Thank you to all of our clients for your feedback!
I was already through with my fitness journey when I discovered Life Fitness Academy. I had tried personal training before and even did the “Insanity” work out. I had results but never could reach my goals.
That’s when I started bootcamp with LFA. The price was reasonable and I was willing to try anything. And here comes Russ, who quickly has me doing moves that have me gasping for air and I’m not even holding a weight. “Am I that fat?” , “Am I that out of shape?”…..Yes Rhonda you are. I now try to train 3-4 days a week. I had results soon and after my consultation with Tim, the nutritionist, I have had even greater success. I started out at 227 lbs. and in a size 16. I am now 198 lbs. and in a size 10! I have energy out of this world and my body looks great and will only get better. Russ is not only my trainer, he is a great friend. - Rhonda, Nashville, TN
Over the past four years, I have been gaining and losing the same 20-40 pounds. I would diet and exercise like crazy for 6-8 weeks and watch the pounds come off, only to be back to my old weight within months. I finally decided I would just be overweight. But now I realize I was missing two very important things, a great coach and the right nutrition.
On a whim I bought a Groupon for BCore Boot Camp fitness. Randomly I chose the Edge Hill location. I squeezed into my sweat pants and started my first day of boot camp. By the end of the 45 minutes I was drenched in sweat and did not know if I could even crawl back to the car. As I left Ashley, the trainer for the Boot Camp, smiled and said “good job”. I could not believe what I heard; I wasn’t even able to do a single thing she had showed us. I now realize that “good job” was more about showing up, than impressing the rest of the class with my fitness ability. Two days later I was back for another dose of pain. I kept this up for 6 weeks and didn’t notice any real change in my weight but I was starting to survive class with a little less wheezing. During Boot Camp I had heard Ashley and Terry talking to other Boot Campers about nutrition and what to eat or not to eat. I started asking questions and was learning more about what my body actually needs to function.
I decided to sign up for another month of Boot Camp and a food class. This time I was making spelt pizza with veggies and grass-fed beef burgers instead of heading to Pizza Hut for lunch and Fat Mo’s after class. I was eating cleaner, wiser and was still full. I took a “Party foods” class and was amazed by how good the food tasted and all the benefits it had for your body. Trust me it’s worth starting a conversation with Ashley just to hear about the food she eats and how good it is. Two words say it all, “Kale Chips”!
Now–8 months, 3 food classes, and lots of fun later, I am down almost 30 pounds and impress myself everyday with what I am able to do. Ashley has shown me that working out and eating right is not something you do just for the few weeks you want to lose weight, it is how you live. In class you may see Ashley dancing to dub step, walking on her hands or munching on berries from the fridge; the way she is enjoying life makes you want to join in too. In the past 4 years of weight gain and loss, I have never been this optimistic about getting to my goal weight and staying healthy the rest of my life. My past proves that I could not have gotten this far alone. THANK YOU Ashley and Life Fitness Academy!! – Chelsea, Nashville, TN
I have so many things to say about the way Life Fitness Academy has changed my life I really don’t know where to start! I’ve exercised regularly my entire life. I considered myself to be fairly fit when I met Terry–some in my Total Body Burn class call him Scary Terry (cue the scary music now!). I bought a groupon and went in for my three personal training sessions. I realized immediately (as in, when I couldn’t lift my coffee cup to my lips later that afternoon) that what I called fitness paled in comparison to what LFA calls fitness.
By the time the three sessions were over, I was totally hooked. That was a year and a half ago. Since then, I have gained not only considerable physical strength, but I’ve gained a wonderful confidence in what my body can do. I would never have pushed myself as hard as Terry or Ashley have pushed me (although I do work out much harder on my own now), but I’m THRILLED when I’m pushed to the point that I can do something I thought I couldn’t do.
The workouts are not only challenging, they’re wildly varied and interesting. Terry and Ashley both seem to have infinite variations for every possible exercise so it NEVER gets routine or boring. Added bonus, Terry will do entertaining little dances and tell bad jokes just at the moment that you need a diversion to keep going!
