I’ve always been an extremely active person. I have a history of instructing aerobics, competing in triathlons, and racing mountain bikes. Over the past 7 years, my main source of exercise has been cycling. Although I’ve been in great cardiovascular shape, my cycling workouts lacked the upper body and core toning I’ve needed for a balanced look, and ultimately led me to become unhappy with my physical appearance.

In June 2010, I discovered I was pregnant for the first time at age 35. Physically I found that I could no longer exercise when my 3rd trimester began. By the end of my pregnancy, I had gained a whopping 50 pounds. That weight gain was mostly due to my attitude that I would “fix the damage later” after my baby had been born. Much to my surprise, the pounds didn’t just fall off like I’d expected. By the end of summer 2011, I had lost all but about 15 pounds. I found myself desperate to lose the weight but not willing to eat clean and consistently exercise. Basically, I was looking for an outside source to give me the push I needed to lose the rest of the weight.

In October of 2011, I was ready to really take a step in the right direction. I had a patient who told me about Fitness Revolution East Memphis (Formerly Memphis Adventure Boot Camp). I researched it on the internet and was quite impressed with their website. I decided to do a 10 day trial to make sure the classes would not only challenge me physically, but also hold my interest long term. After my very first class, I went home and told my husband I had found exactly what I needed to lose the rest of my pregnancy weight.

Regarding diet and exercise, the biggest challenge that I have faced throughout my life was not a lack of desire for exercise. The problem I have is an absolutely crippling sugar addiction. I turned to FR to lead me in the direction I need to go to kick sugar. In December 2011, I signed up for the Mini Fat Flush. I entered contest fully committed to do it right – no cheating whatsoever….and NO SUGAR!!! I didn’t cheat at all. In fact, I ended up winning 4th place – 8 lbs body fat lost! At last I could wear almost everything in my closet. Then the holidays hit and I gained back some of the weight I had lost and sugar had me yet again in it’s terrible grasp.

Fitness Revolution East Memphis has been my saving grace. I kicked sugar during it and I know just how good I feel without it in my system. I’m always going to have a vicious sweet tooth, but I know how great I look and feel when I’m not eating it. I try to think about that every time I contemplate taking a bite of cake or sneaking a cookie. With cycling season just beginning this year, I’m excited to incorporate at least 3 days of FR into my weekly exercise schedule and continue being happy with my new, fully toned body. It thrills me to know that I have found the right place to get what I need out of my workouts and I look forward a long, sweaty, sore, and toned future with Dexter and all the wonderful folks at FR!

I originally came to Fitness Revolution East Memphis (Formerly Memphis Adventure Boot Camp) because I have gone to a weight that I have never been before and I just wanted to get healthy and lose some weight. When I started Fitness Revolution, I weighed 177 pounds and the last weigh in was 149 (Brandy’s lost over 40 pounds since this by the way!). I can already tell that I have a little more muscle tone. And I have dropped 4 sizes! I was at 33% body fat and at the last weigh in, I was about 20%!

Fitness Revolution is special because not only do you get an exercise routine, you get a whole support group of women and men (in our co-ed times) that are trying to accomplish the same goals and you get accountability that you wouldn’t get elsewhere. I like everything about Fitness Revolution East Memphis. I like the women, all the boot campers. Every day, it is different so you aren’t bored. It’s just a nice place to workout!

I lost all of the Baby Weight and Then Some

I was a very athletic person all my life. I did a different variety of sports since I was a little girl. Since relocating to the US in 2002, I had many ups and downs with maintaining the weight. I have joined various gyms many times and try to work out and eat right but the weight would always catch up with me at some point and I would go back to where I was. It has been very tough the past years since I have always been very fit in the past and suddenly simple exercises would make me very tired and some things I could no longer do. On top of everything, I was diagnosed with exercise induced asthma and high blood pressure. I have also tried workout with personal trainers. While I did receive some results I didn’t like working out with a trainer because it didn’t inspire me want to change.

