Dr. Racheal Sterry who is a great local Naturopath and practices what she preaches, being a regular at my bootcamps almost daily. Racheal graduated from the National College of Natural Medicine and practices as a licensed Naturopathic Physician in Portland, Oregon.

As a doctor, it is her goal to re-establish the balance between physical, mental and emotional wellness. Dr. Sterry believes that education is the key to helping people rediscover their vitality and encourages patients to take an active role in their healthcare.

To help maintain balance in her own life Dr. Sterry enjoys yoga, biking, the great outdoors and, of course, the WhoopAss delivered by Fulcrum Fitness!

Joshua Zavertnik PT,DPT, a passionate Physical Therapist who loves to run. Joshua attended Linfield College where he played football and found a passion for personal training and sport performance coaching. In 2001 he graduated Linfield College with a B.S. in Exercise Science and established a thriving personal training practice. From 2006-2009 attended Pacific University in Hillsboro OR and graduated with his Doctorate in Physical Therapy. After graduation he was selected to attend the eight month Kaiser Hayward Physical Therapy Fellowship in Advanced Orthopedic Manual Therapy, where he cultivated his clinical reasoning skills and manual therapy techniques. In May of 2011 he embarked on a twelve month advanced fellowship working along side some of the nations top physical therapists and in the fall of 2012 became a fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapists.

During his fellowship training he was able to cultivate two of his three passions, teaching/mentoring and manual therapy. His third, sport performance training, has been 14 years in the making, stretching back to his early career as a personal trainer and performance coach. When Josh is not studying for the Orthopedic Clinical Specialist Board Exam, serving on several different local and national committees or logging miles running throughout Portland he cherishes the time he has with his beautiful wife, Rachel, and their two and half year old son, Aleksandr. Together they enjoy hiking, being outdoors and spending time at the beach. I know some of our newer members have come to us with running issues like plantar fasciitis – Josh can help you.

They will both be joining me in the very near future for our next seminar with the main focus being on Nutrition and Weight Management, it will be the last time this service will be completely free, as a small cover charge will apply in the future.

Our seminar although completely free has a very high value to you and your family, in fact bring family and friends along – anyone who wants to learn more about health from people who not only know but do what they know every single day, so you don’t miss this opportunity – especially if your part of the thinner Winner Challenge.

Lookout for a short blog blast about the Importance of Sleep and an Overview of Joints.

We can all attest to the fact that lack of sleep can leave us feeling mentally sluggish and physically drained, but have you ever stopped to ask yourself why? It seems rather straightforward – sleep depravation causes fatigue; however, sleep affects many more body systems than one might assume.

In today’s fast paced society the average American gets 6-7 hours of sleep per night, in contrast to the 8-10 hour average for American’s 100 years ago. Lack of sleep, meaning less than 8 hours of sleep per night, can lead to increased injuries, weight gain, premature aging in adults or abnormal growth patterns in children, hormone imbalances, immune suppression, increased risk for chronic disease, memory deficits, depression…need I go on.

Not only are we less apt to make healthful choices when we are tired because they take more time and energy, but our ability to regulate hormone levels is directly proportional to the amount of sleep we get. Ghrenlin, leptin, insulin, cortisol, human growth hormone, estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and thyroid hormone are all affected negatively by lack of sleep.

Meaning that the longer we stare at our computer or TV screens each night in lieu of sleeping the less we are able to control our impulses to reach for a bag of potato chips or the second, third, fourth cookie…Think of sleep as a time to reboot your system so that you can avoid overheating and eventually crashing into chronic illness.

Try these simple strategies to optimize sleep quality and quantity:

• block out unwanted noise and light by using earplugs and an eye-mask
• stop drinking all beverages two hours before bed to avoid waking in the middle of the night to use the restroom
• put aside work related material at least an hour before you intend to fall asleep to allow your mind time to unwind
• to keep yourself from falling victim to racing thoughts disrupting your sleep keep a journal by the bed so that you can jot down any to do list items that spring into your head
• try calming teas, such as Sleepy-time or Chamomile, in the evenings to help alleviate stress accumulated throughout the day
• limit caffeine intake to before 1pm
• last, but not least, remember to take mindful, deep breaths

The human body is an incredibly complex, efficient and resilient machine that is built for one thing, movement.

