Member Success Stories: Holly White
Holly White – 85 lbs. lost since August 2012
About 10 years ago my brother was getting married and asked me to be a bridesmaid so, I wanted to join a gym to lose some weight before the wedding. I considered a few options including a women’s only facility. I was intimidated by the thought of going to a gym where everyone was 20 something and well-built. When I mentioned this to my brother he suggested Fore Court. I immediately rejected the idea because my only experience with Fore Court was from High School. I knew the athletes worked out there and that brought back nightmares of high school judgments and what not. My brother assured me that it wasn’t like that and I would like it at Fore Court. He was living in Providence at the time and could have chosen many different gyms closer to him including the one at his college for free. He drove to Cumberland instead. Trusting him, I became a member.
My original goals were to lose weight for my brother’s wedding, but I continued coming to the gym off and on for various reasons. Some more noble than others; Getting fit, losing weight, stress relief, a sanctuary away from any personal issues that might have been going on in my life, to not waste the automatically deducted membership fee.
I work out 5 – 7 times a week on average. I mostly do cardio, using the ellipticals and treadmills for 30-60 minutes. I want to do a Color Me Rad Run in September, so I am running more than I have in the past. I also take yoga every Monday. Recently, upon advice of my nutritionist, I have also started incorporating some weight training.
Yoga is my favorite class. I feel so good afterwards. It is the only work out I have completed, that when it is over, I feel like I had taken a nap. I love how flexible I have become and love the stretching that has relieved many exercise and stress-induced aches and pains. If I miss a week of yoga, I get really, really grumpy.
My favorite thing is the low-stress, no pressure attitude at the club. I have gone with friends to their gyms and I always feel like I am being watched because I am on “their” machine or I am not following the unwritten rules. It’s never a comfortable place for me. Fore Court has been comfortable since my first day. I also enjoy the friendly members and staff; it feels more like a bunch of friends than strangers here.
My advice to new members would be to work out on Friday after work. It is my favorite time to be at the Club. For the most part the place is empty so I sing out loud and dance on the treadmill with wild abandon.
I have also started using a portion control diet and use www.myfitnesspal.com to track every morsel I put in my mouth and every minute of purposeful exercise. It has really helped me keep on track of my goals and on top of my habits.
