Member Spotlight

In October of 2017 I was tired of being overweight and depressed. Nothing fit right, I hated the way I looked. I felt like my prime had passed. I decided to take control. I joined MAC...and it changed my life.

I read an article which indicated you lose about a percent of muscle mass annually after age 35. So I joined a small gym in the Toledo area about 6 years ago and was surprised how little I could lift … not that I could ever lift much of anything!  So before going the Silver Sneakers route, I thought I would try some of the other classes.  They were tough but the instructors and classmates were very encouraging (as they are at the MAC!). 

Like many people, I believed this would always be the case, however when I hit my forties I discovered I was wrong. In my youth I had acquired some bad habits, smoking, poor diet etc... These bad habits caught up with me. I was getting the "love handles" and if I tried to exercise, it was difficult because I couldn't breathe due to my smoking. 

If you see me at MAC, I always have a smile on my face.  Thankful for this awesome gym, the staff, and all the members!  Remember: don’t allow yourself to make the same mistake as me and believe that you can’t.  Because, you can!

"It’s one thing to admit to yourself that you’ve gained weight but seeing it.... that’s a whole other story. I just decided that I needed a huge (pun intended) change in my life."

"The doctors and the nurses were convinced that if I was not in as good shape as I was, I would not have survived any of it. All of the weight training with machines and class workouts really paid off in the most amazing way."

"Kathy, MAC Group Exercise Director, was very helpful in telling me about the classes and the gym. In fact, Kathy's Monday night class was the first class I attended -- which was great!  I continued to come to classes and got to know the instructors and other members in class."

"Each month, the weight kept falling off.  After 100+ pounds lost in 1 year, I can’t say enough about CrossFit and the changes is has made in my life.  I went from a XXXL size 22 to a M and size 10-12 in 1 year.  I am no longer pre-diabetic, I don’t count calories and my metabolism actually burns now."

"I requested the help of Nick, MAC Personal Trainer, to help get me more flexible, stronger and to help me with my injuries. He’s helped me tremendously. I’m so much stronger,  have learned so much, and I’m slowly becoming more confident."

"Working out isn’t a short term goal.  It is a lifelong commitment. It takes time and there is no quick fix or magical pill.  You just have to keep pushing yourself and set new goals.  When you plateau, do something different and don’t quit.  Keep it exciting, change it up, find what works for you!  God gave you one body.  Take care of it the best of your ability and it’ll take care of you."

"The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago.  The second-best time is now."

"I have been a single parent of two awesome girls all these years and have still found a way to train 5 to 6 days a week. I train because it makes me feel good. I believe that if you feel good about yourself, it leads to a positive attitude and in return makes you more of a pleasant person to be around."

"I was able to train for boxing and racing and ended up being successful in both. I lost 50 pounds before my crash. After I broke my neck, I used MAC to get myself back to as close to pre-crash shape as possible."

Marilou believes all of us can be helpful to someone else and that helpfulness will be paid back ten-fold! Marilou is 81 years old and still living a very full and active life.

"Join a class/program. Don’t knock it until you try it (I joined WOW (Women on Weights) and because of this class I now enjoy lifting weights! This program has also helped me with my fitness journey.  I absolutely love Carol!)"

"If you’re reading this then you’ve already taken one of the most important steps in your own personal journey – you’ve decided to make a change and joined a gym. Now, outline your goals and create your how-to plan. Once you do that, all that’s left is implementation of your plan – put it into action! Remember, nothing works unless you do."

It is not easy, but anyone and everyone can make significant change in their lifestyle. Like so many things, I had to decide for myself to make a change before anybody or anything could help me.  There are virtually unlimited people and resources waiting and willing to help, but it simply could not work until I made the decision to change.  

My best pieces of advice are:

1-     If your goal is fat loss, ensure that strength training is the primary focus of your exercise routine.  A common misconception (especially among women) is that you need to do more cardio to burn more calories, which will translate to fat loss.  The truth is, the positive metabolic effect of added muscle will trump the temporary calorie burn from cardio EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. 

My fitness journey began about 3 years ago, when I was so sick and tired of being sick and tired all the time. I had tried everything on the planet to lose weight.

