Success Stories
We are known internationally for helping our members experience incredible, life-changing results. Read the following successes and be inspired by their stories. If you take action today, you could be one of our success stories too!
Featured Client - What an Inspiration!
Joe Markee
"
There are three things I am passionate about:
My Family
The work that our family and friends have done in Haiti for the past 35 years
What NW Personal Training has done for me
I started coming to NW Personal Training a long time ago. It was a fit for me from my first visit. Still is. My daughter Taryn and I really enjoy working out together on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 5:30 am. It is a great way to start the day!
I think I have worked out with about every... instructor. They are all friendly and encourage (but definitely don't cut us any slack). But best of all, for all the time I have been coming, what I really love is that I have never had the same workout repeated!
Next year, hopefully, I will become an octogenarian. I can't wait to see what kind of workouts NWPT will have in store for me!" Read more and be inspired
"My daughter Taryn and I really enjoy working out together on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 5:30 am. It is a great way to start the day!"
NOVEMBER 01, 2018
New Attitude for Life!
Kevin Roberts
"
Less than a year ago I was overweight with dangerously high blood pressure and a depressed attitude. I have been on and off workout programs for many years. These self-directed training sessions and weight loss regimens lasted a short period of time before going back to old bad habits - habits that exhibited an unbalanced life that negatively impacted my physical and mental health.
I'm very fortunate to have a wife (also a client of NWPT!) who booted my rear into Northwest Personal ... Training's Salmon Creek facility in December of 2017. We started doing weekly Partner Training, and I also added Personal Training twice a week with Scott Campbell. Scott listened to my goals and designed a plan to take me from a current poor state of health to a new level of fitness. The time committed to training with Scott was only three half-hour sessions per week, but by doing this consistently, the weight started dropping, energy level began increasing, and my attitude towards life improved greatly. During each workout, I felt being pushed to new levels. The training program struck the right balance between getting positive results and not injuring myself - something that had not been possible trying to do this on my own many times before.
Seeing and feeling the improvement, everyday activities like walking up stairs, traveling for work, and keeping up with the kids became easier and were now enjoyable. Eating healthy became more of a priority. I started adding activities back into my life and felt the motivation to start new ones.
This summer I went water skiing for the first time in 20 years and surfing for the first time ever! Bike riding with this new level of fitness makes each ride fun while at the same time improving health and fitness. My blood pressure is back into a healthy range. I've lost 60lbs and have good reason to get rid of old clothes and splurge a little on new ones.
In a matter of months, my outlook on life has changed dramatically and I'm much more of part of it! Northwest Personal Training has been a key factor in getting my life back. Thanks so much to Scott and everyone at NWPT!" Read more and be inspired
"This summer I went water skiing for the first time in 20 years and surfing for the first time ever"
OCTOBER 01, 2018
Featured Client -
Pam Floyd
"
Five months ago, in March 2018, I was in so much chronic pain, I had to use a cane or shopping cart to walk more than 10 minutes. I had a ruptured disk, a back injury from 25 years ago, arthritis, congestive heart failure, depression, anxiety disorder, plus I was pre-diabetic and 190 pounds.
I had to use a back strap support to do chores in 10-minute intervals until the pain became too much. I had daily chronic pain all over my body that hurt so much when I moved, that I just sat on... the couch or lay in bed all day. I couldn't take any pain medications or anti-inflammatories because of congestive heart failure. I couldn't even take Advil or Aleve.
My doctor said I could take Tylenol, but it wouldn't help. She was right. I was 61 years old and finally retired after saving for years, but hurt too much to enjoy it. My husband has been traveling alone for 2 years because I hurt too much to even get on an airplane. He felt like I had given up on myself. It felt terrible. So I reached out to my old trainer Rob Cloke.
I have lost 23lbs in the past 5 months with Rob. After a 5 year absence, I went back to Rob for personal training because my back hurt so bad, I wanted him to help me lose weight so my doctor would give me a steroid shot to help with my back pain. Rob put me on a food plan eliminating a lot of the sugar I had been eating and after 3 weeks my daily chronic pain disappeared. It wasn't arthritis, it was inflammation from all of the sugar I had been eating! My back pain has decreased so much I no longer need my cane and I only have to use my back strap for strenuous activities. I am hopeful things can only get better from here!
I now also take yoga and barre classes and have made so many new friends at NWPT. I also meditate every morning thanks to a meditation app Derrick recommended, and my constant nightmares have stopped. (I still can't believe this, even as I am writing it.)
