“But just because you like to drink, doesn’t mean you don’t pride yourself on staying in shape. Odyssey Fitness on Coal Street in Wilkes-Barre is a repeat winner for Best Gym because with indoor swimming, personal trainers, the latest equipment, tennis and raquetball courts, comprehensive class selection, special programs for seniors and women, and mommy and me options, and even spray tanning – what else could you possibly want?!”

Read the entire article here.

Ages 6 Weeks to 3 yrs

Cost: $80.00 for members – $90.00 for non -members

Call now for availability 570-829-2661

Minimum 3, Maximum 6 per instructor

Certified instructor – SusanWoods

Friday evenings – 5:30 – 6:30 inYoga Room

Starting again on January 13th!

Call us at (570) 829-2661 for more information or email us!

Looking for tighter abs? Skip the sit-ups and move a Plank Pose into your routine. Our fitness director Ken Wall demonstrates a challenging variation of a Plank Pose. Stop by the fitness desk for help on this or any other exercise!

• Get into a push-up position with a wide stance with your feet.
• WITHOUT moving the torso, alternately lift one arm and touch your hip.
• Repeat with your other arm.
• Continue until you are no longer able to prevent movement in your torso.
• As you get stronger, add a fitness ball to continue to increase stability.

An Odyssey FUNdamental Fitness Certified Fitness Pro working one-on-one with you or with a small group can help get your abs, and the rest of you, looking the way you want.  Visit our Find Me a Trainer page so we can get you started!

Cardio is great for burning calories.  Muscle burns calories better.  Strength training helps burn muscle, so add strength training in!

By Mary Therese Biebel mbiebel@timesleader.com

Posted: June 23, 2011

Aging Adventures

With traveling, working out and other pursuits, NEPA seniors are hardly idle; instead, it’s a case of life begins at 50

David Zeveney, 68, stretches his leg during a yoga class taught by Geeta Prasad at the Odyssey Fitness Center.

Early this year, as soon as Francine Douaihy learned the date of Prince William’s royal wedding, she booked a flight to London and a hotel room.

The 62-year-old dynamo loves British history, the royal family and shooting photos, so where else would she want to be?

She didn’t even mind standing on a street corner for 12 hours before catching a glimpse of Will and Kate and the splendid horses that surrounded their carriage.

Forget the stereotypes of “little old folks” who sit in their rocking chairs and watch the dramas of the world unfold on television.

Today’s seniors – in some circles, that includes everyone age 50 and older – are maintaining active lifestyles that can include everything from yoga to ballroom dancing to martial arts to embarking on a second career.

A second career was Douaihy’s plan, incidentally, when she retired in 2004 after teaching for 34 years in the Scranton School District.

“Now it’s my turn,” she said, smiling as she sorted through photos from England in her art studio in the Downtown Arts building on North Franklin Street. Images from her recent trip will be on exhibit from 5 to 8 p.m. July 15 during downtown Wilkes-Barre’s Third Friday Art Walk.

“I see beauty everywhere,” Douaihy said, as she admired a photo of a crusader’s tomb she shot at Salisbury Cathedral. The tomb included a statue of the ancient warrior, in full armor. “At the edge of his feet is his trusty dog,” she pointed out.

In another favorite photo, she captured the image of a second photographer who seemed to be taking a picture of her, just as she shot of photo of him, framed by the massive boulders of Stonehenge.

As many travelers know, any kind of journey can be tiring. But improving your fitness level – through exercise – can give you more stamina.

“It’s become part of my life,” 74-year-old JoAnne Rygiel of Wyoming said Tuesday morning after taking part in a yoga class led by instructor Geeta Prasad at the Odyssey Fitness Center in Wilkes-Barre.

Rygiel credits the deep breathing and stretches of the Eastern discipline, which she has studied for three years, with bringing her blood pressure down to 116/80 and helping her feel good all over.

“Mainly to reduce stress,” David Zeveney, 68, of the Hanover section of Nanticoke said, explaining why he takes the class. “It’s a great way to stretch your hamstrings and everything else.”

“It’s very good for you,” confirmed Prasad, the instructor, who is 67 and lives in Pittston. She credits yoga with keeping her asthma under control – “I only use the inhaler when I’m around a dog or dust.” – as well as sparing her the need for surgery to remove varicose veins.

“I just wish more young people would come to the class,” she said. “Sometimes they think you have to jump up and down and sweat buckets to do any good.”

The deep, controlled breathing of yoga brings more oxygen into your bloodstream, which helps rid the body of toxins, Prasad explained. But to get benefits from yoga, she said, you must practice regularly, not just once in awhile.

The oldest student in her Tuesday-morning class, 91-year-old Mary Misewich of Wilkes-Barre, takes that advice to heart, attending yoga several times a week, along with other classes at the Odyssey.

