NOMINATION LETTER-Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce September 25 2012
Is there someone in your live who pushes you in a positive way?
Has someone come into your life that motivates you?
Are you eager to work out and feel amazing when you are done?
Do you feel your own dreams are growing each and every day?
If you answer the above the questions and think of FIT2theT then we are on the same page!!
I personally can’t think of a better person that is deserving of this award than Tara Newbigging. I first heard of Tara a few years ago and thought I should take a class and never did, bad mistake. Knowing then what I know now I would have taken that class.
I do truly believe people come into your life for a reason and that I finally decided to make that class back in September last year came at a time when I needed her most. By putting myself first for a change and working on me I have been able to help and make positive changes in other people’s lives. Back to the old adage what goes around comes around is happening full circle for me right now.
Tara has grown as a business and never once compromised what she has set out to do. As a matter of fact the growth of her classes and clientele and positive changes that have happened over the years only prove that this is her DREAM and that we are invited to be a part of it is pretty amazing.
There are plenty of businesses in the North that are deserving of this award, but when you find a business and an owner that not only welcomes you every time but also makes you feel like what you are doing truly matters, how do you beat that?
I hands down nominate not only Tara as Business Person of the Year but also FIT2theT as Business of Year hope you agree with me!!
Thanks in Advance
Kelley Weatherby
About 7 months ago I looked in my bedroom mirror and I wasn’t happy with what I saw. I was in desperate need of some exercise, and the layer of dust on my treadmill and workout DVDs was enough evidence to prove I couldn’t do it on my own. I lacked the self-esteem to hit the gym and quite frankly I don’t know the first thing about equipment which even further intimidated me. I needed professional help! As fate would have it I soon bumped into Tara, she told me about her Fit 2 the T programs and assured me it was something I would be able to do.
Five minutes into my first class I thought I was going to die, faint and puke all at the same time. I thought there was no way it was possible for me to keep going, but somehow I did. By the time class was over I felt as if I had just accomplished the impossible. I continued religiously attending Tara’s classes, keeping in mind a quote she shared with us early in the program, “If something is important to you, you’ll find a way. If something is not important to you, you’ll find an excuse”. This quote always got me out the door and if I ever caught myself thinking I couldn’t do it, Tara was there to remind me I could.
And then it happened… my insecurities seemed to slowly vanish and Get Fit became less about looking a certain way and more about feeling a certain way. I would leave those classes limping in pain, but I wore that muscle-ache like a badge of honor. I had earned it and no one could take it away from me.
This was when my boyfriend looked up from the TV and started to notice something was different, and he wanted in! Tara and I convinced Ben to try her program and he has stuck with it ever since. Exercising with your partner is not only great motivation to get your butt out the door but it also pushes you to go harder and faster during your workout. We would have competitions to see who could do the most burpees in a minute or who could hold plank for the longest. Ben has now moved on to Tara’s Get Ripped classes and I still do Get Fit and Zumba, and even though we aren’t in the classes together anymore it still brings a great energy to our relationship and we are able to do things together now that we never could have done before.
Tara Newbigging has become a household name in Yellowknife and I don’t think it’s any coincidence that her last name, Newbigging, has a striking resemblance to the words “New beginning”, Tara’s classes have been a new beginning for myself and countless others in this town who Tara has touched with her incredibly contagious passion for fitness.
-Aislinn Stirling & Ben Scott
In life, everyone we meet will influence us in different ways. And if we’re lucky, their influence will leave us feeling better about ourselves than before we met them. Tara is one of those people.
After reading her blog’s, which are always so positive, supportive, informative, and motivating to those she has helped on their path to feeling better and getting (or staying) healthy, I thought it fitting to return the sentiment…
Tara and I ran into each other one day in late August 2010, (I truly believe this was fate.). She told me about the Group Functional Training class that was starting up. And, if you’ve met her, you’d appreciate the friendly persuasive confidence that exudes from her. I didn’t think twice, I signed up. Until then, I had my comfortable routine and pretty much stuck to running indoors or out and some weights because it was simple and straight forward. No real thought required (so I thought), and I measures success, or defeat, by the scale.
Our group of 10 ladies started that September. It took me about 5 minutes in the first class to wonder “what the hell I was thinking? What exactly did I sign up for? I can’t do this.” Despite the looks of horror and disbelief on my face, with a friendly smile, she simply stated what we would do that day and not for one second did she show any doubt that we couldn’t do it. What I realized after that class, and what has motivated me to continue working with her for the past 5+ months, is that she was right. I may not always do it well, but with her instruction and the supportive environment she encourages, I slowly get stronger and better with each class.
I wish I could say the classes get easier, they don’t. Each class is increasingly harder, challenging us with new techniques, heavier weights, and innovative moves. She incorporates too many different exercise techniques, circuits, and equipment to list but designs a different workout for each session, each one preparing us for the next. She explains what muscle groups are being worked, why we’re doing it, the benefits of each exercise and coaches us on eating the right types of foods to fuel the workouts. (And if you didn’t quite understand what muscles she was talking about, you’ll definitely feel them the day after. lol) She’ll never ask you to do anything you can’t do, but if you give her your trust, she’ll push you past your comfort zones to do things you didn’t think you could. There’s no better feeling than that.
