If I can do this program, anyone can!

I am 59, diabetic, have high cholesterol and high blood pressure. My trainer, Jaime Smith, kept telling me to do the program because it works. My doctor did blood work on May 19, 2010 and told me I had to make a change in my life or I would die. I struggled through June eating right sometimes and cheating at times. I weighed 299 and my body fat percentage was 66%. On July 1st, I finally made a 30-day commitment to stay on the program. Well, I can truthfully say THIS PROGRAM WORKS !! In the month of July my body fat percentage dropped 10%, my bad cholesterol dropped 100 points, and my sugar dropped 100 points. I lost 15 pounds equivalent to 38 pounds of fat and gained 25 pounds of muscle. I went back to my doctor for blood work on August 5, and he was thrilled with my results. No one can do this for me. I have to do it for myself. So, what are you waiting on? Come join me. Your life will never be the same.

-Becky Briggs

Our personal trainer is very personable and caring.

He is honestly interested in our overall well-being. He is motivating and uses positive, reinforcement ongoing, especially when it pertains to our nutritional choices. We have developed a professional as well as personal relationship . My son and I agree that we both now have increased energy and we feel stronger and our body’s more flexible. I lost the desired amount of weight and body fat within the first 2 months of training, in addition to complying with the nutritional program. The nutritional program does not consist of dieting, it is healthy eating.

My son had a traumatic brain injury and has residual physical side effects. Jamie has designed a exercise program for him, taking into consideration his physical deficits. We have noted a defined increase in his range of motion and strength on his affected side.

My trainer, who is skilled experienced and dedicated to his clients, makes our training fun even through all the pain.

-Lushawno Butler (son) & Barbara Hunter (mother)

This program has given me the direction and discipline I didn’t have on my own.

I am a 53 grandmother, diagnosed with diabetes two years ago, but knowing that I had symptoms that make me realize that I had the disease long before. As a nurse, I was knowledgeable about the changes I needed to make in order to attempt controlling my diabetes, and thought I was doing a good job. The first doctor I saw put me on oral medications and told me I might be able to lose 20 pounds and make my blood sugars better, but I would be on medication the rest of my life. Following a diabetic diet and taking my meds, I was able to improve my blood sugar readings, but still ran in the 130-140 range every morning and would have spikes to 180 after meals at times. My A1C levels that measure the effects of highs and lows over a 3-4 month period were acceptable.

After moving back to Greenville in December, I started the K180 program in the middle of January. I signed up with Allison Williams as my personal trainer, but was not sure about the Kephart 180 nutrition plan. I decided to give it a try. I stick to the plan fairly easily with a little planning, and don’t feel deprived. I truly have learned the meaning of eating to live instead of living to eat.

So far, I have lost 33 pounds. For the last two months, my blood sugars have been 100-115 in the mornings and after eating the highest level has been 128! My new doctor is thrilled, and we are planning to decrease my medication dosage and eventually stop the meds all together. He said my “numbers are perfect” and wants me to continue my weight loss and exercise program. I have dropped in clothes size as well but am holding out to get really small stuff! My energy level is much higher and I can see definite results in getting stronger every week.

This program has given me the direction and discipline I didn’t have on my own. Thank you all, especially Allison, Shawn and Apostle Ron.

-Ellen Green

The Kephart 180 program has worked great for me. I am so excited to see the transformation in my life since starting the program in October 2009. I have lost 75 lbs to date and went from a size 20 to a size 10. I had knee issues which bothered me going up and down stairs and walking any long distance. I can run up the stairs now. Yeah! I feel great! Quentin has been such a great support. He pushes me beyond the limits I put on myself and he holds me accountable. I tell people who ask me what I am doing that this isn’t about a “fade” diet it is a lifestyle change for my health and well being. I look forward to finishing my first goal of 100lbs and now I have set my next goal to run the ADA 5k in Greenville in October this year

- Elizabeth Jean Mason

I just have to let everyone know my small but very important testimony. I was one of the people that you often describe as “wanting to praise but not being able to physically.” I lived that for over ten years. Between backaches and knee pain, I just couldnt “leap for joy” or dance my way into victory like others. When I started the K180 program, it all changed. I was surrounded by FAMILY who wanted to see me well. Here it is almost a year later. i am down almost 3 pants sizes, I have indurance out of the roof, and I probably jump and shout more than anyone during praise and worship. Also my asthma has improved to where I am not using a nebulizer but for emergencies and NO MORE HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE MEDS! To God be the glory for placing me in the midst of such awesome people. I am not a witness that the generational curses of bad health only takes one person and a group of angels to break. Thanks to Shawn and his trainers for being my band of angels.

