Fit For All Gym

Joliet Fitness | Team and Personal Training Gym

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February Client of the Month: Shannon McSweeney

Say, “Hello!” to our February client of the month! Shannon has been with us for just under a year now! Over the course of her time with us so far, she’s lost over 50 pounds and has become such a beast in the gym. She is one of the hardest working women we have, and you’ll never hear her complaining about an exercise. She might not always like it, but she will perform like a champ, no matter what. In addition to her incredible performance in the gym, she also has been killing it in the kitchen! Due to a lot of dietary restrictions, she’s had to get creative, and she is always posting delicious recipes on Facebook (obviously to make us all jealous that we aren’t having dinner with her). Without further ado, read on to learn about this fiery, Irish redhead. 

Can you describe any reservations you had before you started working out at Fit For All and how
we helped you overcome those?

It wasn’t a workout style that I was used to doing, I had gone to normal gyms and had a personal trainer in the past. I hadn’t been to the gym in 6-8 months so I didn’t know how if I was going to handle this style of classes. When I got into the classes I liked that they worked around everyone’s different fitness levels. They encouraged and pushed you to keep going and that is the trainers and the other people in the classes.

Describe your 1-2 top goals when you started at Fit For All and where you’re at with these goals?

To lose weight and be more toned. At first I was looking to lose about 25 pounds and when I get that done I continued and now I’m about 55 pounds down. I’m at a weight that I didn’t even think was possible. I also have more muscle definition that I can see even thru a shirt. There is always that time it clicks in your mind what happened or this isn’t working and I need a change. I thought I could do it on my own and I’m glad I made the time and tried something different. I’m so proud of what I achieved and that keeps me motived to push myself!

What have you achieved, both physically and mentally, so far?

Just the other day I ran a 5K and had the best time at 29 minutes and even from back when I ran all the time. Even thou the gym doesn’t have treadmills the training and classes do help out by building muscle, endurance, and even breathing. I never thought as I got older I would be in the best shape.

How has your experience at Fit For All differed from other fitness experiences you’ve had?

I love that I get an awesome workout in an hour and not on a treadmill for hours. The time flies by and all the people make it a great place. We even started a little group of runners that go and do local runs, it’s nice to have the support and friendship even outside the gym. 

What is one piece of advice you would give to someone who is nervous to start their own fitness journey?

It’s always hard at first, hard to get to the gym or do the workouts, but you have to push yourself outside your comfort zone to see a different result. When you push yourself you can be amazed at what you achieve. If you say you can’t you can’t but if you say you can you can! 

Feeling Inspired?

Join our supportive fitness community and finally get the results you want.

Join our 6 Week Fitness Jumpstart Program today!

Want to learn more about Shannon and her progress since she’s joined our family? Click here to read her testimonial and see her before and after pictures!

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November Client of the Month: Erin Boaden


What do you get when you mix a massage therapist with a goldsmith? At a loss? Well, you get Erin, that’s what you get! Yes, you read that correctly. Not only is she a licensed massage therapist, but she’s also been a goldsmith for the last 17 years (along with her hubby!). A fan of Tinkerbell, tattoos, and sharks, Erin joined us back in March of 2017. I don’t think she fully understood what she was getting herself into when she joined us. I don’t think she really understood that she was adding a second family to her life, or that she would end up meeting her swolemate (aka Kymberle West).

All we know is that we are so happy she came walking through those doors 8 months ago. Erin gets her butt to the 5:30am class 5 days a week (and sometimes even throws a Saturday class in for that 6th day). She’s incredibly dedicated and has never let her health issues stop her from working towards her goals. She has no idea how many members she inspires. Keep reading to learn a little more about this ninja.

Can you describe any reservations that you had before you started working with us?

There were a few reservations I had before I started at Fit For All. I’d never stuck with any weight loss or work out program program before. The longest period of time was 1 month. I needed a program that would keep me motivated, because even though my family’s extremely supportive, they were never doing the programs with me. I honestly was very unsure if I could commit to a program because making time for myself isn’t something that I’m used to.  I was afraid the guilt would keep me from wanting to continue. I’d have to put myself first, and that was a hard concept for me to get used to. Frankly I’m still struggling with it a little. I just have to keep reminding myself that I’m doing this to better myself and for my family.

