I started working with Drew and Christina after taking the advice I had often given to my own patients: “incorporate more exercise into a healthy lifestyle!”  After a year with this wonderful duo, not only have I done that, but I have also gained valuable knowledge such as learning how to exercise effectively and the unique quirks to my body.  Weak vs strong muscle groups, balance, and unconscious mannerisms of my everyday movements, predisposing me to fatigue and injury, are concepts that were unexpected at the beginning, but now seem obvious as fundamental parts of any successful exercise plan.  Also, while motivation had long been a hurdle for me, even after long days at the hospital when I had to drag myself to my scheduled sessions, I always left feeling energized and accomplished.  I heartily recommend working with these fantastic trainers to anyone who want to improve their own health.  The attention and care they undertake to craft a truly personalized plan made them a special part of my own fitness journey,

 

Lin Shen, MD

“It never occurred to me that personal training could benefit me in any way, since I was already working out on my own. I thought that what I was doing was enough to get me to my goals. But despite my workouts, I had no upper body strength and next to no stamina. But after just a few weeks of workouts with Christina, it was clear that signing up for personal training was the best thing I could have done. I began to see the weight loss that I desired, but also an increase in my overall fitness – I was stronger than ever before (and I had been an athlete in high school!) I was inspired to keep going, to keep working out with Christina, and I love the results. Now working out has become part of what I do regularly, like brushing my teeth. I have lost 20% of my body weight, my BMI has dropped seven points, I can do 10 push-ups, and I have enough stamina for 60 minutes of aerobic exercise. And the bonus: my curves are now all in the right place! I still have a bit more weight to lose, and I know I will do it. But I couldn’t have gotten this far without Christina’s personal training expertise. Working out with her is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.” -Darchelle

“Ever since I joined camp I have seen many changes! I am able to get up for one thing and I start my day very early. I get so much more done everyday and feel so much more energized! The biggest change has been my body! I have lost 7 pounds, 5.5 inches off my waist and 3.4 percent body fat in just a few short months! I feel so much better about myself and am getting back into those old jeans of mine that have been hanging in the closet forever!!! When I first signed up I initially thought it would be only for the six month program, but now I can’t picture ever stopping! Thanks for pushing me through this!!!!” – Eleni

“My results have been amazing, largely because of the combination of training methods and exercise programs that Drew creates. They are specifically made for me so I can achieve my goals. His knowledge, passion, and commitment kept me focused and determined to create a better healthier lifestyle for myself. Drew’s fun, easygoing personality helps make training sessions even more enjoyable and creates a comfortable atmosphere so not only am I learning how to keep myself in shape, but I’m having fun doing it! I have had a great experience training with Drew for the past 6 months.” – Jenny

“Working with Christina at Active Wellness has changed my life. It’s not about weight loss – it’s about ‘functional fitness’. I now go about my day without pain or stiffness. I hike mountains, I walk on the beach, I rake leaves, shovel snow and renovate a huge property – all activities that would have left me aching for days. I look better and feel great. This wellness will add a decade to my life and improve the quality of life everyday. Just Do It!” – Jane

“Weekly appointments for personal training with Christina over the course of the past 13 months has greatly helped me recover from knee replacement surgery, and has made a dramatic improvement in my balance, and overall strength and endurance. I particularly appreciated Christina’s willingness to work with my priorities and her creativity in arranging a different workout each week. Our weekly meetings kept me on track with the exercise regimen we mutually decided. I enjoyed and benefited from our meetings, and am so happy to again be physically capable of doing whatever I want to do. I now feel 10 years younger!” -Susan

“I struggled with my weight most of my life and I knew I didn’t want to struggle anymore. I wanted to be a healthy person. I wanted to look on the outside how I felt on the inside. I decided to join the group class and later semi private training because I knew I would need help conquering my weight issues. I had success on my own before, but it never lasted. The best thing about working with Christina is the genuine interest she took in helping me achieve my weight and fitness goals. I felt that not only would I receive Christina’s help, but I would also receive the help from the other women in the group class and from my partner in semi-private training. Running 101 has shown me another way to stay active and given me another goal to work towards other than weight loss. It’s comforting to be with people who share the same goal of living a healthy lifestyle and can provide support when needed. Completing a 5k gave me a sense of pride and accomplishment I didn’t have before.” -Becky

“I’ve really appreciated the holistic way Drew has approached training. I learned how incorporate appropriate breathing techniques to maximize my workouts. Christina’s class I attended was very helpful, as she gave insights into how to build muscle for caloric expenditure.” – Rebecca

