The girl that wears many hats in my life. She started out as a client 6 years ago. She just wanted a different style of workout and to find her potential in strength, speed, and healthy lifestyle. She has truly transformed. From training, she went to trainer 3 years ago. She is now not only still a client but my co-worker. She rocks as a trainer, and athlete. Her most important hat to me is her friendship one. She is one of a kind. I love and appreciate her more than she knows.

Phyllis Guillory – Living life to the fullest and chasing dreams.

Everyone has a story.

Strong – Mitzi

I joined Premier Athletic Club in February of 2011. I had joined to get back in shape after the birth of my 3rd child. Little did I know that I was embarking on a fitness journey that would put me in the best shape of my life!
I have exercised all my life. I started out with basketball and softball in high school. Once I entered college I did the usual aerobics classes and jogged. Jogging and aerobics seemed to get me through my 20’s until I started having children.  I continued to exercise when I had the time but nothing serious. I loved to try all the fad diets and all the latest fitness trends!

I am a wife and a mother of three children.  As I said earlier, I joined the gym when my last child was 9 months old. I ran on the treadmill and played around on the weight machines for a few months. I was really intimidated because I didn’t know how to work the machines. As I would run on the treadmill I would notice a trainer working with 2 women. The trainer was giving them a great workout and the women looked like they were having a great time but really working hard. I found out who the trainer was and asked to work with her. That trainer was Mitzi Fairbanks. I began training with her in April of 2011.

I trained one on one with her for a month then joined the 2 other ladies after that first month. Those early morning workouts became a part of my day that I couldn’t do without. I also joined a group that would run 4 miles before the gym opened. Running and these workouts became a very important part of my life. I found some of my greatest friends through these running and workout groups.
I had been working out and running about 3 years when I started feeling the desire to learn more about becoming a personal trainer. Mitzi helped me push myself more than I’d ever pushed myself before. I admired the way she helped people reach their goals and feel better about themselves. I took a personal trainer course and passed my certification test in June of 2014. I had become certified and hoped to train a few people before work and then during the summers when I was off from school. However by the end of that summer I had a change of heart. I decided to jump in with both feet and see what would happen. I turned in my resignation at Prompt Succor and Ronnie Schwartz hired me at Louisiana Athletic Club in Pineville. I taught water aerobics classes and took on clients to get me started. I have been a personal trainer for 3 years and I couldn’t love it more.

I have approximately 25 clients that range in age from 10 to 91 years. I have several special needs clients that are so rewarding. I have people who want to lose weight, tone up, become stronger, or just have a more active life. The best part is that I get to help them reach their goals. These people have become a part of my life and I’m so grateful that I get to work with them. I still use Mitzi as my personal trainer and I always have people ask me “why”. I always answer, “because she pushes me harder than I would ever push myself.” I’m very thankful for the guidance and knowledge I’ve gained from Mitzi. I’m also very thankful that I get to do something I love and help others reach their goals.