June 25, 2009

Jesse Brandyberry

Department Head

Personal Training

Life Time Fitness

9250 Crown Crest Blvd.
Parker, CO  80138

RE:  Letter of Recommendation – Abby McQueeney Penamonte

Jesse:

Since you were the first person I met with in regards to personal training at Lifetime Fitness in Parker, CO, I believe that you are acutely aware of the mixed results that I’ve had with strength training programs and personal trainers over the course of the last 10 years.  I’ve worked with personal trainers at 24 Hour Fitness, Athletic Club at Inverness, Bally Denver and Parker Recreation Center.  While it would be unfair to say that I gained nothing from those experiences, I can say without any hesitation that I did not get the results that I paid for, expected or wanted.  I will readily acknowledge that part of the blame for that resides with me, but I would contend that more of it had to do with poor trainers doing what they wanted rather than what I asked for AND a lack of proper instruction regarding the role of nutrition in a complete fitness/wellness program..

To that end, I simply cannot say enough good things about my experience working with Abby McQueeney Penamonte (diet and nutrition) and Shawn Godden (strength training) over the course of the last several months.  They each bring significant experience and expertise in their respective field and a true passion for what they do.  That is evident just in looking at, and talking to, them.  Abby is registered dietician in addition to being an accomplished ultra-marathoner, while Shawn is an accomplished power lifter along with a licensed personal trainer.  It means a lot when the people that are giving you advice actually appear to be healthy and look like they apply the principles they are imparting to you in their own lives.

More importantly, I have found that their guidance and instruction is extremely complimentary.  I learned the hard way that dieting without strength and cardio training yields only temporary weight loss.  Similarly, cardio and strength training in the absence of proper nutrition will result in a personal and acute understanding of the law of diminishing returns.  Either one will ultimately be far less effective than it could or should be if it is applied without the other.  That is why I strongly endorse the idea of people who really want to make a lifestyle change working with BOTH a personal trainer and a nutrition coach for at least a month or two.  The expense associated with doing so is more than offset by the visible results that motivate you to keep working.    

As I mentioned to you earlier, I’ve had better results in the first three months working with Shawn and Abby than in the past 10 years with all of the other personal trainers, boot camps and gimmick programs combined.  As an example of the type of “results” I am referring to, please consider the following…

·         Energy levels are great throughout the whole day

·         Rather than “dieting”, I’m eating healthy food that I happen to enjoy

·         Body Fat is down from nearly 20% to 13%

·         Weight is down 14 lbs from 180 lbs to 166 lbs.

·         Waist size down from 36” to 32”

·         20% to 25% increase in strength in nearly every muscle group

·         Significantly better muscle definition and tone

It was obviously important to me that you are aware of what a great job Abby and Shawn have done in terms of helping me reach my objectives.  However, I felt it was equally important to provide some type of written testimonial so that other people, especially those in the same position I was just 90 days ago, know that Lifetime Fitness has people like Shawn and Abby that can, and will, help them get the results they want IF they are willing to listen, work hard and help themselves. 

Best regards,

Chris McKee