Andree Ansaldo

My name is Andree and I first joined the gym when I was 33 years old. I had been doing exercise routines from the tv in my basement for almost a year and decided I needed more. It was a hard decision because I was not sure if I was even going to like it but no one in my family had ever gone to a gym or even thought about it...

Well I went for a long time and then moved and went to another and another. For some reason I stopped going for a couple of years and started to feel horrible. Now I was living on the east mountain and the nearest gym was 5 Star. Just so you are aware, I had to chose 5 Star because a gym any farther away and I would have a million excuses why not to go before I even started. But to be honest, it was the starting that was the hardest, yes even for me who had already been to a gym. I was not just scared, but pretty near terrified. Who would be there? Who would see me? What should I do? Would I do the exercises right? Or would I look like an idiot? Well after almost a year of thinking like that I finally decided I had to go regardless. So, I started to go at 6am so there was no excuses by the end of my work day. It was just after a month or so that I noticed a fitness class going on at 6am also. I watched it from the treadmill almost every morning, but there was no way I was going in. I heard people talking about it being hard and it looked hard. About mid February I was leaving after my morning workout and there was one of the trainers/instructors at the front counter. He told me I should come and try his class. I smiled and said one day and ran... His name was Mike and he kept asking me because he kept seeing me at 6am. Finally one morning he caught me and almost told me to come to his class. I had run out of excuses so I said I would. But he didn’t stop there, he asked me when. So I told him on Wednesday morning. He gave me a look like – he thought I was never going to show up. But, I showed up and have to say that I was really scared. I didn’t know anyone but I knew for certain that there was NO way I could do the exercises that I saw the others doing. But I think that we can pull so many mind games on ourselves that sometimes you just have to bite the bullet. Needless to say the ladies in the class were great and so encouraging and Mike was... well just Mike. He worked us hard and I couldn’t do half the stuff to start off and limited numbers when I could, but I kept at it. When he asked us to run around the gym 3 times before class I couldn’t even do one lap... But with Mike’s encouragement and the way I started to feel after his classes I knew I couldn’t stop.

In addition, 5 Star provides you with fit tests so you can monitor yourself. I had taken one when I first started and was very curious as to my progress. Mike kept providing excellent classes – making us work hard and ever harder some mornings than I thought possible, but it was when my boss commented on my arms, “wow you must be working hard, your arms are looking very defined…” My mind was blown. So I kept asking Mike about diet and more exercises etc and he kept providing me with answers and I just kept getting better. That is what I love about 5 Star. Whenever you need something they can provide it. All you have to do is ask... the staff is great and the gym is one of the best ever. When I finally took my next fit test, about 9 months later, I had lost 9 inches overall and over 13% body fat. I felt like a million bucks.

Now it is about 1 year later. I just turned 50 and even got a little tattoo because I feel so good about me and myself. I went on a cruise and actually got up and participated in some pool side fun in my bikini... never before!! I work out 4-5 days a week and love it. Although I now am down to a size 4 in pants etc and constantly get told that I am “small”... I still have a way to go. Honestly, this is a lifestyle and not just a summer thing or a winter thing... I can’t live without the gym. Working out is a all in your head with a physical reward. If you get yourself together in your head, then you will see the results every time you look in the mirror. I rarely get sick am probably in the best shape of my life but best of all, my daughter can hardly wait to join. She has seen first -hand why the gym is so important and that makes me really happy. Before pic – me in the blue sailing... 2009 Aug. Me Dec 2010 half naked... lol having a blast... It is never too late to start... Thanks 5 Star