Testimonials

Hey Nevie, My journey…I have always been full-figured; my self esteem has always been intact and my level of confidence has always been pretty high as well. Not saying that to sound conceited or anything but these traits are usually pretty prevalent for many women/people that have some physical attributes that are “high-lighted”. I wasn’t one of those people who ate a bunch of junk or food. Which is what most people assume when they see someone who is on the heavier side. My parents didn’t allow us to eat sugary cereals, cakes and crap so that wasn’t it. I was like WTH is it then? Why am I bigger than my sister and mother? I kept those things in the back of my mind and always watched what I ate. The largest size that I have been is a 26/28W. WHEW!. My parents and I have tried many different weight loss options to aid in my weight loss. Yes, some of them worked here and there but it wasn’t until I decided that my time is now to stay focused, consistent and realistic with my expectations and said ok let’s get it done. The thought sounded different to me this time around. A very close friend of mine showed me Nevie’s flyer from a church event that she attended. I was like WOW she has a nice body and still very feminine let me give her a call and see what’s up. After having tried some other group that didn’t work out well at all. When I met Nevie I was like WOW she has such a LOVING spirit and soul. I provided her with my food log (which I have been keeping) and she was like well here is your first problem; you don’t eat enough. Well, I started on my weight loss journey on December 21, 2011 a little over a year before my 40th Birthday. I told her then that I wanted to get into a regular size 14 by my birthday in February; she said cool that can be done as long as you do your part and I will do mine and give you the tools that you need to reach your goals. When I started in 2011 I was wearing a size 20W. SO….the transformation begins. I started out the first few weeks with FLMD doing 3 days a week then kicked it up to 5 days a week and haven’t looked back since. Man oh man have I had some days there at the facility; crying, yelling, rolling my eyes at Nevie; leaving out of the class to get my mind right…couldn’t stay gone for too long…cause here she comes Nevie; to check up on me and to tell me to get back in it. Gotta love her for loving me and wanting me to reach my goal as much as I wanted to reach my goal! Here we are now almost my 1 year anniversary in December and I have reached my goal of being in a size 14 (please note that there is NO “W” for womans size behind that number 14..)YEAH BABY!!! and I still have time to spare before my birthday in February. I have NO intentions on stopping now; that was my FIRST goal: ) I am TRULY bless to be in the company of such a lovely bunch of ladies striving to be a better us; whether it is an external/internal or both transformation. Brett J….stay focused on what you REALLY want; get your mind right and get there!

I just wanted to share my accomplishments with my Family and Friends! Most of you who know me know that I have struggled with my weight for a number of years. Depression, Stress and critical periods in my Personal Life allowed me to ignore my HEALTH! I took a Leap of Faith when Shelita asked me to attend my first class February 6, 2012 and on February 9th 2012 I became a full time member of FLMD Fitness. Nevina Gray along with her consultation and tremendous ability to work with others after accomplishing her own weight loss Goal has taken me under her wing. Today I have exceeded my Goal weight which was 200lbs I’m now 175 lbs Starting weight was 240lbs.

If you would have told me a year ago that, on this day, I would be in the best shape of my life, that I would feel as great as I looked and that I would absolutely fall in love with exercising again, I wouldn’t have believed you! I joined Fit Like Me Divas almost 8 months ago and it is the BEST decision I have ever made for ME! Nevie is an awesome trainer, mentor, life coach and friend! To date I have lost a little over 40lbs and I am not done! I am looking forward to shedding the rest of my weight and pushing my body to the next level! I thank you Nevie for giving so much of yourself to me, without Fit Like Me Divas I know I would not be where I am! Check back in December for my full 1 year testimonial and of course updated progress pictures!

Here we are now almost my 1 year anniversary in December and I have reached my goal of being in a size 14 (please note that there is NO “W” for women size behind that number 14..)YEAH, BABY!!! and I still have time to spare before my birthday in February. I have NO intentions on stopping now; that was my FIRST goal: )

I am TRULY blessed to be in the company of such a lovely bunch of ladies striving to be a better us; whether it is an external/internal or both transformation.

Brett J….stay focused on what you REALLY want; get your mind right and get there!

When I joined Fit Like Me Divas on 1/18/12, I was in a hopeless place. Exhausted by the demands of being a stay at home Mom for nearly 9 years, still grieving the 2008 death of my Mom’s beloved 54 year old baby brother, Uncle Beetle, from a 5 week bout with lung cancer, depressed and anxious, I was emotionally eating my cares away numbing my pain with food and protecting myself with extra pounds. My self esteem plummeted and the irony of it all was: the bigger I got, the more invisible I felt! Then I learned I had hypertension and low blood sugar. Deneen and I began to talk about weight loss and she called Deneen back in Maryland for your info! The rest is history! Now a month shy of my year anniversary and nearly 40 lbs later, minus 1 of 2 blood pressure medications, maintaining my blood sugar levels through 5-6 small meals daily, my husband has joined the bandwagon and trains with you 2x weekly since May and I’m on the right road to managing stress and living a healthy lifestyle. Thank you!! Thank you Nevie!

