Sinclair really didn't like exercising when she started. She just knew that in order to feel better, get to a healthier weight and be the best version of herself, something had to change. She had to show up for herself.

Over the next few months, her outlook on exercise and nutrition seemed to change. She learned how to make good, nourishing dishes for herself (in her dorm, no less) and she wasn't just showing up to train with me. She was also training at the Northwestern gym and in her dorm room. And she was LIKING IT!

I think is it so freaking cool that Sinclair has learned the importance of taking care of herself now so that, when she graduates from college, she'll know how to apply these skills to life outside of school.

Oh, and by the way: Sinclair lost an impressive 60 pounds over the course of about a year. How? By showing up for herself, that's how.

What were your initial goals when you started training?  
Initially, training had a lot to do with understanding that I was at a pretty critical point in my health - that if I didn't start listening and taking care of my body, mind, and spirit as one cohesive system, I might not ever be able to. Training at first was just about getting back into my body, feeling like there was power and strength inside of me that I deserved to access and grow from. 

Have your goals changed as you've gotten to know more about strength training? 
For me, the underlying goal is always rooted in self care. It's very cool to be able to measure my success by other concrete means (deadlifting my body weight was a super exciting one) but at the end of the day, if I didn't walk into the gym with the intention to honor my body and my abilities, I don't think if I would be able to maintain these awesome habits. Sometimes, just feeling the sweat on my neck and the callouses on my hands is enough to remind me that taking care of myself matters. 

What have you learned since you started? Anything surprising? 
Honestly, that I really love getting stronger! Getting back to a healthy weight was a much less daunting goal for me when the focus was on gaining strength. Like many young women, I had been taught to equate the word "loss" with health, assuming that the smaller you are, the more worth you have. My relationship with my body became so much healthier when I allowed decided to focus on gaining instead of losing. 

Lynn was referred to me by my former trainer Kim Gerbosi (Chicagoans, especially moms, look her up!). Lynn had just finished physical therapy after tearing her gluteus medius (which I lovingly refer to as the Side Butt). The amount of pain she was in was sometimes excruciating. Climbing the stairs in her house or even walking for a length of time left her in pain. A former avid runner, Lynn's life turned upside down.  If you've ever been in chronic pain, you know how debilitating it can be physically and especially mentally.

We started literally from the ground up. Working with her physical therapist, we came up with a program that would build her a strong foundation and we went from there!

Fast forward about 8 months. Lynn can now go up the stairs and walk miles without pain. She can run after her kids without the fear of re-injuring herself. In fact, a friend of hers noticed she hadn't even mentioned her hip in a long time. She's squatting, lunging, deadlifting and kettlebell swinging with the best of them. And her son tells his friends his mom is a weight lifter (which I think is such a huge compliment). 

She's strong and so kind and awesome and I'm so excited for you to meet Lynn!

You may be aware that I put the spotlight on one Evanston personal training client every month in my Client of the Month "column". Rather than have to choose one among many candidates this month, I decided that, in this last Client of the Month post for 2015, I would like to take the time to brag about each of my clients and honor their journey this past year. It's a client brag-a-thon!

I could tell you about the weight my clients have lost (like one who has lost 50 lbs over the last year); about my clients who can fit into dresses/pants/shorts they haven't’ been able to wear in years; about my clients who are loving their more toned arms and legs. Those accomplishments are HUGE and wonderful.

But those are outcomes of months and months of hard work, exercise and practicing nutrition habits that work for them. That work is what I want to brag about today. So without further ado, I would like to celebrate:

