Testimonials
When I ran into an old friend of mine in the Fall of 2007, I was ready to make a change in my life. I had been out of the Air Force for over 5 years and had been struggling just as long to lose the extra weight that I had packed on since my release. The more I tried to lose the more weight I gained. My friend mentioned that she had been getting great results with David, who was now a personal trainer. I said “who Girt?” and she said “yeah.” I said “I knew Girt back in the day and I have never known him to say more than two words, how in the world can he be a personal trainer? He can’t motivate me, he’s too quiet!”
David’s name kept popping up in different conversations associated with working out so I decided to take it seriously. I went to the Live Now Fitness website to check it out. I was very impressed!!! You could tell that this “busta”, I mean “brotha” was for real. This was no cheesy website, he put a lot of care and detail into it. Also, I knew he had to be doing extremely well to leave his cushy job to pursue this full time.
I made an appointment with David for a physical assessment. During our conversation, I warned him that I was not the same Rose that he knew back in the day—I had gained a lot of weight. He assured me that it could not be as bad as I thought it was; I assured him that it was. When I showed up for my appointment his eyes said “WOW” but his mouth said “it’s not that bad.” I knew he was lying (he later made a confession). I had a whopping 186 lbs on my 5 `2 frame. Can you say obese? And it was not a solid 186 lbs but all flab.
I expressed to David I was tired of being fat and exhausted all the time. David told me he was here to help me but I had to put in the work. I said “This is it, I am ready!” I was in sad shape. I was a true size 16 still squeezing in size 14 clothes. I was busting out of my pants, I could no longer pull the zipper up on any of them, they were holding on for dear life by a strategically placed safety pin. I always knew I was one cookie or cake away from being naked (you can be honest when you are thin).
David and I proceeded to discuss personal training packages, I told him “I want the largest training package you have (48 sessions).” He actually tried to convince me to get a 12 or 24 session training package (maybe he didn’t think I was serious). I thought to myself, “DUDE, WHAT THE HECK IS WRONG WITH YOU? I am trying to get the largest package—MORE MONEY FOR YOU!!!!” I assured him I was very serious about getting in shape. He finally caved and let me buy the 48 sessions.
I began my training sessions with David, and sure enough he was NO punk, in fact he was a beast with a passion for his craft. Initially it was rough, not only because of the workouts but also because of my busy schedule. The best time for me to workout was in the morning and his schedule was so tight I had to get in where I fit in; sometimes morning, sometimes afternoon, we might have even had a couple of lunch sessions, until I could get a permanent schedule. Secretly I prayed for client cancellations in the time slots I wanted.
Once I got into the habit of working out, I decided it was time to focus on my eating habits. Where I was once picking up my meals at the Chick-fil-A, McDonald’s, or Wendy’s drive-thru, I had to actually plan my meals. I now had to plan and prepare my meals in advance, which meant several trips to the grocery store and pre-packaging my meals for the week. “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” Failing was never an option for me, especially after buying a 48 session training package.
While I was busy juggling my old schedule with my new workout and eating/cooking schedule, something happened. My sweats were getting loose. After I signed up with Live Now Fitness, I went to Wal-Mart and purchased XL sweats (top and bottom) in every color, I had at least 10 sets and that was my workout gear. Initially it seemed like nothing was happening, then all of a sudden, I was losing and toning up at a rapid pace gaining me the title “The Incredible Shrinking Woman.” My sweats were hanging off of me, but I told myself that I wouldn’t get rid of them until I was down 50 lbs. By that time I might have been down 30 lbs, I didn’t know my weight, I instructed David not to tell me my weight until I made an official request.
During my workouts, my sweats pants became a nuisance, constantly getting in the way. My pants were constantly sliding down, I was tripping over them. I had to hold them up doing jumping jacks. When I’d get on the recumbent bike, they’d get stuck in the pedal. David was constantly yelling at me, “Get rid of the sweats, you spend more time pulling your pants up then you are working out!!!” I’d yell “No, I can use a safety pin to hold them up!” It got to the point when it really bothered me, I was tired of pulling up my pants and I looked straight up ridiculous so I got rid of the sweats before reaching my goal.
Oh by the way, the same thing that was happening with my workout gear was happening with my regular clothes. I was and still am constantly giving away clothes and buying new ones. I went from a size 16 to wearing a size 2 in suits and dresses and a size 4-6 in pants. Thank you, Jesus!!!!!!
