"Lost a total of 23 lbs of fat!"
Before beginning the 60 Day Challenge I considered myself to be a healthy, fit 44 year old man. I cross country ski, play baseball, hockey, bike often and workout on a daily basis. I felt I had reached my plateau and thought the challenge would help me lose the 10 lbs I hadn’t been able to drop and prepare me for the upcoming cross country ski season.
I thought the hardest part of the challenge would be changing my diet. I have always eaten what I wanted when I wanted. I was worried about eliminating starchy carbs as I thought my energy level would drop. However to my surprise, I was able to maintain my high level of energy. I also found that my cravings for sweets and starches diminished.
The workouts at the Monkey Bar Gymnasium are fun, diverse and challenging as opposed to the monotony of a regular gym. The personal attention was important and a real plus. I had never experienced this before. When I was only 3 weeks into the challenge my friends were noticing the changes in my body. I also noticed that I was improving my strength and stamina.
I now have leaner, longer muscles, quicker reflexes and where I had hoped to lose 5 to 10 pounds, I was delighted to have lost a total of 23 lbs of fat!
-Gino Baldarotta
"I really feel like I can do anything" When I signed up for the Monkey Bar Gymnasium Fitness Challenge, my goal was simply to make it through 60 days. I didn’t want to expect any major physical changes, because I assumed that I would only disappoint myself. I merely hoped to stick to the program for the duration and establish new healthier habits for myself in the process.
I truly had no idea what I was in for. I didn’t expect to feel so comfortable and welcome here despite the fact that I have never been an athlete. I didn’t expect to enjoy the classes so much that I looked forward to them every day, instead of dragging myself in to the gym because I “had” to. I didn’t expect the dramatic changes in my appearance, and didn’t believe them either, despite the compliments of friends, until I went to the store and found out that I really did drop two sizes in two months!
I certainly didn’t expect to feel so much pride and accomplishment in being able to do a push up. The feeling of pride is the greatest thing that the challenge has done for me. Instead of comparing myself to others and being discouraged, I think about how much stronger I am today than I was yesterday and it makes me feel so good. Then I think about how much stronger I can be tomorrow and I really feel like I can do anything!
-Chrissy Schwartz
"I am having fun and anticipate my workouts every day"
This challenge allowed me to focus on myself in a comprehensive way that I had not taken the time to effort to do before. In many ways this has allowed me to rediscover myself. I now understand more about what makes my body tick, and can thus set more effective goals that reflect that understanding. This understanding keeps evolving as I learn new variations (food or exercise)…
I have been continually inspired and encouraged to work as hard as I can, yet I am having fun and anticipate my workouts every day. I am pushing myself more all around, allowing my body to dictate what I can do. My bike is no longer just a mode of transportation. I have rediscovered how much I missed working out hard. And according to multiple people this semester, my smile has returned.
-Kristin Simokat
"I can’t believe working out can be so much fun"
I can’t believe working out can be so much fun. I had been so resistant to work out because I did not want to take the time away from my kids. My husband convinced me to “just do the Fitness Challenge” for the summer. I loved coming to the gym.
I am actually a better mom for going rather than staying home. I feel better about me, I have peace of mind, and my body feels so much stronger. I can’t believe that I saw such results in only 60 days and had so much fun at the same time. My perspective about exercise has changed.
I see how much time I wasted at other gyms and how the physical and mental are so connected for me. Than you Jon for helping me feel great this summer and for making working out so positive and fun.
-Allie Cohn
"I learned even more how to engage in positive energy with my peers"
I came to the Monkey Bar Gymnasium with expectations that it was going to be tough. I was ready for the challenge because I was looking for one, not only physically but mentally. I wasn’t completely prepared for what this course entailed but am completely happy with the end results.
After joining the Monkey Bar Gymasium 60 Day Challenge this is what I have come to discover: I am a strong person. But I am much stronger than I believed I could be. I am one to push myself but this challenge made me mentally able to accomplish tasks I didn’t think I could. Not only in class but in work and life.
I know myself well. I tend to be a shy person with great listening skills. This challenge forced me to be a student of other people. I usually work well with others and can pick up on how individual people work and like to be treated. I learned even more how to listen, focus on others, encourage and engage in positive energy with my peers. I love that. Thank you Monkey Bar!
-Denise Newell
"My energy throughout the day is more sustained and my overall outlook is brighter"
As a public relations professional, my workday is focused on mental challenges and the pursuit of eloquence. The Monkey Bar Gymasium 60 Day Challenge has brought balance to my day by teaching me physical eloquence as well. Just as sentence structure is important in my “work life”, the form and structure of my body and movements are important in my “real life”.
