Breakthrough Personal Coaching & Wellness was Founded with Chris Gray’s Lifelong Passion for Health,Fitness, and Sports. Chris Gray has has made his mark as one of the nations top fitness & nutrition experts for over 19 years now, and is considered a master in his field. Chris is a certified personal trainer & strength training coach, Strong First Kettlebell Instructor, Level 2 Functional Movement Specialist, and a nutrition coach.

Gray is also a Best- Selling fitness author and speaker. Gray’s latest co-authored book “3 Steps To Your Best Body In Record Time” hit the Best Seller’s list in 5 categories which resulted in his induction into the Academy Of Best Selling Authors.

Gray is also a regular contributor to multiple publications, most recently featured in USA Today Magazine, but it’s his experience that truly sets him apart from most making him the true expert in his field.

Chris started playing football at age 8 and continued competitively through college and into the semi-pro leagues for 4 years. Gray also an established bodybuilder and strength competitor, he has truly has made his mark in the sports. He has also competed nationally with an elite team of professionals in the Scott Firefighter Combat Challenge competing in 3 World Championships on featured on ESPN.

His very unique personal training and wellness center located in Dover Delaware, is literally changing lives using techniques and equipment never before seen by most.

After years of witnessing people struggle every day to lose weight and get in shape Gray realized that most gyms and fitness programs set people up to fail right from the start by not providing them with all of the key elements needed to achieve success. It’s the failure to provide these tools that results in most people’s failure to accomplish their fitness and health goals.

Chris and his wife Karen have made it their mission to provide life changing results with their highly sought after training experience leaving a legacy for their 2 daughters Kameron and Aubrey, and setting the example for how things in the fitness industry should be done.

I started Jazzercise when I was 16 years old in a church basement, and fitness has been a part of my life ever since. As a freshman in college I had the opportunity to take a strength training class as an elective. I was the only girl in the class, but this is when I really started too understand form and technique.

Over the next 15 years I worked out multiple times per week at the local gyms, and hired personal trainers multiple times to update my workout routines and nutrition plans. In 2006 I did Crossfit, and continued that for 2 years. In 2008 my husband and I purchased a personal training center of our own.

I was certified as a kettlebell instructor that same year, and I’ve been training clients multiple times per week ever since. After being an instructor for 8 years now I find that more than the actual workouts, what I enjoy most is just spending time with our clients. I really enjoy seeing them achieve those personal milestones, and begin doing things they couldn’t do when they first started.

What I enjoy most is being the best part of our clients day. It means a lot when they leave feeling better than they did when they came in.

I have competed off and on in the figure division of bodybuilding since 2004.

Through the years I battled with my negativity…negative self-talk and even self-punishment for not sticking to the ‘Plan’ and causing myself disappointment.

You would think that with all my years of experience in nutrition and working out I would have this licked already, right?

But I constantly struggled to maintain healthy eating and enjoyment in my workouts.

Over the past few years, prepping for competitions became a long process, starting months in advance and feeling like I was starting from scratch every time.

It was an endless cycle of healthy eating, feeling deprived, and then bingeing on unhealthy foods. Competition prep started to feel more like a ‘Job’ than a passion.

I would have days were I honestly did not want to workout because I felt like I was busting my butt and but I was not getting anywhere.

A friend suggested that I try Breakthrough Personal Coaching & Wellness telling me it was right up my alley.

She was right and I was instantly hooked!

I started group training off and on at Breakthrough when my work schedule allowed in 2013 to break up my “Routine”.

By the end of that year I joined as a lifetime member.

I was convinced this was going to be the change I needed.

Unfortunately, I still felt aggravated with myself; I was unmotivated and I would miss workouts because “I didn’t feel like it”, “It wasn’t working”, “I just need more sleep” i.e., making excuses for myself.

I finally got my nutrition under control in March of 2014 with a group 24 Day Challenge at the gym.

I got great results but the biggest value was the support system that was in place….It made all the difference!

Chris and Karen have created and environment for us to not only grow in physically healthy, but mentally grow as well.

It’s about longevity and closing the gap between physical changes and our mental game.

When they gave me an open door to be apart of the coaching team I was honored and excited!  I love infecting those around me with a passion for their life and a drive to know how amazing they can feel too.

I am not alone here.

This place reawakened my absolute LOVE for health and fitness!

I am excited to train here and support those around me any way I can. I love the drive and motivation from the amazing people around me.

The energy and positive environment at Breakthrough is truly contagious and it feels like home!

The community we have here can not be beat.

Breakthrough people are the best cheerleaders, sounding boards, support shoulders, and genuine people.

I want to keep passing all that good forward!

When I came to BreakThrough (then Punch Kettlebell Gym) in 2010, I was just over 40 years old and in the worse physical shape of my life. I weighed in close to 290 lbs (my highest was 308 lbs ). I wore size 44 or 46 inch jeans (I couldn’t get them at the store – they had to be ordered online or purchased at a “big and tall” shop. I could barely do a push up, much less make it through a workout with Chris or Karen without feeling like I was going to lose my last meal.

The weight I’ve lost pales greatly in comparison to all I’ve gained over the years. Perhaps the most important thing I’ve gained on this journey is the fact that I’m not in the fight alone! I know Chris, Karen, and other members of the Leadership team will not let me give up on myself. They push me to be the best I can be! I’ve gained the confidence in myself to push myself to be better today than I was yesterday. I’ve learned that it’s not about “fad” diets, and quick weight loss schemes. I’ve learned that change happens from the inside first, and there’s always help for me when I need it.