I want to give a heartfelt shout out to Rob. I initially began training with Rob, in September of 2000 because I was worried about my health. I went from 170lbs to 146lbs in my first year with him. Then due to work stress, I suffered a number of illnesses and started to stress eat. This lead to weight gain and congestive heart failure in 2007. During all of my surgeries and illnesses Rob constantly checked in on me and when I was ready he welcomed me back to the gym. (He called so much my grandson even knew who he was.) He'll give you as much support as you want, I never felt like I was just a client to him. Seeing Rob 3x/week during this stressful time was the only thing keeping me above water, NWPT was an oasis of calm for me.
Once I retired I stopped seeing Rob because I felt I couldn't afford it. Now I realize that I can't afford not to. Some people can do it alone, but I need professional help. I know this sounds over the top, but after what I've been through, this has truly been a life changing experience for me. I'm not a religious person anymore, but Northwest Personal Training is now my church.
Gratefully,
Pam Floyd" Read more and be inspired
"I now also take yoga and barre classes and have made so many new friends at NWPT. I also meditate every morning."
SEPTEMBER 01, 2018
Featured Client - Reaching Towards Success
Becky Rogerson
"
I wasn't your typical "big girl." Oh, I certainly qualified for that title at 300 pounds for at least a decade... but I didn't see myself as that big. I felt like I took up a lot of physical space but I didn't see a big girl in the mirror. I didn't hate myself. I was reasonably active, ate reasonably well, but couldn't seem to lose the weight.
I spent a ton of time at the gym swimming, biking, running, and on the elliptical but not doing a lot of strength training. It was boring to ... me. My goal at the time was to do a 5k on the elliptical at a 10 min/mile pace. I never reached that goal.
At 44, the extra weight wasn't affecting my health or quality of life but I knew it would eventually. So, I put some focused efforts towards losing weight. I tracked everything that went in my mouth, every workout I did, and actually started seeing the number on the scales start to move! It was a commitment, to be honest with myself every time I logged my food but it was paying off.
In about 18 months, I was able to drop 115 pounds. Once I lost the weight, I ran my very first 5k race, at a 10:30 min/mile pace. Not quite my 10 min/mile goal from when I was heavy, but I was happy with it.
And then the dreaded plateau hit, hard! When I couldn't stop the weight from coming back on, I started to get complacent and ended up gaining 30 pounds of my hard earned loss back. When my clothes started to get snug I knew I needed to haul myself back on the wagon and get back on track.
I hit the pavement and started running again. My first 10k was a study in insurmountable walls. At mile 3, I was seriously wondering, what I was thinking, running 6.2 miles. I ended up walking most of the way back to the finish line and was happy I was able to finish. I've run several races since then. My Couve Clover Lucky 7 mile race pace was 10:19. With each race, I am getting closer to my 10 min/mile pace goal!
Since working with Nathan and Jamie, I've lost 10 pounds, and have the mobility to enjoy my future grandkids, and am training for my first half marathon in October. My weight loss has been slow but it is going back in the right direction. I have gained strength and mobility that I didn't know was missing and I have learned to enjoy the journey and feel success in my training towards my goals. Most importantly, while working with Nathan and Jamie I have learned that success is in the attempt... not perfection." Read more and be inspired
"I've gained strength and mobility I didn't know was missing."
AUGUST 01, 2018
Featured Client - Breaking Barriers & Getting on Track!
Echo Langley
"
I had never been one who enjoyed physical exercise. I never played sports and the only light that saw my face was the light of the refrigerator. When I turned 65, Medicare said they would pay for me to go to the gym so I went to the "big box" gyms they paid for. They had the equipment and the classes. They had pools and peppy music. I never went more than twice.
When I couldn't walk around the block without panting and wheezing, when I was falling on a fairly frequent basis, when I ... had gained 30 pounds on top of my already plump self, when my blood pressure and cholesterol were too high, I knew I had to do something. I did some research and settled on a free assessment at Northwest Personal Training. I came in on a Saturday and met with Alicia Rose. She identified a number of areas that needed a LOT of work and then asked me what NWPT could do for me. I told her, "I need you to care. To really care whether I show up. To care whether I work when I am here. To care whether I meet my goals. When I don't care enough, I need you to care for me." Since that day, the Saturday before Thanksgiving 2017, I have never felt alone on this journey to health. Judith emails me to check if I miss class. Derrick never fails to let me know how much I have improved and always smiles when I whine and then says, "Let's do 5 more reps." And Rob always pushes me to my limits. I love the Barre class and the Cardio-Muscle definitions class. Most importantly, though, somewhere along the line, I learned to care.
