Anyone who knows Radley and Andrew West, know that they are people of virtue. They really try their best to demonstrate a sense of community, not only in their work, but in their lives as a whole. As we all know, this characteristic is important – perhaps paramount – to running a successful club.

As we speak, this family is preparing for an act of kindness that is simply remarkable. Radley is donating one of her kidneys to an Anytime member in need. Not a blood related family member, not a life-long friend – just a guy who could really use a second chance. I’ve been proud to say that I work at Anytime Fitness almost every day, but never more so than after seeing this story.

Nobody has a better club culture, or cares more about their members than Anytime Fitness.  Please share the link with your friends. If you would like to send Radley a message, her email address is: lakemurray@anytimefitness.com.

By GetOutTheBox.org

“You don’t have to run on a treadmill. Find something you enjoy and just do it.’ – David Snowdon

“My sixth grade class was tested under the watchful eye of our physical education teacher as she held a clipboard and clicked a stopwatch. One of my classmates kneeled on my feet and held my ankles, while I rested on a mat, my knees bent like peaks. Click. Go! I led with the right elbow, then the left elbow, wobbling. Sit-ups counted only when both elbows touched both knees. My counting partner shouted out my score.

Click. On to push-ups. Click. Running. Click. Chin-ups. Several months later, our teacher presented some of my classmates a certificate signed by President Reagan and a round blue patch stitched with a gold eagle, the Presidential Physical Fitness Award. I never earned one. At eleven years old, I rationalized that this was okay because another set of test scores determined that I was reading at the high school level.

I didn’t strive to be fit in high school either. By then, report cards were my interest. Physical fitness wasn’t going to get me into college. If it was, my school would have offered it with an advanced placement (AP) option and my parents would have asked every night at dinner how I was doing in P.E.

In college, I avoided my grandmother and my aunt. They had started greeting me by commenting on how much weight I had gained, then bragging about how they never weighed more than 95lbs. If I appeared hurt by their comments, they’d laugh and say that they were just making conversation. Over full plates at a holiday dinner, I confirmed that every woman in my family had a story about how Grandma told her she was fat. Today, when I thumb through old yearbooks and photos, my younger self doesn’t look as bad as she felt.

After graduating from college, I traveled throughout Europe and Japan for my career, and by the time I was in my 30s, I stood 5’3″ and weighed 200lbs. With the guidance of the Weight Watchers program, I learned good eating habits such as portion control and smarter food choices. However, I took it a bit too far and lost 60lbs in 7 months. When Grandma saw me that spring, she gasped and couldn’t say anything kind, so instead, she recalled when my behind was so big, it was “out to here.”

Six years later, I regained 30lbs during a stressful three-year work project. I worked at the office 70 hours a week, instead of working out, and my portion sizes grew, even though my choices weren’t bad. I knew I could lose the weight again when the project ended earlier this year and without changing my diet or stepping into the gym, lost 15lbs. in 3 months. I can’t explain this. Maybe the stress actually weighed 15lbs.? But soon enough, I reached a plateau and knew I would have to start working out, something I never enjoyed.

So I searched through WebMD for a new perspective. Many articles emphasized that heart disease was the biggest killer of women in the US. Forget dieting. I decided to watch my eating but really focus on getting my heart pumping. Exercise would no longer be tied to losing weight. Being fit and heart-healthy had become my new goal.

I looked up the Presidential Fitness Award program from grade school. Maybe their fitness tests could guide me or benchmark my progress? Presidentschallenge.org explained that the program had been expanded to include adults and seniors. The Presidential Active Lifestyle Award program encourages adults to get at least 30 min. of exercise five days a week. Click. Steps registered on a pedometer counted towards exercise credit. Click. If I exercised five days a week sometime in the next six to eight weeks, I would earn a certificate signed by President Obama and a blue square patch. The words next to the blue star read, “Sign me up!”