Can you explain how Fit For All was able to help you with your reservations?

Fit For All was able to help me with my reservations by providing a very supportive environment. It wasn’t like other gyms that were very self motivating and secluded. Even though you may be surrounded by other people at a gym (running on tread mills and using weight machines) there was little to no interaction. I just couldn’t stay motivated. I’d get bored and give up. I craved the human interaction and motivation that others in the same boat would give, and wanted the chance to help motivate others as well. Fit for All has created the support, the community, and the family that I was needing to keep me on track.

Describe your top 1-2 goals you had when you started.

My top goals when I started were to lose weight (so people would stop asking me when the baby was due. Funny, I know, but do you have any idea what that does to someones mental health?!  And second was to get my health under control. I was killing myself with 2 jobs that were ripping my body apart both physically and mentally. I’m very passionate about being a Licensed Massage Therapist, and if I continued the way I was going I wouldn’t have a long career doing the thing I love most. 

What have you achieved, both physically and mentally, thus far?

I’ve set quite a few goals on my journey so far. Some I’ve hit and some I haven’t (yet).  The key word is YET… Probably the one I’m most proud of is the fact that I’m still getting up at 5:30am at least 5 days a week and getting my butt into the gym. 8 months later and I’m still killing it. I keep a little snapshot in the back of my mind with my day 1 physical and mental state and that snapshot keep me motivated. There’re so many things I can do now that I couldn’t do then, and it makes me smile 🙂 Physically, I know there’s more to do.  Bu I’m getting stronger, both physically and mentally, every day, and I get excited to think about where I’ll be in a year.

How has your experience at Fit For All differed from other fitness experiences that you’ve had?

My experience at Fit for All has been far different from any other program that I’ve tried. I don’t have to rely on myself to keep the motivation going. I now have an entire community to help with that. This place has changed the way I view myself, and I have more confidence to push myself.  Every day is different; I don’t get bored, and I’m surrounded by amazing, genuine people that want you to succeed. What else could I ask for?

About the Author: Jordyn D’Arco is the Marketing Director here at Fit For All. She is mom to baby Sydney, wife to our head trainer, Paul, and the resident taco addict (“Do it for the tacos!” is her workout mantra, after all). In addition, she enjoys making delicious tea-lemonade, playing video games, and playing with her two fur babies, Winston and Lady. You’ll see her up front at the desk, and occasionally joining you in a class… don’t be alarmed if you catch her filming you!

Feeling Inspired?

Join our supportive fitness community and finally get the results you want.

Join our 6 Week Fitness Jumpstart Program today!

Want to learn more about Erin and her progress since she’s joined our family? Click here to read her testimonial and see her before and after pictures!

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October Client of the Month: Mallory Maccani

What would you do if you suffered an extremely bad hand injury that was going to take months to heal? A hand injury that was going to prevent you from going to the gym and doing your workouts per usual? A hand injury that required surgery and painful physical therapy? Most people would probably say, “I’m going to stop working out until my hand heals,” or, “Well this is a sign that I should stop working out.” But not Mallory.

Mallory persevered. Instead of partaking in her usual bootcamp classes, Mallory switched over to semi-private sessions while her hand was healing. On top of doing physical therapy, she worked on her mobility, stability, and lower body. She knew that she wanted to go back to bootcamp when her hand healed. She also knew that if she just stopped altogether while waiting that she was going to basically be starting over. She was having none of that, so she adjusted. She changed up her training to accommodate her injury. Now, months later, she’s back in bootcamp and kicking a**

Mallory’s a huge inspiration to our other members. She gives 115% in every class, and didn’t give up or throw in the towel when she hit a setback. Keep reading to learn more about this amazing and dedicated lady!

Can you describe any reservations that you had before we started working together?