Since joining the boot camp I feel great and full of energy! I never thought I can run 5 miles, but have since gained the insight and ability to do so. Many activities that you may not think contribute to exercise and nutrition are now much easier to do than ever before. My clothes fit much more comfortable and I feel much happier. The biggest struggle is food; I like sweet stuff and many other things that would be considered unhealthy. I did my best to avoid it as much as I could. Going forward I definitely will adjust more my eating habits. I have been inspired to now do triathlons and run a marathons. I have actually won my age group in races, which I feel really great about. With boot camp, now I feel that I definitely can do it. I feel much stronger and confident that with more training to come I can accomplish that. During the Resolution Rescue competition, I run my mile 1 minute less than before!!!!! I’m looking forward to beat my time 7’11 for 1 mile next time!!!! My BP went down and my doctor took me off the medication, hopefully I don’t have to take it again and I don’t have to use my inhaler almost at all. I will pay more attention to what I eat and how much I eat. This was a great jump start to a better, more active and healthier life style.

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My weight has always fluctuated and at one point so did my blood pressure. I've been called "thick" my entire life. Although I'm proportioned, for me it was never really a compliment nor was I proud of it. In my opinion, my thick is in my thighs and waist, which to me is not a good look at 5'1. The term "thick" should have its limits but that's another post! I'll never be skinny nor do I want too. I just wa nt to live a healthy life and be fit. Losing weight is the hardest thing to do. If it wasn't everyone would be fit! I've always exercised "some" but you truly CAN NOT out exercise unhealthy dinners, wine, shots, bread, and hanging out all the time...you get my point. I'm proud of my accomplishment and vow to stay healthy!

I like Fitness Revolution because I'm held accountable. It's like I'm expected to be there and working out with a group inspires me to do better. It's like I'm being watched and I'm OK with that :-)

In the summer of 2011, I decided to make one of the most profound changes of my life. My aunt, Terry Dutcher Balton, had recently joined a new fitness program and was telling our family how fantastic it was. When I heard the words describing it as “boot camp,” I was intimidated. Terry reassured me that while the classes were challenging, the program was set up to accommodate all levels of experience. For me, that meant starting out with very minimal familiarity with all things fitness and nutrition. I soon came to find a wealth of knowledge and expertise that Amanda and Dexter Tenison were eager to share with their clients. I didn’t expect lifestyle changes to come over night—my main goal walking into this was to rearrange my life in order to promote health and happiness.

With that being said, my main goal held strong as smaller goals began to grow and transform along with myself as a person. I learned to forgive myself when I faltered, to maintain a forward movement toward my overall goal regardless of sidesteps along the way. Sickness, injuries, everyday life happenings, and mistakes will always find a way to present themselves. With each of those that I encountered, I made a conscious effort to learn and grow

stronger as a result. I think one of my favorite realizations I have made from Dexter’s advice has to be that success is not simply point A to point B. We are human, we make mistakes. He posted a graph to display how success truly should be displayed: a series of ups and downs that, on average, move in an upward motion. I have since modeled my outlook on this. Never as an excuse, as I have learned to leave those at the front door before stepping foot into Fitness Revolution. Instead, I use it to understand myself, others, and in general—the world around me.

In the beginning, I struggled with the simplest of workouts. I hardly had any muscle to speak of, and certainly no definition due to the lack thereof. But I refused to give in to anything but the notion that, with time, I would someday overcome these challenges set before me. And that’s exactly what I have done, and continue to do. I have begun to understand my strengths and my weaknesses, both mental and physical. I’ve learned to love myself the way I am, and to seek happiness in the small achievements that bring me closer to my goals. No longer is my life shrouded by a cloud of unhappiness, but rather filled with the brightness of positivity and several opportunities to improve and grow.

The most fantastic part of this entire process was the simplicity of change once you are willing to take the first steps toward it. With the guidance of exceptional trainers at Fitness Revolution, I have gained new perspectives on maintaining a lifestyle that is dedicated to the pursuit of good health. The goal here is to confront issues regarding fitness and nutrition in an honest and realistic fashion that anyone can benefit from. With that comes proper education regarding each fundamental part of leading healthy lives. The realistic, educated approach offered by this program is so welcoming to those seeking guidance and support. Members of each class become a network of support that functions as a way to inspire one another to aspire to their full potential. It becomes a group effort with a collective goal and camaraderie, and helps to maintain a sense of accountability.