If I could do it, anybody can!!! People make all kinds of excuses for not working out. No, I am not married (not yet) and don’t have any kids but I have a busy schedule. All I know is that I had to do something about my health and appearance, I didn’t know how I was going to fit it in, I just knew that I had to make it happen and that I was not buying a size 16 wardrobe. If I had embraced the 16, it wouldn’t be long before size 18 was around the corner.
The most important question you should ask yourself and is the same question that David asked me is “Are you ready to live NOW?”
R. Renesca
Most of my adult life, I have been on this journey to a healthier lifestyle. It’s been a struggle, but the rewards are definitely worth the struggle. In 1997, I found myself at my most unhealthiest ever! I was 210 pounds and had borderline high blood pressure. For me, that was the straw that broke the camel’s back. I began to change my lifestyle as much as I could, without any professional guidance. I became more active by joining a gym and I began to eat healthier. From that point, I had many highs and lows in the journey. I would be consistent with exercising and healthy eating for weeks and then just fall off the wagon for months ending up right back where I started. Like a lot of people, I have tried many of the quick fixes, like eating only fruit for 10 days or drinking some concoction for weeks. Yes, I got results, but the results were never long term and the regimens were unrealistic. Over time I did lose 25 pounds and I was able to maintain that weight for several years. But, I remained overweight and at risk for certain diseases so I knew I needed to be more persistent and consistent in order to reach my goals.
In 2006, a friend invited me numerous times to come take the LiveNow Fitness boot camp class, but I rejected her, thinking the class would be to hard for me. I mean, she called it a boot camp for goodness sakes! Fast forward to 2008, I had decided to take getting fit and healthy more seriously. For the year, I had a goal of losing 20 pounds and participating in local fitness events such as 5 and 10K races. I started attending the LiveNow Fitness boot camp class in April to supplement my workout. At that time, I was participating in a biggest loser challenge at work and already going to the gym, but felt I needed a little extra. Not really thinking I would be able to get through the class, I tried the free session and was very pleased with the format of the class and the friendly, helpful trainers. I decided I would continue with the class until I won the biggest loser challenge. Well, I didn’t win, but I came in a strong 4th out of 20. I also completed my first 5K race. Noticing the dramatic changes of my body, energy level and stamina, I knew I had to continue with the classes. I even started attending both the morning and evening sessions. By December of 2008, I had lost 40 pounds (20 pounds more than my goal)! I attribute these achievements to the workouts and nutritional guidance at LiveNow Fitness.
So far this year I have completed three 5Ks, with more races to come, and I plan to one day do a half-marathon. Now that I have more energy and stamina, I can get back to participating in activities I love, such as tennis and bike riding. I also feel more open to trying new things like long hikes and rock climbing. I’m so proud of my accomplishments and I am really grateful to the team at LiveNow Fitness. They offer fun and effective workouts for every fitness level and the trainers really motivate and care about you reaching your goals. No workout is ever the same and every part of your body is challenged. You get to meet new people who share the same interest in fitness and a healthy lifestyle.
Thank you David and Bruce for motivating and helping me and other LNF clients to reach fitness goals we never dreamed of achieving! When you’re ready, I recommend checking out the life changing programs offered by LiveNow Fitness. See you in class!
A. Reaves
Back in 2007 I was the heaviest I’d ever been and I was tired of feeling bad about myself, so after advice from my friend I started doing Weight Watchers and taking classes at the YMCA. After about 8 months I’d lost 40 pounds and was where I wanted to be weight wise, but I didn’t have the stamina or muscle definition I wanted. I noticed the Body Rush class one evening while watching my fiancé play soccer and thought it looked like a lot of fun. They had upbeat music and everyone was laughing and smiling. A little over a year and a half later and I’m working to become a personal trainer myself! I can see and feel new changes every day and I’m much stronger and have much more endurance than before. Every class we’re doing something different and using a different group of muscles. The trainers do a wonderful job instructing the classes, but do so much more. They are always giving everyone new ideas and tips for living a healthier life, whether it’s healthy recipes for great tasting smoothies or exercises to do at home. I don’t think I could go back to doing anything else now and I definitely know I couldn’t go back to the gym because I know it wouldn’t be as much fun or as challenging as the LiveNow classes.