Not only did I hate going to the gym before I found FFA, but I also had no idea how to workout to be able to see results. I always thought people were staring at me and judging me when I’d workout in the gym. I’d do the elliptical for a bit then use whatever weight machine was available. 45 minutes later, and I’d be out of there. I’d make up any excuse to not go; I need a nap, it’s raining, or I moved boxes at work today, so that should be enough.

Mallory’s 3 Month Progress

Can you explain how Fit For All was able to help you with your reservations?

Well the most important thing about FFA is the dependability and accountability they provide. I can depend on Paul to push me through every workout. I can depend on my teammates to cheer me on and be there for me, especially when we’re all dying. I am held accountable for showing up everyday, I’m able to give my 100% because I know I am not being judged, and am always encouraged to keep going.

Describe your 1-2 top goals when you started.

My goal was never about the scale. I never cared what the scale says. Even though I like to see the number go down, I just wanted to feel better, move better and fit better in my clothes. I wanted to be overall better for myself.


What have you achieved, both physically and mentally, thus far?

I’ve definitely achieved the feeling better, moving better and fitting better in my clothes. Physically, I see the booty growing, the tummy shrinking, and my back looking good. I’m feeling more confident, especially with how I move in my daily life. Mentally, I’ve gone so far out of my comfort zone. Even just joining was out of my comfort zone. Mainly, after the surgery on my hand I still stuck with it. Normally, I would have thrown myself a pity party and flushed all the progress I’d made down the drain.

About the Author: Jordyn D’Arco is the Marketing Director here at Fit For All. She is mom to baby Sydney, wife of our head trainer, Paul, and the resident taco addict (“Do it for the tacos!” is her workout mantra, after all). In addition, she enjoys making delicious tea-lemonade, playing video games, and playing with her two fur babies, Winston and Lady. You’ll see her during evening classes both up front and in the class… don’t be alarmed if you catch her filming you!

 Feeling Inspired?

Join our supportive fitness community and finally get the results you want.

Join our 6 Week Fitness Jumpstart Program today!

Want to learn more about Mallory’s time at Fit For All? Check out her before & after pictures and read her testimonial!

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September Client of the Month: Kelly Clements

Nearly every morning as the rest of us trudge sleepily into the gym at 5:30am, there’s Kelly, ready to rock with a smile on her face6

We always tell our members that attitude is contagious, and being around Kelly, you really can’t help catching her cheerful attitude.

Since she joined us back in May, Kelly has lost nearly 20 lbs, 4% body fat, and 4 inches from her waist. Her commitment to this program has been outstanding. In fact, she’s even inspired both of her kids to join as well!

On top of all that, she’s been very active on social media by checking in at our location on Facebook every day. Her check-ins have made a great contribution to different non-profit organizations through our partnership with Causely (Causely makes a donation on our behalf every time members check in to our facility on social media).

Kelly’s endlessly positive attitude combined with her dedication to the program were the major factors that made choosing her as Client of the Month for September a no-brainer.

Congratulations on earning September’s Client of the Month title, Kelly!

Read About Kelly’s Fit For All Experience

Can you explain any reservations you had before we started working together? How were we able to help you with those reservations?

I had plenty of reservations about joining a gym without treadmills and tons of machines lined up in a row; OF MIRRORS (who wants to look at that!) after not having worked out in years.
The first one was of course my weight and what I would look like trying to do these things that I have NEVER done before. The second was, after a few surgeries on my right elbow and wrist, thinking “Can I do this?”
The help that was given to me has been indescribable from the second I walked through the door! If a certain exercise hurts, they find a move that will not hurt but works the same muscles.
Once you get moving, you realize your weight/looks don’t matter because it gets better and better! I have never had this type of support anywhere else.

May – August Progress

What were your top 1-2 goals when you first started?

When I first joined my goals were to get stronger, leaner and healthier. I am proud to say I am on my journey to all three ☺

What have you gained from your experience at Fit For All that you might not have expected in the beginning?

What have I gained…..hmmmm, a very strange habit of waking up at 4:30am…even on “off” days! Sick, I know ☺
The community support system that FFA has within its members is nothing short of amazing. Everyone is so supportive of each other and cheering each other on when we see somebody that needs a little push. I love it.

