‘Sweating For the Wedding’ …Success Story with DM FITNESS

I’ve been beyond eager to write this blogpost! As a trainer it gets no better than watching your client put in the WORK and see them succeed right before your very eyes.

First! Let’s rewind to last year. Christine reached out to me because she wanted to lose some weight to look and feel her best on her wedding day. What a wonderful goal! She shared with me that she was very active in the past and wanted to get back to that, and BOY WAS SHE EAGER. I was SUPER excited to bring her on as a client with DM FITNESS.

We always joke about our first session together. It was definitely a wake up call (as they usually are).  Initial sessions with me are designed so I can see how the client moves, evaluate strength and mobility, endurance, etc. I pushed her and she pushed right back. She was amazingly coachable and took my training cues like a champ.  I knew from that first session that she was a fighter…and she was determined.

A couple of days later she sent me a text. She was ill and having a hard time adjusting to training. She wasn’t sure if she was able to commit to the physicality of training just yet. I urged her to keep on showing up and to keep doing her best and just see what happens. She agreed and she did just that.

Christine fought many obstacles throughout her training: she dealt with chronic migraines and sleepless nights that can happen from overall soreness in the initial stages of working out. We worked hard and most importantly-she never gave up. She is the prime example of what it takes to succeed at ANYTHING. Show me anyone who has goals and no obstacles-YOU CANT because these people simply do not exist! Everyone has SOMETHING that will try to get in your way of your goals, it’s up to YOU if you will let that defeat you. Christine NEVER let anything defeat her and THAT is why she lost the weight she did and crushed her health and fitness goals. What’s even more amazing is the utter self-confidence she has-she radiates health and beauty as you can see in her ‘after’ pictures. (I say ‘after’ loosely, health and fitness has NO end, it is a new lifetime habit that I instill in my clients)

I’m so proud of you Christine. You made me a better trainer and I’m proud to call you a friend. Whether you know it or not you have inspired many and I’m excited to watch you grow in your athleticism as we continue to train together.

Friends, I’m here to tell you that this success story can be yours as well. Stay teachable-stay hungry for results. The only difference between Christine and you is saying YES. YES I will take charge of my health and change my life. Will it be hard? HECK YES. But will it be worth it? YES!

The sweat, the tears, the soreness, the struggles will all be worth it in the end when you look in the mirror and see the person you’ve always wanted to see staring right back at you. THAT FEELING of seeing your hard work in the mirror is absolutely PRICELESS.

OK! So who’s ready to see some before and after pictures? This is the greatest perk of my “job!” I LIVE for these moments, it is like putting kerosene on my fire. There is truly nothing better than seeing tangible results after so much work put in by a client! ❤

On the left-RIGHT before we started her training program. On the right-1 week before her wedding!

SERIOUSLY YA’LL. Beautiful Bride!!!

CHRISTINE! Seeing you progress this past year has been a delight for me. You have morphed into this powerhouse of a client, there is no stopping you from achieving anything! CONGRATULATIONS on everything, you deserve it! ❤

Please let me know if you have any questions about beginning your success story. 🙂

In Health-Demi

 

Oblique Magazine Cover!

Super excited to be on the cover of Oblique Magazine again (MARCH AND APRIL), making me the first 3 time Oblique Cover Model!

This publication will always be very dear to me. I remember this magazine was the very first time I ever had my picture taken when I first moved to Charleston, fresh out of the Marines way back in 2003 or so.

Looking back at my previous pictures in this magazine, I have definitely went through many changes! A couple of pictures were taken before the birth of my second child and I definitely had a different “shape.” I was more lean and I was a lot younger. However, after going through another pregnancy, LIFE, and years gone by; I APPRECIATE what my body is able to go through. I carry more weight on this body, but I also carry more muscle. I lift more weight now than I ever could 5-10 years ago and I’ve never felt better.

As a personal trainer in this wonderful city of Charleston, I LOVE that I can pass this ideology of being a STRONG woman to my female clients. Sometimes it can get a little daunting to be a strong female that is not necessarily a size 0 (and it goes both ways!).  All that matters is that you are healthy and confident-and that can be at a size 0 or size 16. Health is not always determined by a jean size.

Aim for STRENGTH. Aim for confidence.

As always let me know if you have any questions about anything!