In fact, immediately after yoga ended, Misewich rushed off to the “Silver and Fit” class that combined aerobics, handheld weights and “zigzagging through a ladder” that was actually a mat on the floor that looked like a ladder.

“It’s all designed to keep their minds sharp,” said instructor Mary Majikes of Wilkes-Barre, who just turned 50 herself and knows the benefits of staying active.

Carol and Tony Caravaggio of Wilkes-Barre pass around a ball as they take part in a ‘Fit & Silver’ class at Odyssey Fitness Center.

“Flexibility is key to that age group,” said Pat Reilly of Downtown Dojo in Wilkes-Barre, who has taught martial arts to individuals well into their 60s. “It keeps your muscles strong, and you’re less likely to be injured.”

Older people needn’t worry they’ll be expected to throw opponents to the ground, or be thrown themselves, when they sign up for a martial arts.

“If you’re 16, you can fall and bounce back up. Not so much when you’re 60,” said Reilly, 43, who designs more gentle workouts for older students.

A gentle and artistic time is just what Essy Davidowitz, 77, of Kingston, is looking for when she has twice-weekly private ballroom dance lessons with Raphael and Lauren Cooper from Arts YOUniverse – sometimes on the same day she has a harp lesson with Peabody Conservatory graduate Megan Davis.

“They have such beautiful souls,” she said of her three young teachers.

On a recent afternoon, Raphael and Lauren Cooper demonstrated a waltz; then Raphael danced with Davidowitz, who said the exercise helps combat some difficulties she has with balance.

“We learn from Essy, too,” said Lauren Cooper, 28. “She’ll give us advice about life and marriage and loving what you do. We always leave feeling good.”

Davidowitz returned the compliment. “They are so full of positive energy and so enthused about life, you just want to emulate them,” she said, sounding very enthusiastic herself. “They make you feel more alive.”

If you need to hold on while on the treadmill, you’re not getting the most effective workout. Slow down a little, and let go. This will allow your muscles to work more effectively while also preventing energy.

Ryan Savka has been Odyssey’s Front Desk manager since March. Savka, 26, is a 2007 graduate of College Misericordia with a degree in Sports Management and a minor in Marketing. He was a four a year letter winner on the baseball team, and in his senior year was captain and MVP. Savka is now enrolled at Misericordia obtaining his MBA. He currently resides in Scranton, Pa.

What is the most challenging part of your job?
Scheduling is definitely the toughest. I always have to make sure someone is at the front desk — even on holidays.

How did you get into fitness?
I really got into it during college when our coaches gave us lifting programs for baseball.

What do you do to relax?
Watch movies. Some of my favorites are Pulp Fiction, Fight Club, Dark Knight and No Country for Old Men

Favorite music?
Dashboard Confessional, Jacks Mannequinn, Death Cab for Cutie, Bright Eyes, Rage Against the Machine, At the Drive-In

Favorite Color?
Forest Green

Favorite City?
Phoenix, Arizona

Favorite Food?
Pizza and Wings

Something that is always in the fridge?
Freeze pops

First Car?
Forest Green Jeep Wrangler — still wish I had that one too.

Enjoy on TV?
The Office, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Friday Night Lights, 30 Rock

Follow sports?
Die hard Yankees and MSU Spartans fan

Favorite Quote?
“It’s so hard to forget pain, but it’s even harder to remember sweetness. We have no scar to show for happiness. We learn so little peace.” — Chuck Palahniuk

Favorite Book?
Invisible Monsters by Chuck Palahniuk

Cell phone?
Original droid, but I’ll have the iPhone soon enough.

Proudest Career Moment?
I’m actually very excited to be back at Odyssey Fitness after a three year leave. I used to work the front desk and a few other jobs here, so to come back is very exciting.

The pool – Getting into the pool is a great way to get started, even if you can’t swim. Our pool is four feet deep the whole way across, and many people start out by walking. You can also try Aqua Aerobics daily at 10:30 a.m. or Aqua Zumba, Mondays and Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m.

If you want to learn how to swim or want to improve your technique, group and individual lessons are available.

Lap swimming is a great way to stay in shape with no impact on your joints.

The track – Our indoor track is great for people of all fitness levels. Those just getting off the couch can start with walking. Our track is 1/10 of a mile, so if you can count to 10, you can walk a mile! Runners love our track because they can keep with their routine all year round, protected from the cold, snow and ice in the winter and from the rain, heat and humidity in the summer.

Cardio Room – If you’re a person who likes variety, you’ll love our Cardio Room. If you’re coming in three days a week, try a different machine each time. It’ll take you a couple of weeks before you’re on the same machine again. If you like an intense workout, you’ll love our Total Body Arc Trainer. This gives you both a strength and cardio workout as intense as you want to make it.

