Success Stories
At the age of 23, I was diagnosed with POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome). This diagnosis typically means that any form of physical exercise would prompt dizziness and the occasional fainting. Whenever I stood up too fast or got out of bed, I’d get lightheaded and dizzy. As a very active, young individual, not being able to hike, play sports with friends, or make simple positional changes made life very frustrating. Most importantly, for my dream career, I needed to get SCUBA certified, but was unable to do so with my condition.
My doctor recommended that I seek out someone to help me with consistent and graduated physical activity to strengthen my cardiovascular system. That’s how I came across Dennis.
Dennis does a great job creating a plan to help me progress with my physical activity. He is exceedingly thorough and thoughtful when it comes to my specialized training plans. We went from simple exercises on the ground to standing and jumping!
I’ve been working with Dennis for roughly one year now and, WOW, what a difference it has made. Dizzy spells and lightheadedness are now infrequent and I’ve been able to get back into rock climbing, riding my bike, moderate hiking, and getting out of bed in the morning. Plus, I am so close to being cleared for SCUBA diving! I could never have gotten to this point without Dennis.
I am so grateful for Dennis and his dedication to helping me get back to the active lifestyle I once had lived and working towards my dream job.
Thank you, Dennis!!!
Kallie T.
Fort Collins, Colorado
I am in my 50s, and for years have endured pain and discomfort due to osteoarthritis. After several trips to doctors and physical therapists, I finally decided that I needed to build my core and strengthen my muscles to support the joints in my knees, hips, shoulders, etc. That decision has changed my life dramatically.
I found the information about Core Fitness and Dennis and was immediately drawn to the fact that he works with a variety of people of varying ages, abilities, and backgrounds. I knew that I could not work with someone with a huge ego and a drill sergeant mentality. Thankfully, Dennis is far from a drill sergeant and is a genuine and caring person who is able to assess his client’s ability level and collaborates with them to gradually move them into better physical condition.
I have been working out with Dennis for more than 7 months and am extremely happy with the results thus far. I am in the best shape I have been in for years! In addition to having firmer and more defined muscles, I have gained strength, improved my balance, and have lost 26 pounds. Most importantly, the pain that I used to feel in my legs, knees, and hips occurs less frequently. I have so much more energy than I used to and feel better and healthier.
Dennis is a truly knowledgeable and skilled physical trainer. Each time he shows up for our workout, it feels like a teammate has arrived to help me reach my goals. With a great sense of humor, he gently but firmly helps you get from one level of fitness to the next. He is also a good listener who knows when you have reached your limit. As great as Dennis is, (Did I mention that he is the most punctual person I have ever met?) none of this would work if I were not doing my part. Dennis is a guide and a coach, but I have to be committed to the process. The weight loss has been due to exercise AND a change in my eating habits. One thing I have learned is that, for me, getting and staying in shape is a lengthy process that I have to stay committed to. All of the hard work is definitely worth the outcome, and I just wish I had started doing this sooner!
I highly recommend Core Fitness and Nutrition as a strategy for getting in great shape and staying healthy. Thanks, Dennis!!!
Pam A.
Loveland, Colorado
My wife and I, after 25 years of start-and-stop exercise, found Dennis online last year. We met at our house and he explained his process for functional fitness. We liked the idea of building strength and cardio for everyday life (going to the gym to build ‘ego muscles’ was never very motivating). We also liked the idea of a 30-minute workout three times per week (because staring down the barrel of a 60 or 90-minute workout wasn’t sustainable for us). So, we signed up.
Here we are over a year later, and this is the first time in our lives outside of playing sports as kids that we have worked out this consistently for this long.
We recommend Dennis’ services enthusiastically and without reservation for two primary reasons:
- His accountability. The one thing that keeps us consistent more than anything else is accountability. And the reason we show up for every workout is Dennis. His personality and energy are kind and motivating. We wouldn’t want to let him down, and yet he never applies any negative pressure. He’s just a great person to work with.
- His methodology. With Dennis, we do every kind of sit-up, push-up, squat, kick, punch, plank, stretch, and balance from every angle you can imagine. This is all done using gravity, an exercise ball, and basic handheld weights. The result is that we’ve become physically strong in every aspect (including cardio), which is great for golf, hiking, household stuff, picking up kids, laying on my back under the sink to fix the faucet – you name it. It’s also the first time I’ve had a six-pack in my life.
(Bonus 3rd reason – Dennis understands the value of quality beer!). 🙂
Dennis, we are grateful to you and the help you provide. Our sense of well-being and health has increased tremendously because of you. Our hope is that you’ll be available for many years to come to help us continue living better lives.