You just have to look around at all the people who have worked with Tara’s “Fit 2 the T” team, Tara, Donna and Heather, and you will see the results of everyone’s hard work.
And somewhere along the way, the scale didn’t seem so important to me anymore. I now measure success by how it feels both physically and mentally, and (my personal favourites), seeing my muscles and lifting more weight than before. (My next fitness challenge…learning not to trip over my feet in Zumba. loll). So thank you Tara for the friendship, fun, encouragement and kick ass workouts you provide.
-Kristen
Thanks to you Tara I am accepted to my Hockey Academy in Kelowna! (POE) you helped me a great deal! 
you made me fit and strong! This year I will be starting high level hockey and I will be able to keep up thanks to you! You mean a lot and you help me loads! ♥ Thank you Tara, your amazing!
- Konnor Madsen
“My workplace is holding a Biggest Loser Competition. I joined thinking that this was the push that I need in order to get my weight back under control. I knew that watching what I was eating was not going to be enough. I had heard a lot about Zumba from friends so I decided to join. I now do Zumba twice a week as well as water Zumba on Mondays.
With the addition of Zumba I have almost reached my goal. So far I have lost 9.4 lbs in 4 weeks. I have also signed up for the next session to do Zumba toning. I think I might be addicted!”
-PAT
“I hated to exercise and could never stick to a routine. As I got older it only got worse. I couldn’t even walk up three flights of stairs without losing my breath. That was before I met Tara. When I signed up with Tara, most of my friends including me thought it wouldn’t last. Exercise was never ‘my thing’. I whined and complained every single session but I stuck with it, thanks to Tara. Nowadays, I get a lot of compliments. While it’s flattering, the most important thing I gained from training with Tara was not the way I look, but the way I feel. I feel more confident about my body, my posture has improved, and the most unexpected I ENJOY EXERCISING!
Thank you for making me do things I thought I couldn’t!”
-Dragana
I have been working out at the gym doing strictly weights and some cardio for over 10 years off and on. I would sometimes do yoga, and only twice tried out a spin class. A couple weeks ago, a friend of mine convinced me to try Tara’s Get Ripped class. I worked harder in that 45 minutes than I probably ever had in one of my gym workouts, and I felt great. I did Get Fit as well, and after only five total classes, I already felt stronger in my workouts and I feel like I’m finally starting to build the lean muscle I’ve been trying to develop for so long. These classes are awesome, you get a TON of work done in a short amount of time, the minutes fly by and Tara is a great supporter and provides encouragement throughout. I would recommend this kind of training to anyone who wants to get in shape or just try something new to shake up their routine!
-Karin Vanonen
I’ve spent most of my life trying to be someone else. For the past five years I have tried a variety of fad diets, and crazy exercise regimes in hopes of being thin and therefore happy. I felt like I was always competing against myself to be skinny and every time I lost. When I started working with Tara eight months ago I had anticipated fast paced new workouts that would finally get me to my dream weight in no time. While she did teach me so much about exercise, fitness and nutrition what I really learned from her was how to love myself fully, completely and how to be happy just by being me. I’ve learned to love exercising because my body craves movement and yearns to be worked just as hard as my mind. I now enjoy Zumba because its fun, puts a smile on my face and allows me to dance all my daily stresses away. Tara taught me the importance of having balance in my life along with finding new and exciting ways to exercise. When I finally stopped focusing on weight loss results, I started seeing them.
K.M.
” I have been working with Tara in a group setting for five months and have seen more results than I have in the previous 10 years I have been working out on my own. While each individual exercise is familiar, it is the way she strings the combinations together that I find the most challenging. She packs more strength and cardio training into our 45 minutes together than I could get in an hour and a half on my own.”
-Tara Clowes
Tara really knows her stuff — and works hard. She will put her drive and skills to work for you. Thanks to Tara’s training and guidance, I achieved measurable results in strength and endurance improvement.
~Paul Falvo
“Growing-up I played most sports and was incredibly active. However subsequent to moving away from home at age 19 all of my physical activity took a back seat to work/friends/schooling etc. As the years went by I found myself unfit and out-of-shape. At certain periods of time I would begin to eat a little better and some exercise on and off but had never been able to keep up for an extended period of time. Eventually I would return to no exercise and a very unhealthy diet. For years I have been a business owner and very happy with all aspects of life, other then my physical health.
Then about 6-7 months ago I begin eating a little better and begin to embark on some physical activity…mostly cardio. Subsequently I begin feeling better knowing I was doing something rather than just wishing I was in shape again….but I wanted that extra push to really get results this time. A good friend who worked out regularly mentioned he was having great success with a personal trainer (Tara Newbigging). I contacted Tara and after a few attempts due to my business travel etc I meet with her for my first session. She was easy going, friendly personality and created a relaxed, comfortable atmosphere…..until the workouts begin… lol. Just joking still friendly and personality but pushed me right from the first day.