Workout with a friend, or hook up your i-Pod and do it on your own. Either way, you’ll love the variety and the great fitness opportunities in our cardio room.

Quiet Fitness – If you’re not one for jumping up and down, running or lifting heavy weights, but want to tone up and improve your strength , then our Yoga or Pilates classes are probably a good idea. Offered every day of the week with morning and classes, you’ll have the opportunity to increase strength and flexibility while also improving muscle tone.

Playing Games – If you’re someone that likes competition and to work out with others, then try some Tennis or Racquetball. Our members can participate in our free clinics several times a week (Check out schedule for days and times). At our clinics, you’ll get some professional instruction and then play with other members. Play at other times with a modest court fee.

Basketball is available anytime on our court. Jump into a pickup game or practice on your own, or join the league that plays in the winter too.

For the Classy Types – If you like working out with others, or if you really don’t like working out on machines, you’ll want to check out our class schedule.

Zumba! allows you to ditch the workout and join the party! Power lets you get weight training in with great music and great instruction. Les Mills Body Combat combines moves from various martial arts along with motivating music to give you the a great workout that will improve strenght and overall muscle tone.

Hop on the bike for one of our Indoor Cycling Classes. In 45 minutes you’ll know you’ve had a workout! For something different try our 30/30 class, 30 minutes of cycling and 3o minutes of Yoga Fit.

We have over 50 classes a week, check out our calendar here!

Don’t want to do it on your own? Many people use one of Odyssey’s Certified Fitness Professionals to ensure they get the most of their time while working out. Our Fit Pros (also called Personal Trainers) will develop a workout for you based on your current fitness level and your goals. If you’re looking to lose weight, we can tell you that the people who lose consistently and keep it off are the people who work with a Fit Pro.

Contact us today to get started.

It’s not all the time that music festivals happen here in NEPA. Actually, it’s they’re almost non-existent during these winter months. Granted in the summer there are numerous Blues Festivals and other jam-band types of gigs, but as far as the rest it’s slim pickings. Eleanor Rigby’s was able to capture two very different styles of music in a two day event – for only $10! Being around that music at once was a thrill and it really made it turn these gloomy, cold winter days into something fun.

Also, last Friday before I went on a fun ski trip, I ended up eating at a new place in Scranton called Hurricane’s. The place reminded me of a cool surf-shop I used to eat at in California on 15th Street, Newport Beach. From the scenery and music, to the food and people, it was extremely nostalgic and I recommend it  anyone. It really makes you want these summer months to get here ASAP!

Finally this weather is awesome! 65 degrees on Friday! It will kind of put a damper on skiing, but that is fine by me. Personally, I’m tired of the single-digit temperatures and could use some spring-time weather. One of the advantages of Odyssey is there is no weather issues! tubing

Need help working intervals into your workout? Set your workout on FIRE with our FIRE Group training! Fat-burning Interval Resistance Excercise! 3 days a week, mornings or evenings. Whichever works best for you. Call (570) 829-2661, extension 222 or email kwall@odysseyfitnesscenter.com to get started.

This week I also was able to see Lewis Black. I did a cool Q&A interview with him prior to the show. He was a very funny man, and he was was very well educated too.

To be able to meet, interview and watch my favorite band and comedian perform was a great experience. But perhaps the most exciting thing that happened to me this past week was an e-mail I received Monday. This e-mail contained a very important statement:

I was accepted to Temple University in Philadelphia!

I quickly enrolled and now I am going through the painful, yet exciting, housing process. I am beyond thrilled to be accepted, and I cannot wait to start. This was my number one choice.

So now, I have to finish out the last semester of High School. After that, I will need to survive the summer, which I’m sure will be full of concerts and festivals. Then, I will be off to school and living in the fourth largest city in the country! For now, June 3rd (Graduation Date), can’t come soon enough!

If you continually take in more calories than you burn through exercise, your body will store the extra calories as fat and you’ll gain weight.

To lose weight do three simple things, burn more than you eat for a particular period of time. To lose a pound a week, each day you should burn 500 calories more than you eat. To keep it off, burn what you eat. The big question: How do I know how much I’m eating, and how much I’m burning?

If you’re like most people, you overestimate how much you burn and you underestimate how much you eat. That’s what can make it so difficult to lose weight. The secret is having an accurate representation of what you’re eating, and what you’re burning.

Many of our members and staff have used bodybugg to close in on that magic number. Find out more about bodybugg here.