The bottom line is that I have lost weight, have become much stronger, have not fallen since that first day and have formed a walking group at my church. The nutrition intern continues to teach me how to eat better. I try things I never thought I could do and I have walked in two 5Ks without having to stop and rest. The staff at NWPT never fails to tell me how hard I work, but in all honesty, I just show up and they work their magic. It is their skill and inspiration that makes me want to push myself to work harder.
That first day, I told Alicia that my goal was to walk the Couve Clover 5k without having to stop and rest in the middle. Now my goal is to walk it in under 45 minutes. I know I can do this because I care and NWPT is there to help me every step of the way." Read more and be inspired
"Since that day, the Saturday before Thanksgiving 2017, I have never felt alone on this journey to health."
JULY 01, 2018
Featured Client -
Ruby Grendahl
"
About four years ago, I lost two key people in my life, which made me think about my own mortality. At that time, my grand-daughter encouraged me to join a local gym with her; which I did.
In the Fall of 2017, I felt like I needed additional (professional) help in gaining upper boy and core strength. I had been reading Sherri's weekly column, so I decided to check it out, and join NWPT.
I enjoy coming to NWPT. I always look forward to what is in store for me. I feel stronger ... and have so much more energy than I've had in a long time. I've also lost some weight and inches, which has been a plus! It's amazing what a half hour can accomplish, a couple of times a week! I'm looking forward to the journey-moving forward, and am so thankful for what my body can do.
My goal is to continue to stay healthy and fit, in order to keep up with my grand-kids, and great-grandkids. I'd like to set a good example and inspire them to live healthy lives, as time marches on... To quote Sherri McMillan "Remember, health is a forever thing"." Read more and be inspired
"I feel stronger and have so much more energy than I've had in a long time."
JUNE 01, 2018
Annie Brooks
"
After graduating from college, 30lbs heavier than when I started, I tried out a variety of fitness programs, hoping to lose the extra weight that I had gained. Throughout the process, I experienced a lot of frustration, self-doubt, and ultimately, more weight gain. I found myself with my weight at an all-time high. I was asked to be a bridesmaid in a wedding and I finally decided that I needed some guidance from a professional.
I wanted a more comprehensive approach than what I felt ... a large, corporate chain gym could provide. I wanted insight into how to live a better, healthier life as well as a unique approach. So, I did a good ol' Google search and came across NWPT. I emailed asking for more info. I have to admit that it still took me another 3 months to actually call and make an initial appointment! I was terrified. Terrified of being judged, of wasting money, of failing AGAIN, and of embarrassing myself. Man, I couldn't have been more wrong!
I've been working with Nathan since June 2017, and in the last 10 months I've learned so much about fitness and health, achieved goals I didn't know existed, and have had so much fun while doing so! Admittedly, I didn't end up at my original weight goal for the wedding, but what I have accomplished is SO. MUCH. BETTER. My goals have shifted. I'm stronger than I've ever been. I've got muscles back that I haven't seen since I was 17. I can deadlift 185lbs (humble brag). And now, not only do I know what a kettlebell is... I know how to use one too! My idea of "fitness" has changed - I no longer look at it as a chore with an end goal, but rather an integral part of a normal, healthy life. I have tools to move and move well every day, and actually, ENJOY it! Turns out, it's pretty easy.
Nathan has changed my life. And he did it with the utmost patience and WITHOUT burpees. For that, I am grateful. I'll always call NWPT my fitness home!" Read more and be inspired
"I was terrified. Terrified of being judged, of wasting money, of failing AGAIN, of embarrassing myself and man, I couldn't have been more wrong!"
MAY 01, 2018
Talk about Dedication!
Cirith Anderson-Sebree
"
I've been an NWPT client on-and-off since 2007. I became serious about personal training in 2015 recuperating from a self-inflicted back injury at the gym. The injury was a jarring realization that my current workout routine (same one I used for the last two decades) was not optimized for my then 41-year-old body.
Enter Judith. In tandem with physical therapy, Judith customized stretching and strength programs, which rehabilitated my back and rebalanced my body musculature. After physical... therapy ended, I continued my weekly training sessions with Judith because the results were life changing. Doing so enabled me to return pain-free to my favorite sport, running! I started entering road races again: Race for Warmth, Couve' Clover, Girlfriends Half Marathon, etc. With each completed event my distance increases and times fall. At Judith's encouragement, I will run the Wild Woman Trail Marathon Rely with two other remarkable trainers, Marijka and Jamie.
