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Friends! 2019 is SO close! While this is a time of reflection for a lot of people, to create goals and resolutions for the new year, my hope to y'all is that just as much time -- if not more -- is spent really celebrating the accomplishments and wins you accumulated in 2018. It's so easy to reflect on what we DIDN'T do or accomplish. But imagine what might happen if we start to add up all of the positive things that DID happen! On that note, please let me indulge in some of TruFit's biggest highlights of 2018! Let's take a moment to look at some of our favorite white boards of 2018, shall we? I'll start back in 2012 when IzzyFit started training at the TruFit, back when the super-wonderful Meg Buckland owned the gym. What I loved the most about the space was how down-to-earth and friendly people were, from the trainers to clients, from our cleaning maestro Arturo to our towel dude Mike. It really did always feel like Cheers, where everybody knows your name and they’re always glad you came. But instead of beer we serve squats! When I took over in December of 2016, my biggest concern was that this really special feeling might go away. 2016 saw a handful of trainers move on and, with them, some of their clients. We’ve had a lot of new awesome trainers start these last two years and with them, new clients! And through it all, especially as I write this, the biggest highlight for me looking back over these last twelve months has been this community we’ve been able to cultivate at the gym: Where everybody knows your name (for the most part, we really try!…), and we’re always glad you came. Where we ask each other how our kids, partners, pets and parents are and really do care about the answer. Some of our parents are even CLIENTS this gym!  I mean, how awesome is it that Kathryn coaches her own parents? I am grateful every single day for the TruFit trainers and all of the clients that walk through the door. BUT THERE'S MORE! Here are other super awesome highlights from this past year: We hosted three drives this year: A clothing drive benefitting ESCCA, the YWCA and Family Focus! A diaper drive benefitting the Bundled Blessings Diaper Pantry! A sneaker drive for Reuse-a-Shoe! We hosted a women’s self defense workshop for the YWCA! Thanks, IMPACT and our awesome instructors Michelle and Aaron!  We threw (and Symphony taught!) a dance party at Evanston SPACE to raise money for Evanston Scholars!  Marco hosted a boot camp and taco party (!!!) to raise money for St. Mary's Services!  We held a pushup challenge throughout October to benefit the Metropolitan Chicago Breast Cancer Task Force!  In all, we raised $3336 and volunteered 75 hours. And while I know some believe it's tacky to talk about money raised and hours spent volunteering, I do this to demonstrate the power of community and that small steps taken collectively can make big changes. Health and strength have a greater purpose. Thank you to everyone who participated, planned and got their friends involved! TruFit got to host a continuing education workshop for trainers and non-trainers alike with Original Strength. It was a HUGE honor for me to be Dani's assistant and a thrill to have 18 other people in the room who wanted to learn new ways to move and feel better. Fingers crossed that we host another workshop in 2019! Stay tuned :)  We trainers met quarterly this year so we could all get on the same page about TruFit opportunities and issues and take time to learn from each other. Even though I know no one likes meetings (grumble grumble), I’m adding them to MY list of highlights because, it’s only thanks to the trainers’ dedication and commitment to their own businesses and the space they train in that we can better serve our clients. Plus, it was fun having a winter and summer party and seeing each other outside the gym.  Having too much fun to take normal photos... A LOT of TruFit babies we born this year! Trainer Frank and wife Rebel welcomed baby Kace. Client Maria and husband JC welcomed baby Matias. And client Mollie and husband Ricky welcomed baby Alex (our own Norm!) who often works out with mom! Needless to say, there was a lot to celebrate in 2018 and you can trust that we'll work hard to create moments to cheer for in 2019. We hope you will be right along side us.
Cheers to a health-filled 2019!
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It’s holiday gift-giving time again and, whether you’re looking for a holiday gift for the fitness lover in your life or you’re thinking ahead for that person’s birthday (since we CLEARLY missed Hanukkah this year, ack!), we’ve got some ideas for you! Here are our Top 7 Fitness-Centric Gift Ideas!  FITNESS DICE! This gift is perfect for the person who always wants to do something new and fun; the person who wants to work out on their own but doesn’t know what to do; the person that travels a lot; the person who has a trainer and the one who doesn't; heck, it’s great for the whole family!  ORIGINAL STRENGTH DVD! If your loved one can’t work directly with someone certified by Original Strength at TruFit (Kathryn, Nicole, Sarah or Izzy) and needs to learn how to move and feel better due to injury or life, this DVD is a GREAT starting point. TruFit owner Izzy got this for her own mom!  Zappos Gift Card: We should be changing our training shoes out more often than we think. Trainer Brian Kirshenbaum says, "The general rule of thumb for running shoes has always been 6 to 8 months depending upon how high your running mileage is. In my opinion, any shoes you train in regularly in any mode should never have a birthday." Training shoes should be helping your loved one move forwards, backwards and side-to-side without their foot sliding around in it or forcing their foot into pronation or supination. A gift certificate from zappos.com or your local athletic shoe store is the answer for anyone who trains!  Pullup Bar: Doing a pullup is on a lot of people’s wish list but the pullup (and the drills and exercises that help you get to your first one) is probably the exercise that needs the most practice to achieve. If your loved one can’t get to a pullup bar at the gym to get that practice in multiple times per week, this pullup bar might be the perfect answer! The best part: No drilling is required and it’s easy to take on and off of a door frame.  Instant Pot: Do you have a loved one who is 1. busy, 2. wants to make nutritious food for themselves and 3. doesn’t already have an Instant Pot? Well, get them an Instant Pot! This multi-use cooker can help your loved one make myriad dishes, from chicken curry to quinoa to YOGURT in very little time!  Water Bottle with Fruit Infuser: Water can be quite boring but we all need to drink it! Help your loved one spruce up their beverage with this super cool infuser water bottle! You can even share some of these super cool recipes!  Personal Training: We would be remiss if personal training wasn’t on this list! If you have a loved one who has expressed that they need help getting stronger, moving better, getting more fit and feeling more comfortable in their body and lives near Evanston, don’t hesitate to contact us at TruFit! We would be honored to match your loved one with the best trainer fit for them. You can email us here or call 312-497-8999. |
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