Member Profiles

My Favorite Milker!

Spotlight on Leslie Hope
By Christy Meyer with Leslie

HOMETOWN:  Baton Rouge, LA
FAVORITE COLOR:  Red or purple (both passion colors!)
FAVORITE MOVIE:  Home Alone I or II 
FAVORITE FOOD:  Italian! (If she is going to eat Italian out, she goes to Ruffino’s.)   
FAVORITE SONG:  Living on a Prayer by Bon Jovi
FAVORITE GROUP:  Beyonce.  (Leslie is a HUGE Beyonce fan – she has even named her car Beyonce because it’s sexy! – I love Beyonce myself!)

IF YOU WERE AN ANIMAL, WHICH ANIMAL WOULD IT BE? WHY?:  “A dog.”  (Okay, so I wanted the answer to be COW, of course!)

WHAT IS THE LAST BOOK YOU READ:  “Guide to Dissection of the Dog.”  (Does anybody else find this interesting…? I didn’t know whether to laugh or cringe.  Turns out this is a textbook and required reading.  Remember Leslie is a vet student at LSU!)

IF YOU COULD TRADE PLACES WITH ANOTHER PERSON FOR A WEEK, WITH WHOM WOULD IT BE?  “The Head Vets at Best Friends Animal Society in Utah.”  (Leslie spent the summer of 2009 at this facility!  It is the LARGEST animal sanctuary in America.  They accept ALL animals, all kinds, and do not turn away any animal ~ providing whatever care is necessary regardless of cost.  Leslie actually cared for Michael Vicks’ dogs that summer!)

IF HOLLYWOOD MADE A MOVIE ABOUT YOUR LIFE, WHOM WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE PLAY THE LEAD ROLE?  Drumroll please…….”BEYONCE!”  (Two things VERY CLEAR about Leslie – She loves ANIMALS and she loves BEYONCE!)

IF YOU COULD BE A SUPERHERO, WHAT WOULD YOU WANT YOUR SUPERPOWERS TO BE?:  “I would like to fly.”  (Big surprise since you want to be a bird. 

WHAT WOULD PEOPLE BE SURPRISED TO LEARN ABOUT YOU?  “I have 6 dogs and 5 foster kittens, and I used to be shy.”  (Hmm….not really surprised Leslie ~ we will work on this one!)

WHAT IS YOUR DREAM VACATION AND WHY?  “Italy! I’ve been 3 times and absolutely LOVE it!  It’s beautiful, and the food is great!”  (Story about Leslie in Italy with her mom and sisters – They were driving through Europe, had their rental loaded down with luggage, and almost backed off a cliff.  They were literally caught on a tree limb and had to be rescued! ~ I’m sure the weight of the luggage only exacerbated the situation!!!)

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CLASS AT MGF AND WHY? “Body Combat ~ I like to kick butt.  Love the intensity.  It’s great for anger management!”

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE MGF IN 1 WORD? “FAMILY.”

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN 3 WORDS?  “Funny, fur-covered, determined!” (So very true – after getting to know Leslie, she is all 3 – especially determined.  I love that!)

LESLIE’S MOMENTUM EXPERIENCE IN HER OWN WORDS:  “Momentum is the place I go to burn off steam after a ridiculously hard test, a place I go to see my friends and a place where I can focus on taking care of myself. The classes at Momentum are all great and have made me step out of my comfort zone (Zumba!), push myself to the point where I feel my heart will burst (Body Combat), and sculpt some sexy muscles (have you seen my biceps?! all thanks to Body Pump ). I joined Momentum after finishing my first Zumba class with Jennifer because I was absolutely in love with the welcoming atmosphere and how the class made me feel. There are so many wonderful people that make Momentum great–it’s where I met Brittany and her angel babies, and who could forget the lovely Becca? ”

WHAT DOES MGF HAVE TO SAY ABOUT LESLIE?  Leslie is consistent and determined!  My visit with Leslie at the LSU Dairy Farm was eye-opening.  I am STILL talking about cows, literally.  Her dedication to the cows, their calves, and animals in general is INSPIRING.  I’ve now added Leslie to my list of favorite people!

