Abby Bolton

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This month our member of the month is one of our own team members! Abby has been working with G&M at the front desk for 1 year now. Many of you know her already but what you may not know about her is how much she has accomplished in her fitness journey already. Here is her story:

Abby was always active in her childhood. She competed in gymnastics from ages 8 to 18 as well as in track and field through high school. But once her gymnastics career came to an end she knew she had to find something else to challenge her, keep her active and in shape.

In grade 10 Abby had a fitness class where she was introduced to weight training and was hooked. So naturally when gymnastics ended she transitioned into weight lifting and started working out consistently in the summer of 2016.

Her goal was to get stronger, beat her 1 rep max’s and just lift as much as possible. And then last summer she decided that she was going to pursue a new challenge and compete in Fitness. Her new goal had her switch from heavy lifting to more hypertrophy training. Fitness competitions combined her gymnastics background with her new found love for weight lifting and seemed like a natural fit.

In December 2017 she competed in her first competition coming in 1st place! Since then she has competed 3 more times claiming 2 more 1st place finishes and one 2nd place finish just a few weeks ago at the Toronto Pro Super Show.

Her next competition is coming up on August 4th at the Natural Canadian Pro Qualifier show in Toronto.

“My main goal is to get my pro card and compete at the Olympia whether that happens this August or it takes me a few years.”

Abby has had to overcome a few injuries, one shoulder injury that kept her from being able to lift weights for 3 months which set her back a bit. Also, she has had to learn how to manage her time efficiently between going to classes, studying, working and getting her workouts in.

“I am most proud of my 1st competition. I proved to myself that I have the discipline and commitment to push myself and my body.”

Abby also is grateful to see how many people have reached out to her and let her know that she has inspired them to get into fitness and working out.

Currently Abby is at Brock University going into her 3rd year of Kinesiology and hopes to pursue a career in the fitness industry helping others better themselves.

Abby’s Words of Wisdom:

  • Goal setting is huge. Make sure you set goals. They are what help you stay on track.
  • Be willing to put in the work. It will be worth it.
  • Don’t give up when it gets hard. That is when you see the best results, when you push yourself through the hard times.
  • Find a way to make fitness fun for you, and
  • Don’t be afraid to ask questions

“Thanks to the community at G&M Fitness for making this job fun and for all of your support!”

Congratulations Abby! So many huge accomplishments already! We are lucky to have you as part of our team. Good luck with your next competition and we look forward to seeing you on stage at the Olympia’s one day!

kate ostryhon-lumsden

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Kate has been self employed for 32 years and has always had a hectic schedule with a busy real estate business going from appointment to appointment. This caused her to put what she knew was important, her own health, on the back burner and feeling increasingly less fit.

Although Kate has a busy work life she has always been concerned about her health staying active walking, doing yoga, golfing and curling. She has also joined G&M twice in the past, once participating in step aerobic classes and the other time attending with a friend, but when her friend moved out of the area she stopped going. Again, work took priority and her health and fitness fell behind.

More recently, Kate’s daughter who works with her and Kate’s niece started with personal training at G&M Fitness.

“I finally realized that if they could work going to the gym into their life, so could and so should I!”

“My goal was to lose weight but also increase my strength.”

Kate says it was time to stop talking and thinking about getting to her ideal weight and start doing something consistently to get there. Kate has had this goal for probably 20 years she says but always felt like she was too busy to fit regular workouts into her schedule. She also felt like she didn’t really know what to do at the gym, how to use the equipment properly or what kind of routine to follow.

“Turning 60 gave me the wisdom to finally put my health and fitness as my #1 priority!”

Kate was getting frustrated with nuisance injuries and tired of being overweight. It was time for a change.

Since beginning the personal training program Kate now knows she can fit workouts into her schedule and treats it with the same importance as any other appointment.

“I love the feeling of accomplishment and time out from a hectic schedule. Many times I am rushing in for my training session but then know the next hour is just focused on one thing. I always leave feeling more calm and ready to continue my day. I now feel comfortable in the gym and know what to do.”

Kate has had great success. Over the last 4 weeks she is down another 4.5lbs and overall has dropped over 9% body fat since beginning!