A. Fox
I have been promising this testimony for David for a while now. So I hope the wait was well worth it. I moved to the area the latter part of 2006 and as you can see I was quite out of shape. I may have looked good in appearance but if I had to run, it was no doubt that I would be huffing and puffing! lol
Throughout the 5 years of being employed at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida, as was a member of the YMCA and participated in various workout challenges. I was able to lose some weight, but never able to keep it off. This was mostly due to my lack of eating balanced and nutritious meals. My family here often jokes with me about me first meal I cooked when I moved here. It was one of those "southern meals" which consisted of fried chicken smothered in gravy, rice, veggies (with butter used), and corn meal cornbread. All of it was well seasoned with my favorite seasonings. Sounds bad, huh??
So with the help of my family here, I learned different cooking habits, which included not having to seasoning everything, baking instead of frying, less or no pork/red meat, and eating wheat bread versus white bread. It really took some getting used to, but by the time I went back home to visit, I had easily dropped 20 pounds. :-)
By losing this weight didn't mean I was still comfortable with my size. I still struggled with the emotional side of how I gained it. In 2003 I became involved with a guy and through that particular relationship; I lost so much of myself. As result of that I had low self-esteem, although people would never think that. I internalized my feelings throughout the 3 years of that relationship, which in my opinion allowed me to gain a significant amount of weight.
On a happier note, I finally came to the realization that I needed to develop an exercise routine. This was the summer of 2008 and David was just about to start the boot camp classes in the mornings. I knew that being at the soccer dome by 5:30 a.m. was going to be a struggle, especially considering the fact that I didn't get home until 12:15a.m. or thereafter. Despite this fact I still committed to attending the session. Two weeks into the session I could recognize my body was beginning to change and I could do 5-10 push-ups; which I could not do at all before!! I went through about 4 sessions and look at me now!!
David and Bruce are AWESOME trainers!! They motivate you to persevere and challenge you to try new exercises. Not to mention DC with all of his nutritional ideas and information. My brother David was always there to encourage me and never took any excuse I tried to give him. They all stayed in my face about attending class and rejoiced with me at every milestone and fitness goal that was reached. I can't even forget to mention my fellow boot campers!! Everyone in the class is so helpful and encouraging. I've been blessed to meet individuals with the same goals in life, and that is to Live Fit! We've each had our bad days in class where we felt as though we couldn't make it through the hour, but there always was someone by your side to motivate you until you completed the exercise. There has to be an attitude of "I", however there was also morale of "US", in which if we worked as a team, we all would win. It may sound weird to you, but that is the type of atmosphere that is created.
This has not only been a physical journey for me, but as an emotional one. I've had to erase the phrase "I can't" from my vocabulary because never in a million years did I expect to achieve this type of accomplishment. I've always been apart of the "yo-yo club", where I lose weight and then gain it back; but not this time! I've made it up in my mind that no U-TURNS are allowed and that failure is not an option! I recently turned 25 and not only do I look good, but I feel FABULOUS !
I also must as acknowledge my family (Kevin and Asia) for encouraging me to keep going! All of the early morning phone calls were not in vain. :) By you helping to change my way of thinking about food was the catalyst for my success while in boot camp. Thank you David for not giving up on your dreams of creating this business! Without you, I would still be calling myself a "fat girl"! ;-)
P. Woods
Live Now Fitness has truly changed my life. At the time when the Body Rush Class was introduced into my life, I was feeling very unmotivated about going to the gym and losing weight. I had already lost 20 lbs on my own and had reached a wall. I was looking for a new type of work-out when I started talking to a co-worker of mine and she invited me to join her. After the first session, I was hooked! I knew I would be coming back for a long time. Over the past 13 months I have lost an additional 20 lbs and have seen such a huge transformation in my body. I find the classes to be incredibly inspiring and challenging. I love how you never feel like you have maxed out and every class offers a new physical challenge. Girt and Bruce motivate each and every person to do their very best every step of the way. They have a way of making you feel proud of yourself every time and that is so important when trying to lose weight. Not to mention that Live Now is just like a family where you can share your ups and downs. It is always a place where you can get new tips or ideas. I feel the program that Bruce and Grit have built is the best around.