Yes, I understand that movement is a very general term but when you look at everything that we do it relates to some element of movement. Whether it is a fine motor task like sewing or typing or a large complex movement like swinging a golf club or swimming, our bodies thrive and strive to move. In a recent TED  (http://www.ted.com/pages/about)  talk Daniel Welpert discussed the idea that the sole purpose of our brain is to create “adaptable and complex movements.” Food for thought, but some of the most basic elements of the human body, digestion, circulation, respiration and joint health all rely on movement.

I’m not suggesting that these processes are simplistic by any means, but they are basic systems of our body that require movement as a component of how well they function. As a physical therapist and a movement specialist, one of the things that I commonly address in my practice is how to keep someone moving. Most of my patients seek my advise to help deal with some element of pain and dysfunction that always relates back to movement and the impact it has on their day-to-day life. The pain in their shoulder limits their ability to raise their arm and now they are having difficulty washing their hair. Or the catch in their knee doesn’t allow them to bend it as much as they need to and now they can’t go up stairs without pain.

By having a better understanding of how joints work, factors that negatively impact a joint and ways to maintain good joint health, it will become clear that proper movement under optimal loads can help us reduce some of the factors associated with joint pain.

There are various joints in the human body that are named based upon their shape, function and contents. Comprised of synovial fluid, articular cartilage, articular capsule, synovial membrane, ligaments, blood vessels and nerves, synovial joints represent the majority of the joints of the upper and lower extremities. These joints rely substantially on joint loading as a way to stay healthy. The cartilage of synovial joints can be thought of like a dense sponge that is absorbing the fluid in the joint to maintain optimal health while slowly releasing naturally occurring waste products for our bodies to remove.

When we stand we load the knee joint and this compresses the cartilage, squeezing out additional waste. As the load is released the cartilage has the ability to absorb additional nutrient rich fluid. This process is carried out constantly as we load and unload our joints throughout the day and is necessary for our joints to function optimally.

Fulcrum Yoga – As part of our mission to bring you cutting-edge fitness, Fulcrum yoga blends the postures of traditional yoga with the time-tested qualities of calisthenics and strength training. Fulcrum yoga is non-traditional yoga that strengthens and elongates the body, and complements our higher impact and intense boot camp workouts.  Appropriate for all levels.

Power Yoga - Bend the boundaries as well as your body. With no single philosophy, Power Yoga throws out the rulebook of traditional yoga in order to connect postures and poses through dance-like movements. With room for individuality and quirks, this creative and diverse method of yoga will have you chanting, panting and aligning your body and mind in ways you never thought possible.  Some yoga experience highly suggested, but not required.

Vinyasa Flow- Vinyasa Flow Yoga has been described as a ‘state of grace’. It is a dynamic practice, which integrates breath with flowing movement, along with inner and outer alignment, strength, and flexibility. Classes are accompanied by music which helps rejuvenate and balance the practice. Our teachers incorporate their personal expertise and creativity making each vinyasa class an unique experience.  Appropriate for all levels.

Locations

LOSE WEIGHT, TONE UP, AND BOOST YOUR CONFIDENCE WITH THE 2013 SPRING BODY CHALLENGE

The Spring Body Challenge is a fun, results-driven workout program that will get you feeling great and looking your best just in time for summer. Sign up today and you’ll get six weeks of high-energy workouts, easy-to-follow meal plans, and personal accountability to help you stay on track. Our expert instructors provide daily support and motivation to help you reach your fitness goals, while our team-oriented training sessions give you the opportunity to make new friends and encourage one another to succeed.

We’re so confident in the power of the Spring Body Challenge that we offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee. If you don’t love the way you feel after six weeks of training we’ll give you a full refund. So, are you ready to transform?

Not sure which Spring Body Challenge to choose? Click here to set up a free consultation with one of our fitness experts to determine which option is right for you.

FULCRUM BOOT CAMP

Fulcrum Boot Camp sessions are high-energy group workouts built on three fundamentals of functional training: strength, conditioning and recovery. More fun than any fitness class and more effective than traditional gym workouts, Fulcrum Boot Camp sessions are scientifically designed to burn calories, build strength, and increase endurance. Fulcrum Boot Camp is also our most cost-effective training option.  We offer a variety of morning, afternoon, and evening classes designed to work with your schedule.

BODY RESULTS TRAINING

Body Results Training sessions are intense, 30-minute workouts designed for groups of 2 – 4 people. This program offers most of the benefits of personal training at a fraction of the cost. The small group format allows our trainers to design challenging and effective workouts for every fitness level while still providing a fun and motivating environment.  Body Results Training appointments are available at most hours so you can find the time slot that is most convenient for you.

