With over 20 years in the fitness industry, implementing and educating on proper exercise techniques, cardio training, and nutrition, Lori Heck has helped hundreds of people locally, nationwide, and internationally, achieve a fit and healthy lifestyle! She has competed in several figure competitions, qualifying for the NPC Jr. Nationals, and, over the past decade, has trained many women for NANBF, NPC, INBF, and INBA sanctioned Bikini and Figure competitions with the majority placing in the top 5!
Lori grew up in Eau Claire, WI where she was involved with gymnastics from the age of 5 through her senior year at North High School (floor event being her favorite) and ran the 100m and 4x100m relay in track and field.
Between her senior year of high school and the end of her first year of college, Lori gained 40 pounds. No longer involved with sports, to focus on her education, combined with mindless eating, caused the unwelcome weight gain. Lori’s breakthrough moment occurred when she tried on a pair of jeans and they would not fit over her hips. After a few tears and a pep-talk, Lori dusted off her running shoes and went to her high school track. After one lap, lungs and legs burning, she vowed to return often and each time run a little farther. In hindsight, this is the day that truly changed her life and was the catalyst to a career in fitness!
In the second year of college, Lori was taking classes for, and leaning towards a degree in journalism, broadcast journalism to be more specific. She also learned of a study abroad program in Dalkeith, Scotland. She knew it was an opportunity she could not pass up, so she committed to it and gave herself one year to save money and to be in the best possible ‘shape’! Over the next year, she continued to run and had a goal to run 5 consecutive miles before she left for Scotland! She also incorporated other exercise modes including; workout videos, resistance training, and learning more about nutrition.
Departure day arrived and Lori had accomplished her goal of running 5 miles, had lost 25 lbs, and felt amazing! In Scotland, during a run on the beautiful estate of the Dalkeith Palace, where she had been living, she realized she would declare her major in Kinesiology when she returned home!
Lori graduated with a degree in Kinesiology, with an emphasis in Exercise Management from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire (UWEC). She had the ‘travel bug’ and was fortunate to have family living in Boston, which allowed for a great opportunity to intern for New England’s leading corporate fitness company, Fitcorp. She interned at Fitcorp’s, Hale & Dorr Law Firm in downtown Boston. Here, she worked with the fitness manager, and the lead personal trainer and met and cultivated amazing relationships with many of the 300 members of the law firm. She gained hands-on experience with managing a facility, leading group exercise classes, personal training, and marketing to the members. Upon the completion of her internship, she learned of a career opportunity at Fitcorp’s, John Hancock site.
In the early spring of 2001, she became the Group Exercise Director and a Personal Trainer at the site and its 2,000 members! All was going amazingly well until she started to suffer from debilitating panic attacks (a whole other venture). After a few months of pushing through, a couple of emergency room visits, and hoping the panic attacks would subside- she realized she needed to move home to be with her family and figure out her health/recovery plan.
Within a few months of returning home and learning how to manage her panic attacks, Lori was ready to get back to her passion for helping others with their health and fitness. Lori learned of Gold’s Gym about to open in Eau Claire. Excited about ‘the authority of fitness’ coming to town and providing another option for health and fitness, she was excited to be part of it! Ultimately, she became the Director of Personal Training! The first year was about leading her team to build and grow their clientele. A year later, she created an internship opportunity for UWEC Kinesiology students, as well as, those studying for their personal trainer’s certification. In 2008, Gold’s Gym relocated to their new facility and a year later, Lori stepped down from the directorship to start her own training business, ASPIRE Personal Training.
In 2009, ASPIRE Personal Training became an independent contracted business within Gold’s Gym of Eau Claire. Its main focus- women’s health and fitness. ASPIRE maintained private training options but also introduced its small group training program, FIT BODY, along with Figure and Bikini Competition Prep (see Bikini & Figure Competition page for more info). By 2016 ASPIRE had an additional three personal trainers and an internship opportunity. In 2017, Gold’s Gym was making changes, and with that, Lori was asked to become the Personal Training Director once again, but this meant closing the door on ASPIRE. After long consideration and seeking positive opportunities (maintaining her clientele, her team of trainers, and gaining new trainers), Lori chose the directorship.
After a year in this position, she realized this was not the journey for her and resigned. In the fall of 2018, Lori revived ASPIRE and currently trains at her in-home studio!
ASPIRE continues to cater to women’s health and fitness (we welcome men too) through private, online, small group, and figure & bikini prep competition programs.
Lori resides in Eleva, WI with Brent and their son, Jase!