J. Nutter
I have been a member of Live Now Fitness for over 2 years. I joined Live Now because my weight was escalating as well as my blood pressure. I always thought of myself as being physically fit but upon joining Live Now I quickly saw that I had so much more potential in me. I was immediately impressed with how the trainers welcomed me into the fold. It is like one big happy family. The first day you are introduced with a hearty welcome and this nurturing group atmosphere continues indefinitely. I continue to come to Live Now because it really challenges me to a higher level of physical fitness. I am continuously amazed at how my physical stamina has increased since joining. I have never been much of a runner and through this class I am now able to run several miles. Live Now does a great job of building sprints into the workout and before you look up you have run a mile without realizing it. I highly recommend Live Now to anyone who wishes to get in shape or take their fitness to the next level . Whatever your workout goals are you will achieve it with this class. Live Now does a fantastic job of motivating its clients. Over two years and counting and I have never experienced the same workout class twice.
D. Neal
Silver Spring, MD
Live Now Fitness”…A lot more personal, I feel like they care about me.
They are extremely knowledgeable and, more well-rounded than other trainers. "I started with “Live Now Fitness” about a month and a half before I was pregnant. David is my trainer and is awesome! He is exactly the kind of trainer you want whether you are pregnant or not! He is an expert about fitness and nutrition and is continually seeking additional education. David is encouraging and motivating! He helps me by always being positive and persuading me to exercise even on the days when _I don't really feel like it_. His workouts are fun and never boring! He is genuinely concerned about your health and how you are feeling.
In the beginning of my pregnancy I experienced morning sickness (all day sickness). The only time I would feel relief was when I was exercising. I was considered a high risk pregnancy due to a thyroid condition. The doctors were concerned that the thyroid would trigger diabetes. I decided that the best thing for my baby and I was to continue to exercise. After speaking with David, he came up with a regiment that would be beneficial to my pregnancy. This is my third pregnancy and People can’t believe how I look and how much energy I have. My doctors were astounded that I made it 40 weeks without any complication or medication. It is all contributed to the exercise program and eating healthy. David is an excellent trainer and has made my 40 weeks a breeze. I was able to maintain my same dress size and was able to tone my body while pregnant. David and I both say we can’t believe it went by so fast.
I Thank God for “Live Now Fitness”. They are truly a blessing. I hope that more pregnant women will catch on and realize that the best thing for you and your baby is a positive environment, fitness, the proper nutrition and an awesome trainer.
If you are looking for someone who is well trained, positive, motivating, and fun to help you lead a healthier lifestyle, I would recommend David and “Live Now Fitness!"
J. Mollon
I have been a client of Live Now Fitness for 10 months and counting strong!! I am extremely excited about my experience and accomplishments with Live Now Fitness. I had a doctors visit in late March of 2008 and was informed that both my weight and cholesterol were elevated. Well, all it took was a visual of me to know I was over weight and the doctor told me he didn't want to put me on medication or diet, but suggested first I change my cholesterol intake and start to exercise and revisit him in 6 weeks for follow-up. I happened to notice the change in a friend and church member one day shortly after that, and asked her what was she doing. She told me she had joined a fitness group and had been working out for about 6 months in a combination of personal and class training. Normally, I don’t follow people based on what they tell me, but it was visually clear there was a change in her physical appearance and it looked great as I told her. She gave me the phone number and I contacted David Girton the same day. I explained to him what I was looking to do and he set me up for the assessment and it was on!
Six weeks into my training I returned to my doctor for follow-up and I was at least 13 lbs down and my cholesterol had returned to normal. My doctor was shocked and told me whatever I was doing to keep it up. And I'm doing just that! For me, it wasn't just about losing weight, but at my age, being healthy! I refuse to have to be on medication or special diet for anything the rest of my life. Smart, healthy eating choices and persistence has been the key for me. There were exercises that I thought they were crazy for instructing me to do. I thought "a plank" what's that? and push up, yeah right, oh and run, I don't think so. Well, with persistence, not only can I now do a plank, but I can hold the position with other motions included. Push ups, if I press real hard, I can do about 15 in a set. Running, I'm still not 100% fond of it, but, I'm doing that too. I have made working out a life style. I don't feel right if I don't workout. And when I don't feel right, I workout and find I feel great. So, for me (like praising) there are only two times to work out "when I feel like it" and "when I don't"!
I have used similar services and found repetitious, repetitious, repetitious, to the point that I could teach the class myself. Results were extremely slow to eventually none. Boredom and dissatisfaction set in and I quit. With Live Now Fitness, personal and class training is full of variations, flexibility, well rounded and change. Never the same thing twice and most of all exciting and lots of fun. You come away from a work-out feeling like you already have great results. The routines are done at your own pace and with assistance if needed. You are not only trained on what to do, but also how to do it correctly so as to avoid injuries and get the proper outcome. David Girton takes extreme care and wisdom to design the right fitness plan just for me in my personal training and it is just that "personal". The entire team is courteous and all share the same vision and are on one accord with providing excellent client service and meeting the fitness goals of everyone. The locations are worth the trip and the price is right!