FULCRUM MEMBER TESTIMONIALS

Sometimes we need to be reminded why Boot Camp workouts are the quickest way to reaching your fitness goals ….here are the top 5 reasons why you need to get involved in Boot Camp to help you achieve your fitness and weight loss goals.

1. Helps You Push Yourself Harder
Most people rarely push themselves as hard as an exercise professional will. We certainly won’t do anything to cause you physical injury, but we will push you to work harder than you normally would on your own. This helps you build stronger muscles faster, develop better endurance, and accelerate your fitness goals.

2. Quick Results
Here at Fulcrum Fitness our unique programs can help you burn up to 600-800 calories in just one 60-minute class. We use many different physical activities such as Band training, Ball exercises, Dumbells, Calisthenics, Plyometrics, Kettle Bells, Ropes and TRX Resistance Training. This combination of exercises will boost results much quicker than typical exercises and workout classes.

3. Cheaper than a Personal Trainer
Similar benefits of personal training, with less than half the cost. Fulcrum Fitness Boot Camp can sometimes be more cost effective than hiring a personal trainer. Because the boot camp is conducted in a group of 15-20 people per class period, we can extend to the participants much cheaper prices….but still provide you with great results.

4. Support Group
Much like any program or association, when people are all going through the same thing together a common bond is formed. Boot Camp is no different, you will form friendships within your group. This helps you stick with your workout program, and provides you with instant “accountability” partners. Everyone works to keep you on target and feeling good about yourself.

(We have zero tolerance for “workout snobs” or anyone making someone feel bad for not being as “in-shape” as others. Fulcrum Fitness is a place of positive encouragement only.)

5. It is Fun
The camaraderie, the intensity, and the different exercises all make our boot camps a lot more fun than typical programs. If you are stuck in the same boring routine day in and day out, chances are your enthusiasm for working out may “fizzle”. Fulcrum Bootcamps helps you get “fired” up and stay fired up about training.

* * *

It is the ultimate workout program, regardless of your level of fitness. Anyone can do Bootcamp classes and you do not need any previous workout experience to participate and have fun working out!

If you want to lose inches,weight and get stronger , there is no better opportunity than now!

By Bruce Blanchard, PR Location Manager

Intro Fit Package

This is the place to get acclimated to Body Results Bootcamp so you’re fully prepared to begin the journey to looking, feeling, and living your best.

• General fitness assessment
• Spinal safety and alignment basics
• Training on foundational bootcamp movements
• Intro to class structure
• Price: FREE

Click on the button below, select your preferred location, a date on the calendar, and reserve your spot!

Body Diagnostic Session

Meet with a Fulcrum Fitness Professional 1 on 1 to asses where you are now, where you want to go, and plan for success with your personal fitness goals:

• One on one personalized goal assessment
• Road map for success
• Movement readiness screen
• Price: FREE

Click on the button below, select your preferred location, a date on the calendar, and reserve your spot!

21 Day Rapid Results

Get in the best shape of your life in 2013. Start the year off right and save with the 21 day Rapid Results Program.

*Act now, offer only good through jan.31st 2013!

Includes:

• 21 days of unlimited bootcamp classes $147.00
• Intro Fit Session FREE
• Body Diagnostic Session $55.00
• Body Results Training Session $40.00
• 6 Week Fat Burn Results Manual $55.00
• Price: $297 $97.00

This package is backed by the Fulcrum Results Guarantee. Get Results, or you can have your money back.
Click here for MORE details!

*Bought a coupon? Please sign up for Intro Fit.

The reason many of us are exercising here at Fulcrum is to lose some weight, specifically weight in fat, and as far as exercise is concerned, all you need to do is show up 3 to 5 days a week and give it your best effort, which I see all of my MLK Tribe do every day.

Some of you are also doing a great job with the weight loss challenge and will have some days of temptation ahead of you.

The FitPros at Fulcrum feel that the Matrix, with its diverse array of exercises set into carefully chosen movement patterns are ideal for health, performance and body composition. But what about nutrition? What do we do at those times of year when social gatherings revolve around food, not heathy foods but sugar laden pies and butter-infused mashed potato?

Well, in my early days as a personal trainer I used to suggest that people eat a healthy thanksgiving dinner and sure, maybe 1 out of a hundred people would do just that with great results. For the other 99 the thought of not eating Grandma’s apple pie and Aunt Betty’s special gravy is too hard to overcome and hey, it is Thanksgiving, right?