My apartment complex had just renovated its gym and I decided to return to the elliptical machine. These new machines were different, even equipped with a plug for my iPod and individual television screens. While working out, I tuned into The Food Network for the first time in years and learned that it was fun to watch Paula Dean fry food.

The log at presidentschallenge.org helped me plan and track my exercise. I began going to the gym regularly. I liked the fact that there was an online record of my efforts after I worked out. After 36 workouts, I earned the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award.

For me, working out had always been about right and wrong- right and wrong food, sizes, weight and appearance. With the help of the presidentschallenge.org web site, fitness is now an investment in my heart, in my future.

Without someone that cares about him (Ben Hamrick the personal trainer), this member doesn’t change his life.

I have been overweight my entire life. I don’t know why I gained weight when I was younger, but I know that since I have put it on, it was something that I have had to struggle with ever since. I’ve tried different gyms, different diets – all the stuff that people do to lose weight, but nothing ever stuck. I graduated high school having never been kissed. My weight was a barrier between me and living. I enjoyed the friendships that I had in my life, but they weren’t complete. Underneath it all, I wasn’t happy.

When I was 22, I went to live in Germany, and in a way, reinvented myself. I got down to 245 pounds, and I was getting to a point where I was happy. When I came back to the US, I stopped putting myself first, and of course, my weight darted up to the 270s. I tried to hit the gym and eat right, but it just didn’t stick. I had the opportunity to advance in my career, and as I established myself at my new job, my health came in second. This time, my weight ballooned up to over 310 pounds. I was able to get down to 246 pounds through diet and exercise, but when I got another job, my weight increased again.

This past Thanksgiving, I was sitting on my couch and realized I simply wasn’t happy. I didn’t like who I was when I looked into the mirror (only briefly, because I had avoided mirrors for 18 years). I told myself I needed a change. Coincidentally, I had seen an offer for a credit card that would give 50,000 bonus points if you signed up, and after doing some research I realized that I could use those bonus points for $500 worth of gift cards to my favorite retail shops. So, I decided to reach my goal weight by the next Black Friday, so I could get a lot of clothes for a good price! So, I had a goal – I just needed the means to get to that end. I then remembered the Anytime Fitness next to my favorite pizza place (ironic isn’t it)?

It was the Monday after Thanksgiving that I first went into Anytime. At this point I was around 292 pounds, lacking self-confidence, feeling very self-conscious, but desperately wanting a change and to be happy. I was immediately greeted by a friendly staff member. She showed me around the club, answered all my random questions, and made me realize that this was the right fit for me. I had walked in with a free 7-day trial pass, but left that day having signed up because I knew it was the right fit. Included in the initial sign up process was a fitness consultation with a trainer. I had been assigned to Ben Hamrick.

Now, to understand my initial relationship with Ben, you have to understand my perceptions. Here was this young, muscular, fit guy who was everything that to a degree I had internalized as who I wanted to be. I was nervous because here I was this out of shape, fat man, who couldn’t look into a mirror or run a mile on the treadmill. So, reluctantly I scheduled my fitness consultation, thinking “Okay, I’ll take the free consult but then I’d do my own thing,” – because for the past few years, that’s how I had operated. I had done my own thing, and relied on myself only.

I still remember that we set up the appointment for the next day at 6 PM – which was the peak busy hour for the club. I walked in thinking “I can’t do this; I’m going to make a fool out of myself,” many other negative thoughts. I was just looking at the clock to see how much longer it was until my hour was done and I didn’t have to interact with anyone else. Ben sat me down and asked me what I wanted and forced me to start talking about why I was there and where I wanted to go. That floored me – I know he’s supposed to do that for his job, but he actually cared about what I had to say. I got the sense that he really wanted to help me achieve my goals and get me to my “happiness.” It was clear that he wasn’t doing this just for the job, but that it was something that makes him happy and internally drives and motivates him.

