Lori Bagell is our August 2009 Client of the Month. Lori started with us 15 years ago, wow I feel old just saying that. When she came in for her consultation we didn’t even have our equipment delivered (we had a Reebok Step in the corner). Her husband also came in with her because he was a little skeptical of personal trainers (I don’t blame him, I still don’t trust personal trainers). I feel like part of their family. We watched her daughter, Lindsay, transform from a shy little girl into a beautiful woman. Her son Matt was a talented high school baseball player and is now a CPA taking over the financial world, (We used to train the whole family, her skeptical husband Carl has been a client for over 10 years now too).
Over the past 15 years we’ve hit a few road blocks. A few road blocks might be putting it lightly. Lori is in a pretty good place right now, but for years she was in complete misery.
The first major road block was and is fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterized by widespread pain in your muscles, ligaments and tendons, as well as fatigue and multiple tender points. Basically you hurt all over, and you frequently feel exhausted. We have to focus on flexibility, good posture, core, and light strengthening exercises. You have to walk a tight rope – too much exercise causes Lori intolerable pain, too little exercise has no real benefit. Our Medical Exercise SpecialistCertifications really come in handy. Fibromyalgia has no known cause, often never diagnosed, and thank goodness it is not progressive – severity of symptoms can change day to day.
As if fibromyalgia isn’t bad enough, Lori also has chronic neck pain because of a few disc herniations in her neck. She’s been to several physical therapists with little benefit, but the latest PT gave her a tremendous amount of relief. We incorporate the rehabilitative exercises into each of her workouts to make sure her neck doesn’t go back to the bad place.
I won’t even go into her major allergy issues (I’m not talking about the sniffles every spring, I’m talking about major congestion, headaches, blurry eyes, etc. almost every day). But I think you’re starting to get the point.
Half of the equation to getting results with your exercise routine is just showing up. Lori is the most consistent client we ever had. For the past 15 years, Lori hasn’t missed more than a week or two (Gotta have a vacation every now and again). Fibromyalgia, neck pain, and alleries make everyday a battle with fatigue and muscle/joint pain. Her workouts make her pain manageable. Lori comes in feeling horrible but she feels a million times better after her workout. “I have many medical problems, and I know I would have a hard time functioning if I didn’t go to Fit-4-Life. I get the best workout with the most knowlegable staff.”
No matter what has gotten in Lori’s way, she just keeps on going. Her dedication, perseverence, and mental fortitude serve as a role model to all of us. The secret to Lori’s success is that she sought the proper medical advice and we constantly adjust her routine to make sure it is safe and in accordance with medical professional guidelines.
Now if Lori can literally drag herself to her workouts each week when she legitimately feels like crap, then what’s your excuse? You aren’t alone if you can’t stick with an exercise routine. We’re here to help. We can get you over that hump, so you can make exercise a part of your life (Even if you have issues). You don’t have to come to us for 15 years to get major benefit like Lori has. We can easily set you up on a program you can do at your home or gym and then you can visit us periodically to evaluate your progress and adjust your workout routine. You just need a little fitness jumpstart!!
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