The Human Form — Local services in Clinton Township

In January 2017 I was significantly overweight, on medication for high cholesterol, and had an A1C that was creeping toward “pre-diabetic” range. Frankly, it was the result of a journey that started with me wearing “Husky” sized jeans as a kid and continued, with a few brief detours of fitness, into the land of 2X and 3X sizes, ice cream every night and huffing and puffing if I climbed the three flights of stairs to my office.

In the end, good old-fashioned vanity got me off the couch and into the gym. My daughter got married this past year and visions of that walk down the aisle flooded my mind. Now I knew people would be looking at her not me, but I knew there would be a million pictures and I swore I wouldn’t be the answer to the question “who’s the fat guy next to that beautiful bride.”

In the luckiest bit of random social media searching, I found HF on Yelp. I still remember talking to Stephen on the phone and after hearing him explain the small group philosophy I asked him “how can I, an out of shape 57-year-old man, be in the same class with 2 or 3 people in their 20’s or 30’s who may be in great shape?”

“Trust me,” he said. “We make it work.” It turned out lesson number one was “trust Stephen.”

From the minute I walked into HF I felt something special and unique. Looking back on it, Stephen, Michelle, James, and Jeff were all pretty gentle with me in those early days. They clearly could tell how out of shape I was and their first concern was that I didn’t injure myself. But they never made it feel like they were “babying” me. What I felt was challenged, encouraged, motivated and frankly, cared for.

In the months that have followed, it has only got better. Michelle and Haleigh have offered invaluable nutritional guidance. James, Jeff, Cam, Haleigh, and Pat have continued to push and prod me in every workout. But it’s done without an ounce of the loud, macho, “no pain, no gain” nonsense you see and hear at other gyms. What they do is get to know you, your strengths and weaknesses and your personality so they find a way to always help you do the most that YOU are capable of doing.

And their approach has paid off. In 2 years I’ve lost nearly 70 pounds. I’ve developed muscle mass I didn’t have when I was in my 20’s. I’m no longer on cholesterol medication and my numbers are better than they were when I was on it. I don’t cringe when I see how I look in my clothes these days. And the best part is I love – I mean truly love – the time I spend at HF every week. I look forward to it and miss it if work or family obligations get in the way.

I haven’t completed the journey I started in January 2017. But I’m enthused about what lies ahead for me. I’m looking forward to doing the work and enjoying the results. With all my new found friends at Human Form.

And as for my concerns about all those wedding pictures? Well, I wasn't stunningly gorgeous like my daughter, but damn if I didn't look...

I came to The Human Form completely broken, inside and out, and they saved me.

Physically, I have a rare birth condition that makes everyday tasks difficult and causes chronic pain throughout my body. Emotionally, I’ve battled anxiety, depression, disordered eating, and self-image issues since I was a little boy… I was the chubby gay kid who found every way out of gym class. I started yo-yo dieting in 6th grade. And I became obsessed with counting points, calories, and fat grams at an age that would make any parent cringe (including my own).

So when I stepped inside The Human Form in February 2015, it wasn’t to get a beach body or to lose a quick twenty pounds; I was on a fight to save my life.

In the beginning, I could barely get up and down from the floor without screaming in pain. My progress was achingly slow, but then about three months in, something happened: I started moving faster, easier, and with less pain. From that point on, good things started to snowball for me.

What I found on Chesapeake Avenue wasn’t a gym; it was a community. I met the best physical therapist who gives me additional support for my chronic pain. I met my functional medicine doctor who helped correct a myriad of vitamin and hormone deficiencies and helped fix a years-long gut issue. I met Stephen and Michelle, who offered me kindness, support, and nutrition coaching. And I met James (Jimmy). He’s not just my trainer… Jimmy is one of the smartest people I know, and he cares about me more than I can describe in this little paragraph. He’s helped me navigate through all the pain—both physical and emotional.

In a little over two years, I’ve lost 70 pounds and two pants sizes. But for me, it isn’t about what I’ve lost; it’s about what I’ve gained. I’ve gained the confidence to eat real food and to not be hungry. I’ve gained the ability to look myself head-on in the mirror for the first time in my life. I’ve gained the confidence to stop counting anything. I’ve gained ridiculous amounts of strength in muscles I never knew I had. I’ve gained back control of my mental health. And most of all—I’ve gained back my life.

I still have a long way to go in my journey to good health, but I sure am glad I have my friends at The Human Form to be...

Best fitness center and trainers in Columbus!!!! I have been coming to The Human Form since February and I am so beyond happy with my experience. Let me first start off by saying that before coming here I HATED exercise and working out. I use to feel worse when I left a workout, and I never felt confident in the movements I was doing. I’ve tried all different types of classes and forms of exercise over the years, and always gave up on it after a few days. I initially came to The Human Form to get in shape for my wedding, thinking I’d suffer through another dreaded workout plan for a couple months, get married, and be done… however my mind was completely changed from day 1 training with Jade. We started with a consultation where we sat down for over an hour and hashed through details of my health, my previous experience in fitness, and my goals. I felt as though she really listened to me and understood my experiences. From there she built a specific workout plan tailored to exactly where my body was currently at and what it needed from a foundational level. During workouts she checks in frequently (which as a typically shy, non outspoken person I really appreciate this) so I am never doing something before I am ready for it. I am greeted at every session with a smile and pleasant fun energy from Jade. She is professional and extremely knowledgeable. She takes her time explaining things to me and is always super encouraging. Working with Jade has given me so much confidence in working out that I would’ve never had otherwise without her expertise. And the best part of this all… is I feel BETTER after leaving the gym. Yes, for the first time ever in my life. Their process was magic for me. And for the first time, I look forward to coming to the gym!! For the first time, I have visible muscle and strength and stability in brand new areas!! I cannot imagine ever going anywhere else. Although I work with Jade, I frequently encounter the other staff members, who are equally as personable and knowledgeable; Lauren, Michelle, the male trainers (whom I can’t remember names). And it’s always a nice surprise when I get to see Lauren’s dog Frannie :) I love The...