So, after talking for about 15 minutes, we started to work out…and what a work out it was. I realized that, to achieve my Black Friday goal, I’d need some help. I decided to give Ben a month-long “test.” I purchased sessions twice a week for a month, and told myself that I would evaluate where I was at the end of the month, because it was a substantial financial commitment to work out with him twice a week.

At the end of December, I had lost 10 pounds, and I was feeling so good about myself. I could see muscles developing where I had never had muscles before, I could see fat disappearing from areas that had plagued me for ages. In 2010 I had run a half marathon in two and a half hours and was in decent shape, but I was feeling stronger in my legs than I had when I was 246 pounds and running every day. Ben made a difference physically, but where I wouldn’t realize until now, he was helping me make a change internally as well.

Since December, I have had the privilege of working out with Ben twice a week and have since lost 46 pounds. I feel better than I have ever felt in my life. I was 246 pounds the summer before my freshman year of high school and I NEVER thought that I would see that number again. But, here I am, at a weight I haven’t seen since I was 13 years old. Looking at myself in the mirror, I have never looked as good as I do right now. My upper body exists. I don’t have man boobs. I have pectoral muscles. And back muscles. That has never happened to me before. I have legs that allow me to run 7.0 mph on the treadmill for over 25 minutes – something I have NEVER done.

For so long, I had the mentality of “I can’t.” Now, I’ll train with Ben and he’ll show me a new exercise and my automatic response is to laugh and say “I can’t do that!” – but he looks at me and says “Yes, you can.” He has helped me realize that there really isn’t anything I can’t do. I CAN do anything I put my mind to, whether it’s lifting a substantial amount of weight, or looking at myself in the mirror and actually smiling at what I see. Without Ben, I would have NEVER been able to do that.

Ben has been there for me for five months now, and not just the two hours a week that I meet with him, but really any time that I have needed him. He has gone above and beyond his job expectations to be there for me. He gave me his cell phone number and has been there to support me when needed. He also has been there to celebrate my successes. I have lost 46 pounds, gotten down to the lowest weight I’ve been in my adult life, and he was there to celebrate with me via text message at 8 in the morning. He has been my rock, sharing quotes that motivate me when I’m lacking motivation, pushing me to do better when I don’t give it my all, and helping me realize that I have self-worth and that I am worthy of happiness – and for that I cannot ever begin to express my gratitude and thankfulness for him. Words are not enough. I can’t describe how it feels to know that I’ve got it this time, that I’m making all the right decisions, that I’m worthy, and that most of all I have someone there in my corner – helping me out.

On Wednesday after our session, I wanted to remember my milestone of hitting 46lbs, so I went and grabbed my phone and a 45lbs weight. My intent was to hold the weight and take a picture so I could visually remember how far I’ve come and just everything that I’ve accomplished. Ben and I were done with our session at this point, and he was actually leaving the club for the day. He was at the door and looked over where I was standing and saw what I was doing. He set down his bag and came over and asked “what are you doing?” I explained what I was doing and he said, “Can I hop in the picture with you?” To most people that probably doesn’t mean much, but to me it meant the world. It is a picture that I will cherish until my next milestone, and even after. Here he was, leaving the club and instead, took the time to be in a picture with me because he is proud of me. It is one of my favorite pictures because I can look at myself and see the happiness in my face, and I look over my shoulder and know that I have Ben in my corner.

I can’t wait to see where the next 20 weeks takes me and Ben. I know that he’s going to continue to push me and get me to a point where I will have no problem looking in the mirror. I wanted to share my story with someone because Ben doesn’t realize just how much he’s changed the course of my life for the better. He does the training because it makes him happy, not because he’s looking for recognition.

He’s given me my life back, and given me hope for the future – something I never thought I’d have.

