A large percentage of people who join a gym and attempt to "work out" never get results – or at least the results they truly desire. What do I suggest? STOP WORKING OUT and start training.

After years of working in large corporate gyms with thousands of members, it became common knowledge that 80 percent of people who sign up for the gym come in with high aspirations, only to stop going after about two weeks. A small percentage will get set up with a trainer and the rest will come in on a consistent basis and "work out." After a few weeks or months, many of the people who work out will approach a trainer asking "what should I do in my work out, I started to see results at first but then I seemed to plateau."  Why? It’s because so many people go to the gym and do the same things over and over again because they are unaware of what to do to ensure results.

I love Einstein's definition of insanity because it applies directly to working out. Einstein defined insanity as "doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." Imagine if someone told you they were walking into a wall over and over again and could not understand why a door didn't appear, what you would think? If you walk three miles in your routine consistently, guess what? It's time to start jogging or walk four miles. Make sense? That is the only way to see results. Know what it is you want and push for it in systematic steps – or, what is called a training session. Each session needs progress.

If you are not experiencing progressive, continuous results from your workout – then something has to change in order for them to be seen. If you really want to see results, start by tracking. The next time you go to the gym ask yourself, “What is my goal for this specific training session and is it going to help me reach my ultimate goal?” Track calories burned, repetitions and weights per exercise. Track something, ANYTHING, just go a little further each time. Tracking will give you tangible, measurable information to help you in your journey.

A workout is a disorganized, unfocused, sporadic regimen that leads nowhere. A training session is a focused, organized, goal-oriented approach with specific exercises that promote your ultimate goals in the fastest and safest ways possible. In order to achieve your greatest potential and get the results you truly desire – be it a flat stomach, toned hips and thighs, or greater strength – start training and stop working out.

When she walked into EarthFIT, Carol knew what she wanted. She had short-term goals such as getting out of a chair without her knees hurting, having no shoulder pain, strengthening her core and increasing her energy to go about her daily routine. Longer term, Carol wanted to be a certain weight by her 63rd birthday, which was about 10 months away. I knew we had a challenge in front of us, as I performed the EarthFIT Assessment on Carol, but we were both up for it.

The EarthFIT Assessment evaluates body movement, cardio capacity, muscular strength and endurance. I was able to identify Carol's imbalances that led to her knee and shoulder pain and create a program that was specific to her goals. Her cardio was low and I can remember her having to stop and take a break after pedaling on the recumbent bike for a minute at a mild intensity. She went through bouts of exhaustion and fatigue, a normal side effect when first starting a training regimen. But through the program we adapted her body to take on more and more. Within three weeks, her knee pain subsided and her energy levels multiplied. However, we hit another roadblock.

Carol, along with millions of Americans, watches numerous reality weight loss shows, and falsely believed that after three weeks of hard work, the weight would just fall off. She couldn't understand why she hadn't already lost 20 pounds. As I explained the process of ‘calories in versus calories out,’ the science of how muscle is the driver of metabolism, how her body is adapting, and how, if done right, each session is a progression to the next level, I could tell that Carol was still a skeptic - but she was a woman on a mission. Her mission was to reclaim her life... and she did just that. I'm happy to announce that Carol Gretsch, a 62-year-old retiree, was the winner of EarthFIT's Fat-to-Fit Battle, losing 23 pounds in three months! And with her birthday in six months, she has lost a total of 27 pounds and counting... Carol is an inspiration to anyone who wants reclaim their life.

All of the Fat-to-Fit Battle contestants deserve praise for all their hard work and enthusiasm. They all pushed themselves to get to where they are now and have achieved massive successes and body transformations. I'm truly proud of them all.

FROM THE WINNER

Carol Gretsch, 62

I began at EarthFit uncertain. I was looking to extend the limits of possibilities. Could I live a life where I could act like the 15-year-old that lives in my mind? How could I become the person who sees something on the floor and automatically picks it up… instead of the person who wonders if she can pick it up? This is about the low toilets in the world that challenge us all as we age in place. How do I keep my "up and down button" working and working well? How do I get in and out of cars or climb stairs without difficulty as I age in place?

