Shelby with personal trainer Marcus Haywood

Shelby shared this reflection in June 2021 as a member at Culpeper Sport & Fitness, which transitioned to PATH Recreation & FItness Center in March 2022.

I was told about Marcus Haywood’s Transform-U class by an old friend and decided to give it a try. All it took was one class and I was hooked. I signed up for the 6-week boot camp program but after about 3 weeks the gyms had to shut down due to Covid-19. Marcus continued to do weekly workouts with us via Zoom and would even send me the home workouts to do on my own time if I couldn’t make it. I was so impressed that he was just as dedicated to his clients as we were to ourselves. Even when everything around us was changing, I was able to keep my health a priority.

When the gym started hosting the group class again outside I couldn’t wait to go back. I started out doing Marcus’ workouts 2-3 days a week and doing my own workouts in a different gym the other 2 days. After a few months I even convinced my husband to start seeing Marcus with me and it didn’t take long for us to agree that this was the gym we wanted to join. Everyone treated us like friends and it immediately became a safe space. I was now able to work out with Marcus 5 days a week and go to weekend classes with another trainer there, Christine Kauffmann. I loved her energy and it just further showed me what a well-rounded team CSF had.

I am so thankful for everything I’ve found and accomplished; having a “gym family” that celebrated my wins right along beside me was a game changer. Over the last year with Marcus I have lost 50 pounds, numerous inches, and 4 pants sizes. I can’t thank him enough for showing me the strength I really had all along and helping me take control of my life again! I have made lots of wonderful friendships through this program and I’m lucky they’re here to continue pushing me every day, every class, and every rep!