“Mikey has a heart for personal training and helping people succeed. In
the last 4 months, he has helped me in more ways than just seeing results. Having a personal trainer comes with
many benefits. You create a friendship, you have a coach, you create a habit of going to the gym, and you have
fun.
In result, you see results if you work hard enough. I have never been able to stick to going to the
gym on my own, which is why I partnered with Mikey. He constantly checked in on me making sure I was on track to meeting my goals.
Although sometimes I didn’t feel like going to the gym, I had Mikey counting on me to not only be physically
there but to kill the workout he had planned for me. The workouts Mikey planned always kept me guessing. The
programs he designed help me maximize results. Were they always fun? No. Did I always feel better after doing
them? YES! In our first 7-week program, I was able to gain a lot of muscle and strength throughout my body. My
maxes went up tremendously in each muscle group by the end of the program. Let me tell you how great of a
feeling it was to know you went up 65 pounds on your squat in 7 weeks! The main thing Mikey has taught me
through our time training was to never give up and to keep pushing until the end. It was always a mind over
matter for me. If you’re looking for a personal trainer who won’t give up on your and will help you achieve any
goal you’re looking at conquering, Mikey is your guy!”
“Hello AJ Ayala here! My weight loss journey started about a year ago,
at 320+ lbs and growing I knew I needed to make a big life change to live a fuller life and avoid what would
have been certain medical issues.
I decided to join THRC mid-December with goals to continue my weight
loss and to gain muscle mass. After losing a good amount of weight I felt my weight loss starting to plateau and
even more concerning was under all that unhealthy mass was a definite lack of muscle. I had flabby arms,
underdeveloped shoulders and no chest muscles to speak of.
I began my personal training sessions with Bradley in March,
and my transformation started to take leaps and bounds forward. Bradley is an amazing personal trainer, that has
been invaluable in navigating me even passed my own personal goals. Being overweight my whole life I set my
original goal weight to 240 lbs (the weight I was my junior year in high school) thinking that would be great.
Bradley’s encouragement, knowledge of physical fitness and nutrition that has fueled our sessions has pushed me
way beyond my own goals. I am currently the fittest I have ever been (210lbs with body fat loss and muscle mass
gains). At the end of each session I always feel a great sense of accomplishment because I know I had a great
workout and had pushed myself further than I would by working out alone. When my personal training session ran
out I was quick to renew because I am thrilled with my progress, excited to see what can be achieved and know
Bradley will get me to my best self and believes in my potential.
“After some enthusiastic prompting from my husband, I signed up for yet
another gym membership. I met with Brad for a
training session to re-familiarize myself with the gym and to see where I would be starting from. His energy and
cheering during that session left me feeling excited about getting stronger and healthier. I was quite
disappointed in how weak I had become, not even being able to walk on the treadmill without both hands firmly
planted on the grab bars. Brad would talk about how soon enough I would be running. Now, I am not only running
but consistently bettering my time and speed. I am getting stronger. feeling better and looking better. Brad
pushes with encouragement and reminds me how much better I am.
When we talk about my nutrition, he gives
me suggestions. He encourages better choices without making me feel like I failed.I must admit, I like the
compliments from friends and family (especially those I haven’t seen since before we started), I look forward to
check-ins for progress and I know it has come from working hard and not giving up. There was no quick fix pill
involved, just lots of sweat and a few tears.
I look forward to each session knowing that he will be
right there talking me out of the doubts in my head and pushing me to continue to be better.”
“Since I have spinal scoliosis my main goal is to strengthen my core
muscles. I want to have a stronger and healthier body so that I can continue to be independent.
THRC is
patient and encourages me to keep trying to do my best. I like that they explain what each new exercise is for
and which muscles to focus on. They always have a plan for the session and that keeps things interesting. We
discuss what I should do when I work out by myself and what I should be eating.
THRC is very knowledgeable
and I am fortunate to have them as my trainer.”
I have been a member at THRC for two years now, and I worked out with
JD for a year. When I began doing training sessions at THRC, I only planned on it being a short-term,
three-month program to help me gain some motivation to get back into the gym. After my initial three months was
over, I realized how beneficial training with JD became not only in the gym, but also in my life. He didn’t
treat me as just a client, he became my friend, as he does with all his clients. I trained with JD once a week,
and he provided suggested workouts to do on my own the rest of the week.