• Beth for taking the steps to get her body stronger and more stable which has allowed her to deadlift and swing without back pain and for making strength training a priority!
• Brandi for learning how to meal plan and prep each week, making time in her busy schedule to make it work and for scheduling home workouts in her calendar!
• Brenda for noticing how much easier it is to carry around bags and suitcases while traveling thanks to performing heavy kettlebell farmer carries around the studio!
• Caitlin for proving that if you do your homework you WILL get stronger and be able to do more and more fun stuff, for hitting her first Turkish getup recently and for having SO much less back pain!
• Claire for jumping right into her program with both feet and for performing some pretty solid split squats at her first appointment!
• Gayle for being ultra consistent with her at-home workouts, even in the worst of times, and for being strong enough to stand up out of a lunge and for getting her first pushup!
• George for learning how to meal plan in a way where he doesn’t cut out food groups which has allowed him to lose weight on his own terms without feeling deprived and for getting a 20K Turkish getup!
• Heather for recently hitting a her own Turkish getup PR of 12kg and getting THISCLOSE to hitting her first pullup!
• Jennifer for coming out of her shell so much, for killing her single leg squats and renegade rows and for working out on her own at home when she doesn’t see me!
• Jo for doing the work which has allowed her to get her left leg as strong as her right one and for building up her cardio endurance so she can run around with friends and not get out of breath!
• Kristen for effortlessly swinging the 24kg bell, for always being bright, cheery and present every time she comes in and for making exercise a priority, even when the schedule is nutty!
• Lee for being brave enough to get back into the gym after some surgeries left her with chronic pain and for taking her new fitness journey one step at a time!
• Leslie for not letting plantar fasciitis get in the way of her training (and doing what she needed to do to get rid of it) and for deadlifting increasingly heavier weight with no back pain! 
• Lynn for taking her strength training step by meticulous step to form a strong and stable base which is now allowing her to lunge, step-up and swing with no pain after a long recovery from a gluteus medius tear!
• Maralee for sticking to training, even after going back to work and for waking up early to get some walking and exercise in on her own before work, even if it’s for a short  time (it’s the practice of getting up and doing SOMETHING that really counts)!
• Mark for enduring bear crawls, trusting in the process so he can bench press while keeping his previously injured shoulder safe!
• Mary for being able to rock out some impressive pushups, for learning that even if you make 1 or 2 easy habit changes that you can do with consistency, you can lose weight and keep it off!
• Maura for putting the scale away 6 days a week, stopping a years-old weighing-in-every-day habit, for learning how to get the breakfast she needs to help her feel satisfied and for hitting a deadlifting PR of 80 lbs!
• Megan for being open-minded about trying out new foods to diversify her nutrition plan, and for bringing in her husband to work out with her, proving that support from loved ones is so key!
• Melissa for learning to prep her lunches for work so she doesn’t get stuck with the office pizza delivery, for learning how to make time for workouts,  and for being able to knock out some beautiful pushups!
• Mollie for hitting two pullups in a row after conquering her fear of hanging from the bar and for learning how to meal prep so she gets more nutrient-dense meals!
• Phyllis for deadlifting her bodyweight and just being overall fearless (lots of us at the studio say, “I want to be like Phyllis when I grow up” weekly)!
• Sara for making sleep a priority and turning off electronics at night to the point where she can now sleep through the night and for practicing being less all-or-nothing and less hard on herself!
• Sarah for now being able to hit some fabulous-looking goblet squats and for trusting that she is strong enough to use heavier weights!
• Simon for performing some by-the-book scap pushups after working hard on core strengthening and for being the ultimate supportive partner by preparing lunches for his now-wife leading up to their wedding!
• Sinclair for finding a mode of exercise she loves (kettlebells!) which has inspired her to train and practice on her own outside of her training sessions and for learning how to cook for herself in her dorm!
• Theresa for showing up to train and being present in the midst of a ridiculous work schedule, and for being invested in her nutrition even when it meant cutting down on her much-loved cheese!
• Veronica for committing to exercising after recovering from a broken foot and working on her balance so that step-ups are no longer scary and daunting!

i get to learn from all of these amazing people every day. They've taught me that we are more resilient than we realize; we're usually capable of conquering obstacles before we think we are; that it's much easier to lift a weight off the floor when we don't know how much it weighs (haha); that support and high fives from your training buddies goes a long way; that we are stronger than we think we are, all around; that if we choose what to practice consistently, results like weight loss will happen; that things never need to be complicated to work.

Oh, man, I can't wait to see what 2016 has in store!

​Happy December, lovely people!

Jennifer's strength gains have come so quickly to her it's made my head spin! She came to me almost 6 months ago to help her get strong enough to run (BTW: I LOVE THAT. Sign of a super smart and responsible runner). She has taken to deadlifts, squats and renegade rows like a duck to water, is thisclose to hitting her first pullup and is always super focused every time she walks into the studio doors. Best of all, her confidence in the gym has increased significantly.

Not only does Jennifer kick butt at TruFit Evanston, she's been known to take her herself on runs in and around Millennium Park she also goes hiking in national parks with her family, introducing her daughter to the great outdoors AND physical activity at a young age. 

What were your initial goals when you started training?
I started working with Izzy because I was planning to get back into a running after taking a long break (5 years!) and I was looking for some help including strength training in my workout schedule to prevent injuries as I increased my mileage.

How do you think your sessions have helped you out?
As far as running goes, as I’ve built up my strength I’ve gotten a lot faster, and with Izzy’s help I’m targeting specific areas (like my calves for achilles tendon pain). I sit or stand at a desk working on a computer all day, and as a result I’ve been dealing with neck and shoulder pain for years. My neck and shoulder tension and my posture have both dramatically improved since I started working out with Izzy.

