Gretchen's Story: How Strength Training Helped Her Walk Again

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When we spend our days caring for the people we love, our own health has a way of slipping to the bottom of the list. For Gretchen, retiring to care for her new grandson meant setting aside the walking routine and the 60-pound weight loss she had worked so hard for. When knee and ankle pain sidelined her for good and traditional physical therapy fell short, her doctor pointed her toward strength training. That is when she found us. Here is her story, in her own words.

 

About 5 years ago, I retired from my part time nurse practitioner job at Nationwide Children's to care for my new grandson full time. At the time, I was in the best shape of my life. I had lost 60 pounds and was walking about 15 miles a week. But as we often do when we are taking care of others, I neglected to take care of myself.  Because my knees and ankles started hurting from too much time on the treadmill, I quit walking. The weight gradually crept back on. When traditional PT did nothing, my doctor suggested strength training. That is when I found Fabyoulous Fitness. What a blessing!

 

I started with one strength training session a week and immediately knew that it was for me. I love that I work out with a community of women just like me. The trainers are amazing and there is never pressure or shame if I need modifications or a break. Thanks to some time with Dr. Lydia and consistent workouts, my knees and ankles greatly improved. Eventually I added another workout using the online app. Recently, I started walking again. I thought I would have to start from scratch because it had been so long, but I was surprised to find that I can walk 2.5-3 miles a day without issues. I know it's because of the strength training I have been doing. Now I look forward to every workout and every walk. This is a big change for me!

 

To anyone new to or considering Fab Fit, I would say, go for it! It's exactly the environment you are looking for. Start slow, build confidence, and keep going. Take advantage of the monthly check-ins. They make a huge difference and keep me accountable and motivated. You will never regret it!