• I’m right-handed.
• I hope to be studying at Temple University in the fall.
• I write for the Weekender and Go Lackawanna.
• I also mix bands and do some video work on the side.
• I cannot cook at all. If I could, I would live off of PB&J and Grilled Cheese.
• You can instantly get on my good side by making me a PB&J.
• I loathe onions, snakes (even the fake ones) and spiders more than anything.
• I love the summer.
• If I could wear shorts and a tee shirt year all year round, I would.
• I love to be out and about and interacting with people.
• In the summer, I’m pretty much never inside.
• I recently took up skiing and I love it!
• I work with a band called Nowhere Slow and they are awesome. You should check them out.
• My top five favorite bands are Blink 182, Less Than Jake, Rise Against, All Time Low and Every Avenue, in that order.
• I will date either Miley Cyrus or Taylor Swift one day, if not both.

Yogic Breathing, also called Pranayam or Pranayama has been shown to reduce blood pressure and improve overall health. We teach Pranayam Tuesday, Thursday and Friday mornings at 9:30 a.m. Stop in and try a class!

Manny

Manny has been a member of Odyssey Fitness for over 33 years and there’s a reason he keeps coming back for more. Starting with just an occasional aerobic workout, Manny began to expand his fitness portfolio to include strength training and group fitness classes.

“At first, I started coming because I had high cholesterol. Over the years I have noticed a tremendous improvement in my cholesterol level.”

Manny has seen some other improvements in other areas as well. “I also lowered my blood pressure, have maintained a healthy 153 pounds for decades, and I feel very energetic.”

A big advocate of group exercise classes, Manny especially enjoys taking Zumba and Yoga.

He owes much gratitude to his instructors and comments that, “they are all very helpful.”

One of the best things that Manny enjoys about Odyssey Fitness is the all-inclusive price when it comes to going to classes. “The membership offers everything and there are a variety of programs that everyone can participate in. More people need to invest their time here.” Aside from the classes, and the strength training, Manny also enjoys spending time in the Sauna. “I spend 20 Minutes in the sauna 4 times a week!”

Andrew

Last Christmas Andy Sorber enjoyed his vacation to Florida over the Christmas holiday. He returned home and realized he didn’t like what he saw in his vacation pictures. He was at 225lbs. and a size 40 and wasn’t happy with his appearance, not to mention, his doctor was not at all happy with his cholesterol! His cholesterol was at 270 and the doctor feared he was headed for surgery.

Andy decided he needed to make a change. “I wanted to be motivated and stick to it,” Andy says of the idea to get healthier. He visited several gyms and chose Odyssey Fitness for the great variety of fitness options with the pool, basketball court, tennis and racquetball courts.
Upon starting membership, Andy took advantage of the free fitness assessment with Odyssey Trainer, Joe Klemunes. Joe explained some of the foods to avoid to help bring about a change: cut out pizza and hot dogs, two favorites of Andy’s. He’s issued a challenge for himself: “My goal is not to eat a hot dog for a year.” So far, so good.
Andy made the commitment to get healthier. He started using workouts generated by Workout on Demand and changed his eating habits. His routine is to consume 200 calories every 2 hours and his daily workout consists of 1 hour of cardio and 20 minutes of weight training followed by a half hour of swimming or cardio. Andy also gets a post workout, high protein, low cal beverage on his way out everyday.
His discipline has paid off! Andy weighed in at 185lbs. about a month ago and now is working to maintain this accomplishment. His doctor is thrilled with his cholesterol which is now around 170!
“I played sports in high school, I find a similar camaraderie here,” Andy says of his favorite thing about Odyssey Fitness.

I decided to start going to Odyssey Fitness for many reasons. I was taking some medication and one of the side effects was weight gain. I decided that I needed to start working out and shed some of those pounds. Also, I wanted to start feeling better about myself and meet some new friends. So in March I took the plunge and started coming here. Working out here has become part of my daily routine ever since.

I love this club! The members and staff are friendly and helpful. Also, the hours are great and the location is very convenient. I am a big fan of the steam room. When I leave here I feel completely relaxed.

I enjoy taking classes here. One of my favorite classes to take is the cardio kickboxing because of the total body workout that it provides.

Yogalates has also become one of my favorites. I love pilates and yoga and the incorporation of the two is wonderful. Since I’ve started here I have lost nearly twenty pounds! My body has become more toned and defined. Also, my energy level has improved so much that my grandchildren are tired when they come visit me.

Lisa

Weight loss started for me after a family cruise when I complained to my daughter how I was never in any photos. I was always taking them. She had taken some candid pictures of me on the beach in a bikini. I didn’t know she did this until I got the pictures developed. I looked at them and thought, “I HAVE to lose some weight.”

My starting weight was 140, doesn’t seem like much, but I’m only 5’4”. Mary Majikes was using bodybugg® at the time so I asked her a lot of questions about it, saw her results. She suggested I try it. I got my bodybugg® for Christmas and started using it in January. I was also using Workout on Demand, and going to every spin class I could attend.