What do you enjoy most about training?
I like that Izzy pushes me to do more challenging things like deadlifts and pull-ups that I’d never try on my own. For the first time in my life I’m starting to feel strong!

Is there anything surprising that you've discovered with strength training?
There is a lot you can do with just bodyweight exercises. They are a lot less intimidating than all of the fancy gym equipment and you can do them anywhere.

Do you have any fitness goals for this year?
I’d like to keep building my core strength, and hopefully do an unassisted pull-up!

How would you describe your philosophy on working out and nutrition?
Running is meditative for me and I’ve found that it’s a great way for me to deal with stress and anxiety. I try to eat whole foods as much as possible and I’m mostly vegetarian. Since I’ve started working out more I’ve been focusing on getting enough protein in my diet.

If you have any questions about strength training, weight loss, nutrition coaching or coming in for a consultation with IzzyFit Personal Training Evanston, don't hesitate to email or call 312-497-8999!

Sara contacted me last summer from Boston to set up a personal training consultation in August, once she'd moved to Evanston. Um. How much do I LOVE that she was so on top of it? Sara had goals (to run a marathon) that she wanted to reach so she made training her priority.

Over the course of the following months, it became clear that Sara's job and schedule were incredibly demanding and the thought of a marathon became too much. For some people (Sara included), the thought of dropping out of a race/meet/etc might feel like failure. But I was so proud of Sara for making the healthier decision: One that would ultimately keep her healthy and able to train for the long-term while not flooding her system with far more stress than a person should handle which I firmly believe would have left her injured or just with a genuine hatred of training. 

Sara showed up every week and stayed consistent. She has made incredible lifestyle changes over the last few months that have left her with a lot less stress, better sleep, a healthier system, fitting into a hot red dress that didn't fit right this time last year and she was at the top of the leaderboard in this spring's CleanSlate28! She's an inspiration and I'm happy to have you meet her! 

What were your initial goals when you started training? 
I moved here in August for work and didn't know anyone, but I knew I wanted to avoid falling off the fitness bandwagon during a time of lots of stress.  So I found Izzy during the summer and signed up right away.  My goals have morphed a lot over time as I've learned to be a bit more patient with myself, but originally I'd say they were: 1) stay fit while being stressed about moving and 2) do some strength training that would help with a marathon I had signed up for (marathon didn't pan out, btw).

How do you think your sessions have helped you out?
Even though I didn't wind up completing my marathon, I'm running with a lot fewer aches and pains now.  I also got to do a bunch of things that I wouldn't have done if I'd have been focused on running longer distances, including a long-standing goal to deadlift my bodyweight successfully. :)

What do you enjoy most about training?
I'm a very process-oriented person. I like checking the boxes on the training plan and watching the weight I can lift or the reps slowly go up (except for the single leg glute bridge reps. Those don't need to go up anymore, ha). Izzy keeps things nice and varied.  If I were doing it on my own I'd probably do the same 4 exercises for 6 months and would never push myself as hard. It's nice to have a fun place where I'm challenged to do new things.

Is there anything surprising that you've discovered with strength training?
Throwing a medicine ball at the wall is a way more effective way of dealing with stress than a stress ball!

Do you have any fitness goals for this year?
I really, really, REALLY want to be able to do a pull-up. I think it might be the most impressive exercise and I don't remember ever being able to do one, even as a little kid. It'd feel so amazing if I could pull that off now.

I'm also still flirting with the idea of running a marathon. It might be this year, it might be next year. I know it's going to be in the back of my mind until it's done, though, so I need to get that taken care of at some point. 

How would you describe your philosophy on working out and nutrition?
I view my time working out as my me-time. I really look forward to the hour-ish I spend 4 or 5 times a week running, with Izzy, or doing strength training. It keeps me sane and balanced. Whether I'm talking something out with Izzy or just thinking while I run I usually either find a solution, or come to peace with, a problem while working out.

As for nutrition - I just finished CleanSlate28 and it was totally amazing! I am happier and healthier eating whole, real food and plan to continue it as much as possible. I *feel* more energetic and well-rested than I have in a long time, which has been fantastic.

What advice would you have for anyone just starting out?
In the last few years I've lost a certain amount of weight (not really sure of the exact number to date, I haven't been on the scale in a little over a month thanks to Izzy) and went from not being able to run for 2 minutes to running half marathons. It started with a Groupon (no, really) for a 30 day gym membership for $19.99. I figured it was worth $20 to see if I could rearrange what I thought was an impossible schedule for an hour of me time a few times a week. It resulted in so many wonderful, positive things I can't even describe that were way better than weight loss. I remember being too tired at the end of the day and thinking I'd never have time to be fit again, and I promise there is time, you just have to fight for it. When I moved from Boston to Evanston I knew it would be a struggle to keep what I'd built - but I also knew it was one of the most important things to me.  Finding Izzy and having her help me through that has been so incredibly helpful!

