No Excuses
edited by Kelly Gray
December, 06
“No Excuses” may not be an acronym in the true sense of the word, but for No Excuses clients, it stands for education, inspiration, motivation and accountability.
From one-on-one personal training, small group training (with 2-8 participants), total body conditioning classes and corporate fitness programs and consulting, No Excuses offers the latest fitness training to busy, bustling and once sedentary Charlotteans city-wide.
“Our exercise and nutrition programs help people lose weight and get in shape, tighten and tone and increase strength, flexibility and endurance;” said proprietor Monica Johnson. “We also offer athletic conditioning for non-athletes, ½ marathon and marathon training, beginner triathlon training and all levels of swim training.”
The goal of No Excuses Fitness Training is to lead clients step-by-step through a safe and effective fitness program designed to meet their individual needs. They focus not only on exercise, but also on the development and maintenance of healthy lifestyle habits. Their mission to educate, inspire and motivate helps clients make every day as happy and healthy as possible, Johnson explained, who decided to open No Excuses as a result of her own life experiences.
“During college at Appalachian State University I had two exciting opportunities present themselves at the same time: I could audition to be an aerobics instructor at the campus fitness center or I could try out for cheerleading. After making a quick list of pros and cons, I decided that if I was going to jump around and yell that I was going to get paid for it… and so began my career in fitness,” she says.
What started as a hobby quickly grew into a passion for fitness and for teaching others. After graduation, Johnson moved to Orlando, Florida to work with Nike and the Central Florida YMCA, which eventually led to her own personal training studio. Johnson’s mother was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2003 which prompted her move to Charlotte to be near family.
“Starting over has been challenging but it is so rewarding to be able to offer No Excuses Fitness Training in my home town,” Johnson said.
Johnson says people who would benefit from her services are those who want to see results and are willing to change. Her only pre-requisite for accepting new clients is that they must have a fitness goal and they must be willing to let No Excuses make gradual changes to their daily habits in order for them to reach their goals.
“The biggest challenge for most people is that we know if we keep doing what we’ve been doing, we’re going to keep getting what we’ve been getting,” says Johnson. “We want change but we don’t know how to change and even when we know what to do, we convince ourselves that it is not worth it… and we settle back into the old habits with the same old results.”
No Excuses trainers help clients work through change processes and ultimately see results. They teach clients how to change old habits, inspire them to develop new habits, motivate them to recognize and overcome their obstacles and trainers use accountability systems to reward clients for every success.
Johnson has a list of reasons why No Excuses stands out in a sea of fitness professionals:
1) Happiness: No Excuses staff believes that happiness is an important part of a fitness program and it is a choice a person makes, that it doesn’t matter how great someone looks on the outside if they are miserable inside. Trainers incorporate happiness into programs and teach clients how to make the best of every day.
2) Education and independence: Clients don’t just get a one-hour workout and then “see ‘ya’ next week”. In addition to the workout, every meeting with a No Excuses trainer includes time for education, goal setting, accountability, discussing challenges and rewards. After a certain amount of time - and because they take the time to educate and empower clients – most have the knowledge and ability to maintain fitness programs. While they encourage clients to embrace independence, they love that most clients continue training with them because they enjoy the inspiration, motivation, challenge, creativity, variety and the extra push that No Excuses staff provide.
3) No Excuses Staff can relate to clients: Trainers recognize that they are not perfect and therefore don’t expect clients to be either.
Johnson elaborates saying it is not easy for her to stay in shape and that she also has to work hard at it.
“Some days/weeks/months, I work harder than others and have fears and insecurities just like any other person,” she says. She sets goals and says sometimes she reaches them and sometimes she fails. “I understand what it takes to overcome challenges, to stop making excuses, and to try to make every day a happy and healthy day, no matter what the circumstances.” Johnson shares not only her own education but also her experience with clients to help them to overcome similar challenges.
No Excuses can boast two trainers, Johnson who is AFAA Certified with 14 years of experience and Susanne Ware who is ISSA Certified and has 10 years of industry experience. No Excuses utilizes two training locations at Covenant Presbyterian Church (Dilworth) and Myers Park Presbyterian Church. Both locations have complete fitness centers with a full line of exercise machines, free weights, balls and bands, indoor tracks and basketball courts. Both facilities also have parks within walking distance that No Excuses uses for outdoor workouts. At Covenant, Johnson has the use of a private studio for those that want more privacy. Both facilities are open to the community for a nominal membership fee - you do not have to be a member of the church to train with No Excuses trainers.
Meanwhile, Johnson is delighted to enthusiastically report that her mother is today, a happy and healthy three-year survivor of breast cancer, something to be celebrated for sure.
Contact Monica Johnson at No Excuses at 704-258-8203 or by writing to noexcusesfitness@carolina.rr.com via e-mail. |
