I lost 135 pounds... Indeed with Micheal's guidance I have lost that desired 135 pounds. I have resumed a healthy lifestyle combining cardio, weight training and nutrition. His sport specific training plans have provided for my successfully meeting stepwise goals of athletic performance. He has prepared me for the successful completion of of a distance swim of ten miles, bicycling over 100 miles, and two half iron man competitions. I qualified for the national team to compete in international long course duathon competition, which is a direct result of the progress I have made under Micheal's guidance.

- Laurie Bumgarner, MD

Our association with Michael Anders and Shape Up Personal Training, Inc. (now Shape Up Fitness & Wellness Consulting Inc.) began with a detailed assessment of current physical status coupled with a discussion of medical and exercise history so that meaningful personal goals could be established. Early sessions
consisted of range finding exercises to assess cardio, strength, and endurance capability. Once a baseline was established in each area, the emphasis has shifted from one to the other over time to secure substantial gains in all three areas.
As a result of the personalized program Michael has developed and managed for us, overall health and well-being have improved dramatically. He has consistently raised the bar so that despite any “protestations” great progress has been achieved and maintained. Michael balances instruction, motivation, and humor in a way that takes self-consciousness out of the equation so that giving your best effort each session is never in doubt.

- Mike and Jane Sellen

I am not an exercise enthusiast. I joined because I knew I needed to work out. Michael just happened to be the personal trainer at the time. Since I started working with Michael, I find that I come to the gym on a regular basis. The fact that I have an appointment keeps me on track. We have set goals for physical fitness and weight loss. My strength and fitness level have both increased. Michael keeps me on target. He has become a friend, as well as trainer. I think his relaxed personality allows him to deal with many aspects of the training cycle. Even when I "whine". I think he is the best.

- Judy Pinner

I met Michael Anders 2 yrs. ago. I was a 53 yr. old white
female and had never participated in any type of competative sport. I had osteopenia and osteoporosis, high cholesterol, and had a strong family history of heart disease. My goal was to increase my bone density, improve my cardiovascular system, and start training for a triathlon. I was referred to Michael by a physician who used Michael as a personal trainer. Michael has a wealth of knowledge in anatomy and physiology and exercise
physiology. I am a registered nurse and know that the information he is giving me is correct. He just puts it all together for me. He creates training plans specific to my individual needs and specific to the event I am training for, which varies from time to time. I am involved in an on-going, year-round training plan. I see Michael once/wk. At that time, he shows me new core strength-building exercises and observes me to make sure that I am doing them correctly. Since I live 30 min. away from his gym, he allows me to work out at a gym closer to home. I strengthen my core according to his designated number of sets, repetitions, and intensity. I also run, bike and swim solo according to his guidelines. Since I have started training with Michael, in combination with diet and exercise, I have l lowered my total cholesterol, lowered my LDL (bad chol.) and raised the HDL (good chol.). My bone density has stabilized and I have completed 4 sprint triathlons! My self confidence has improved. Also, by working with Michael, I have learned that exercising is not only physically beneficial but mentally uplifting as well. It actually is fun!
In addition to Michael's wealth of knowledge, he intuitively knows what people need. He is always very cheerful, funny, uplifting and motivating. I know Michael genuinely cares about his clients and always goes above and beyond the call of duty. I would recommend him to anyone who wants to improve their health or train for a special event.

- Vicki S.

I have been working with Michael and have to say he rocks as a trainer! When I came to the gym I just wanted someone to jump start me… having not trained for over a year. I had initially thought I would only use Michael for about 4 or 5 sessions, but now here I am still working with him after 8 months. Each week Michael shows me something new and really keeps me on my toes both
physically and mentally. He uses my yoga background and creates new ways for me to exercise and work the core areas I was concerned about. At 56, I wanted to increase my overall strength and cardio, improve my sagging behind and those dreaded swinging in the breeze underarms. Michael customized a program including a weekly chart of what to work and for how long. I wish I could say that the results have been so amazing that I now have the body of a 20 year old, but I can’t because no one can work miracles. But, what I can
say is I have seen an amazing overall toning of my behind and core, and I am going sleeveless this summer. I think the best part has been Michael dedication and enthusiasm to help me not only look my very best, but to be HEALTHY.

- Kristen LeCrone

When I started training with Michael, I needed a new direction with my work outs. Michael listened to my needs and provided that direction. He has helped me develop a plan to tone my body and increase my running endurance. Michael has taken a real interest in my goals and has been able to educate me on the proper exercise techniques. One of the things that I have learned is how to properly run and build my endurance with this exercise. Overall, I believe
that Michael is very knowledgeable and has the skills to help anyone achieve a stronger body and healthier lifestyle.

