Member of the Year 2011

Step 1: Watch/read ALL the videos & write ups

Step 2: VOTE for your favorite!

One lucky person will WIN the title of ‘Be Fit Bootcamps Member Of The Year 2011′ & a two night stay at Healdsburg’s charming Camellia Inn in the heart of world-famous Sonoma Wine Country! The Napa Valley experience includes a full breakfast each morning, a wine and cheese tasting each afternoon, and a passport to 120 wineries in the valley.

 

Nominee 1 – Michelle Goldberg

“I knew I had to get into the right mindset. I was not going to start this journey until I was ready to finish it.”

“I joined Be Fit Boot Camps because I needed something to get me out of my flat-lining. Chronic illnesses (sinus infections and terrible back pain) made my life miserable and I had to make a drastic change if I wanted to survive.

 

Growing up, I was overweight. I did all the diets back then - the Scarsdale diet, the Grapefruit diet, the Pineapple diet, etc. In college, I started bike racing and doing triathlons, but was always a “clydesdale” gal. About 15 years ago, I started going to Overeaters Anonymous and lost about 40 pounds. It helped me deal with family issues that were causing me to overeat. I slowly added the weight back on over the years, mostly from eating out a lot and eating crappy food.

 

A few years back, I lost my Dad and then my Mom. Losing my Mom was really hard for me. Both my parents were overweight and had diabetes and heart disease. My Father had two heart bypass surgeries and died from lung cancer. My Mom went into Congestive heart failure a few weeks after being diagnosed with breast cancer. Two years ago, I also lost my oldest brother from a massive heart attack due to morbid obesity (and diabetes, kidney failure, RX drug abuse). It’s been a very rough few years and I consoled myself with food, packing on the weight, while still exercising. Riding my bike was harder and harder, and going up hills was not easy. Not much was enjoyable.

 

This last July, I had a business trip to Ann Arbor, MI. On the way back from that trip, I started getting sick. I was so sick for so long, on round after round of antibiotics, that I knew at that point I had to make a serious change in my life. I could not keep living my life getting sick and being miserable.

 

That’s when I saw a Groupon for Be Fit Bootcamp. I called my friend Patty to see if it was the one she had been going to and it was. I thought about it for a few days and decided to sign up for it. I figured that if I don’t use it, well, I’ve pissed away more money on other stuff, so no big deal.

 

I knew I had to get into the right mindset. I was not going to start this journey until I was ready to finish it. I’ve been down this path so many times and failed, I could not handle more failure. I just jumped in and went to an orientation on Saturday and then to my first bootcamp session on August 22. I wasn’t really sure what to expect. I was huffing and puffing so hard, just dying. I was so sore for days, but it felt good. I felt good. I got acquainted again with my body and what it was capable of. It felt great and everyone was really supportive.

 

I kept going to bootcamp, able to work a little harder every week. Then you announced a nutrition lecture. My wife was interested as well, so she joined me for your lecture back in September. She had been following Jorge Cruz for a while, eliminating sugar, and lost 30 pounds, but wanted to hear what you had to say. When you did that presentation, I saw myself on your powerpoint. The chronic infections, lethargy, congestion, bloating, on and on and on. Once again, I had to know that I would keep up with the program for the 30 days or I wasn’t going to do it, but I knew I was ready. I signed up and within the first week, I had such drastic results, it was mind boggling.

 

I had lost about 7 or 8 pounds the first week and you mentioned that a lot of that was probably from inflammation. Whatever it was from, I felt great. The second week was even better, and it kept getting better. I decided that I was going to keep up that type of eating, since it had been the best I felt in many years (if ever).

 

I’ve lost a total of 30 pounds so far and tons of inches. My belly fat is almost all gone. My wife is incredibly supportive so making the drastic changes in eating was fairly easy. She’s also losing weight since we aren’t going out to eat a lot or eating crappy food.

 

I stopped taking my cholesterol medicine back in October (but didn’t tell my doctor). I go for blood tests next week and meet with my doctor the week after. I’m eager to see how I’m doing. I had borderline high cholesterol and was pre-diabetic.”