Did I mention my age? I am 54 years old, a grandmother for 10 years. I am an IT specialist by profession and now more active and stronger than I have been in years. Unlike most of my peers, No health issues and no medications prescribed for me. I have lost a total of 32 pounds to date and look forward in 2009 and the years to come to Live Life, Live Fit and most of all, Live Now!
A. Cheaves
Just like many women, I am a wife, a mother of two, and heavily focused on my career. It wasn’t until 2008 that I decided to focus on myself, to have work life balance and enjoy a healthier lifestyle. On January 1, 2008, I took the first step by running on a treadmill. When it was over, I was out of breath, barely breathing, my heart was racing, and my legs were wobbly. It became a reality when I looked at the treadmill time and noticed that I was only running less than 4 minutes. Since then I’ve been challenging myself to do new activities. I’ve completed two 5k Runs and joined Live Now Fitness-Body Rush.
I was introduced to the LiveNow Fitness team by my good friend, T. Lacey, who kept on raving about the program. So I attended my first class approximately three months ago, which was unforgettable. After my first class, one of the instructors asked me how did I enjoy the class and I said, “It was a nice little warm up.” Let the truth be told, I can’t believe I survived! What a work out! I joined that same night. Every class is an adventure and I always look forward to the next class. Since I’ve been attending LNF, I’m energized, I’m toned, and I love the way I look. It’s a great feeling to be a member of the LNF family.
This year (2009), I have added swimming to my weekly workout. My long term goals are to eat healthier, complete a 10k Run and attempt to complete the Iron Girl Competition. If you ever want to join a workout session that will motivate you to do your very best, then Live Now Fitness is for you!
D. Fortson
My daughter Audrey and I have been members of LiveNow Fitness for the past 9 months. While my daughter's fiance was playing soccer, she observed people working out on one of the other fields. In addition to a great high-energy workout, it also looked like the participants were having fun. Audrey convinced me to come for a trial session, and we have been devoted fans of the program ever since. I love the fact that each class is unique and works out a different part of the body. I have noticed that I have more endurance, strength and energy from working out. All of the instructors are experienced, energetic and fun and urge each person to do their very best. The LiveNow Team is very mindful of their clients and tailor each exercise accordingly. I have never been a huge fan of health clubs and have always preferred to exercise on my own. I have two dogs, and I walk/run with them every day. LiveNow Fitness is the perfect complement to my own exercise regime.
I am married and the mother of two children (Audrey and Matt). I am employed by both Howard County Community College and Baltimore County Community College as an Adjunct Faculty Instructor in Writing and ESL.
B. Helm-Fox
Hey Guys...
You all made the difference. As you know, I recently defended my title as the 3-time Heavy Weight World Champion in Fighting for Okinawan Karate. Besides my own personal karate drills and exercises, the training you all provided to me during my Body Rush and Boot Camp classes gave me the strength, stamina, agility, and speed I needed to push myself to victory! I used to see your classes as a way to augment my martial arts training, but now I see you all as a life-changing force that I will always have in my schedule. Thanks for pushing my fitness training to the limits and helping me to Live Now! See you in class...
S. Crump
I have never been the person that had the discipline to workout. I joined a gym but never went and I saw my money just fly out the window. I was getting older and wanted to maintain what I had and also tone up and increase my endurance. I came across LiveNow Fitness online and decided to try it out. I must admit that the first class had my body crying in pain and I was unsure about coming back. But I am so glad I did!! Thanks to LiveNow, my doctor has taken me off my cholesterol medicine and my asthma is hardly a problem anymore. My clothes fit better and I just feel better about myself as I get older. The trainers are absolutely awesome! They are motivating without that drill sergeant approach I thought I was going to get when I the words heard “boot camp”! The classes are fun and always challenging. As well as getting into great shape, I have made friends and found a “fitness family”. We all push each other to obtain our individual goals and that is something you can’t get at a gym. LiveNow is the way to go and I can’t see myself working out any other way! I look forward to the future and getting into better shape. It’s not just a fitness class; it’s a lifestyle and a family! I highly recommend it to everyone I speak to, whether I know them or not! LOL
LiveNow on 3!!! 1,2,3 LIVENOW!!!
R. Patterson