What humbles me the most about my experiences these past three years are the relationships I've made through NWPT and how it enables me to nourish existing friendships in a frenetically paced world. I cherish the weekly partner training sessions with my friend Kristy Weaver. In addition to accountability and motivation, these sessions keep us personally connected despite our very full work schedules.
Even in my most unmotivated and exhausted states, I transform when I step into the NWPT studio. I enter a world of positivity, levity, and fun! Everyone (clients, staff, and trainers) exude energy, support, and determination. This place inspires me to be better and give more than the previous session. One of my fondest moments occurred when Robe presented me with a T-shirt that reads "Make Yourself Stronger Than Your Excuses". I love that shirt and it personifies my relationship with personal training!
Thank you NWPT team and especially, Judith! I am so grateful for how far I've come because of your tutorage and support. So ecstatic about the future!" Read more and be inspired
"Even in my most unmotivated and exhausted states, I transform when I step into the NWPT studio. I enter a world of positivity, levity, and fun!"
APRIL 01, 2018
Featured Client!
Traci Coleman
"
I'm relatively new to NWPT, working with one of the trainers (Nathan!!!) consistently since around September 2017. I'm someone that has tried several different types of exercise modalities over the recent years, and I have struggled to find something that I felt safe doing and that was a genuinely good fit and sustainable for me and my lifestyle on a long-term basis.
I contacted NWPT and signed up for the personal training sessions for several reasons, the main one being that I... needed to be more focused on recovering my health. I needed help doing this; working through it on my own just wasn't getting results. Being diabetic and carrying extra weight, I recognized the unfortunate situations my future could hold for me - and I recognized that being in-motion and doing something about it is in my hands entirely. (Accountability can be hard sometimes!)
Several months into working with Nathan, I can share with confidence that I have a family and team of people at NWPT that are supporting me and cheering me on every step of the way. High-fives, hugs, smiles and words of encouragement are constant reminders that I'm not in this process alone. I always have someone to celebrate my successes with, and I always have someone to lean on to help me get through challenging moments.
I'm excited to share that I've had amazing ( AMAZING!) results so far, and this is really just the beginning for me. I've experienced a significant amount of weight loss, my diabetes is under the best control it's been since I was diagnosed over 20 years ago, and I've even cut my insulin intake by over half and am still continuing to NWPT has been educational and life-changing, and I'm so very grateful that I made that initial call and took the steps I did to start this new aspect of how I am choosing to live my life.
I cannot say thank you enough to NWPT and Nathan Southmayd for being such a consistent foundation for me. It's made all the difference." Read more and be inspired
"Several months into working with Nathan, I can share with confidence that I have a family and team of people at NWPT that are supporting me and cheering me on every step of the way."
MARCH 01, 2018
Featured Client
Elizabeth Clarkson
"
Several years ago I joined Northwest Personal Training because I realized I wasn't getting the results I wanted from my own self-directed workouts. My body was changing with age and I didn't know how to deal with it. I knew I didn't want to join a franchise health club with paint by the number workout routines. I wanted personal attention. I wanted someone to guide me on how to workout to achieve my personal goals, even help me set those goals. Like most middle-aged women, my expectations o... r ideas about my body image have changed. I wanted to look my best, but more importantly, I wanted to ensure my mobility and overall health. I loved to travel, be physically active, and be independent. I care more about how I feel and maintaining the ability to be physically capable of leading an active life, especially when it comes to traveling, near and far. I believe working out, eating well and managing my stress is key to remaining healthy and viable as I age. NWPT supports that approach, with real life, practical guidance, and support. Every Personal Trainer I partnered with over the years has demonstrated that it's not about the latest fad or striving to look like some unrealistic model, it's about taking care of your body and your mind. I love that I can walk in here week after week with my bedhead and "I haven't had my coffee" morning grumpiness to Jolene's smile and sweet disposition, and walk out with a fresh attitude, feeling that I've just done something really good for myself, and knowing I'm in control of how I age, not controlled by it." Read more and be inspired
"I believe working out, eating well and managing my stress is key to remaining healthy and viable as I age. NWPT supports that approach, with real life, practical guidance, and support."
FEBRUARY 01, 2018
Voted "Most Inspirational Story" in 2017
Tom Hagley
"
I checked myself into the E.R. at Legacy Salmon Creek with chest pains, but that wasn’t the only reason I decided to join Northwest Personal Training. Two other self-awakening, rear-end-kicking, and ultimately life-changing experiences motivated me to invest in my health and fitness.
