Around the Hook Today - November 2009
Gym Member Kerry Nolan Is Achieving Her Fitness Goals With the Help of 
Personal Trainer, Charlie GrantFor many of us there is a light bulb moment, when you actually have to face yourself and say enough is enough. For Eastpointe Health & Fitness member and Freelance Radio Journalist, Kerry Nolan, that moment came when she saw a photo of herself at a wedding she had attended in Bangkok. "When I saw the picture, I said ‘who is that fat middle aged woman?" said Nolan. "Plus while I was in Bangkok, I had a heck of time getting around and breathing which I thought was mostly due to the heat and humidity but was really because I was so out of shape. I really missed seeing so much of that incredible city."
Historically, Nolan was a classic gym "signer upper and no shower" but she had decided after her trip to Thailand that she needed to become committed. For three months she came to the gym two to three times a week. "I felt better but I really didn't see results," said Nolan. "Then I signed up to work with a personal trainer." She began to see results and enjoyed the process. "I started working with trainer, Charlie Grant, three days a week," said Nolan. "He was great at knowing when to push me and when not to which I really responded to. I don't work well with yellers!"
As a past rock climbing aficionado and professional cyclist, Certified Personal Trainer, Charlie Grant, has always had a laid back style combined with a quiet intensity. "I started working with Kerry after she had a shoulder injury," said Grant. "We had some limitations as to what we could do because of the shoulder but we worked around it. One of Kerry's goals was to lose weight so we ramped up her cardio and circuit training to keep her heart rate elevated to maximize the potential for weight loss."
In just under 9 months, Nolan lost 43 pounds and was able to ride 18 miles on her bike and run three miles with ease. "I had decided that I didn't want to die young and I still wanted to rock a pair of jeans," smiled Nolan. "Thanks to working with Charlie and Kim (the club nutritionist) , those goals are achievable."
For Grant, sports and exercise have always been a part of his life. He got the rock climbing bug as a young teen and began to go to climbing sites every weekend eventually combining mountaineering and skiing to his repertoire. "I started running to stay in shape for climbing," said Grant. "I would run from Middletown to Sandy Hook and then I realized that riding a bike would be a lot faster." That led to competitive cycling which took Grant all over the world. A former member of the US National Team Elite Cycling program where he trained out of the Olympic training center in Colorado Springs, Grant won 23 National Championship and eight World Championship medals. Throughout his career as a top cyclist he's been trained by top strength and conditioning coaches.
After cycling Grant stayed involved with fitness. Besides being a Certified Personal Trainer through World Instructor Training Schools (WITS) and The American Academy of Health and Fitness, he is also certified as a Senior Fitness Trainer, Spin Instructor, and a massage therapist from the Institute for Therapeutic Massage. Grant's experience, knowledge and commitment to health and fitness would benefit anyone from the serious athlete to the beginner. He lives with his wife, Gayle and two daughters.
"The real trick is to inspire people to keep going," said Grant. "It's especially important as we get older to have a regular exercise program. It's vitally important to keep our hearts, the body's engine, in top condition. Don't give up. Exercise is cumulative and you will see and feel results." Nolan agrees. "Working out has become addictive for me. . .for once a good addiction," she laughs. "At this point, I don't care how long it takes. I am really enjoying the journey especially with Charlie as my trainer and the very supportive and positive staff at Eastpointe Health & Fitness."