Jon and Monique Thompson
Windsor, Colorado
In 2014 I had a level-three disc herniation in my cervical spine with radiculopathy (including high levels of pain, weakness, and numbness) of my right shoulder, arm, and fingers. Afterward, I was very limited in what I could do physically for more than two years while I healed. Before my injury, I weighed 135 pounds, had an active lifestyle, and was in good physical shape. After my injury, my physical fitness and my emotional well-being slowly spiraled downward in a relentless cycle – fed by the fear of re-injuring myself and resulting in a sedentary lifestyle and unhealthy eating habits.
I joined a gym in the late fall of 2016; the membership included two sessions with a trainer who personalized a workout routine for me. Due to my spinal injury, the trainer limited me to low-impact cardio equipment and weight machines. I was able to consistently go to the gym 2-3 times a week for several months. During that time, I experienced an improvement in my endurance and flexibility, but there was no change in my strength or pain levels. Like many people, my responsibilities distracted me from going to the gym and eventually became an excuse not to go. The relentless cycle continued to spiral downward.
By the time I reached out to Dennis in the spring of 2018, I had gained 55 pounds, experienced consistent pain from my injury and lack of physical activity, and was deeply depressed.
During the initial consultation and throughout our time working together, Dennis was professional and forthright about his expectations for clients. He took the initiative to inquire about and actively listen to my expectations, goals, concerns, and physical restrictions. He was always respectful of my time by being punctual and communicating with me about changes to our regular schedule long in advance.
Dennis’ style is a healthy balance between good-natured and stern. He created exercise routines that worked around and with my spinal injury. His approach was methodical, systematically strengthening muscle groups to eliminate the risk of injury while creating overall base strength to build upon in future sessions.
Working one-on-one with him provided me a sense of accountability to maintain a regular exercise routine. I experienced noticeable results in my weight, posture, strength, endurance, emotional well-being, and pain level in a matter of weeks – something I didn’t get from a gym membership.
I genuinely looked forward to the workouts with Dennis. The routines were fun and different every time. If an exercise triggered my spinal injury, he modified it on the spot. I felt a sense of pride and accomplishment after every session, especially on the days when I wasn’t feeling motivated to exercise at all.
Today, with the help of Dennis, I have lost over 35 pounds; I feel happy, healthy, resilient, and strong.
Having Dennis as a personal trainer is not a walk in the park. He will push your limitations a little further in each session, with the full expectation that you will do your part in between sessions to maintain a healthy activity level and diet. He is your guide and cheerleader on this journey to wellness, but *you* are the sole person responsible for taking the steps.
JD Stenger
Fort Collins, Colorado
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I have been working with Dennis for almost two years now. I started out as what I think his typical client is: working a desk job, very inactive and too heavy to really do the outdoorsy things I wanted to do. I enjoy mountain biking a ton, and I let myself go enough that mountain biking wasn’t fun anymore. I couldn’t keep up with my friends anymore and it just sucked to ride up hills. I was at a tipping point of making a huge change or falling deeper into the hole.
Luckily, I found Dennis through Facebook and signed up in the summer of 2016. I was 270 lbs at the time. My first workout sucked. He didn’t make me feel inadequate or out of shape which was refreshing. Looking back, we did a very easy routine, but it hurt. Now two years later, it still hurts. He has this special ability to revise your workouts as you progress and get in better shape. I’ve asked him “shouldn’t this be getting easier?” many times, but that’s not what I pay him for. I need to be constantly challenged so I can keep progressing towards achieving my goals.
I’m currently down to 230 lbs and much stronger than I have ever been, even in high school as an athlete. Every day living is easier. If it weren’t for Dennis, I’d still be 270, maybe more. He inspires me to eat healthier and shows up to my house whether I feel like working out or not. I would highly recommend him to anyone I know. I hope to keep working with him for a long time to come.
Like they say, you either pay for your health now and get in shape, or pay for it later in medical bills and prescription drugs. I’m choosing now.
Oh, and I am really enjoying being back into mountain biking!
Thanks, Dennis!
Robbie Jackson
Fort Collins, Colorado
Where do I start with Dennis? Well, in a nutshell, he changed my life.
In March 2016, I took a vacation to my hometown in Florida and found myself crying next to my partner as I looked at photos of us on the beach. I had hit my final breaking point. I was at my highest weight, my lowest self-esteem, and even found myself struggling to catch my breath as I walked up a flight of stairs.
Finding and hiring Dennis as my personal trainer was one of the best things I’ve ever done.