There is one thing that you can do that can help you at every single meal, every day of the year, especially on days with bigger, special, social meals like Thanksgiving and Christmas. It is so simple it is overlooked by most people trying to succeed in losing the love handles. My one simple piece of advice to help you this Thanksgiving is: SLOW DOWN YOUR EATING and stop at 80% full. Thats it, just take your time!

If you eat too fast even healthy food can lead to over eating and poor digestion of nutrients, leaving you over full, uncomfortable, tired and with too many calories for even a Fulcrum WhoopAss day to destroy.

How can this be possible? What does eating slowly do to help people lose fat?

Studies have shown that eating slowly and stoping at 80% full, and waiting a few minutes before asking yourself “am I still hungry?” still leaves you feeling full but consuming less calories. There is a lag time between the nerves in the stomach sensing fullness and the signal reaching your brain to stop eatingl.

I grew up in Europe and a meal with friends or colleges there generally takes about 25-30 min. We chew slowly as we listen to people talk and take breaks when talking to others. This gives our stomachs a chance to communicate with our brains to let us know “Stop Eating, we are full!” In big cities throughout most of the country I see people take 5-10 minutes to eat generally much bigger portions. Before I did not have to think about it but now I need to check myself from time to time.

So how can you change the habit of eating too fast and over feeding yourself? There are many ways, here is one idea that has been used in research over the last few years. You may feel like a science experiment doing this, but bear with me, it works!

BPM stands for bites per minute, time yourself over 5 mins eating a normal meal at your normal speed. Note down how many bites (times you put your fork in your mouth) in each minute, then workout an average BPM. So say your BPM is 5 or 6, cut it in half and have a goal of 2-3 bites per minute making sure you chew for the entire time. One study concluded that an average 400cal meal should take about 15 minutes to eat at a minimum. Most of the studies done on the subject that I have come across have shown that a) people consume less calories and experience greater fat loss over time and b) people tend to have no difference in the feeling of hunger.

Its not sooo bad that your eating a high calorie Thanksgiving dinner but, when you stuff yourself silly until you feel full and 10 minutes after you do stop eating you feel really stuffed, unbutton your jeans, and feel very sleepy and can barely move a muscle, you’ve just stressed your stomach and consumed a very, very large amount of calories that will stick to your belly and thighs and take hours of exercise to get you back on track.

If, however, you stop at 80% full and chat with family and friends a little more, and if you then still feel a bit hungry, then have a little more but if not, then simply take your plate away. You’ll save yourself the gastric distress, bloating, guilt, and weight gain. I’ve seen people work there butts off for 2-3 weeks and lose a healthy amount of weight to only put it all back on over one weekend and be back to where they started because of a birthday or Christmas party. Don’t make the same mistake this Thanksgiving – we can all still eat whatever we want to and join in but being smarter and more mindful of our health.

However, if you do want to gain weight for your sport or to gain muscle than eat moderately fast for the opposite effect!

TAKE THIS LINK to one of many studies done on this subject.

Have a great healthy Thanksgiving.

Geoff’s Story

Back in Feb of 2012 my health finally came to a crash. Over the last couple of years I had not been taking care of myself; eating Taco Bell every night or Five Guys, watching way too much TV—like 45 hours a week. I was on 3 different pain meds, high blood pressure, Pre diabetic, Heart burn 24/7 and all the Docs do is just keep giving you more meds, right? Then I read my medical record and it said all over “OBESE” What? I’m obese?  Next checkup, my at-rest heartbeat was off the charts, blood pressure was ridiculously high and doc says I will be full-blown diabetic anytime.

So in February I said that’s it. NO MORE.  I started walking everyday. To the end of the street, next week to the end of block, then a half-mile, then a mile and within a couple of months I got up to 13 miles walking. I work in a 21 story high rise, so I started with 1 flight a week, until I could finally walk all 21 floors.  This was all great and I lost a few pounds, and was feeling better, but I knew I was going to need help, so I started shopping gyms. I had one shot at this fitness wheel financially so I shopped and researched hard. Then I came across Fulcrum. Hmmm, Functional Fitness… I watched the videos and saw this crazy thing called Fulcrum 5 and Fitness to work in your everyday functional life. And here is this guy standing on a stability ball on the video.  I had to go check it out.