Finally – the staff at my Anytime Fitness is awesome, in general. I feel like I’m walking into Cheers every time I go there – because everyone knows my name and they actually take the time to say “Hi!” and see how I’m doing. I’m not just a random person swiping into a facility. Melissa the manager, Mike and Lou – they have all made me come to love Anytime. I love going there because it’s like being with friends. And, you add in Ben and the fact that it’s open any time and I have a very bright and healthy future ahead – and I’m excited about the possibility.

So, thank you for being a great place to work out, offering great facilities, and finally having fantastic people working in your company – because if it weren’t for that, I’d still be an unhappy person with little hope for the future.

Josh

Have you ever read a quote or phrase that made such a profound impression on you that it changed your life? That’s what happened to me when I encountered two powerful truths about nutrition and exercise. The impression these words made on me was so strong that I changed my eating habits and my commitment to exercise.

I had always read articles on nutrition and exercise and was educated on how important both are to good health. My problem wasn’t that I lacked information, but that I hadn’t acted upon the information I had. I wasn’t sure how to go from “knowing” to “doing” – that was until I read some powerful words.”

While thumbing through Natural Health magazine, I came upon three simple words…

“Food is medicine.”

This simple phrase resonated so powerfully within me, that it changed how I looked at food. I thought about every morsel I put in my mouth and realized that each bite was medicine that would affect my body for good or for bad. Eating was like taking a dose of medicine. If I wanted good health, then I needed to take the right medicine.

I believed that if I changed only one important aspect of my diet it would support my new philosophy. I stopped eating foods with preservatives. I saw preservatives as bad medicine – chemicals that would ultimately harm my body just like a wrong prescription from the pharmacy. If I couldn’t pronounce an ingredient on a package or didn’t have a clue what it was, I didn’t dare put it in my mouth. All natural foods were good medicine. This results in a diet of fresh meats, fruits and vegetables. When I wasn’t buying produce, I looked for packaged items that boasted of having no preservatives.

Within a month, I saw a dramatic change in my body. My complexion was clear and smooth. I had more energy an I felt good. I even slept better. As an added bonus, I dropped five pounds. I was taking good medicine for my body at every meal and I was experiencing the benefits of good health.

A quote by Edward Stanley, changed m y attitude about exercise because it appealed to my conviction about the importance of planning for retirement. I had always been taught to save money for my “golden years,” but Stanley’s words made me realize how important it was to bank good health.

“Those who think they have not time for bodily exercise will sooner or later have to find time for illness.”

Wow! That hit me right in the IRA – Internal Response Adjuster. If I didn’t make time for exercise now, then I’d have to make time for illness later.

I knew that I had to being preparing my health for the future. My past attempts at staying committed to exercise had failed, so I needed to come up with a plan to stay consistent. I planned to exercise firth thing in the morning before the distractions of the day began. I figured that I’d have to get up at 5:30am in order to exercise for 45 minutes, shower and get my son to school on time. My exercise program consisted of 30 minutes of wlaking on my treadmill and five minutes of stretching. After stretching, I spent the last 10 minutes doing either yoga, Pilates or free weights. I alternated between those three during the week for variety in my routine. On mornings when the alarm rang and I didn’t want to get out of bed to exercise, I kept repeating to myself, “I’m investing in my future, I’m investing in my future.” Unlike the recent stock market, I knew my exercise program would give me a substantial return on my investment.

The habit of exercising Monday through Friday has been one of the best things I’ve ever done for myself. Exercising early in the morning to avoid interruptions and my new philosophy of investing in my future health, have kept me committed and consistent. I use the weekends as a reward to sleep late and rest my body. I’ve never felt or looked better.

Two simple phrases, profound truths, changed the way I thought about nutrition and exercise. The power of those words inspired me to eat better and make exercise a habit. As a result, I’m enjoying healthy days now and looking forward to healthy days to come.

“We all get faced with challenges and difficult times in our lives. You know… we get fearful and I think fear is something that can hold us back. Fear that we’re not going to accomplish what we want to accomplish or just fear of what other people are going to think of us. And, I think that’s something you just need to push to the side and just go for it.”