“I do have a lot of people noticing that I have toned and lost weight. That is encouraging to me to stay the course!”

Kate is most proud of being able to stay the course and being consistent.
She also shot her best round of golf ever recently, a 94, and attributes that to her training program as well.

“I truly enjoy working out and have committed to continue with the 1 on 1 training program.”

Going forward Kate plans to add a third workout on her own each week outside of her 2 weekly personal training sessions and knows that it will help accelerate her goal.

“I have found a slow but steady weight loss so I know that I need to stay focused.”

Kate believes that had she not started her personal training program she would still be at the same point she was for the last 20 years… clothes not fitting well, feeling frustrated with her weight and having more nuisance injuries.

“Just get started. You are not too busy, you are not too old, just make the commitment to yourself and do it… not for weeks but as part of your life routine!”

Congratulations Kate on all of your success so far and creating time for yourself in your busy schedule! Your story is a huge inspiration. Keep up the great work!

MARIE HOCKLEY

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Marie was always active as a child and competed in synchronized swimming. During her training as a competitive swimmer she began weight lifting at 14 years old.

After competitive synchronized swimming, Marie began cycling and continued working out but that slowly started to change as she entered University and then again as she began teaching and became a Mom. She was now spending 3 hours a day commuting for work and just felt that she didn’t have the time to dedicate to a serious workout program.

Up until a little over a year ago Marie still exercised because she knew it was important, but wasn’t serious or consistent with it.

On her 49th birthday she received a dress as a gift from her sisters and also stepped on the scale that day and vowed to lose 50lbs by her 50th birthday.

One month later she was diagnosed with breast cancer.

“Cancer treatment causes some people to lose weight, and others to gain it. The steroids that you have to take during chemo and the hormone therapy that I’m currently on put me at a high risk for weight gain. This paired with the physical fatigue and pain that you endure during treatments makes it hard to stay active. Being overweight increases the risk of breast cancer reoccurrence. Fat cells make estrogen; extra fat cells mean more estrogen in the body and this can make hormone receptor positive breast cancer like mine develop and grow.”

Exercise and getting strong became a priority. She made the gym part of her routine just like brushing her teeth.

Marie also changed her diet, first cutting out processed foods, sugar, diary and red meat as recommended by her Naturopath and now has recently went to a vegan diet.

Marie says that the gym gave her a feeling of control back while what she was going through left her feeling out of control a lot of times.

On her 50th birthday she had reached her goal. She had the same dress that she received for her 49th birthday from her sisters altered to fit her new physique.

“If you had asked me a year ago if my body could look like this, I would have never guessed it. My body composition is amazing.”

Marie’s biggest goal now is to stay strong.

“I remember when you first had me do push-ups and I did 3 and it was really hard. Now I can do 3 sets of 20.”

Marie’s advice to others is to start wherever you have to. For her while going through treatments that was bands and 3lb weights. She also says to strive for consistency not perfection.

“You can’t always have a perfect workout but just get here. Anything is better than nothing. Excuses are poison.”

Marie also believes that the atmosphere and encouragement from other members at G&M was really important to her progress.

“Nobody ever made me feel uncomfortable and were always encouraging. I would not have been able to have the same results working out on my own at home.”

“Beating cancer is a lifelong commitment for me. I am so grateful that I’ve had the help from Matt at G&M Fitness, my Naturopath, and the support and encouragement from my family and friends.”

Eric and Bobbi Vickers

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Eric and Bobbi both got into working out and lifting weights around the same time about seven and a half years ago and have been working out together even since. Bobbi got started into it after graduating from the paramedic program and wanted to get stronger to be able to get a job in the field. Eric had been active as a kid and worked out in high school but had got out of it to focus on his career.

Once they got back into working out, they both admitted that they really didn’t know what to do or how to achieve the goals they wanted but just worked hard.

Then they met a couple of people, Zach and Chad, who helped them with their workouts and started to teach them and help them learn more about fitness and working out.

Back then Eric only weighed 123lbs. Today he is about 80lbs heavier, in a good way of course, gaining all kinds of muscle and strength.