IN HEALTH-DEMI

Best Of Charleston 2018!

CLICK HERE TO VOTE! Scroll down and you will see “Best Personal Trainer” Click VOTE next to my name.

If you are not aware, Charleston has a yearly competition to see who the public views as the “best of the best” in certain fields, whether it’s for best bar, best fitness studio, best salon, etc.  There is also a category for Best Trainer-and I am blessed to know that I was nominated in the Top 5 for the second year in a row!

Last year I came in second place-so close! I would LOVE to take this win home this year. It would mean the WORLD to my small business here in Charleston, South Carolina. For me and for DM FITNESS, it would mean being able to reach even MORE people to help them, with an accolade such as this in my arsenal.

For the past year I have helped more than 2 dozen people realize their true potential and crush their fitness goals. Without these amazing people in my life, DM FITNESS would be nothing. They trusted me to help them, and in turn I did my ABSOLUTE BEST to make them strong, agile, and CONFIDENT. The weight lost and the strength gained is simply a by product of self confidence and awareness that they are capable of anything. These success stories that I am lucky enough to be apart of are an ongoing thing, we work hard TOGETHER every day to keep crushing goals and to get stronger and fitter every day. Health and fitness is a never ending evolving thing…and I am blessed to know I can help anyone with their journey!

Friends, I need your vote! Tell your friends and family, my goals are BIG and at the end of the day it’s about being able to reach as many people as possible on a much bigger scale than I could ever imagine. It all starts with YOU. I never take your support for granted.

THANK YOU.

 

I love my clients!

This is Jessica-she lost 6 lbs and 4 inches in just 4 weeks! She’s a hard worker and super consistent! She also drives all the way from Columbia to get her training sessions in!

One thing I will forever be grateful for is that I truly love what I do. Sure I get paid for it-but the connections I’m blessed to be able to make with people everyday are PRICELESS. Personal Training is so much more than helping someone lose weight. It includes (but not limited to) helping to instill confidence, better sleep habits, bringing sexy back ;), having enough energy to chase your kids around, getting to really KNOW someone beyond the surface, more energy, better habits overall, etc. I tell clients all the time that it’s ok to be selfish and take care of yourself! In order to serve anyone else in your life you GOTTA HAVE A FULL TANK! Meaning: If you are “running on empty” all the time, you will not be able to serve those around you…your family, friends, etc. Keep your tank full, keep yourself healthy and you’ll feel like you can do anything!

Something I want everyone to know is that I KNOW how hard it can be to hire a personal trainer. You’re paying a lot and putting your trust in (most likely) a complete stranger…and FINGERS CROSSED the relationship works and you can get the results that you want so bad. I also want you to know that I AM THANKFUL for all of you. Thank you for letting me in your life and for being vulnerable. This sort of thing is NEVER overlooked or taken for granted. All of you are an absolute blessing to me. ❤

In Health-Demi

 

Client Spotlight-Ray Evens

This weeks client spotlight had to be without a doubt, Ray! I started working with him at Exemplar Fitness three times a week about 2 months ago. To date he has lost 12 pounds, but most importantly over 14 inches overall. That tells me his body composition is indeed  changing, and we are on the right track to pursue his goal of putting on more muscle and getting more fit overall.

Let me tell you: Training with Ray has been a great experience.  He came in with a GREAT mindset, super motivated and ready to go. He hasn’t lost any of those qualities either. With our monthly measurements he becomes more and more HUNGRY to reach even more goals. He is EASILY coachable, and always puts out a 110% effort in on every single session. I’m super proud of him!

Ray has a certain quality in him in that he’s “comfortable with being uncomfortable” in our sessions. He trusts the process and never questions anything with our training program. He always asks how to be better to maximize his results; not just in the gym, but outside of the gym too. I say these things because if you are going into a training program with a trainer, definitely adopt this mindset. Mindset is EVERYTHING if you are looking to achieve your goals. A half a$$ effort will yield you half A$$ results. Come in motivated, try your absolute best and trust the process. You will have ups and downs, good days and bad days, and that is NORMAL. 🙂 Don’t let those days derail you from the task at hand. TRUST, BELIEVE, and GIVE IT EVERYTHING YOU HAVE and you will succeed in your goals and then some. Your health and the ability to MOVE with purpose and function is a beautiful thing. Don’t let it go to waste and know that it’s never too late to start. The hardest part is just STARTING.