In my late 30s, as a way of coping with stress, I developed a bad habit of eating super-sized lunches in restaurants every single day. They were my refuge, places where I could escape from... work for an hour, read a book, and satisfy my craving for the brain-chemical rush that comes from high-glycemic carbs and caffeinated diet soda. My favorite was a pizza joint, where I justified my over-consumption of pepperoni pie by eating a salad first. One day, I was devouring a giant Mexi-pizza all by myself when a friend and her parents came into the restaurant and stopped at my table to say hello. They were kind enough not to say anything about my lunch, but I was mortified.
Another wake-up call came on a cold and rainy day at Dog Mountain. I had driven up the Gorge for a hike with three friends. They were long-time runners. I was an experienced outdoorsman-turned-couch potato. With the mistaken belief that I could keep up based on my past years of hiking on trails all over the region, I started up the calf-stretching path and soon was red-faced and winded. My friends waited for me at every switchback, probably to make sure that I hadn’t collapsed. We reached the top approximately one week later, or at least it felt that long to me. Right then and there, I realized that my all-you-can-eat, sedentary, stressed-out lifestyle was keeping me from enjoying one of the activities I loved the most.
I went home and told my wife that I was unhappy and that I had to change. She gave me a gift certificate for a trial membership at NWPT. After completing the intake forms and enduring my first measurement of body fat, I took the initial steps of replacing a restaurant food addiction with regular exercise and better nutrition. The process took a while, and I had a few setbacks, including one time when I fueled up for indoor cycling with a drive-thru bacon double-cheeseburger and waffle fries. That never happened again.
At NWPT, I met some wonderful people. The trainers are expert instructors. They’re fun and friendly, too, always greeting me by first name. NWPT staff and clients are close – like a family. As I began to look forward to taking group classes and personal training sessions, I reduced my desire to over-consume food and increased my level of fitness. I began to see and feel the amazing results. I lost 40 pounds of flab and gained strength and flexibility. My blood pressure went down, and my cholesterol ratio improved. I had more energy and a positive outlook.
Now, as a NWPT client for almost 10 years, I’ve achieved many goals directly related to the transformation of my health and fitness. I’ve done the Seattle-to-Portland bike ride and numerous century rides. As an avid runner, I’ve competed in dozens of 5K, 10K and half-marathon races, sometimes finishing in the top three of my age group. I’ve finished several relays, including Hood to Coast, Cascade Lakes and Ragnar NW Passage, and I’ve competed on a team in the Lake Stevens Half-Ironman. Most recently, I ran 30 miles on an ultra trail race in southern Utah at elevations over 7,000 feet. I’ve backcountry climbed and skied in the Spanish Peaks of Montana and taken countless hikes with friends, including multiple ascents of South Sister and Mt. St. Helens.
Thanks to NWPT (and my wife, who is a member, too, and my mom, who also encouraged me throughout this journey), I’m a happier and healthier person, looking forward to new challenges and always striving to “live life to the fullest!”
" Read more and be inspired
"I went home and told my wife that I was unhappy and that I had to change. She gave me a gift certificate for a trial membership at NWPT."
JANUARY 01, 2018
Featured Client - Nicole is so strong and works so hard!
Nicole Ableidinger
"
I have always heard wonderful things about Northwest Personal Training, but for years found many excuses not to try it: "It's too expensive. It's too far away. I'm not a runner/swimmer/cyclist. I'm not a serious athlete."
My husband joined a Spring Makeover Challenge a few years ago, and after he tried some personal training and some group fitness classes, he told me that it was a place I would love. But at the time, I had a corporate gym membership, and that was fine with me. Not to ment... ion, I have a genuine fear of the unknown, so why change... right? But soon enough, it became clear to me that the gym I belonged to was no longer meeting my needs, and I finally took advantage of NWPT's "try it for free offer." I immediately knew this was the place for me.
When it comes to NWPT, I feel like I'm all-in. I love participating in WHY Racing events with my family and my fellow athletes, I look forward to my daily group fitness classes, and I have figured out how to build my schedule AROUND my fitness. It's hard to admit, but when I take time each day to focus on my own health, it's a little easier to be a better wife, mother, friend and a better "me" because I have the energy and the clear head to tackle what the day brings.
I have developed many close relationships with the trainers at NWPT. Even though I haven't picked a personal trainer, I know all of my instructors really well. What makes NWPT different is the people you meet, and the relationships you build. With each visit, everyone greets me and welcomes me at the door with a smile. They ask me how I am doing and encourage me to always work just a little harder than I thought I could.
