Loriana's Experience
As a woman in her early 60s, I thought my days of increasing muscle mass and/or losing body fat were over and that muscle atrophy was inevitable. My exercise of choice throughout my adult life has been running, and for several years, long distance running. Occasionally I would add resistance training, but I was inconsistent. Simultaneously, I found myself moving towards a more plant-based diet, without paying attention to adequate protein intake. Even though I thought I was doing the right things, I didn’t feel right: often sluggish, bloated, and over time, less toned.
Things changed when, several years ago, I joined AK Fitness for bootcamp classes, twice each week. Combining cardio with resistance training, consistently, I began to feel stronger. However, I still was not consuming enough protein. A couple of months ago, AK asked if we wanted to participate in a 21-day “shred” program. I wasn’t looking to lose weight; I was more interested in losing body fat and increasing muscle mass, so I signed up. The diet consisted of more protein than I would normally eat and somewhat restricted carbohydrates, in addition to a protein supplement. One of AK’s team, introduced TB60, a total body workout for 60 minutes, consisting of conditioning and resistance training, which encourages the use of progressively heavier weights. The combination of TB60 and a diet that consists of more protein and fewer carbohydrates was very effective! At the end of the 21-day period, I had dropped my % body fat by over 5 percentage points and increased skeletal muscle mass by 1.1kg. I was stunned. I also felt better: not only did I feel stronger, but I had more energy and felt mentally sharper.
AK and his team demonstrate, every day, their commitment to maximizing the health and fitness of their clients. They encourage, challenge, and motivate. In the classes (Bootcamp,TB60, or Restore and Recovery), they ensure that each person is working to their potential; even in group classes, the focus is on the individual. When members or clients are injured, they modify exercises to help the healing process; they’ll even recommend other treatment options. This level of care and individual attention is unique: AK Fitness is more than gym, it’s a community, for which I am grateful.