After 6 months of using bodybugg® I lost 15 pounds (my goal) and 2 clothes sizes. I weighed 125. It’s been over a year since using bodybugg® and I’ve kept the weight off.

I still come to Odyssey Fitness 5 times a week. I like to change up my workout. My favorite is still spin class, but when I can make it I do Kickboxing and POWER. If I have a bad day at work I like to go in the boxing room and hit the speed bag and punch the heavy bag. Thanks to Mary Majikes for giving me weight loss advice and thanks to my family for keeping me motivated! My Dad, husband and daughter are all members of Odyssey Fitness!

Two years ago I weighed 176 pounds. It took me a year and a half to get down to 140. That’s when I joined Odyssey Fitness. I just couldn’t seem to get over that hump and lose the last 15 pounds until I found bodybugg®. It has changed my life completely! In the past I found dieting and exercising a struggle and torture, now I love it!

Over the 12 weeks I was on bodybugg® I lost 13 pounds successfully reaching my goal of a pound a week. The thing I liked most about bodybugg® was the goals set for me were not out of reach nor did you have to kill yourself to meet them. It was simple, burn 500 more calories than what you ate that day, and the program showed you exactly what you had to do for that. I was amazed to see how much I didn’t know about dieting until it was right in front of me.

I would recommend bodybugg® to anyone willing to put in a little work to get the results they want. I did what I thought was impossible and in half the time!

The latest

Terri’s most recent weigh in showed that she has lost nearly 150 pounds since her journey began in October 2009.  She is still losing, and we are now ready to cheer her on as she gets ready for the Disney Half-Marathon later this month.

Terri recently joined our staff as manager at Odyssey Express, our facility for women only, located adjacent to Odyssey Fitness.  At Odyssey Express, women have easy access to a circuit, cardio equipment, weights and now ZUMBA in the Circuit.

Send Terri an email to cheer her on, or to ask her how’s she doing.

November 2010

In November, 2010, we were so happy to celebrate Terri’s 30th Birthday with her, where she announced she had so far lost 135 pounds. She is running in the mornings, and every day looks thinner!

We are so happy for her, especially because she has done this working with trainer, Mary Majikes, and by making lifestyle changes she can stick with once her goal weight is reached. She has been inspiring so many of our members with her success.

Next stop…Disney 1/2 Marathon!

Other updates

Sunday, September 26, she ran the Lupas Loop with her husband. On October 2, she ran in the Ben August 3 mile Memorial Run in Wilkes-Barre. Her husband got a medal for 2nd in his age rgroup, while she ran the whole 3.1 miles! Congratulations Terri!

If you’re going to a restaurant, look for the menu online and evaluate your choices.

If you know there will a lot of things you will want, reduce what you eat for breakfast and lunch. Have a light snack about 2 hours before you go: some fruit and a glass of milk, a protein bar or a workout shake. The worst thing you can do is show at the party starved!

Remind yourself and someone else about the plan right before you go into the party. And then ENJOY!

Here are some guidelines that can make a 500 calorie difference in one meal!

Choose baked or broiled rather than fried items. Fried items, including the breading or batter can add an additional 200 calories to a food item!

Choose marinara or pesto rather than alfredo. (A quarter cup of marinara sauce has about 47 calories, vs. about 100 calories for the same portion of Alfredo sauce) .

Choose chicken or fish rather than beef, or if you’re choosing beef, choose the filet rather than the rib eye. A filet is about 50 calories per ounce, versus a Rib Eye, which runs about 76 calories an ounce. Not much difference in one ounce, but choosing the 8 ounce Filet (400 calories) over the Rib Eye (600) will save you 200 calories. Get an 8 ounce Salmon filet with 280 calories, and you’ll have even more left over for dessert!

After having my second child, I couldn’t lose the extra weight I had gained.

I joined ODYSSEY Fitness and tried to just do a lot of cardio, but nothing was happening. So I started training with Owen and after 12 weeks, I have lost 6% body fat, dropped 2 pant sizes and 8.25 inches overall! I am still training with Owen and could not be happier with my results.

I figured I had 2 choices when it came to my body and my health: Continue complaining about the way I looked and felt or do something about it! It was time to start doing something about it…

I have been a member at Odyssey Fitness since January of 2009. Odyssey supplied me with an awesome trainer, Owen Christman, who I continue to workout with whenever I need a kick in the rear. Owen took the time to teach me a program I could stick to and would sculpt the parts of my body I wanted to change.

Odyssey also offers a great array of group fitness classes such as Cardio Sculpt and Zumba to keep me motivated and coming back daily. Also, Odyssey offers a great day care with caring staff to watch my 2 girls so I can feel comfortable about leaving them while I get a good workout. Since joining I reshaped, toned, and lost pounds and inches all over my body. I am in the best shape of my life and could not be happier about the decision to join!

