Clients and trainers at Fitness Together share a common thought, one that embraces a forever fit mindset

By Patricia Nugent

Erin Mellinger, owner of Fitness Together in Medina, has a confession to make: She doesn’t believe in New Year’s resolutions.

“Over the years, I’ve seen friends and family use the stroke of midnight as a magical deadline to lose weight and get back in shape,” she says. “Most gyms bank on these resolutions, signing up scores of people in December and January, then watching their parking lots go from packed to near-empty by March.”

The research backs up her disbelief. According to a recent study, less than eight percent of people keep their New Year’s resolutions.

All About You
Planning, execution and personalized attention are the strong suits at Fitness Together.

“Our trainers are uniquely qualified to take clients on a journey that does not end or begin with a date on the calendar,” she explains. “And that journey is one of success for several reasons. First of all, everything we do is customized to the individual client. We sit down with clients during the initial consultation, partner with them to set goals, and craft a program to get them there.”

She explains that each client comes with his or her own set of muscle imbalances and posture considerations, and maybe a chronic condition such as a bad back or old injury they may be rehabbing.

She says everything in a training session—from the equipment used to the movements selected, challenge level and even music playing—is geared to what the client enjoys best.

The elite level of training takes place in two nicely appointed private suites that are loaded with free weights, bands, balance balls, kettlebells, kickboxing bags and every other tool geared toward making a client’s workout plan come to life and keeping them motivated.

Erin says she’s proud of her studio’s track record of retaining clients for longer than other places, usually for years and years.

How do the trainers continually stay on top of their game?

“We keep up with the latest findings in exercise science,” she says. “For instance, we’ve been doing more corrective exercises and flexibility training over the years and our clients are loving the results.”

Holiday Survival Guide
Staying true to your health and fitness goals over the holidays doesn’t have to mean missing out on the good stuff.

“I tell clients to enjoy this time of year,” says Erin. “Don’t beat yourself up if you cheat a little at parties or holiday dinners. Just add more time onto your workouts and eat a little less the next day. It’s all about being in the right mindset. You have control of how you react to situations.”

Another piece of sound advice? Never go to a party on an empty stomach.

“I suggest you nibble on fruits or veggies beforehand, which can fill you up and make that endless buffet a little less inviting,” she says.

“This time of year, people are out of their routine, eating meals away from home instead of grocery shopping for healthy foods, which can sabotage your diet. And, unfortunately, more and more people are doing restaurant delivery services. That’s something to avoid, too, as restaurant food is loaded with salt, sugar and fat. Habits make you healthy, so try to stick to your good habits.”

Fitness Together is located within the Medina Signature Square Shopping Center at 3725 Medina Road, Suite #106, in Medina. The Fairlawn location is at 2890 Sand Run Parkway, Suite B. Call 330-692-2315 for more information on either location. Visit FTResults.com to see testimonials from Fitness Together clients.