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Chelsey Laborde

Spotlight on Chelsey Laborde
By Christy Meyer with Chelsey

HOMETOWN:  Marksville, LA
FAVORITE COLOR:  Purple (GEAUX TIGERS!)
FAVORITE MOVIE:  “The Notebook, I know typical!”  (One of my VERY favorite movies ~ talk about finding the Love of Your Life! ~ AMAZING!)
FAVORITE CARTOON:  The Rugrats
FAVORITE FOOD:  Rice-N-Gravy (Apparently she and Jay like to eat this with sweet green peas mixed in – GROSS!)  
FAVORITE SONG:  You Can Call Me Al, Paul Simon (When I told Chelsey that I cannot stand that song  …having flashbacks to the video on MTV with Chevy Chase and Paul Simon…she was appalled.  This is her go-to song that she dances to in the car on her way to work!)
FAVORITE GROUP:  “N-Sync (duh!)”  (Okay…having flashbacks again and NOT good ones – HA!  I had to endure their puppet concert in the Superdome a zillion years ago…)

IF YOU WERE AN ANIMAL, WHICH ANIMAL WOULD IT BE? WHY?:  “A dog; I love dogs and usually owners love them, too.  I think this is as close to human as you can get.”

IF YOU COULD TRADE PLACES WITH ANOTHER PERSON FOR A WEEK, WITH WHOM WOULD IT BE?  “I’d like to trade places with Jordan Jefferson (the LSU quarterback for those Christys out there) on January 9.  No worries, we’d beat Bama!”  (Wasn’t he also a President of the United States?!? Bhahahahahaha!)

IF HOLLYWOOD MADE A MOVIE ABOUT YOUR LIFE, WHOM WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE PLAY THE LEAD ROLE?  “Rachel McAdams.”

WHAT IS THE LAST BOOK YOU READ:  “The Quiet Game” by Greg Iles.

FAVORITE JAY QUOTE: “Why do you work out?; I still haven’t answered that one correctly.”  (Jay asked her this during the interview, and she answered it correctly! She said it’s because it makes me feel good! – PERFECT!)

IF YOU COULD BE A SUPERHERO, WHAT WOULD YOU WANT YOUR SUPERPOWERS TO BE?:  “I would like to fly.”

WHAT WOULD PEOPLE BE SURPRISED TO LEARN ABOUT YOU?  “I wake up really early – like extremely early – but find it really hard to work out in the AM.”  (I knew this already…besides Jay and myself, Chelsey is the only other person who is up and sending emails at 4:30 in the morning!)

WHAT IS YOUR DREAM VACATION AND WHY?  “Anywhere in Greece.  It’s so beautiful there.  I’ve never been – I will go one day!”

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CLASS AT MGF AND WHY? “Body Pump ~ love the class, love the music, love Michelle!”  (AGREE!!)   

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE MGF IN 1 WORD? “Welcoming.”

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN 3 WORDS?  “Loud, creative, driven.”  (Okay, so creative and driven – ABSOLUTELY!  Chelsey is one of the most professional mature young women I have ever met! Loud was a bit shocking..but with a little more explanation totally understand! Loud meaning assertive, passionate, and talks a lot – Hmm….wonder if we have anything in common?)

CHELSEY’S MOMENTUM EXPERIENCE IN HER OWN WORDS:  “I’ve been working out at Momentum since Jay stopped me on the treadmill one day and asked me to try a class at his new facility.  I’ve been hooked from the beginning.  Group fitness classes have really brought consistency to my workout schedule – something I was never able to do in a gym.  The staff is remarkable and put so much effort on every detail of what they do.  It always amazes me when staff members can remember everyone’s name.  This is something I’m bad at, and I admire that quality in people.  I recommend Momentum to anyone I know is looking for classes.  I love the pressure, yet no pressure attitude and the non-judgmental personality of the facility and the members.  The culture of Momentum is unmatched.  Thank you, Momentum, for helping me live a healthier life.

WHAT DOES MGF HAVE TO SAY ABOUT CHELSEY?  I could go on and on here…Chelsey is AMAZING! She is a HUGE part of Momentum and what Momentum represents and HOW Momentum is represented.  When MGF first opened and was struggling for its identity, Jay reached out to Chelsey and Chelsey didn’t just reach back – she JUMPED IN feet first and took a real leadership role in getting some key marketing elements accomplished.  She is the reason we have our fantastic new website, the reason Momentum is on Facebook, and the heart of our culture here at MGF.  We are forever grateful for Chelsey’s vision, which is weaved into the fabric of everything we currently do!