What have been the most frustrating and most rewarding things about your fitness journey so far?

The most frustrating thing so far, for me, has come from within myself….my slight limitations with my wrist prevents me from some movements that I would really like to do. But, Paul always has another movement as a backup. I do not like to fail.

The most rewarding thing on my journey so far is watching myself change; mentally, physically and the fact that my kids saw these changes and have decided to join as well so they can start on their own journey. I am one proud Mom!

What advice would you give to someone who wants to take control of their health/fitness but is feeling hesitant, nervous, embarrassed, etc.?

The advice I would give is to first, you have to do it for you. Don’t let anyone “talk or push” you into it. This is personal journey that we all sweat together on. Once you walk through the FFA door and keep putting one foot in front of the other it all comes together. Ask about trying it out; see if it fits because it only takes a few classes to see how different and special FFA is.
We have all had our lows and have enjoyed our highs; there is nothing to be embarrassed about. There are times it still takes a lot to walk through the door at 5:30am, but the thing is, I do and I feel so much better when I walk out the door knowing what I have accomplished.

Feeling Inspired?

Join our supportive fitness community and finally get the results you want.

Join our 6 Week Fitness Jumpstart Program today!

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August Clients of the Month: Angelica & Teresa Martinez

 

August Clients of the Month

Another month; another round of clients of the month!

It was no surprise to any of us here at FFA when the names Angie and Teresa came up in our discussion about who should be chosen as client/clients of the month for August. These sisters are a huge inspiration for the rest of our clients. Their dedication and determination show in every class. But that isn’t the only reason they were chosen. They’ve also supported us from their first days here and brought us countless referrals.

Angie joined us in March, and she loved it so much that she got her sister Teresa to come check us out in May. Before we knew it, we had not only Angie and Teresa as clients, but many of their friends and family as well. We’ve lost count of how many people they’ve brought us at this point. All we know is that we couldn’t be happier to have these two sassy ladies for clients. They must love us too because they both have committed to year-long memberships <3.

Keep reading to find out more about these amazing women.

Can you describe any reservations that you had before we started working together?

Angie: I signed up not wanting to do it; I was doubtful. I didn’t think it would work for me, and I hesitated to come in.

Teresa: I was scared and undecided about whether or not I wanted to commit myself. I thought I wasn’t going to see results.

Teresa & Angie

Can you explain how Fit For All was able to help you with your reservations?

Angie: FFA has motivated me to start and continue working out through both the environment and, especially, the FFA family. Everyone always sticks together.

Teresa: It has helped me to believe in myself and to not be scared.

Describe your 1-2 top goals when you started.

Angie: 1) Lose weight 2) Gain strength

Teresa: To lose weight, feel good, and to be able to dance for a long period of time

What have you achieved, both physically and mentally, thus far?

Angie: Mentally, I’m more determined and motivated. Physically, I’m able to walk longer without getting out of breath.

Teresa: I am in a lot better shape. I’ve lost weight and I feel good about myself. If I can do it, anybody can!

Teresa & Angie

How has your experience at Fit For All differed from other fitness experience you’ve had in the past? (Such as other gyms, personal trainers, or self-directed experience).

Angie: I actually like working out, and I don’t hate the trainer 🙂 I look forward to my workout days.

Teresa: I actually love this workout even though it’s challenging. I like that we do different things and that Paul tells us what to do. At other gyms I would just go and do my own thing and not really see results. Here at FFA, I feel motivated to workout with a lot of wonderful people. It’s like a family!

About the Author: Jordyn D’Arco is the Marketing Director here at Fit For All. She is mom to baby Sydney, wife of our head trainer, Paul, and the resident taco addict (“Do it for the tacos!” is her workout mantra, after all). In addition, she enjoys making delicious tea-lemonade, playing video games, and playing with her two fur babies, Winston and Lady. You’ll see her during evening classes both up front and in the class… don’t be alarmed if you catch her filming you!

Feeling Inspired?

Join our supportive fitness community and finally get the results you want.

Join our 6 Week Fitness Jumpstart Program today!

Want to meet more of our amazing clients? Read more of their amazing stories!

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