Testimonials

Richard S.

Personal Training Client

Five years ago, after I finally could not come up with any more excuses for not establishing a regular fitness routine, I became one of Scott's clients at Inbalance. I was in reasonable shape and healthy for a male in my late 50's but time was catching up quickly. At this point in my life my main recreational activity was golf. I had discarded my earlier more strenuous activities like dirt bike racing, softball, waterskiing etc. I had more than my share of injuries from these sports, broken legs, broken collar bones, bruises and tears.

Because of rotator cuff problems caused by years of golf, Scott had to slowly get my shoulders in shape. He succeeded. This allowed me to work with the adequate weights needed to increase the muscle around the rotator cuffs to help protect from further stress caused by the golf swing. I now can perform all the exercises needed to maintain my body allowing me to do the things I enjoy doing.

The greatest benefit I have derived from maintaining a regular regime is I don't have any nagging joint pains. I previously experienced pain in my knees and shoulders. I was also making regular visits to the chiropractor because of neck and lower back pains. Needless to say thanks to Scott's guidance, encouragement and persistence, I have been able to take some age off my body. I am now able to painlessly do the activities I enjoy, and not one trip to the chiropractor in five years.

I recommend Inbalance Fitness to any level of golfer that wants to maintain or improve their game.

Thank you Scott and Inbalance Fitness.

Lea S.

Personal Training Client

I arrived on the doorstep of inbalance pushing a baby carriage. Literally. My son was two months old, but he was not the only thing I was carting around that day. I was also lugging around a lot of extra weight.

Before i go any further, let's get something straight. I have never been one of those people who would go off the deep end if I gained a pound or two- food has never been something I was afraid of. I would just hop on my bike or lace up my running shoes and sweat off the weight a little bit at a time. Food and exercise, both, have always been my friends.

Even before I was pregnant, I knew that pregnancy would probably sooner or later force me to reduce my workouts and leave me with some extra weight to work off. In all honesty, I thought that I would put on enough weight to grow a healthy baby, but surely not so much that I would be unable to wear my pre-pregnancy jeans home from the hospital and resume my workouts the next day. (I am rolling my own eyes at the extent of my naivety. What a misguided lady I was.)

But all my theories flew out the window when I was placed on bed rest the last trimester of my pregnancy, and my misconceptions were made only plainer when I had a c-section and brought home a 9 lb. 7 oz, man-child that did not sleep through the night for the first eight months of his life.

When I walked in the door at inbalance, I was a first-time mom at 37 years old, had not worked out at all in five months, was carrying around forty extra pounds and was deeply, deeply sleep deprived. The reality was that I was unable to jog a few yards without losing my breath. I could no longer do sit ups. I could not do even one single push-up. But strolling the baby carriage past inbalance that day before I made up my mind to stop, I knew exactly what I needed. I needed help. So I opened the door and went inside.

But I didn't go in blindly; I knew that in order for me to be successful, my trainer would have to meet certain criteria. I needed a personal trainer who could create a workout plan that would provide the guidance and motivation I needed to lose the weight and strengthen my body. And I needed the exercise to be fun and the workouts to be varied. I also wanted someone to work out along with me- to participate- and not just stand over me and count.

Standing in the entry way, I recounted my criteria to Scott and he recommended Star Ritchey. Star fit the bill perfectly from day one. She is a wealth of knowledge on health and fitness and never misses the opportunity to pass on nuggets of information on nutrition or physiology or ways to make my workouts more effective.

Star's m.o. includes a mix of cardio (no machines!), yoga poses, strength training, and stretching. She even had me playing around with a basketball one day. Now we are running together and looking ahead to a half-marathon. (Me...running a half-marathon...who woulda thought?) We have worked out in the gym, in the park, and on the riverfront. Our workouts vary each session so my body never over-adapts and my mind never starts to wander. Star has even managed to tap into my competitive streak, pushing me by matching me lunge for lunge, sit-up for sit-up, and push-up for push-up. I'm having a blast. Now, some months later, I have lost almost all of the weight I brought with me that first day, but more than that Star has shown me the way to reclaim a lifestyle that makes me thrive.