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Hailey Heard

By Christy Meyer with Hailey

HOMETOWN:  St. Rose, LA
FAVORITE COLOR:  Purple (this is a popular color!!…LSU purple – GEAUX TIGERS!)
FAVORITE MOVIE:  Running Scared
FAVORITE CARTOON:  PB&J Otter (never heard of this one, apparently a Disney cartoon forever ago!)
FAVORITE FOOD:  “Mexican, chicken fajitas!”   
FAVORITE SONG:  Love Story by Taylor Swift
FAVORITE GROUP:  “Taylor Swift and Weezy F. Baby! AKA Lil Wayne.”  (Had never heard of Weezy F. Baby…or Lil Wayne for that matter…except maybe in the news?!?)

IF YOU WERE AN ANIMAL, WHICH ANIMAL WOULD IT BE? WHY?:  “A bird; they are so free and elegant, and I want to fly.”  (Me, too.  I’d fly to my new dream vacation destination…Cat Island!)

IF YOU COULD TRADE PLACES WITH ANOTHER PERSON FOR A WEEK, WITH WHOM WOULD IT BE?  “Taylor Swift; she is an amazing singer and a great role model!  She has it all, and yet’s she’s still humble, and I admire that.”  (She is pretty great Hailey – I love that she writes her own songs, and they are so raw and honest.  She really puts herself out there.)

IF HOLLYWOOD MADE A MOVIE ABOUT YOUR LIFE, WHOM WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE PLAY THE LEAD ROLE?  “Kate Hudson.  She’s so funny!  I know I don’t look like her!”  (I love her, too!)

WHAT IS THE LAST BOOK YOU READ:  “I am re-reading the Twilight saga currently ~ I love them!”  (Hailey does the midnight premier thing, along with every other young woman in the country – my daughter included! I have not read a single book nor seen a single movie – must put that on my bucket list!)

FAVORITE JAY QUOTE: “I haven’t been here long enough to have one yet, but I know there are a TON!”  (Oh sweet Hailey…if you only knew the scope of the Jay quote!)

IF YOU COULD BE A SUPERHERO, WHAT WOULD YOU WANT YOUR SUPERPOWERS TO BE?:  “I would like to fly.”  (Big surprise since you want to be a bird. 

WHAT WOULD PEOPLE BE SURPRISED TO LEARN ABOUT YOU?  “I love rap music! And I secretly wish I was Lil Wayne!”  (Okay, so now it is clear where your natural timing comes from in Body Pump – You are FEELING THE BEAT!! We must further analyze your desire to be a young male rapper…Let’s hope Jay is not reading this.  If so, I’m sure he will pull out ALL his QUOTES!)

WHAT IS YOUR DREAM VACATION AND WHY?  “The beach, crystal clear water with beautiful white sand.  It is calming, relaxing, and just paradise.”

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CLASS AT MGF AND WHY? “Body Pump, cause I teach it, duh!  However, I do love 40/60 Anytime.”  (I love them both! Hailey is an outstanding teacher – take her class if you haven’t already! 9 am on Wednesday.)  

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE MGF IN 1 WORD? “Inspirational.”

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN 3 WORDS?  “Nice, cute, easy-going.”  (All 3 totally true!)

HAILEY’S MOMENTUM EXPERIENCE IN HER OWN WORDS:  “I love it.  Everyone here is so close-knit.  I’m so inspired by the Momentum members ~ They make me want to do more.  They are all here doing something good for themselves.  When I’m teaching, they push themselves and I admire that.  When I started working at the front desk, and I would see the members coming in for other classes, it made me want to push myself – want to be more like them.  They INSPIRE ME!”

WHAT DOES MGF HAVE TO SAY ABOUT HAILEY?  Hailey is a really COOL teenager.  What most of you do not know is that Hailey obtained her Body Pump certification during her senior year in high school as part of her senior project.  Special permission was granted by Les Mills in order for her to do this.  She would get up at 4 am to teach 5 am Body Pump at the facility in Luling, Louisiana, two mornings a week.  I don’t know about y’all, but I don’t know many adults who would do this – much less any teenagers.  Hailey IS easy going and laid-back in person but she is a LEADER on stage, in total command of the workout.  We are thrilled to have her as part of the Momentum crew, both instructing and at the front desk!