-Tiffany Singleton

My name is Jennifer, starting Jan ‘09 is when I finally started to do something about my weight. At that time I weighed around 330 lbs, but my heaviest has been around 350lbs. Slowly with support from family and friends I lost around 60 lbs. Around Nov ‘09 I started Shawn’s program, and started training with Jessica. I am now on my second round of training and I have lost 120 lbs to date.Thanks to Jessica, and the continued support I get by being apart of the K180 program I know I will become the person I always wanted to be.
Thank you again!

-Jennifer

In July, 2009, I was at an all time low: I weighed over 215 pounds, wore a TIGHT size 20 and I needed BOTH knees replaced. I could barely get up and down stairs – you know – step up one step, together, up another step and together and Ouch with every step. Never mind that I live in a three story house and my office is on the top floor and I transport stuff up and down stairs and in and out of my car!! My confidence had also been at an all time low – I just felt horrible inside AND out.

I had seen 2 of my friends transform their weight, but more particularly their shape, and knew a little about what they were doing. As God would have it, I just happened to be at an event (that I wasn’t even supposed to be at) and met my friends’ trainer, Ashley Reese, who also just happened to be there. Another friend suggested that we train together – I was like yeah, whatever!! Ashley was very compelling – especially since he had at one time been very overweight himself! He basically guaranteed that he could change my life! The more I thought about it, the more excited I became – for the first time in a long time.

I realized that I had never exercised WITH anyone before (my girlfriend, Jane) and I had never been accountable TO anyone before (Ashley), so, on August 21st, 2009, at 210#’s and 47% Body Fat, I had my first workout with Jane and Ashley. We learned about the food plan (notice I did not say diet) and began this journey as a team.

Within 4 weeks, I had lost some pounds (13, I think) and was already feeling MUCH better. By late October, I had lost 31 pounds and had lost 18% body fat – those results were AMAZING!! And relatively easy – I was never hungry and my cravings (particularly sugar) were not too bad at all. And I was PUMPED at the new ME!!

I lost an additional 6 pounds through the holidays, by late January I had lost an incredible 50 pounds and my body fat had dropped from 47% down to a wonderful 19.6%!! I have never looked and felt so good.

My new shape is inspiring to ME to keep me on the path to great health!! I am working on getting off my cholesterol medicine and I rarely have indigestion anymore (that would be 2 less pills to take everyday!) I do have arthritis in my joints (my doctor says, I just picked the wrong parents!) and I am 57, but now I am in a size 10 consistently and a few 8’s – from a size 20!! and I now can RUN up and down the stairs and DO NOT need knee replacement!!! Almost NO pain in my knees – really MINIMAL compared to what it was!!! My orthopedist said that what my trainer and I are doing is more valuable that what 50 doctors could do!!

I am so proud and thrilled at the new me (and so is my husband!!!) . I love my body for the first time EVER!!! I have great legs and am incredibly stronger – my life has changed COMPLETELY – Thanks to God, my willingness, my friend Jane’s support and my trainer Ashley’s knowledge, support, encouragement (and an occasional fussing at!!) and motivation – I have made a 180 degree turnaround for me and my life!

- Lisa Yost

Tasha, my boot camp instructor, invited me to share my experience with boot camp at the Customer Appreciation Event on Saturday, but I am unable to attend because I will be out of town. So, she asked if I would be willing to write a testimonial.

My husband and I had been a previous YMCA members and visited the gym on referral from Lee. My husband and I joined right then, impressed with the facility, the friendliness of the staff, and the offering of programs and classes.

I am in my 5th week of Boot Camp and absolutely love it. I have been exercising regularly for some time, but knew I needed something different. I have found as I age (I am 53) that my body is changing and what I was doing before was not producing the kind of results I wanted.

What is different about this gym and Boot Camp experience is the combination of a change in eating habits, in addition to the rigorous and complete body workout I feel like I’m getting now. I have been working with free weights for years, but have honestly focused more on my upper body than anything. I now feel like I am getting a full body workout, and seeing results.

I have lost only about 3 pounds, but have lost 6% of my body fat since the beginning of Boot Camp. I went from having 19% body fat down to 13% after 4 weeks. This is awesome! I can see the difference mainly in my waist, which is where I needed the help. My legs are stronger, and I feel they are becoming more toned as a result of the workouts.

Overall, the Boot Camp experience has been a great one. Tasha is a great instructor, she makes it fun, and pushes us to our limits at times, which I love! She is a good coach and the environment of doing this together as a group is healthy. There are times after our session that we just chat for a few minutes supporting each other’s goals.

The difference is also the suggested diet change, which has been instrumental in my body fat reduction too. I feel like I’m eating healthier, eating more raw vegetables and a whole lot less preservatives and sodium. Combining these two things (diet and exercise) is something I have not experienced at other gyms that I’ve been a member of.

