Fabulous Fitness Freaks – Second Installation

Several months ago I wrote these words for the first installation of the Fitness Freak series.

“I am easily inspired. If I see someone accomplishing something against great odds, or battling adversity, and forging ahead in spite of it, I am transformed into a “blubbering idiot” within a nanosecond. Even, if it is just someone setting an example, and aspiring others to do the same. These individuals are enthralling. They have been told they can’t, or shouldn’t do something, and they do it anyways.

One afternoon, not too long ago, I was at the gym, and there was a woman working out near the cardio equipment. She was approximately 55, small-framed and thin. The woman wore a lovely blond bob and a classy matching workout ensemble. Her most surprising accessory? – A walker.  I watched her as I knocked out my minutes on the bike. She shuffled from machine-to-machine, sometimes barely able to keep going. Once on the machine she would rest for a minute, and then, bless her heart, perform whatever reps she could handle. Then, she would rest again. She was there for over an hour, and never stopped pushing herself. Every movement was clearly a struggle. It would have been so much easier just to give up. I knew within a few minutes of watching her that she had advancing multiple sclerosis.

I have come across many inspiring “fitnessy” people during my travels, but this woman is my greatest inspiration of perseverance. I see her regularly at the gym now, and she always motivates me. If she can show up and give it her best every day, so can I.

The FITNESS FREAK SERIES was inspired by those people, who take my breath away with their brave and courageous acts – the people that raise the bar for the rest of us. FITNESS FREAKS are people, who stand apart from the apathetic, inactive, status quo. These men and women remind us that there is no “one way” to stay fit – there are many. And, all of them will share the following motto, “Do EVERYTHING you can today because you have no idea what will be taken from your pool of abilities tomorrow.”

I have been collecting these wonderful examples of fitness motivators for a few months now, and I thought I would share three of them with you today.”

Today I present to you the second set of three inspirational characters in my Fitness Freak collection. I hope you enjoy!

GRETCHEN

I noticed this woman working out at my gym dressed in a cute little skirt and tank top. I pounced on her the minute I saw those beautiful sinewy arms and asked her if she would meet with me for a Fitness Freak interview. She agreed. More likely to get me out of the way, but none the less she agreed. I met with her a week later and here were her words.

“ I grew up being active. I didn’t workout; I played outside. A lot! Riding horses, skiing, biking. I came from a very active family. In fact, my father jogged before anyone even knew it was a thing. One day he got pulled over by the police while he was running, and they interrogated him about why he was in such a hurry! Clearly, “jogging” had not quite caught on yet. But having fit parents certainly influenced my feelings regarding activity and fitness. It has also influenced how I educated my children about movement in their lives. Another thing that impressed on me greatly was moving to Jackson Hole for a season of my life. Everyone was active there. You were odd if you didn’t climb, bike or ski. There, I established additional healthy habits and rituals around staying fit.”

I asked Gretchen if she had some fitness secrets to share with her peers. These are her top five tips.

• Consistency is number one. She notes that she does something for one hour a day almost every day. The activity doesn’t have to be intense, but it has to be something. 
• She lifts weights. As the women in our 40s and 50’s and beyond, we have to work extra hard to maintain muscle strength and bone density. Weight training is the best way to accomplish this.
• Listen to your body’s signals for food. Eat when hungry but don’t when you are not.
• Exercise with women or friends who will hold you accountable. They are a superb support, and you can build long lasting friendships while getting in shape.
• Walk, don’t drink. When meeting socially with a friend  opt for a walk or hike! (related post)

I couldn’t help but notice Gretchen just had an air of health around her that transcended the confines of the gym. She seemed like someone who really lived it. She is an inspiration that what you do in your younger years shows on you in your later years! 

RYDER

Kay this one is just a bonus. I met this kid recently while running stairs in my neighborhood. Wonderfully unguarded, adorable and best of all super fit. He was such an enigma to me considering what I have experienced in my practice as the norm for kids his age. We stopped and talked for a bit.

“ I never play video games. I. Don’t. Like. Them. I don’t want a cell phone because I don’t like that it causes people to ignore each other. When I exercise, I feel the freest and the best. I love running. I love challenging myself to get a certain amount of steps in a night.”

He was quirky and fun and frankly, inspiring. This boy positively glowed.

JUDY

Judy is a personal trainer who notes she was not really into fitness growing up. “Growing up I never went out for group sports because I was too shy. There wasn’t anything other than team sports offered at that time, so I didn’t do much. I do remember doing some biking and running with my dad, but I would not have considered myself fit. Then I joined a women’s only gym and fell in love. I appreciated working out, but even more, I loved watching the trainers transform people’s bodies. I found my calling. I got my certification and started training clients.”

Prior to finding her personal training career, Judy states that her husband tried to encourage her to do lots of different sports because he was very athletic. It never stuck. She felt like she was never very good at any of it, but when she found weight/ resistance training she started to see phenomenal results. “In my past I had run a marathon, and I did a five-day bike trip with my husband. I got through them, but I would have enjoyed them significantly more had I been fit and strong. Resistance training has provided that for me.”

Judy has now been a trainer for many years. She has moved into management and still trains her clients but also works to train and develop trainers. With her metamorphosis from being an unfit youth to being a “fit for life” adult, she has some advice for those a little earlier in their journey.

• Resistance training is essential for true fitness and strength. It can prevent injury, and enhance performance in your chosen sport or activity. Of course, there are the benefits of decreased osteoporosis, better cardiac condition, and reduced risk of diabetes and cancer! 
• It is NEVER too late to start. She has had experience with 60 years olds who walk into her gym for the first time and see transformational change with resistance training. 
• Challenging yourself to do a little more than you thought you could,  is a tremendous way to stay motivated and excited about being fit. (See  Spartan Race she was participating in above.) You will get the “bug” if you keep at it through the sore muscles and the early stages of resistance training.  At some point, the endorphins kick and you realize how great you feel after every workout. That is when the consistency will kick in!  
• Being fit is fun. It allows you to do and see so much more in your life now and later down the road. 
• “Most people do what they like and what they know. The secret to getting fit is continually challenging your body with what it doesn’t know and what it thinks it may not like!”

Want to read about the first ever FITNESS FREAKS? Click this LINK

FIRST STEPS: What is one thing you could do this week to make your exercise practices more consistent? Proclaim it in the comments section below.