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Merle Francis

By Christy Meyer with Merle

HOMETOWN:  Baton Rouge, LA
FAVORITE COLOR:  Purple
FAVORITE MOVIE:  “Pay It Forward, because it’s a great lesson on how people should act.”  (Love this movie, it’s been a while – must watch soon!)
FAVORITE FOOD:  “Italian food, Little Village is my favorite Italian restaurant.”  (GREAT CHOICE!!) 
FAVORITE SONG:  On Eagle’s Wings
FAVORITE GROUP:  “Too many to name, but Van Morrison would be one.”

IF YOU WERE AN ANIMAL, WHICH ANIMAL WOULD IT BE? WHY?:  “Gisele – so that I would enjoy running and hopefully be a faster runner, too!”

HAVE YOU DEVELOPED ANY RELATIONSHIPS SINCE BECOMING A MEMBER AT MOMENTUM?  “Oh yes, you, Christy, Dana, Jane, Rafael, and the rest of the 5am crew.  The relationships I have developed at Momentum are an EXTRA BONUS for working out in a great place.  You show up vulnerable, no makeup, no facade.”

IF YOU COULD TRADE PLACES WITH ANOTHER PERSON FOR A WEEK, WITH WHOM WOULD IT BE?  “My mom.  I would hope to gain a better understanding of what it is really like to grow old so that I could be more patient and empathetic.”

IF HOLLYWOOD MADE A MOVIE ABOUT YOUR LIFE, WHOM WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE PLAY THE LEAD ROLE?  “Julia Roberts.”  (Perfect choice, you are both long, lean & have beautiful smiles!)

WHAT IS THE LAST BOOK YOU READ:  “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.”  (When I asked Merle about this, she said it’s book 1 of a 3-book series, and the author died after writing the 3rd book.  She’s on the 2nd in the series and says she cannot put it down! – I’m thinking I’ll add this to my cruise book list, right after Help.)

FAVORITE JAY QUOTE: “Get your elbows off the handlebars.”  (Jay was present for the interview, which is a rarity, and he said that quote is especially for Merle – HA!)

IF YOU COULD BE A SUPERHERO, WHAT WOULD YOU WANT YOUR SUPERPOWERS TO BE?:  “Strength, hopefully that would result in super hero toning, too! ”

WHAT WOULD PEOPLE BE SURPRISED TO LEARN ABOUT YOU?  “That I ride my bike in the dark on River Road.”  (Merle rides a road bike, and gets out at 5am to ride on the days she is not in Momentum – That’s commitment!)

WHAT IS YOUR DREAM VACATION AND WHY?  “I would love to go to Italy and Greece because the pictures I’ve seen are too beautiful.  People seem to be so laid back there.  It would be tempting to stay!”

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CLASS AT MGF AND WHY? “40/60 Anytime because it targets multiple areas that all need improvement!  Second favorite would be CXWORX and then Yoga.”   

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE MGF IN 1 WORD? “Meets everybody’s needs.”  (Merle could not answer this in one word – when I asked her about this, she stated that Momentum is very special in that it meets everybody’s needs.  I LOVE this comment because it is so true – we strive to do just that.)

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN 3 WORDS?  “Direct, conservative, and Positive.”  (When asked about this, Merle said that her cup is not just half full but is completely full ~ I’ve never heard anybody use this term before but I absolutely love it. I can totally see “stealing” that and using it myself.  Jay added funny to this list, and I would have to agree with this completely.  Merle keeps everybody entertained at 5 am.)

MERLE’S MOMENTUM EXPERIENCE IN HER OWN WORDS:  “I love the 5 am group at Momentum!  We have fun and get our reps in, too.  When I was looking for a new haven to work out in, Momentum Group Fitness fit the bill.  Jay and Christy are great role models for fitness!!!”

WHAT DOES MGF HAVE TO SAY ABOUT MERLE?  Merle is a total giver, always concerned about the people around her.  She is always giving oxygen to those around her.  During the 40/60 Anytime, she is always the first person to help a new “recruit” with technique or form – an Ambassador if you will! She is CONSISTENT – always here at 5 am to work out with the rest of her “evil sisters.”  We count on Merle’s big smile and giving spirit here at Momentum.  She and the rest of the 5 am crew converted me to a 5 am convert!

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Ms. Denise!