- Debra Beaven

Michael has helped me tremendously. I have enjoyed working with him for almost two years now. My priorities when starting were to lose weight, gain confidence in a gym setting, and become healthier overall. I have lost several inches all over and at least 25 pounds. My clothes are several sizes smaller than when I started. I would have never felt comfortable working out with weights in a gym before working with Michael. I knew it was important, but I found weights and gyms intimidating. Now I feel
like I can manage working out with weights in a gym with the correct weight, form, and routine. I also feel like Micheal has encouraged me to live a healthier lifestyle by helping me understand that cardio, weights, and diet all play a role in
accomplishing the goals we set. My husband and my friends also see Micheal and have enjoyed their training. I look forward to working out now whereas before I was not even a member of a gym, even though I knew I should have been.

- Christy Morton

When I came to see Michael two years ago, at age 67, I was overweight and out of shape. I wanted to lose weight and become fit. I was especially interested in developing core strength, since I intend to live quite a lot longer and want to be able to enjoy my life and play with my grandchildren in a very active way. I have lost very little weight, actually, but I am much stronger and feel lighter
and younger. Michael has "tortured me" into becoming more fit and having fun along the way. When I began, I was having lower back problems, Achilles tendon problems, was winded after climbing stairs if I could even climb them without my heel hurting terribly. I couldn't lift much of anything without help. Recently, I helped my daughter move from one house to another, and I was able to bend, pack, lift, carry boxes up 3 flights of stairs, then unpack them and still have energy to play with the girls. Michael makes working out, which I have always hated and therefore avoided, almost fun!

- Ginny Wright, Ph.D.

A new lease on life...
My success story orchestrated by Michael Anders is not your usual
journey that most of his clients seek. I am 62 years old and have diabetes Type II, diagnosed over eighteen years ago. I am also a cancer survivor, diagnosed with prostate cancer three years ago. Approximately six months ago on my three month check-up with my primary care physician, I was presented with the stark truth about my health and my future. At that time I was taking three oral
medications maximum dosages for diabetes and two injections, one insulin, and one, the latest new drug for diabetes. My labs showed a Hemoglobin A1c of 10.1, compared to a healthy individual of 6.5. My kidney functions were beginning to
show the first signs of years of diabetes damage. I was 40 lbs overweight and losing ground. On that visit my doctor sadly informed me that we had nowhere to go, no additional medication could be prescribed. He briefly painted me a picture
of where I was going quickly – dialysis and an early death. You can imagine the depression that followed that visit. Michael Anders’ wife works for me and was forced to experience my depressing mood and dark thoughts about the future.

Michael’s wife went home and shared my situation with Michael. At this point the kindness and caring of Michael Anders to help people get healthy, took over. Michael called me and quickly informed me that he was going to help me get healthy – no excuses. My skepticism took over but Michael would not let me
lose hope or motivation. With the help of his equally caring wife, they worked to keep me focused. Michael wrote me plans that I could manage in my present unhealthy state. Michael guided me in nutrition, giving me the tools to maintain a healthy diet. Michael’s encouragement and total resistance to allowing me to fail, started me in a new direction.

It’s been five months now since Michael took me under his care. I have lost to date 32 lbs and still losing. My cardio exercise has increased from barely able to do 10 minutes on a treadmill to 60 minutes with half the exertion. I am doing strength exercises, which have given me incredible stamina and even helped my golf game. If this was the end of the story, it would be quite a success
story in itself in five months. But the best part of the story unfolded with my recent visit to my primary care physician. My labs reported an unbelievable Hemoglobin A1c level of “5.9” and a cholesterol level combined of 130. My doctor was overwhelmed and even “hugged” me. My medications have been reduced to two and those at minimum dosage. I have eliminated all injections. To quote my primary physician, “you have obtained a level of fitness your body has not experienced in many years.”

In closing, who do I owe the credit to? Michael Anders. His expertise, his plans and most of all his caring. I have truly received a “new lease on life.” Thank you, and God Bless you, Michael.