 

Nominee 2 – Sarah Ryba

“I don’t want to be the one who quits first!”

“I really have enjoyed being a part of Be Fit Boot Camp. I started in August 2011 because I was tired of being out of shape and was not happy with my body. Since joining I have seen a big improvement in strength and also am experiencing less lower back pain. I have scoliosis in my lower spine and after too many years of inactivity, did not have strong supporting core muscles. Yea for planks! As a former athlete, I was used to training with a group and being coached and have found that this setting works best for me. Knowing that everyone around me is working hard motivates me to keep going during the workout (I don’t want to be the one who quits first!). I definitely recommend BFBC and would tell potential members to prepare to be challenged, work hard and have fun too. BFBC workouts aren’t designed to be easy, but you feel better afterwards! Chloie, Justin and Katie always seem to know when I need to give “a little more” and it’s that extra push that I know I wouldn’t do on my own so I need to thank them for continuing to challenge me.

 

I’ve seen improvements in my body the last 4 months, but I still have work to do in 2012!”

 

Nominee 3 – Jodi Pinn

“I feel like my 40-year-old self could give my 20-year-old self a run for her money.”

“I joined Be Fit Boot Camps via a Groupon deal in August 2011 after recognizing Audra’s name from a group exercise class I took with her years ago. I remembered her positive energy and commitment to health, nutrition and fun. I wanted those aspects back in my life after a 10-month hiatus from sports and exercise due to a life changing spine injury. I had to give up a sport I loved, and doctors, surgeons & physical therapists told me I’d never work out at the same level again. This was horrible news for someone who was a lifelong athlete. I didn’t know what I’d be able to do in bootcamp, but figured the price of the 1-month Groupon membership was worth it to find out.

 

Since joining BFBC I have regained my strength, flexibility, endurance and my stress relief! I’m eating better and have been immune to the seasonal colds, flu and other bugs friends & colleagues have caught. I am completely off all prescription and over-the-counter pain, anti-inflammatory and muscle relaxing medications. I dropped the last of the pounds I gained after my injury. I can see all my muscles again, and new ones have emerged! In October I ran my 1st half marathon & surprised myself with my finish time. In February I will turn 40 (yikes!) and to celebrate will run my 2nd half marathon. I’m betting I’ll shave a few minutes off my time. Bootcamp has worked so well for me that I feel like my 40-year-old self could give my 20-year-old self a run for her money. Maybe, maybe not, but I feel that good.

 

I look forward to my bootcamp mornings and wake up those days feeling happy & excited to get there. I actually feel sad when I have to miss Saturday bootcamp due to other commitments (is it normal to mourn the loss of a workout?). There’s just something about being outside in the fresh air getting our sweat on, getting dirty (goose poop hill anyone?), and laughing with fellow bootcampers as the coaches yell at us to move “faster!”, squat “lower!”, and jump “higher!” that keeps me coming back for more. And while I’ve never been a big fan of the burpee, I have to admit my current fitness level and core strength are proof positive that they work. The coaches keep me challenged, motivated and laughing (at myself mostly). I love BFBC and recommend it to any and everyone. I count my health and bootcamp as blessings every day. That Groupon rocked. Be Fit Boot Camps does too!”

 

Nominee 4 – Larry Soares

 

Nominee 5 – Kara Tuohy

“…After 6 short weeks, I started to see the muscles come back! Not only does BFBC give me the workout I need, it gives some much-needed ME TIME!

“Thank you so much for recognizing me as Member of the Year! I am truly honored to be recognized for this!

 

I started Be Fit Boot Camps along with 100 plus other people this past summer as a part of the Groupon group. I was hoping to jump start my fitness program after a few years of embarrassing inactivity (and having two beautiful girls!). Anyways, I expected to complete the six weeks and then move on to something else. I had just lost almost all of my baby weight (or shall I say “babies weight, as I never really got back to pre-baby weight after my first child) and I was ready to get healthy! I feel like I had the eating thing down, but I just couldn’t motivate to exercise. I had a really hard time finding a time to exercise. There was always some excuse, so I needed a kick in the pants. This was just the thing I was looking for.

