Fitness Together

I started at Fitness Together about 18 months ago with the primary goal of adding strength training to my fitness routine and gaining some needed confidence when I was at the gym on my own. I was pretty hesitant to start but I knew I needed help to change up my routine – I’m a self-​admitted cardio junkie and needed to learn some ways to get stronger. I have been able to attain my primary goals plus a lot more!
The personal trainers at Fitness Together Belmont are amazing – knowledgeable, warm, caring, and personable with great senses of humor! I am always greeted warmly when I walk into the studio and feel like I’ve just arrived at a friend’s home. The trainers instantly make you feel comfortable in your workout but always push you when they (and you sometimes) know you can do more. I walk out of my workouts always feeling proud of what I’ve accomplished. I cannot thank the trainers enough for their encouragement and patience when guiding me through the workouts they have put together for my specific needs and goals.
I am so glad that I came to Fitness Together Belmont in 2014. I have gotten stronger and leaner but most importantly much more confident about my ability to work out independently at the gym. I cannot recommend Fitness Together more if you are new to working out or simply want to change up a stale routine. PJ and his team will definitely help you to attain your goals!

Let me begin by saying that the Belmont branch of Fitness Together is fantastic. So far I’ve signed up on two separate occasions for training, and have never been disappointed.
That being said, my most recent time at Fitness Together was life changing. I got wind of a promotional deal Fitness Together was offering — lose 20 pounds in 6 weeks. The offer included 4 pack (group, between 2 – 4 people) training sessions per week, with supplementary fitness assessments and dietary/​nutrition counseling. The prize? If you lost the 20 pounds within the given time, all of the training and counseling were free, and you’d be fully reimbursed. I figured since my gym routine had fallen by the wayside in the last year, I might as well take a leap and try to kick-​start my fitness. And boy, did I ever.
I can’t praise the staff of Fitness Together enough for all the help and knowledge they provided me. I started the challenge at a weight of 168.8 lbs, and finished (just today!) at 148.4 lbs (dropping from ~24% body fat to 15%!). Never have I ever been worked so hard than during the pack sessions. Every trainer was kind, approachable, and genuinely cared about my fitness goals. The sessions were held often and easily accommodated my schedule, and the facilities had great hours that allowed me to frequently visit and sneak in some extra cardio on their elliptical and tread-​mills.
As the weeks progressed, I started noticing significant transformations in my cardiovascular health. Keep in mind, the nature of this challenge I was on included a very rigorous diet and exercise regiment (set calorie limit, 5 meals a day, specific macro nutrient percentages, etc.). The workouts, with an emphasis on high intensity interval training, had a quick effect on my fitness — I noticed I lost around 3 pounds a week. This quickly translated into better fitting clothes, higher levels of energy and a general sense of confidence and well-​being. With nutritional advice from Fitness Together I cut out all processed sugars, real or fake, and was taken aback at how many health benefits I reaped! I closely followed dietary advice and ate a mostly gluten-​free diet, and found that within the 6 weeks of the challenge I experienced little to no stomachaches of any kind (which in my book is a big deal). The satisfaction of the little things — like fitting into old clothes, needing a tighter notch on your belt, being less winded from climbing the stairs — it all added up to an immense sense of pride and accomplishment.
With all that said, my time at Fitness Together in the last six weeks has been incredibly formative. I was pushed harder than ever before, and can honestly say that with the help of the Belmont crew I accomplished the most significant health change in my life. For my final session today (which included a weigh-​in that would determine if I had met the 20 lb goal), I walked into the studio with no regrets — whether or not I met the 20 lb challenge weight was less important than the knowledge and accomplishments I have gained from my time at Fitness Together. I want to give a special thanks to PJ, Shane, Paul, Sarah, Paula and Brian for all their help, time and consideration. As big of an achievement as this was, I’m not done. And if you’re looking to really, truly pursue your fitness goals, I can’t recommend Fitness Together Belmont enough.