So I set up a gym tour with Jessie. I went to the Sellwood gym and it was packed with people. And here was their ringleader with a huge grin, dancing in the middle, a ball of energy coaching all these people. I thought at first, “What kind of fresh hell is this?” Some sort of community workout cult… I thought “No way, I’m out of here,” then the Fit Pro, Paul, came up as I was walking out the door and said you must be Geoff, let me show you around. I thought this is too crazy for me, there is no way I can do it, and all these people have slid off their rocker, especially the Fit Pro. But he encouraged me to stay and watch, so I did. Then after the class, I talked to a few of the folks—mainly Kevin (who I still see from time to time at my workouts). He is probably one of the biggest forces for me to come on with Fulcrum.

So Paul talked me into coming to an intro. And when I did I met Alexis. We went all through the Fulcrum 5 and how everything works and I could barley even make it through that. I told her I don’t know, this might not be the place for me. I am too out of shape, I can’t do what you people do here, maybe I will go try to get in better shape and then come back. Alexis is the one that totally changed my mind set on Fulcrum. I had every excuse; I am too big at 289 lbs and too old at 50 and to out of shape. She had an argument for every one of those lame excuses and actually stayed longer than that hour intro to talk to me and convince me that I can do this, and when I left I said “OK, lets do a trial week, what do I have to lose.”

Well, that trial week has now led to months at Fulcrum. Yes, the Sellwood Fit Pros are still crazy, and Alexis, thank you, I would have never joined without you. I have now lost 6 waist sizes. I have gone from 289 lbs to 247 lbs. I am 51 years of age and haven’t felt this good since my 20’s when I was a fireman. I need to mention that without the energy and support that we all have for each other at the Sellwood location I would not have been as successful. Andrew, Megan, Kevin, Genevieve, Katie, Sidney, Jade, and so many others are incredible people and I look forward to seeing them.

I am now running 3 to 10 miles a week and my goals for next year are the Helvatia ½ marathon, Spartan Obstacle course and Rock and Roll ½ marathon. There has been talk amongst Fulcrum folks about trying to form a team to do Tough Mudder. Who would have known 9 months ago— when the doc said I was obese and diabetic— that I could make this change. Oh yes, I am no longer on any meds at all, and those stairs that I used to climb at work, I now run once, sometimes twice a day, 21 stories.

THANK YOU FULCRUM… Ron and Paul and you crazy amazing group of people at the Sellwood location. Without you not only is it possible I wouldn’t be here today in the shape that I’m in, I certainly would not have these amazing goals. I was able to go on incredible hikes this summer to places I haven’t even thought of seeing for 20 years. Who knew that there were all these beautiful places in the gorge and Mt Hood. You just got to get off the couch and go hike in 10 miles and there they are.

The only problem I have now is if you see my after picture and look at these arms, I have to call a veterinarian once a week… Because THOSE PUPPIES ARE SICK  LOL

FULCRUM FITNESS ROCKS MY GYPSY SOUL.

Thank you

Geoff “Big Dog” Whalley

Read more success stories below:

Sean’s Story

I used to be very athletic in my late teens and early 20′s. I went through a period of time in my early 30′s when I got into great shape by eating right and playing a ton of basketball. But eventually, I fell right back into some old bad habits such a couch surfing, eating whatever (and whenever), and the only exercise I did was 12 oz. curls, if you know what I mean.

My girlfriend (who has also joined Fulcrum) found a Groupon special, and we decided to try it out. I thought I was only committed for 30 days, and would maybe lose a few pounds. I had no idea how much Fulcrum would change my life. Here we are five months later and I’m still going strong! Don’t get me wrong, everyday I still struggle to get out of bed at 5:00 a.m. to make it to the gym. Each morning I contemplate sleeping in, and sometimes I do. However, I have found that the classes at Fulcrum have kept me motivated so that I am working out four to five times per week.

Since I started about six months ago (early May 2012), I have lost between 25-30 pounds! My goal was to go from 225 lbs. to about 180 lbs. I kind of hit a wall when it comes to weight loss, and am hovering around 195 lbs. But I have paid less attention to my weight loss because I feel and look so much better! Over the past six months, I have realized that when it comes to fitness, there is a lot more to it than the numbers on the scale. My clothes fit better, I have muscle definition, and more energy. The morning workouts are the best because I feel great the entire day following a workout. I’ve even started to get comments from people on how great I look.