Bobbi’s motivation to get stronger came from hearing over and over that she would never be hired as a paramedic. That she was too small and not strong enough and to find another career path. With that motivation she worked at building her strength and not only was hired as a paramedic but is one of the strongest women in the field!

After working out for a little while they moved gyms to G&M Fitness which in their words said was a better facility for them with better hours and great like-minded people. They both fell in love with bodybuilding when they came to G&M.

For both of them the gym is just part of their lifestyle.

Eric says he thinks about his workout at work before he comes to the gym.

“I already know what exercises I am going to do, how many sets and how much weight I am going to lift before I even get to the gym. It’s my favourite part of my day.”

In Bobbi’s line of work, she sees a lot of the bad side of not having good health which is another motivator that keeps her going to be the best she can be.

And with Eric’s job he seen a lot of people with bad health habits and knew right away that he wanted a different path then what he saw in his co-workers.

Their path hasn’t been without its challenges either. Back in 2016 Eric had a serious health issue that seen him hospitalized and on bed rest for several weeks and lost a lot of strength in his legs among other things. That didn’t stop him though as today he can easily squat over 400lbs.

Even just recently Bobbi had broken her hand and couldn’t lift weights but that didn’t stop her from coming. She modified her workouts to do what she could and took up running just to stay at it.

They both said they couldn’t imagine not coming to the gym anymore.

“It’s a social thing for us too” they both said. “Our friends come here and we have met a lot of other great people. Everyone is very supportive. It makes us happy.”

Bobbi has had other women ask her about becoming a paramedic and always tells them, “You can absolutely do it! Don’t give up!” She also gets a lot of women saying to her that she must do a ton of cardio to maintain her physique which isn’t the case. “I lift weights and I eat!”

They also both agree that for the most part they eat well but that they allow themselves to eat foods that they love too. They are not afraid to have pizza and wings once and a while.

Their advice for others just starting out or thinking about getting started is to not be intimidated and don’t be afraid to ask for help.

Eric says “We all have to support each other. We are all here for the same reason, to better ourselves.”

They also say results take time, to not get discouraged and stay with it. Set attainable goals for the short term, medium term and long term and to train hard!

Stephen Jevcak

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“”APRIL FOOLS!” Hi everybody. I would like to start by telling you that five years ago I would never have believed that going to a gym could change ones lifestyle and well being so dramatically. I wish I had started 30 years ago. If you knew me in the mid 80′s I started going downhill after a snowmobile crash where I basically destroyed my right leg. Then again in the 90′s while climbing down out of a transport truck when I was a driver, I slipped and destroyed my right wrist. Before I knew it I was hunched over, walked with a bad limp and probably stood about five feet tall. When I started at the gym everybody treated me like I was part of a family, from the oldest person to the youngest. Everybody gave me tips on how to use the equipment properly. Everybody always encourages you. To tell you the truth, I still find it hard to believe that I stand straight and basically walk normal again. There is just so much more I could say but I wouldn’t know where to start and when to stop. So let’s leave it at that. I appreciate everything everybody has done for me to encourage me and I hope everybody gets the same benefit from the gym as I have. Always think positive and always enjoy your workouts. Special thanks to Frank, Gino and Matt. One great family.

Thank you all for everything. P.S. Special thanks to Ed Typer. You always made me feel like a somebody.”

Carol Demrah

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“I joined G&M Fitness back when the health club was upstairs in the Commisso’s mall. At that time Gino’s sister Maria and his wife Cheryl were teaching aerobic and toning classes. What great fun we had trying to coordinate our limbs as well as follow instructions and move to the beat of the music. The ladies were innovative in keeping the classes challenging and most of all fun, inspiring us to keep attending. In years to follow my daughters Chris and Sheryl became certified instructors and taught at G&M Fitness.

A few years have gone by since those days and I no longer can bounce around like I used to. I now concentrate on weight training to maintain muscle strength, balance, flexibility and bone density. The atmosphere as you enter the club is warm and friendly, one of camaraderie. There have been a lot of improvements in the new location of the health club. With two floors of equipment there is seldom a wait time to use equipment, more floor space for stretching and floor workouts, and a room upstairs where you can practice your own individual form of training. The 24 hour access is by far the most valuable improvement to date.

