“Spectrum Fitness has allowed me to make many positive transitions in my health. When I first arrived at Spectrum over 2 years ago I had lost 39 lbs with Weight Watchers and was following a grueling exercise regimen which involved boot camp , running and training for local races. My only rest I allowed myself was when I would be too exhausted to exercise and came down a cold or the flu.
I was exercising partly so I could enjoy all the foods I liked to eat and to “ stay in shape”. The Weight watcher’s leader suggested I consult a nutritionist—a very wise suggestion. After my first half marathon my knees were painful. A local orthopedic surgeon diagnosed me with osteoarthritis at the age of 49 , recommended knee replacements and said my knees would “melt” away if I continued running.
Over two years trainers Tom and Michelle have taught me so much about proper weight lifting, interval training, paying attention to what my body is telling me, working out to my maximum without hurting myself and good nutrition. My original goals were to have less painful knees and lose 20 lbs. Now my knees are comfortable during daily 2-3 mile hikes in the woods, I have much more stamina and strength. I have planned rest periods every 6-8 weeks instead of crashing and burning.
I have gained 10 lbs but a good portion of that is muscle. Learning and implementing the nutrition and not working out just so I can eat has been a harder learning process than the work outs. Also learning to gage when and how much to exercise has been a process. I am now on a downward trend with my weight and eating much more healthfully. I have not been near the surgeon yet.
Michelle is a trainer and a nutritionist. She has been very instrumental in helping me change my eating habits and also very persistent in bugging me to record my nutrition/eating and weigh in regularly. She measures my fat and muscle as well as my weight and I know exactly how much protein fat carbohydrate I should be eating daily.
She has been very supportive as I have struggled with the metabolism slowdown that comes with menopause and my quest to get on bioidentical hormone replacements to combat the all the side effects of menopause. She has dealt with my mini rebellions when I didn’t want to give up my morning granola or my concept that I could eat as much butternut squash as I wanted because it is a vegetable. She is, as Mike says, “A velvet hammer”. She really will never give up on you.
Working with Spectrum Fitness has made the transition to “over 50” a much better journey for me. I plan to work with one of their trainers weekly for many years to come.”
LIZ B., SALEM, MA