Bethany Hamilton's Story

Taken from WorkingOutSucks.com blog post by Rebecca Derossett, contributor to the book Working Out Sucks.

I am Courage
I am Courage
Courage I am
That Courage-I-am
That Courage-I am!
I do not like
that Fear-I-am.
Do you want to give a damn?
I do not like that Fear-I-am!
Is your fear too hard to bear?
I would not like this anywhere.
I do not like that Fear-I-am.
You do not like this, So you say.
Are you willing to pave the way?
I do not like that Fear-I-am.
Would you could you show your strength?
Do you want to go the length?
Would you could you be a star?
Would you could you raise the bar?
Do you want to be a mouse?
Living in a tiny house.
Fear is like a shiny fox
puts you in a tiny box.
Worry what the neighbors think,
time enough you’ll start to stink!
Try it.
Try it.
Courage that is.
I do not like that Fear-I-am.
Take your heart and take your goals
Raise your hand and dance the pole!
Set your goals and get them straight
Pave the way. The world can’t wait.
If you had just one more day,
would you could you pave the way?
Do you want to ride a train,
do you need to use your brain?
Be the leader you know you are,
Stop wishing, wanting from afar.
Bleeding purple takes some pride
Would you even try to hide?
Try it.
Try it.
Courage that is.
The world is full of fear and doubt
A Whoville full of shame and pout.
The AF brand stands proud and true
no shit talkers… only YOU!
Raise your hand, and speak your mind,
Don’t be afraid. What might you find?
Leaders are the ones who ask
that question others choose to mask.
What are your goals. Ask them now!
Lose ten pounds, the time is now.
Be a leader for your kids
They want your passion, not your bids.
No more whiners, no more fear
2012 will be your year.
Set your purple goals right now
Don’t be afraid! The time is NOW!
Purple eggs are where it’s at….
Go to the gym, and lose that fat!
We have each other, no matter what
No excuses, no more gut!
I am Courage.
That Courage-I-am!

3/19/2012 – JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO – RANDOLPH, Texas — I had the world by the tail: U. S. Air Force Academy graduate, Air Force pilot, six-time commander, 30-year Air Force career, and two stars; fit, healthy and strong. But subtle problems appeared out of nowhere: occasional vertigo, mild persistent headaches, cognitive challenges, having to stop during a hard run.

I went to see the flight surgeon and was immediately referred to a Neurologist. An MRI revealed a golf-ball sized tumor on the left temporal lobe of my brain and the doctor bluntly told me, “Your life will never be the same.” I was literally stunned.

Swelling was critical and I was admitted for surgery five days later. The surgeon briefed me on all that could go wrong, but the young Air Force captain performed expertly. He gets my vote if I ever need another surgery.

The tumor was successfully removed down to the microscopic level. The question remained “why did I have a tumor?” The news from the lab was not good: malignant growth from stage IV of the worst form of brain cancer.

It was time to fight.

After a few weeks of recovery from surgery, I felt like a million bucks. My fitness and strength were returning and I was back to full duty and physical activity. I, also, simultaneously started a six-week, aggressive anti-cancer radiation and chemotherapy treatment plan.

The doctors told me I would be fatigued, suffer nausea and lack energy from the treatment. To counter those potential symptoms, I got back in the weight room, back on my bike, back on the running trail, back on the golf course and back to full time duty as commander of the best organization in the Air Force – Air Force Personnel Center!

The negative side effects never showed up. My fitness, strength and health remained good but it was also the hundreds of e-mails, cards, letters and prayers from my family, friends, coworkers and even strangers that helped me keep my spirit up.

Last week, I completed my last of 30 radiation and 42 chemotherapy treatments and I still feel great! The next critical step is another MRI in a few weeks to see if the cancer has returned. I pray for good results.

I never saw any of this coming.
Read the whole story: Commentary – Never saw this coming: Lessons learned in trying times.