Take that first step!

In health-Demi

Small habits=huge change

Over the past week or so I have been thinking about what makes a person successful, no matter what business they happen to be in. I’m not just talking about success in your job, but success in every aspect of your life. True and complete joy and contentment.

Is it talent? Is it luck? Rich family?

I really tried to look around people and within myself asking these questions, while quietly observing those around me trying to see if there was a top secret “code” that people were following that other people could try out too.

The truth is, there was no ‘code.’ There was, however, a common thread that I picked up for sure among those where I was seeking some sort of answer.

Everyone that I observed that was living a truly fulfilling life, not just in their job but with everything it seemed, all did certain LITTLE things every day. I always say it’s not the big things that yield results, but the culminations of small things done here and there that give you the big pay off you are looking for.

And wouldn’t you know that is applicable everywhere?

That daily UN-SEXY habits and rituals are what build us or break us. 

This doesn’t apply to just our health and fitness goals, but to our relationships, family, business, etc. Pretty much everything!

• waking up at 5 am for a workout? Unsexy
• Leaving a little love note in your kids shoe the night before school? Unsexy
• Making sure you are hydrated every day? Unsexy
• Getting that last sweaty rep in the gym even though you are exhausted? Unsexy
• Treating the janitor like the CEO? Unsexy
• Taking the garbage out before your spouse asks you? Unsexy

These are just examples…but you get the point. What I’ve observed is that it’s the little things that truly matter at the end of the day and it can apply to everyone and to every aspect of your life. So what now? Think about everything you say and do today. Are you speaking from love and kindness? Are you taking care of yourself?

Lets be mindful today.  Un-sexy habits make us into sexy individuals in more ways than the physical portrayal of the actual word.

In Health-Demi

Client Spotlight-Greg Pierdon

It’s about that time to start bragging about my clients! 🙂 For this client spot light, it was SUPER easy to pick who I wanted to brag on the most, hence why I am writing about him today. Greg Pierdon came to me representing one of the most successful downtown resturaunts in Charleston, and also my favorite/BEST biergarten around…Bay Street Biergarten. He helps run the show there and has always been super consistent with his training. He RARELY ever misses a session and gives each training session 110%.  It’s amazing to think about where he first started and to where he is now. His strength has drastically improved as well as his endurance. He has kept 20 pounds off for almost a year, and is now packing on the muscle BIG time.  Every time we squat, bench, or do circuit training he literally leaves it all on the floor and does the best he can. Because of that-he completely shocks me about once a month when he goes heavier on certain exercises like his bench and squat. With some dietary changes and his hard work ethic, he has progressed in every facet of his training, and I couldn’t be more proud of him. He is a JOY to work with and he makes me a better trainer by consistently getting stronger and me having to find new ways to challenge him! This kind of challenge is always gladly accepted and I can’t wait to see where his training takes him. GREAT JOB GREG!!!

In Health-Demi

Spot Reducing and Mindset

For any trainer, spot reducing is the first thing that is usually brought up as certain areas they want to “get rid of” by clients.

I totally get it too! When I first got into fitness myself, I often asked the same thing. Thanks to science and what I’ve seen actually works throughout the years…I can tell you what I tell clients when they come to me with this particular’ mindset. (Keep in mind this is all very general, your trainer would explain more)

First off there is a reason I just put “mindset” in bold right there. It’s ALL about mindset. When you come into the CORRECT mindset about your health and fitness, it can quite literally make the difference between you succeeding and failing. I know that can sound harsh, but it’s absolutely true. What is the correct mindset? Let me explain.

A healthy mindset includes but is not limited to the following:

• Knowing that you are building life long healthy habits
• Your work is NOT limited to just what you do in the gym
• Being REAL and honest with your habits-good and bad
• Progress comes in stages…your payoff in your efforts will come as such
• It takes guttural WORK that will make you question everything you think you know about getting healthy and fit

And back to the whole point of this post-YOU CANT SPOT REDUCE. Be honest with yourself and your MINDSET when you embark on your health and fitness journey.

