COLUMN BY RICK FORGIONE —
I wasn’t blown away the first time I walked into ChrisFit Personal Training on Hyde Park Boulevard.
Initially, I thought the gym was small, mostly because I dreaded having to do squats or sit-ups within eyesight of anyone else. But after meeting owner Chris Tybor, he proudly offered a tour and showed me there was much more happening throughout the second-floor gym.
It was clear the space was put to good use. There were more than enough exercise stations, free weights, bikes, treadmills and Elliptical machines to go around. Several people were working out, but nobody was in anybody’s way.
And Chris still had an ace up his sleeve.
Across the hall was a large, unoccupied room covered in dust, tarp and various construction supplies. This was the gym’s future — a planned 2,000-square-foot expansion that would accommodate more members, equipment and various classes.
I remember leaving that day thinking both that room and I had a lot of work ahead of us, but we both had plenty of potential. So every time I walked up the steps to begin a workout, I would glance at the room under construction and think one day I would be inside working out and be brand new too.
Last week, ChrisFit officially opened its new fitness room and christened it with what I hear was an intense Kettlebell class. I wasn’t there since just the mere thought of going through one of those infamous hour-long sessions has me working up a cold sweat. Luckily(?), my introduction to the new room came a few hours later with what seemed like a million, but was probably closer to 100, body squats to finish off my training session.
The gym also got a new “toy.” A 45-degree-angle leg press that one trainer introduced to clients by posting a picture on Facebook with the warning “Now you’re all in big, big trouble.” My first go-around with the machine ended with me pressing 350 pounds, before heading off into the new room and doing those one million squats.
Yeah, it was a fun week to be part of the ChrisFit family.
It’s amazing to see the gym continue to grow, whether it’s a new room, new members or new torture devices. Somehow, despite all of the changes and distractions, Chris and his staff manage to keep up with the type of one-on-one training that makes you feel you’re their only client.
And when one of the trainers aren’t around to pump you up, there’s always “family members” on hand to offer words of encouragement, a friendly smile, helpful tips or sincere sympathy for the butt kicking you just endured.
That’s made all the difference in the nine weeks I’ve been there. Without the proper supervision and support, none of what I’ve accomplished would’ve been possible.
After going through three hard weeks of not losing any weight, I learned to stop being embarrassed and instead feed off the energy, determination and well-wishes of people who had been complete strangers just over two months ago. As several members assured me: “We all go through weight-loss plateaus and rough patches, you just have to keep working hard.”
I started to get back on track last week with a five-pound weight loss, bringing my total to 38 pounds, which is already more than half of my initial loss goal of 70 pounds.
At first, I was uneasy about writing these columns and sharing with everyone the ups and downs of “my journey,” but it has given me the opportunity to change my life, be a part of a growing gym and meet some pretty amazing people in the process.
And that makes me feel brand new again.
Rick Forgione is city editor of the Niagara Gazette. Contact him at 282-2311, ext. 2257.
Check them out
To learn more about ChrisFit Personal Training, 2423 Hyde Park Blvd., call 818-0078 or visit www.chrisfit.net.
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