The 60 Day Challenge provided me with a structure and a necessary discipline with which I have made changes in my life. As expected, I have seen physical changes as my body has become stronger and more toned. But there have also been other, more subtle changes – my energy throughout the day is more sustained, my immune system is stronger, and my overall outlook is brighter.
The 60 Day Challenge has been an exercise in strength building, both physically and mentally, that has encouraged me to make lasting changes in the way I live my life.
-Mark Shields
"Even people I see all the time have noticed the changes"
About 8 years ago I experienced a mild bout of depression of which the consequence was I gained over 20 pounds. 2 or 3 years later, I saw a photo my mother had taken at that time. It took me a few seconds to realize that it was a photo of me…I looked horrible!
Why is this story relevant to my Monkey Bar Gymnasium experience? That photo destroyed my body image / self esteem. I exercised, weight trained, dieted, and even fasted, but nothing restored confidence in my self image.
Nothing that is, until I started the fitness challenge. As I sit here writing this essay, I’m wearing shorts that are barely held up by a belt. Two weeks ago, I went to Noah’s Ark and didn’t think twice about walking around shirtless all day. Something I wouldn’t of considered 3 months ago.
Over the 4th of July weekend I biked 220 miles in 2 days! Averaging 16 mph…Prior to that I hadn’t biked more than 100 miles in a week. Every time I run into someone I haven’t seen in a while, they ask if I’ve lost weight. I’m so excited by the process, that I not only say Yes, but I launch into an explanation of How.
Even people I see all the time have noticed the changes, both physically and mentally (in self confidence). Thank you Monkey Bar Gymnasium!!!
-Paul Schwartz
"Working out can make me feel energetic and happy"
The Monkey Bar Gymasium Fitness Challenge and how it affected me and those around me…
Until recently the only “muscle” I exercised was my brain. Every time friends talked me into going to the gym, I truly hated it and found it to be a chore. I think what appealed to me abut working out at the Monkey Bar Gymasium is the word “challenge,” and the fact that Jon not only emphasized weight loss or body building, but also a more holistic approach to fitness, including group work and eating habits.
As much as it is fulfilling to see the measurements go down, it is more exciting to be able to pull myself up or do scorpion push-ups, and to cheer my partner on to do the same. Through my participation in the 8-week challenge, I convinced myself that working out can be fun and it can make me feel energetic and happy.
And for those around me? I believe a positive attitude is always contagious. I would like to thank everyone at the Monkey Bar Gymasium for being a part of the fun experience and I will see you at the workouts.
-Katarzyna Modzelewska
"A playful team spirit pervades every workout at the Monkey Bar"
The Challenge taught me to grow, resist, push, balance, teach, learn, fail, and succeed both mentally and physically. Now, I am stronger, stand taller, push harder, and am more at peace with myself.
I may have only lost 5 pounds on the scale but I nearly reached my goal of losing 20 pounds of fat. In 12 weeks (84 days) I worked out 77 of those days, and felt strong enough at the end of my program to do double workouts mixing in running on days when I did a strength workout at the gym.
I feel great. In recent years I focused on my career and chose work over workouts. In addition, I ate to quell the stress that came with the job. My body suffered from the sedentary lifestyle that I’d adopted.
I tried riding to work, running on the weekend, joining health clubs, but none of that was fun. My body movements weren’t as smooth as it was when I was an athlete in high school and college. I was out of synch with my body – my extra weight flopped around me as I plodded along and I endured the workout rather than enjoying it.
The environment at the Monkey Bar Gymasium is more akin to my days playing team sports than my days as an adult working out in health clubs. There is a playful team spirit and the anticipation of doing great things that pervades every workout at the Monkey Bar Gymasium that is lost amidst the mirrors, head-phones, and gym equipment in a health club.
We laugh together, work together, and play together. I’ve enjoyed the successes of other: watching Kira do her first chin-up, Nancy crank out minute-plus thinkers, Kate’s first real pushup. They inspire me to keep trying hard to make my own milestones.
Thank you for helping me get to where I am today.
-Kristen Redman
"The workouts are like play"
I never thought I would want to go workout, until I joined the Monkey Bar Gymasium!
I was a kid who hated gym class, was the last one picked for team sports, and always felt inept. I hated being pushed to do exercises till it hurt, and felt humiliated when I couldn’t keep up. But 25 years later, as an adult woman, I could not stand being overweight and horribly out of shape!