Mindset is everything, as you can see. Be patient and know that you can’t spot reduce. A lot of the time many clients will come in and quite literally grab some skin on their abdomens and the skin on the back of their arms and tell me “I want to get rid of this!” And I always tell them the same thing. You CAN get rid of the things that bother you (if it’s within a healthy reach of course) but it’s going to take patience. That’s where a strong and healthy mindset comes into play. I also love to explain this very easy to understand analogy. I call in the “Onion Analogy.” 🙂 Every day that you eat nutritiously, hydrate well, and sleep good-a sliver of “your onion” comes off, from head to toe. You need to stay consistent in these healthy habits for that onion (your body) to reach certain trouble spots, and you need to train RIGHT FOR YOUR BODY TYPE AND YOUR GOALS (this is where having a personal trainer is KEY), but eventually you can get there. Also always remember that being healthy and strong is what really matters at the end of the day. Everyone has different goals of course-but always keep this goal as your foundation.

Go out and hire a trainer. Trust me-it’s the best investment you will ever make. You don’t want to mindlessly plug away in a gym with no guidance…I did it for years and it really didn’t get me anywhere. Once I discovered trainers my life changed and my goals were a true reality that seemed much more simple. As long as you have that healthy mindset, patience, and commitment…everything else will come along for the ride and eventually you will see the sweet fruits of your labor!

As always feel free to ask me anything!

In Health-Demi

 

Reggaetronic 2017!

Myself and the Artist-DJ Rehab

I had the ULTIMATE pleasure of accompanying my favorite person ever to a killer music festival; Reaggaetronic! He happens to be one of the best DJ’s in the south and goes by the name of DJ Rehab. 😀

Why am I sharing this on a fitness related blog? The same reason why I showed you pictured of my trip to Hawaii! To show that you can still have an insanely FUN life while still retaining your health and fitness goals. Work hard play hard right? RIGHT. 🙂

This picture represents years of setbacks, failures, and ultimately finding my own balance and success. Stay consistent!

Knowing that you will be in a bathing suit all day is great motivation in itself-but honestly PLEASE know you can still achieve goals and maintain them 365 DAYS A YEAR. Yes-summer IS a great motivating factor in starting new healthy habits. BUT-being a healthy human being truly only matters if you are working hard all year round. Don’t let the seasons of the year be your only motivating factor in your health and fitness. You can still look and feel your best in the dead of winter as well!

BACK TO THE FUN ON THIS DAY! This event was great, my boyfriend DJ’d to over 5,000 people all on boats! The stage was on a floating barge as well-and after he played his set we were able to relax and enjoy the day with lots of dancing, swimming, and RELAXING. We all need time to unwind and enjoy life from time to time, and we most certainly did just that.

So CHEERS to having BALANCE  between your professional life, family, loved ones, and health-remember it’s all about trial and error. Find out what works for YOU, everyone’s schedule for a well balanced life is very different. Find what makes you feel good on the inside and out, and what brings you joy. Eventually you will find your sweet spot in all of it; and as always personal trainers are there to help you find that balance in regards to your health and fitness. Your health is always a priceless investment that will forever pay off immensely!

Swimsuit provided by MegLiz Swimwear.

Sunglasses provided by TopFoxx.

In Health-Demi

Charleston’s Choice Awards!

I’m SUPER excited to announce that I (DM FITNESS) am on the FINAL voting ballot for BEST PERSONAL TRAINER in the Charleston’s Choice Awards! Presented by The Post and Courier. 😀

I need to preface this by telling you that this business literally means everything to me. This is not just a “job” for myself. I live and breath this business, and I ADORE every single one of my clients. They are NOT numbers to me. They are PEOPLE that I truly care about. Their goals are MY goals, and that is what drives me forward with DM Fitness. My goal is to expand DM FITNESS into the masses, and it starts right here in Charleston, SC! I am truly honored and humbled to be apart of such a vital role in my client’s lives. There really is no better feeling then seeing them get healthier, reach their goals, and most importantly gain the confidence to see themselves the way I see them.

I would be *honored* to win this very prestigious award! A vote is all that is needed by clicking HERE …scroll down to the category of “Personal Trainer” and you will see my business name, “Demi Eliese, DM FITNESS.” Click on VOTE and follow the super easy voting instructions that take less than a minute and you are good to go. THANK YOU SO MUCH IN ADVANCE. Feel free to share with friends and family! 🙂

As always feel free to ask me anything!

In Health-Demi