TESTIMONIALS

2/2010

Enter Deanna Meilan !! After responding to a Bootcamp ad, I was very leery of what the next 12 weeks would entail. The group consisted of young, old, as well as those who probably hadn’t worked out in years. I knew that I was physically strong, but mentally weak. Deanna quickly assessed the group and the challenge began !! She met our doubts with encouragement and our limitations with alternatives. She reminded us of our small accomplishments and glowed with pride at our group strides. She educated us with mindful eating tips and got us back on track quickly when we stumbled with our journey. Some days she wanted this more for us than we did for ourselves. Don’t get me wrong this was not a love fest. On any given day you might find us crawling combat style in the sand, building sandcastles after hauling sand in our bags, running with no end in site only to drop and do push ups or pushing a jeep around the block. We had competition between us as we attempted each challenge, but through Deanna’s leadership we were more often cheering each other on.

Anyone can buy a tape, join a gym, find a workout buddy, but who can say that they have a personal cheerleader for healthy living inside and out. This journey has been frustrating, overwhelming and absolutely amazing at the same time. To learn to focus on the inside as well as the outside and to get rid of the scale has changed my life forever. To stop and pause and reflect how much stronger we had become between week 3 and 4 was so much sweeter than any number on the scale. To grocery shop for healthy foods vs living on supplements translates into a forever choice.

I can’t tell you what a difference Deanna would make in a boot-campers life. She is the total package. If you want the total package, than Deanna will be your choice. She is focused, determined, committed to EACH person and compassionate with encouragement. She will not only help those change the numbers on the scale, but will help each person see the light inside of them and want to pass it on !!

Laurie Little

11/09

Hi Deanna!

Thanks for all the encouraging words and motivation you have given us. You are a true blessing to me and to so many others! Kandy

10/09

Today every time I bend down I am reminded of the beach lunges & “skaters!”

Thanks for the awesome variety of workouts, Deanna!

Teri

8/09

I began beach boot camp-never realizing how enjoyable working out next to the ocean would be. Deanna has a way of encouraging you physically, as well as spiritually that made the whole experience a success for me. Julia

9/09

You are a remarkable person and an excellent trainer. I was fortunate to have you on our team at ESAC and am very proud of the impact you are having on people’s lives today! Keep up the great work you are doing. Have a powerful & blessed day!

Kendall

10/09

Dear Deanna,

Thank you so very much for taking the effort and time to email me regarding the CFS and FM. I will try to get a foam roller this week. I want to let you know how much I greatly appreciate what you are doing for me and my fellow team mates with our get fit program. The fact that someone would volunteer to help us with our weight issues and physical fitness and spend as much time and energy as you spend in this challenge is a pure blessing to us all. I greatly appreciate all your positive feedback and motivation and positive remarks while we are working out. I hope that we will be able to return the favor and be a great success and send new clients your way as you build your beach fit program. Let me know if there is anything I can do to help.

Your friend in fitness- Tara

10/09

Deanna,

I thought I would go ahead and email you my thoughts for vitamins, etc. so here it goes…. now before i started this journey 2 1/2 weeks ago if someone ask me to think of a supplement i would have said one that u magically lose weight, but not now or i would have ask for 1 that gives u courage or self esteem but not now bc after working out w/ you and talking to you the few times i have and the mindful eating i have relized i have courage bc it takes courage to do this, i have relized that i have more self esteem than i thought bc i think enough of myself to get out there and make changes,and though u r my teacher thru this its ME…i can honsetly say i have never met anyone like you…you have a spirit that screams i truly love myself anf my life, when i first saw you i thought to myself aww shes so pretty but now when i look at you im like no shes not pretty she is BEAUTIFUL!!!… but really you truly rock and sometimes you truly suck l mean army and crab crawls omg but i was sooooo happy friday because i did them so much better than the first time,and like i told you on the answering machine message i hear you and believe you every word about the heart essence bc that day, heart got me thru and a lil. tiny deanna was there to enforce it….yep you are my enforcer my reality check…..i have to say i am already winning,and w/ each new day it gets better and better…last but not least thank you…you are truly a amazing woman and you are showing me that i am just as amazing each day i hold my head up a lil higher each day i talk or smile at a stranger,and each day i make healthier chooses i am going to do this for me!! ….your my hero bc u have made me see and continue to make me see that its time to be my on hero for me!! tina

09/09

Deanna,

Wow, you are a blessing to this community…don’t forget it and I doubt you will with these kind of testimonials. I am so grateful to be associated with such a wonderful person.

