Sunday, October 12, 2008
Life, Health + Fitness

Get your D.R.E.A.M. body

A new personal training team in Atlanta is ready to help you look your best

By Colleen Oakley

I’ve always had about five or 10 extra pounds that I’ve wanted to get rid of, but recently I’ve been a bit manic about toning up. That’s because my wedding is two weeks away, and white is not exactly a slimming color. So I’ve been purposefully searching out fitness regimes for this column that will help me get in A+ shape for my big day.

Up this week was D.R.E.A.M. 1122, a personal training troupe that works out of Best Fitness gym in Buckhead. I met Ty Freeney, the owner and trainer extraordinaire, in the parking lot at 8 a.m. (OK, it was more like 8:10. I’m not a morning person), and we went straight into the gym, where he put me on a treadmill to warm up.

I know I’ve talked before about creating a list of top 10 hottest fitness instructors in Atlanta—and Ty makes the list (eye candy is such a great motivator to get me to a gym). He was an NFL draft prospect before an injury sidelined him, and he definitely knows what he’s talking about when it comes to fitness.

As I finished up on the treadmill, I told him that my wedding was two weeks away. “Congrats!” he said. “Let’s get you ready for that dress.”

Ty has a contagious energy about him, and I was more ready then usual to work up a sweat.
We started with ab work, and as I was crunching up, holding a weighted ball, Ty told me a little about his company. “There are a lot of personal trainers, but we’re the best,” he said, then smiled. “I bet you hear that a lot.”

“I do, so you have to prove it,” I laughed.

For the next 45 minutes, Ty took me through a circuit full-body workout, changing it up every 25 to 45 seconds. We did leg presses, jumping jacks, lunges, tricep dips, bicep curls, squats, jump squats and more ab work. The constant change-ups and Ty’s enthusiastic encouragement (“Think of that dress! Tone it up!”) kept it exciting and made the workout fly by.

“A lunge is a lunge,” said Ty, “but I think my team has the creativity and energy to keep people motivated.”

I agree. There are a lot of good personal trainers in Atlanta, and the D.R.E.A.M team is right up there with them. And I’m one day closer to looking even better in my wedding dress. SP
Colleen Oakley is a freelance writer in Atlanta and the former editor of Women’s Health & Fitness magazine. Got a fitness challenge for her? E-mail her at colleen@sundaypaper.com.