Many thanks, Star!

Peggy S.

Personal Training Client

“If you don’t create change, change will create you.”

Middle age. What a challenging time for a woman’s body! All of the sudden, with no warning at all, new lumps and folds appear, and it’s not pretty! As I approached my last year in the forties, I decided that if I didn’t want to purchase a new wardrobe in a bigger size, I had better… create some changes.

Time to assess: My current exercise regime of walking was no longer enough for this aging body. And, even though I was not eating unhealthy food, I realized that I was eating too much food. My portions were way too large for someone of my age and build. My plan? Find a place to do weight training and become more thoughtful about my food intake.

The first job was easy. I asked a dear friend (who looked fantastic) what she was doing to stay so fit. She steered me to Inbalance Fitness and Shaeffer Upton, her personal trainer. I made the call, pulled on my large elastic waist shorts and headed to Cooper-Young. After getting pinched and measured by Scott for the pre-assessment, I met Shaeffer and set up a schedule to begin getting fit. Finding the time to exercise was not going to be easy, either. I am back in school working towards a master’s degree and working part-time at St. Mary’s Episcopal school. With a husband and son still at home, I was worried about adding one more thing to an already packed schedule. But, as I began working with Shaeffer and making my time with her a priority, my schedule seemed to fall into a do-able rhythm. Shaeffer’s willingness to accommodate change in schedule has been helpful, too. Since July, I have been able to get at least two workouts in practically every week.

I have been careful about food, too. I am eating smaller amounts and taking time to enjoy every bite. I have lost about 15 pounds and several inches since I began working out at Inbalance Fitness.

Inbalance Fitness has helped me, help myself. It has provided the place for workouts to fit into my schedule and a place to meet new friends or visit with old ones. I have grown to look forward to my workouts with Shaeffer and appreciate her supportive, professional attitude. I am feeling better and have a bounce back in my step. I am stronger, both physically and emotionally. And, I feel so accomplished and proud when I can do all of those Shaeffer lunges without stopping! As I have told her many times, it is perfectly painful and deliciously difficult!

Thank you Inbalance team for assisting me in making the changes needed to be a happier and healthier person.

Dorchelle S.

inbalance Running Group

I started running with my husband, Robert, in 1995. Back then I couldn’t run four blocks down McLean without gasping for breath. It wasn’t weight that caused my labored breathing; it was a lifetime of inactivity.

Robert, on the other hand, hadn’t had a sedentary day in his life. From basketball to racquet ball, cycling to running, he did it all. I dabbled in running. But after our daughter, Maggie, was born and early thirties turned into late 30s, the weight started gaining on me…and…well…you know the rest. The drive to run became a need.

In December 2005, as Maggie and I watched the stream of runners race by in the St. Jude Memphis Marathon, she said to me, “Mommy, you could do that.” The seed was planted. In January I asked Robert to train me for the 2006 Country Music Half Marathon in Nashville. The long runs became a way for us to connect. We grew closer than we’d ever been. Running gave me that gift and I remain grateful.

After that first half marathon, I was exhilarated. I looked good and I felt good. I sat down on the couch to rest and didn’t get up again until October the following year. The second chin was back and it was time to train. But this time, I was on my own. It wasn’t nearly as much fun. But I did it.

Determined not to repeat the mistake from before, I continued running after my second half. I even volunteered to help one of my colleagues increase her mileage. And that’s when it all fell apart – literally – on North Parkway. I went down hard and damaged my right knee. One year, 9 months, and twenty pounds later it was time to take action.

Enter Star and the InBalance team. I’d found my motivation; what I needed was a plan and someone to hold me accountable. Because of my personal sensitivity to the weight gain, Robert could not play that role. Star, on the other hand, with her gentle encouragement and her written plan of action, could.

When we began training for the 2009 St. Jude Memphis Half Marathon in October, I didn’t know a soul on the team. Most everyone else had met during the Couch to Four Miler training that had just concluded. They breezed through the initial three mile runs like champions while I struggled to keep up. I felt like I was back on McLean in 1995.

