Never judge a book by its cover: The first week with MM Team Fitness.

I started training with MM Team Fitness in July of 2013. My husband a former competitive bodybuilder knew Mark from the old days, was following his clients on Facebook and felt that his new style of functional team training would be a good fit for me. I had been working one on one with another trainer and felt that I needed to step it up. I had never worked out in a group setting, had no clue what to expect or what this "CrossFit Based” style" of training was. I couldn’t even begin to understand the workout lingo (AWUW, WOD, Suicides, and Death Marches)!

During the initial week I asked my husband to work out in the gym during my first few classes for moral support. Just knowing he was in the same building made me feel more confident. Mark assigned his summer intern Olivia to me to assist and direct me through my beginning sessions.

During my second class I wasn’t getting it. I couldn't keep up. I didn't have any strength or balance and felt defeated. I started to cry and turned to Olivia to tell her that I just couldn't do this.

That evening after class I told my husband in the parking lot that I couldn't do this. One of the girls in my group (Natalie Weekly) came up to us and assured me that I could do this and that we all start out in the same place. The three of us talked for a good while in the parking lot that night and between what Natalie and my husband said, I decided to keep at it.

It's been four and a half months of hard work, perseverance and consistency and it is really paying off. I am doing things I never thought possible and building a leaner, stronger and more functional me!! I thought I was training with my previous trainer, Mark told me I was just renting a friend, not training.

I honestly never knew how much fun I’d have climbing ropes, flipping tires and swinging kettlebells at age 53. I love this stuff now. What I learned from my teammates, many of them women in their 50’s, is that it doesn’t matter what you can do when you start, only that you have the right attitude and desire to be challenged to be the best you can be. They all tell me the same thing, they wanted to quit because it seemed impossible, now they are all doing things physically inside and outside the gym they once thought, were impossible. It’s only impossible if you choose to make it so.

The first few weeks will define who you are and whether you fit the MM Team Fitness culture. It’s only 3 days a week and costs less than most other personal training programs but is very effective. The workouts are challenging and the results come quickly. The program will make you leaner, stronger and faster. Mark will coach you and the teams will guide and support you. He also uses a referral base of sports nutritionists, sports medicine physicians and physical therapists to address additional client needs. You bring commitment and the right attitude, and understand that it won’t be easy. I had easy doing one on one, I never realized what real training was like or what it could do for me personally.

Thank you so much Natalie Weekly for pulling me back from the quitter’s ledge and believing in me!! Thank you a million times Mark Myhal for pushing me to do what I never thought would be possible, and special thanks to my husband Abdul for inspiring me to just do my best and not quit. There are no goals, just a life transformation. I am sooooooo glad I didn't quit, looking back it would have been a huge mistake.

- Toni