UPDATE:  Dana completed her 12 Week Transformation in January and is continuing on her fitness journey.  Here are a few of her words regarding the program.

"I will be your "poster child" for this program anytime. I truly believe it gave me my life back. After 14 years of chronic lower back pain, I can now sleep without my ice pack, Aleve and special pillow under my knees! This was so easy to follow and I never felt deprived. Every time I think about maybe NOT going to workout..I just remind myself how I never want to go back there (the pain) again!! Thanks!"

This transformation is important to me, not because I want to lose weight or have a better "body image". Although, those are GREAT side effects!!  I started working with Julie Leavell to get my core stronger, to strengthen my lower back.  I have some issues going on there that have bothered me for 14 years. I finally decided that being fit was the only way I could prevent some of the debilitating pain I have suffered on and off. Then I saw my friend Barbara Broughton!! Not just that she had lost weight and looked fabulous, but that she looked fit and healthy!! After that it was a "no brainer"!!!

I would like to have the energy and stamina to enjoy activities with my family and friends. There is nothing worse than not being able to do something with your kids or play tennis with your friends because "my back hurts".  Living with chronic pain effects the whole family.  I can't tell you how many times in the last 2 years my kids have had to help me out of bed, or bring me things, because I can't move without excruciating pain. I figure if I do the right exercises, eat the right foods, get strong...then hopefully I won't be in that position again. I like to think of myself as active...when my back goes out and I can't be active it is very aggravating. This program is what I can do for myself.  Julie is doing great in modifying some of the workouts to not bother my lower back. I know that 40 years of bad body mechanics won't be cured in 12 weeks, but it's a good start. And trust me, I will keep on going!!!/p>

I think I will be successful, because I have a great support system!  My husband, kids and friends (especially my trainer!) are very supportive and understand that this is a lifestyle not a diet!! With the exercise, I am sleeping better.  ( I have had insomnia for years.) With the meal plan, I have the energy to exercise!! It's a "win, win"!!

I have tried every diet out there!! Even the "not" eating to lose weight! Who knew that you could eat all day and lose wight?!! I LOVE that I can choose what I want to eat!!! It is SO easy to follow this!!! So much better than Adkins or South Beach! Those were hard because you could have no fruit! I LOVE fruit!! Any diet that "forbids" certain foods is destined to fail because it is those foods I will WANT all the time!!  I like this..I was told if you have to have a piece of chocolate..have a piece of chocolate! Well guess what?! I know I CAN, but haven't wanted it!! It's there if I NEED it! Good enough for me!! I did not give myself any weight loss goals or size goals.....just to become stronger and get/stay healthy. I hope to live a long time, and I want to be able to enjoy life!

Lee F.

My transformation came in form of increased strength and endurance and the ability to reach the specific and long time personal goal of climbing Mt. Rainier. I began training a year ago with occasional twenty minute runs around the neighborhood and sporadic visits to a distant gym. It became apparent that I was not making much progress toward the mountain guide’s stated requirement of “Be in the best shape of your life!” Once I joined Wild Basin Fitness in February 2009 and began following Ryan’s tailored workout program, I realized I was on the right track to achieving my goal. I travel a lot for work and Ryan structured a program that I was able to accomplish in a wide variety of hotel gyms and even in places where no gym was available at all. 

Through the six months leading up to the climb, I learned that my goal would require significant leg strength, endurance, core stability, balance and very efficient respiration. The staff at Wild Basin encouraged and taught me new and appropriate exercises and showed me proper form and execution and I improved in all of these areas. In particular, it was recommended that I perform much of my workout with a fully loaded backpack. This certainly increased the level of difficulty, especially during the many hours spent on my “favorite” machine, the Stairmaster. I knew the sweat and occasional sore muscles were just a temporary transitional stage for where I wanted to be.

As the climb date approached, I became very confident in my ability to succeed in my goal even knowing that only 50% of those who begin the climb actually reach the summit. On many occasions throughout the two-day climb, especially during the critical and difficult segments, I thought about how grateful I was for the time spent training and for the assistance of the Wild Basin staff. Reaching the summit and descending in good form at almost 50 years of age certainly was a satisfying feeling of accomplishment but even more important and satisfying than that is the better, healthier body that I get to live in every minute of every day. And my wife likes it too!

Tom H.

I've spent my entire life battling with my weight. In my family, eating has always been a family tradition and it was considered rude to not clean your plate. In 2000, I left my desk job at Dell, my weight near 300 pounds. I managed to lose some weight on my own, but soon plateaued and stalled out. That's when my neighbor dragged me to Wild Basin for the first time. It was there that I met Kirk Leavell, who said "Let me help you".

