I will never forget that stressful night in January the night before I had my first job interview…read morein the state of South Carolina (after moving here in December) and spent literally hours trying to find something decent yet presentable to wear. I had out grown all my clothes and literally had nothing to wear except to sleep in. As I looked in the mirror at my reflection I barely recognized myself. How could I have gained this much weight in a single year? I had a pretty bad injury to my foot/ankle in October of 2013 which prevented me from walking and working for awhile but the person I saw looking back at me in that mirror was not me. Or at least not who I wanted to be or how I saw myself. I was just simply not happy with what I saw. I wasted some serious time feeling sorry for myself and my situation in the past but I realized enough was enough. My feeble attempts and my pitiful so called tries at losing weight were just not cutting it. Keep in mind I spent a small fortune in 2014 on gym memberships I tried every kind of diet pill and starved myself in many different lose weight fast fad diets with little to no results. Something HAD to change. I was not happy and the way I felt about myself was UNACCEPTABLE. I also began to have minor health problems due to all my weight gain. The lose weight fast dieting/pill etc was a fools way out. I decided to make a LIFESTYLE change and point my goals into not just losing weight but being HEALTHY and FIT. The photo on the left was in January 2015, the day I decided enough was enough. The outfit I ended up getting (pictured on left) was a SZ-16 women's pants and a SZ-XXL shirt, both from the plus sizes section at JC-Penny's. I looked online for weight-loss solutions in all kinds of areas including places like Synergy weight loss, physicians weight loss clinics etc, I even made appointments for consultations at doctors offices willing to pay whatever it took to be happy with myself again. I had tried gyms in the past and always went strong in the beginning but eventually ended up resulting in me donating my money to them while never even using the membership after awhile. I found Michael Thomas's Columbia Fitness Bootcamp website while searching for an easy way out and decided before I did anything drastic like dump hundreds or even thousands into crazy programs or wasting more money on unused gym memberships I would try this bootcamp. I mean what did I have to lose? It was just a fraction of the cost compared to all the other drastic alternatives I was about to dive into....Going to that bootcamp changed my life forever. My first class was the first week in February 2015 and I weighed in at 188lbs that morning. Mike & Ken both do a great job at keeping the class fun and challenging while still being attentive to each person's limits. Each person in the class has different levels of intensity options as no one person is the exact same when it comes to working out and the workouts are structured to each persons level of intensity whether it be expert or beginner. Each class I went to I felt myself getting stronger both mentally and physically and I was able to slowly increase my intensity levels with Mike and Ken's support. I began to eat healthier (green/protein smoothies etc) and followed Mike's meal plan like it was literally the only meal plan option in existence. The support from the other ladies and Mike/Ken was nothing but positive. Mike constantly educated us on what to eat and what not to eat, which turns out was a part of the problem. Being a part of a group class kept me on a regular schedule to where I HAD to be there those three days a week. All those other gyms where it's go at your leisure or on your own pace was not enough commitment for me. Mike held us accountable for what we ate during the week and expected us to show up for every class which really kept me on point. Six months later, August 2015 I weighed in at 128lbs with a total weight loss of 60lbs in 6 months. But the absolute best part by far is I am healthier (mentally and physically) than I have EVER been in my entire life. The transformation was not just physical, in fact the weight loss was just a small bonus. I can't describe in words how beneficial exercise is for your brain. Working out regularly really affects your moods and endorphin's. I noticed I was much more clear headed, peaceful and happy. Even though I have lost most of my excess weight and am almost to where I want to be physically, it is a lifestyle change. Exercise and eating right is now a part of my everyday life and I realize now how important it is to be healthy. I want to say thank you to Mike, Ken and all the ladies from boot camp for all the positive support and motivation. As the year 2015 comes to a close I look back at how far I have come mentally as well as physically and now I am able to say that I am proud of who I am, all I have accomplished and truly LOVE myself.

This is a pretty solid gym, and I've definitely noticed an improvement in quality as they've…read moreshifted from Muv to OneLife. The equipment is much improved, in both quality and quantity, and I like the floor plan much better now. I really like how they've added Olympic-weight dumbbells (such as 22.5 lbs), as well as multiple stations for bench press and squats. Because of this, you don't have to stand around and wait too long for somebody else to finish their set, which is a much-appreciated upgrade from Muv. Although I don't do as much cardio as I should, the gym also appears to have an extensive selection of treadmills, ellipticals, stationary bikes, row machines, etc., that you can go upstairs and use. The locker rooms are nice as well, to include a sauna that I've never personally used, but which seems like a good option to have. All-in-all, OneLife Forest Acres is a really solid gym, which is much improved from its previous iteration as Muv Fitness. Because of this, I would recommend getting a membership here, as well as choosing this location over other OneLife's to work out at. Also... I took these pictures during the snowfall of January 2026, and am glad that I got to document it!

