I first came into contact with Derek late last winter at the MS Spin for Team Fond du Lac Cyclery at center court of the mall. He was there to put on a demo of Kettle Bells and some of us were asked to get off of our bikes to participate. Being the good sport and avid road biker, I ‘volunteered’ and entered into a realm that I was not prepared for. My first thoughts, was ‘holy cow’ who would ever want to do this? From what I remember, we were asked to do a ladder of swings to five and then back down – none of us could do it. After that experience, I told him that would look him up in the fall of that year.

Don’t get me wrong, spinning is a great way to build leg strength, endurance, and keep weight in check, not to mention be ready come spring when the ice is finally gone to return outside. It is obviously very leg intensive and the rest of your body does not get the work out like Derek’s instruction and programs do.

I kept to my word and looked him up in September and started with the essentials, along with a few friends and my wife, and then proceeded to the Incinerator level. This proved to be a challenge at first and my wife, oldest daughter, and still one friend at this level and the results are showing. As a group we put together a goal to be measured before Thanksgiving and the prize was a Dells trip for us and our kids. Within two months we had reached our goal and a trip is being planned. They are still in the incinerator level, because Derek is always challenging them and getting them to move up weights and have introduced to them, everyone’s favorites: lunge walks and split jumps.

A friend and I have moved onto the unleashed level of this program. This program has produced results in me that I never expected. My flexibility and increased dramatically, since my job entails me to set behind a desk most of the time. Up to now, I have lost three pant sizes, reduced overall fat level, and weight. I am currently fitting into sizes that I have not seen since college.

The above statement is true about fine wines and perhaps several things regarding human beings, but one thing that is not true is the human body's ability to get faster or stronger as our body ages. For several reasons, around the age of 50 we start to lose muscle mass and flexability which are important to these traits.

I found out later in life that I was a competitive multi sport age group athlete (read swim, bike, run). This year I turned 60 which mean the two traits I spoke of above have got a head start on me. In all the reading I've done on improving my performance the one thing that continues to come up is I need to work on off season strength training but more specifically workouts that use mulit joint movements, encourages flexability and increase balance and stability. I found out through further investigation that kettlebell workouts do all that plus provide an amazing aerobic benefit as well.

The staff at TNT has helped me greatly on working on my weaknesses, instructing me on proper form and pointing out all things that will improve my ability to swim, bike, and run with more power. The daily class schedule provides a variety of challenges to improve all parts of your lower body and are as hard or easy as you want them to be. I find the hours that they are open provide me with more opportunity to get my weekly kettlebell workouts in and still leave time for any swim, bike, or run training.

I am looking forward to my first race next season knowing that this preparation is going to improve my performance and equally important decrease the likelihood of overuse injuries so common in my sport. Total functional fitness is the only way to go and the staff at TNT have provided me with the tools I need to reach my goals.

I began attending TNT Fitness in May 2010. I wanted to become stronger and see if developing more core strength would help with my back problems which include a degenerating disk in the lumbar/SI area. I had been using machine wieghts and didnt feel that anything was changing. The first thing I noticed at the Essentials Class was that my left side was so weak I couldnt even do some of the exercises with a Kettlebell. I had a hard time doing a Turkish Get-Up on my left side just holding a tennis shoe.

The workouts are great. They are always challenging, and they are always different. Unlike other classes I have taken, Derek and Chad are very attentive and engaged with everyone. They will let someone know if their body position is wrong or if they need to do something differently. Safety is paramount. Derek adn Chad know anatomy and teach us about muscles as we are working out.

Derek also notices individuals' strenghts and weaknesses and has helped me with my weak left side issues. He has given me specific exercises for strength and flexability that are working better than physical therapy.

The nutrition tips and goals help everyone to focus on healthy lifestyle choices. There is a lot of encouragement. It is evident that Derek sincerely cares about every individual who comes to TNT Fitness.

As a triathlete, my swimming and biking are much stronger and running is less painful. Core strength has helped me to proform daily functions much better. It used to be painful to shift weight just going up stairs. Not anymore. And, I can do a Turkish Get Up with a 12 kg kettlebell on my right and left side!

We were fortunate to have Derek Toshner visit our school all day for two days. He had an immediate impact on each class. Derek was articulate and a true teacher - saavy in teaching proper form and technique. His energy was contagious as he was able to grasp and hold the attention of a gym filled with 50 middle school students each hour. Derek seems to have been born to train, as it was evident that he was a natural at differentiating his approach geared toward younger people. Students loved his presentation, plus had a unique and challenging workout!

Personally, as a former collegiate athlete, I am constantly looking for new workout ideas - I think that Derek's methods and principles are fascinating. The concept of moving away from bulky, isolation exercises to performing "real-life" actions that target my entire body with each movement is extremely appealing. His training sessions are not just strengthening, but involve cardio as well - perfect for a person with a busy schedule. I look forward to becoming more active at TNT Fitness Results and getting in the best shape of my life!

I was fortunate to work with Derek at RKC Chicago in September of 2011 when he served as one of my team assistants (Team Newton). During this most challenging of weekends, I came to trust Derek as a source of knowledge, experience, and inspiration. At one point during the certification, I expressed to him my apprehension about the upcoming snatch test. In return, I received a reassuring "It's OK--I can help you with that" from him. Now to some, that may seem insignificant and arbitrary, but the effect Derek's words had on me were monumental. He had been through the certification, he knew what it would take for me to make it, and he understood my apprehension. Derek took time during the snatch training session on Saturday to work with me and made sure my technique was spot-on. Had it not been for him checking my technique with such diligence, I would have never passed the 100 repetition portion of the test (which did not happen until November, as I had much work to do). I am eternally grateful to Derek for the personal attention he showed me during the RKC. If he can do that for me, he can, and certainly will, do that for you.

I had the privilege of teaching with Derek at an RKC instructor coarse. He is knowledgeable, fun, and engaging. He really understands the key principles of RKC kettlebell, and has a fantastic way of teaching it.

I highly recommend this trainer!

TNT gave me the confidence and endurance I needed to complete this 5K. Derek and his staff at TNT have been a god send to myself and my family. If you can do a workout at TNT, you can do anthing. Derek, Chad and Melissa teach, not only how to do a great workout, but also how to be fit and healthy. They teach, encourage, and push you to go to the next level. The "family' I made at TNT is also encouraging. Everyone is there for the same reason....to be fit and healthy. If you are struggling, there will always be another member there to get you through. The Commit2Fit challenge is just what my family needed. We learned life habits that we will use the rest of our lives. And we all shed a few pounds too. I cannot say enough about TNT. TNT gave me, my husband, and my 11 year old daughter the confidence, encouragement and endurance we need to do just about anything. Thank you TNT!!!

Did I ever think I would be doing the things I am doing at TNT. I just RAN in my first 5K ever. Did it in 30:27 without stopping

"The Boot Camp was very exhilarating. I knew for a while I needed to get more motivated. It has definitely done that for me! The exercises are not hard and you do not have to do anything that you cannot do. Derek, our trainer, had alternate moves if someone had limitations of any kind. I find that I have more energy in the morning when I get up and it lasts all day long. The nutritional tidbits of information I found to be very useful as well. Besides the increase in energy, I have had a loss of weight and inches. I know this because my clothes are definitely fitting me a whole lot differently and all for the better.. I find that I am more confident and very proud of my accomplishment. I had great results in just 4 weeks."

"I initiallyh signed up for Boot Camp because I needed a "Boot" in the Butt to get me motivated again. Boot Camp has done that for me and so much more. After just the first week I felt my energy level rise. Derek nutritional tiips have helped me make better food choices as well. Four weeks of Boot Camp