Woman of Fitness: Robbin U.

My name is Robbin. My life, for the last 32 years, has been divided between raising my two children and working as a nurse on a labor and delivery unit of a local hospital. I cannot remember a week that I have not worked at least 50 or so hours. Overtime always helped make ends meet. A little over 5 years ago, I went into management on the same unit. The hours remained the same, but the stress level went up exponentially! It was that same year that I decided to take care of me.

I had stepped onto a scale at the doctors office and could not believe what I saw. I had been on Weight Watchers most of my life and decided to add exercise. I took a Zumba class at the local park district and the instructor told me that she taught the class at Women’s Workout World as well, and I joined soon after. I never imagined that Zumba would take me where I wanted to go, but slow and steady won the race.

As I started losing weight I started new classes. I tried Turbokick early on, but I could not hang. 65 pounds later I was running back to Turbo because I wanted that challenge. Some of the weight crept back on, and I am determined to not allow that to happen. So at almost 60, I am going to kick it up and I started to take team training.

I have always been a strong-minded person, and now I am going to let the trainers at W3 help me to become strong in body as well! I used to say that I wanted to lose weight and get healthy for my kids. They are grown now, and I truly believe that when I really do it for myself, I feel better. I do not feel my age, and that is a great feeling!!

Oh… and did I mention that I am a HUGE Cubs fan??? 🙂

-Robbin

Women of Fitness: Yulonda N.

My name is Yulonda. I currently work as a service excellence rep in the security department for presence health. I really enjoy working in a hospital because I love helping people. I am also family oriented, so I spend a lot of time with my family. Growing up, sports played a huge factor in my family.

We were ALL extremely athletic. I played volleyball, basketball, ran track, and was on the cheerleading team throughout my entire academic career. But of course as I got older, I wasn’t very active anymore. With work and everyday life, things had drastically changed.About three years ago, I went to the doctor because I felt dizzy all the time. It was then that I found out that I was prediabetic, and had high blood pressure. I remember feeling really sad, and thinking to myself, I didn’t want to have to take pills every day for the rest of my life. I knew I had to change my lifestyle. I purchased a set of 10lb weights, meal prepped, and worked out to you tube videos for 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week. I started seeing great results, I felt more energetic, and things were great.

In August 2016, I had to have gallbladder removal surgery. During my recovery, I wasn’t able to work out for at least 6 months. That was a major setback for me and the lifestyle I had created. By the time I had the clearance to start doing physical activities, I was right back to where I started. I gained all of the weight back. I was extremely discouraged, but I knew that if I did it before, that I could do it again.

I started back doing my routines as I had before, but I felt like I was missing that extra push I needed. I decided to join a gym. I did some research, tried out a few facilities, and eventually came across W3. W3 has given me what I was missing and more!!!! The classes are amazing, and all of the trainers are outstanding. The members are really encouraging and inspirational as well. When you walk in a gym and everyone knows your name, and will come over to help you with your workout, it truly feels like a second family.

I am happy to say that through my ups and downs, that I am no longer on any prediabetic medication. I know that as long as I continue to stay focused, that I will be able to accomplish anything. That I can continue to create a lifestyle where I can be here for my family, and I can be a healthier, happier, stronger ME!

Women of Fitness: Teresa H.

My name is Teresa, outside of the gym I raise my two children full time. I can’t put into words how many ways my gym has helped me with everyday life.

I was in a debilitating car accident that changed my life. I have always been active; however for a period of 5 years, I was healing from back surgery. During this period, I was not healthy or active and very depressed. I just had my first child, and I knew I had to make changes otherwise I wouldn’t have been able to function or care for my child properly. My cousin encouraged me to join the gym literally a few steps from my house and I have never looked back.

At first it started with machines and then when confidence came I went into lifting with much guidance and care from instructors. I truly appreciate these instructors who have encouraged me, and taught me correct form so as not to injure myself. Functional training especially has allowed my body to move with little or no pain. That changed my life for the better.

