Monthly Member Spotlight!

Spotlight On.... Pam Tezak!!

June 2015

Hi, my name is Pamela Tezak. I’m 48 years old and a resident of Valparaiso. I was born and raised in the south and met my husband at Mardi Gras. We have been married 21 years, and are the proud parents of two daughters, Emily and Ashley. As owners of Realty Executives and Tezak Investments we work hard. But we also like to enjoy our time off with our family. I enjoy reading, travelling, relaxing in the sunshine, and now, working out. 

With the demands of our family, the company, and aging parents, it didn’t seem like there was enough time in the day, like so many others, I put my weight and general health on the back burner so I could take care of everyone else, for what seems like the better part of 2 decades. Before I knew it, I was overweight, tired and miserable.

My journey back to a healthy life began a little over a year ago. I VERY slowly changed the way I ate, as well as how I fed my family. I slowly increased my activity. Starting with slow walks, riding my bike etc. I would not call it exercise by any stretch. When I was finally ready to “hit the gym,” I knew I needed a smaller, more personalized setting.  One where I was not just another member. I knew I needed more than a “$10 unlimited” gym membership could provide. I wanted trainers with experience and knowledge. Pumps Fitness was the perfect match. I wasn’t quite ready for group exercise, so after hearing my concerns, Michelle set me up with Pat Twilla, my pilates trainer. She turned out to be precisely what I needed. With a tremendous amount of experience, she was exactly the right amount of firmness, but in a friendly way. She assessed my level of fitness and pushed me just hard enough where I could be successful, but not too much that I wanted to quit. After a month or so, I asked Pat about the group fitness classes. She knew my concern about being the one that could not keep up, she assured me I would not feel out of place. A couple of weeks later with her encouragement, I started the fitness classes. I found them challenging, but never felt out of place or too far behind.

Has it been without setbacks? NO. I recently lost my father to a long, tiring battle with dementia. Pat understood the times I cancelled, because quite honestly, it was all I could do to pull myself out of bed. But when I came in, she encouraged me to keep going, and without being preachy, encouraged me to stay the course.

 Since my journey began, I have lost 55 pounds, give or take on any such day. Pumps Fitness and Pat have been a constant.

For me, the best thing about Pumps Fitness is not just how friendly and supportive ALL of the staff is. It is Ian and Michelle’s commitment to providing all of their clientele information on living a healthier life in general (again, without being preachy), whatever that means to each individual client. From their documentary series on eating and food, the newest books they have discovered, fabulous Reiki training by Molly Coeling, and other positive life activities. It is always great to see the flyers posted, when Ian and Michelle have information they are wanting to share.  I was fortunate I crossed paths with them at the time in my life that I did.