success story

Gabby Munger

I started training with Kristina with a specific goal in mind; to compete in a kickboxing tournament. I decided that it was time to see how far I could push myself and just how strong I could get, and I needed an expert opinion on how to get there.

I fell in love with fitness and training about a year before I started working out under Kristina's guidance, and now that I've experienced training with a personal trainer I don't know how I did it before. She has a gift for seeing potential in her clients, asking the right questions and pushing the right buttons to get you going.

It was humbling and a little intimidating when the tape measure came out the first session we had together, but I understand now that Kristina is very thorough and conscientious, so taking my measurements that first day and the work out that followed, was her way of judging my strength and using that as a marker to compare to as we progressed.

The workouts we do together are always different. Although form and technique are always emphasized, the exercises she comes up with are so unique, they challenge several different muscle groups at once.

When I describe Kristina's abilities to other people, I say that she knows what's going on with my body better than I do and can adapt any exercise to my body. For example, I wasn't really feeling a burn from a set of lunges we were doing. "Turn your foot," she told me, and believe me, then I was feeling them!

As well as time in the gym, she told me what I needed to hear about my diet. It was like a light bulb going on in my head. A good diet is all about choices. She gave me an analogy of the apple and the cookie. I could choose to eat that cookie, and it would taste good but I'd be hungry again 20 minutes later, OR I could eat a nice, beautiful, fresh apple, and know I was supplying my body with nutrients and fuel to get stronger. Also, on her suggestion, I discovered the secret weapon... adding protein to my diet. I ate more protein than I ever thought was possible for one woman to eat daily, and was amazed at how great I felt. My whole outlook on life changed and I had so much energy. It made me realize that there are probably many women out there who don't eat enough protein, which could be why they feel weak and tired all the time.

As we got closer to the tournament, I was amazed at my progress. How satisfying was it to catch my reflection in the mirror and think, "Who is that woman doing squats with all that weight on her shoulders?" "Oh yeah, it's me!" It felt great to be handed a huge dumbell, and without even thinking about it, up it goes above my head.

In the 6 weeks leading up to my tournament I gained 10 pounds of muscle, the bulk I needed to compete, and Kristina adapted the exercises I was doing to my fight. I won a bronze medal which was more than I ever expected to achieve at my first tournament.

It's been just over a year now since I started training with Kristina and one big bonus is that we've become friends! She kept me motivated and out of the doldrums when I was sidelined with a sprained ankle (not from training) and now the group training is just what I need to get me to my next goal, the Fitness and Obstacle Course competition in Las Vegas next summer. If I can do it - so can you. Whatever your goal is - Kristina can get you there.

-Gabby Munger

November 2005