After a few workouts I had gotten over the initial soreness, instead of something I should do, my training sessions became something I looked forward to….couldn’t wait to improve a little more and I begin to derive a great sense of achievement out of it. Tara was/ is as excited as her clients to see the results day by day, week by week. I went from 226-230 pounds down to a weight of approx 174 pounds. She started my workouts off with core, functional training soon followed by circuit training with exercise machines. Once I was putting the work in and beginning to see large noticeable results Tara begin helping me with my nutrition plan, “clean eating”….which both my wife and I now do and has become part of our lifestyle rather than a diet. And that is what Tara’s program is overtime, overall health…it all comes down to setting the foundations for a new healthier lifestyle. It improves health and well-being, increases energy levels and makes you a more contented person.
Other then hardwork…the results I have achieved to date are mainly due to Tara’s amalgamation of diverse conditioning methods, extensive knowledge of both nutrition and fitness and challenging individualized training. If you are willing to put in the work and are serious about changing your life for the better, I would recommend Tara without hesitation. Now I have gotten off the body fat, Tara currently has me on a new program and is beginning to build muscle (I’m currently 180bls). Working out is now a part of my lifestyle and can’t wait to see the results over the coming weeks, months and years!”
-Pat Doyle
“Well they say a picture is worth a thousand words, and my old photos speaks volumes to me.
For most of my adult life I have been out of shape and unhealthy wishing I could get back to the shape I was in high school. I have tried every diet out there only to fail after a month or two (from starving). I was focused on the number on the scale and not my overall health.
A lady at my work mentioned to me one day that she had started taking a class from Tara and it was like nothing she had ever done before. It got me curious so I joined the class. After two weeks I started to notice a difference in my strength, energy and shape.I was hooked. I could not believe that I actually looked forward to exercise. I realize now that it was not only taking the class that was changing my life, but the person who was guiding me in this new journey.
Anyone who has had the chance to take a class or training from Tara will know what I am talking about when I say that she radiates an energy that you cannot help but embrace.She only asks that I try my very best whatever that may be, pushes me when I need it and encourages me to keep going even when I don’t think I can.
I know that numbers are not a focus but in the past 7 months I have lost 30 lbs, 7 inches of my waist, and 6 inches off my hips. This would have not been possible without Tara and all her guidance and I can’t thank her enough for my new life.
With the never ending support from my husband and the guidance from Tara I can’t wait to see what I look like and feel like in the next months and years to come.
PS. I am in better shape they I was in high school.”
-JD
Tara I don’t know how you do it except for the pure satisfaction in the ability to transform other people not only physically but mentally. You’ve given me confidence that the determination and drive that I once had when I was a competitive skater is still possible – giving passion to people and for that I give you high praise.I walk taller, I no longer shy from a mirror and love being able to put effort into something and actually see a result on a daily basis.
-Joshua Colford
Wow, it is strange to write a testimonial and truthfully I am not a person who would normally do this but as you read ahead you will understand why I did it.
Over the years I have done a variety of different workouts, starting with aerobics back in high school in 1982. Back then, going to the gym was “in vogue” as were the strange lIttle outfits that we wore while working out!?! I cannot believe that leg warmer’s are back but…..whatever??
When I moved to Yellowknife in 1989, I played a lot of sports for fun such as slow-pitch, volleyball, curling and tennis. I have always liked sports and enjoyed playing both team and individual sports….I played some better than others but nonetheless I have always enjoyed being active.
As I got older and more engrained in career and family, I began to give up on the spare time stuff that I enjoyed, especially sports and working out. Many people are savvy enough to carry on with their favorite activities but somehow I just didn’t get that memo! I sporadically worked out and tried different things to get inspired but nothing really stuck for me.
Last summer, a co-worker pushed me to go to Tara’s Bootcamp and honestly I thought I was going to die during the first class………but at the end of that first class I was hooked! There was something about the way that Tara ran the class and the way that she believed that we could do it that I have never experienced before. Tara was inspiring and I wanted to get better, I wasn’t sure why but I was totally hooked.
At first I thought that I was doing this difficult workout just to prove to myself that I could do it but after a while I realized that it was really because of what Tara said to us. She told us that we just had to show up and that she would “work us out” and that we could “leave the day behind”……… and that appealed!
I know from my work with the federal government that many of us would like to inspire people about things that we are passionate about. Sometimes you succeed in inspiring others and sometimes there are road blocks that you encounter but what I was feeling about working out with Tara was that I was consistently inspired….I always wanted to go to “class”. I called it “class with Tara” because it had a better ring than “bootcamp” which is what the get fit classes used to be called.
I have now been working out with Tara for a year and I still want to go to class! My travel schedule gets in the way all the time but it doesn’t matter because Tara will always be there with a unique class or an approach that will allow me to keep up and stay focused.
At 47 years old (and older or younger) the workouts are manageable and you can get the rush that comes from working hard in a class; this is way more fun and way more beneficial that working out has ever been for me. I am stronger and more fit and it is so good for day-to-day focus. If I miss a class I notice that I don’t feel as good.
Tara is amazing and everyone should just try a class……you will be hooked on her methods and how much she cares about her students, she is an inspiration!
Jackie Hall
Inspired Participant!
