My weight has always fluctuated with my stress level. My career has always been #1 in my life. I tend to give 150% to everything I do, however my health has taken a back seat to my career over the years. I would find myself eating all the wrong foods because it was fast, easy, tasted good and felt good. All of which led to my weight gain. I found myself at my heaviest weight I have ever been at. I hit a point where I hated having my picture taken – none of the pictures ever looked good. I knew it was time.
I met Al through a friend of the family, who is also training with Al. To be honest, the first day was scary and a little intimidating until I stepped foot into Al’s gym. He makes you feel very comfortable. Over the past 5 weeks, Al has pushed me to work at levels I didn’t think I could do. The combination of Al’s strength training, cardio and nutrition plan has given me results I didn’t think I’d see for months. Every time I leave the gym, I feel good about what I had accomplished that day. Al is a great motivator and a great coach. I e.am down 4.4% body fat, 4 lbs, and 11 inches in the 6 weeks I have been training with Al. I never thought I would see the results this quickly. I look forward to what the next 6 weeks hold for me.
I met Al through a friend of the family, who is also training with Al. To be honest, the first day was scary and a little intimidating until I stepped foot into Al’s gym. He makes you feel very comfortable. Over the past 5 weeks, Al has pushed me to work at levels I didn’t think I could do. The combination of Al’s strength training, cardio and nutrition plan has given me results I didn’t think I’d see for months. Every time I leave the gym, I feel good about what I had accomplished that day. Al is a great motivator and a great coach. I e.am down 4.4% body fat, 4 lbs, and 11 inches in the 6 weeks I have been training with Al. I never thought I would see the results this quickly. I look forward to what the next 6 weeks hold for me.
Well, I have hit my 12 week mark with Al. What a journey this has been. I never would have believed I would be where I am today 12 weeks ago! Before I get into the results, I think it's important to tell people how my overall health has improved. When I was 14 years old, I was diagnosed with a thyroid disease. I take medication one time a day for the rest of my life. I had my annual checkup in March. During those checkups, my blood is tested to ensure I am receiving the correct dosage of medication. 9 times out of 10 my doctor tells me my med dosage needs to be increased. Not this time, she told me that my dosage needed to be decreased. When I asked her how this could be, because in the 15 years I have been on this medication, a doctor has never told me to decrease my dosage, she asked if I had been exercising on a regular basis. My answer was yes. These past 12 weeks have paid off in more ways than I could ever imagine. Now for the results. In 12 weeks I have lost 24.75inches throughout my entire body, I am down 9.5% body fat, and have lost 9 lbs. All with a 3 day a week workout routine. I am participating in my first run, in which I'll be completing an 8K. I have never felt better! I look forward to the next 12 weeks...
Lindsey J ~ Appleton
Lindsey J ~ Appleton
When I turned 50, I looked in the mirror, and didn’t like what I was seeing. Staring back at me was a person who was abusing alcohol, 30 lbs. overweight, estranged from her children and grandchildren; you get the picture…a very miserable one.
So, I quit drinking alcohol cold turkey, started walking outside, and the weight started to fall off. After about a year, I reached a plateau. I knew I had to do something more. I also realized that I didn’t have the motivation, or desire, to join a health club.
Around that same time, a friend recommended that I should meet with Al Herman at Richmond Tanning & Training. I had no idea what to expect, so I went there for the first time feeling extremely anxious. That was 04/30/2008. My first workout with Al was the following Wednesday. Al’s willingness to take me on, and fit me into his busy schedule quickly indicated to me that this was a very flexible person. He was easy to talk with, and not demanding in the least. He never made me feel self conscious or embarrassed.
10 months later, I’ve dropped 14.6% body fat, lost around 30 lbs, 12 inches overall, and I haven’t looked back! Al’s motivational skills, however subtle, were exactly what I needed to accomplish what I originally thought impossible.
I have never felt better—physically as well as mentally.
