A total body makeover available at Slim & Tone gym
by JESSICA L. FINCH Associate Editor

Slim & Tone members Lynn Inzinna, front, and Michele Lacourse exercise Saturday on the resistance training machines at the 55 Crosspoint Parkway location, the only Slim & Tone in Western New York. Photo by Jim Smerecak Purchase color photos at www.BeeNews.com

Three months ago, Amy Butler walked into Slim & Tone and today she is a walking success story.

A member of the Forever Fit Program, run through the gym, Butler is boasting the loss of 30 pounds in just three months. She has also lost 13 inches. And she did so by exercising three times a week, changing her eating habits and working with the staff at Slim & Tone.

Located at 55 Crosspoint Parkway, Slim & Tone Express Fitness and Weight Loss Studio is nearing its one-year anniversary. It officially opened on June 10, 2006.

The gym, described as not too big, not too small, is designed for women who haven't been following a regular exercise routine in months, or years, and want to get back into a workout.

"The main thing is that we're a family and open to anybody to come in, and we are there to help you to become a happier person, to feel better about yourself," said Talia Merlino, a certified strength and conditioning coach.

To assist those just getting back into a routine, Slim & Fit offers personal assistance during every visit to ensure members are using the equipment correctly, to motivate them so that they ultimately reach the optimal performance and results.

The main core of Slim & Fit is circuit training, where members stay on a piece of equipment for one minute; the time is sequenced to music. It is recommended that members spend 30 minutes to an hour doing a circuit training workout.

Members also have the option of using the cardio equipment before or after a circuit training routine.

In another room, Slim & Tone has a studio for yoga, Pilates, kick boxing, body sculpting and other classes. One of the most popular classes is belly dancing.

When designing the atmosphere of the gym, Slim & Tone wanted to create a place where women, of all ages and physical ability, could enjoy exercising. The gym wanted to avoid having their members feel any sense of self-consciousness and just be themselves, Merlino said.

There are no televisions in the gym, and most members don't bring headphones and interact with each instead, she added.

At the gym, total body health is the mission. Slim & Tone has a nutritional program for members to gain the information needed to meet their weight loss goals.

"We have informational classes for the spiritual part of the body, on beauty, diet and relaxing," Merlino said, adding social events such as makeup and purse parties are held for the members.

"It's about the whole woman at Slim & Tone, not just exercise," she said. "Everyone is here to help that person, even the other members who are here working out."

Merlino handles new membership evaluations, gathering health histories, doing a strength test and deciding what level they should be at safely. She also designed many of the classes and taught the other instructors.

Slim & Tone has joined a partnership with the Arthritis Foundation's Western New York Chapter and holds seminars at the gym. The fluid motion of the resistance machines used in the circuit training program provides easy movement for members with arthritis.

Other programs include a mother/ daughter summer promotion , where the daughter can work out for free with a membership purchased by the mother. Also being offered is a teen belly dancing class, scheduled to begin in July.

Slim & Tone has an ongoing program, Forever Fit, the group in which Butler has had success losing weight. The 12-week program includes a monthly discussion meeting, and members are required to exercise at the gym three times per week. Weekly weigh-ins and three reassessments (every four weeks) are also included to track what is working for the member.

Forever Fit is designed so the member works into a routine and working out just becomes another part of everyday life.

Some of the classes are in addition to the membership fee. Information is available at the gym.

Slim & Tone is a national company, and Amherst is the only location in Western New York. The next closest gyms are in New York City and Ohio.

The gym also offers discounted prices on the meal program, NutriSystem (www.nutrisystem. com). Membership is not required to take advantage of the reduced price.

For information on Slim & Tone call, 636-5300.

The gym is open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday; 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to noon Sunday.