About Fitness Forward Studio

Fitness Forward Studio offers private training, small group (2-3) personal training and group interval training (5-16 people) in a private world class fitness studio.  Fitness Forward Studio offers the newest and latest concepts in the fitness industry… high intensity interval training with a variety of workout “tools” to increase the demand of the entire body which results in a quick, effective total body workout, metabolic efficiency and increased fat loss.  Fitness Forward Studio also offers New Leaf Metabolic Testing, “Rapid Fat Loss” Sugar Detox Challenges, Triathlon and Run Coaching.

Fitness Forward Studio personal training, small group personal training and group training workouts are led by top personal trainers in the industry.  The owner and creator, Debbie Smith-Potts, was nominated as Men’s Journal “Top One Hundred Trainers in the U.S.” two times and a competitive top age group triathlete.   Jason Balajadia is a master trainer for Ulitimate Sand Bags and a competitive snowboarder and Mt. Biker.  Please read more about our FF Personal Trainers on the personal training page.

Our FF workout sessions include:

• Regular cardiovascular exercise  for our health and fitness.
• High Intensity Interval training (HIIT) to improve fitness levels, fat loss and post workout metabolism.
• Functional strength training for daily movements.
• Sport specific training to improve our performance and competitiveness.
• Yoga practice for more muscle balance, open joints, clarity, cleanse the body and to quiet the mind.
• Pilates to improve the core strength, restore the natural curves of the spine, pelvis and shoulder girdle stabilization and alignment.

Check out our class schedule, descriptions and price list on our link.   Updated fitness schedules and class registration are available on on our schedule page here.

Owner: Debbie Smith-Potts

Debbie has been involved in the fitness industry for twenty years as a fitness director, assistant director, trainer, program leader and more.  Debbie is a well known competitive age group Triathlete, an accomplished top personal trainer, amazing group fitness trainer, top coach, yoga fit instructor and Pilates mat instructor as well as a USAT certified level one triathlete coach.  Debbie is also a co-host on a monthly “Becoming a Fat Adapted Athlete” podcast on the “Garden Variety Triathlete”, a member of Ben Greenfield’s “Superhuman Coach” program and a member of Todd Durkin’s Mastermind fitness business group.

Debbie has working at the Bellevue Club since 1995 in various roles: Fitness coordinator, Program Coordinator, Personal Trainer, Spin Instructor, Yoga fit and Pilates mat instructor. Debbie started studying STOTT PILATES in September 2009, starting with the Intensive Mat and Advanced Mat training program.  In February 2010, Debbie expanded her fitness business by moving into a larger 3325 square foot fitness studio to offer personal training, group interval training workouts and injury treatment room.

Debbie was listed as one of the “Top 100 personal trainers in America” by Men’s Journal, December 2004 and 2005. Debbie was the first ambassador for Lululemon clothing in Bellevue.  She has been a team member of the Mark Allen Online Triathlon team since 2003.

Since 2001, Debbie has participated in 15 plus  Ironman Triathlons, qualifying for the Hawaiian Ironman World Championship at lease five times.  Debbie has placed first in her age group in many races of various distances.   Debbie has been top in her age group and overall female over the years at Ironman Couer d’Alene and  Ironman Canada.   With her first marathon in 1999, Debbie has finished over 25 marathons and has qualified for the Boston Marathon many times since 2003 with a PR time of 3:12.  Debbie continues each year to participate in many cycling, triathlon and running events in the Northwest with her “wing man” husband, Neal Potts.