All the best,

Dr. Patrick Lovegrove

Lovegrove Health Solutions

10/09

Deanna -

You kicked my butt but good this morning!!! I am so sore! But thanks. I love what we’re doing but I really feel my age! I am sooooo committed to doing this and hanging in there! You are awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fran

10/09

Dear Deanna,

I never, ever would have thought that I would like exercise.. actually calling what we are doing “exercise” feels wrong. I have been overweight ever since puberty and unhappy for most of the time. I’ve tried everything on the list; weight watchers, cabbge soup, liposuction (I didn’t mention it on my paper, I’m sorry I was embarassed), Meridia, Redux, Slim fast etc. and have had a couple yo-yo times where my weight was okay. Several weeks ago I basically reached rock bottom. My back was a wreck, my moods have been everywhere (sugar/carb addiction). I prayed for God to send someone to help me because I could not fix all of this myself…Deanna I want you to know that God brought you to me. What you are doing here is far more than helping people lose weight. Monday I wanted to quit, Tuesday I thought of quitting too even though I had once again ‘promised’ myself I wouldn’t. Wednesday the ocean brought me back and today is amazing. Today something clicked. Today for the first time in years I felt strong, When I could do those side planks I was proud of myself physically..and I don’t remember the last time I felt that. I had the best time today. I had men and women beside me struggling just like I was. I had people I didn’t know give me encouragement and I got to give some back. I was reminded that life isn’t about ‘wanting’ and that really is what causes most of my suffering. I know I have a long road ahead of me, but today I feel like I will do just fine. I am so grateful for this gift I have been given and I will not take it for granted. See you Monday, I am thankful for you.

Kristy

11/09

Deanna,

After my car accident 18 yrs ago, I never DREAMED that I could ever enjoy this wonderful beach again. Walking on sand was very scary for me! Any shift under my foot would cause such extreme pain. Not only am I walking again, I’ve even been able to run!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You have pushed me beyond my wildest dreams!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am SOOOO excited about 2009 Holidays – I’ve already warned my neighbors that I am going to have the most obnoxiously decorated home on the street! I know that not only will I NOT gain the “HOLIDAY 10″ but that I plan on LOSING 10 lbs over the holidays! And, I have a game plan to accomplish this – BeachFitNow!! I thank you for this!!!!!!!! You keep saying how grateful you are to have this group in your life. It is amazing how everyone has benefitted from and sees the great need to BE part of this ENERGY! It is contagious, effective, dynamic, yet could never be duplicated. Do you really realize how much you are touching lives and the trickle down effect it is having???????????? In this time of Thanksgiving, I just want to make sure that you realize that you are an AMAZING woman, that you are making a difference and I am proud to know you and am thankful for you. THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART FOR HELPING ME GROW STRONGER/HEALTHIER, CHALLANGING ME, CHANGING ME, MAKING ME BE A BETTER PERSON – ONE WHO I’M LIKING MORE AND MORE!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Dana

12/14/09

Hi Deanna,

Of course you have listed many changes that I feel I have accomplished, so I will list the others.

