Libertyville's Pinnacle Fitness brings accessible wellness to Northwest suburbs

Nancy Hildebrandt, owner of Pinnacle Fitness in Libertyville, has always had a passion for helping others. After nearly 20 years in health and wellness management, Hildebrandt said she was helping a friend build a home gym when she decided to make a career change and go into personal training.

“I was ready to do something that was more directly influencing people,” she said. “It was a good time to make a career change.”

Just over three years ago, Hildebrandt opened her own private studio, Pinnacle Fitness, where she specializes in one-on-one and small group interval training. She said her small groups consist of about four people per class.

“You get the benefits of personal training and also the benefits of cost-sharing and group support,” she said. “It’s more accessible to more people. Making it accessible to a lot of people was a big part of my business model.”

Hildebrandt said she offers up to seven 30 to 45-minute sessions a day, with alternating workouts that include pilates, yoga, strength and flexibility training and cardio exercises.

“We cycle through different programs,” she said. “When you do interval training, your metabolism stays up for up to 36 hours. It’s a different type of training and it will give you different results.”

Hildebrandt said this yields better results than steady-state workouts in which one does the same exercise for an extended time. She said the body adapts to prolonged, repetitive exercises over time, making the workouts less effective.
“I’m very education-based,” she said. “All the recent research shows that effective workouts can be achieved in about 30 minutes. What my clients really love is that it’s a different workout every day.”
Libertyville resident Jane Collins said she began training with Hildebrandt at a different location five years ago when she was looking for a change in workouts. She said she enjoys the variety of that Pinnacle offers.

“She (Hildebrandt) mixes it up,” said Collins. “You never know what you’re going to get when you walk through the door. It’s fun. It’s very motivational.”

Hildebrandt said one unique aspect of Pinnacle’s small groups is the support her clients give to one another.
“This is a culture of really kind, supportive people,” she said.

Hildebrandt also specializes in one-on-one training and said she is hoping to put together an online nutritional training program and possibly a Skype program for snow birds or people with small children.

“I’m looking for ways to expand the accessibility of my services,” she said.
Libertyville resident Nancy Conway said she began one-on-one training last spring at Pinnacle.

“It’s great,” she said. “I love it. I hate exercise, but I love going there.”

Hildebrandt said she does not charge membership fees for Pinnacle and that clients pay for their classes as they go, making it more accessible.

Hildebrandt said she discovered her love of health and wellness while teaching an aerobics class in college.
“I really enjoyed doing that,” she said. “One of my jobs was to show people how to use the equipment.”

Hildebrandt, a breast cancer survivor, said she also strives to bring normalcy to people’s lives through fitness. Normalcy, she said, can be particularly important during challenging times.

“I’m very client-focused and individual,” she said. “I love to see people’s lives change.”