Whether I am making great health choices or struggling through tougher times, my trainers/instructors make me feel capable and supported. I am constantly being challenged and encouraged, so much so, that I've signed up for my first Duathlon in the spring. (Have I mentioned that I'm not a fan of running, and I don't particularly like riding my bike on the street?) Thank you to every single member at NWPT for pushing me out of my comfort zone. Because of your encouragement and support, I'm a stronger, healthier me! Each day when I don't think I can do one more rep - but somehow manage to - I'm inspired. Thank you for helping me be my best self, and thank you for supporting me however and whenever I show up. " Read more and be inspired
"It's hard to admit, but when I take time each day to focus on my own health, it's a little easier to be a better wife, mother, friend and a better "me" because I have the energy and the clear head to tackle what the day brings. "
DECEMBER 01, 2017
Featured Client - Teresa has come so far!
Teresa Pauletto
"
After twenty years of being pretty sedentary, I knew I needed help. I was worried about my balance and how a fall could cause serious injury.
Leah has been by my side from day one. Encouraging and challenging me every step of the way. I am healthy and strong and have been able to have fun with my grandchildren.
NWPT has changed my life!
I have been able to travel with Medical Teams International, as a non-medical helper to Uganda, Guatemala, and Cambodia. I have also gone to... India twice to visit my daughter and wouldn't have been able to make these trips without the strength I've gained with NWPT." Read more and be inspired
"NWPT has changed my life!"
NOVEMBER 01, 2017
Featured Client - Lorraine is unstoppable!
Lorriane Cook
"
Before I came to NW Personal Training I was a couch potato, I was overweight, my body hurt, I had knee issues. Just getting out of a chair was a challenge. In 2015 my mother had a stroke and I became her caregiver, last year my mother passed away. When she died, I died inside. I quit caring or having hope I just settled into the couch.
It was almost a year before I did anything about it. My close friend Deb Coates and her husband Don were coming to NWPT and they talked about how much be... tter they felt and how having a personal trainer had changed their lives.
“NWPT is like family”
I went in for my initial consultation and told Jolene about my initial goals. The main one was to be able to spend quality time keeping up with my granddaughter Daphne. Jolene suggested that I strengthen the muscles around my knees to give them better support, this became my new goal.
A few weeks into training I was feeling better it was easier to get up and down from the floor, I had more energy but I knew the inevitable, I had to see the doctor about my knee, He gave me a shot of cortisone and told me I needed surgery, but I had to lose 20 pounds first. Jolene and Marijka were fast on helping me find a way to get on track with my diet.
Since then, I can get out of a chair with ease, and have lost 18 pounds and I love coming to my workouts! This all has happened much quicker than I imagined it would. My spirits are back up and I now have dreams of hiking mountains like I used to. I know that once I have that surgery I will have three wonderful trainers that I can fall back on to help me recover and get to those mountains!
I would like to give special thanks to Marijka, Cody, and Jolene for being so helpful and supportive in my journey." Read more and be inspired
"Before I came to NW Personal Training I was a couch potato, I was overweight, my body hurt, I had knee issues."
OCTOBER 01, 2017
Featured Client - Tara has the endurance many strive towards!
Tara Taylor
"
Everyone needs a place where they can “just be.” NWPT is that place for me.
As someone who has wrestled with depression since childhood, I know the benefits of regular physical exercise. I’ve belonged to multiple gyms, but never have I found the sense of community that pervades NWPT. A community is hard to describe and even more difficult to create. But NWPT has it in spades. It’s like entering a loving, happy home where you’re safe and cared for. Where peopl... e believe in you (despite your failings!) and accept you as you are. Where they encourage you on your journey even if you’ve been in the same place for years. And where everyone is welcomed personally every day (thank you Justin and Michelle).
Thank you, Rob, for helping me take pride in my Scottish warrior physique. Nothing gets out the toxins like lifting weights with you!
Through job changes, house moves, blues festivals, personal struggles and the constant strife in the wider world, working out at NWPT always recharges my spirit. No matter my mental state when I enter the front doors, I am always more centered and ready to face the day when I leave. What a life affirming gift!
I am deeply blessed and extremely grateful to be part of this community. Thank you, Rob, Leah, Justin, Molly, Marika, Alicia and Michelle (my “morning crew”) for enriching my life." Read more and be inspired
"Everyone needs a place where they can “just be.” NWPT is that place for me."
SEPTEMBER 01, 2017
Featured Client - Steve is an Inspiration!