Patty M.
Age 52
Grandmother of 9
So, I quit drinking alcohol cold turkey, started walking outside, and the weight started to fall off. After about a year, I reached a plateau. I knew I had to do something more. I also realized that I didn’t have the motivation, or desire, to join a health club.
Around that same time, a friend recommended that I should meet with Al Herman at Richmond Tanning & Training. I had no idea what to expect, so I went there for the first time feeling extremely anxious. That was 04/30/2008. My first workout with Al was the following Wednesday. Al’s willingness to take me on, and fit me into his busy schedule quickly indicated to me that this was a very flexible person. He was easy to talk with, and not demanding in the least. He never made me feel self conscious or embarrassed.
10 months later, I’ve dropped 14.6% body fat, lost around 30 lbs, 12 inches overall, and I haven’t looked back! Al’s motivational skills, however subtle, were exactly what I needed to accomplish what I originally thought impossible.
I have never felt better—physically as well as mentally.
Patty M.
Age 52
Grandmother of 9
On March 1, 2009 I decided I wanted to be 50 and fit, not 50 and flabby. I wouldnt be turning 50 until January of 2010, but I knew I had no time to waste. It had been since the birth of my first child, 33 years ago, that I felt comfortable in a pair of shorts. Who knows, maybe the summer of 2009 would be different. I thought since I have all the gym equipment at home, and have tried every diet including Weight Watchers, Slender Center, Atkins, Slimfast (thre isn't a diet that I didnt try) and had a personal trainer in the past, that I could do this on my own. I gave myself a chance, and again I failed. So on March 12, 2009 I walked into Richmond Tanning & Traning and met with Al Herman. How hard could it be? After all, my son “Raisin” has been training with Al for over 4 years and he never complained, not even once. Wow, that first morning with AL has changed my life. My initial plan was to work out twice a week. After my second workout, I decided to work out with Al three times a week. I was hooked.
Al put me on a diet, which I followed to the letter except “C” (caffine). He also told me I had to wear shorts and not long pants to work out in. He analized my body so he would know what areas needed more work. He even gave me a few exercises to complete at home (dont worry, they are quick and simple). Every morning without exception he would ask me “How's your diet?” “What did you eat last night?” I dont know if you've ever met Al, but I dont want to be the one telling him I didn't follow his plan! There was just one little thing I didnt follow. It was a non-alcoholic beverage, no calories, what could it hurt? Coffee. Al doesn't knowknow everything I've told myself. Well, in one week I gained 6 lbs, and my diet hadn't changed at all. Al discussed many variables with me and finally the truth came out. The only thing I had been drinking more of was regular coffee. Al kept telling me that caffine wasn't good for me, and it can actually make people retain water. I cut my caffine intake to one cup a day and lost the 6 lbs. quickly.
I have lost 30 lbs in 4 months, and too many inches to mention. Joining Richmond Tanning & Training was the best thing I have done for my health. When you train with Al, you have his full attention for the entire training session. Al is very professional, extremely knowlegeble, and non-judgemental. He gives you the tools to meet your goal, and is by your side every step of the way. Thanks to Al, I am once again comfortable in sleeveless tops and shorts. I've made such great progess, I'm planning on doing a bodybuilding show in May of 2010!
Carla J.
Age 50
Appleton, WI
My dieting career began at the tender age of 11. The yo-yo began its slight downward spiral followed by a larger flight upward. Year after year I would start a new “fad” diet, forever fighting the stigma-especially in my own mind, of being fat with very little hope. A dietician once told me that “80% of people fail, so you probably will too.” My GYN informed me I have PCOS (Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome) and because of that “everything you eat turns to sugar, so you’ll never be able to lose the weight.”