The workouts are hard and intense! All of the trainers are great, but I have found that I enjoy Shirlee’s workouts the most. Shirlee is the first trainer that I worked out with when I came to Fulcrum and she does a great job of describing the exercises and motivating everyone to push it. Her famous line is, “you got this” and she always challenges us. Sometimes when I miss a workout, I think about what Shirlee might think

Another positive benefit of joining Fulcrum is that I’ve changed my eating habits for the better. Working out there has forced me to pay attention to what I eat because I don’t want to waste all of my hard work by eating a cheeseburger for dinner. As a result, I’ve been eating healthier and paying closer attention to my diet. The trainers also encourage us to eat healthy — at the end of the week they might say, “have a good weekend and eat healthy.” It is this kind of support that has helped me to make a lasting commitment to my health and well being.

I went in thinking that I’d try it for 30 days, and now I have made Fulcrum Fitness a part of my lifestyle!

Charlene’s Story

I never considered myself a “fit” person. I’m sure if you look up procrastination in the dictionary you would see my smiling face right next to it! I would think of every excuse in the world not to exercise. I found the living social deal for Fulcrum Fitness after I lost 20 lbs with the help of Jenny Craig, going to the gym and running.  I became very bored with the gym and unmotivated to keep going. I really wanted something that would give me strength and develop my muscles to become a better runner. I’d have to admit I was worried about being “the slow one” in class and not being up to par with the others, but after the first class I was hooked. It was challenging but I felt like it was customized to my fitness level, which still wasn’t the best even after that weight loss.

Everybody at Fulcrum Fitness from the FitPros to the members are awesome! Everybody supports each other during class and there is no judgement you if you can’t do something. I am so grateful to all of the awesome FitPros that keep things interesting with a very different class everyday. I just show up do what they say and I get the best workout—one that I could never get on my own. I go 2-3 times a week and after 4 months since starting at Fulcrum Fitness in combination with a Jenny Craig food plan, I have now lost 45 lbs. and 24 inches off my bust, waist and hips! I start most of my mornings with a class and go for a run on the other days. I have more energy than ever and I am a lean mean calorie burning machine!

Cory’s Story

In October 2010 I ran the Portland Marathon and I was proud. “Ran” might be a strong word, but I did make it over the finish line to claim my t-shirt and medal. I had run myself into pretty good shape but also into a variety of injuries. My foot, my hip, and my shins were in various states of pain at all times. And so I rested. Rested until I thought I was better. I tried to run again but the hip was so tight and swollen that my entire left side was in a constant state of numbness. I sought medical attention and it helped a little, but not enough.  So I gave up. As my commitment to exercise decreased, my stress and waistline increased.

One fateful night I found myself leaving Cinetopia at Progress Ridge still wiping the butter from my popcorn-eating hands when I saw a new sign: Coming Soon Fulcrum Fitness. Something was different about this place, I thought. I went home to check the internet for any information. I found a ton, about Dave and the gang, about the TRX, about Kettle Bells. I bought my Living Social deal that second. And then I waited like the woman in the old Mervyn’s commercials, saying, “Open. Open. Open.” I was over the moon when it was finally time for my intro class. Dave and Hadas greeted me with smiles and great energy. I was nervous and felt HUGE. I had recently came to the realization that I had put on 35 pounds since taking a full time job as a special education teacher.  I currently weighed more than I ever had in my life and I was in a bad place. Somehow Dave made me feel like whatever I could do was okay. If I need to take a break it was okay. Wherever my fitness level was right now it was okay. I was okay.

I could barely lift a kettle bell. I could do one pushup with my knees down. I could hold a plank for only a few seconds. I thought I would die doing bear crawls, and I only made it a fourth of a length of the floor. I was doing things I had never done before. But Dave said in a calm and encouraging voice, “Good job, Cory. Nice work.” And as soon as I thought I couldn’t go on, it was time to stop and move on to something else.  At the end of the class when Dave said there is a discount if you sign up during your Living Social deal. I said, “Yes, please. I would like to sign up NOW.”

And so began and ended my quest for sustainable fitness. It has been four months now since my intro class. The FitPros have continued to welcome and encourage me just as I am. Jesse helped me through a foot injury and has given fabulous advice on all things related to my progress. Steven has provided vacation exercises and invaluable encouragement, saying often to me, “You are moving. That’s all I ask.” Bruce kicks my butt on a regular basis. I am constantly motivated by my workout partners and love seeing their gains and hearing their praise.