Spotlight on Denise Quezaire

By Christy Meyer with Denise

HOMETOWN:  Donaldsonville, LA
FAVORITE COLOR:  Tiffany’s Blue (I knew we had a special connection…)
FAVORITE MOVIE:  “Braveheart, Ha Ha, I know random.”  (She’s dead serious on this one – loves the speech at the end before the attack….Insight into Denise anyone?)
FAVORITE CARTOON:  The Peanuts (Lucy is her favorite, of course – Mine too!)
FAVORITE FOOD:  Pasta (any kind of Italian food – we MUST do dinner!)

FAVORITE SONG:  This is How We Do It, by Montell Jordan (This song has been stuck in my head since Monday evening!)
FAVORITE GROUP:  “The Jacksons; their songs just make you want to get up and dance, right?!”  (Yes, they do!  Denise recently told Jay that she would like an entire Spin profile of Jackson 5 music…Jay’s response was hilarious and you can hear him saying it – Really?)

IF YOU WERE AN ANIMAL, WHICH ANIMAL WOULD IT BE? WHY?:  “My dog because he’s spoiled, lives in air conditioning all day, and I clean up after him.”  (So, I’m thinking this sounds a lot like my husband…Bhahahahahaha!)

IF YOU COULD TRADE PLACES WITH ANOTHER PERSON FOR A WEEK, WITH WHOM WOULD IT BE?  “Oprah!”  (Denise’s answer here was immediate and explosive! as was my response – that is who I would trade places with as well.  We agreed that we’d love the trade because Oprah has everything, owns the world.  Coincidentally, we also agreed that the one thing Oprah has that we could do without – Stedman!)

FAVORITE JAY QUOTE: “What’s your purpose? Why did you show up? Let’s find it. ”  (Denise wanted to remember Jay’s quote about getting on the bench if you’re not here to work…but we couldn’t technically quote him.  If you know it, comment or email me!)

IF YOU COULD BE A SUPERHERO, WHAT WOULD YOU WANT YOUR SUPERPOWERS TO BE?:  “Invisibility, so that I could eavesdrop on people!”  (Really Denise…All my readers – Whisper when Denise is around – You never know what she may be listening to. HAHA – Oh Jay, I’m only kidding – Readers – No whispering around Denise!  I’ll get in trouble. 

IF HOLLYWOOD MADE A MOVIE ABOUT YOUR LIFE, WHOM WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE PLAY THE LEAD ROLE?  Zoe Saldana  (I had never heard of her – Dana, Jane, and the usual cast of characters was present for the interview – Dana’s response was great – “I can see it.  She’s Bad Ass!  Good choice.” – I want to be Bad Ass…a little jealous.)

WHAT WOULD PEOPLE BE SURPRISED TO LEARN ABOUT YOU?  “I’m slightly OCD. I have to have things a certain way and there’s always an order to do them in. You should see my house…”  (This is NOT surprising Denise – PEOPLE, please dig a little deeper – Surprise me…I want something juicy here.  After much probing (some might even call harassing), with the help of my interview posse, we did get Denise to admit she’s a “wino.”  Much, much better.  Get creative here!)

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE MGF IN 1 WORD? “Rewarding.”  (Pretty sure this is mainly because of me…HA!)

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CLASS AT MGF AND WHY? “Spin of course! I love the energy it brings and the results I get!”  

DENISE’S MOMENTUM EXPERIENCE IN HER OWN WORDS:  “I’ve been a member since the beginning of the year and I feel like MGF is already my 2nd family! I appreciate the dedication and determination of not only the members, but the staff, too. Everyone is so uplifting and passionate about achieving one common goal. I look forward every day after work to coming to the gym and absolutely love the results I’m getting, so gratifying and fulfilling. I have no one to thank but MGF…THANK YOU!!”

WHAT DOES MGF HAVE TO SAY ABOUT DENISE?  We LOVE Denise! This past weekend, she went to New Orleans and obtained her Spinning certification.  So guess what…You will soon be seeing Denise at the front of class leading you through what promises to be a very challenging ride.  Denise comes to Momentum to work – simple as that.  Try as I might to shift her focus from serious to playful during her workouts, she always stays the course.  Now after her workouts, that’s a different story!

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Rafael de Castro

What Moves You?