As a result of these things, you are left with a fitness program that facilitates the creation of healthy bodies and minds alike. It is a haven for people to go to when they are ready to make positive changes in their lives. It’s a change I will forever be thankful to have made, because without the help of those at Fitness Revolution—I would still be stumbling in the dark. THANKS to everyone who has supported me throughout my journey so far, I am excited to see where it continues to take me!

From the January 20, 2014, Commercial Appeal

As Terry Balton reached her 50s, she noticed the weight piling on. When she saw a Groupon for fitness classes at Fitness Revolution East Memphis three years ago, she thought, "Why not?"

"I can do anything for a month," Balton, now 56, said. "I was mentally ready for it." She used up her Groupon and was also mentally ready to join. "I have been here ever since," Balton said. Balton attended fitness classes three times a week, and six months into her membership, she signed up for the 30-day nutritional challenge.

"(Owner) Dexter (Tenison) would just give us the guidleines on what is best for you. He encouraged us to eat more Paleo style, more meats and vegetables, organic, and not the stuff you get in processed foods. Just clean eating," Balton said. From there she learned how to eat more properly.

Eventually, she picked up a weight lifting class once a week, and before she knew it, other women in the classes encouraged her to join Women Run/Walk Memphis. and Balton found herself preparing for a 5K. That year she completed four races. "I really enjoyed it. The people are fun around here," she said.

Her arthritic knee gave her so much trouble that she went to the doctor. "He told me I was too old and to quit exercising," Balton said. "That made me more determined than ever." She found the right doctor, who started giving her injections, which kept her from being sidelined. "I can't do what a 20-year-old can do, but I CAN DO," she said. "It hasn't slowed me down where I want to quit."

Over the course of two years, Balton dropped six pants sizes and lost a number of inches. "I noticed the different way my clothes started fitting. That definitely encouraged me to do more," she said. "It was slow. It's not a quick fix. When it's gradual, it says off better."

While she had to put aside her love for 5Ks, she hasn't given up completely. "I haven't been able to run, but Dr. (Laura) Lendermon is hoping I will run again," she said. "The good thing about Dexter is he knows what I can and can't do. He gives me a proper level that is best for me and my body," Balton said. "I'm joining for the rest of my life. It's a journey, but it's a good journey."

…it all started with the idea of improving my appearance by dropping a few pounds with diet and exercise and over the course of two years has turned into an obsession with what I ate, how much I slept, what type of exercise I would engage in, and how I would de-stress my life. Let’s just say that, when it comes to my outlook on fitness and nutrition, I’ve come a long way, baby!

Dexter and Amanda have played a huge part in sending me down the right path with ‘proper’ diet and ‘correct’ exercise. I emphasize ‘proper’ and ‘correct’ because just any old diet (aka dieting) and ordinary exercise (such as treadmill walking) just won’t cut pass the muster if you are truly looking to change your life.

Starting with the very first ‘boot camp’ classes at Memphis Adventure Boot Camp more than 2 years ago, and now with Fitness Revolution, I’ve come to realize that while improving my outward appearance I’ve strengthened my inner being as well! In the process of losing weight, improving my sanity at work, and gaining strength & endurance, my health has improved significantly as well. My doctor recently reduced my blood pressure meds and reported that my cholesterol numbers were now within acceptable levels, so no new meds needed for that! Yay! In the past two years, I’ve lost 33 lbs and dropped from a size 14 to a size 8. Another yay!!

I’ve always been a firm believer that, ‘if something ain’t broke, don’t fix it’. But, sometimes, we may not know it’s broke until we try something different…something ‘out of the box’ even! I think Fitness Revolution’s new program is my ‘out of box’ fitness regime for life!

From the October 4, 2010, Commercial Appeal

For some people, it creates a sense of excitement; for others, sheer dread.

For Carla Fraser, the idea of going to her high school reunion inspired her to wake up at 4 a.m. every day and sweat.

"I had started thinking I hadn't been taking care of myself and that I needed to lose weight. The reunion helped motivate me," said Fraser, a 48-year-old aesthetician.

That's when she met Dexter Tenison, a personal trainer who works in the same building.

"It was like a magic wand, or someone just threw him down in front of me and said, 'OK, this is the next step. This is what you should do,'" Fraser said.

