Escape to Slim Chicks Fitness

When owner Stevie Matteo first opened in Sicklerville, she wanted to do something entirely different from other women’s gyms.

Her goal: To make working out the best part of each client's day.

“We truly wanted to be an escape from the everyday, to make sure clients felt like they just had to show up and we would do the rest,” says Matteo, who opened the gym in 2004 before expanding in the current location on Berlin Cross Keys Road in 2008.

“I did not feel there was a gym that appropriately catered to busy women, particularly mothers,” Matteo said.

Matteo was disappointed in the existing women-only fitness options, which she says did not really focus on long-term fitness goals or personalized offerings.

Matteo says she specifically catered the offerings at Slim Chicks for the modern woman—the one who is juggling career, motherhood, wife-hood and multiple other commitments.

All clients are given a full tour and training on fitness equipment pieces. Slim Chicks staff members also work with clients on every visit to ensure they are using the correct weight amount on equipment and speeds on cardiovascular training tools like tread wheels and elliptical machines. They also try to motivate clients with monthly weigh-ins—something Matteo says helps to foster accountability.

Slim Chicks offers about a dozen classes daily, and those classes are also available to non-members. There are group training sessions with a certified personal trainer, lots of Zumba classes, boxing, self-defense and other classes. In October, specialty classes such as "Booty-Luscious" and "No Milkshake Arms" are just $5.

There are also classes for the "Little Chickadees" (the kids), including dance, fitness and boxing.

Matteo’s favorite client perks are all the special extras, like peppermint-infused towels, fresh spring water, a lounge to sit in and browse through motivational books, and once-a-month Girls' Nights.

Held the third Friday of each month, Girls' Nights are free for members and non-members. In September, Slim Chicks hosted a wine-tasting and, on Oct. 21, the gym will host a special breakfast night complete with healthy breakfast food tastings, cooking demonstrations and take-home recipes.

Also coming up on Oct. 3 is the first annual Jam for the Cure. Clients and members of the community are invited to take TurboJam, a cardio-kickboxing class for $8. All proceeds will be donated to support cancer research.

Matteo says she has been inspired by her clients, some of whom come to the gym to train for a marathon and others who have never done much more than walk around the block.

“I see genuine drive and compassion in my clients,” says Matteo. “They often support each other outside the gym through life challenges and struggles.”

A former client, who moved out of the area, donated the remaining time on her membership to be used for a client who was struggling financially. Inspired by a customer's generosity, Matteo decided to use the annual 5K Walk/1 Mile Fun Run, held each Thanksgiving, to build a scholarship fund clients can use to offset membership costs during times of hardship. The 5K is held each year in Gloucester Township. Proceeds also benefit the National MS Society.

Slim Chicks Fitness is open Monday through Saturday. Hours vary slightly each day, so check the website for specifics. There are multiple membership and class card options, including the "Economy Stinks" Package, which gives a client 12 visits for $12.99 biweekly.