My name is Charles Barker and I have lived in Coppell for 20 years. I am a mechanical engineer working as a thermal analyst for aeronautic and missile defense programs.
Q: What was your life like before joining the Get You In Shape Program?
Over the past twenty years, my life has been very busy. My wife and I both work full-time and have two teenage daughters who keep us very involved in their activities. Weekends and evenings have often been occupied with softball tournaments, dance competitions, and other activities. In addition, in recent years I have been commuting to the west side of Fort Worth for my job. This began taking a toll on my health and overall well-being. I had difficulty finding time to exercise. I try to eat a healthy vegetarian diet, but it requires a lot of time for preparation. When time ran short it resulted in less healthy eating choices. I was getting out of shape and ended up gaining a lot of weight over the last decade. I was getting worried about the long-term health consequences which made me frustrated and unhappy.
Q: Why did you decide to join the Get You In Shape program?
My wife saw a GYIS posting on social media describing their desire to work with people like us. She was worried that this program would only be for “bootcamp” type of customers, but Brad reassured her that GYIS was for customers of all ages, weights, and fitness levels. My wife and I decided to try the thirty-day introduction program together. I am so glad that we did it. The 5:30am workouts have worked out well for both of us in that it gives us time to get to work. We were surprised about how good it felt to get our exercise completed early in the day so we could focus on our other responsibilities and activities the rest of the day. After the thirty-day introduction, we were excited to make GYIS a part of our lives going forward.
Q: What was your first impression from the Get You In Shape program?
We loved the community of people that participate in the GYIS program. The program includes people of all ages and fitness levels. We were immediately made to feel comfortable by the trainers and fellow exercisers. It felt like an extended family that welcomed us to our daily workouts. The trainers are very knowledgeable and go out of their way to provide encouragement, guidance, and enthusiasm to help us persevere. They always point out our positive accomplishments and tailor the exercises individually as needed for our fitness levels.
Q: What have been some of the tools you have used that have benefited you?
The varied and well-structured exercise programs offered by GYIS keep the work-outs challenging and interesting. The flexibility to attend class from early morning to late evening easily accommodate my busy and often changing schedule which is awesome. Having the Facebook website to share news and allow people to share their accomplishments (and sometimes challenges) is a great source of support. Having various types social events to get the know the various members of GYIS has been a great way to build relationships and get invaluable support in my fitness journey. The regular weight and measurement checks are a great way to celebrate successes and to keep me accountable during times that are more challenging like holidays and birthday celebrations.
Q: How is the Get You In Shape program different from other programs you have tried before?
GYIS feels like a large family of people in our community with the same goals of losing and/or maintaining weight while trying to improve our health. This is especially important as we get older. I recently hit my big 60-year mark. I am aware that I cannot get away with living an unhealthy lifestyle as I did in the past. What stands out in the program is the enthusiastic instructors who provide a lot of encouragement and are rooting for us to be the best that we can be.
Q: What results and benefits have you experienced in the Get You In Shape Program?
I started the program in September of 2018. I lost about six pounds in the first month and have lost close to 19 pounds total. I am sleeping better and have more energy. My clothes fit better! I am working more productively at work and home, and overall feel so happy that I am taking important steps to improve my health. Prior to the birth of my daughters (who are now 16 and 19) I was a runner. I am loving the mile runs and cardio club of GYIS because it is bringing back my love for running. Who knows? Maybe another marathon (or ½ marathon) could be in my future! My goal is to continue to lose weight at a slow steady rate for the next two years and to maintain a normal weight afterwards. With my additional energy, I also hope to have more time for meal planning and preparation which will help with my weight loss goals.
Q: What would you say to anyone looking at this program?
Give it a chance! Don’t feel intimidated! No matter what your age or fitness level, the GYIS trainers will welcome you and tailor the work-out to meet your needs. And the GYIS participants will make you feel welcome and celebrate all achievements no matter how large or small! We have been very happy with this program and hope to participate for many years. And the feeling that you are finally doing something is great and the encouragement we get every day has kept us going. Try it! It works!
For more information about the Coppell Fitness program and getting started, go to http://CoppellFitness.com
If you live or work in Coppell, Valley Ranch, Irving, Lewisville, Las Colinas, Carrollton, Flower Mound, Grapevine, Addison, Corinth, Highland Village, Dallas, and Famers Branch, the Coppell Group Personal Training is just minutes away from you. Get You In Shape’s programs include the Get You In Shape Group Personal Training, 24 Day Challenge, sports specific training, weight loss programs, Corporate wellness plans, nutrition plans, core fitness training, strength training, toning and more. Clients include athletes (golf, basketball, tennis, football, track, baseball, baseball, volleyball, and softball) corporate executives, professionals, weekend warriors, cheerleaders, dancers, models, stay at home moms, and anyone looking for results.
Owner Brad Linder, has been featured in numerous newspapers and even as the fitness expert on the news 8 (ABC). Get You In Shape was also featured on The Doctor’s TV show as one of the top Fitness Companies in Texas. He continues to use the gifts that he has been given to help serve the needs others have when it come to being healthy, losing weight, sports, toning up, and overall fitness.
More information about Get You In Shape at www.getyouinshape.com