The scale reads a number 21 pounds less than it did in May. Five inches are missing around my chest, around my waist AND around my hips. I just had a fabulous back to school shopping trip! I will be wearing belts and sleeveless dresses this year. I can do rows with a yellow kettle bell now, I can do at least 15 “real” pushups, I can hold a plank for over a minute, and I fly down the floor when I do bear crawls.

I have fun every day at Fulcrum. It is always new, always challenging, and it always works. Running was just not my thing, but Fulcrum is. I am signed up for life!

Chris’s Story

Chris Finley came to Fulcrum in February of this year, after having trouble sticking to a routine at his old gym because he’d gotten bored with the weights and cardio. Now, he’s more motivated than ever and has improved his fitness, running, posture, and upper body strength!

“I really enjoy the variety, challenge and dynamics of the classes as well as the individual attention the trainers are able to provide with smaller class sizes. I never liked the idea of group exercise with 40 or more participants. Prior to joining Fulcrum I was very inconsistent in my gym routine. I’d get bored with the weights and cardio. Now I look forward to starting my day at Fulcrum and participate in 4-5 classes a week.

As a runner, the strength and conditioning at Fulcrum provided a perfect balance for training for my first half marathon this past May. Now, I’m staying fit in preparation for my next half marathon in September. Before I joined Fulcrum, my personal best running distance was nine miles. As I participated in Fulcrum bootcamps over a few months, I was able to increase my mileage to over 13 miles per run. I have also noticed improvement in my posture and upper body strength.”

Tamara’s Story

“I started Fulcrum’s 21 Day Rapid Results program to mix up my regular, but boring gym routine. I was at a point in my workouts where I was not seeing any results. With the combination of the Fulcrum matrix workouts and the nutritional guidance provided by Debra Mason, Fulcrum’s nutritional advisor, I saw results within 10 days of starting the program. I quickly became a full time member! Over several months I lost 10 pounds and noticed that my clothes fit better not only because of the weight loss, but because I am much more toned.

The workouts are varied, challenging, and at times, even fun. I loved the relatively quick results. The small training really makes a difference in ensuring that I am doing the moves correctly to protect my body and see the biggest results.  I’d recommend Fulcrum to anyone looking for a fun and very effective workout.”

-Tamara Khachaturian

Jean’s Story

I started Fulcrum Fitness late last summer with the intention to just do bootcamps two times a week in addition to my running. Then I did a team training half-marathon last December and was injured bilaterally in the patellar and medial areas surrounding the knee to the point that it hurt when I tried to walk. I went to my family physician, who referred me to an orthopedic physician and sports medicine physical therapy. This injury was then compounded by an ankle injury. I was told to lay off running for 6 weeks (which runners will identify,  is hard to do) and any intense exercises including bootcamps.  My only options from the ortho physician’s office were wearing 2 braces, take pain medications if I ran, some physical therapy (once a week), and aqua jogging.  I aqua jogged, laid off the running for 6 weeks exactly, and started some exercises by sports medicine physical therapy.

Although the rest was great, I didn’t like the ideas of being confined to wear braces or take medications every time I wanted to run and aqua jogging… is so boring (great strengthening, but not the same as running outdoors).  I saw an opportunity to do another half-marathon locally, so I signed up for the Portland Rock and Roll Half- Marathon in March. This time, I was determined to run the half-marathon injury-free and to tell my ortho doc and physical therapist that there were better solutions to what they were offering.

At this point, I decided that I needed some proper training, so I asked Jesse to train me. The training started with an assessment along with discussion around nutrition and my current life schedule. From that point on, I learned a whole new way to think about cross-training and incorporating it into my busy life (especially as a mom), running form and gait, and nutrition.  It was really tough in the beginning to change my mindset because I just wanted to run, and not do all the “other stuff” (e.g., changing how I think about training, stretching, drills, lower conditioning/strengthening, upper body, core work, etc.) Each training with Jesse until the half-marathon was hard, but so helpful to my running. It was great to have a training session followed by a written workout, so I could follow it during the week at my community gym. ( I also belong to a community gym that has cardio equipment and some weight machines.)

When I got my mileage back up to 11.5 miles, I was worried that I was going to start hurting again, but I was pain free. May 20th was the half-marathon and two days later, I’m not in any pain!  In addition, I was so excited that my finish time was five minutes faster than my previous time including all the hills (2hours 7 min). I’m getting ready to sign up for my next half-marathon with the goal of an even better time.