My wife and I moved back to Belmont from SF a couple of years ago and quickly fell off the exercise wagon. Fitness together has helped us the most with developing a routine that we have learned to love. Now, when we happen to be away for a couple of days and can’t make it to the gym, it feels wrong! My wife really enjoys the small group training. She feels really comfortable with the focus on women’s training they are able to do. I have mostly stuck with the personal training or one on one sessions with a focus on strength training and they have really worked well for me. I have learned to stop focusing on just the # of LBS and focus on how I feel. Even though I am doing that, I have achieved significant weight loss, but more importantly dropped the BF%. I have learned to track my food and what realistic goals are and how to attain them.
As cliché as it might sound, my wife and I feel like part of the family. We enjoy coming and seeing all the trainers at the gym and have built a great rapport with all of them.
Also, I am seriously a fan of PJ the DJ’s mixes (the owner). This guy seriously has a future in the Boston club scene if he ever decides to do something else (which I hope never happens!)

Ive been a client at fitness together for about 6 months, and have been meaning to sit down and write this glowing review for some time now– however, it took me so long to do it because it has been near impossible to put into words the incredible experience I’ve had with this amazing group of trainers.
A little background on me– I’m a 30 year old workaholic who had hit a wall with holding myself accountable for my diet and exercise. The usual quick tricks had stopped working, and I needed a big change. I met PJ and Paula at a health fair at my job, and signed up for a free consult (while talking with them about the consult, I found it very refreshing that their pitch was «we can let you know some options, and if you decide not to go with our training, we’d be happy to give you some free good advice!») It sounded like a win-​win! And it ended up being so much more than that– I signed up for a series of one-​on-​one sessions (I went 3 – 4 times a week), and their flexible available times was essential to my busy schedule!
These sessions included nutrition sessions– a one-​to-​one sit down to educate you on what, when, and how to eat right for weight loss and optimal nutrition. This was so different than all the «diet hype» programs, because I honestly felt like I was eating consistently, not ending up hungry, and still losing weight! I’m so thankful for a program that tells you to eat instead of telling you not to!
The actual one-​on-​one training sessions were some of the most fun and challenging 45-​minute blocks of my life… every trainer here makes you feel like they are invested in you and your results, while pushing you to try things you never would on your own, and honestly making it feel like your working out with a friend who wants you to be the best version of you! I found myself telling my friends and family about what a great time I had (with Paula, Shane, Caitlin, PJ, Paul, and Brian), how sore I was (which is a good thing!), and how much fun I had everytime.
The results were amazing– I stuck to the program, and have to date lost about 25 – 30 lbs. And what I loved about this transformation is that while you enter most fitness programs looking to «get skinnier», I left getting strong and confident (and yea, skinnier too!). I can add running, boxing, and ab workouts to a new list of things I love! This was the best investment I’ve ever made in myself, and if youre looking to do the same, you should 100% do it here. I could never thank these guys enough :-)

I’ve been a member of FT Belmont for 6months and it has been an excellent experience. I joined FT for three main reasons 1) Accountability 2) Motivation 3) Professional Expertise
The staff has excelled at all 3! In the 6mo I have been a member I have lost over 10lb of body fat, gained about the same in muscle mass and I feel better than I have in years. More than that though FT has helped make the changes part of a lifestyle change for me and not just a flash in the pan. I have no doubt I’m going to be able to continue this more active and healthy routine and I won’t quickly fall back into old habits after my FT days are over. I’m a fairly young guy (early 30s) and genuinely at first thought this was a place for an older crowd. Not the case at all, the staff (I mostly workout with Shane) writes great (meaning I’m super tired and sweaty after) workouts for me.
The gym itself is clean and well maintained. There is plenty of equipment and I rarely if ever couldn’t get on a machine even during typical busy times like evenings. The standard routine is to go 2−4x per week to work with a trainer for about an hour and then you are welcome to use the cardio equipment any other time. Generally it’s recommended to utilize the cardio another 3−4x per week, these can overlap so you’re there 3−4x a week total.
I travel a lot for work and FT has been extremely accommodating with scheduling. I’ve always been able to find appointment times for 1-​on-​1 sessions and as mentioned above there is always an open machine for cardio on my own. Having the appointments pre-​set has definitely helped me on the Accountability side. There is no coming home from a trip or long day at work and not going. Having an appointment is a whole other level of Accountability and for someone who finds themselves justifying «I’ll go tomorrow» or «I did a lot already this week» it makes all the difference in actually getting to the gym.
I’ve trained with almost all the members of the staff at one time or another and they are equally motivating but with diverse approaches. One thing that is really important and can’t be overstated is they are all committed to safety and doing exercises the RIGHT way. In the 6months I’ve been going I’ve had about 10 friends get hurt doing the trendy warehouse workout (we all know what I mean) and I’ve never once felt like i was in danger of being injured from the workouts at FT. Based on seeing the same friendly familiar faces in the client crowd I’d say the same goes for all the other members too. The other great motivating factor is the fitness assessments. Once every 2−3mo you’ll go through a prescribed set of the same exercises so you can track how you’re improving. Having those gives you the periodic next goal to always look forward to.
This isn’t a quick fix, trendy new workout, or snake oil type place. You won’t be promised 10lbs in 10 days or pushed to do things you know aren’t realistic. It’s a group of people who genuinely want to work with you to achieve your goal on a realistic timeline. They write reasonable workouts that push you but also ensure you can still move the next day and they work with you to coach you outside of the 3−4hrs you spend with them a week to make the right choices when you eat or exercise on your own.
I’ve had excellent results in just 6months. I’ve lost inches on my waist while visibly seeing a difference in tone in my arms, chest and legs. My clothes fit better, I get compliments from family and co-​workers, and I generally just feel better. I highly recommend this approach and FT Belmont!

