Iris and Norman Feingold: Miracles Do Happen

For Iris and Norman, joining MBS proved to be a life-altering decision.

“Norman was in so much pain, we didn’t have a life,” Iris, 55, of Boca Raton reveals. “His back was bothering him and our social life fizzled because he couldn’t even sit through a dinner party.”

At the urging of her daughter, Allison, Iris joined the gym and observed.

“I saw that many people had personal trainers so while I took classes and worked out in the cardio area, I watched how different trainers treated their clients. I was impressed by Michael Frank so I began working out with him.”

Norman, 56, started to train with Billy Carney.

Within a few months Iris said miracles began to happen.

“I lost 17 pounds and my body is completely transformed,” she says. “I have never felt so good in my life. I see muscles I never thought I had.”

Norman’s back pain subsided to the extent their social life is now sizzling.

“We both have to much energy, it’s amazing,” Iris says. “With the experience of our trainers and their expertise, we have changed our lives.”

Not only did the Feingold’s weight and pain level take a nosedive, so did their cholesterol levels. Norman’s dropped a full 60 points and Iris’ also plummeted.

“We also changed our diets, cutting back on sugar and alcohol,” says Iris. “In the 39 years I’ve known Norman, this was the very first Valentine’s Day I begged him NOT to buy me chocolate!”

Matthew Gold: From Baker To Banker

Matthew Gold tried on his favorite jeans and said, “Whoa, I can’t get these zipped!”

“That was the day I decided to change my life around,” the 38-year old investment banker says. “I always loved to cook and eat but now my metabolism couldn’t handle all that food.

“I used to own a bakery and thought nothing of eating three bowls of pasta with a loaf of bread,” the former college athlete says. “But when my size 38 jeans became snug, I knew I had to do something.”

Matthew and his wife Roberta took a trip to Las Vegas. Their hotel had a gym and he began getting up in the wee hours and working out. He loved the way he felt throughout the day and when he returned home to Boca Raton, joined MBS.

“Sophia showed me how to create a circuit program,” he says. “I made sure I did about 30 minutes of cardio and then 20 minutes of weight training different parts of my body on different days. “I always followed my workout with a good 15 minute stretch.”

A simple, effective program like Matthew’s worked wonders. Within a few months he dropped 15 pounds and easily slipped into his size 36 jeans!

“I’m not an extremist,” he says. “I listen to my body and do what’s best for it. I also changed my eating patterns. I still eat pasta, but as a side dish to a nice lean piece of chicken, meat or fish.”

Matthew says his philosophy drew him to MBS.

“I like a nice friendly gym,” he says. “I don’t put pressure on myself and nobody pressures me at the gym. Everyone was extremely helpful and you can tell all the employees are motivated in their job.”

Carlos Is “Cruzing” Along

Carlos Cruz, 34, was at the end of a dark tunnel when he joined MBS. He weighed over 400 pounds and the doctors predicted a very grim future if he did not lose weight.

“I knew things were not getting better and they could certainly get a lot worse,” he says. “So I joined the gym because it looked much less intimidating than the other facilities.”

Fred Applebaum promptly took Carlos under his wing and began a gentle program of appropriate cardiovascular activity.

“I lost 93 pounds in less than a year, " Carlos says proudly. “Andrea Contant was also very helpful in helping me develop core training. Allison Raines, the nutritionist at MBS, encouraged me to eat healthier foods.”

This team approach carried Carlos through the difficult times.

“I was afraid people would judge me because of my weight,” he admits. “But I never felt out of place at MBS. The group effort and support was unbelievable.”

Dr. Stuart Zoll, a local acupuncturist and doctor of Oriental medicine heard of Carols’ plight and volunteered his services.

“I was able to control my diabetes and got completely off my antidepressant and anxiety medications,” Carlos says. “It was unbelievable. I saw improvement within two weeks.”

Carlos also credits MBS trainer Lisa Thibodeau for helping him in her group classes.

“I thank God for all these people who went out of their way to help me,” he says. “I know I have a long way to go, but with the team at MBS supporting me, I’ll make that journey to health and happiness. That’s true prosperity!”

Amanda Isn’t “Jost” Another Firefighter Anymore…

Amanda Jost, 24, is a Palm Beach County firefighter who loves her job. She obtained her degree in public administration just in case her dream career fell through.

“I wanted to stay active and keep in shape,” she reveals. “Fire fighting offered that challenge as well as the opportunity to do something worthwhile for the community.”

Amanda joined MBS so that she could do her job properly and perform the tasks her male counterparts could do with ease.

“I trained with Anna and she showed me how to work my muscles more effectively. I now continue her program on my own but check back with her every few months so change my routine so I stay challenged,” Amanda says.

Amanda says everything in her body changed for the positive, but she’s especially proud of her rear end.

“I have a great butt now,” she laughs. Amanda brings the nutritional information she learned at MBS to the fire station where she regularly cooks dinner for her co-workers.

“I’m now very friendly with brown rice,” she jokes.

Although Amanda has belonged to other gyms in the past, she says she’s more comfortable with the family-oriented, friendly style at MBS.

“I like when people say hello to me as I walk in or smile at me as I’m doing my cardio. I also like the way the gym is so user-friendly. All the equipment you need is right there at your fingertips. You want to work abs—there’s an area for that, too. Very few gyms that I visited were so organized.”

Richard Mularski: Athlete Extraordinaire

You can’t help liking this affable athlete. Richard Mularski, 33, known in the sports world as one of the most dominant solo racers in Florida, is so self-effacing he credits others for his spectacular success.

“I’m what you call an adventure racer,” the Bell South employee explains. “I like races that can combine kayaking, biking, running or any other sport.”

Mularski is in excellent shape but says that the staff at MBS helped him train for specific sports.

“For example, Andrea Contant gave me creative ways to strengthen my core so that when I’m kayaking, I have more stability,” he says.

He goes to the gym every day.

“For me it’s like brushing teeth,” he laughs. “That’s my lunch hour. I come to the gym and do what my body needs to train.”

Oddly enough, Mularksi says that yoga has given him extraordinary insight into his extreme athleticism.

“I take Leslie’s class and have learned to enjoy the journey rather than the destination,” he says, quoting the oft-used yoga phrase that means we should enjoy the process or achieving our goals and not focus only on the end result.

“So now if I have a bad race, I shrug and say, ‘I’ve had a bad race.’” Mularski says. “On the other hand, yoga has also taught me to focus in the moment. I’m able to psyche myself up during a race and forge ahead, concentrating on what’s happening right now and not what happened a while ago.”

And just when you thought this macho male earned kudos for trying yoga, he adds a kicker.

“I love taking some of the choreographed classes like Anna’s or Andrea’s because the moves challenge my feminine side. I learn fluidity and flexibility.

“Most of all I love the way the club functions like a family. I can be on the treadmill next to a person who has joined the gym for the first time and we strike up a conversation. Everyone’s open and friendly.”