I LOVE everyone who’s a part of the company, love the nutrition counseling, and I really love the smoothies Carissa makes at the end of workouts. One of them tastes like a coconut Snickers–it’s insane AND it’s healthy! I’ve told pretty much everyone I know about what a great experience I’ve had there and, as a result, a bunch of my friends are regulars now. If you’re thinking about it, you should DEFINITELY just do it! Real fitness is AWESOME!!! : ) – Deanna, Nashville, TN
Suffering through an illness and struggling with daily pain, inflammation, and a number of autoimmune related symptoms for more than 3 years made me realize how much I took my once-healthy body for granted. In the spring of 2011 I was diagnosed with chronic Lyme Disease and several bacterial coinfections. By the time of my diagnosis, I had seen several rheumatologists, pain specialists, orthopedic physicians, hematologists, and other doctors. Every blood test, x-ray, MRI, and physical exam puzzled my doctors or came back negative. I tried a number of steroids, anti-inflammatories, NSAIDs, and other pain medications. None of them worked. So I prayed. I prayed for direction. I prayed for healing. My family prayed. My friends prayed. And I got answers.
Under unusual circumstances I found Life Fitness Academy, where I met Tim and Terry. From that day forward my life changed. Prior to working with them, I was in a downhill battle with my illness. It was difficult to sleep, get up out of a chair, walk up stairs, and even roll over in bed without excrutiating pain. I was 30 lbs. under my normal average body weight.
However, the guys at LFA were a light in my darkness. Tim and Terry suggested a detox protocol based on healing my gut. They explained how my previous protein-heavy diet and supplements (what I thought was healthy for weight training), rounds of antibiotics for annual sinus infections, and more recently, steroids and other medicines for pain slowly deteriorated my stomach, intestines, and colon. Needless to say I was in need of healing. Once my gut was healed, my immune system could start to function properly once again to fight off the Lyme and other infections.
The detox protocol was difficult, but with weekly consultation and encouragement from Tim and Terry I slowly started to see progress. After several weeks, my minor symptoms disappeared. After 2 months I began to see larger changes–changes I hadn’t seen in all the years of previous treatment. Each week, Tim went above and beyond by researching my symptoms and offering customized food and supplement suggestions based on my symptoms. His knowledge and experience was both comforting and educational during the 3 month protocol. Before I became ill, I loved to exercise, so it was great to work with Terry on different workout routines as I progressed. He has true discernment when it comes to knowing the body and healing it with exercise. They both gave me priceless knowledge I can use the rest of my life.
I couldn’t have been more blessed than to work with the team at Life Fitness Academy. In July my wife and I had the privilege of meeting Tim, Terry, and Carissa at the Nashville LFA gym. Everyone was so easy to work with and training was so fun I finished my workouts wanting more!
Most of all, Tim and Terry helped me to realize that God is ultimately responsible for my healing. My relationship with God is stronger and I trust in Him each day to move me forward. Even though I’m not back to 100% yet, I look forward to continuing this healing process while working with the guys at LFA. – Brad, Des Moines, IA
Russ is a knowledgeable and driven individual and has helped guide me down the right path by encouraging me to eat better (I’ve changed so many bad eating habits) and work out 6 days a week. Along the way, he has given me so much advice and different ways to work better nutrients into my diet and find better and simple and healthier alternatives for some things I like to eat. He got me to quit drinking sodas which, if you really know me then you know, was my addiction, my nicotine. I’ve been “free” for about 8 months now. I haven’t had a sip of soda after drinking 4-5 a day basically my whole life. I’ve lost 15 LBS. since I started working out regularly a few weeks ago and currently on my way to achieving my weight loss goals with a complete lifestyle change and mindset that I am in this for the long haul. If interested, hit me up or you can just hit Russ up direct as he is tagged in this note.