Fitness Together Belmont is so magnificent that I love them like family… seriously! The group of personal trainers are tough but warm. Their goal is your goal… to get you fit and healthy. It’s not just about muscle, but diet and they make it easy.
My son was born with a disease that causes muscle tightness and cramping/​knots. It got hard for him to walk much less exercise and he gained a great deal of weight. He’s been at Fitness together for the last 6 years and is so strong and healthy… a black diamond skier, a runner and just an all around great kid… and I owe it all to Fitness together.
Full Disclosure… when I get to lax with the diet and exercise, I throw myself in for a 3 month boot camp and get it all back in shape. I WOULDN’T GO ANYWHERE ELSE AND NEITHER SHOULD YOU!
Anne Mahon,
Belmont Resident
Google me if you have more questions… ;-)

I am a huge fan of Fitness Together Belmont and their incredible staff. This spring I did the Great Jeans Challenge and had impressive results. Over the eight week challenge I worked out at Fitness Together three times a week doing the small group Packs. The trainers encouraged me to incorporate cardio, monitoring my progress along the way.
At the end of eight weeks I lost 15 pounds! I lost three inches off my waist and two off both my hips and bust. The results speak for themselves– and I fully credit the supportive trainers who maximize every minute for results. The atmosphere is wonderful and supportive. The other clients are delightful. The staff at Fitness Together are truly great people and I can not say enough about what a difference this place has made in my life. People join gyms for all different reasons. When you are ready to make a substantive change and improve your health and get in shape for real– this is the place to go.

I’ve been going to Fitness Together in Belmont for six months. I’ve been thrilled with the place since the beginning but wanted to wait a few months before writing my review. I can now say that this is the best decision I’ve made in a very long time.
It is a great place to go to, no judgment, no embarrassment, no torture. The trainers here genuinely care about your health and you becoming stronger and raising your fitness level. You are in competition with no one but yourself. I love the privacy of the individual rooms. Let me talk a bit about the magic that the owner (and awesome trainer) PJ uses to make this place so ideal — it’s the trainers. Each and every one of them is a great trainer but it goes much beyond that. They have great qualities that make you look forward to coming in and being motivated to do your best. I absolutely look forward to my work out sessions. I can come in at the end of a long day, dragging a bit and then I workout and leave like a new person. I never realized how important it is to have a trainer guide you in your fitness, but it definitely is worth it. My fitness level has really gone up and I am much stronger, am better with my balance and flexibility and just feel better overall. And you know, I actually kind of like squats now.
I already mentioned PJ — he’s an incredibly knowledgeable and patient trainer, and I always learn something new when I work with him. My ‘regular’ trainer is Brian, the assistant manager, and he is wonderful. He is supportive and always full of great advice on my workouts and my nutrition. I have worked out with all of the trainers and each has his/​her own style; while the workouts are written in advance for you (customized exactly for you) the session can be slightly different depending on who you work with that specific day. Paula is the manager and a real sweetheart. Working out with her is fun, she pushes me and supports me both. The head trainer is Paul — probably the biggest cheerleader there. I probably laugh the most when I work out with him. Suzanne is the one I like working out with when I really need to work on my flexibility; I always get great tips on stretching. Shane is the one who always gets me pushing myself to the limit with the weights. I have grown to love the feeling of lifting until I can’t do a pound more. And Caitlin is wonderfully supportive and inspiring, as someone who started as a client.
When you start you get a fitness assessment. At first I really dreaded it, I mean really, who wants to be measured and weighed? It is done so matter of factly with no muss, no fuss … and then you set a personal goal. Six weeks or so later, you get assessed again. It’s great to see your progress and know where you stand. As I mentioned before, there are individual workout rooms with just you and your trainer, so it’s private. That said, the atmosphere is a very friendly one and you get to know others who work out. Everyone is nice, everyone is there for their own health and no one judges anyone else. I have not yet done the pack sessions (with several people) but will probably be trying it.
I strongly recommend going to Fitness Together at Belmont, getting an assessment and changing your life for the better. You will be so happy that you made this change. I was someone who was doing cardio 7 days a week but didn’t really know how to do strength training. The nutrition advice is really helpful too. I had been to a nutritionist before and the different here is that you talk about specifics with your trainer during the Nutrition Training (I think that’s what it’s called). So you get guideline numbers customized for you with regard to how many fat, carb and protein grams you should be eating for each meal and overall for the day. This was extremely helpful info.

