I used to be skinny fat.  I went to the gym 5 days a week and killed myself doing hours of cardio.  My gym didn’t have a weight over 9 pounds.   In our “muscle classes,” we did a million reps of the same exercises.  I never had definition, and believe it or not, I couldn’t even do one push up.  I counted every calorie.  I had plateaued and was stuck in a rut.  I was sick of doing 30 bicep curls with 8 pound hand weights, and running on the treadmill for 45 minutes.  My muscles weren’t strong, and my knees hated me from all that running.

At SLS I’ve learned more about health and fitness in the past 6 months than I had in years.  I learned that lifting heavy weights is not going to make me look like China the wrestler.  I’m leaner and stronger than I’ve ever been.  I learned that I don’t have to spend hours in the gym every day to get results.  I learned how eating whole foods will lead to a longer and more fulfilling life.  I learned that what I consume is the fuel my body needs to train, and how important it is to nourish it.  I’ve learned the importance of supplements.   I’ve learned that it’s not about the number on the scale or what size I am.  It’s about how I feel; and I feel good!  My spirits are up and I have more energy than I ever have.

Sherri is the Mother Hen of SLS.  She calls us her “children” and sometimes I really think she means it.  She’s supportive and encouraging.  She’s like the mascot that runs around and gets everyone excited before the big game!  She puts her heart and soul into EVERY single workout.  I no longer stress over counting every calorie.  I work out hard, and I’ve enjoyed every second.  There is so much positive energy that exudes from SLS.  Sherri encourages everyone to work to their own max, and there’s never anyone looking around to see who can and can’t do certain things.  If you’re exhausted and laying on the floor, you get a thumbs up from Sherri… she’s done her job.  Her trainers are amazing, caring, and thoughtful.  It’s like one big happy, HEALTHY, family. 

Jill Mercier Dracut Ma

Not all gyms are created equal – July 2010

For us fat/phat/large/overweight folk, walking over the threshold to a gym is equal to walking naked through the center of town with our hands tied behind our backs.  No one is eager to do it.  There is a lot of time spent avoiding fitness centers and coming up with creative reasons to not join.

The only thing keeping me from joining another gym was that ever present demon in my head telling me I didn’t belong there.  I couldn’t possibly show my face to a bunch of people who were 1/4, 1/3 or 1/2 my size and work out near them.

The killer of it all is that I actually like working out.  I have always been athletic, I played baseball, took dance classes, played softball in high school, was a cheerleader (hush, now).  I loved going to the gym, I lived for cardio kickboxing and lifting weights and occasionally running on the treadmill.  But the second I got away from it, and into the downward spiral of irresponsibility, frustration and overeating, I fell down into that hole and seemingly found every excuse not to climb out of it.

Until my brother told me about a trainer/business woman who started her own fitness center, SLS Fitness.  My brother knew the owner, and had given me her contact information.  I sheepishly emailed her, and she invited me to the center.  Now I had no excuse, I had to go. With much trepidation, and the largest tshirt I could find, I met up with her for a tour and a workout at SLS. And my world has never been the same.

I’ve held different gym memberships since I was 10.  Never have I experienced the kind of support and understanding such as what has been given to me in the last few months, particularly the last few weeks at SLS Fitness.  Sherri is dedicated to getting people into her facility to give them the right tools, motivation, and training to become healthy.  Sherri doesn’t care if you have ripped abs.  She cares if you can pick your children up without back pain.   Sherri doesn’t care if you lose 5 pounds or 25 pounds.  She wants your heart rate up, your blood pressure down and your mind and body working together.  Sherri wants you on a path to health.

Sherri and her staff hold beginner classes for those who have never been in a gym, or for those who have been away, struggling with weight, or been injured and need time to ramp up.  She and her staff teach these classes with respect, patience, and understanding.  She encourages, explains every technique, and emphasizes 100% exertion followed by rest.  Sherri lets people know when they can move on to the regular classes and start challenging themselves even more. That is where I started in May.

I did a stadium run at 8am on Sunday in July.  It involved running up stadium steps, doing some boot camp type exercises, running down the steps, and starting again in timed intervals.  Sherri asked me how I was doing, I admitted mentally I was fighting leaving because I felt like I didn’t belong.  She told me to knock it off and remember how many people were still sleeping, wouldn’t work out that day, and were getting unhealthier because of it.  It dawned on me that I was the better person that morning because I went, and I pushed myself – and finished and no one could take that from me.

At the end, Sherri told me she was proud of me, that she was seeing a fire in my eyes.  I looked at everyone around me and realized that at one time or another, they were out of shape too, and they had to work for what they had.   And I knew that slowly but surely, I would be able to run longer and jump higher so long as I kept going.  I have come to understand that I need to be patient, trust the process and accept I’m in a marathon for my health, not a sprint. 