I started the bodybugg® program and personal training with George Hart in February of 2009. I was at a point where months of laziness, sitting too much at a desk all day, and poor food choices had finally caught up with me. I was tired of feeling sluggish and out of shape. I wanted to change, but I knew I wasn’t disciplined to do it all on my own. The bodybugg® and a trainer seemed like the perfect choice.

Within the first two or three weeks of the bodybugg® program and training with George, I lost several pounds and began to feel amazing. I had more energy and felt stronger. George came up with innovative workouts for me, doing things I hadn’t done before. He made me want to succeed and become the best athlete I can be. This motivation was exactly what I needed. The bodybugg® was an indispensable tool in keeping track of my calories and coming face-to-face with what I was eating every day. The bodybugg® alone has helped me make lasting, positive changes in my diet and lifestyle. Also, I can honestly say that it hasn’t even been a difficult transition. I still eat many treats and indulge in my favorite foods from time to time, but the bodybugg® helps me manage the total amount of calories I take in, so I know exactly when I need to cut back or when I can splurge.

In approximately 7 months, I have lost 27 pounds and three pants sizes. I ran a half marathon in May, and more recently completed the Baltimore Marathon with my best friend Cheryl. I feel healthier, more energetic, and stronger than I ever have before…and I actually look forward to working out! I couldn’t have done it without the bodybugg® and without George’s assistance. Starting this workout program has been the best decision I ever made for myself, and I would recommend it to anyone hoping to lose weight and become stronger!

For years I’ve struggled with my weight. I would lose and then gain it back and then some. I tried numerous things to try to keep on the right track, but I always ended up falling off the track. After belonging to another gym, that only consisted of cardio machines and weights, I became bored with the same thing over and over, I decided to join a gym that had more to offer when it came to what I wanted to achieve, which was weight loss and toning. Odyssey Fitness was my choice and what a smart choice it was. I started at Odyssey in January, 2010. After the first week I signed up to start their Workout on Demand program I met with trainer, Mary Majikes, who took all my beginning measurements. The next day I began my program. What a great help the program was. Workout on Demand showed me exactly what machines to use, how many reps and how much weight. I also started going to the many classes that Odyssey has to offer, and found my favorite to be ZUMBA®. I go every chance I can. Not only is it a great workout, but after the class you don’t even feel like you worked out.

In April, I felt like I was at a bit of a standstill, so I purchased the bodybugg®. It put so much ease into losing weight for me, between showing me how many calories I’m burning and how many calories I’m taking in. The bodybugg® was and is a great tool in keeping my new life style right on track. I can only say that joining Odyssey Fitness was the best thing I could have done! Since January I’ve lost a total of 30 pounds, over 18 inches and dropped my body fat percentage 6%. I feel great, have so much more energy, and the compliments that I’ve received from people at work and at home are enough to keep me on the path to a better and healthier lifestyle. I’ll continue using all the tools that Odyssey Fitness has to offer to reach my goal weight and to maintain it once there.

I wanted a trainer who would help me get toned and drop a few lingering pounds. The same old routine I was doing on my own just wasn’t cutting it.

When I began training with Ken, I knew things would be different right away. His approach to working out was far different than anything I had done in the past, and I loved it! (Even though I may have complained… a little…)

I think what also really helped me to achieve my fitness goal was logging everything I ate into the Apex bodybugg® Website. To actually see what you’re eating and how many calories you are consuming makes you far more conscious of what you’re shoveling in your mouth. And for me, I needed that!

In 10 weeks, I have lost 9 pounds, dropped 3% bodyfat, and lost 2 inches on my waist. I plan to keep up my workout and nutrition plan, as this has been the best shape I’ve been in EVER!

Thanks, Ken, for everything!

Ken showed me how some habits I developed over the years had contributed to my knee problem. He gave me some strengthening and flexibility exercises to do along with some stretching.

Since then, I’ve participated in Odyssey’s Indoor Triathlon, which includes a 2 mile run and a couple of community 5K runs. Each time I had improvement in my time and no injury to my knee!

All of my life I have been athletic. Whether it was baseball and basketball when I was a kid or Softball and Flag Football into adulthood, I have always been active keeping myself in relatively good shape. Then my story takes a unique turn. On August 31, 2007 I was in a near-fatal motorcycle crash. My injuries were so catastrophic, I spent the next four months in various hospitals and nursing homes recuperating. For most of that time I was confined to a bed or wheelchair, yet I hadn’t reached my 30th birthday. Throughout 2008 I was enrolled in Physical and Occupational Therapy at John Heinz on an outpatient basis. I worked hard to try to regain my previous lifestyle, but I was limited by physical ailments left over from the accident.

