I was relaxing on the couch, and I was thinking about everything that has happened this past year! Last summer I was seven sizes bigger than I am now, and I didn't really care. I was pretty obsessed with fast food. I would start working out, but never stick with it. When I moved to Heights, I drove past the Heights Gym every day and I kept thinking that I should join it. But I didn't have a very good experience with sticking with other gyms, so I doubted I would stick with this one. I love the show "The Biggest Loser," and watched people who were bigger than me become smaller than me, and I decided that I was tired of it. After the episode was over, I drove over to the gym and joined and even decided to pay extra for a trainer, which I really didn't think I was going to do!

So I was willing to exercise, but I remember telling my friends there was no way on planet Earth that I was going to run. My aunt has been a trainer for longer than I have been alive, and I even told her that I hate running and that I would never do it! I had taken a kickboxing class in college, and skipped the running day! I used to tell people, "I can't run because I have asthma." It was a convenient excuse. Well, I learned that if you say you will never do it, you most likely will. Between my friends and my trainer Jessie, I couldn't seem to get away from it! My friends would want to run with me or give me pep talks and Jessie would mae me do it! (Which now I am happy about that!) Twelve months after joining the gym, I am 50 lbs lighter and am able to run five mile. I have ran four 5ks and won a medal! Asthma has yet to get in my way and is now almost nonexistent. My next goal is to complete a half marathon.

So all I can say is if you are determined to do something, you will let nothing stop you!

My name is Darla Menking and I’ll be turning 50 soon. Like many, I am a former athlete who, over the years, lost that athletic build to having children, working, and then…middle age. I could always lose weight, but never kept it off for more than a year or two. When my husband surprised me with a 6 month membership and personal trainer at HP Fitness, I jumped at the opportunity. Why? I wasn’t obese, but I was definitely heavier than I should be. My biggest concern was I felt noticeably weaker than ever before. My physical strength was all but gone.

Becoming a part of HP has made all the difference these last 4 months. I am healthier, stronger, and have a better understanding of my body and the errors I had been making in my weight loss efforts. I had lost so much of my muscle by exercising wrong that I couldn’t even do a squat. HP has the machines and equipment that give me a good and balanced workout. I’ve learned about supplements and can get the ones I need at HP to help me reach my goals.

But the greatest factor for my success has been the time and attention I receive from my personal trainer, Mike Sheppard, who is a wonderful combination of teaching knowledge, motivation, and caring for the person. I work out with him 3 times a week, and I have learned so much about adjusting my diet, building muscle while losing fat, and that I had been missing a major component in my past workouts, that being strength training. The results are still coming and I feel great. I’m stronger, leaner, and just over all, more physically fit. I’ve lost in my body fat percentage which he monitors weekly, I eat a more pure and natural diet, my muscle mass is up and my weight is down.

Now, my husband is going to HP and is taking advantage of their facility and fun activities and contests. Being a part of HP Fitness has brought us to a healthier place in our lives, and it’s always nice to walk in and be greeted by name. It’s a clean, friendly, non-intimidating environment and has made a huge difference in my life.

I joined Heritage Park Fitness in January of 2009; it has been a great experience. I went to Heritage Park Fitness because of back pain. I thought that if I would strengthen my back it would make me feel better, but I got so much more out of it. I signed up for personal training 3 days a week including help with learning how to eat right. I didn't go to Heritage Park to lose weight but with the training and my "life style change", I was able to drop 28 pounds. I was originally wearing a size 10 and weighed 168. now I'm a size 6 and 140 pounds. I feel great inside and outside. My life has changed for the better; more energy and always smiling. By exercising all most every day it has changed how I think and feel. I have more confidence and no anxieties. I never would have thought that by exercising it would keep me calm, relive stress and make me HAPPY! I believe that personal training was the ticket for me and has changed my life. No doubt it was hard work, but they were right there encouraging me every day. Heritage Park Fitness feels like family! Everyone there takes the time to help you and believes you can do it! I think that now I am in the best physical shape I have been in my life! Thank to Heritage Park Fitness!