Gold's Gym's Know Your Own Strength Challenge: Meet the Teams!

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The Know Your Own Strength Challenge is a special advertising feature. It was not created by the editorial department of Express.

What does it take to be the healthiest you? Six contestants have taken the first step to find out in the Gold's Gym KNOW YOUR OWN STRENGTH Challenge. For the next 12 weeks, challengers will gain points through weight loss and fitness contests until the one with the most points wins. The victor receives a year-long membership to Gold's Gym and a cash reward of $5,000! Now, let's get to know our Contestants and their trainers!

TABATHA: Slimmer for her Sailor
GOAL: A Well Welcome Back. Tabatha, a mom and a program assistant for the Department of Homeland Security, wants to be in her best shape when her fiance, who is in the Navy, returns after a year in Afghanistan.
OBSTACLE: Tabatha struggles to stay focused on a fitness plan.
TRAINER: Melissa is certified by the American Council on Exercise and is certified in CPR by the American Heart Association. She's well qualified to help Tabatha stay on track. Melissa will be training Tabatha at the Gold's Rockville-Randolph Road location.
Strong to the Core: Melissa will use a plan of core conditioning and balance to increase Tabatha's inner strength.
Tabatha's starting weight is 209.6

JASON: Building Military Muscle
GOAL: To be fit for enlisting. Jason is a program analyst for the U.S. Department of Justice. He wants to have the option of joining the Army, but currently weighs too much. He's joining the challenge to pursue his dreams of a military career.
OBSTACLE: Jason finds that it's hard to commit to a fitness plan when he has to do it alone.
TRAINER: Phil has a Bachelor's degree in kinesiology from James Madison University and is certified with the National Strength and Conditioning Association. Phil and Jason will team up at the Gold's Ballston location.
Extended Family: Phil plans to introduce Jason to everyone at the Gold's Ballston location. He says a sense of community can make success feel much more tangible.
Jason's starting weight: 289.4

JESSICA: Battle Ready
GOAL: To return to her pre-civilian conditioning. Jessica is a legal assistant with Manning And Martin, LLP who wants to get back into the shape she was in during her eight years in the military. She'dd also like to be healthy and have the energy to keep up with her eleven-year-old son.
OBSTACLE: When Jessica doesn’t see results immediately, she gives up.
TRAINER: Michelle is a fitness trainer and performance nutrition specialist certified by the International Sports Sciences Association. A mom herself, in the past she has faced fitness obstacles. A national fitness competitor, she is also a certified yoga instructor and reflexologist. Her range of training is ideal to assist Jessica in her return to fitness. The duo will work together at the Gold's Fairfax Station location.
Looking to the Past, Creating the Future: Michelle has asked Jessica to create a collage of photos from her best fitness days to maintain inspiration.
Jessica's starting weight: 205.0 pounds.

KATIE: A Diva in Waiting
GOAL: To be fit and fashionable. Katie is a contracts manager for Intelsat Corporation. She wants to lose weight for health reasons and to look great wearing fashionable clothes.
OBSTACLE: Katie has trouble sticking to a diet plan.
TRAINER: Elissa is certified by the National Association of Sports Medicine and is CPR & AED certified by the American Red Cross. She is well equipped to work with Katie on proper nutrition, weight training, cardiovascular training and educational assistance to support Katie's goals.
In Her Own Words: Elissa wants Katie to keep a food journal for a week to see where her diet problem areas are.
Katie's starting weight is 246.6.

BRUCE: From Surviving to Thriving
GOAL: To maintain his health and attain employment. Three years ago, Bruce was diagnosed with thyroid cancer, and he cofacilitates a thyroid cancer support group. Fortunately, his last blood test showed no levels of cancer. Unfortunately, he recently lost his job as a Facilities Manager. He wants to get fit to stay cancer free and to make himself a more marketable job candidate.
OBSTACLE: He's lost weight in the past but has trouble keeping it off.
TRAINER: Antonio, an Iraq War veteran with certifications from the National Association of Sports Medicine and the American Council on Exercise, is well prepared to help Bruce overcome his fitness challenges.
Permanent Fitness: Antonio will create a personalized fitness plan to get Bruce in shape and provide tools and resources to help him stay fit for life. Antonio will be training Bruce at Gold's Merrifield location.
Bruce's starting weight is 315.2

TIM: Halting Disease in its Tracks
GOAL: To stop one family tradition--Diabetes. Tim is a Traffic Coordinator with Fox 5 News who wants to avoid the diabetes that runs in his family. He'd also like to stop taking medication for high blood pressure.
OBSTACLE: Tim has difficulty staying motivated to stick to a routine.
TRAINER: Abu is National Association of Sports Medicine and CPR certified, and, in addition to personal training, teaches Bootcamp classes at Gold's. Abu will be training Tim at Gold's Capitol Hill location.
Low Tech But Lasting: Abu believes in setting small, achievable goals which will help Tim attain & sustain his motivation.
Tim's starting weight is 282.0

Beginning this Thursday, you can read our trainers' blog at www.expressnightout.com/goldsblog for more information on health and fitness so you, too, can KNOW YOUR OWN STRENGTH!

To start your own challenge, go to www.goldsgym.com/2010challenge.