TESTIMONIALS
ASHLEY G.
If you had told me a couple of months ago that I would be in the best shape of my life right now, I never would have believed you. I’ve found that consistency is key, and without Element 26, I never would have made the changes I needed to make and stick with it. It’s so easy to get caught up in diet culture and overcomplicate health and fitness. You don’t need to do crazy restrictive diets, and you certainly don’t need to spend 2+ hours in the gym. I have seen my body change in ways I never thought it could just by dialing into my nutrition and pushing myself in the gym for those 30 minutes every morning. Aside from the physical changes, I’ve experienced so much personal growth and gained so much mental strength. I’ve tried several different gyms, but E26 provides a sense of accountability and community that others have never provided me with. You have to (somewhat) enjoy your workouts, otherwise, you’ll never stick to them. The variety of workouts keeps me on my toes, and I can honestly say that I look forward to coming to the gym every morning; it’s become my favorite part of the day. If you’ve been wanting to make a change, this is the gym that can help get you there!
LEA K.
For the past few years, I have struggled with diet and exercise programs. I loved anything that involved sugar, inside and out. I finally decided in 2023 to get serious about improving my nutrition. I started to see the scale with a slightly smaller number about 3 weeks into my “no sugar” journey. This kept me going! As I saw the scales decreasing, that motivated me to not only remove sugar from my diet, but also choose healthier food choices. I feel better. I feel healthier. I have found that by joining Element 26, staying on the course of diet and exercise is more than manageable and enjoyable. I have been able to remain consistent with not only working out but remain balanced with nutrition with the support of both members and coaches. This is not only beneficial to my health, but for my mental wellbeing. At Element 26, you will receive infinite support and tools to improve all aspects of yourself and gain some pretty amazing friendships along the way.
ELIZA H.
I became pregnant with my second child in early 2020. Being pregnant during Covid was very scary and stressful. This prevented exercising regularly and invoked stress-eating. After my son was born, in November 2020, I experienced postpartum depression and anxiety. Along with that I had severe abdominal issues, including hernias and muscle separation. In 2021, I went through a traumatic divorce and relocation back to the area. I wanted to get back in shape and be healthy as a single mom with two small boys. I made the decision to start working out again and had a desire to surround myself with individuals with a similar mindset. Since getting back on my fitness journey, I’ve been able to lose the “baby weight”, but I’ve also made major improvements mentally and spiritually. Element 26 has given me confidence and energy to keep up with my kids. It has also helped me mentally with a lot of the everyday stressors of being a mom. I get to be around like-minded people who encourage me to be the best version of myself. It works with my schedule and my children can come along when school is out, because of the benefit of the kids’ room. I have been able to make significant all-around changes to my life because I have a place where I feel comfortable, encouraged, and loved.
MELISSA M.
For the last 7-8 years I have managed to maintain the same weight range. I have had several years of a daily workout routine. The nutrition side of things is & has always been a lifelong learning process full of ups and downs. About two years ago I had a partial tear in a tendon in my arm which is where the downward spiral began. I felt guilty and frustrated modifying at the gym. I started focusing on what I couldn’t do instead of what I still could do. I felt like I didn't belong in the gym classes anymore, so I took a step back. I was so tired and out of breath doing basic daily things. Even trying to do stretching and ab exercises I wasn't able to tolerate because of the pressure and the breathing. I had confirmed a-fib and a-flutter. I felt like a walking zombie. Last January I had bilateral heart cath with ablations for these. I had managed to gain 39lbs. At this point I was depressed and frustrated. Many moments of tears. I felt defeated, I felt as if all the work I put in I lost. I was cleared by cardiology in February- March. I was still having issues with my arms and hands going numb and loss of dexterity in fingers. I started back into things gradually as I was directed to do. This was so hard trying to find my footing again, where I wanted to work out, where I felt comfortable, and what workout routine could I stick with. I took some classes at a local gym in March and worked out at home still modifying based on wrists and building cardiovascular stamina back up.
With the change in ownership of the gym (now known as Element 26) I reached out to Karen, she was 100% welcoming with whatever level I was able to do. I came in again for a couple of free classes, to see if this was a right fit for me and see how the environment has changed. She would text me the workout the day before and was completely ok with using equipment when I couldn't do the class. All the coaches and members were accepting of whatever level I was at and whatever modifications I made. In August and September, I had surgery for bilateral carpal tunnel & bilateral ulnar nerve decompression. Of course, I was still working on losing the weight that I had gained but my focus was staying mentally and emotionally in check. Joining a FREE challenge gave me help from a challenge partner, friends, and Karen. This helped me stay accountable with any activity I was able to do that kept me active, nutrition, hydration, staying in the right mindset, focusing on what I could do, and proper rest. The environment at Element 26 is like no other. Karen, Ru, and the coaches have all been amazing, encouraging, supportive, and very much accepting. There is no stigma of modifying only true genuine caring for others' wellbeing as a whole (not just the working out). As of today, I have managed to finally lose 40lbs since March, most of this was through the challenges at Element 26. During the challenges I have managed to lose but I have gained so much more.
SYDNEY N.
The hardest part of my journey was starting. I spent many years wanting to lose weight but I made countless excuses not to. I felt even more unmotivated when I learned that I have PCOS, which can make it harder to lose weight. I felt completely hopeless. Thankfully, when I started college I realized I wanted to be a happier and healthier person. I started by focusing on changing my diet, which helped me lose around 15 pounds. Then, a friend asked me to join Element 26 with them. I can honestly say that without this gym I would not have been able to keep my motivation and stay consistent with my weight loss. I have almost zero knowledge of how to workout, but this gym made it easy and fun. I also met many kind people that helped me keep my head up and be proud of what I have accomplished. Since starting my weight loss journey in March of 2023 I have now officially lost 56 pounds! I plan to keep working hard to reach my goals.
Believe in yourself and you can change your life for better!