To say that I was intimidated is a vast understatement. I was fat. I couldn't do a push-up or pull-up to save my life. And I had never stepped foot in a gym before. But with 2 young children, my priorities had changed and I was determined to change my life. I've lost nearly 100 pounds and kept it off for over 5 years. (100 pounds! That's like a whole person!) But more important than what I've lost is what I've gained. I've gained self-confidence and self-respect. I've gained the ability to keep-up with my kids. And I've gained the knowledge I need to always stay healthy and strong.

By no means was any of this easy. I work-out with Kirk Leavell or Ryan Helms regularly. The first few times I trained with Kirk, I struggled. I could barely make it through a workout. But he worked with me to get through those first few weeks and months, challenging me just enough. In addition to working-out, Kirk taught me how to eat, when to eat, what to eat, and what not to eat. I had to relearn everything I thought I knew. Make no mistake, this is not a diet plan. (I've done plenty of those in my life.) This is a new lifestyle for me. And I honestly don't miss the old one.

I was 40 years old when I started working out. I've spent my entire life being the fat kid, being the one that cheered on the sidelines. Now I feel as if I'm capable of anything I set my mind to. I went from a completely sedentary lifestyle to riding in 200 mile bike rides. I'm no longer afraid to try. I also just feel better. My knee, which I injured as a kid, used to hurt constantly. It's amazing how much better it feels when it's not hauling around an extra 100 pounds! But perhaps most importantly, I feel like I am healthy enough and strong enough to raise my kids. There are no guarantees in life, but I feel like I've done everything I can to be there for them.

Erica S.

I've worked out with (trainer) Kelly Bruneman for just under a year and I've lost 15 pounds and 12 inches! I've also become much toner and stronger. In addition, I have increased my running speed. When I first started with Kelly I could run 6 miles at a 10:15-10:30 minute mile pace, I am now up to 9:15-9:30 minute per mile pace. Never have I been able to sustain this fast of a rate for 6 miles. I expect to be at a 9:00 minute mile in a few months.

When I first started with Kelly I thought I was in pretty decent shape, but after my first session I realized otherwise! Kelly has shown me that a combination of weights and cardio will get you the best results. I also learned that running at the same pace and incline is really doing nothing for me, hence the reason I was seeing no benefits from running 6 miles 3-4 times a week. Kelly is also a great motivator and pushes me to give a little more during each training session. If I had not decided to train with Kelly there is no way I would be as strong and fit as I am today. I mean really, who would do 25 burpees, in between sets, on their own? I certainly wouldn't and therefore, working out with Kelly is definitely needed!

My career requires me to travel about 90% of the time and therefore staying in shape is extremely difficult. Kelly has taught me ways to workout when I am on the road and how to eat healthy when dining out. I've lost weight in the past but never have I felt as strong and heathy as I do today (or kept it off). With heart disease in my family, it is very important to lead a healthy lifestyle. Throughout the course of this past year I have gotten off track and not made the right choices when eating, but I always know that I have Kelly to rely on, to get me back on track, and push me a little more to burn off some of those access calories. Giving up when you have a small set-back is not an option, and therefore I am thankful to have Kelly as a trainer and a friend!

Angie P.

“How much weight have you lost?” is the question asked of me lately. The truth is only about 10 pounds over the course of a year. That may sound miniscule in comparison to the 100’s of pounds being lost on TV and other weight loss challenges across the nation. That seems to be the main focus of our society today...weight loss. That is fantastic if you are overweight and need a drastic change. What if you are like me...mid 40‘s and just enough overweight where clothes do not fit like they used to, “dieting” does not seem to work as well, and, well, let’s face it, just plain out of shape. Applying my old exercise techniques no longer worked, so I turned to Wild Basin Fitness in Steiner Ranch.

Over the last year, I have worked with a team of fitness experts that did more than “train” me. They taught me how to lift weights correctly, yes, but they educated me for a lifetime of well-being. I learned how to eat more efficiently to burn calories and increase my slowing metabolism through food not diet pills. I learned how to exercise more effectively to burn total body fat, make lean muscle and change what I wrongly believed about how a woman should work out.

 Wild Basin has a family-like atmosphere, where I am greeted by my name with a smile. The facility has a fantastic view and is filled with natural light that makes it a pleasant place you want to be. It is a positive and uplifting experience compared to larger “number oriented” gyms. Through personal attention and positive motivation, the Wild Basin team enabled me with the right tools to achieve my goal...To feel good about myself! In reality it does not matter what others think of us, it is how we perceive ourselves that matters (although it is great to hear how your hard work is paying off once in a while!) My success has come in personal health and well-being but mostly, being able to like the reflection of the person I see in the mirror, no matter what outfit I have on! I challenge you to Be What You Can Be at Wild Basin Fitness in Steiner Ranch!