Start now. Don't plan to start on Monday, or when life is less busy, or after meal X, Y, or whatever. If you want to change things start right now. Call and make an appointment, take the stairs, order something different at lunch, or whatever. Getting healthy and strong isn't a temporary diet, it's a decision to change your life for the better and for good. Make a change you can stick to now and then add more later.  

Anything else to share?
I firmly believe we make time for the things that are important to us, but sometimes we're the worst at making time for ourselves and our health. I'm really thankful that Izzy has helped me continue to carve out that time even when life has been hard. The last couple of months of awesomeness have been so rewarding for that. I wanted to give up sometimes when I first moved here, but Izzy's relentless positivity kept me from throwing in the towel. Now I am starting the summer in wicked good shape and can't wait to see what's next. 

Mollie is a mother to twins (who are a year and a half old), a wife, a teacher and, to me, is Superwoman. Life before babies was one thing but now life means more stress and less sleep and the thing I hear from all of my moms: How the hell do I manage those two things while I still have fitness goals I want to achieve?! Mollie is also a perfectionist (as she'll tell you below) so a lot of the focus during our training sessions has really revolved around figuring out how her body and mind feel when she comes in and then modifying the intensity of the workout from there. 

Then there was CleanSlate28. One of Mollie's goals was to lose the last of the baby weight so I thought this program would be a great way to give her some structure along with the support of a big group of people with their own challenges and goals. I expressed that the point of the program was NOT to be perfect. I was just hoping this would allow her and her family to explore new ways to clean up food choices and maybe give her new tools to manage the everyday stress. Well, Mollie kicked the program's butt. Weight started coming off, she was able to swap out the convenient-yet-less-optimal foods for nutrient-dense options, and best of all, she's been able to more or less keep this up way past the end of the program!

She's amazing so, without further ado, meet Mollie!

I need to be transparent here. Joanna is a very close friend of mine who married one of my best friends in the world. So when she asked if I could get her ready for her wedding, a few things came to mind: 1. HOLY S*#T! I'm so honored! 2. I know that getting anyone ready for their wedding is a very important task but I felt added pressure here because, well, Joanna was about to become my "sister"-in-law. 3. If this was going to work, I would need to have a different relationship with Joanna in the studio than outside of it. I would need to become The Trainer and she The Client. And luckily it all worked like magic!

Joanna's progress and results were incredible and came because she worked her butt off. She stuck to her nutrition habits and exercised conistently and proved, once again, that if you put in the work, over time you will not only look better but FEEL better. And hopefully, as Joanna talks about below, you can get to a point where you love yourself every step of the way. 

Also worth noting is that Joanna hasn't stopped now that she's married. She participated in my Clean Slate program in January and WON and is continuing to train (FYI, the next one starts at the end of April -- stay tuned)! This girl's got goals she's gotta crush. But I'll stop yammering on. Time for you to meet Joanna!

What were your initial goals when you started training? 

I started training in earnest last spring in order to get in shape for my wedding. I told Izzy that my goal was to feel like the most powerful woman in the room when I got married. We started the constantly preaching, "Bridal arms, bridal back!" I became obsessed!  

How do you think your sessions have helped you out?

I have been trying to lose weight my entire life. I have beaten myself up and pushed myself to great lengths (sometimes unhealthy lengths), yet I could never say I was proud of my progress or felt like any of my prior attempts were sustainable. I think my IzzyFit sessions have helped me feel strong and beautiful at any weight. I feel like a beast walking down the street after a session, and I am proud of how much stronger I get with each session. Also, my arms were pretty darn kickass for my wedding. 

What have you enjoyed the most about your training?

I love learning from Izzy. Yes, she is my dear, dear friend outside of personal training, but in the studio, she is my teacher. From her, I have learned to enjoy eating fats again, to stick out my butt and bend my knees during deadlifts, and to value each exercise. I also have learned not to put myself down when I don't immediately excel in an exercise. 

Is there anything surprising that you discovered when you started strength training?

I can DO this! I am floored at how much stronger I am now than I was a year ago, and I am floored by how sustainable my exercise and nutrition habits can be.  

Do you have any fitness goals for this year?