I have also created lasting friendships with others at this gym. I felt very alone before I went to the gym. I wasn’t from this area before I married and moved here with my husband. I now have the best support system I could have ever wished for; these people not only care about me but they love my children, too. I’m very fortunate and blessed.

Women of Fitness: Maria A.

Soy una persona que se levanta positiva y con la intención de ayudar a quién lo necesite y que me gusta mi trabajo.


Claro que me ha ayudado gracias a la oportunidad que tuve de entrar al gym. He creído más en mi y hacer mas alegre (que no lo era antes).


Estoy orgullosa de que he logrado cosas que jamas pensé que iba a lograr y a creer mas en mi 🙂
Me motiva a seguir luchando por lo que quiero. Y sé que lo conseguiré. Mi amor me dijo hace poco amorcito como te llego a gustar tanto el ejercicio si tu no eras así (jajaja) y le dije pues mira lo que hace el gym: La energía y alegría que da 🙂


Lo triste que fue mi adolescencia que quizás no recibí el cariño que esperaba y necesitaba; por eso, ahora yo doy el cariño, la ayuda y apoyo a otras personas en el gym, en mi trabajo, y a las personas cercanos a mi.


~Maria A.

Women of Fitness: Sofia G.

I’m a high school English teacher for Morton East, my home district. Education is my deepest passion. I’m a social activist that promotes education at a global scale for underserved communities. I pass out backpacks and school supplies to children and families. I’ve opened a non-profit with a great team by the name of Project 214, in honor of my first classroom number. I used to teach kids in trouble from Chicago. Some of which died as a result to gang violence. I combat this issue of gang violence as a result. That started a passion in my heart to reach as many kids as I could through the power of compassion and education. I’ve traveled to Central America, specifically El Salvador, Costa Rica, and Panama. I just got back from Panama this summer. I train to stay focused, strong, and powerful for kids who need a voice. My classroom is my destiny, I’m more than a teacher, but an activist that will advocate for marginalized youth based on their ethnicity and social status. I also champion for an international campaign called Let Girls Learn. This was started by Michelle Obama. Millions of girls are out of school at a global level, leaving them prey to getting trafficked, married off early, illiterate, and early childbirth. I’m part of this national conversation. You educate a girl and you can change not only her life, but her community.
I’m also a mother and wife and need to be healthy and well for my family.
My faith in God also shapes a huge part of my existence and is the driving force behind my desire to live a healthy and full life.
Read through a few blog posts to really capture what I’m passionate about in more detail. This will really share my passion and who I am.
Yet, I give some much credit to my fitness journey that has empowered me physically and mentally to function with power in the areas of my life that matter to me.
Sofia

If you want to read more about Sofia and her cause, follow the links below:

Here’s my Website: www.project214.net

My blog: https://sofiag1.wordpress.com/

W3Body App Launches January 2017!

It is finally here!

The W3Body APP for members. 

We are so excited to bring this mobile/tech feature to our members to help them stay engaged and ultimately, achieve the results they are looking for.

We strongly feel at W3 that this new app will help our members by keeping them engaged with the W3 community, keeping them up to date about what is going on at the club, offering challenges and other activities to keep them motivated, and incentivizing them through our NEW rewards program.

The W3 rewards program is a very exciting new feature for us at Women’s Workout & Wellness. Members who have the app will be able to earn points through various activities: coming to the gym for a workout, sponsoring a friend, taking a challenge, setting a goal, achieving that goal, enrolling in training, and more! They can redeem their accrued points at any time for various prizes, such as membership months free, a W3 t-shirt, team functional training, small group personal training, one on one personal training and lots more! It is all tracked on the app, and guess what? The app AND rewards program are FREE for our members!

Check group fitness class schedules, scan into the gym, join challenges, post to social media, receive daily deals, club updates, push notifications, rewards, prizes, record your workouts, refer friends, sync your nutrition log, connect your FitBit or other fitness device, chat with other members, set goals and MORE… All on the NEW W3Body APP!

-coming January 2017-

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Did we mention the app is FREE and only accessible to MEMBERS?

