June Member of the Month: Tony Bigonia

Tony Bigonia

 “Of course, I told her she was trying to kill me...!”

My name is Tony Bigonia and I have been a member of Razor Sharp Fitness on Washington Avenue since March of 2014. I have always thought that fitness should be a part of my life,  and since I was in high school, I have always had that work/life balance, including fitness in all aspects of my life. After my wife passed away in November 2013, however, that balance was not there anymore and I knew I needed some help.

My wife was also a fit person and was a member of Razor Sharp, attending many regular classes – yoga, weights. Originally, when I had met with Membership Director Laurie Swanson, it was to cancel my wife’s membership. In the end, I signed up for a membership of my own. At the same time, knowing that I could not do this by myself, I also signed up for a personal trainer to help “whip-me-into-shape.” In walks Krystal DeBaker to my life!

Let me tell you a little bit about Krystal….

First, the reason, I think, that Laurie recommended Krystal for my personal trainer is that she is a runner and I had said that I wanted to get back into running. Also, she is this little young lady that knows how to make sure you get your money’s worth from every workout. Krystal also knew my wife.

I remember, vividly (though some of this may be exaggerated), our first meeting. Krystal took me to the track area and asked me to jump on top of a 4’ high box.

I told her that she should do it first. You must know that Krystal is maybe 5’ tall and I am 6’4”, so that was funny.

Once done with that, she told me that I needed to push that box 50 yards, a couple times. She then left and came back with 50 pounds of weights to put on the box I was to push.

Of course, I told her she was trying to kill me! And that began the weekly, or semi-weekly, test of what Krystal could come up with that Tony could not do, or would struggle to do.

More recently, I went back to the Razor Spa to take an Acupuncture treatment for my allergies, since Laurie had most recently had lots of success with the treatment. I met with the Acupuncturist on a Tuesday and within a week, was medication-free and never felt better.

I also found out that some of the side effects of the drugs I was on for my allergies were causing other medical issues, of which I wasn’t aware.

So, for over one year, I have been a very happy and a healthy member of Razor Sharp.

That’s why I’m happy to host a Razor Sharp table at my business, Uncorkt on Main Street in downtown Racine, during special events. If I can encourage my customers to exercise more, I can count on their business for many more years to come! I also appreciate that Razor Sharp is a local business like my own, and that we can cooperate to build each other’s clientele, like friends and neighbors do for each other.