On top of it all, mid-way through training, Fulcrum came up with the Fusion package (an added bonus because I still attended bootcamp classes during the week, so this was a cost savings to me).

Jesse is a great teacher and trainer. I like the fact that we could speak the same medical language regarding muscle movement as well as always having some sort of science with it. For someone who’s a nurse and a researcher, I can relate. He challenged me beyond my comfort level with different types of conditioning/balance/joint mobility movements while really knowing my limits which is what I needed. I’ve learned a lot about body movement and form. He even came to see me finish the race, so supportive and so coool!

As for attending the bootcamps, all of the Fitpro trainers are really supportive, fun and knowledgeable. I’m addicted to attending the classes. I think that the best thing about Fulcrum Fitness is that you feel like the instructors actually care about your safety and form when you do the exercises.

Thank you Jesse and Fulcrum Fitness!!!  You guys/gals rock!

– Jean McCormick

Marie’s Story

My goal when I joined Fulcrum was to regain control of my life. My excess weight gain had caused my life to spiral out of control. As a former athlete, the weight gain sent me into struggles with depression, and self confidence. I didn’t know how to be an overweight individual. So, I stopped doing things I once enjoyed, and loved…I stopped living life. Once I became committed to change, Fulcrum offered something different and challenging from your conventional gym. Initially, I was intimidated because I was so out of shape. After day one, I knew Fulcrum was going to be the major key to my fitness success. I knew my journey was not going to be easy, but I was determined and ready to give it my all.

After joining Fulcrum in October 2011, I have lost 45 pounds, and dropped 3 dress sizes. I have gained significant strength, endurance, and confidence. I was amazed and motivated by how much progress I made just after the first week. One thing I noticed immediately about Fulcrum was that you didn’t have to be in top notch shape to participate. As long as you are willing to try, you will succeed.

I love the positive team atmosphere, support, variety, and high intensity structured classes Fulcrum offers. It’s inspiring to be among people with similar fitness goals as yourself. I have definitely made life long friends. All of the Fitpro trainers are so wonderful and each displays an in-depth knowledge, experience, and passion that inspires all in their presence. Jon, whom I adore, inspires me to push myself beyond my comfort level, and constantly encourages me to challenge my personal best.

I look forward to attending every class, and leaving feeling amazing…feeling on top of the world. I have to admit, I am addicted to Fulcrum Fitness, and go through withdrawal when I miss a day. In just a short period time of attending Fulcrum, my life has improved significantly, both physically and emotionally. Fitness has now become a priority in my daily life. It is no longer an after thought, it is a lifestyle. I am now living life to its fullest. Thank you Fulcrum.

-Marie Keita

Watch the video below to learn more about Katie’s Success Story!

“Started Fulcrum the week of September 12th, 2011. I lost 11 pounds in 8 weeks.  Waist is 2.5 inches slimmer and I’m way more toned and I notice the difference  on the soccer field.  I started at 196.5 lbs with 26% body fat. As of the new year in 2012 I have lost 20 lbs.!”

-Jeremy W. (MLK)

“I feel like I’m getting a much better and intense work out with less time invested.  I’m never bored, always challenged and I’ve never looked forward to working out as much as I do now.  Since starting with Fulcrum, I noticed I am definitely stronger. I continue to enjoy the quest to be in the best shape possible with a little help from Fulcrum Fitness. Thanks guys!”

-Ken M. (MLK)

“When I started training with Trevor Hollingsworth, I was about 40 lbs. overweight and had recently recovered from a neck injury. It was apparent right away that Trevor had the depth of knowledge and experience as a personal trainer to inspire my trust. I am amazed by the progress I have made. The physical changes have been substantial; not a day passes without friends or coworkers noticing the transformation.”

-Jeandre C. (MLK)

“What I learned from personal training was invaluable and completely translatable to each class. Posture and form were explained and have help minimize injury and maximize results in each class. I also learned just how far I could push myself. To truly get the most out of the Fulcrum experience, personal training combined with classes is the way to go.”

-Rebecca W. (MLK)

“I just returned from vacation and can honestly say that I haven’t felt as good about myself in a swimsuit in over 15 years. The program – especially my trainer, Cate – rocks! I feel fit, have more energy, and have lost over 30 pounds and two+ pant sizes (while admittedly eating and drinking as I’d like).”

-Lynn G. (MLK)