I knew he was committed to helping me reach my goals the first time I met him. Instead of me interviewing him, I noticed that he was interviewing me! He was seeing if I had what it took to commit and invest in myself and the changes I wanted to see. One of the main things that drew me to contact him in the first place was that I had read reviews and testimonials that highlighted his ability to push you to your limits and beyond while still making you laugh through the burn. His humor and personality make it so easy to look forward to working out.
Another big selling point for me is that the workouts are only 30 minutes! And believe me, I got a LOT done in 30 minutes! When I started, I actually had a toe injury that prevented me from doing many movements. This didn’t stop Dennis from tailoring each workout just for me, and despite the injury, I still lost 20 lbs, lost inches and got in the best shape of my life!
I recently made the decision to move back to Florida and had to stop working with Dennis. However, I have truly noticed all of the many ways in which I have benefited from my time with him. This is what I have taken away from my time with Dennis:
- I am more committed to my health and continuing my fitness journey than ever before.
- Creating my own workouts are rather easy for me now where as before I had no idea what to do half the time.
- My strength is 10x more than it used to be. My partner and I unfortunately did not have help moving all of our furniture into our new home, and I found myself being able to easily team lift large reclining couches without injuring or straining myself.
- My self-confidence and faith in myself has increased greatly and I have a better understanding and appreciation of what my own body is capable of, which inspires me even more to continue pushing myself.
- I have healed a lot of my previously persistent complaints such as GI issues, constant fatigue and headaches, and now know what the difference is between feeling sickly and feeling healthy. The list goes on and on.
In the end, if you are invested and committed to changing your life for the better, Dennis will without a doubt help you in reaching your goals.
To me, he wasn’t just a personal trainer, he was a teammate I could rely on, and I can’t thank him enough for all of his support.
Thank you, Dennis!
Jacquelyn Watson
Orlando, Florida (formerly Fort Collins, Colorado)
Dennis was an absolute game changer for me. I spent years (years!) trying to manage my diet and exercise by myself. I tried everything from gym classes, in home machines, Weight Watchers, and even juice fasts!
What Dennis did was provide me with a reason to be accountable (he’s coming, rain or shine!), a method to redefine what success means, and a detailed understanding of my capabilities and limits so we were always pushing the envelope. I wasn’t sure that I could put up with the ego of a personal trainer or keep up with a true workout pace. I was winded carrying my luggage through the airport, and I wasn’t sure what I was signing up for.
Our first discussion and then training session got me really excited. Dennis wanted to really understand my goals and knew that I was capable of more than I thought I was. He gave me a taste of success early (even if it was wall push-ups) and used that as a mechanism to remind me that a difficult workout was a success and not a failure. Before I knew it, we were doing tough stuff and I’d never felt more empowered in my life. There were days I was left gasping on the garage floor telling Dennis to leave and that I’d get up later. Somehow, those were actually some of my favorite days.
I lost 60 pounds while working out with Dennis and if it weren’t for a cross country move – I never would have stopped. I can lift, squat, and hike with the best of them. I added cardio training on the side and met with Esther Hansen (start tracking your food – just do it). I’ve lost 3 sizes and so many of my saggy bits don’t sag anymore! Nothing is more motivating than seeing yourself in the mirror and being confused because there’s no way that’s your butt.
One of the main things that makes Dennis different from the other options you may have is his ability to kick your butt in 30 minutes and his flexibility to meet you at home. The thirty minutes are short enough to know you’ll survive on the days you really don’t want to workout and long enough to really hit it hard when you’re feeling like beating his expectations. He consistently changes workouts up and will even sneakily hold exercises back until you can crush them. That first time you conquer something you couldn’t do previously is truly confidence building.
Put in the effort, do what Dennis asks, try not to throw the medicine ball at his face and you’ll be amazed what he can do for you!
Thank you, Dennis!
Lauren Fry
Portland, Oregon (formerly Fort Collins, Colorado)
Before signing up with Dennis, I was 80 pounds overweight and in need of major changes in my life for better health. From his website, I could see that Dennis and his team of personal trainers had something special to offer. I was impressed by his variety of clients (no athletes or bodybuilders here!), his common sense approach towards improving health and fitness by stressing the importance of both physical activity and good nutrition, and I was intrigued by his 30-minute exercise program in my home. With a hectic business and personal schedule, I didn’t have the time to devote excessive hours to exercise alone.
Currently, I have lost 50 pounds and feel great! I am now a true believer in Dennis and his team on how they go about helping with weight loss. The changes in my life have been amazing. Good nutrition and regular exercise are now a part of my daily habits which are the hallmark of Dennis’ programs. I have renewed energy and strength which is helping me to return to many activities that I used to love (hiking, bicycling, rock climbing, etc). I no longer need to buy plus-size shirts and am one size away from being able to buy pants in the regular section of women’s clothing stores. Lastly, I have renewed confidence and don’t mind seeing myself in pictures now.