I truly think everyone should try Boot Camp at least once! You’ll love the camaradiere, the encouragement, and the way that the instructor and class mates push you further than you may have pushed yourself without this type of structure. I would highly recommend this program!

Thanks for the opportunity to share my experience!

- Connie Ashburn

In the last year, I went from size 26 to 10…some 8s and 9s (size 20+ when started the Kephart program in July), lost total of 120 pounds so far (70 lbs. on Kephart program), and I could only afford to train in a group 1x a week!

I have more energy, sleep better & do not require as much sleep as I use to (a good 6hrs of sleep is good 4 me). I don’t have to do energy drinks or caffeine like I use to to function.

I can now shoulder press 65lbs 2x, 100 (4 reps of 25) push ups w/toes on bench & forehead touching floor, bi-cep curl w/bent bar 50lbs 5x, cable fly for chest 20lbs, tri-ceps 25lbs, inner & outter on thigh machines 150lbs, row for back 60lbs…and all of that is with a fused wrist from an old injury/surgeries!

- Paula Hayes

Being a horse trainer and riding instructor means you are not lazy by nature. So being overweight can be a real struggle and very frustrating.

After having two kids that is just where I found myself over weight and very little time. Being the kind of person I am I researched and found the best ways to start my weight loss. I changed my diet, counted calories, exercised. I struggled at first not having any results. I then proceeded to research my symptoms and found I was looking at a Thyroid issue. After I started to fix that I lost 20lbs.
I was ready to take my weight loss to the next level. I met Ginny in the first 3 weeks of being a member. As a trainer I knew it would take someone like this to help push me to my potential.

Ginny took the time to figure out my goals and to help me realize them. Ginny custom designed my work outs because I have some unique health issues and she knows all of my old injuries. She knows just how far I can go and when I need to stop stretch or rest to prevent injury. I love the fact she takes into account what my goals are outside of the gym(riding horses/sword fighting) and incorporates that in my work outs.

I am on the Kephart 180 diet plan and love the support I get from Ginny when I need it. I have texted her many times in a panic and she talks me through it and helps me find solutions to the road blocks. I feel great on the plan and now find it to be second nature.
I have been with Ginny for 6 months and I am pleased to say I am down 30lbs,12 inch’s of my waist, 10 of my hips,4 of each arm,3 ¼ of each thigh. I am in my healthy body fat percentage now. I have lost almost a total of 20% body fat. I am no longer taking any migraine meds, thyroid meds, and after 3 months of not losing any weight and still having female health issues Ginny suggested looking into birth control side effects. I then started doing a tone of research only to find out Birth Control has extreme side effect including weight gain or not being able to lose. I got of birth control and decided to try a natural method and within the first 2 weeks I lost 3lbs and 2 inch’s. I have noticed over 8 of my health issues have left since working out with Ginny and 13 altogether since stopping all the unnatural meds.

I can’t say enough good things about Ginny and the K180 program, and I am very grateful to have Ginny working with me and love every session.

- Mandy Greenwood

Roxanne started the program with not that much weight to lose, but severely lacking in confidence in the gym. Her sister actually bought her membership to the gym for her. Because of that, she felt an obligation to use it. When she started working with me, she was at approx. 27% body fat. Through very disciplined effort, she brought her body fat down to 17% and has held it very low ever since. Because of her example, I am now working with many of her co workers at her company and they have created an accountability team when it comes to their food and exercise. Never underestimate the power of the example you set.

Emily was once at a size 22 approx. a year before starting to work with me. She had already begun the process of losing the weight when she began with the Kephart 180 team. Armed with the nutritional strategies, not only did her body fat start coming down, she gained more confidence and started dating again. When her boyfriend saw the changes she was making, he became curious about the program.

Emily and Ted began working with me about six weeks ago and have made incredible strides. About 2 weeks ago, was able to get into a size 8 for the first time since Junior high and Ted has gone from 36% body fat to 30%.

As a couple, you couldn’t ask for a better accountability team for each other.

Denise Simpson–age 51 (4+ months on program)

Started program at 245 lbs. and has dropped over 40 lbs., giving away all her size 18 and 20s for new 14 and 16s. Her blood pressure use to be 150/90 and now is 120/80. Cholesterol was really high and now it’s normal. She is off of choleterol medicine; her blood pressure medication has been reduced and will continue to lower until off of it. She doesn’t get a lot of headaches any more, her energy level is wonderful, and she doesn’t have trouble sleeping!

Her strength and endurance are incredible now! She can do 10 pushups on her toes and another 40 on her knees, no break. She did 2 sets of 20 on “weight assisted” pullups and 25 reps. of 30 lbs. on tricep pull downs!!! She can overhead press 40 lbs. 5 times and chest press 45 lbs. 17 times.

She has the best “can do” attitude and will try anything I tell her! Her only struggle is her LOVE for spin!