Being given the support from Sherri, and every single one of her trainers, has been a revelation.  I’ve never had this kind of positive reinforcement blended with understanding, compassion and ridiculous levels of energetic encouragement.  They inspire me to be in class and work multiple times a week.  Now, I get upset if something in my personal life affects my workout schedule.  I want to be there and keep this up.  I realize now that crossing the threshold into the gym in May was the first of many victories.  And it all started with one simple step.

Amy

Having battled being overweight most of my life, and despising exercise, it’s amazing that I have become one of Sherri’s “regulars”.  I discovered Sherri six years ago when I was significantly heavier.  From day one, Sherri made me feel welcome and has inspired me every step of the way.  When I started the classes, I was literally too heavy to run, it was too taxing on my body.  I will never forget the day I started running for the first time in her class.  I had tears in my eyes, and Sherri literally dropped to her knees cheering me on! This year I will turn 40 and several months ago I was blessed with having my first child. I know in my heart, I would not have been able to have a healthy pregnancy if it wasn’t’t for the training I have been doing with Sherri.  She is not afraid to challenge you, even if you don’t want to hear it.  “Don’t show up and give me 50%”, “Do what you said you were going to do”, these quips stick in your head! Sherri not only works out your body, but she also works out your mind.  It’s a true physical and at times emotional release.  When I tell my friends about Sherri, I explain that she is like my own personal cheerleader! I feel blessed to have her in my life.

Dawn

 I began working out with Sherri more than 20 years ago. I had tried various exercise classes in the past but always lost interest after a few sessions. What made Sherri different? She was fun. As a kid, I was always excited for recess, when I could go outside and play with my friends. Going to the gym is, for me, like recess. It is the break between work and home responsibilities. She makes each workout fun, but hard. She constantly challenges me with new moves, new ideas. Her banter during class is to push me to do my best each and every time. She not only provides an awesome workout, but she is also a source of sound nutritional and health ideas as well.
Ten years ago Sherri began raising money for St Jude’s Children’s’ Hospital. From the beginning I was on board to help in any way I could. Although I can not perform Hip Hop dance moves, I can provide help in other ways. The St. Jude Performance Committee is filled with wonderful people who volunteer their time to raise money for children stricken with cancer. I recently had an opportunity to visit the hospital and spend time with the patients.
It was truly a life-changing event.
Have you ever made a list of the people who have had the most influence on your life?  Sherri is definitely in my top five. I feel I am in the best shape of my life, both physically and emotionally, because of Sherri.

Thank you!!

Paula Smith

Amherst, NH

I LOVE Sherri’s Boot Camp! I never want to miss a class. If I have something else to do I cancel it. I jump out of bed in the morning to make sure I am on time no matter what the weather is.  Her Boot Camp class is very high energy and motivating.  She always pushes you to do things that you never thought were possible. I am seeing results faster in her boot camp class than doing weights and cardio for a year on my own.  She makes sure everyone is doing the exercises and weights with correct form so they are not wasting their time. You know you are getting individual attention even within a class. Sherri  always sends informative emails about exercise and healthy eating and  even took the time to show everyone how to make protein shakes for a healthy snack. I have had a personal trainer, worked out at a fitness center, done workouts on my own and I have never loved a program so much and seen better results than with Sherri’s Boot Camp!

Donna Montecalvo (mother of 2) North Andover, MA

I have been exercising for almost twenty years and Sherri is by far the best instructor I have ever trained with. Since I have been working out with Sherri, I have seen improvement in my strength, endurance, and overall health. Her workouts are fun, fast paced, and will leave you breathless – literally. Sherri has a passion for health and fitness and strives to continuously improve and find ways to challenge us physically.
For me working out with Sherri goes beyond the physical fitness aspects; Sherri is good for the soul. She is kind hearted, encouraging, and extremely generous. Her generosity is shown in many ways; though most evident through her fundraising efforts for St. Jude. Sherri is an amazing admirable woman, and I know that no matter where life/fitness takes me I am thankful to have come across her path.  Thank you for all that you do – you’re the best!

Kathy Pepin

From the moment I first walked into one of Sherri’s cardio kick-boxing classes I knew it would be like no other group fitness I had participated in.  From beginning to end she was just exploding with energy – pushing each and every person to their maximum potential, no matter their ability or experience prior to walking through the door.  Sherri possesses the talent to captivate everyone in a room, and to leave you feeling accomplished and ready to take on the world at the completion of her workouts.
As a former captain of the New England Patriots Cheerleaders, I had the privilege of exposing my teammates to Sherri’s amazing passion for health and physical fitness.  She came in one night to train us and to offer a different perspective on physical fitness from our standard dance rehearsals. Within the course of a few hours all of the girls were wishing she could be their personal trainer!  Her ability to motivate and inspire people to take action towards bettering their quality of life is truly remarkable. With passion and sincerity she dedicates so much of her own life to helping others – ensuring that their lives are long, healthy and fulfilling.  I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to train with Sherri and to be exposed to her knowledge and enthusiasm of health and well-being.

Quinn Spencer

Mother, singer and former captain of New England Patriots Cheerleaders