Russ will be using top notch facilities and he also has regular weekly classes that he teaches at Life Fitness Academy in the Belmont area and CRAG Climbing Gym in Cool Springs. So if you are not interested in personal training or not sure that you are, he currently is teaching boot camp, boxing, and STRABS (stretching and abs) classes at these locations. – Zach, Nashville, TN
It all started with a Groupon, some Mommy friends, and a new years resolution–sound familiar? Yeah, I was one in how many millions who said I was going to lose weight and get in shape this year–the difference for me this year is I HAVE!! I am not going to lie, I have worked my tail off and I owe so much of that motivation to get up and and get it done to the incredible support and top notch instruction from the entire team at Life Fitness Academy. Without a doubt I feel better on so many levels as a result of the months I have been working out with the LFA team. It’s not just about weight loss and losing inches–though that has been great!! It is about having more energy in my everyday life and just feeling better from the moment I wake up to the time I fall asleep and even when I am asleep! I feel stronger physically and mentally. I have more patience and I am more productive in every single task that I do throughout my day. In addition to the fitness, the nutritional guidance from LFA helped me make changes in my eating patterns that have produced great results–and I never feel deprived of good food or left feeling hungry, nor am I spending hours cooking, prepping, or mega money at the grocery. It’s all VERY doable in today’s economic times!
Though these days Ashley Dance is now my primary trainer (bootcamp), and my biggest cheerleader, I have had the opportunity to work with Terry as well. They both consistently challenge me and have both given me workout tools that I can easily use on my own on days that I don’t have training and also with their full option of classes from bootcamp, Zumba, Fitness Rave, STRABS, and HIIT. I am never without a challenging workout to do that fits my schedule! And every time I come, I am greeted with a smile and encouragement.
Thank you LFA team — you have helped me get my body back and have fun doing it! – Angela, Nashville, TN
I feel better than ever, even though it was really hard to do. When I finally made up my mind to lose weight, Terry was there to kick my butt. One thing that makes me happier than losing weight is I am no longer on any of my diabetes medication and I am not ever going back. – Christy, Nashville, TN
Terry’s the best! He’s compassionate and tough. His nutrition philosophies are very easy to understand and follow. I am absolutely the healthiest I’ve ever been in my adult life and I owe it all to Terry. Thanks, Terry! – Sherry, Nashville, TN
I met Terry in the fall of 2008. I was desperate for help. I had lost over 75 pounds but was at a point where I needed more structure and motivation to continue. What I had been doing was no longer working and I needed a new plan. I was very nervous about working with a personal trainer because I had a lot of weight to lose and I was worried about feeling judged or embarrassed. I prayed about it and then one day I met Terry. Terry took an interest in helping me and I was unsure how we were going to be able to work together at the beginning because I did not live locally. My work schedule and the distance apart prevented me from being able to work with Terry on a regularly basis. So, we started out small by meeting twice a month and he counseled me on nutrition. He is very knowledgeable when it comes to healthy eating and how to eat to lose weight. At the time, I was eating healthy and wondered how much more I could change to get more results. He definitely showed me more ways. He also met with me to show me exercises that I could do at home, in a gym or at my desk. He is extremely encouraging and I never felt embarrassed or ashamed when I worked out with Terry. Also, something that I never imagined was that when I started working with Terry that I would also gain support from his wife as well. His wife showed me ways to cook and Terry actually went to the grocery store with me to show me what to buy. Terry was an answered prayer and he is more than a personal trainer. He is a friend and a prayer partner. When I met Terry, I gained a friend for life. Although, I’m no longer training with Terry on a regular basis anymore, he is still my favorite person to share my weight loss accomplishments with. As of today, I’ve lost over 125 pounds and I’m still on my journey. It can definitely be done without surgery and finding strength within you to do this for yourself is worth it. If you are looking for a personal trainer/nutritional counselor with the heart of a teacher. Terry is definitely the guy for you. – Shannon, Bon Aqua, TN
