My name is Darlene Reid, but everyone calls me DaR. I have been in the Fitness Industry for over 15 years. My passion is in helping others to recognize and achieve their fitness goals. I am a Sr. Health and Wellness Director for a local YMCA where for the last 13 years I have designed programs for people from all walks of life with all types of goals. I also teach as many as 6 group exercise classes a week. I teach everything from cardio kick, sculpting, spinning, butts and guts to Zumba! I enjoy teaching and training because it gives me an opportunity to do what I do best and that’s MOTIVATE, ENCOURAGE AND PUSH people toward their fitness goals! I am known for telling my classes, “Give me 8 more!” I believe that you can achieve anything that you set your mind on and my job is to help you realize that!

I not only have one full time job but 4! Along with working as a Director, I also have the lovely titles of WIFE AND MOM! I have been married for 14 years and I have two lovely girls, who are 7 and 3 years of age. These two jobs are the most important to me. I try to model a healthy lifestyle so my family will have me around for many years.

My fourth job is COMPETING IN BODYBUILDING AND TAKING CARE OF ME! I am a firm believer that you must take care of yourself and find a hobby that is truly your own. I LOVE to workout. If I am not with my family or working, you will always find me working out! I believe that before I can PREACH I must first do myself. My hobby of bodybuilding is a great love of mine. It is challenging and it teaches me discipline. It is a hard road to travel and for me that is a challenge in itself. (2009 update...i plan on doing a few marathons and triathlons along with competing in the Fall.)

Over the last several years of training and teaching others I have realized that I can do all the training and teaching in the world BUT if you don’t want it…I mean REALLY want it, it ain’t going to happen! There has to be a point in ones life where they become sick and tired of being sick and tired. Once that point is reached and it clicks then all things are possible because not only is your mind in it…but your heart and soul is in it.

So how do I know all this? Well I have been on both sides of the fence. I have been heavier, I have been lighter, I have struggled with self image issues, been down on myself, think that I look fat and I could on and on…does any of this sound familiar??? If you said no, then this page is not for you. If you said yes, you and I can sit down and talk..be real..be raw..that is the first step to accomplishing the goal of a BETTER YOU!!