While I still have a ways to go before reaching my final goal, the progress that I am achieving so far is amazing. I was out of shape for so long that I forgot what life used to be like and it’s great! I feel confident now that my final goal will become a reality.
For anyone that is serious about dedicating themselves to meet whatever fitness goals they have, I highly recommend Dennis and his team. I have received far more out of my time with Dennis than all the money I spent in the past on various exercise tools, tapes, and food programs. Thank you, Dennis!
Valerie Yoh
Loveland, Colorado
I was pretty hesitant getting a personal trainer as most of the trainers I have come across have been conceited, full of themselves and obnoxious. I work from home so the idea of someone coming to the house a few times a week was appealing.
I decided to sit down and talk to Dennis and he didn’t strike me as your prototypical trainer. He was willing to adapt to what I wanted and what I expected from myself. I decided to give it a shot and see what I thought.
In four and a half months, I’ve currently lost over 60 pounds and several clothes sizes. That is a decent amount of weight loss in such a short time! If you feel like the trainings are getting a little easier, be careful how you phrase that you would like a tougher workout as the next workout promises to be a butt kicker. If you are considering doing something a little different I would highly recommend giving Dennis a try.
My advice to anyone that uses Dennis, talk a little smack while working out. Not only does it make the workouts go by quickly but living in Fort Collins, we have to give our resident personal trainer/CU grad a hard time. Just be aware he has his own ways of getting back at you the next time you work out.
I would highly recommend giving Dennis a try as it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I never dreamed of losing 60 pounds in a little over four months. You put so much effort into your training sessions that before you know it you will be making a lifestyle change. I couldn’t be happier where I am today, and I owe much of it to Dennis and his training methods.
David S.
Fort Collins, Colorado
I wasn’t sure I should do a testimonial. I mean… I am not at my ideal weight; I don’t feel like an ‘after’ picture just yet…why would anyone care what I have to say???
But there have been big changes with me over the past year.
My entire adult life I’ve been in a war with my body. I tried to control it through Weight Watchers more times than I can count. I yo-yoed up and down…up to a HUNDRED pounds for years. I’d be on a diet, off a diet for as long as I can remember.
It played with my head, it made me not trust my own instincts, and I thought about food ALL the time. I’d join gyms and never go, I’d invent rigid food rules and then break them… I didn’t know how to be “normal” about myself and my weight at all. I was obsessed with food, and with eating or not eating. But yet I was made miserable from my obsession at the same time. I had knee pain, back pain, and a lot of general grumpiness.
Then I saw a Groupon deal, and found Dennis. It SOUNDED good…he comes to your house???
Well sure, I’ll try it! And… it IS good!
It’s a whole different ballgame having my trainer show up at my door. I can’t say enough about the convenience factor… believe me when I say I have a LONG history of doing anything I can to get out of working out. But there’s no escape when someone comes to the house… and that’s not a bad thing! As much as I dread working out sometimes (I can’t lie – It doesn’t come naturally to me!) I’m always so glad when I do.
After that initial deal was over, I signed up for a year, and I lost 34 pounds in that first year. I felt better, but I was still at war with myself – it turned out I was approaching my workouts with Dennis as yet another “fad.” I mean, I worked out, but still with the same “diet” mindset – I was looking for a quick fix. And when the initial thrill was gone, my old eating habits came back. I gained what I’d lost and more.
BUT… that’s not where this ends.
I had glimpsed the future, and I didn’t want to give up. More to the point, Dennis believed in me too and wouldn’t LET me give up! He really does want his clients to succeed.
He introduced me to Esther Hansen (www.ftcollinsweightloss.com). Through her I started learning how to eat healthier, and that “low cal” doesn’t always mean “better” – thank god! So I increased my food awareness… and I was still exercising more with Dennis… but the final piece of the puzzle for me was to deal with my relationship with food: why I ate what I ate. I then started working with Josie Dove (www.fortcollins-counselor.com) to get to the root of things, and that’s when change finally started to happen – lasting change, I think!
I’ve now had a total weight loss of 54 pounds in the last seven months, and this is the least I’ve weighed in more than 20 years. All my knee pain is gone (although as Dennis will attest, I hate jumping and I always will!). I’m competing in a triathlon this summer, and I look forward to the rest of my excess weight coming off.
I turn 50 this year and feel the best I have in a long, LONG time… And to think, all this change came from buying one little Groupon!
Thanks, Dennis!
Mary Dolce
Fort Collins, Colorado