Testimonials from our Clients

Starting to workout can be scary but......
by Dr. Inez Giles

I was never much of an athlete. I took golf and tennis in college for half of a semester each – but that was the extent of my sports activity – and that was many, many years ago! Throughout my professional career I attended various aerobics classes – but my travel schedule was extensive and consistency was difficult to achieve. My intentions were good – the follow through left a lot to be desired. Then there was the thirty-five pounds I added as I struggled with the stress of my job and doctorate course work. At fifty-three I was fifty pounds overweight and a strong candidate for type II diabetes – not to mention hypertension and arthritis.

When I first moved to cape, I signed up for aerobics classes at the local community center. The problem was that the sessions would run intermittently and my “habit” soon would be broken. I knew I didn’t want to join a gym. I have had numerous gym and health club memberships over the years – and somehow I always let them lapse unused. I needed help to maintain consistency. I began making inquiries about personal trainers on cape. I didn’t have a clue what to expect.

My first concern was cost. My second concern was what the trainer might think about me in my 1X workout clothes. Some people like challenges but this might be “over the top!” I googgled “personal trainers on cape cod” and discovered the Personal Balance web site. I’d like to say I called the office right away – but I didn’t. I had concerns to address and “issues” to deal with. And what kind of name was “Pugga” anyway!??!

When I finally got myself collected I called and spoke with Debbie Crowell, a trainer at Personal Balance. We made an appointment for a “consult” later that week. I started making excuses as soon as I hung up the phone. We couldn’t afford the sessions – as if ill-health didn’t cost me anything! It would be too difficult to maintain a workout schedule – no matter that the sessions were held at times convenient to me! I’m really not athletic enough to start a training program – as if waiting would enable me to become more athletic.

True to form I arrived ten minutes early for my consult. I needed to “scope” out the facility and get a feel for the environment. The place was pleasant enough. Rock music was playing, people were working out – but the pervading sense of the office was “mindfulness.” Debbie’s client left and she grabbed a bottle of water and headed over to where I was sitting. “Here we go!” I thought. Debbie’s first questions for me were, “What are your expectations for a training program? Why are you here?” My first not-so-mindful response was, “I want to lose weight.” Doesn’t everyone I thought to myself! What an answer. We were sitting on a yellow leather couch near the picture window and a elderly woman was walking past. She seemed to be in some pain and discomfort as she walked. I nodded my head towards her and said, “I don’t want to have difficult walking when I’m older.” This was a more truthful answer. I was afraid of growing old gracelessly and in poor health.

We spent the remaining portion of the initial session talking about food and the effect good eating habits have on our health and doing some basic functional work to help Debbie assess my co-ordination and strength. Nothing taxing – just a few exercises to “see what we could see.” At the end of the session, I felt lighter in spirit. I agreed to keep a food diary and to notate my food intake for the next few weeks. I also made an appointment for the following week. My plan was that I would workout with Debbie once a week – and practice at home two or three times. (Yeah, sure!) Once I came to my senses, I opted to workout with Debbie twice a week. Driving home I felt virtuous. I was finally DOING SOMETHING positive for my health.

I continued to workout twice a week over the next five or six months and I was hooked. I loved the way I looked and the way I felt. My weight loss was slow and steady – and I could feel my clothes becoming looser. My husband to this day talks about the smile on my face as I walked out of Macy’s dressing room in my size 12 jeans! I decided to up my workout sessions to three times a week – and I seriously missed the sessions if I had to cancel. Even with a broken wrist (cross-country ski accident), Debbie managed to develop work-around exercises so that I didn’t lose my momentum and have my hard work atrophy. Debbie became my biggest supporter! She was the first one to say, “Great job!” whenever I shared another successful milestone – a pound gone or a smaller dress size.

One last note I’d like to relate is that in all of the time I’ve been working out, I’ve never felt as if anyone at Personal Balance was judging me. Other clients, who quickly became friends, smile and greet you with big hellos – but then they quickly return to mindfully working on their routines. Everyone is very supportive – and never judgmental.

The key to my success is that mindfulness I felt during my first session at Personal Balance. I had to become mindful about my food intake and mindful about my body and how it functions. The focus of my diet now is to eat as “clean” as possible. That means no processed foods, especially refined sugars, and to eat small meals numerous times throughout the day. The other focus is to mindfully challenge my body to develop in strength and agility. It’s been close to two years since that initial consult. My personal goals today include “staying the course” and continuing to eat healthy and to add more cardio to my routine. No, I’m not an athlete but I am a woman growing old gracefully! Would I have been able to succeed without the help of a trainer? Who knows? I’m just glad I didn’t have to find out.