“The day before my 51st birthday, I met with Drew for the first time. I started with personal training a year and a half ago. It has been by far the best thing that I have done for myself. I had not exercised in at least fifteen years. With a bad back, bum knee, and high blood pressure, I was not sure what I was to embark on. Drew designed an exercise program for me that was tailored to my needs. He has been supportive and has motivated me to work out at a level that I never thought possible. I have lost 28 pounds. I am stronger, have more energy and feel better than I have in years. The biggest benefit by far is that I am now controlling by blood pressure with out medication, and I can do 30 straight leg push ups! I have more energy than I’ve had in years. Drew has been fantastic with his continuous support and motivation. I look forward to every training session! I can not thank Drew enough for all his support and encouragement! Thanks Drew!” – Debbie

” My fitness journey began about 7 years ago, after my divorce. In the previous 7 years I’d quit smoking after 12 years, had two kids and been in a bad place emotionally. I’ve always struggled with comfort eating and with weight gain. When I started getting fit I was about 50 lbs heavier than I am right now. Over the course of five years I had lost more weight than I ever imagined I could and started going to the gym again and working out with some friends. When I heard about the morning boot camp, I was intrigued, although the idea of 5:30am three days per week was daunting. But, after losing so much weight I really wanted to work on being more fit and I believed this was the next right step. My first goal setting session with Christina was amazing. We talked about where I had been, what I hoped to accomplish, many of the obstacles that get in the way of being fit – many of them mental – and how to overcome them. In the past 18 months I have been pushed and challenged both mentally and physically. In spite of a setback last year when I was out for two months due to surgery, I am in the best shape I’ve been in since I was 16 and I am almost 44. What a proud moment for me when I realized that there isn’t even a category for women over 40 who can do 30 pushups on their toes in one minute!

Personal training sessions with Drew on off weeks definitely push me to my limit and I always feel great afterwards. No matter what though, the sense of camaraderie that we’ve developed as a group in morning boot camp is amazing. This summer, when I really wanted to get back to running, one of the other women and I met twice a week to run and supported each other to run over four miles.
When I run or work out on my own, I can feel Christina and Drew, and all the other women in boot camp, sitting on my shoulder and supporting me as I continue to work to be as fit as I can be. If nothing else, Boot Camp has reinforced for me that fitness is not something we do for a short time, it’s a way of life. I’m proud of the fit woman I am today and that I am a great role model for my kids. My family is incredibly supportive.

Inspiration Boot Camp has been exactly what I needed – the place to take my fitness to the next level. I am never going back. I look and feel better than I ever have and I really love the bragging rights I get when I tell people I get up at 5am to work out.” – Becca

“I was training to get in shape for my wedding the following August and my best friend just wanted to get in shape, feel more fit and lose a few pounds. My best friend and I started training with Drew in November of 2007. We met with Drew together twice a week and then we would alternate Saturday’s to have an individual session with Drew. We learned all types of exercises from yoga and stretching to kickboxing – one of our favorites! Every workout was different and never boring and we learned so many exercises that we can do at home or on vacation (Drew always gave us lists of exercises that we could do on the beach without any weights or special equipment). I shaped up in time for my wedding and received so many compliments about how toned my arms looked in my strapless dress! Yay! Even after the wedding came and went we kept seeing Drew about once a week to maintain our weight loss and fitness levels. He was always super friendly and really motivating… even when we thought we couldn’t do another set of mountain climbers or jump squats! All and all, a GREAT trainer!” – Samantha and Michelle

“My fiancé and I were looking to lose weight before our wedding when we found Active Wellness. We had both worked out with personal trainers before, but working with Drew and Christina was nothing like what we expected- It was actually fun! My fiancé and I enjoyed working out together and it gave us some much needed bonding time. Not being the most “athletic people”, going to the gym in the past had always been something neither of us looked forward to. Working out with Drew and Christina is nothing like going to a ‘chain’ gym. In fact, you won’t find a single treadmill or stair master in their studio. In my opinion, this makes working out fun- every session is different, from Pilates to kick boxing to doing drills outside at the local park. It’s obvious that they care about each of their clients, and are interested in making them healthier- and helping to make the right lifestyle choices without ever pushing anything on to you. My fiancé and I were so happy with the way we looked and FELT on our wedding day. We’ve decided to continue working out with Active Wellness in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Thank you Christina and Drew!” – Carly L