2 goals: 1) Pass the physical fitness test this spring that my students must pass to promote to the next grade level; 2) Climb a couple of Colorado's 14ers this summer with relative comfort and endurance. I'm 35, and I will be in better shape than I was when I was 25!

How would you describe your philosophy on working out and nutrition?

Mantras work, and I've been using 2 of them a LOT lately. The first helps me consider making small choices for myself: "Every moment is an opportunity to make the world a little better."  The second comes from Izzy herself and makes the biggest difference in allowing myself to be successful: "If you fail to plan, you plan to fail." Thank goodness for this second mantra, as it gets me packing my breakfast and lunch every night for the following day. I have more control in my diet, and I feel better!

The first time Leslie did a pushup, I jumped up and down clapping for joy. She had worked on pushups on and off for a few months; as it goes for most of my clients, we had started from the very beginning stages. And then one day she busted out a full-on floor pushup like it was no big deal. That's the awesome thing about Leslie: She'd not afraid to take on a challenge and do the ground work needed to get to the ultimate goal. She understands that getting strong and healthy is a process and a journey and that is why she's been so successful at the gym. She brings so much positivity to her sessions that it's contagious. Basically, she's an awesome woman! Meet Leslie!

Please tell me a little bit about yourself!
Here are the numbers on me: I'm a 44 year old mother of 2 (10 and 14), wife of 22 years, 28 hour-a-week genetic counselor, 5 year cancer survivor, and 2 hour-a-week trainee with Izzy.

What were your initial goals when you started training?
For 14 years, I have been on medications which increased both pounds and stress for me. I also have had insulin-dependent diabetes for 28 years and was diagnosed with cancer 5 years ago. Together, these health issues added up and I wanted to get back on track with managing my health and stress levels.  

What has been your biggest celebratory moment so far on your journey?
Sticking with it! In the past, I'd be gung-ho about exercise at first and then my enthusiasm would wane because I wasn't enjoying it (or probably doing it right!). Working out with Izzy has been fun and is something I look forward to instead of dreading! Also, I just feel better and more rested in general, which is something to celebrate, I think!

What do you enjoy the most about your training?
Ball slams, for sure! And chatting with Izzy and my workout partners--this makes it more fun and the time flies too.

Do you have any fitness goals for the rest of this year going into the next?
To stick with my routine with Izzy, plus add some more exercise into my life outside the gym.

Simona's main goal with personal training was to help her continue to recover after being in a bad car accident so that she could feel strong enough to start building a family. The accident had left her in chronic pain but after some therapeutic bodywork (by way of Bowen therapy), she was ready to do some strength training. 

We started really slowly, working on breathing and core stability. Some of the first sessions were spent entirely laying down on the floor. But Simona quickly gained a lot of strength and before we knew it she was able able to move about her day pain-free (which, if you've ever had chronic back pain, you know can be the most freeing feeling in the world). 

Timing was perfect because Simona soon found out she was pregnant! As with everyone, getting fit is a journey with ups and downs. Mommy fitness is no exception. Now at 36 weeks, Simona has proven that when your goals are big enough, you figure out how to reach them and push through (and sometimes that means knowing when you need to rest!). 

So without further ado, meet Simona!

Please tell me a little bit about yourself!
My name is Simona, I'm 33 years old and at the end of this month I'm gonna have my first baby! I love reading, spending time with my family and lately I loved working out!

What were your initial goals when you started training? 
My initial goals were to get fit and strong enough for pregnancy. I wanted to be able to carry my baby without having excruciating back pain. 

How do you think your sessions have helped you out?
My sessions with Izzy have helped me to have a back pain-free pregnancy so far (I'm 36 weeks pregnant now). And I am very confident that they are gonna help my during labor and delivery. 

What have you enjoyed the most about your training?
What I've enjoyed most about my training is being able to complete the exercise plan that Izzy made for me. Personally I’ve gone through three stages since I started working out with Izzy. At the beginning I was very enthusiastic and eager to work out. In the second stage I started trying to make excuses with myself to cancel the session at the last minute (which, by the way, I only did once ) :) And the final stage was getting to that point where no matter how tired I was I knew that working out was going to make me feel so good that I couldn't miss it!

Do you have any fitness goals for the rest of this year going into the next?
My plan is to get back to the gym as soon as possible after the baby is born and participate in the next  21-Day Detox with Izzy in January. I know that it's not gonna be easy... My main challenge is to quit eating sugar. 

How would you describe your philosophy on working out and nutrition?
I think that you have to eat a healthy diet and everything is good in moderation. You have to know your body in order to choose a good diet for you. Exercising is important if you want to change your body but most important is eating right. No matter how hard you work out you need to watch your nutrition.