Sweat PT Testimonials

I have been through it in the last 5 years. I took a tumble in 2019 where my knee gave way. Many doctor visits and trials led to total knee replacements in both knees 9 weeks apart in 2020. I had suffered well beyond these surgeries and again several doctors until I found the best orthopedist who listened and realized that I needed to have revision surgery on both knees in late 2023. But let’s go back from March 2023 – present time. My husband had been practically begging me for us to join a local gym and to see if we could find a personal trainer that could maybe work with me to get some mobility back. I have wonderful grandchildren whom I love to take on adventures; but was only able to walk with any comfort at all using a walker. I was 61 years old and felt like I was 90. I was depressed at not being able to do the things I was counting on doing at this age. Though my background was a very public profile in South Carolina, I was not one for group activities such as a gym. I was embarrassed at my inability to move and felt like I would be an old woman in a gym full of muscled young adults. I finally agreed to go and listen. We visited Bailey’s Gym in St. Augustine and asked about personal trainers. We were informed about Sweat PT – the company that was located within the gym to help us with the decision about personal training. We made an appointment with Nate Franklin for the following Monday. I can’t tell you how many times I changed my mind about going over that weekend. Enter Nate’s office Monday morning. He was so personable, friendly and most especially knowledgeable about both of our cares and concerns for not only me but my husband. He spoke so about the healing and wellness points of muscle strengthening, core strengthening, diet and water intake and cardio training. I had gained so much weight without the ability to physically walk or bend my knees; I will admit that I was scared and skeptical. He was appeasing my fears the longer we talked. He didn’t rush – he let me interrupt a thousand times with questions. HE LISTENED! And now the best part….. He immediately knew which trainer amongst their staff I needed. He told me her name was Susan and said that she would reach out to me to set a schedule for me to begin my training at 3 days per week. The first day I walked in of course I was so nervous. I couldn’t even imagine that there was anything I was going to be able to do; much less anything with my knees that wasn’t going to be so painful that it could help. To say she saved my life would be an understatement!!! I say all of the time that I can walk because of Susan. She just knew what to do. What to do that was strenuous enough but not painful. There has been only one thing and only on day one that I said, “I can’t finish these – it’s just too painful!” – and it was abs and not knees. She made me walk again! She made me so strong for my second set of surgeries. I trained until the day before my surgeries. I recovered so much easier; and though I am in still in recovery the journey is so much better this time around. I have learned so much! I am watching my body transform! I feel stronger and healthier than I have felt in a long time. And the thought of all of those muscular young adults….gone. There are plenty of them don’t get me wrong; but I have made so many acquaintances that are my age or older. Friends who have learned the same thing that I have…that putting yourself first and doing the work at the gym is soooooo worth it. For some of us…it’s a reason to get out of the house for a moment and wow what a benefit. Sweat PT saved my life. From Nate (listening and finding just the right person for me) to Susan (who truly believes in the concept that she is “my personal” trainer and that there is such a need for wellness beyond rehabilitation). For those of you who don’t know that this miracle is out there….please go see Nate at Sweat PT. Don’t be shy and please make yourself a priority. It is EVERYTHING! My training should end in March; but I don’t think mine will. There is so much accountability and encouragement from having a personal trainer.

My workout history has been that I have worked out during high school, college and then life hit. Two degrees, opening my own business and life got in the way. I didn’t put myself first. At this age, I knew that if it wasn’t going to be too late, I had to act now. My philosophy has always been that I can follow direction, but I didn’t know the direction on my own. Certainly, I have found that out as I have a trained professional to show me the way. So, I had my own self-motivation for wanting to join a gym and seek out a personal trainer; but my wife was struggling. She had undergone two very unsuccessful knee replacements, couldn’t walk very well at all and was staring down the barrel of two knee revision surgeries. I wanted us to both get involved and truly believed that there had to be someone out there to help us both. Enter Nate Franklin with Sweat PT at Baily’s Gym in St. Augustine, Florida. I finally got my very reluctant wife to agree to this meeting and it couldn’t have gone better other than our trainers. He was great from the beginning. He listened and understood what our goals were. During the conversation we talked about the type of trainers we felt we needed in general terms, and he couldn’t have picked better trainers for both of us if we even knew how to pick them ourselves. Jim was great from the start. He is my age and understood the mechanics and the shape I was in for my body. The first thing he taught me to do was stretch – how to, how long to and the parts of the body to target with each stretch. The second thing I had to learn, which seems innate, was how to breath. He taught me when to inhale and exhale during the exercise I was doing. This was so important. Most importantly, without his knowledge and training, I would never have known the correct technique involved in each and every exercise performed to optimize the results to be gained. I was doing it wrong my entire life and never knew and would never have admitted it. Jim changed my life and is changing the way I look and feel. I would never have accomplished this without him and without Nate’s instinct ability to match a client with a trainer. If you are thinking of joining the gym, but you’re not sure of what to do when you get there; I highly recommend hiring a personal trainer to educate you. I promise you won’t regret it!

“I had some very specific goals regarding weight training. I decided to work with Stan, a world class personal trainer, to accomplish my goals of carrying 30-50 lb items up the stairs of my home. Not only did I accomplish my goals, I surpassed them. Sweat PT’s upbeat attitude makes any day at the gym a GREAT day. I am happy to tell you that everyone at Sweat PT and Bailey’s that I have had contact with has been professional and positive. Thank you Sweat PT and Stan for helping me maintain my health and independence! “ - Leona

"Bailey's Health & Fitness and Sweat PT Personal Training has provided me with the tools and knowledge to continue exercising despite Myotonic Muscular Dystrophy. When I was born, my parents were told I would never walk. I am not only walking, but weight training too. Never give up!" - Kacie Lee

“I weighed 325 lbs and my life consisted of zero exercise and a diet of frozen food, fast food, and soda. After being told I was pre-diabetic, I knew it was time for a major change. I wasn’t happy, healthy or confident. I decided to set a goal to lose 140 lbs. I started simple, with a Fitbit to log activities and MyFitnessPal to journal my diet. For a few months, I just started with walking and tracking it on the Nike running app and soon I had lost 50 lbs! I eventually joined Planet Fitness and stayed there for almost 2 years. By that time, I had lost around 75 lbs. I felt that I needed more of a challenge and a change of scenery, so I joined Bailey’s. After 2 months of working out, they convinced me to try a free training session with Gina. I was hooked! She paired me up with my trainer, Marie, who I trained with for a year. It was life-changing. She was able to give me the nutritional tips I needed to succeed and challenged me with weekly workouts. I got to my goal in less than a year and then decided to aim for another 20 lbs. I’ve lost 15 of that. I’m here to tell everyone that if I can do it, you can do it. It’s all about consistency and dedication. Make it a habit! I had many challenges and obstacles along the way and was discouraged many times, however, with the support of my family, friends, co-workers, and Bailey’s and Sweat PT family, I never gave up. I will never give up. Fast forward to today, I’ve turned into a runner! I run several of the races in town, including the gate river run twice, and I’ve signed up for the Donna half marathon. You can do anything you put your mind to!” - Jenna W.