*no need for retail therapy

*feeling alive for the first time in many years

*husband feels I am a nicer person

*I feel I am a nicer person

*walking the Ravenel Bridge

*having more patience

*fitting in clothes that have not fit for years

*having more energy

*more confident

*feeling younger

*feeling happier

*better eating habits

I intend to continue on the right track. One thing I know for sure-exercise is a necessity for me!! I know joining the bootcamp is important for me! I feel it is the best therapy I can give myself!! You help me find the calmness that I have not had for a long time!!! I seem more focused and excited about setting goals for myself! I want to run the bridge in April. That is just one goal!! I know as I continue in the program, I will set many more!! Deanna you give me the strength and the courage to do these things!!!

Thank you again for ALL that you have done for me!!

Love ya girl,

Denise

12/14/09

Wow, the changes that have occurred in the past eleven weeks are numerous!

-My appearance is leaner

-Hips and butt significantly smaller

- I can see my toes!!!

-Arms sculpted

-Posture is straighter

-Skin is brighter

- Increased mobility / agility

-Increased endurance

-Breathing easier

-Physical and psychological confidence has increased ,

-Panic attacks have decreased.

-Digestive system functioning smoothly ( after being destroyed by two back to back pregnancies)

-GERD symptoms greatly reduced

–Mindful eating, paying more attention to the ingredients label when grocery shopping (which now takes a lot longer lol)

- Satisfied with smaller portions

I FEEL GREAT! The past year started out really rough for me. I was pushing 200lbs and looked every pound of it. I was going through all of the normal psychological tortures of Post Partum Depression, as well as suffering from physical ailments related to weight gain and child birth. I was miserable, I looked like crap, my body was doing weird embarrassing things, all I wanted was my old life and old body back. I was a mess mentally and physically and boy, did it show. I saw one picture of myself and realized it was time to take action. I felt disgusted, like I was an embarrassment to my husband and kids. I am very grateful that the boot camp was designed with a spiritual aspect as well as physical. Not only would I never survive the mentality of a militant style boot camp, but at this delicate stage of my life I really needed that insight. Our zen moments have helped me with the art of abundance. I am no longer resentful of my children and my hips, but appreciative. I have greater awareness of my self , which helps me control my anxiety. Slowly but surely I am becoming more and more confident, less and less fearful.

We have truly beautiful people in the weight loss challenge who have helped me see what real women are like and accept my new self as more beautiful than my old self on any day. Their presence has helped me mature a lot. My body is functioning properly and painlessly, I am more agile, my breathing has improved, my posture has improved, my butt and hips have shrunk, my arms are sculpted and my stomach is flatter ( I can see my toes!) I feel renewed and fabulous!! I’m so overwhelmingly happy I could cry, if that makes sense. I finally have a grip back on my life. I am walking away from this experience with the tools to train my body as well as my mind, and that is the greatest gift anyone could have given me. Thank you so much for letting me be part of this, it has literally been a blessing. In three months I went from jobless, pissy, and frumpy to licensed, motivated, healthy, motherly and above all HAPPY! My husband, children and mother thank you, as well.

Andria

12/14/09

Deanna,

My thanks for the following…

peace of mind toward my body, better fitting clothes, peace of mind for myself, taking the time I deserve each week, a greater, more solid bond with my big/older sister, new friends, family awareness of healthy living, LOVE of being outside, more self-confidence, ability to buy clothes that fit me NOW and like them, learning how to push myself harder than ever, accepting myself for failing at times, AND being able to love myself and move forward after doing so. The last one is the one of the most important for me, especially with my current injury…I have been very down on myself and feeling like a failure for not being able to work out since I got hurt, but just this week, I have been able to walk and I even ran 3 miles Saturday…I couldn’t have done that before boot camp (I tried) I was too sore (my shoulder)to run yesterday, but I did walk and when I put my arm in the sling it helps the pain. I know that I can take my time to heal, and still love myself and keep moving forward, trying new exercises so I can continue toward my goals. In the past, I hit a bump or snag and I was done…you have helped teach me to keep going, try new things, new ways, and I will get through this and be stronger for it. For that I am grateful.

Thank you and Happy Holidays to you!

See you tomorrow…sling or no sling, we will see

Laura