I took a big leap of faith when I joined the Monkey Bar Gymasium for the fitness challenge. What an incredible experience it has been! It was so hard to keep up the first week, bus as I huffed and puffed Jon or Monica would say, “If it hurts, stop or slow down…don’t push yourself to injury”.
For the first time in a fitness environment, it was OK to go at my own pace. No macho stuff, no “you wimpy ass” looks, just compassion and professionalism.
The workouts are like play and teaming up with a partner creates a support system and camaraderie that makes you want to push yourself! I found that pushed myself where I could, and didn’t where it hurt.
Even not going “all-out” I lost weight and really firmed up. I like my body so much more than I have in a long time. I am even OK with still being overweight, because if I’m muscular that extra fat doesn’t look or feel that bad.
I think the Monkey Bar Gymasium is a cutting edge revolution in fitness training that is leagues above any other program for motivation and success. Oh yeah, one more thing, the people there are really nice! Thanks!
-Ana Larramendi
"I feel like my body has been given back to me"
When I started the challenge, I was bored, depressed, out of shape, and my self confidence was low. I’d started to believe I’d never be able to do some things again – running, pushups, or just “playing” like a little kid.
I was too overwhelmed to walk into another big, impersonal gym filled with TV’s. mirrors, and rows of treadmills.
Instead, the Challenge has graced me with the experience, knowledge, motivation, and kindness of all the instructors and members involved. It is a gift to greet each workout with other folks who are looking to have fun, make friends, and work out safely.
Working with others has enabled me to push myself further – and I had fun! The bottom line is, I feel like my body has been given back to me. In the last 12 weeks, I’ve learned that my strength (physical, emotional, and mental) is always inside of me, it’s something I can’t lose. But I can celebrate it, each and every day.
-Delia Lewis
"The Monkey Bar Gymnasium is not just a gym – It’s a wonderful culture, and it’s a blast"
I did the Fitness Challenge to help my lower back pain and so that I could play my electric guitar standing up – I was that weak. People around me are impressed by the dramatic changes in my body.
More important is when I say I’m having a blast, and that the shape change is only a side effect of fun!
It’s got nothing to do with mainstream fat-hatred, deprivation, dieting, or willpower. It’s that I love coming here! The MBG celebrates diversity of people, body types, abilities, and activities – mixing fun with work and individualized challenges with helping each other. It’s just full of sweet, happy energy.
That, plus the yoga insight and the kids’ play (tossing balls, skipping, crawling, jumping rope, playing tag), and eating healthy food are all life affirming and healing and feel great. The Monkey Bar Gymasium is not just a gym – It’s a wonderful culture, and it’s a blast!
-Ann Pooler
"It’s been great having people notice the difference"
Thanks, MBG! I like MBG’s integrated exercise and dietary philosophies, so starting was easy but the Challenge was quite a challenge!
Thanks for giving me a measurable sense of progress both from my log book and checkins during the challenge! The final check-in report shocked me and I am still very happy with my body composition results! It’s been great having people notice the difference – and when they ask I get to tell them about the MBG and it’s lead to good conversations about healthy living.
Thanks for helping me find the healthier me!
-Chris Dagnon
"I’m never bored or find myself looking at the clock"
The biggest change for me since I started the Fitness Challenge is that exercising daily has become routine.
Every day I truly look forward to coming here. OK, sometimes I want to go straight home after work and put my pajamas on and watch TV, but I don’t. And when I have those days (which were very rare in the last 2 months) I feel much better after working out and wonder why I thought about not coming in.
The hardest part about exercising can be just getting yourself to the gym, but there is so much positive energy here that I haven’t had a problem with that. I love the encouraging interaction between not only the staff, but also the other members.
Collective Power works!!
Also, the workouts fly by very quickly. I’m never bored or find myself looking at the clock. The variety has been key to help me keep up my interest level and I haven’t over-stressed one area of my body (like my knees or ankles hurt when I do a lot of aerobics).
Lastly, I have developed better self confidence and a more positive attitude about myself. I’ve realized that Jon is right about there being no such thing as “I can’t”. Anything is possible and I have been holding myself back in my mind. I am capable of achieving more than I have let myself in the past.
Before, I thought that if I exercised two to three times a week, that was enough and that I needed a day off in between workouts to rest. With the challenge, I have proved to myself that I can work out 5 times a week and still have fun.
-Kristin Gumbiner