal, to be healthier and just feel better about yourself as a women. Women today get put down day after day, going to dedicated fitness has made me feel much more confident about myself and the abilities to improve my self image. Hang in there Linda, and I promise you will feel like a brand new you if you stick with the team of people that just want to help you suceed.

Sorry that you had a rough strart, i am also doing the biggest loser challenge and i have belonged to many many gyms in the past .... never ever have i felt as comfortable in a gym as I do at dedicated fitness and please if you need help or are feeling overwhelmed just ask anyone there to help... as someone who has been in the gym for a long time those machines can still feel overhwhelming at times... you will not only survive at this gym but thrive ... keep the faith !!!

Linda, I want to encourage you to keep smiling and keep coming back. I first stepped into a gym in 2009 after YEARS of inactivity. Since then, exercising has changed my body and my life :)

You are also fortunate that Dedicated Fitness is a gym like no other, full of supportive, helpful, and just generally friendly people of all ages, shapes, and sizes. Trust me that this is NOT the case with most other gyms!