Month: August 2017

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Are you feeling sorry for yourself and can’t lose weight?

This is the journey of Sharyn Bortle: 50 year old first time bride (and soon to be step-mom), athlete at Training for Warriors Athens, and survivor.
Training for Warriors Athens GA
Cancer, a complete hysterectomy, and feeling sorry for herself caused Sharyn to have a hate-affair with her inability to lose weight.

Although this isn’t a story about Sharyn’s Ovarian Cancer, it is a story about how steroids, a complete hysterectomy, and feeling sorry for herself caused her to gain a lot of weight and lose a lot of self esteem. “I don’t know if anyone can relate, but it is hard out there for an overweight, pale, bald woman!” she exclaims. For 47 years she had always been thin, even if not in her head.

Sharyn had a gym membership elsewhere and two, thirty minute sessions per week wasn’t getting her where she wanted to be. Her fiancé has been a member of SBG Athens for many years. She noticed the profound change in him when he isn’t able to attend classes regularly. Sessions with her admittedly, amazing personal trainer, didn’t make her nearly as happy and she was close to her breaking point.

She began to explore the SBG website to see if there was something for her. She knew she didn’t want to “roll around with strangers and swap sweat.” She researched the Training For Warriors (TFW) program and saw a mix of activities she thought she would love. “I could feel my 16 year old athlete coming out” she said.

Sharyn joined TFW Athens the middle of May this year and hasn’t missed a class since July 1. In full disclosure though, she hasn’t seen any weight loss or loss of inches to talk about. “BUT, and this is very important, I am NOT discouraged. Why? Because I feel great, I look healthy, I am making friendships, I am keeping up with life,” she says enthusiastically. Some days she even feels like she is out in the lead. She thinks that is a real testament to the atmosphere at SBG/TFW.

She knows that physical results will come eventually. In the meantime, Sharyn is forming meaningful relationships, learning about her potential, and concerning herself with her attributes instead of her flaws or short comings. Most importantly, she understands that she is worth it, worth budgeting financially, and allowing herself the “luxurious necessity” of daily trips to the gym. “Perhaps this understanding just comes with age, as I just turned 50, or with the understanding that your good health can evaporate in a single doctor’s visit – but either way, one deserves to take good care of oneself,” she concludes.

I leave you with the top three tips that helped Sharyn transform:

“These come to mind because they are so apropos for life in and out of the gym”

  1. ‘Chest up’; ‘Elbows in.’ Back straight’ – TFW Coaches
  2. ‘Don’t Apologize.’ – Coach Steve
  3. ‘You Got This.’ – TFW Teammates

Do you struggle with some of the same things with which Sharyn struggled? You CAN make that change and TRANSFORM your life also!

Do you want to learn how to drop 10-15 pounds?
Need help with your nutrition?
Looking to start a fitness program?
We have just the thing for you. Click the button below and learn more about our 28 Day Transformation Challenge today!

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE 28 DAY TRANSFORMATION CHALLENGE

Group Fitness in Athens Ga

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Are you Insecure, Lacking Confidence, and Full of Anxiety?

This is the journey of Melody; 41 years old, mother, middle school teacher, and student at Training for Warriors Athens.
 Training for Warriors Athens Ga
Life before TFW was filled with insecurities, a lack of confidence, and anxiety medication.

Melody begins by saying, “I don’t know why, but I think it’s often the case that females feel a little uncomfortable in our own skin.  Maybe it’s our perceived imperfections, or a lack of confidence. Maybe I feel like I’m too fat, or too tall, or I’m too this or too that.”

Melody’s first class came during buddy week by invitation of a friend and member of the program. She is 100% certain she would never have walked in the gym for the first time without a friend. Since that time, Melody is a constant fixture in class. In any given week she can be found sprinting, squatting, deadlifting, cheering on her teammates, and getting after it.

Melody speaks about how strong females are encouraged; celebrated even. “Our coaches tell us to stop apologizing and walk like you own the earth,” she says. Although she can’t quite explain how meeting the small physical challenges translates into confidence in all aspects of her life, “I just know that it does,” she says.

Instead of imperfections, she now sees an hourglass shape, as well as definition in her legs, arms, and shoulders. She feels strong and walks proud and tall.

I leave you with the top three (or four) tips that helped Melody transform:

  1. “Show up and do something.” Coach Rory
  2. Fear is a liar – (that little voice that tells you that you can’t do something is a liar)
  3. “Walk like you own this earth.” Coach Adam
  4. “Stop saying you are sorry.” Coach Steve***

Do you struggle with some of the same things with which Melody struggled? You CAN make that change and TRANSFORM your life also!

