TGTN: Not Just a Gym, but a Family

Eight months ago, I decided to take the next step in my weight loss journey. I heard about a gym in Palos Hills, IL, that was solely meant for transformations. This gym, Training Ground Transformation Nation (TGTN), transformed not only my body, but my mind as well.

Every one was shy when this gym first opened because it was all new to us. We didn’t know what we were getting ourselves into because there are no other gyms in the area that truly help you reach your goals. I was extremely shy and wasn’t sure if I would stick around after the winter ended. I just wanted to join, get to my size 6, and continue on my way as a runner once the season started back up.

It took me about a month to go from a size 10 to a size 6 and I knew my time at TGTN wasn’t over. I created new goals for myself but that wasn’t the main reason why I decided to stick around.

So, what is it that completely changed my mind? The coaches and other athletes that attend TGTN. In the past eight months, we became a family. We support each other, motivate each other, help each other, make each other laugh, and this all happens in and outside of the gym.

I recently got ill and ended up in the hospital for six days and the TGTN family (coaches and athletes) helped me through it all. We are part of a private facebook support group, which you are able to join when you become a member, and that group kept me going each day I was in there. I had round the clock support from all of them and it kept my spirits bright through being starved, mutliple procedures, and surgery.

The day after surgery, the owner, Coach Ben Ballinger and his fiance, Kasia Harmata, came to visit me. To be honest, I was just expecting the Diet Dr. Pepper they said they were going to bring me, and I was happy to just to see them. Well, I was completely surprised at what came next!

They walked in the door with a card signed by the whole gym, flowers, balloons, and goodies that they knew I would like. They all got together as a family and did something so special for me. That’s what amazed me the most. They brought me ice cream socks, chocolates, chocolate mint tea, a coffee mug, protein powder, gift cards to my favorite places, and a pizza cutter. Do you think any other gym would have done this for me? Certainly not! Its amazing because it shows how WELL we really know each other. They know exactly who I am, just as I know exactly who they are. We take the time to really get to know each other as individuals. We are all different but attend the gym for the same reason: we all have goals we are trying to accomplish. We ALL want to TRANSFORM.

The best part about TGTN is that everyone, coaches and athletes, are all unique and full of knowledge in different ways. They all bring something totally diverse to the table and we all learn from one another.

“suppoc < e