JD always had great energy
during our sessions and was motivated to help me be the best I can be. I looked forward to each session because
he integrated fun into hard, challenging workouts. When I didn’t think I could do something, he reminded me that
he wouldn’t have me do something he didn’t know I was capable of. I felt my energy levels rise, and I was seeing
constant progress in our sessions and on my own. When I started training, I couldn’t do unassisted pull-ups, and
now I am able to do them on my own with repetition. JD helped me realize that hard work paid off, in and out of
the gym.
Primarily:
JD was always attentive to make sure I was doing everything correctly.
He is
was always willing to find a time for our weekly sessions that fit into my busy school and work schedule.
He
catered all sessions to my desired body goals and provided advice on how to carry over our sessions into my
individual workouts.
I have no plans of leaving THRC for as long as I live in San Marcos, and words
can’t describe how beneficial working out with JD was for my physical and mental health. I highly recommend him
to anyone looking to better themselves and to achieve their fitness goals, as he did for me.
Sarah is one of the hardest working, self-driven individuals I’ve
worked with in my training career! -Mikey Rangel
“I’ve trained with Mikey for 6 months! I’ve always been
someone who loved working out and I had an end goal in mind! I knew I was not educated enough in training or
diet to get there myself! That’s where Mikey stepped in! Mikey provides such an upbeat and powerful atmosphere
that even on those days I knew I was exhausted, I could count on Mikey to help me wake up and be motivated to
workout! He brought this energy with every session! Everything was tailored to MY needs! He made sure to get a
list of my goals every month and he would make sure to tailor my workouts to reflect those! I’m the strongest
I’ve EVER been and I’ve attained the most knowledge I’ve ever known abou tdiet/exercise.
If you get the
chance to have a trainer do it. (Yes you are spending money right now but you might as well divide that cost by
the rest of your life.) Mikey doesn’t just offer training for 3-6-12+ months, he offers a lifestyle change that
not only has short term results, but will affect your health and wellness for the rest of your life!” -Sarah
Hasty
JD May was my trainer for about a year and a half.We met twice a week,
and he had workouts ready for me. One thing that I noticed right away was how thorough JD always was. We never
wasted any time. JD knew howto make every minute count, and he would make sure that I actually did the necessary
number of repetitions, and did them correctly (and yes, at times it *did* hurt,especially the leg presses). JD
is also very responsible: he really watched out for me, made sure all the workouts were safe, and gave advice
about food intake.He is one of the most organized and well-meaning people I met: he never canceled any sessions,
we were able to keep the schedule, and he was always very kind tome. Even if I messed up.
Having JD as
my trainer changed my life: it meant the world to know that I am not alone in this endeavor. A good trainer
becomes your guide and your friend. I actually learned to enjoy exercising. Now when I moved away, I still
exercise because he helped me to develop a habit. I also remember his teaching me about different muscle groups
and how to exercise them best (and now I know where the triceps are, and why it is important to exercise the
back).
I would highly recommend JD to anybody willing to learn more about fitness and healthy lifestyle!
"For as long as I can remember, I have always struggled with my weight. I have always been overweight. As I got older I started trying different diets and weight loss programs. They would work for like a month, then I would get bored and just give up. Then when I got out of high school I started joining gyms. I'd go faithfully for like month then slowly stop going and then just quit altogether. Finally something snapped in me and I was done. I was so unhappy with myself and just ready to make a change. At the end of September 2019 I found Texas Health & Racquet Club. From the minute I stepped in everyone was incredibly nice. Every worker I came in contact with introduced themselves to me. For it being my first time in a new gym, I felt so relaxed and welcomed. I joined immediately. As a part of my package I was able to have one free session with a personal trainer. I had never worked with a personal trainer, so I was all for it. Gage Anderson became my trainer. Every session we have he pushes and motivates me. He has become someone in my life who I know believes in me and I know will be there every step of this journey with me.Being a part of the THRC family and working with Gage has helped me in so many ways. I have become a happier person and I am beginning to learn to love myself. I have also been table to take myself off my medication and feel amazing without it. I will never be able to thank my THRC family or Gage for everything they have and will do for me."
Paul inherited me as a client and we clicked immediately... He demonstrated to me his competence and knowledge of all things a personal trainer should be from the word go. I suffered some serious injuries and underwent surgery during this time and he didn't miss a beat... He stayed in touch giving me diet and strength training advice to recover from injuries and surgery. To this day I do all the stretches and movement techniques Paul taught me to combat the stiff joints muscle fatigue and control pain. I have total faith in all he taught me to meet my weight loss goals coinciding with my goal of healthy joints and muscle strength. Paul has instilled in me the ability to care for my body and meet its daily needs in order to reach the more long term goals. I appreciate Paul's knowledge his support and his faith in me. I appreciate his hard work he put into healing me along with his patience exhibited during my recovery time after surgery. Paul never made me feel as though I were too old or too out of shape to be a healthier happier person. Thank you Paul for your excellent services, your expertise in training and your patience... I hope to make you proud one day as I continue to make my small goals even bigger goals.
