FROM TWO OF MY FAVORITE AND AMAZING CLIENTS.....ENJOY!

Nancy D. (Haverhill) - 
I knew immediately that Melanie was the trainer for me! I had been going to a gym which can be impersonal & intimidating.  She welcomed me into her home, and the equipment she has there is impressive! Her true understanding of the body and how it works is apparent in the thoughtfulness of her training.  She is endlessly encouraging & seems to find a way to motivate you - even on  your WORST day when you do NOT feel like doing it! (anyone been there?!) Melanie genuinely cares about you as a client and as a person and goes above and beyond to be sure you are reaching your fitness goals - safely and effectively.
Melanie's personality is kind-hearted and easy going, but tough when you need it, positive yet realistic, and ALWAYS motivating and energizing!  She acts as an excellent role model with her own health and fitness level. Training with Melanie has been the best thing I do for myself!


Jill C. (Boxford) - 
Melanie is very motivating, informative and most of all, non-intimidating! Finally! I have all 3 factors to set me up for weight loss/strength training success, especially for a complete fitness novice!  I thought I might be a hopeless case at the start (very busy, not self-motivated at all and have a hard time carving out time for myself), but now I can see that i can do much, much more than I gave myself credit for.  I am so looking forward to seeing what else Melanie can help me achieve! Onto victory!

Hi Everyone! It's spring at last! Here are my thoughts on weight loss and fitness progression. The BARE MINIMUM amount of time to see changes in your weight and strength and inches lost (change in body fat composition - more lean toned muscle and reduction in body fat) is a timeframe of 4 to 6 weeks. Why do so many women barely get to that timeframe before getting frustrated and quitting, just before they start to reap the benefits of all their hard work? I have to keep telling my clients " If your goal is to lose 30 (or up to 100 pounds), then it isnt going to happen overnight...it isn't going to happen in just a couple of weeks. This is a lifestyle change, a long term progression in the works...NOT a quick fix.  Kermit the Frog was once quoted as saying, "It is not easy being green". We fit humans, who make eating healthy and working out a part of our daily lives say the same thing, "It ain't easy being lean". It does take work, committment, and time...its easy, but not simple. You have to have your WHY....in order to keep you going. You will have to sweat..you will have to shift your ass into gear, you will have to work through some discomfort. You will have to focus on the work of creating a more fit, leaner physique, which takes time (not a week or two). You can't show up to your trainer with your fast food breakfast sandwich on hand (i have had that happen!) and expect to come out 3 weeks later looking "buff". It's just not realistic....committ to yourself and your health and fitness goals. Seriously, if you keep putting other people first, and neglecting yourself, it will eventually boomerang on you.  For if you don't have your health, you won't be able to take care of anyone else...they will have to take care of you. Melanie's words of the day....can you put a pricetag on your health and fitness level...if you want to live a long, excellent quality of life? Not to me, its priceless to me...and it should be to you. Happy spring! get off the couch & lets MOVE!!!

No. 1:  Get off the couch!
No. 2:  It is spring, finally!!!...see number 1 above!
No. 3:  start moving! (just 15 minutes a day can do wonders for your health & wellbeing long term!
No.4:  keep moving (there is no start/stop (end ) day....like brushing your teeth/taking a shower, you do it (hopefully!) every day, even when you don't feel like it. You just do it on autopilot....as should your health and fitness to dos!
No. 5:  Smile! something is better than nothing!
No. 6:  repeat daily!
The truth is that being active is a behavioral pattern, not a temporary "fix"; once you start it, you keep going and going...REMEMBER NIKE'S 2 MOST FAMOUS LINES: "JUST DO IT", & "THERE IS NO FINISH LINE" !

Over 18 years of working with clients, I've noticed something that separates those who succeed in their training/weight loss goals from those who don't. It is the ability to love and value YOURSELF!, enough to guilt-lessly make the time to take care of YOU!!! Remember...there is 168 hours in a week...its OK to devote just 2 of them to your health and well being....you are sooooo worth it!