I was born in Chicago, into a matriarchal family. There weren’t many strong male figures in the family, but there was no shortage of love and support. I didn’t always get what I wanted, but I was always blessed with what I needed.

Growing up, I hung out with my cousins. My family was a big supporter of us playing sports. I tried my hand in basketball, baseball, and football (which I still love). It wasn’t until high school that I realized I didn’t have the body type for football. My metabolism was high and I have trouble gaining weight quickly.

Then I found my niche…running track, cross country, and competing in wrestling. I loved the competition involved in wrestling, plus the fact that it is the oldest sport in history and allows for one on one competition. During my wrestling career, I won a few awards and competed at State.

After graduating and attending college for one year, I switched to a job which required me to work in a warehouse and drive a forklift. Eventually I worked my way up to branch manager with this company, but I still wasn’t satisfied. This line of work didn’t give me any sense of fulfillment or offer a future.

That is when I decided to stop just watching the food network and enroll in Culinary School. Ever since then, each day has been a blessing and a beautiful journey towards a rewarding career. I graduated in two years from school and decided to move to Madison, WI. To be honest, I moved here for a woman…found myself alone…and stayed for the food!

My journey in this city has allowed me to work with some of the best chefs around. As satisfying as that is, I still had this nagging feeling that I needed a way to stay in shape. Since I worked on the Capitol Square, I decided one day to come into Capital Fitness. It was here that I met Charity who took the time to give me a tour and helped me sign up for a membership. Ever since then, I have been working hard and developing a strength program to follow. I have put on 5lbs of lean mass so far and I look forward to changing my body composition even further.

One of my favorite things about the gym is the upbeat music and the different universal machines to work out on. There are also many quality classes to choose from as well as great personal trainers to help you reach your goals. I recommend attending a class that best fits your desired workout. The BODYPUMP strength training class I took was amazing and really gets the heart beating and the sweat flowing! After the hard work is over, I head to the smoothie bar where Steve, my personal shake mixologist, mixes me up a delicious post-workout treat.

Signing up for a membership at Capital Fitness has allowed me to once again feel great about my body and my mind. I hope to see you working out at Capital Fitness soon…Got It??

My twin brother Jerry and I grew up in post World War II Madison. In that era before the invention of TV’s and computers, we explored and played “outside”. We invented games. We were fit because we were always active. In the summer we would ride our bikes to the lakes to swim. In the winters we would skate at the ice rinks and romp in the snow. We were naturally fit.
I was a girl who loved “gym” periods in school. It was pre Title IX which equalized athletic opportunities for the female sex. In my high school the boys enjoyed athletics. The girls could be cheerleaders or “pep rooters”, I concentrated on studying. I loved school and college. I stayed fit because I was young.
My major adult career was as a registered nurse. Nursing can be physically demanding and after years of “wear” my back was weak!
Upon retirement I returned to Madison in 1995. A months’ free membership for Capital Fitness was given to us at the closing for our downtown condominium. We went for an introduction. My husband Harry and I both decided to work with a personal trainer. We considered the cost as a part of our health care budget. Our goal was to pursue fitness with safety.
We never reconsidered as we pursued our goals. We work with Brian Fritz who designs training sessions to fit our individual needs. Direction and feedback come with the package. Brian in his quiet, competent manner communicates that he cares. In any training session he actively guides while encouraging and gently corrects. We achieve more than we would if we were on our own.
I thrive in the ambience of Capital Fitness, I love to interact with the staff who have come to seem like a second family. It is a home away from home.
I am older, but I am fitter. I feel great. My work at Capital Fitness has given me the confidence in my goal to grow older with an increased sense of well-being.
- Susie Early

This month’s featured member is David Ballmann. He has been working out at Capital Fitness for 10 years now and has accomplished many things along the way. Here is his story:
Hi, my name is David. I am a little bit different than your average gym member. You see, I was born with a partial visual impairment in both eyes. It wasn’t until age 27 that I went completely blind and felt a total loss of independence. It’s a struggle when you’re able to see your world for your whole life, and then suddenly have to start over again. I spent many years feeling sorry for myself and my circumstance, but I knew that eventually I would have to take control and learn how to be self-sufficient.
During the day, I work as a Transition Specialist (similar to a guidance counselor) for the Wisconsin Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired. I help students with disabilities figure out what they will do after graduation regarding employment and continuing education. I find it quite rewarding to see people become successful despite their life challenges. I love to encourage and motivate students to step outside of their boundaries. Similar to my students, my biggest obstacle everyday would be overcoming people’s beliefs on what blind people are capable of.
Part of my journey to be self-sufficient meant figuring out a way to be active and maintain my physical health. That’s where my membership at Capital Fitness comes in. Some would think that a visually impaired man has no business in a gym setting, but I’m actually pretty good at finding my way around. In fact, I’m even able to run on the treadmill. My biggest accomplishment is now being able to run 60 minutes on the trailblazer route at 6.0 speed and 9.0 incline…it’s my favorite! In addition to cardiovascular exercise, I also do a regular upper body strength training routine with free weights and machines. It’s taken a while to be able to do this, but with personal motivation and help from the Capital Fitness staff, I am able to safely complete my workout each time I come in.