I am Michelle Wilson, a 14 year veteran physical education teacher in Bowie. My journey at FLMD Fitness started in 2013. A year prior one of my parents, Kimberly Jordan Croslin, invited me to workout with her phenomenal trainer at the women’s fitness group she had joined. I watched Mrs. Croslin’s amazing transformation that entire year! Mrs. Croslin continued to invite me! While she was “Shaking the Fat and Confusing the Muscles!” as she would say, I was eating cupcakes and other treats at the students parties! I was eating anything I could at school and at home! Finally, in February 2013 the scale registered 207 lbs! I looked into the mirror and screamed, “NO, I must get my body and mind back in shape!” The next day I saw Mrs. Croslin, I said, “Kim, I am ready.” That day, my journey with FLMD Fitness began. I met the amazing Nevie Gray and she trained and mentored me back into the best shape of my life! Today at 53 years old, I’m in the best shape of my life and I can’t believe how much I love exercising now! I have lost 35 lbs, many, many inches, and continue to set goals and smash them! Thank you Nevie for teaching me to believe in myself again! I give God all the glory and praise for bringing you into my life!

Michelle Jennings-Wilson

Weight loss was never something my 20-year-old self could ever imagine or even want to imagine. Life seemed good. I was working. My family was healthy. I had a social life. The future seemed bright and so far off. I was living in the here and now and relished it. When I turned 28, I noticed subtle changes with my body. Nothing major just different. Eating whatever late at night upset my tummy more. Bottomless drinking would reap hellish consequences a mere 3 hours after consumption. And my weight — well, it fluctuated during that time. Fad diets that worked in my teens and early twenties wouldn’t work as well. My dress size went from a 10 to a 12, but I kept eating and drinking whatever without much thought.

Fast forward to my early 30’s. By age 31, my weight jumped to a 14. I became winded easily and soon sickly. Not in a chronic way, but sicker than I’ve ever been with sinus infections and colds, including a few bouts of the flu. I also started having panic attacks pretty regularly. I was pretty healthy up until then. Later on, I experienced several heavy losses. My weight ballooned to a size 18-20. My health began to deteriorate even more. Panic attacks became crippling and embarrassing. For example, I would fall all the time. Anywhere. I’d fall at work. I’d fall on the street. I remember one fall. It was so embarrassing. I fell at McPherson Square Metro Station. Paramedics were called and I was rushed to the hospital. Took many tests that were quite familiar. If you have frequent panic attacks and don’t know what they are, you assume it’s your heart. And, when you tell paramedics, ER doctors, and your personal internist that you think you’re having a heart attack, you take many, many tests only to be declared free of any heart events and sent home with a whopping bill. After many such trips to the ER, my internist suggested I see a therapist soon because “it’s all in your head!” LOL Frequent falling, I later found out, was a sign of major depression, which I was diagnosed with at 38.

When I came to Fit Like Me Divas, my spirit was low and what I thought at the time broken. I had no energy and ate just as much if not more of the same foods that I use to eat at 20. And I suffered much more consequences than at 28, I didn’t have nor did I need to see a plan for losing weight but Nevie did and continues to be to this day that voice, that beacon who pushes and inspires me to be in the best health that I can possibly be, physically and mentally. With the introduction to AdvoCare, the thoughts of changing my eating habits forever weren’t just pipe dreams but within actual sight. I wanted to completely change the way that I thought about food. It’s one of the keys to maintaining weight loss, I feel. The potato bread I use to crave? Stays at the store. Wolfing down an entire bag of Doritos when stressed became a word or two in my journal. Late night noshing became a thing of the past. While on AdvoCare, I went from weighing 216 to 178 and I’m not finished yet. My goal is to weigh 150. It’s doable. And it’s time. I recommend AdvoCare to anyone who is serious about their weight loss journey and maintenance. If I can do it, anyone and everyone can do it! You just need to start the ignition. The key to your body is within all of us. I believe in God and know He doesn’t make mistakes. I’m not broken after all.

Two years ago a friend of mine found a picture of us in the Mediterranean on vacation. When she handed the picture to me I couldn’t believe how much my front was competing with my backside. I was coming up on my 35th birthday and had plans to celebrate in Australia. It was that moment I knew I didn’t want to bring in 35 looking like that. My dearest friend Stephanie had been telling me about this gym she’s been going to. I watched her for months as she slowly dwindled away. That sealed it for me. January 4th, 2013 I stepped foot into Fit Like Me Divas. I was nervous and intimidated. I stood 6 feet tall on the back row of the class with the first 3 rows filled with ladies that looked like they were ready for war. Little did I know or understand. First class nearly killed me but what killed me most was that I couldn’t lift my knees to my waist. I thought “This is crazy! I’m completely out of shape.” I buckled down, came to class 3 times a week, followed all the instructions given by Nevie. On April 4th, 2013 for my birthday in Australia, I am proud to say I was 15lbs lighter and performing high knees was a no brainer. Today at Fit Like Me Divas I am no longer on the back row watching strong women achieve their fitness goals. I am on the front row and the women in the back are watching ME! They give me nicknames like the jump rope slayer. I know what watching the ladies in the front did for me and I’m so happy to help another sister reach her goals. Fit Like Me Divas isn’t just a fitness studio. It’s a family of women with a common goal, to get fit and have fun while doing it. THANKS FIT LIKE ME DIVAS!!!