"What a difference a year makes! These pictures were taken a year
apart. I just started with a trainer & I was in a different place not only physically but mentally.So I
started with a trainer at a new gym. The gym was this place of friendly people that didn't treat me like
another member but actually took time to talk to me. Even now, the moment I walk in everyone makes it a point to
talk to me and ask about my day.
••This was a GAME CHANGER. I was like, 'I'm so happy for the
hour that I'm here, what can I do to make myself fell like this all the time?'. I got serious about my
health and fitness and I made myself connect with God more. I'm also a believer that God will place
everyone in your life strategically.
••@katiej15 was my first trainer, she's always been my constant
hype, my therapist when life got messy and I needed a friend. She brought such a positive energy that it pushed
me to want that light in my life, my goals were hers.
•Next up was @corisnyder. I got to work with her for a few weeks and right
off the bat she had this positive, loving energy about her. She made sure to make a connection with me more than
just a trainer.
•And now I have @mikey14striker as a
trainer who had me laughing right from the start. He fuels my competitive side (I'm ridiculously
competitive with myself), he makes me feel like nothing is impossible. He believes in me more than I believe in
myself
••These 3 people (and more)have helped me build my confidence to a new level. I still struggle
sometimes,but now it's easier for me to look at things as an opportunity to do better, to be better. I fell
in love with fitness again and that made me fall in love with life and my body again. Now I'm happy with
however I look as long as I'm happy and healthy!"
“I joined THRC about 10 months ago. I had never joined a gym before and I was slightly intimidated. I thought I would feel silly and out of place, but I couldn’t have been more wrong. Everyone who works at THRC is so nice and they really go out of their way to get to know you and make you feel comfortable. The overall atmosphere of THRC is so positive and welcoming. The facilities are clean and well maintained and there is a ton of equipment and machines to choose from (even an outdoor workout space). If you have any questions about equipment or machines, just ask an employee because they are always willing to help you get better. If you don’t know where to start, the group fitness classes are amazing (and included in the price of membership)! Last, but certainly not least, I can’t write this without including my experience with personal training at THRC. I went in thinking I would use my 2 free training sessions and that would be the end of it, but after my second session I was hooked and signed up for more training! I was paired with trainer, Majid Dakkak, and we hit it off from the start. Not only does he plan sessions specifically for my goals and skill level, but he is great to talk to in between sets. He has gone out of his way to help me meet my goals and I wouldn’t be where I am in my fitness journey without him! Joining THRC and personal training has been the best investment I have ever made for my health and well-being.”
I joined THRC in mid March and it was honestly the best decision I had ever made. I wasn’t eating properly and wanted to change that but didn’t know where to start and I had the time and commitment of wanting to work out but felt so intimidated by the whole aspect of it. I saw that THRC had a new facilit ydowntown so I called and decided on getting a trainer. I got paired with Natalie and she made me feel right at home. She was so welcoming and that instant fear of intimidation left my mindset. Here I am in July finally under 200 lbs! I was never able to reach that in 10 years. I had seriously given upon myself but seeing her and having our meet-ups gave me my life back and not only that I gained a friendship. I highly recommend THRC for your fitness goals.
“Well,I guess I can’t do that anymore . . ..”
As I approached
my 60th birthday, I found myself excusing many of my physical limitations (can’t squat in the garden, can’t
reach the overhead rack in my closet, can’t tie my shoes without sitting down, and on and on) because of my age.
I was also about 50% over a healthy weight and taking medication for elevated blood pressure and high
cholesterol, so I set out to change what I could: I met with a nutritionist and began to count calories and
macros, and I joined a gym for extended cardio workouts (think rowing and treadmill)!
I still believed
that a narrowing physiological function was to be expected with my advancing age, and as I moved the important
stuff in my home off the top shelf and up from the ground, I continued to head to the gym several times a week.
One day at the gym, a fellow gym-rat approached, introduced himself as a trainer, and asked me about my fitness
goals. As I described my outlook on the bleak prospects of aging, as I talked about my limitations with a bad
shoulder,bad knees, tight hips, and a sore back, he smiled, “My name’s Dipo, and I can help with that: I’d like
to help you get better every day.”