- George Thrower

When I first came to Michael, I thought of myself as an above average athlete. I was over 50 years old, but had played soccer competitively for over 30 years, and played in leagues with men 20 years my junior. I had noticed over the last few years it had
become more and more difficult to keep up with these younger players. Well, I guess the pool of 30 year olds refreshes itself each year, while my age just keeps on creeping up. When I did his fitness test, and took an honest look at myself, I discovered that I
wasn’t really the “above average” athlete that I thought I was. I couldn’t even do one pull up, and my body fat percentage was up just under “obese”. I had started on many “get back in shape” programs over the last years but found myself either losing
interest after a couple of weeks, or worse injuring myself, and setting back any progress that I might have made, once again causing me to lose interest and motivation. Michael was able to put me at ease with where I started (which was pretty low) and over the first weeks that I worked with him make slow but steady progress. It allowed me to see how far I had fallen, how far I had to go, but at the same time his positive attitude and varied workouts kept my motivation at a very high level.

I had a goal that I shared with Michael of retiring the North Carolina State Cup in Soccer (Men’s O-40 bracket). In order to do that you have to win the title 3 years in a row. Well, my team had won it 2 conseutive years twice before, but had never been
able to put together that 3rd win. We had 2 wins under our belt going into the 2009 tournament, and I knew that I didn’t have the time to play 4 more years in this bracket. He started me on a soccer specific training regimen. We started in August, with the
tournament coming up in November. I was actually able to start seeing results in just a couple of weeks, but he was still keeping a close eye on me and walking that delicate balancing act between not working hard enough to make real progress, and working so
hard that I injured myself. I actually started seeing results within a couple of weeks. Dropping weight slowly but steadily, regaining much of the strength that I had lost over the last decade or so, and regaining a lot of the stamina that is a huge requirement for a soccer player. Now not only did those things rebound to my form of earlier years, I regained a lot of the self-confidence that had been waning as a result of the loss of fitness. As I said earlier, within a couple of weeks I was playing at levels that I hadn’t
seen in years, and by the time that our tournament rolled around in November, I felt as if a decade or more had been rolled back. Well, we were successful in our bid to retire the state cup this year (here’s a link to our team photo) http://www.cpslsoccer.com/index.php?opt=viewteam&id=0009&sid=000000000018

And I contribute a portion of my own personal success in this tournament to Michael and my new found fitness level.

- Carlton Clark

Three months before my wedding I decided that scheduling time with a personal trainer was in order. I researched and met with numerous trainers in the area. I chose Michael Anders at Shape Up Fitness not only for his friendly and cheerful attitude, but also for the personal attention that I received from him. Michael worked with me twice a week until my wedding date. Michael was a strong motivator and my biggest cheerleader. He did not let me give up, nor did he push me past my capabilities. I had always
participated in cardiovascular workouts-,but strength training was a struggle for me. Michael worked with me in the gym and also developed a customized plan that I could follow when I was not with him. This is exactly what I needed. The psychical strength that I built with him was incredible. I went from a person who could never do a single push-up to a person who can do sets of ten in a row! I felt amazing on my wedding day, and I have Michael to thank for it!

- Megan Moore

The first thing that impressed me at Shape Up Fitness and Wellness was Michael’s down-to-earth demeanor and his love for helping people help themselves through fitness. He is very approachable, easy to talk to, and he makes working out fun. I had just been diagnosed with high blood pressure and was at a lose on what to do when I discovered Michael at Shape Up Fitness and Wellness. Michael has helped me, not only with my high blood pressure, but my stress level through the routines he has me do and his confidence in my ability to achieve my goals. It’s never boring and they are always challenging. I have lost weight, gained muscle and definition in my body that I have never had. Michael’s experience, professionalism and passion for fitness makes him the best trainer and the only one I recommend.

- Lizzie H.

I first met Michael about two years ago when I was 59. I didn’t really think I needed a trainer, but my wife liked Michael’s work a lot, so I decided to give it a try. I thought I was in pretty good shape for my age, which was probably true, but I came to learn that even though I did lots of things well, I didn’t bring enough intensity to my workouts. I weighed 192 pounds and had a body fat percentage of 19%. I couldn’t do a chin-up. After two years of work with Michael, my weight is 178, my body fat percentage is 13, and I can do 21 chin-ups.

Michael is patient and very flexible. For example, I decided I wanted to do the P90x program, and Michael coached me through that, while helping me avoid the parts of the program that
might be dangerous for me due to a herniated disc. Michael has an in-depth knowledge of anatomy and kinesiology, and he stresses good form and avoiding injury. In addition to helping
me avoid re-injuring my back, Michael was able to assist my wife with rehabilitating her knee to such an extent that she’s completely pain free and much stronger than she has ever been.

One thing I especially like is that Michael stays on top of the latest information regarding fitness and diet and always welcomes questions. Michael can help you achieve your fitness and dietary
goals, and that includes coaching you on competitive running. I have no doubt that if hire Michael as your trainer, you’ll make strides that surprise and please you.

- Rob W. Attorney at Law