Gym owners put clients through wringer

Christopher Egbert

John Kyle teaches boxing techniques at Aboutium Fitness.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF CHRISTOPHER EGBERT Aboutium Fitness was first housed in this garage, which belonged to a friend of Christopher Egbert and John Kyle.

The new gym, 1090 S. State Road, Greenwood, is home to some “kick-butt” training, which takes place from 8 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Call 865-6557 for class times.

By B. Scott Mohr
Associate editor

From its humble beginning in a dingy garage where somewhat primitive apparatuses were used in workouts, Aboutium Fitness has grown to occupy a nice training facility in Greenwood. 

Launched last spring by Christopher Egbert and John Kyle, the center features challenging fitness programs that are tailored to help members exceed their goals. 

“We believe in putting our members through a complete body shock,” said Egbert and Kyle, and that’s just what the 2009 graduates of Roncalli did to their first two clients. “They were twin brothers, and they both weighed more than 300 pounds,” said Egbert. “They lacked self-confidence and were antisocial. John and I knew we could help them, and we did. One has lost more than 100 pounds, the other one about 85 pounds. Their social skills have improved. We have turned their lives around.”

The twins’ routine consisted of four or five intense workouts a week. Each one was divided into 12 three-minute sessions, with sessions featuring plyometrics (jump training), cross-training, weightlifting and highly aerobic exercises. “When the twins came in here they couldn’t do 10 jumping jacks; now they are leading sessions,” said Egbert. 

While those are Egbert and Kyle’s biggest success stories to date, other clients have lost considerable weight and have achieved their goals or are well on the way to meeting them.  

“We are dedicated to motivating members toward extraordinary achievement, so we ask for a lot more than a middle-of-the-road effort,” stressed Egbert. “No matter what level you’re at, this training will push you to your limits. We want our clients to get their metabolic rates as high as possible so those rates will stay elevated throughout the day. If someone really hits it hard, they burn up between 800 and 1,200 calories in an hour.” 
But Egbert is quick to point out that all the training in the world won’t result in weight loss if a good diet is not followed. “Dieting is a huge wall for many people.” 

When the twins started to shed a noticeable amount of weight, neighbors became interested in Egbert and Kyle’s programs and signed up. The guys soon vacated the garage and offered their services at Indy Boxing South, but the availability of suitable gym hours was less than desirable.

So Aboutium Fitness is now housed at 1090 S. State Road 135, and the environment is conducive for serious training. “We kick butt here,”  boasted Ebgert, and that butt-kicking goes on from 8 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Call 865-6557 for class times. 

Membership is up to 35 – an equal mix of young ladies and guys. “It’s a great family atmosphere, and the camaraderie is strong. No one here judges anybody,” he said. Classes are small, and monthly rates are comparable with other centers. “We are hoping to attract some older members.”

Egbert, a certified strength and conditioning coach and personal trainer through the American Sports & Fitness Association, graduated in the spring from Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis with a double major in political science and Spanish. He doesn’t see himself using that degree in the foreseeable future as he envisions running a successful training center for years to come. “We’re doing pretty good. We love what we are doing, and membership is growing.” 

He does have a backup plan if the center doesn’t pan out: His dad owns an excavation company. “Dad has always wanted me to take it over,” he said. His third backup plan is going to law school, but he’s unsure about that right now.  
Kyle, also a certified personal trainer, is scheduled to graduate in the fall from IUPUI with a degree in political science. He is an amateur boxer who has been an instructor at Indy Boxing South for nearly four years. A former Indiana Golden Gloves semifinalist, he leads the boxing side of Aboutium’s regimen, but there is no physical contact due to a lease agreement. “The gym has always been a place for me to cope with any personal struggles,” he said. “I want to help give people their self-confidence back because my trainer gave that to me.”

About the name
Aboutium is a named that Ebert and Kyle made up, and it’s a synonym for a unique fitness program that delivers more personal success than conventional routines, they said, adding that “Our mission is to provide a program under the costs of like-minded competitors while producing far superior results.”