So I began to workout weekly with Dipo. As he demonstrated each
week’s moves, he talked about the physiology of the workout, the purpose of each sequence, the reason for my
sweat and fatigue—and about getting better. He is a knowledgeable trainer, certainly, and he is a good teacher.
He listens carefully to my stories, watches closely as I move through his workouts, and just as any classroom
teacher does, he takes that observational data from our work together and uses it to shape the next workout and
the next challenges for me and my body.
We also talk about the intellectual and spiritual connections to
our bodies, the ways mental toughness in the gym improves my quality of life everywhere, the ways that paying
careful attention to my body is moving me toward integration—a mind/body wholeness. To something better every
day.
And now? Many of those limitations I had when I was 59 are gone as I approach my 61st birthday: I
can reach overhead and sleep with my arms above my head the way I slept for the first 50 years of my life. I can
hunker down in the yard and pull weeds, and I can balance on one leg while I tie my shoe; I stand straight, with
squared shoulders; I wear sleeveless tops again. And because of Dipo Obadina,I’m getting better every
day.
Jodie Flint, Ph.D.
(retired director of the educator preparation program at Texas State
University)
I recently joined a new gym near me, and with joining you get two complimentary personal training sessions. I have never had a personal trainer before because I didn’t feel the need for it, I have always been into working out and I know my way around a gym. Majid reached out to me about the complimentary sessions, so I decided to try it out and it was the right decision. I am three months into my training with Majid and I am more than pleased, he has helped me identify my goals and what it takes to achieve them.He is motivating, encouraging, and truly wants the best for his clients, this is obvious because of the personal commitment he makes to you and your goals. Majid is very knowledgeable in the way an individual's body works and has helped me understand my own body, stressors, techniques, and how to properly activate my muscles. Within the first month of training with him, I realized my biggest plateaus over my years of lifting have been because I didn’t know my body as well as I thought. Therefore, I am very thankful for Majid and our sessions, I am excited to see my mental and physical transformation during my journey here.
Elias has trained me for 2 months and within that time he has taught me to gain strength and endurance. During workout sessions Elias pushes me to do that extra rep to push myself when I think I can't do that one more reverse lunge. I enjoy my workouts with Elias because it's never boring, it's fun and I am becoming stronger during each workout session. Elias is helping me to achieve my personal fitness goals to embrace my core and I am doing exercises that I thought were impossible to do because of weak knees and weak ankles. I am excited to continue on my growth and progress to gain muscle mass and to see improvements in my posture and also just to have more confidence in myself. Elias is an amazing personal trainer! He is very knowledgeable of all muscles and how they work and with which exercises will benefit me and my body type.
Elias has become the most influential person that has ever come into my
life. Without him I probably would've still been half-assin my workouts, not being fully committed to the
grind, not putting in the hard work.
With Elias, we've done the early ass morning workouts to the
late ass night workouts. We've been putting in the work and grinding. It hasn't always been easy and
there's times where I really wanted to quit. But somehow he's always gotten me back on track and
I'm glad he did because look where we are now!
And not only has he helped me in the gym and my
fitness goals, but that accountability he's embedded in my brain in the gym portrayed into my daily life
and has changed me for the better. Never thought I would be the man I am today and who I will continue to become
in the future, but I know it's only going to go up from here.
So to end all that, just thank you.
HUGE goals to accomplish this year!!
Time to invest in myself - overweight, high cholesterol, high liver enzymes, etc., etc… NO MORE! Best decision I’ve made in a long time was to invest in myself & get to work - after all, I must outlive my donkeys! I joined THRC in late March 2021 and Elias is my trainer - what can I say - not just the physical change I see and feel, but the mental change. I just feel better overall and the constant encouragement I receive from Elias is not just impactful but such a blessing. “I know you are capable of it - you just have to believe you can do it” is what Elias tells me and I AM BELIEVING IT. I’ve done a lot of performance evaluations over the years - many people believe that if they are doing their job, they are exceeding expectations. No - if you are just “doing” your job - maybe you are meeting expectations and that’s it. Elias never wants himself or his clients to just “meet expectations” - it’s always to EXCEED. He sneaks on extra weights when I’m not looking and I’m like - okay you know what, I can do this! He’s always positive, makes sure I have the right stance, checks on my nutrition and water intake, suggests different work arounds due to some slight limitations I have from previous surgeries and in fact did a lot of research on scoliosis in order to adjust my workouts. While I know it’s up to me to do the work, I also know I couldn’t have done any of this without the passion and love Elias has for what he does - changing people’s lives. Elias, with much gratitude I thank you for changing my life - I’m getting stronger in so many ways… and we’ve only just started!
