As someone who has always been active and in shape, it was a very hard adjustment for me when I moved to New York City and consequently gained 20 lbs. Ever since, it has been a big struggle for me to shed those unwanted pounds and my self-esteem dwindled. A few months ago I reviewed a gym that specializes in personal training called Structure Personal Fitness. I enjoyed my workout there so much I decided to join the gym and work on getting back in shape and losing weight.
As I had said in my original article on the gym, I love how motivating it is to go there. I tend to work out harder when others are around and it is inspiring to know that the trainers there believe in me, especially when they increase my weights or give me a harder exercise knowing that I can accomplish it.
I have been going to Structure for about a month and a half now and have made great strides. While I haven’t made much of a dent on the scale, I know that I am losing weight and gaining muscle. The evidence is clear when I look in the mirror. Some of my impressive feats include cutting off time in my 1500 meter row; I went from a time of 11 minutes, 12 seconds on August 6th, to 8 minutes and 15 seconds on August 27th. I started with 10 lbs. for the overhead press on July 30th and by August 27th, I had increased to 30 lbs. I have never had much upper body strength so to see this transformation in my arms is so impressive. What I am most proud of, though, is my progress with the deadlift. During my initial session on June 17th when I first reviewed the gym, I was lifting 12kg (26 lbs.). As of August 27th, I was lifting 32kg (70 lbs.). For the first time in my life I feel strong!
The work outs are constantly changing and are customized just for you. I never get bored and I feel like I am always pushing myself. After every session, I leave Structure feeling revitalized and full of energy, ready to take on the day. Best of all, I actually have fun while I’m there. I love the special attention I get while I’m there and how they focus on correcting my form and making sure I do each exercise correctly. Recently, I started using a heart rate monitor, which displays my heart rate on a TV screen in the studio. This is a great tool because it shows how hard I am working and when I should rest and let my heart rate come down before moving on to the next exercise.
In my first month and a half here, I have really toned my body, lost a few pounds, gained muscle and strength (not to mention a few calluses) and have come to enjoy improving my fitness. I look forward to learning more from the staff, improving my fitness and losing weight in the coming month. Be sure to stay tuned for my next update on my progress!
Interested in joining Structure Personal Fitness? You’re in luck because they have an AWESOME deal going on — their 30-day trial that includes a movement screen, personal fitness assessment, one private (1 on 1) training session, personalized 4 week training program, open use of the training facility, and 8 semi-private training sessions…all for just $199!
Structure Personal Fitness is located at 147 E. 72nd Street.
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