Ali Reti and Jeff Saxman stand at the service desk at Lancaster and look at a handwritten sign that reads “Lancaster Lost 199 Lbs of Fat. It’s Always Worth It.” Jeff and Ali are two Nutrition Coaches who have seen and to talked to many people about Courthouse Nutrition and have seen many people be successful.

While they greet folks walking through the door and hand out towels and wave good-bye to those leaving, Jeff and Ali talk about what that number, 199, means to their Club and to their members and to them.

“It is so empowering to see a member be successful, and a whole group of members be successful” says Ali. “A lot of people are convinced that they will never change, that they will never be that person, the type of person who can eat well and enjoy food and be healthy and fit. But, I’ve found that when someone wants to change their life and their habits, they can and they do.”

Jeff adds how important it is to see a number and to use the data the Bod Pod gives to alter strong-held (and untrue) perceptions about weight. “Before, we could look at people and say that they were improving. Now, we can prove it. People love seeing that number below “Fat Mass” drop and that number below “Lean Mass” go up, even though their weight on the scale might stay the same.” Jeff says that the people who stay on Nutrition tell him that their scale number doesn’t mean anything to them anymore. “They simply want to be leaner and fitter.”

“It goes back to how we define fitness,” Ali says. “Fitness is the ability to do whatever you want, whenever you want. For some people, they want to get off meds, add years to their life, become that person. And with real, whole, nutritious food, they find fitness. They do what they want, when they want.”

Ali and Jeff look over at the sign again. They think about everyone who passes that sign everyday and reads that number: 199 lbs of fat. They think about what they wish all those people could know about nutrition and movement and fitness.

“We wish that everyone could know that anyone, if they want, can find success and change their life,” Ali says. “I’ve known many people who thought what they achieved was impossible for them. They achieved it. I love sharing in that.”