Spotlight on Rafael de Castro
By Christy Meyer with Rafael

HOMETOWN:  “Terrytown, LA. Brah!”  (Where is this?  Must get out my map! or Google Maps…)
FAVORITE COLOR:  “Kiss the Sky Blue”
FAVORITE MOVIE:  O Brother, Where Art Thou? 
FAVORITE CARTOON:  Spongebob Squarepants (This was my daughter’s favorite, too, 15 years ago when she was 4!)
FAVORITE FOOD:  Arroz con Pollo (Cuban Chicken & Rice).  YUMMY!  
FAVORITE SONG:  Kashmir (Zeppelin).
FAVORITE GROUP:  Steve Miller Band.

WHAT IS THE LAST BOOK YOU READ:  “Constantine’s Sword:  The Church and the Jews: A History”  (My husband would love this – I will have to pass this on.  I’d be asleep before the end of the Introduction.)

IF YOU COULD TRADE PLACES WITH ANOTHER PERSON FOR A WEEK, WITH WHOM WOULD IT BE?  “Neil Armstrong – Can you imagine what it felt like to be the first person to step on the moon and view Earth from so far away?”  (No, I really can’t.  Simply amazing when you stop and think about it!)

FAVORITE JAY QUOTE:  “It’s not hot in here; you’re hot in here!”  (I’ve NEVER heard this one!)

IF HOLLYWOOD MADE A MOVIE ABOUT YOUR LIFE, WHOM WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE PLAY THE LEAD ROLE?  “Andy Garcia.”  (GREAT CHOICE!! I love how well you guys are able to make this connection – I can almost always see it!)

WHAT WOULD PEOPLE BE SURPRISED TO LEARN ABOUT YOU?  “I was born with Polydactyly, meaning I was born with 12 fingers.  Cool, huh?”  (TOTALLY COOL!  Ask him to show you the scars – pretty neat!)

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN 3 WORDS?  “Drop Dead Sexy.”  (Good one Rafael – positive self-image – FANTASTIC!)

RAFAEL’S MOMENTUM EXPERIENCE IN HIS OWN WORDS:  “I love Momentum both as a member and an instructor.  I see how it brings people together with a common goal to help inspire each other to accomplish those goals.  What a wonderful thing!  Remember, there is nothing you can’t accomplish when, ‘You have Momentum at your Back!’”

WHAT DOES MGF HAVE TO SAY ABOUT RAFAEL?   Rafael is an EXCELLENT Spin instructor – His Wednesday 5:15 am class is incredible.  Rafael brings it each and every Wednesday, and the crew in the morning know it and look forward to it.  We’ve all come to count on it, and he never disappoints!

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Spotlight on Barret Blondeau

Barret completed his first-ever 5K with a time of 24 minutes!

By Christy Meyer with Barret

HOMETOWN: Baton Rouge; grew up 2 minutes from Momentum on Myrtle Hill Drive!

FAVORITE COLOR:  Green

FAVORITE MOVIE: Anchorman, Usual Suspects, The Big Lebowski (great movies!!)

FAVORITE CARTOON:  South Park (I’ve NEVER seen this…must get on board soon!)

FAVORITE FOOD:  Steaks–Filet.

FAVORITE SONG:  Lots of favorite songs..if pressed (and he knew he would be , a workout song — Lil Wayne “Drop the World,” and driving song, Allman Brothers, “Blue Sky.”

FAVORITE GROUP:  Lots of favorite bands, too — Huge music fan!  Dave Matthews Band, Allman Brothers, Led Zeppelin, and I went around the country following a band called Widespread Panic during my early twenties!  (Barret was a groupie – I LOVE THIS!  Would have never guessed it – You are NEVER to meet my daughter, who does NOT miss a music festival!)

WHAT IS THE LAST BOOK YOU READ:  “I read Pride and Prejudice, but only because I had to read it for English Lit.”  (Ummm…ever heard of Cliffs Notes?  Do they still have those?)

WHAT WOULD PEOPLE BE SURPRISED TO LEARN ABOUT YOU?  Okay…so Barret did not answer this question – I’m going to go out on a limb here and say it would be that you followed a band around in your twenties!!

FAVORITE JAY QUOTE:  “Remember why you came today!”

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CLASS AT MGF AND WHY?  “Spinning, I love the group atmosphere with the lights down and the great music playing.  The instructors are great and they push you to the next level!”