My desire to become a Coach has been fueled by all I’ve gained, and I feel compelled to give it back. I truly believe that I am here on this earth to help other people grow, and become who they were meant to be. I became a part of the Leadership team because it gives me the opportunity to give it back. If I can inspire just one person to push a little harder, to go a little longer, to finally take that step to begin the journey to become the person he or she was meant to be, then my purpose is fulfilled.

I believe that someone is always watching; therefore you always have a chance to inspire.

My relationship with health and fitness started at a young age. Growing up in a household where my mother and sister struggled with their weight made me inclined to help encourage and do whatever I was capable of to help them succeed.

I have always been physically active, but in college my focus shifted to nutrition. Around that time I started working in gyms because apparently college isn’t free. After I graduated I had NO IDEA what I was going to do with degrees in English, office management, and a passion for health and fitness.

Breakthrough fell into my lap at the perfect time.

I love getting to be apart of the amazing transformations that take place here. Even if all I’m REALLY doing is fixing a billing issue, teaching someone how to use a MyZone belt, or just listening to what our clients have to say. It’s so inspiring for me to see our clients evolve, grow in confidence, and achieve their goals. I hope I can continue to witness it for a very long time.

I’d love to introduce myself as a mom, wife, and friend but most importantly my heart has called me to becoming a Physical Therapist Assistant.

I’m Alexis Reider but everyone calls me Lexi.

I love building relationships with every person I encounter and I have a heart for making people like you, stronger!

I’m very active in my community and church and I’ve always had a passion for exercise.

I absolutely love spending time with my family, friends, and our two lovable dogs. I’m here to learn and help in every way possible and I can’t wait to begin this new adventure with each of you!

Thank you for welcoming me into your fitness journey!

My name is Nicholas Dolph and I am a graduate from the class of 2012 from Dover High School.

While I was a student I spent a lot of my time in the gym or on the field for lacrosse.

My sports experience is where I first noticed my passion for fitness.

Once high school ended I slowly started to fall off of the wagon with my fitness goals. As I started to work different jobs I found less time to get a workout in.

I was young and had a poor balance of social life, work life, and my fitness.

In 2014 I was hired by Transcore – Delaware E-ZPass and quickly transitioned through different roles in the facility.

I’ve always enjoyed helping people in some aspect and as a Quality Assurance Clerk and Trainer, I have been able to further develop my goals in helping others reach their potential.

I’ve been training different types of classes since August of 2016 and I’ve loved every bit of it.

However, working in an office didn’t help my fitness and overall health.

My parents started going to Breakthrough and I would hear about the workouts they were doing and it reignited my interest in fitness that I had not felt since high school.

A couple of months passed and my parents were still going everyday at 5am and it really motivated me to better myself.

I gave Breakthrough a shot in December 2017 and I’ve been to almost every session since.

The gym used to be a hassle, but now I feel like something is missing if I don’t attend.

Breakthrough pushes and motivates individuals, creates a familial atmosphere and has given me a home away from home.

I’ve felt and seen a lot of growth over the past 11 months, not only in me, but in everyone I have met.

The progress I have been able to make is because of the personal trainers at Breakthrough.

I’m excited to take my desire for helping others and combine it with my passion for fitness in the realm of personal training.

My journey in the health and fitness world is constantly evolving and growing.

I was a yo-yo dieter from a very young age, all through college and my first few years of marriage.

I began battling a long list of health problems that a generally healthy and active 20-year-old shouldn’t be battling.

In 2010, my husband convinced me to try the Paleo diet with him and our friends. After a week on the clean eating lifestyle, my entire life changed for the better.

I began feeling more energy than I had in years.

The Paleo lifestyle helped me open my eyes to the power of food. Not only did I lose weight, I got rid of medications, anxiety, depression, and stomach problems.

I started an active healthy lifestyle.

My passion is sharing my story and inspiring others to take hold of their own lives.

I began blogging about my journey and creating recipes to share with friends.

I’ve been featured in 3 Paleo Magazine cookbooks, written two e-cookbooks and I do guest blogging for several food and lifestyle blogs.

In 2015, I started my own personal health coaching program to help others on their own healthy lifestyle change.

When I started my healthier lifestyle, I began moving more.

I completed a triathlon, half marathons and more 5k races than I can count.

Seriously though, what am I going to do with all of these race t-shirts?

In 2013, I was training for a half marathon and injured my foot.

After months of physical therapy, I became increasingly interested in how nutrition and movement can work together.

I couldn’t run for a few years so I started yoga and strength training.

Working out had always been a very personal thing for me and not something I talked a lot about.

I never fit that “Super fit” body image and felt like I couldn’t inspire people unless I looked a certain way.

One of the biggest takeaways I have had on my own personal health and fitness lifestyle is, everyone is on a different journey and we cannot compare ourselves to others.

Where I started from isn’t where you started from and we may reach our goals at different times, the key is to keep going and keep reaching for your personal goals.

Once I began focusing on my own results and goals, I became empowered to share with others.

I feel that as I’ve discovered my own passion for movement the way I did for nutrition 7 years ago, now I am able to encourage others in their own fitness journey.

Finding a supportive community to help motivate me and help motivate others is absolutely vital to making a healthy lifestyle stick.