Great gym. I'm really liking the routine I have going here with this place. I always feel welcome…read moreand even when it's packed I can still find a way to get a good lift in. Highly recommend. (Only thing I'd say - add a wooden door handle to the inside of the men's sauna)

I couldn't be happier with the incredible customer service, quality of equipment, as well as…read moreversatility and originality of the items we've purchased from Williams Strength. My husband, Brandon Rabon, and I have nearly 50 years of combined experience in the fitness industry. Throughout the years we've dealt with a number of gym equipment manufacturing and distribution companies, but none have come close to the level of professionalism and incredibly kind, responsive customer service as we've experienced working with Williams Strength. Doing business with Williams Strength doesn't feel like you're "doing business" with them, but rather chit-chatting with some really cool, knowledgeable people who are passionate about fitness, strength and the best equipment to help you reach your goals. The person we worked with got back to us right away via email, phone calls, etc., greeted me at the door by my first name when I went to the facility to look at equipment options, and had all of the equipment we were interested in purchasing up at the front ready for me to look at and try out. We will only ever do business with Williams Strength in the future for all of our workout equipment needs. Absolutely, hands-down, the best!

I can't say enough good things about ISI Elite. Their facility has great equipment to help you get…read morestronger and get the most out of your workouts. The trainers are experience, encouraging and push you to get through the workouts. The staff is friendly and remembers your name. The whole atmosphere at ISI Elite Training Lexington, is amazing!

When I say Tam B is not your average trainer she is not. She will get you back to feeling good…read moreabout yourself. I been attending Tuesday and Thursday dance party for the last two months and all that I can say is she is AMAZING!!! The energy level and moves she has us doing really leave me feeling better. My next goal is to start her boot camp so I can farther my goal. And I love it because its all woman ranging from different sizes. TAMBFITNESS is the place to be!!!

Studio Fire might be old to you but it's new to me and I am so grateful I got the opportunity to…read morecheck this place out. First off, the vibe and atmosphere is super dope. The staff are friendly and welcoming. The place is definitely a vibe with its dope aesthetic. The class that I took was challenging and definitely pushed me but man was it worth it. Our instructor went at a great pace and I was a fan of the room being a warm 85 degrees. So if you're in the mood to push yourself in a new way this new year, come check them out here at Studio Fire I'm sure you'll absolutely love it!

Great studio and atmosphere. If you like late evening flow or can plan 7-10 days in advance, then…read morethis studio is for you. I like the yoga/barre weekend classes, and apparently everyone else does too. I can rarely (almost never) get in. I'm waitlisted every time with 12+ people ahead of me (and that's signing up several days in advance). It's important to know that you get charged a credit ($20-$25 ) if you don't cancel 48 hours before class. This policy means you can't get on 2 waitlists in the same day. So if you don't make it out of the waitlist, you have no other option for the day. It's frustrating when you're dressed in yoga clothes anxiously watching your emails to see if you got in. Wait list denials come an hour before class starts. So you're all dressed up with no place to go when you get denied... which is 90% of the time for me. It's a great place but there aren't enough classes on the weekend to meet the demand. Would also love to see noon/lunch time classes during the week.

Great atmosphere and small group training. You go through an assessment where the coach evaluates…read moreYork's booth before throwing you ina class. In all honestly i enjoyed the class however the time and location does not fit my schedule

Elise Matthews is the owner of this gym and she is well loved by her staff and community. She's…read morebright and hard working. Elise has a deep commitment to her fitness family. Columbia is lucky to have her and KORE.

I liked this gym until they started letting people come in here to solicit our money for their…read morecauses. I came here to workout in peace, not be solicited. This is my "me" time. That has now been taken away. I will be moving to planet fitness.

They have many workout classes to get you into shape! They recently remodeled the place and in…read moredoing so they added a boxing area, if you're into that...if not there's yoga, rpm, Zumba, weightlifting classes etc. Come join, you will love it. Oh and check your insurance you may have discounts to join!