I felt that I could achieve more results if I had a more rigorous training program. So, in January of 2009 I joined Odyssey Fitness and was paired with Ken Wall as my Personal Trainer. Ken’s educational background and vast knowledge of his field was a perfect fit for me because of all my limitations and disabilities. Over the next year, with my hard work and determination, and a few corrective surgeries paired with Ken’s support and guidance, my results multiplied by leaps and bounds.

At the start of 2010, I was surpassing my goals of getting back to a “normal” life. I wanted more out of life than normalcy. I spoke with Ken and we decided to restructure my goals and training. This also made me take a good look at my life, making me realize that I had to start making healthier choices in my eating habits. I signed up with bodybugg® and started accounting for the health content of what I was eating. From this conscious decision to be healthier, I have found myself to be able to live a more satisfying life. It has given me a general feeling of self accomplishment. I feel that my life is back on track and I am extremely excited to continue on my journey. I know I put in a lot of hard work, but Ken Wall and Odyssey Fitness are a large part of my success. For that, I am forever grateful.

I’ve struggled with my weight all my life, always trying new diets and workouts and going up and down in sizes. I joined Odyssey Fitness about a year ago and mainly stuck to using the cardio machines but wasn’t really getting anywhere. Even with my wedding quickly approaching, life became too busy. I lost focus, and gained weight when I wanted to lose it. I knew I needed to shake things up if I wanted to see results. I met Mary Majikes through a friend of mine that she was training, and decided to sign up for 6 sessions myself.

Everything about training with Mary was good for me. She gave me the structure I needed to plan what workouts I would do each day. I learned tons of new exercises I’ve never seen before and how to execute them with proper form. Plus, the workouts were fun. Training is something I look forward to each week. Mary has high expectations and wouldn’t settle for less than my best effort. This kind of attitude was just the motivation that I needed.

After just six weeks of training, I lost 5¾ inches, 5½ pounds, and 1.2% body fat. I can’t wait to wear my wedding dress.

“In about May of 2009, I realized that I had slowly gained back much of the weight I had worked to lose a couple of years ago. Knowing what I
know about weight gain, I knew I had lost focus, was eating more than I should and was spending more energy avoiding exercise than I was
actually exercising!
I saw Jill Matthews having great success with bodybugg®, and I had a feeling it would get me back to where I wanted to be weight-wise. I was also inspired by a pair of jeans and a skirt I had purchased, thinking they would fit me, and when I tried them on at home I was greatly disappointed. I decided, rather than return them, I would work to get into them.

I started with bodybugg® on June 16th with the aim to get into the jeans and skirt by Labor Day. I worked with Trainer Mary Majikes who provided the additional professional guidance and motivation I needed.

As soon as I started entering food into bodybugg®, I was kind of alarmed at how
many calories I was consuming unconsciously. I was also alarmed at how little I was burning at first. I categorized myself as monderately active, but that was not the case when I started!

I began looking forward to exercise and seeing how many calories I would burn in various classes, and regular life activities. I found Zumba! Class to be the highest burner for me, outside of running. Interestingly enough, putting together a desk with
my son was the highest burn activity I had the entire 12 weeks. This was because it was sustained activity over 4.5 hours!

I also knew that my lifestyle is such that we don’t eat at home a lot, and I needed to find a way to make that work. Bodybugg® was perfect for that, as I could plan for eating out, by looking up foods in their database before I went out. I found myself making different choices, sharing desserts, but most importantly never feeling deprived.

I met my Labor Day goal, and have lost about 15 pounds, taken off several inches overall and reduced my body fat. I did all this while attending a lot of summer cookouts, a NASCAR race, several birthday parties and weddings.

Staying with the bodybugg® program helped me better solidify the amount of food and exercise that should be part of my lifestyle to maintain this weight.

Mary also helped get me ready for various 5k runs, and my time greatly inproved as
the summer went on.

I’m now in a size 4 or 6, depending on the brand, and I’ve made a commitment to staying at this weight by tossing my size 8′s and 10′s in the Salvation Army donation bin!”

Jill became a member in February 2005 after her husband had purchased her membership for Valentine’s Day. Jill had developed arthritis before joining Odyssey Fitness and her doctor had told her that a knee replacement seemed probable. She noticed it too…unable to do the things she loved like golfing in a league or staying active.

Determined not to give in to the arthritis, Jill began taking the Aqua Aerobics Class offered each weekday. Taking Aqua Aerobics “is one you can do when you have arthritis. My muscles are getting much stronger. You just need to put your heart into it and really work at it.”

Jill also enjoys walking on the track (especially in the winter) and taking the Silver and Fit classes. She also loves the friends that she has made here. “One of the best parts of membership is the support network.”