WHAT IS YOUR DREAM VACATION DESTINATION AND WHY? “A cabin on the water at Bora Bora, relaxing and forgetting about life with the one I love.”  (Great answer Barret! Every female reading this is melting inside!)

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE MGF IN 1 WORD?  “Catalyst.”  (Read below and learn more about this – My VERY FAVORITE answer yet – going to be hard to beat this one!)

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN 3 WORDS?  Since Barret didn’t answer this one, I will describe Barret in 3 words, “Hard-working, smart, and focused!”

BARRET’S MOMENTUM EXPERIENCE IN HIS OWN WORDS:  “Momentum Group Fitness has an amazing atmosphere with great instructors; and they are always keeping it new and fresh. I first started coming in about 10 months ago, and I took part in their fitness challenge last summer. I was not really that happy with my first performance, but I did finish! I decided at that point to dig in and set higher goals. I got with Jay and got on a rode bike, start running long distance, and set a goal of doing my first triathlon next year!! I have lost 30 pounds over the last 10 months, and I feel better than I ever have. I have to say that Momentum has pushed me to change my life and helped me reach for higher and higher goals. I want to say thank you to Christy, Jay, Brittney, Julie, Jennifer, Becca, everyone else who has helped push me on a daily basis.  I feel fortunate to have a place to go and workout like MGF.  It’s great getting to meet new people, and I feel like I’m getting a great workout no matter which class I take.  I like being part of Team Fitness; it makes me try harder to achieve my personal goals.”

WHAT DOES MGF HAVE TO SAY ABOUT BARRET?   I’m going to say it in one word (other than the 3 I used above to describe Barret) – PROUD!

Jeff Shaw...and who's that?!

By Christy Meyer with Jeff

HOMETOWN: Baton Rouge, LA
FAVORITE COLOR:  Purple (Another purple lover – Anytime’s color – Good choice!)
FAVORITE MOVIE: The Matrix
FAVORITE CARTOON:  Road Runner 
FAVORITE FOOD:  Sushi  
FAVORITE SONG:  Black Betty by ZZ Top 
FAVORITE GROUP:  A Soup Named Stew (According to Jeff, their slogan is:  “We’ve never heard of you either.”  HA! I love that!)

WHAT IS THE LAST BOOK YOU READ:  “I really only read trade magazines.  I just don’t have time to read anything else.” 
IF YOU COULD TRADE PLACES WITH ANOTHER PERSON FOR A WEEK (FAMOUS OR NOT, LIVING OR NOT, REAL OR FICTIONAL), WITH WHOM WOULD IT BE? “Never wanted to!”  
IF HOLLYWOOD MADE A MOVIE ABOUT YOUR LIFE, WHOM WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE PLAY THE LEAD ROLE?  “David Duchovny.”  (Good choice!!  When I asked Jeff about this, he said that he is a fan of the X-Files, and that David Duchovny is just a good looking guy, they are about the same age, and he is also a vegetarian – eats fish!) 
WHAT WOULD PEOPLE BE SURPRISED TO LEARN ABOUT YOU?  “I raced multihull sailboats for years!”  (Okay…so this is where it gets good – I LOVE THIS!! While I sail a multihull, I have never gotten into racing. Jeff gave this up and took up Antique Boats.  Fortunately for me, he is looking at getting back into racing multihulls.  I sure hope so – I’d love to crew for him one time! You’d be surprised at my mad skills on a sailboat!    Jeff wants to get his hands on a Gemini 105!  Nice!)   
FAVORITE JAY QUOTE:  “What are you here for?”  (Another classic…) 
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CLASS AT MGF AND WHY?  “I love Spin; it’s the reason I joined!”    
WHAT IS YOUR DREAM VACATION DESTINATION AND WHY? “Any beach, the sooner the better.!”  (Hey, I’m at the beach now!)
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE MGF IN 1 WORD?  “Awesome.” (I totally agree!)

JEFF’S MOMENTUM EXPERIENCE IN HIS OWN WORDS:  Two years ago I was looking for the very best place in Baton Rouge to start Spinning, and I decided that was Momentum Group Fitness.  I have really enjoyed branching out and trying new classes, the Fitness Challenge, “The Tour” each summer, and the random costume days.  The instructors are fun and motivational!

