"I joined Salus’ weight loss program in June of 2009 and it has been the turning point in my life. At this point I have lost over 85 pounds of unhealthy body weight. I have a healthier approach to eating. No magic pill or diet. I limit my portions and I decreased my salt, sugar and fat intake. I am amazed at what I have accomplished in such a short period of time. My whole outlook has changed!

One thing that has been the most fun for me in my pursuit of a healthier lifestyle is being able to enjoy my favorite outdoors activities: biking, walking, tennis, even sailing. As summer approached I was accepting the fact that I would need to give them up because physical activity had become too difficult. The more weight I gained the less energy and motivation I had. I felt embarrassed and depressed, my weight was out-of-control. That was a defining moment…when I realized I needed help!

The biggest obstacle I encounter with exercising is “time.” Working out takes time away from all of life’s day-to-day responsibilities. Now thanks to Briana, exercise is a priority and part of my daily routine. The strength training classes at Salus are incredibly challenging, but also invigorating. Not only do I see the difference, but more importantly I feel the difference. I am stronger, more energetic. I used to experience joint pain and stiffness, but even that has improved. I [have now] participated in [many] 5K running events and [have seen my times improve with every race].

I am committed to living a healthier lifestyle! If I can do this anyone can…believe in yourself!"

"You are so knowledgeable and easy to work with.  I truly enjoy what Salus has done to my body and my head. It is awesome to work with you on changing my lifestyle.  I go into units now and staff notice and talk about "how good I look".  I just tell them they can too, they just need to come to classes! Thank you for all your encouragement always, it helps immensely!"

"Michael, Thanks again for all your time and attention.  I really appreciate it, and REALLY enjoy working with you."

"After nearly 20 years of desk work my lower back finally failed me.  I considered myself relatively fit but I could no longer handle the daily wear and tear of running and was told to quit by my physician.  I spent about 18 months doing nothing other than being bummed out.  Then I was introduced to Briana Boehmer.  She was immediately able to assess my strengths and weaknesses and put together a challenging training plan that has definitely made me stronger.  Briana even has me back running again, but this time I'm pain free.  Without this group of people I'd be spending countless hours trying to figure this out on my own and still not achieve even close to the same results.  Considering the improvements I've seen and the time I've saved, I think these guys are worth every penny!  Plus it's just plain fun!"

"Michael, Just wanted to really say thanks for all the help this year. I know that you have gone over-and-above answering emails and such.  I really feel like the plan is starting to pay dividends more than any other year I have had."

"Classes were the best part because they are different every time, yet tailored to the group and individuals. Awesome trainers; they are knowledgeable, respectful and fun! Classes were also an opportunity to interact with co-workers in a social setting and see individuals that I normally don't interact with on a daily basis."

"Now looking back I must say that Briana made me at least 100% better runner then I was 2 years ago and I thank her for that. For anyone reading this and thinks they might benefit from having some coaching please contact Briana. She will work with you regardless of your ability, experience or where you live (virtual coaching) to reach your goals….I wanted to thank you for everything that you taught me one more time. I ran LFM yesterday and somehow managed to qualify for Boston with slightly more than 10min margin, finishing at 3:05:05. I don't think I would have ever gotten there without lessons you taught me including the most important one of all...recovery runs should be EASY!"

"I love the morning tri-weights class because Briana is a great early morning motivator!  She has the class geared just for triathletes and she concentrates not only on getting us stronger but also faster!   My race times were significantly improved this past season which I know, in part, came from these weight training classes."

"I began using Briana as my personal trainer a month before I competed in the Chicago Olympic Distance Triathlon in 2006.  I am 58 years old and have completed the Chicago Triathlon before but in the previous two years I was not able to run the entire 6 mile run portion so I made it my goal with Briana that I would train to run the entire distance.  With Briana’s help not only did I run the entire distance this year but my recovery was shorter and much less painful.  Briana has a multitude of challenging exercises that she uses and she has a very positive approach to her training regimen.  I’ve really enjoyed my training with Briana and now both my wife and I use Briana."

"I love how my coach was able to customize workouts that fit into my life. They did not feel like another to do on my huge to do list. I look forward to the workouts and to see how good I can do. I love that the workouts include and are around my children."

"I liked everything about the coaching. The plan (calendar of workouts), the feedback, the diversity of the workouts, the motivation, the accountability, the cost, the personalized workouts that fit into my lifestyle, the ability to include my children in my workouts, the tracking (being able to see my accomplishments), seeing and feeling the improvements to my wellness."

"The coaching provided a personal element, the human connection, which had been missing from other fitness programs I had tried."

"I loved the varied exercises throughout the classes. Doing things that kept us "off guard" and we did not realize that we were doing similar but different things. The coaches at Salus were great at supporting us through the exercises and took grief from our faces or mouths in stride and never let us deter them from "kicking our butts"! I found advice from the coaching great and immediate."