Success Stories

Jennifer Moses

This past January I joined The One Fitness and began working out with Deon. I am a somewhat seasoned gym rat having tried different facilities and trainers all over Houston but I can tell you first-hand that Deon has surpassed all of them. I feel he is the right balance for my workout needs and has kept me going strong and engaged for over five months. He is very connected with my body and knows exactly what it needs at what time. He is constantly monitoring to make sure I do not plateau and that we continue to see results.

One of my biggest attractions to his personal style over other trainers is the variety to his workouts. He does a good job of catering to my need to truly “mix-it-up” with his blending of weights, cardio machines, balance balls, etc… The thrill of not knowing what is coming next keeps me intrigued and makes the workouts more playful and entertaining. The gym setting is warm and welcoming too. You can feel the energy and positive vibes just watching the members move through. There are rarely any lines for the machines so you can keep your workout flowing without a wait. I enjoy the interaction between other gym members and trainers and have gained several added tips from these exchanges such as healthy meals ideas and exercise tips.

And an added bonus is I get to bring my own ipod and play while working out! The staff is amazing and I have indulged on a few occasions with a massage to relieve the aches and pains. It was tremendous too. I have recommended numerous friends to come and check out The One Fitness and Deon. They are a perfect pair in my eyes and I can not say enough good things about them. I suppose the results are within me and every week I can feel and see a difference which is the absolute best.

Karen Newman

I had to set some fitness goals to loose the 71lbs that I had gained during my pregnancy and decided that I was going to complete the Chicago Marathon. I felt out of control with that much additional weight. I really needed help getting focused and needed someone to get me where I needed to be.I did not want a trainer to help me bulk but to get me trained and ready for the marathon. Deon Johnson was recommended immediately.

I called him and we set a time to meet @ a Starbucks. I liked meeting somewhere other than the gym. We talked about my previous fitness level, my current situation and what my ultimate goals were.

The first thing he told me was that I could not run. With my “runners mentality” that was not what I wanted to hear and was shocked that he suggested it. But I knew that if I was going to finish the Marathon I had to listen to everything he told me to do to get there.

MY GOAL:

Loose weight

Finish the Marathon

Deon’s GOAL:

Drop the weight

Build up my strength

Prepare me for a strong Marathon

Prepare me for recovery AFTER the Marathon

I met Deon at the gym and started my training program. We met 3x a week. I did 30 minutes of cardio in addition to our 1hr sessions. Each time Deon saw me heading to the treadmill he told me “don’t run”. Again, it was hard not to but I had to trust that he would get me where I needed to be…..so reluctantly I listened.

Deon also put me on a diet, told me to keep a food log and drink a lot of water. He would review my food log and assess my progress weekly. I was gradually dropping the weight.

My goal, still, was to run. Deon told me to hold back, so I did. He told me, at this stage, to just “keep moving”….that is what I need to always be doing. Don’t think about running, just “keep moving” and when the time was right we would incorporate running into our workout.

We continued to work with weights 3x a week. As the weeks progressed Deon incorporated some running into our workouts by putting me on the treadmill for 5 minutes 3-4 times during our workouts. I realized, at this time, how important it was that I did not start running again right away. Carrying the extra weight on my joints was not a good thing and just 5 minutes on the treadmill was a struggle.

At the time I started my “marathon training” I was 162lbs.

We changed up my work outs to lighter weight/more reps and continued with 3x a week for an hour. Deon has been working with me on my running posture, improving my stride and how to breathe during my training runs. I have never used a trainer for Marathon Training and am interested in incorporating some new running techniques into this marathon.

Since I have never used a “trainer” to train for the 4 marathons I have completed, I have only had myself to compete with. When it comes to Marathon’s my goal has always been…..”to just finish”. I am not interested in what time my friends finish or even to beat my last time, I have always just wanted to finish…..and I have.

Deon has taken me to an entirely different level of training. He has, of course, helped me with the physical and aerobic piece, but the place he has taken me mentally has been the hardest and most challenging for me. Actually, challenging is too nice, it has been the HARDEST and most difficult thing I have ever done. BUT, he has made me realize how really important it is.

As I continuously stress about my long training runs, meeting Deon for speedwork and maintaining my diet, I often think about some things he said…..”if you are not having fun, then don ‘t do it”……”relax”…….”just run”…….”push yourself”.

Deon is running and doing speed work with me as we get closer to race day. He consistently gets more from me each and every time we run/work out. None of which I would do on my own. He has totally changed my definition of “just finishing”. He is teaching me to set goals mentally and, as we keep training, I am realizing that my body will follow.

Although Deon is “training me” NOT to think this way………..the stress and anxiety of Race Day is part of me each and every day. As we get closer, however, I have my “trainer” “training me” to be positive, healthy and just have fun.

I was 198 lbs when I started with Deon and on Race day I was 130lbs and finished strong.