Live with Strength!

During my over 63 years, many people have come into and out of my life. These loved ones, friends, coworkers, acquaintances, etc., affected my life, some positively, some negatively. After the busy time of raising a family, when my husband and I were left with an "empty nest", I had more time for old bad memories to surface and cause me to feel depressed, to begin becoming agoraphobic, to have low self-esteem, etc. I had tried to get help from different sources, and my husband, family and friends had suggested things to try, all to no avail. My husband was at his wit's end when someone, for the second time, suggested a personal trainer they knew who worked out of a home gym. He called and made an appointment, even though I told him there was no way I would do this. I did keep the appointment, at my husband's insistence.

When I arrived, I met a young man who seemed like a nice, pleasant person, but I still had reservations. He was new at this gym and I found out later I was his first client as a personal trainer. I have since imagined that he had reservations too. He was meeting a totally sedentary, overweight, psychologically challenged, 58-year-old grandmother, with a knee that needed to be replaced, etc. Certainly quite a challenge for a trainer. My testimony is that this was the best decision I could have made. After only three sessions, there were positive changes. My husband took me to the first session, but he insisted I drive to the second. Jason had to come to the car and asked if there was anything wrong as I wouldn't get out of the car. After the third session, I ventured out to the grocery store alone. Pretty soon, I was going on shopping trips alone, I was driving at night. As I said, this was a very good decision. I was so fortunate to have met a person who was warm, friendly, patient, understanding. etc. Also, my sessions were carefully planned for a grandmother with a knee that needed replacing over five years ago. With the sessions, I have strengthened the muscles, etc., around the knee. At a recent checkup with my orthopedist, I was told that it was amazing what I could do with this knee and to keep doing whatever I was doing. Jason knows just what to say to motivate you to finish your sets, he makes you want to accomplish more, he challenges you, he changes up the sessions when needed so that they are never boring, etc., etc. You can tell he loves what he does and he has made me love to exercise. Believe me, I feel I got my life back and I certainly feel much younger than 63.

Donna Cowick