WHAT DOES CHRISTY HAVE TO SAY ABOUT JEFF?  Okay, it doesn’t matter what’s going on in my day, Jeff can walk through the door and put the BIGGEST smile on my face.  I love his sense of humor, LOVE it!  He was one of the first to school me on the art of smelling good after working out – and as a result, routinely offers up his armpit for a post-workout sniff… (Yes, a little gross but somehow he makes it work!)  And, Jeff always has on underwear.  He goes out of his way to follow all of my Momentum rules!    On a serious note, Jeff is a great addition to our Momentum community.  He is 1000% on board with everything we do here at Momentum.  He participates in all our “extras” – and was SPOT ON for our 80’s Week.  Costumes were AMAZING!  Jeff works hard and is consistent – a real team player!

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Shellie Blanchard

HOMETOWN: Baton Rouge
FAVORITE COLOR: Teal

FAVORITE MOVIE: The Parent Trap- the original one (Hmm…I’m so young that I assumed Lindsey Lohan was the original one…okay, not really!)

FAVORITE CARTOON: Smurfs (Shellie’s favorite is Smurfette OF COURSE!)

FAVORITE FOOD: Sushi

FAVORITE SONG: “Party Rock Anthem” LMFAO

FAVORITE GROUP: Black Eyed Peas

WHAT IS THE LAST BOOK YOU READ: Matched by Ally Condie (Okay, turns out this was an audio book…REALLY? I said READ, not listened to. Shellie’s response was same difference, you know?! My response was that I didn’t know!)

IF YOU WERE AN ANIMAL, WHICH ANIMAL WOULD YOU BE? WHY? “Leopard. So I can run faster. I need to be one for the Louisiana Half Marathon. I will need some extra speed that day for sure ” (Shellie is up to 9 miles without stopping – Great job Shellie!)


IF YOU COULD TRADE PLACES WITH ANOTHER PERSON FOR A WEEK (FAMOUS OR NOT, LIVING OR NOT, REAL OR FICTIONAL), WITH WHOM WOULD IT BE? “Lady Gaga. I would love to be her for a week. She is so far out of the box. I would love to act wild and crazy for once in my life.” (Oh, I don’t know Shellie – You were definitely wild and crazy during 80’s week!!)

IF YOU COULD BE A SUPERHERO, WHAT WOULD YOU WANT YOUR POWERS TO BE? “Bat Girl. I would love to fly. I hate traffic, so flying all the time would be super cool.”


IF HOLLYWOOD MADE A MOVIE ABOUT YOUR LIFE, WHOM WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE PLAY THE LEAD ROLE? “Reese Witherspoon. I love her so much!” (Me, too. She is my absolutely favorite.)

WHAT WOULD PEOPLE BE SURPRISED TO LEARN ABOUT YOU? “That I am creative. I LOVE to do crafty projects.” (As evidenced by the Power in Group shirt that you crafted up above! SO COOL!)

FAVORITE JAY QUOTE: “Power in Group! Or did Jay steal that one from Christy? LOVE both of you! ” (Finally, a mention for me! It’s about time people!! You know, Jay isn’t running this ship anymore – There’s a new captain at the helm!)

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CLASS AT MGF AND WHY? “That’s a tough question. I love so many classes at MGF. I would have to say Zumba, 40/60 Anytime, Spin, Body Combat, Yoga, and CXWORX. I love it all.” (She says this and laughs hysterically ~ Shellie is definitely one of our busiest members!)

WHAT IS YOUR DREAM VACATION DESTINATION AND WHY? “Somewhere tropical. And come March 2012, I will be going there. I am taking a cruise with my BFF to the Bahamas. I am so excited. They even have a gym on the cruise ship. I will be set!” (Turns out Shellie and I will be on the same boat – not at the same time sadly – I’ll be on that boat in December. I plan on mapping out her entire workout before her cruise!

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE MGF IN 1 WORD? “Family!”

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN 3 WORDS? “Fun, Creative, Shy.” (Shy really surprised me – apparently she is shy in new situations!)

SHELLIE’S MOMENTUM EXPERIENCE IN HER OWN WORDS: “Momentum Group Fitness is my fitness family. Not only have I joined a great place to workout, but I have joined a wonderful family. I have met so many awesome friends here and look forward to meeting more. The staff at MGF is so willing to go out of their way to make sure you are working out correctly and still having fun at the same time. There is NO other place I would rather be. Thanks so much, MGF!!!”

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