Best of All – GiGiFIT!

Our GiGiFit program leads Laurie and Emma Nelson came to us with some OUTSTANDING best of all stories!  They were excited to give shout outs to every participant that has made incredible strides, and so are we!  While we wish we could be a part of every program as Playhouse staff, there are simply not enough hours in the day! So hearing these great progress stories from program leads truly warms our hearts. Check them out below! But first, a piece from Laurie:

“It’s so hard to figure out which participants to highlight because they have all come so far since we started!  Many of them have told us that when they go to their doctor, they have lost weight! They talk more about healthy eating and making good choices!  We have noticed a big improvement in their focus & balance.  We continue to do the same workout each week, and many of them told me they work out at home now, too!  I think they know the whole sequence of exercises! They are all doing so well and love telling us about their week when we do announcements at the beginning of class!  We have really enjoyed watching them all grow in their confidence!”

• Andrea has been able to significantly increase her weights when we use the weighted balls!  Initially, she could only use a 4-pound hand weight!

• Jeremy could not get up and down off his mat without using a chair or assistance from a volunteer when he first started coming to class!  Now he can stand up alone with no assistance or support, barely using his own hands!  We have been working a lot on balance!

• Rogelio is our newest participant and really enjoys the class!  His mom said he wants to put his GiGiFIT shirt on first thing in the morning because he is excited to go to class!

• Michaela rarely misses class & always has a smile on her face – a great team player!

• Khali was much more reserved and a bit timid when we first started.  She had difficulty rolling up her mat and cleaning up, and now she is happy to do it!

• Taylor & Bailey like to bring their playlists, and we take turns each week playing music on my speaker!  It’s gratifying to see them taking responsibility and ownership for part of the program.

• Eric has really come a long way! He can sign himself in, do all his pushups, and lift heavier weights than when he started! 

• Grace is strong and stays on task! She is very athletic and enjoys telling stories about riding horses!

• Cara is kind to all! A wonderful team player. She has been able to increase her weights too!

• Julia keeps us all of our toes 😉 She enjoys making everyone laugh!

• Chewy is always happy! He gets there early and loves working out! He has really progressed with his balance and ability to follow along!

• Alexis loves music and singing along while she works out! She always has a smile on her face!

Like all programs at Gigi’s Playhouse Rockford, our GiGiFIT program is designed to make an impact in multiple areas. GiGiFIT is a fitness program at its core, but it influences so many other facets of life. In addition to working on strength, cardio, balance, coordination, small motor skills, and large motor skills, it also impacts areas like social engagement, decision making, attitude, attention span, teamwork, the ability to follow directions, competence in activities of daily living, and creativity. We are thrilled to see how far our participants have come, and we can’t wait to see their future progress as they continue on their journey to fitness.