My turning point began when I started on Herbalife products, learned a lot about nutrition, lost 30 pounds and then hired a personal trainer (Al Herman). Initially this was to help my husband pass his military PT tests, and I was thrilled when Al offered to work us both out. Getting up at 4:30 in the morning to workout wasn’t ideal, but I tried…most of the time. Then my husband was deployed, and although I continued to work out with Al I succumbed once again to my plight of emotional eating.
As my weight soared upward, I became crankier and unhappy with everyone and everything, and I finally decided enough was enough. It was time for a life change. Al and I worked out a plan to crank things up and jump start the rest of my life. I wrote down everything I ate, showed it to Al at each workout, and began to add cardio. Within six months I had lost 40 pounds and went from a very tight size 18 to a size 8! My family benefitted by accident, for they all had to eat what I made. No more multiple meal dinners. We cut down on the carbohydrates and the sweets and focused on healthy meals and snacks. Healthy eating is a way of life. My indulgences are now planned and kept to a minimum. Cardio is essential. When I miss it my body tells me. I used to have a hard time fitting my cardio in. Now it’s the first thing I schedule and the rest fits around it.
After spending many years trying to achieve a healthy body, I was so proud when Al suggested I join him in the gym as a trainer. Together we have opened a door of opportunity to help others achieve what I have, incorporating philosophies I completely agree with. I look forward to every moment with my clients-from the ups (“My mom wears a size 8 now!”) to the downs (“I fell off the wagon and ATE at the party this weekend”).Young or old, short or tall, big or small we all need help sometimes to feel good about ourselves. The best way to do that is to give our minds and bodies every chance to be healthy!
Michelle M.
Appleton, WI
My turning point began when I started on Herbalife products, learned a lot about nutrition, lost 30 pounds and then hired a personal trainer (Al Herman). Initially this was to help my husband pass his military PT tests, and I was thrilled when Al offered to work us both out. Getting up at 4:30 in the morning to workout wasn’t ideal, but I tried…most of the time. Then my husband was deployed, and although I continued to work out with Al I succumbed once again to my plight of emotional eating.
As my weight soared upward, I became crankier and unhappy with everyone and everything, and I finally decided enough was enough. It was time for a life change. Al and I worked out a plan to crank things up and jump start the rest of my life. I wrote down everything I ate, showed it to Al at each workout, and began to add cardio. Within six months I had lost 40 pounds and went from a very tight size 18 to a size 8! My family benefitted by accident, for they all had to eat what I made. No more multiple meal dinners. We cut down on the carbohydrates and the sweets and focused on healthy meals and snacks. Healthy eating is a way of life. My indulgences are now planned and kept to a minimum. Cardio is essential. When I miss it my body tells me. I used to have a hard time fitting my cardio in. Now it’s the first thing I schedule and the rest fits around it.
After spending many years trying to achieve a healthy body, I was so proud when Al suggested I join him in the gym as a trainer. Together we have opened a door of opportunity to help others achieve what I have, incorporating philosophies I completely agree with. I look forward to every moment with my clients-from the ups (“My mom wears a size 8 now!”) to the downs (“I fell off the wagon and ATE at the party this weekend”).Young or old, short or tall, big or small we all need help sometimes to feel good about ourselves. The best way to do that is to give our minds and bodies every chance to be healthy!
Michelle M.
Appleton, WI
I have never had a weight issue, and am basically in good shape, but when I turned 35, I wanted to participate a bodybuilding show. I have always known the basic exercises to do to firm up my body, but to do a competition, I need a little extra help. Since I only had 14 weeks to train before the competition, AL worked with me 5 days a week. I lifted weights 1/2 hr each day, ate a high protein clean diet that he helped me with, and did mimimal cardio each day the last 3 weeks before the show. I started my training with around 15% body fat and ended up around 7% for the competition. I participated in the 2010 Ford's Gym Natural Midwest Championships in Madison, WI. I placed 3rd overall in the Fit Body category. I was very pleased with my placement and overall outcome. Thanks Richmond Tanning & Training!
Chanin R.
Age 35
Neenah, WI