Fraser signed up for Tenison's Fitness Revolution and didn't look back.

Fraser has lost 41 pounds since that day in April, and she has a whole new sense of self.

"The first class I couldn't even do a modified push-up. Now I'm doing roll push-ups," said the Gould's Day Spa and Salon employee. "I feel better. I'm much happier. Not that I wasn't happy before. I definitely have more energy."

The experience of exercising in an all-female environment, with the exception of Tenison, was particularly attractive.

"Most women in the class have the same problem or are in the same situation. Some have been there longer than others, but all are there for the same reason. They're there to get fit," she said.

Tenison's in-depth nutrition guidelines helped keep Fraser on track, including an initial e-mail with a nutrition guide accompanied by meal suggestions and recipes.

"He offers a separate nutrition seminar and goes over what he sent a little more in detail so everyone understands what they're doing. We've done a grocery tour," Fraser said. "People don't realize reading labels on everything makes a huge difference."

Fraser points to the way Tenison conducts his classes as another reason for her tenacity.

"It's not what I thought it would be. He's not a drill sergeant. He will push you, especially when he knows you can do better," she said. "I've never done the same class twice."

She enjoyed her experience so much, she increased her classes from three times a week to five.

"I don't like to miss a workout. It really upsets me if I miss," she said.

At this point she could see herself losing five to seven more pounds, but she's not sweating it.

"The main thing I want is more firming and toning. As long as I get that done, I'll be fine with it. I'm not getting on the scale anymore," Fraser said.

As for her initial goal?

Well I can’t believe it has been a year since I attended my first boot camp class! When I purchased a voucher for a month of boot camp classes, I really didn’t think it would transform my life the way it has. After my second child was born in 2011, I knew I needed to lose weight (again!) and this time I wanted it to be for good. I went back to the eating plan that had worked well for me in the past (in my 20’s), but the weight was coming off very slowly. I was running regularly and occasionally doing resistance training and pilates. Over the course of about a year and a half, I had only lost about 20 lbs and was feeling pretty frustrated and discouraged. I figured that at age 37, I’d hit the point where my metabolism had just slowed down and losing weight was going to be near impossible. I thought “boot camp” might rev up my metabolism and give me some workout ideas. Well after about the second workout, I was hooked. It was somehow both harder and more fun than any exercise had been in about 20 years. I lost a few pounds over that trial month, my clothes got a noticeably looser, and I got stronger. I knew that I needed to figure out how to budget the time and money required to make “boot camp” (and now Fitness Revolution) part of my life – it was exactly what I needed to get healthy and fit. With 2 young boys at home, I needed to figure out the scheduling and I am so lucky to have a husband who was willing to handle the morning craziness while I work out at 5:30 AM three days a week.

After a few months of working out at Fitness Revolution, Dexter introduced a low-carb nutritional challenge, and this helped me realize how many of the “healthy” or “low calorie” foods I had been eating were high in sugar and contributed to feeling hungry all the time. I made a major change to my diet in August 2013, and lost a few pounds but again, I noticed that I was losing inches more so than weight. I completely cut out flour, sugar, and most sources of carbohydrates. This helped get through the holidays without gaining weight, and without craving the cookies and cakes that everyone around me was eating. In January, Dexter and Amanda introduced the “New Year, New You” contest and this is what really got my weight loss moving. I lost 14.5 lbs in 6 weeks and finally felt like I understood what my body needs to lose weight effectively while still feeling satisfied and having sufficient energy to work out. Since I joined Fitness Revolution, I’ve lost about 35 lbs and dropped 2-3 clothing sizes. I also have run my fastest 5k time ever! I feel confident and strong. This year has changed my whole outlook on myself and what I can do. The support at FR from the professionals as well as the other members gave me the confidence to make some really difficult changes and I am really seeing results!

You Can Be Next!

Carla Fraser joined Dexter Tenison's Fitness Revolution ( then Memphis Adventure Boot Cam p) in April to get ready for a high school reunion. She has lost 41 pounds, learned how to shop for better health and made a habit out of exercising.

"The reunion was two weeks ago. It was great. I loved it. I felt proud I didn't show up fat," she said.

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