Steve Pool
"
I am not someone who really likes to be singled out or honored, and am very humbled by this recognition. Much of my life I have exercised and dieted off and on without any great success. I woke up one morning about a year and a half ago and finally accepted that I was at an extremely unhealthy weight, my body ached and my mobility was limited, my blood pressure was extremely high, even on medication, my self-image was pretty bad and I had a lot of things I still wanted to do in life,... and unless I got some help, it wasn’t going to happen. So, I interviewed a few trainers and I couldn’t find anyone that I thought had the skill, tenacity patience to help me on what was going to be a long journey. Then I made one more search and discovered Northwest Personal Training. They seemed like the kind of place where I would feel comfortable and so I called and made an appointment. The first trainer I met was Alex, and I can only imagine what he thought when we had our first session. I could barely balance on one leg, had very little muscle strength and don’t even think about asking me to do a squat. I was a mess. But I was determined and so was he. Thanks to his skill, knowledge, encouragement and of course his sense of humor, I keep coming back and the changes I have experienced have been enormous.
We started working out three nights a week for 30 minutes a night. It was everything I could do to get through a session, and for the first time in my life, I stayed with it. Eventually, we went to two one hour sessions a week and now we work out an hour a night, three to four nights a week. My posture and balance have dramatically improved. I have lost weight, my self-image is better than ever, and my blood pressure is under control and my doctor is planning to start taking me off of my blood pressure medications. Oh, and I can even do a pretty good squat now.
However, it hasn’t been easy. Over the past 18 months, I have only canceled a handful of sessions, mainly due to weather or illness. At times I have had to adjust my work and personal life around my training schedule, and my health has become a top priority. Most importantly would never have been able to accomplish any of the things I have without the amazing support and encouragement of my wife, Joyce.
While Alex has been my mentor and supporter in this process, I must also say thank you to Judith and Cody and all of the other trainers I have met who have been an incredible support and Irina and Donna who are always professional, supportive and welcoming. While I still have goals to reach, I want to say thank you to Northwest Personal Training and my trainer, Alex Mazurkevich for all of the support and encouragement on this journey towards health." Read more and be inspired
"I woke up one morning about a year and a half ago and finally accepted that I was at an extremely unhealthy weight, my body ached and my mobility was limited, my blood pressure was extremely high, even on medication, my self-image was pretty bad and I had a lot of things I still wanted to do in life, and unless I got some help, it wasn’t going to happen."
AUGUST 01, 2017
Featured Client!
Mike Wall
"
Back in November 2016, I wanted to go get a DEXA scan as I was curious about my bone density. DEXA scans are also very useful tools to show body composition. I was horrified to find out that at the time of the scan, I was 43% fat, and had four pounds of visceral fat on me as well! I went home from the scan and told my wife that if I didn’t turn things around, I would be dead of a heart attack in under ten years.
I love to research, so I checked out every gy... m in the VANWA area. After talking to Donna at NWPT, I signed up for a six-week promotion. Of course, I did things backward and started group class before I had my initial consultation. My first class was with Alicia and I was hooked. I tried every class I could and discovered I really liked rowing. Now I try to make it to six to eight classes a week. I have my various injuries and weaknesses, but all of the trainers at NWPT are very high-caliber and seamlessly give me modifications as needed.
I then signed up for a few training sessions with Marijka as I had admired how hard she made her clients work. We first started rehabbing my left shoulder and then we started working on doing bridges. I knew I could do a neck bridge, but I had never been able to accomplish a full bridge. Within two weeks of working with Marijka got me past the mental block and I was able to accomplish a bridge with assistance. Shortly after one session with her, I tried it “once more” on a whim and pushed myself up on my own. I started laughing out loud as I was so tickled at my accomplishment.
I felt it was only appropriate that Marijka be the star in my picture as she helped me to get to that point.
I really think that all of the trainers at NWPT are top-notch and all of the staff is so welcoming and full of encouragement. Obviously, you have to do the work yourself to “get there”, but having a supporting and fun environment makes it so much easier. I like all of the classes, but Judith’s rowing challenge on Friday evenings is such a kick in the pants with tons of laughter.
I will have another DEXA scan in July, but I did see a new internist in early February for a full physical. When he sent me the results of my blood tests, etc, I asked him if there was a mistake. Conveniently I had a full workup in November, right around the first DEXA scan. The results were *TRANSFORMATIVE* in only two months of working out hard. All of my results were between 50 – 120% improved!
