By Courtney H. Diener-Stokes
Reading Eagle correspondent
Five months ago, Laura Grande, 29, of Lower Heidelberg Township was intrigued when she learned of a workout program she had never heard of before called Mmaxout, short for mixed martial arts extreme workout.
Knowing she enjoyed working out, a friend encouraged her to try a class at a Mmaxout training facility in Shillington.
“I’ve always been trying new things and been in shape,” Grande said. “I tried it and fell in love with it.”
Mmaxout is described on its website, www.mmaxout.com, as a total body workout that consists of “cardio, plyometric, calisthenic, weight, strength, aerobic and anaerobic training.”
While the Mmaxout program was developed in Berks, the program isn’t limited to the area.
“We have 54 locations in less than a year and a half,” said one of the founding members of Mmaxout Team, made up of trainers across the nation. “It’s about the brand, not about the individuals behind it; that’s what we’re all about. We’re all over the U. S. We’re in Brazil, Canada, Africa, Australia. We’re worldwide now.”
Grande likes the way the workouts are designed.
“Every week is different classes and focuses on different muscle groups,” she said. “You are working on different muscles all the time; muscles you didn’t even know you had.”
The various categories are called Mmax Lean, Mmax Xtreme, Mmax Out, Mmax Interval and Mmax Intense.
“For Mmax Lean, you are trying to get your heart rate up and do more cardio so you burn more calories,” Grande said. “On an average class you’ll burn about 1,000 calories. You are (constantly) shocking your body, and you are burning so many calories.”
She described a typical class.
“You’ll do 20 push-ups and then 10 knee-highs and 50 mountain climbers with sliders, and then you’ll do shoulder press with a band and 50 jump ropes,” she said of a recent class. “We did that about four times. After that we punch the bag 20 times and run back and forth.”
While it might sound a bit like boot camp, according to the Mmaxout Team, there are aspects that make it different, “using mixed martial arts as a workout.”
“People are tired of the same old workout routine,” the spokesman said. “We incorporate all styles of martial arts into a fun workout. You are always doing something different each week.’
Grande said it will only take one class for you to know it works.
“It kills you, but it’s a good kill,” she said with a laugh. “I’ve been sore for five months, but it’s great. Each week, I’m like, ‘Oh, I’m sore,’ but you know it’s working.”
“Even when you’re sore, you come back when you’re sore,” the spokesman said. “You want to shock the muscles right away. The more you put into the program, the better shape you get. We tell people the first month to come at least five days a week and after that a minimum of three and maximum of five.”
There is one aspect of the program in particular Grande has been excited about: the results.
“Within five months my body has transformed,” she said, adding she started noticing changes as soon as two weeks after taking the classes regularly. “My calves are sculpted, my thighs are smaller, my arms are more defined, my abs are ripped. Every body part is so toned and defined and tight.”
Grande dedicates four days a week to attending classes around her full-time work with her family’s business. Two days a week, she said she takes evening classes and the other two days she takes early-morning classes.
“The class is at 5 a.m.,” she said. “That is how crazy I am about going. The motivation that the trainers give you, you want to go. The trainers push you to places you didn’t think you could go.”
She said motivation also comes from others who take the one-hour classes. Classes are typically filled with anywhere from 30 to 40 students.
“We all motivate each other,” she said. “I might not know the person in the class, but I’ll push them because I want them to get the best results, too. Now we have our own little group; we call it the Mmaxout Family.”
She likes her new fitness regimen so much she abandoned her old one.
“I haven’t been to the gym at all,” she said. “In fact I canceled my membership. I am more toned now than when I was doing weights.”
Her overall objective in starting the program was to get more toned, not lose weight.
“I basically have a six-pack (abs) now,” she said, expressing amazement at the changes she has seen in her body.
She also mentioned others in the class who do have an objective to lose weight, noting they see themselves losing inches in a short time.
Since she has always been a fitness enthusiast who has tried many programs, she said that everything from the results to the music and the people have kept her coming back for more Mmaxout.
“This is far off the best program I’ve ever done,” she said.
Grande said a person of any level of fitness and size can participate.
“They do intro classes for beginners,” she said. “You don’t need experience. Anybody can do this program, regardless of age and experience. There is no intimidation because everyone is there to get results.”
Grande also finds the workouts to be a good stress reliever after a long day at work.
“If you have a bad day and you go and do a class like this, you’ll have a great night,” she said. “You release so much stress.”
She has even noticed changes in herself that aren’t all about her appearance.
“Once you see the results, your self-esteem is up,” she said. “My attitude with everything is better.”
But she also said she hasn’t minded the responses she’s gotten from others.
“People notice it,” she said. “They say, ‘Wow, look at your arms and your legs.’ ”
After seeing her results, her friends and family have since signed up. Some have even encouraged her to get certified to teach the program after seeing how much she loves it and it has changed her life.
“It’s my escape,” she said.
Contact Courtney H. Diener-Stokes: life@readingeagle.com.
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