 

My goal seemed simple enough - to get muscle definition in my thighs! I used to play soccer in high school and I had very muscular legs, good for kicking! But, since then, my muscle definition has drastically decreased. I wanted those legs back! So, I decided to continue with BFBC, because after 6 short weeks, I started to see the muscles come back! Yay! I decided to continue and, boy, am I glad that I have. Not only does BFBC give me the workout I need, it gives some much-needed ME TIME! I haven’t had that since my first daughter was born almost 3 years ago. I don’t even mind getting up at 5:45 every morning . . . because I finally have some time carved out for me!

 

I have always been a fairly healthy person, but I just couldn’t find the time to exercise. Now, with BFBC, I have found the time . . . and I love it! I have encouraged all of my friends to take time for themselves and I recommend BFBC to anyone I meet! There are certainly days when I lack the motivation, but my coaches are always there to cheer me on! They push me to do things I never thought that I could do. For that, I am so thankful.”

 

Nominee 6 – Gemma Wade

“The days I’ve been to class I feel so much more positive about the day ahead. It’s like I feel I’ve already had my ‘me-time’ so don’t feel as tired by looking after kids all day as I do on other days.”

“Having two babies in 17 months and moving 6,000 miles from home in England meant that I was in my worst shape and most exhausted ever when I came to my first class in September 2011. I needed help to get myself back and get myself back in my old beautiful clothes instead of maternity clothes.

 

I was never sporty at school and came up with any excuse to miss gym class. I spent my twenties in the gym exercising to lose weight, not enjoying it or achieving what I wanted.

 

In Be Fit Bootcamp I finally found something that clicked, that I enjoy and that is showing real results. In the 14 weeks since I started I have lost 10lb and am out of my maternity jeans into my old jeans.

 

I’m more toned and lighter but I feel stronger too – physically and mentally. I started when my youngest son was 10 weeks and my oldest 18 months old. Definitely the most challenging phase of my life so far. Attending bootcamp and prioritising myself (albeit for 45 minutes 3-4 times a week!) has helped me feel more balanced when the rest of my time is devoted to their needs.

 

I love that I turn up and am told exactly what to do – the rest of the day its me telling everyone else what to do! Every day is different so there is no chance to zone out. The trainers are stars – the perfect balance of humour and focus. I love that they will always come and correct me if my technique isn’t right. They have got to know me and push me past where I’d give up if I were on my own, helping me surprise myself at what I can do.

 

Being English, the fact I can exercise outside in a beautiful park in fresh air and watch the sun come up as we cool down is such a treat.

 

I do the 6.15am class and am home with my kids at 7.15am having only missed 15 minutes of them (and my husband) being awake. The days I’ve been to class I feel so much more positive about the day ahead. It’s like I feel I’ve already had my ‘me-time’ so don’t feel as tired by looking after kids all day as I do on other days.

 

I love to cook but I felt like after years of dieting I had so much conflicting advice in my head – low carb/low fat/points blah blah blah that I had got lost. Audra’s nutrition coaching as part of ‘30 day clean and lean’ has changed the way I plan my family’s meals; has tackled some of the emotional eating habits I’d got into and has given me so much more energy.

 

I know it’s a cliché but if I can do it anyone can. There are nights when I’ve had two hours sleep, having been up with my baby but I still get myself down to Vasona for 6.15am. No matter how tired I am I know I feel better once I’ve done it and would be mad at myself if I skipped class.

 

My marathon-running husband is an advocate too. He’s only been to one class but says he has never worked so hard in his life! I keep hearing him telling people how proud he is of me which is amazing.

 

I still have a way to go before I get into my skinny jeans but I know I’ll do it. And, as importantly, I’ll enjoy doing it. Thank you Audra, Chloie, KT and Justin!”