amazing trainers who really care about you. They make it fun so it doesn’t feel like a workout… love it here…

I’m a long-​time Fitness Together — Belmont client and consider the cost an investment in my health. Here’s why:
Weight loss — I’ve lost 45 pounds as an FT — Belmont member and most importantly I’ve kept it off for almost 2 years. This is the first time in my life that I have been able to maintain a significant weight loss for more than 6 or 8 months.
Running — never been a runner, never been an athlete. Because of the support I receive from the FT– Belmont trainers, I am now a runner. I did my first 5k in June 2012 with FT and have done 12 more since. And the Tufts 10k — completed it in 2012 and 2013. So, ya, I’m a runner!
Yoga — FT — Belmont doesn’t teach yoga. But a couple of the FT trainers were worried that I wasn’t doing enough post-​run stretching, resulting in a loss of flexibility and knee soreness, and recommended yoga. So now I’m incorporating yoga (at a yoga studio) into my schedule and can really feel the difference. I love that the FT trainers make recommendations that help me and my overall health!
I do the Pack Training 3x a week and have a blast! The Trainers are knowledgeable and know when and how to challenge me. When the little voice in my head tells me that something is too hard or that I am too tired the Trainer’s voice is the one I listen to and keep on working. The Trainers can modify exercises to make them a bit easier or more challenging based on the individual needs of the clients — this is not a cookie-​cutter kind of a workout!
The atmosphere of the club is very supportive — the Trainers support the clients, the clients support the Trainers when they are training for marathons and the clients support each other. Such a great place to work-​out!

I have been training here for over a year now and am really satisfied. I generally do two packs per week plus cardio on my own. All the trainers have great personalities and know how to motivate as well as ensure proper technique. The packs are a great bargain and a good way to build camaraderie with others in the gym. I have lost about twenty pounds and several inches and feel much better overall.

I have been going to Fitness together in Belmont for private training sessions for about four months now. The trainers are very knowledgable, and great with coming up with an individualized plan that is effective and motivating. I had some injuries before starting there, and was not sure they would be able to deal with my shoulder and knee injuries and still give me a good workout. They have gone above and beyond my expectations! The environment is friendly, inviting and motivational! It has been a great way for me to get back into the fitness world.

Personal training is an expensive service, but Fitness Together of Belmont is worth every penny. The entire staff knows your name, provides encouragement, and holds you accountable. Your workouts are individualized and updated regularly to fit your specific ability and needs. Beyond the workouts, they provide excellent nutrition counseling and support to enable you to fulfill your fitness goals. PJ, Paula, Joe, Brian, Meghan, and Colin are a great group!
P. S. I was impressed to learn that FT of Belmont not only trains adults, but they have also customized their services to children and teens, as well as people with physical limitations.

If you are looking for individual support and personal trainers that care about you meeting your individual goals this is the place. The owner, PJ and his team — Paula, Joe, Megan, Brian and Colin are fantastic. The facilities are very clean and the equipment is kept in top shape. They all work together to keep me motivated.