I enjoy going to the health club regularly because it makes me feel good inside and out. Being able to zone out for a couple of hours is uplifting and energizing. Thank you Gino, Matt and staff for all your years of dedication and service in providing me an escape where I can groove to my music and regenerate body, mind and spirit. Stay fit, healthy and happy.”

Kathy Dionne

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“On Sunday afternoon I was thinking about what to say and how to say it for this particular article. At the time it seemed like a daunting task. Finally, I just started to write down words and feelings that I associated with my time and experiences at G&M Fitness. I knew, or at least I assumed, that this write up should be about fitness, but the first words I wrote down on my reference sheet were not just about building muscles, strength and tone but were about building friendships, about socializing, laughing a lot and my personal favourite, talking. All of these things occurring simultaneously with the many wonderful people I encounter every day at G&M.

The environment at G&M, the management and the support staff are all important parts of what makes this gym an excellent venue for developing fitness, building strength, flexibility, long term wellness and friendships into our lives. It is a place that is welcoming and accommodating to all who come through its doors. It is a non-judgmental environment regardless of your age, gender, size, ability, disability or walk of life. Young, old and in-between interact, for the most part, in a spirit of friendliness, co-operation and respect. As a senior, I am so glad to see and experience such positive interactions among the members of all age groups and walks of life. It is truly a melting pot of activity. The atmosphere at G&M is also very important. It is often a busy place but yet somehow I find it calming. There are always staff or gym members willing to help if and when you need it.

The gym itself is spacious, clean and very well equipped. People here really seem to care about each other which is undeniably a very good thing indeed. Each day I look forward to my time at the gym and to the many wonderful people I encounter each and every time.

But now, before I close, I must take a line or two to thank my brother and long time member, Art Weaver, for encouraging and convincing me to join G&M Fitness. Being a member has changed my life in so many wonderful, positive ways. Thanks brother, dear. I am so glad that for once, I took your advice.

Finally, to all of you, (you know who you are I hope) “THANK YOU” for the journey so far. It’s been great! I hope we have many more years together celebrating our friendships and our common goals of fitness and wellness and as well as all the other positive things that come from our association as active members at G&M Fitness.

Thank you to Gino and Matt for bringing G&M to our community. I hope you know that you are appreciated.”

Bob Sutherland

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“I am pleased to announce that my journey is about to change. In a few months I will be entering my retirement years! Can’t wait.

Some twenty years ago or so I went behind Canadian Tire on highway 58 to check out G&M Fitness, met Gino for the first time and he has been helping me with all aspects of my health and fitness ever since. Over the years I feel we have become very good friends and had many good times and some challenging times. The atmosphere in the gym with the members that I have come to know is always friendly, as well as the staff past and present. I feel my health and condition is great to really enjoy my retirement. So thanks to all my gym friends and to Gino, Matt, Ryan and Karen. Thank You.”

Russ Albano

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“I remember the days when I first started G&M. My first workout was at the highway 58 plaza above Commisso’s Grocery Store. I look back and see how far the gym has come with great staff and great people. The gym has become filled with different age groups and everyone is at different stages and wants in their fitness goals. The move from the old gym on highway 58 to the new location on King street with two floors of free weights and cardio machines and the newest addition,a boxing area which I love for a great cardio workout. It just adds a bit of everything at G&M Fitness. I would like to say thank you to Gino and Matt for everything and many great years at G&M to come.”

Art Weaver

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“Ten years ago I was given a gift membership for G&M. My only goal was to see if I could stick it out for one whole year. Well here I am 10 years later and still going strong at age 60. I’ve competed in a few competitions and won a few awards. I am with no doubt physically stronger today then I have ever been in my whole life. If it wasn’t for Gino, Matt and their great staff I don’t think I’d be where I am today physically. I’ve made many new friends here who have also helped me out a lot. Everyone here gladly shares what they know. G&M is the cleanest and most well maintained gym I have ever seen, which is a reflection on Gino and Matt’s pride in their business. Thank you everyone and I hope to see you all in 1o more years.”