Rob (Mr. Motivation) told me he voted for me because he wanted me to succeed. I’m still working on getting there, but having NWPT along for the journey is a big help. Thank you again to all of the trainers and staff. You are all wonderful and your encouragement means so much." Read more and be inspired
"I really think that all of the trainers at NWPT are top-notch and all of the staff is so welcoming and full of encouragement. Obviously, you have to do the work yourself to “get there”, but having a supporting and fun environment makes it so much easier. "
MAY 01, 2017
Featured Client - Andy has come so far!
Andy Ganderton
"
When told that my name had been put forward for “Client of the Month” I initially laughed but then again I tend to laugh at a lot of things Alicia tells me.
It is coming up on a year since I started my journey with NW Personal Training and with all the changes in my life during that time the one constant has been my time in the gym with Alicia.
I started my workouts looking at the prospect of two Achilles tendon repairs in my immediate future, still recovering from ... two biceps tendon surgeries and having just reviewed the less than flattering results from the blood work of my annual physical.
I was self-conscious about how badly I had allowed my health to lapse and the thought of working out in a public environment terrified me. I was also unsure about how I would respond to be ordered around by a super fit athletic trainer who had no idea what it is like to live in such an abused body and this was the biggest challenge for me.
And then I met Alicia Rose. I could not have asked for a more perfect trainer. Within a couple of sessions we were interacting like I had known her for years and getting up early and driving the 35 minutes to get to the gym suddenly were no problem. My current session is not only physical exercise for me, it is 30 minutes of humor and stories from our past week and the time flies by for me.
So what has this past year's journey done for me? I eat food I would never have eaten in the past, including strange vegetables and more importantly I think about what I eat in a totally different way. The blood test results from this year’s physical were significantly improved and looming diabetes and cholesterol issues have subsided. My Achilles tendons are healing and the daily swelling and bruising have gone. I have been able to pursue a desire I have had for 30+ years to learn how to swing dance. My lack of mobility and flexibility had made this ridiculously difficult and as both have improved this is no longer an issue.
My journey is nowhere near complete and I will be a work in progress for the rest of my life. The biggest change is not the physical one it is the mental change that has allowed me to continue improving myself and who knows maybe I will make that next step and attempt a group class soon." Read more and be inspired
"The biggest change is not the physical one it is the mental change that has allowed me to continue improving myself!"
JULY 01, 2017
Bonnie has worked so hard to get back to where she is!
Bonnie Harkins
"
In July 2015, my husband and I and our two dogs relocated to Vancouver from Pasadena, CA. Six months later, in January of last year, I unexpectedly suffered a stroke. In the span of six hours, I went from being an active, energetic workaholic to having severe deficits in speech, motor control, and coordination. I had to relearn even the simplest of tasks and study body movements of others in order to replicate them. I was advised against pursuing strength training early in my recovery – so... me medical literature points to injury from muscles not receiving messages from the nervous system. However, I decided on my own to find a gym where I could feel comfortable with my uncoordinated movements and deconditioned body. That decision led me to NWPT in March 2016 and I augmented traditional PT and OT with regular workouts. With the patience and support of Cody and Judith, I have surprised my doctors and therapists with my gains. Sessions with Cody and Judith are never boring and there is sometimes more laughter than exercise, but I am convinced that even this aided in my recovery. I still have a long way to go toward full recovery, but I am able to lead a more active life again and I have NWPT to thank. Thank you Cody and Judith for everything!!" Read more and be inspired
"January of last year, I unexpectedly suffered a stroke."
APRIL 01, 2017
At NWPT we STRONGLY believe that having a PLAYFUL spirit is a very important part of living a healthy life! Michelle embodies a playful spirit and we LOVE it!
Michelle Nisle
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I played collegiate volleyball on a scholarship and consequentially worked out for four to five hours every day. After my volleyball career ended, I went directly to law school where I sat all day every day in class and studying. As a result of this new lifestyle I gained weight and lost muscle. Prior to coming to NW Personal Training I was able to lose some weight, but was not very active and wanted to get my strength and overall fitness back. Workouts in ... college were quite intense, so I needed a change. If I was going to keep up with a consistent workout schedule, I needed for it to be fun, have variety, and be something I looked forward to. Luckily I made my first appointment with Cody and it was a perfect fit from the start! We have so much fun, yet are able to get an immense amount of work done in a short time. I enjoy working out with Cody and actually look forward to going in. I am usually a person who has to force myself to exercise, so this says a lot! As a result of my training I have gone back to playing volleyball in a league twice a week and am in the best shape of my life since college. I owe it all to Cody and NW Personal Training!" Read more and be inspired
"Prior to coming to NW Personal Training I was able to lose some weight, but was not very active and wanted to get my strength and overall fitness back."
MARCH 01, 2017
