Since opening the doors of Abbeville’s premier fitness facility in December of 2009, over 1,000 members have joined the Snap Fitness family.

Of the 1,000s welcomed, all shapes, sizes and ages, have experienced the remarkable benefits of maintaining an exercise program.

The Snap staff has literally seen first-hand these benefits – from the overworked professional, who now releases frustrations on the bench press, to the overstressed mom who burns up the elliptical on a daily basis – we are seeing healthier, happier people.

Many inspiring stories of the unhealthy or fatigued, now feeling better, looking better and even getting off medications taken for years, are over heard in the gym every day. If you are one of the many reaping the benefits of a healthy lifestyle, we salute you, but if you are one who thinks of regular exercise as daunting or unthinkable to fit into your busy life, we hope the addition to our weekly fitness column of spotlighting real members’ challenges and achievements will change your mind.

Prepare to be inspired!!

After years of a sedentary lifestyle, Mrs. Lee Dooley, a resident of Delcambre, sought advice from a friend who suggested she begin a regular exercise program.

“I was tired all the time, stiff, feeling lethargic, and even lacking mental clarity.”

Rather than accepting the inevitable, Mrs. Lee, made the first step to change her quality of life for the better.

The soft-spoken, spunky 84-year-old will be the first to tell you, “it is hard at the beginning to be consistent, but it is so worth it.”

At the beginning of the summer, Mrs. Lee took advantage of the trial free week pass, working one-on-one with the help of personal trainers, beginning at a very slow pace and progressing each day.

She now is a member of Snap and works out Monday through Thursday, every week.

“I have more energy, I am more flexible, I feel stronger and more agile in doing every-day tasks,” says Mrs. Lee, when asked what are some of the benefits she has experienced in just six weeks.

Mrs. Lee does not eat a strict diet, but does believe in a healthy lifestyle, and has instilled that within her five children.

Amazingly, she is not on any prescription medication, which is almost unheard of at the age of 84!

She lets everyone know that she is feeling better since joining Snap, and says “ I would like everyone to feel as good, so I tell everyone about how great I feel going to Snap.”

Her expert advice to her friends now is to “get off your butt, and move – don’t just walk, you have to move EVERY part of your body.”

When she is not sitting with her 102-year-old mother, she is definitely practicing what she preaches. Mrs. Lee says that she “looks forward to coming to Snap every morning” and we at Snap feel the exact same!

We are thankful that she took her friend’s advice and joined a gym. Mrs. Lee Dooley is an inspiration for her friends and family, an inspiration for the staff and members of Snap Fitness, and can be your inspiration….so, take her advice, and “get off your butt!”