But Star, Keith, and Scott were incredible. They encouraged me, included me and believed in me. In turn, I pushed myself like never before.

The training provided by the InBalance team was phenomenal. No only did each runner have an individualized running plan, Star mapped out different routes for the varying mileages, provided tips for stretching, fueling and nutrition, and sent encouraging emails to keep us motivated. She waited after each run to make sure everyone was accounted for and talked to each runner to address concerns or answer questions. Star shared her personal struggles, offered advice, and lead by example.

As a result of my InBalance training, I ran my personal best time of 2:16:11. I am nine pounds lighter and happy with my level of activity. Because of my experience with Star and her team, I am continuing to run. And after all, isn’t that the ultimate goal?

David B.

inbalance Running Group

As I huffed and puffed, by way through the streets of Cooper Young, before the crack of dawn in temperatures below freezing, I wondered “Who on earth is this person?” I had had the same thought a few weeks earlier when I realized that I was making sure my running clothes and shoes were packed in my carry-on bag, rather than my checked luggage, as I headed out to vacation. I planned to run – run – while on vacation, that ultimate period of lazy downtime. Even my partner commented jokingly: “I don’t know you anymore!” when he saw my carry-on.

It started in July with the “Couch to 4-Miler” and just ended with the St. Jude Half-Marathon. With Star’s guidance and patience, I progressed from barely being able to run a block to running – albeit, slowly – 13.1 miles. She pushed us but knew our limits. There was no cajoling or embarrassment; only encouragement and helpful direction. I liked that she shared her experiences, admitted that she had bad runs from time to time and that it wasn’t always easy for her and griped with the rest of us. She wasn’t some unrealistic, type A trainer with a whistle – she was human, like us (though, she did have a whistle for a short period of time but we didn’t mind so much since she used it sparingly).

As I continue my running in Star’s group, I continue to be pleased, and surprised, with the improvement in my ability and attitude. Star is helping me improve my speed and stamina since I was not fully satisfied with my time in the St. Jude Half-Marathon. We’ll see how this effort pays off in the Country Music Half Marathon. Yes: that is two half-marathons within six months!

Who on earth is this person?

Kat G.

Personal Training Client

Two years ago I was twenty pounds heavier and my exercise program was sporadic. I was disappointed in myself but eager to commit to an exercise program. Scott recommended Kerry Jones. Kerry was an amazing trainer from the get go. Her creative approach to training keeps me on my toes (literally sometimes) and my body challenged. I approach my own workouts in the same manner now. I added spinning classes, stairs to my walk, and sprints to my runs. Not only has it changed the way I look physically but has changed my attitude towards exercise in general. Working out is now an integral part of my life, not an obligation or something I dread. Mixing things up has kept me interested and has brought me to a new level of dedication. As a result I am headed towards my 40th birthday in the best shape of my life! Kerry is an amazing trainer and it is obvious with the results I (and her other clients) have had.

Craig W.

Personal Training Client

I am a sales manager at International Paper and a seven year resident of Harbor Town.

I have remained active most of my life by playing basketball and working out at health clubs. However, due to an increasingly busy schedule I have found myself becoming less consistent with my workouts and not eating as well as I would like to. Despite my best intentions I still was not able to get myself to the gym for intense workouts as I had in the past. I was noticing a decrease in energy as I continued to gain excess weight.

This past January I decided I had had enough. I was ready to get back in shape and thought perhaps a little assistance from a trainer would be helpful.

I began working out at Inbalance Fitness at Harbor Town with trainer Ryan Smith 10 weeks ago. I was right; having a trainer has made the process of getting back in shape much easier. Ryan has taken the “guess-work” out of my program and given me the guidance I needed to remain consistent. He continually adjusts my program to fit my travel schedule with work. The variety Ryan includes in my workouts keeps me interested and motivated. I could not be happier with my progress thus far. I have lost more than twenty pounds! I have more energy. I am eating and sleeping much better and I feel much better all-around!

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Testimonials

I have lost almost all of the weight I brought with me that first day, but more than that Star has shown me the way to reclaim a lifestyle that makes me thrive.