In the Kitcehn With: Charlene Beebe

Fitness trainer came to her career in a round-about way She went from Wall Street to Sparta Athletic Club By Laurie Gordon Charlene Beebe has been in the fitness industry for over a decade, enough time to see plenty of fad diets and fitness trends come and go. Her philosophy underscores her success: a simple goal to educate and motinate people to incorporate activity and a well-balanced diet into their lifestyles. Beebe grew up in Sparta, attending Reverend Brown grammar school then Pope John XXVI High School. She went on to Scranton University and graduated with a degree in Finance and Economics. She immediately took a job on Wall Street working for Kidder Peabody in Institutional Equity sales and lived in Hoboken until she married her grammar school sweetheart, Jeff Beebe, in 1990. They met in the first grade on the Reverend Brown playground, and appropriately, the wedding took place at Our Lady of the Lake Church in Sparta. Beebe continued to work on Wall Street, and the couple moved to Rutherford. They wanted to raise a family in Sparta and so moved to Lake Mohawk. “I called Merrill Lynch in Morristown and was hired immediately and left the Big City,” Beebe said. The couple had two children. Beebe stayed home after her daughter was born, but when she went to pre-school in 1998, Beebe started teaching classes at the Sparta Athletic Club. In 1999 and 2000, she also designed and taught children’s exercise and cooking classes for the Sparta Recreation Department. “I decided to pursue training in addition to teaching when I was asked by many people to train them. It happened so much that I knew it was something I needed to do to help others — not just through group fitness but also individually. I can remember Carol Sobichowski, a teacher at Sparta Middle School telling me to go for it and soon after she became my client.” She started personal training in 2005 and was also the membership director at Sparta Athletic Club for a few years. She gave up that role to allow time to work with more clients. “I feel so rewarded at the end of the day knowing someway I am making a difference in someone’s life. That is truly receiving to me.” Beebe said her one of her most rewarding experiences was when a client lost a total of 41 pounds 21 inches and 9 percent body fat. “This person wrote a beautiful testimonial about her experience with me as her trainer.” A few years ago, Beebe bought the deli in Upper Lake Plaza from her neighbor. She sold it over the summer. Though she enjoyed the additional venture, she said, “There are only so many hours in the day.” She returned to training at the club full-time. Her 14-year-old son Ryan plays football, runs track, plays piano and has been training in karate for 10 years. He will be a freshman at his parents’ alma mater, Pope John, in the fall. Twelve-year-old Erin plays guitar, tennis and loves field hockey. She is an honor roll student and loves to baby-sit and pet-sit for neighbors. Beebe loves what she does, and encourages positive changes. “We need to make changes and develop good habits that we can live with for the rest of our lives. There is no quick fix.” Being so busy, Charlene Beebe offers two quick, easy and healthy recipes. Beebe’S Grilled Chicken Salad Marinate boneless breast chicken in Italian dressing. Grill over low heat until cooked thoroughly. Slice and put on mix of spring greens. Add roasted red peppers, red onion, mozzarella and freshly ground pepper Balsamic Dressing on the side. Cook enough chicken to have for the next day. Famous Refreshing Beebe Smoothie Combine low-fat vanilla yogurt, a small frozen banana, one teaspoon of all natural peanut butter, ice and a half cup skim milk. Blend until smooth.