Nutritional guidance and solid training provides Fitness Together clients with a pathway to success
By Patricia Nugent
“Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.”
—Thomas Edison
Thankfully, Thomas Edison followed his own advice, or else we’d all be sitting in the dark.
What he was alluding to—that success is intrinsically linked to motivation—is one of a myriad of explanations why Fitness Together in Medina has helped countless clients stay focused and achieve their goals.
“Many people come to us because they had been doing their own exercise, maybe running on a treadmill a couple times a week, didn’t see any results, got fed up and then stopped,” says owner Erin Mellinger. “It’s easy to lose your motivation when nothing seems to work.”
At Fitness Together, measurable, real results are a natural outcome of a knowledge-based, science-based approach to custom-fitting a training plan to each client.
Shopping, Cooking, Eating Cleaner
Fitness training is just one component at Fitness Together. To take clients to the next level, the team also offers Nutrition Together, a six-week dietary counseling program.
“Our clients have noticed even more dramatic results when coupling training with proper nutrition,” says Erin. “This isn’t dieting. It’s counseling from an expert. There are no supplements, just sound advice on how to change your attitude toward food to achieve a healthier, fitter lifestyle.”
Created by a registered dietician, nutrition counseling sessions cover topics ranging from how to eat light (and enjoy it) to grocery shopping, dining out and changing unhealthy eating behaviors.
“This program basically changes people’s relationship with food,” says Erin.
“It includes journaling, and for many this is the first time they have actually taken the time to write down everything they eat and drink in a given day. But we go beyond that, having clients record when they are hungry, how the food made them feel and how stress and other factors influence the way they eat. This is key to bring people to a place where they are in touch with food—not just as something that tastes great, but something that fuels their life.”
Battling Food Misconceptions
“There are so many misconceptions out there when it comes to diet,” says Erin. “While preferences may ebb and flow, sound nutrition and eating clean have been a constant since mankind began.”
By really listening to their body, people come to realize simple truths such as, even though a glazed doughnut might taste amazing, it will sit like lead in your stomach the rest of the day and zap you of your energy.
Tracking Heart Rate 24/7
Fitness Together is thrilled to have begun using heart rate monitor watches with their clients.
“It helps us see what people are doing on their own time,” Erin explains. “As soon as they come in for a training session, we sync up their monitors to get a reading on the cardio they’ve clocked in when not with us in the studio. It’s great to evaluate that they are hitting the most effective heart rate during activities.”
The heart rate monitor is also an invaluable part of every training session, as it alerts the trainer when clients are hitting the most beneficial percentage of maximum to burn calories and boost strength and endurance long after the session is over.
One Tenacious A-Team
The average client at Fitness Together visits two to three times a week. And the retention rate of clients here is far above the industry standard.
One of the reasons for this, Erin speculates, is the enthusiastic group of trainers she has put together, including Cailin Fairbairn, Nick Mog, Nate Walker and Kalie Kling.
“Everyone brings something different to the table,” she says. “And since people work with each of the trainers, the experience is always fresh and fun. For instance, Kalie loves kickboxing and clients can expect to hit the heavy bag during a session with her.”
Every session is geared toward the needs and wants of the client, and the trainers develop a style of fitting within their unique goals, whether it’s addressing joint problems to balance issues or building lean muscle mass.
And complementing the professional difference from an elite training team, the studio has compiled an arsenal of high-end exercise equipment housed within two private suites, from weight sets to kettle bells, balance balls, battle ropes, kickboxing bags and boxing gloves.
Fitness Together is located within the Medina Signature Square Shopping Center at 3725 Medina Road, Suite #106, in Medina. Hours are Monday through Friday, 5:30 a.m.-9:00 p.m.; and Saturday, 5:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Call 330-952-0833, or visit FTMedina.com for more information.