I moved to the LowCountry and imagined using a kayak, riding a bike and long walks taking in the sights and sounds of my new home. I realized I might not be able to do these things and things I have yet to dream about. EarthFit has taught me ways to increase my mobility, boost my stamina and long to do more.

Let no one think this has been easy. I have to give up much to get much. I long for the foods that have filled all our plates. HOWEVER, I have relearned to love fruits and vegetables. There is no food that is taboo. It just may not be good for me.

I ache in ways I didn't think possible after working hard under the guidance of the trainers at EarthFit. I want to do everything they ask. I break down all the minutes, seconds and reps into 5's. I can do anything five times that I might not think possible for 10 times or more.

My gains have been remarkable. I often worry that I might be disappointed by my efforts. I have learned to extend my perceived limits.

In a world where The Biggest Losers fill the news with their mind boggling weight loss it is hard not to want that for myself. What I have, instead, is a consistent weight loss as a benefit of participating and engaging in a possibility that has no limit.

I AM going to become older. I will now have a chance to participate in life as I never could, or even imagined I could, before.

A few months ago, I implemented a weight loss contest called "EarthFIT’s Fat-to-Fit Battle". I created this contest not only to help people lose weight, but also to push them past their mental constraints. Simply put, I wanted to get people on the path toward "fitness freedom". Newton’s first law of motion states that an object at rest stays at rest and an object in motion stays in motion. At rest, a typical day involves eating, watching television and sitting in front of the computer. The Fat-to-Fit Battle is the vehicle to get people in motion by combating physically inactive lifestyles and motivating people into a consistent, quality fitness regimen.

I was pleasantly surprised by the variety of people who signed up for the contest. Contestants range from a 23-year-old professional dancer to retirees in their sixties. All have experienced physical and mental challenges throughout the competition, many discovering and overcoming barriers they didn’t even know they had. In addition to the physical demands of each session, contestants must follow a program where they track calories and are weighing in on a weekly basis - a scientifically proven technique for successful long-term weight loss.

Among some of the physical challenges my contestants face are pre-existing aches, pains and a general lack of energy. Chronic or pre-existing pain can sometimes be a setback because they prevent participants from utilizing their full body and burning the maximum amount of calories in a training session. I am very proud of so many of the contestants who ‘battle’ through these conditions (under close watch) and continuously strive toward optimal health.

One of the highlights of leading a contest like this is being able to educate people on the TRUTH about fitness. It’s amazing how deceptive marketing and advertising of fad diets and programs can brainwash people into truly believing that real fitness can come in the form of a pill or happen overnight with little to no effort. Although at EarthFIT we can achieve weight and fat loss at a rapid pace, there is no magic potion or “super pill” – only real fitness solutions that permanently change metabolisms. Sure people can change their image on the outside pretty quickly by doing a cleanse or taking a pill, but what they are doing is losing muscle mass, which is the fundamental driver of metabolism. Understanding this can be one of the first hurdles people must overcome in the journey toward fitness freedom.

One of my participants, Elsie Mufuka, a professional dancer and owner of Mufuka Works in Beaufort, has changed her body immensely. Though she hasn’t lost a large amount of weight, she’s lost fat and gained a lot of muscle. In fact, she lost 10.4lbs and dropped 5 dress sizes in just seven weeks! When she steps on the scale it looks like only 10lbs were shed, but in reality she gained 2 lbs of muscle and burned 13lbs of fat – hence the rapid change in dress size. And to all the ladies out there, no, she doesn’t look bulky! The added muscle will now allow Elsie to burn more calories at rest - eating, watching television and sitting in front the computer - throughout the day. Now who doesn't want that?

Every contestant has shown that they can push through the physical and mental trials and for that, I’m truly proud. I feel sure that they now have the tools to navigate through false promises and programs and continue to invest in themselves in effective and healthy ways. They now have a true understanding of what it takes to be fit and stay it… fitness freedom.