Can you tell we are a bit excited 🙂 Spread the word and get ready to set new fitness goals and ACHIEVE them in 2017!!! See you at W3~

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Sneak Peak of the new W3Body App:

Weight Loss Infographic – Learn From W3

Copy the code below to embed this infograpic on your website

<img src=”http://w3body.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/w3body-infographic.png” />

<div style=”clear:both;”></div>

<div><a href=”http://www.w3body.com” target=”_blank” title=”Chicago Gyms” alt=”Chicago Gyms”>Weight Loss by Women’s Workout World in Chicago</a></div>

Down 73 pounds in 9 months: W3 Member Weight Loss Story

WOW.

Here is the SPOTLIGHT Member for March 2016 for Women’s Workout & Wellness: Selena A. from the W3 Kedzie.

Her hard work and dedication to getting FIT and HEALTHY is so inspiring- amazing job!! We are so happy for you!

**Click image to expand, and watch her story/video below that!**

Unsolicited Testimonial for W3

We were checking in on a Yoga instructor who sprained her wrist and was supposed to be out for 2 months. During that time, she originally thought she would be able to still come to the gym and do cardio. Unfortunately, her doctor told her otherwise, and here was her email to us expressing how much she will miss W3 for the 2 months she won’t be able to come in! This is a true testament of who we are…. you can be a part of it, too!

Hey, Jamie –
Thanks for checking in! I’m hanging in there. I saw my doctor yesterday who told me I couldn’t do any sort of cardio (no dancing!) for 3-4 weeks. That’s really bumming me out. Like, alot. He might as well confine me in a windowless shack, that’s how depressing this will be. 🙁

The next few weeks will be challenging, but I’m determined to keep my mind and spirit strong so that when it’s time, I’ll be ready to werq!

Actualy, your timing is pretty good. I wanted to send you a note expressing how much I miss everyone at W3. Consider this an unsolicited testimonial:

Several years ago I made a committment to make better, healther choices. I didn’t go on a diet: I started eating mindfully. I didn’t just get a gym membership: I made a lifestyle change. I treated my gym routine like a second job, and I held myself accountable for showing up. (Eventually, it literally became a second job! Technically, third since I was already hosting movie trivia as a second job… but I digress.)

The more effort I put into my workout, the more results I saw. As my strength grew, so did my drive to get even stronger. I began to understand that my body is a strong, powerful machine. And I truly believe that I would not have been able to reach my fitness goals – and maintain my enthusiasm when that goal seemed unreachable – if not for the tremendous team at W3. We truly are a team: with members as the players; Cassie, Sheeba, Susan, Reina, Toya, et al as our coaches; and Juanita, Jamie and everyone else as our cheerleaders. Everyone does their part to stay positive and to encourage everyone else on the team. The team at W3 is not only supportive, it’s empowering.

As I recover from a fractured wrist, my doctor has ordered NO CARDIO. Which means no Zumba or Werq. You know,only my primary source of endorphins and stress relief. No big. (!!!) But I’m staying positive and looking at this as an opportunity to explore other avenues of wellness, like meditation and restorative yoga. And I have the all-clear to do floor work, so I can focus on abs and lower body. But for me, those options are actually easier to do at home; which means no – or very limited – visits to W3 over the next month. And that, too, is a depressing thought.

I already miss everyone so much. The life-changing concepts I’ve learned at W3 (proper alignment, breathing techniques, pacing) have provided a good foundation on which to build an effective home practice. But nothing compares to the palpable comraderie and sisterhood one feels just walking into W3. From Juanita greeting “Hello, beautiful!” to Cassie screaming “Get lower!”, and every interaction in between,I know everyone there has my back. I miss my sisters in fitness!

I know that becoming too active too soon could exacerbate my injury; so a few weeks on the sidelines is worth a lifetime of wellness. I just have to remember that allowing myself proper time to heal is part of that committment I made to making healthy lifestyle choices. I may be an injurred wallflower now, but I’ll be tearing up the dancefloor in no time.

Thanks again for reaching out!

Miss you,
J