Jill is happy to report that she does not need that knee replacement anymore. Her arthritis is not affecting her active lifestyle and her doctor is impressed with her health improvement. She remains committed to aerobics.

Jillian

In February of 2008 I decided to join Odyssey Fitness and make some changes in my life. Prior to joining the club my only source of fitness was taking the occasional walk in my neighborhood. My mother and father, both members here, encouraged me to join the club and train hard. Not having a strong fitness background I knew that I needed some help so I inquired about a trainer.

I began training with Mary two times a week for three months. She gave me the motivation and drive that I needed and if Mary didn’t kick my butt I wouldn’t have lost over 20 pounds! Not only that, but my energy level has increased substantially and I feel stronger all the time. She also taught me the importance and value of using exercise bands, which is great because I can also use them to train with at home.

My goal is to lose 30 pounds and I am well on my way! Aside from the gains made from training, I enjoy using the cardio theatre and the pool. My favorite part of being a member here is the pleasant attitude of the members and staff and the constant availability of the machines, especially the ellipticals and treadmills.

I decided to start going to Odyssey Fitness for many reasons. I was taking some medication and one of the side effects was weight gain. I decided that I needed to start working out and shed some of those pounds. Also, I wanted to start feeling better about myself and meet some new friends. So in March I took the plunge and started coming here. Working out here has become part of my daily routine ever since. I love this club! The members and staff are friendly and helpful. Also, the hours are great and the location is very convenient. I am a big fan of the steam room. When I leave here I feel completely relaxed. I enjoy taking classes here. One of my favorite classes to take is the cardio kickboxing because of the total body workout that it provides. Yogalates has also become one of my favorites. I love pilates and yoga and the incorporation of the two is wonderful. Since I’ve started here I have lost nearly twenty pounds! My body has become more toned and defined. Also, my energy level has improved so much that my grandchildren are tired when they come visit me.

In November of 2009, I reached my highest weight ever. Months and months of eating anything I wanted and never working out had finally caught up to me. I was tired all the time, hated having my picture taken, and felt so bad about myself that I just wanted to sit at home. I decided to join Odyssey Fitness hoping to lose the weight I’d put on and to feel better about myself.

I decided right away that I was going to enlist the help of a personal trainer. I was set up with Matt and I knew immediately I had the right trainer for me. Within just the first two weeks, I had more energy and had lost a few pounds. I felt great about myself and could not wait to get back into the gym every day.

Now, almost 6 months later, I’ve lost 18 pounds, 14 inches, and two dress sizes. I am 12 pounds away from my goal, and could not be more excited. I have more energy; I am never tired, and feel fantastic. I couldn’t have done this without Matt helping me every step of the way. I am so appreciative of the time he has spent with me and he is the reason I am where I am today. I wish everyone was lucky enough to have a trainer like Matt!

Don’t starve yourself all day! – Sometimes people will skip breakfast and lunch as a way to indulge at the party. However, not only can this make you a grouch all day, it sets you up to overeat. Try this approach, you’ll be amazed how well it works. Eat your full breakfast. For lunch have a sandwich and a piece of fruit. Have some yogurt or fruit around 3:00 p.m. You’ll arrive at the party hungry but not starving, and will be able to make good food choices.

Take charge of your health – Have the party at your house!

Have the Party at Your House – This is the best way to ensure that you’ll have something healthy to eat while celebrating the holidays with your friends and family. Hosting a party gives you a little more control over what kind of foods will be served.

When people ask if they can bring something say “Yes” and suggest salads or non-dessert items. Don’t worry, other people will bring desserts.

Make it your own. – Bring a Healthy Dish to Pass –

Bring a veggie tray, fruit salad, green salad or another dish that it not calorie laden.

“…30 pounds lighter and 2 pants sizes smaller!”

I had never struggled with my weight up until the last two years. My eating habits and a new medication had caught up with me and it seemed like no matter how much I tried to work out, I wasn’t getting anywhere. I continued to put on weight and my self confidence plummeted. When you lose your self-esteem, you lose a big part of yourself and it was a very low point in my life. I met ODYSSEY Trainer Mary Majikes in September 2006. I needed that extra push that I knew Mary could give me and her passion for fitness inspired me to make goals and meet them. Mary is a very honest and tough trainer, but I knew she could only help me with so much. It was up to me to come in and eat right. I was ready and willing to make the commitment.

I started training in February, 2 days a week, 1 hour a day, and within no time I met my first goal of losing 10 pounds! Here we are, 8 months later, close to 30 pounds lighter and 2 pants sizes smaller! Not only did I lose weight, I gained a good deal of strength which is why I continue to train with her and tone my muscles.

I thank Mary so much for everything! She gave me back my confidence and I feel happier, healthier, and stronger. I tell everyone I meet, “I wish everyone could be lucky enough to have a trainer like Mary.