Do you want to learn how to drop 10-15 pounds?
Need help with your nutrition?
Looking to start a fitness program?
We have just the thing for you. Click the button below and learn more about our 28 Day Transformation Challenge today!

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE 28 DAY TRANSFORMATION CHALLENGE

Group Fitness in Athens Ga

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Are Daily Meds For Chronic Pain Getting You Down?

This is the journey of Audrey Greeson,  student at Training for Warriors Athens

Life before TFW was spent dealing with chronic pain, multiple surgeries, and daily doses of narcotic medication.

Those surgeries included three on her back (including a spinal fusion of her lumbar spine),  two elbow surgeries, and most recently surgery on her achilles tendon.

Desperation caused by a lack of results from personal training at her “regular gym” as well as uninspired workouts done alone; she sought out a place to change that. Audrey found TFW Athens and says it has “made all the difference.” “I  really feel like I found a second family here at SBG.” The support and non-judgemental environment has meant a lot to her.

In the beginning, Audrey couldn’t even perform one sit-up. She felt a huge sense of victory when she was finally able to get one. She has come a long way since those days. Audrey has recently completed a personal best 286 pound deadlift and 110 pound overhead press. Although her new found strength in the weight room has been a lot of hard work it has helped her back become much stronger. Audrey is now free of pain medications.

Audrey says it best, “Being a part of SBG has really meant so much to me.  I have no doubt that I will be able to eventually accomplish every goal I set out for myself.  I’m a work in progress, but I know that with hard work and dedication I will definitely make it.  This place is such a big part of me having that belief.  I was desperate when I walked in the door, but I have found what I was looking for.”

I leave you with the top three tips that helped Audrey transform:

  1. Coming to class… I can’t stress that enough.  You can’t improve if you don’t get through that door.
  2. Perseverance… I won’t quit.  If I can’t get something now I promise you I will get it eventually.  It just takes time and practice.
  3. Listening to my coaches… I can’t say enough good things about our TFW coaches.  They are right there making sure my form is correct and giving me advice on how to improve it.

Do you struggle with some of the same things with which Audrey struggled? You CAN make that change and TRANSFORM your life also!

Do you want to learn how to drop 10-15 pounds?
Need help with your nutrition?
Looking to start a fitness program?
We have just the thing for you. Click the button below and learn more about our 28 Day Transformation Challenge today!

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE 28 DAY TRANSFORMATION CHALLENGE

Group Fitness in Athens Ga

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Are You Struggling With Fatigue and Chronic Back Pain?

This is the journey of Frances Byrd; student at Training for Warriors Athens

Training for Warriors Athens Georgia

Life for Frances, before she started TFW Athens, was filled with fatigue, a lack of endurance, and chronic back pain.

Frances is a local artist that was struggling with fatigue, a lack of endurance and chronic back pain due to severe scoliosis. She was initially looking for a gym that had a kickboxing program. She was unhappy with her choices while living in Gwinnett, “all of the gyms in my area/price range were glam gyms.” She was turned off by the “dress to impress” women and “meatheads who were in the gym to show off.” The trainers cared more about the number of appointments they had rather than the quality of their coaching.

Upon moving closer to the Athens area she reached out to SBG and learned of TFW Athens. Since her time here she has found a significant increase in cardiovascular endurance, increased strength, and improved posture.

The thing that has impressed her most is how Coach Whitney worked with her to recognize her limitations due to her scoliosis. In the past lifting weights and working on core exercises caused her a lot of pain. The help from Coach Whitney, along with “listen[ing] to my body and make[ing] adjustments to movements when necessary to improve my workouts”, enabled her to work harder than ever before. This has led her to rarely have any back pain in or outside of the gym.

Here are the top three tips that helped Frances transform:

  1. Increased water consumption
  2. Increased fresh fruit and vegetable consumption
  3. Listen to your body and work with your coaches to find solutions

Do you struggle with some of the same things with which Frances struggled? You CAN make that change and TRANSFORM your life also!

Do you want to learn how to drop 10-15 pounds?
Need help with your nutrition?
Looking to start a fitness program?
We have just the thing for you. Click the button below and learn more about our 28 Day Transformation Challenge today!

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE 28 DAY TRANSFORMATION CHALLENGE

Group Fitness in Athens Ga