12-week program ends with participants reflecting on changes

Every Ending is Also a Beginning
-Proverb written by wise guy/girl.

Echo Fit Club participants have come to the end of their 12-week program. We’ve seen changes and growth and have been through fun and challenging times.

Our group of six people lost a total of 83 pounds with a body fat point loss of a total of 18.9 percent (that’s a lot).

Individually, participants lost from 2 to 22 pounds and from 1.6 to 5.7 percent body fat. Results varied, as participants lost fat and gained muscle.

We couldn’t have gone through the program without the help of the following folks: Michael Keele from Central Slope; Amy Lilie from Natural Health Connections; Harrison Vickers from ProActive Theraputic Massage; Wendy Reese at Peace in the City; Matthew Porter, our friendly kickball leader; and the track at Phoenix College (oh, how we have a love/hate relationship with you).

Philip McKindley

If you want your dreams to be, take your time, go slowly. Do few things, but do them well. Heartfelt work grows purely.

These words, from a song from Franco Zefferelli’s movie Brother Sun, Sister Moon, describe the journey I took through the Fit Club experience. Slowly poor habits were replaced with better habits.

Before starting the program, I wanted to deliver my second-trimester stomach and learn ways to improve my health. I wanted to bring new ways of living (eating and caring of myself) ways that are long lasting.

I am eating healthier. I have a morning routine that energizes me for the day and I am exercising regularly. I have discovered hiking opportunities. My attitude is better. I have less stress in my day. I have a slimmer waist. I have been surprised by my strength and my endurance has increased. Not only were goals met, but my goals were exceeded.

Jon Quinn

There are times when we will look back and remember a time as a pivotal point that changed the direction of our lives. I will look back at the Fit Club challenge as one of those times.

I believe that things, events, people come into our lives at just the right moment. The moment when I read the request for the Fit Club application I knew that this was coming at a time in my life when I needed it most.

Well, 12 weeks and 21 pounds are gone. I know that I have changed by more than the measure of a scale. I have much more respect for myself and my body. I have learned so much about not only exercise but a holistic healthy way of living. I learned it is not about six pack abs, but about fit mind and spirit. It is not about body fat or bicep size, but it is about being mentally fit, enjoying life via good natural foods and a positive outlook about yourself and others.  

I thank the Universe and Peaceful Roots for this time in my life.  

Toni Janas

After these 12 weeks, I am seeing everything in a different light. I have physical strength that I didn’t know existed. I’ve lost noticeable weight and feel better overall.

The biggest thing that has changed for me is my attitude. I think more often of the positives of a situation instead of the negatives. For most of my life I’ve had this feeling (whether consciously or not) that I’m not good enough, I don’t deserve the good things in my life. Now, I don’t listen to that internal chatter because I know it is simply not true. I have confidence I never had before.

Denny and Wendy sacrificed many hours to be with us. I really appreciate that. You have given me the tools to have a life I thought I didn’t deserve. This is the greatest gift I have ever received.

Karina Sandweg

One of the many things I learned while participating in the Fit Club has been an increasing awareness and need for change and movement. Change keeps happening, even when I do not want it. And I now need movement on a daily basis: riding my bicycle, swimming, walking/running, getting back into Zumba, playing more tennis, joining the kickball league, doing more yard work… you know, mixing it up.  

I was never much into scheduling activities, but I now get antsy and feel the need to keep moving, to keep changing.

I want to be free of my fears — no more fear of falling, of taking risks, of meeting new people and letting them see the real me. I am valuable, skilled, an awesome speech-language pathologist, happy and willing to see the world without the tinted spectacles of fear.

I want to see life as the amazing gift it is, and enjoy it to the fullest, breathing every moment, growing, laughing, listening, moving, changing.

Mark Feinstein

I want to extend gratitude to Denny and Wendy for facilitating such an enlightening experience. They are two of the most genuine and dedicated people that have crossed my path. Both are gifted with the capacity to give wholly from their heart and soul. As a result, they made it possible for me to love myself again.

This has positively impacted every aspect of my life, in addition to the lives of those around me. I do not remember ever feeling healthier, happier and so fulfilled. Most importantly, I look forward to living each and every moment this life has to offer.

Patrick Collins

When I review the things that were challenging for me, that made me want to give up, I see that these are the same types of issues that my friends in the program struggled with as well. I am so glad that in the end I simply accepted each day for what it was, made conscious notes of my struggles and did my best to keep moving forward.  

I am thankful for the friendships that I made and plan to stay in the Fit Club group. I have learned that the most important thing is not the numbers on the scale but rather the relationship that I have with myself and my ability to remain 100 percent present in my mind and body and to make good choices that keep me balanced as I move forward toward the goals that I set for myself.

“The tragedy of life doesn’t lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy lies in having no goal to reach. It isn’t a calamity to die with dreams unfulfilled, but it is a calamity not to dream. It is not disgrace to reach the stars, but it is a disgrace to have no stars to reach for. Not failure, but low aim, is a sin.” - Benjamin Mays

Thanks for joining us and participating in our events. Life is full of amazing adventures when you allow yourself to open up and receive them. If you have interest in participating in a similar program, please feel free to contact us at info@peacefulroots.com.  

Denny Richard is a personal trainer certified by the American College of Sports Medicine, a registered yoga teacher and a Reiki I practioner. He can be contacted at info@peacefulroots.com or visit www.peacefulroots.com.