The FitWit Foundation (TFF) proudly announces the Most Improved Fitness winner of its Spring 2011 FitTeens fitness competition at Grady High School (GHS). The Most Improved Fitness winner, Tyler Booker, age 16, improved her total fitness ability by an impressive 50.1%. Booker is one of 32 students and 13 faculty and staff members of GHS who attended a six-week fitness camp from 14 April to 20 May 2011. The camp, provided by TFF, consisted of four one-hour group workout sessions each week led by certified fitness trainers.

(L-R) Benjamin Thoele, Director of The FitWit Foundation Director; Tyler Booker, Grady HS Student and FitTeens Most Improved Fitness Winner; Michelle Woods, FitTeens Program Director

Booker even impressed herself with her accomplishments. “I can’t believe I did that,” says Booker, “It went by so fast, so I can’t believe I got better so quickly—and I have never seen or tried most of the exercises we did! My family is so proud of me and asks me to show them exercises now.” Booker, a junior, plans to base her senior project presentation on the subject of developing fitness next semester.

Taylor Booker, Tyler’s twin sister, also participated in the FitTeens program. Taylor earned the coveted Camper of the Week award at the halfway point of the program for having perfect weekly attendance, a great attitude, and exhibiting outstanding effort.

The FitWit Foundation also awarded Kim Carr, school nurse at GHS, the Educator Leadership Award for exemplifying the fit lifestyle, exceptional participation and commitment to the program.

(L-R) Michelle Woods, FitTeens Program Director; Nurse Kim Carr, Grady HS School Nurse and Recipient of The FitWit Foundation Educator Leadership Award; Benjamin Thoele, Director of The FitWit Foundation

The FitTeens program promotes a noncompetitive environment where fitness can be fun. The objectives of the program are to develop the habits and mindset of personal development, continuous improvement, goal setting; increase participant fitness abilities by an average of 25%; develop skill mastery in four basic exercises (push-up, sit-ups, squats, and jump rope), and gain exposure to a variety of fitness activities; associate fitness activity with fun, and average greater than 3.5 hours of fitness activity per week per participant.

All FitTeens participants improved their performances in each exercise markedly, but Booker achieved the greatest overall improvement across all exercises. As a whole, the group improved their fitness ability by an average of 39.8%.

Spring 2011 FitTeens Participants at Grady High School

More local press: http://eastatlanta.patch.com/articles/fit-for-a-teen

“We watch them get to the point where they’re taking ownership for their own improvement,” Thoele said.

FitTeens is not just about the physical exercise, though. The first of five main goals is actually personal development for the teens and instilling the values of goal setting. Then comes increasing physical abilities, then achieving mastery of core exercises so they could teach someone else, then having fun, and lastly, just making sure they show up every day.

Michelle, our ever dedicated FitTeens program director, received a moving thank-you note from one of the teachers at Grady HS. Here is an excerpt:

” . . . I have come to realize how working out (and suffering) elbow to elbow with others breaks down a lot of boundaries and creates a new level of community. So thank you–I hope FitWit continues to challenge and strengthen the good people of Grady. Your dedication is indeed making a difference. . . .

FitWit and The FitWit Foundation are indeed creating a new level of community!

.

When I was cc’d on this email I knew I had to share it. It’s from Erin to Michelle regarding a former student of Erin’s turned FitTeen at Grady HS. The origins of FitTeens can be seen in Erin’s “Fit for Life” (catchy title!) class when she taught middle school.
~BT

Hey Michelle -

I just wanted to pass along a really sweet message I received from a parent of one of my former students. I taught J. at Atlanta Charter Middle School when she was in 6th and 7th grade, and she was really on the road to unhealthiness. I remember her being such a sweet and committed girl, but her confidence was SUPER low because of her physical appearance. When I incorporated some FitWit style stuff into the Fit for Life class, J. dove in head first and committed 100%. She LOVED it. Unfortunately, she always seemed to suffer from injuries common to those who don’t exercise regularly (ankle sprains, etc.), but she never gave up. I keep in touch with her mom via Facebook and got this message this morning:

“Just wanted to tell you that J. is loving your Fitwit program at Grady, she lost about 100lbs in the last 14 months, and it is helping her finish the process of toning up. Josh real has a great business!” – M.

She also attached a picture of J. from about 3 months ago, which I guess only makes sense to me because I knew her before she lost all the weight. She looks fabulous…and, best of all, really happy!

Just wanted to pass it along! Tell J. that Ms. Guerrieri sends a big hug and a “congratulations!”
Erin
–
Erin Guerrieri
The FitWit Foundation
www.thehttp://thefitwitfoundation.org.org
erin@fitwit.com

Take a look at Kentavius- yes, even in a yoga pose- a great smile! And a rare pic of all your trainers- in one spot- at the same time!!!

Perfect burpee kick out form from Michelle R.- Senior at Grady HS. Team Grady now reaches the half-way point of fitness camp and with forms like this, the fitness levels are on the rise! Grady FitTeens will continue through May 20th and will end with awards, recognition, pride and some top notch prizes.

Our fitness hats are off to Grady!

The Foundation is proud, pleased and very excited to begin the first FitTeens camp at Henry Grady High School in Midtwon Atlanta. It has been a great kick-off to a new school. Thanks to FitWit- campers- Grady HS- and many other supporters of the Foundation for allowing this growth to happen!

The Foundation just completed another successful six week fitness camp at Decatur High School on Friday April 1st. This was truly a camp that lead both teens and teachers/staff to some new levels of fitness; in fact, “transformations” was the word some of the teens chose to use for the camp experience!

Decatur High School is such a strong partner for the Foundation and the energy and commitment to the camp ran the course of the entire six weeks.

So many great supporters made this camp possible- including incredible interns, FitWit trainers, DHS administrators, Decatur teachers, Josh and Erin and many more. Thanks to the entire team!

Pictured with Ben and Michelle is the teen “OVERALL CAMP WINNER”; Thanishia B. age 16 and a first-time attender to FitTeens. Thanishia improved her overall fitness ability by 51% in six weeks!

And how about the best body rows you have seen in awhile in the attached photo? FitTeens at Decatur High School is now in its’ fourth week and the attendance, the scores, the energy, the fun and the fitness blast continues. The Foundation will conduct the six-week program through April 1st and then hold an exciting awards banquet that afternoon at DHS! All the fitness payoffs recognized and celebrated. Way to go DHS!

( In the pic- Ashley and Ashley with some perfect form body rows)