When I decided to make the commitment to join MAC, it is was more about trying to extend my life by getting healthy. In 2014, I had a stroke, and afterwards I had to learn to use my left side again. On top of the stroke, I had been gaining weight over the years. 

Susan’s words of advice:  I believe that working out and eating healthy is a lifestyle. Once you get into a routine, if you eat right and exercise you will feel great and never want to live any other way!

Susan joined MAC over 15 years ago and consistently comes to MAC 2-3 days a week. She loves the Spinning, Boot Camp and Tabata classes. She feels that they really give her a great overall workout and she always feels great afterwards. 

What led you to join MAC’s Dangerous Curves Program?
I saw a MAC Facebook post for the Dangerous Curves group training program. I knew I needed to make a life change and this class seemed to call to me. I messaged the trainer, Jen and she told me a little about the program. I tried to talk myself out of joining because I didn’t think I could do it. I told my family about this opportunity, and they said DO IT!

Tell us a little bit about yourself: I am 32 years old. I am originally from Tennessee. In 2012, I graduated from West Texas A&M with a M.S in Meat Science. With that degree, I have worked in food manufacturing facilities where there was always good tasting food available. I am currently working in R&D at AdvancePierre Foods in West Chester. My hobbies include hunting, fishing, and now my love for the gym and a healthier lifestyle. I am a devoted family man with a wonderful, loving wife and an 8.5 month old little girl.

Tell us a little bit about yourself: My name is Julie Scott and I’m 56 yrs. old.  I am a wife, mother of four adult children, and grandmother of two.  I have a Bachelor’s degree in Physical Education, grades K-12. I’m also a registered nurse and spent most of my employed years in Labor and Delivery.  Our family has lived in the Loveland/Milford area for 22 years with our 4 children graduating from Milford H.S. I’ve taught our church’s Seminary/bible study class for our high school students for the past 4 years. In my youth, I participated in several sports and I continue to enjoy biking, snow and water skiing, hiking, tennis and snorkeling.

 I am an Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner with my Doctorate Degree and tri-certifications in Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Care. I work at The Christ Hospital in Cincinnati. When not at work, I spend time biking, gardening, and hanging out with my two cats, Sassy and Stash.

Tell us a little about yourself:  I’m a stroke survivor, new small business owner, and mom to three young busy girls.  My formal training is as a fine dining chef but now my passion is for well-crafted, healthy unprocessed food. 

What led you to join MAC?
I first started working out at home with 5lbs weights and an online video. I made a deal with myself that I would sign up for a gym membership after I lost 50 pounds. MAC provides childcare, which was necessary for me with three small kids to have the opportunity to workout in the evenings.

I have been in this country for more than a decade and lived in various countries before settling in Milford in 2006.  All of my family likes to exercise frequently and we have all been a part of Miami Athletic Club for almost ½ a decade. I love spending time outdoors and visiting places as I work from home almost all the time.

I joined Miami Athletic Club to lose all of the weight I gained from pregnancy, and the weight I continued to gain after pregnancy. I have an extremely energetic child, and I look at that as motivation to keep me moving.

After sustaining a rare and complex spinal cord injury in August 2013, I had a barrage of 12 doctors in 6 states having a field day with my case. They offered little hope for recovery, few options for pain control and surgical options that were high risk for paralysis.

Member Spotlight: Jayne (mom) & Kelsey (daughter) Gaffney

Retired from YUM! Brands, the parent company of KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut, after 25 years as a Facility Manager, John joined MAC to strengthen his body and lose weight – he is down 16 pounds after one year and so MAC trainer, Tom, could help him after cancer surgery.

We have been married for almost twenty-eight years. We have two children, Abby and Curt, who are in college. We have lived in Milford since we have been married (Tom grew up in Milford).

Elisa teaches a wide range of fitness classes including Tabata, Circuit Training, Spin, and Bootcamp.

Travis has done a lot of work in a short amount of time. In just 5 months he has made great progress toward getting and staying fit. In fact, his excitement for fitness blossomed into a personal trainer certification.

Nigel Sparks is a great example of how some dedication and hard work can accomplish your goals. At first, Nigel struggled with getting to the gym and making his way through his workout routines, but with the helpful encouragement of friends and family he powered through the initial discouragement of what he calls “slow progress.”