FITNESS & WELLNESS 30 We are Responsible. We are Respectful. We are Safe. Registration starts now! playkettering.org FITNESS & WELLNESS Fitness & Wellness Supervisor Heather Boyer 937-293-2587 [email protected] Tell us about yourself and how long you have been attending the Kettering Rec Center and training with Larry Fox. I am a retired architect and turned 72 in December 2023. I have always enjoyed the benefits of exercise, whether working out with weights, biking, hiking, or using cardio equipment in a gym. I maintained a strict exercise and nutrition program for years in my sixties and was proud of my gains. At one point, I weighed 185 pounds and had a very low Body Mass Index (BMI), especially for my age. Unfortunately, injuries and the Pandemic interrupted my routine for a few years, and I gained a significant amount of weight. After a couple of years of physical therapy, I joined the Kettering Rec Center in 2021 to get back in shape. I’ve trained with Larry since May 2022. For the first few months with Larry, I did only light weights and met only once per week. In 2023, we would typically meet twice a week. Since Summer 2023, I’ve been working out with weights at least five or six times each week. What personal obstacles have you overcome and how did our fitness facilities help you through? In 2018, I suffered a torn rotator cuff in my left shoulder, making it almost impossible to do upper body strength exercises. Although my doctor recommended surgery, I opted to treat it with light exercise and professional physical therapy. It proved successful. In Fall 2018, I was diagnosed with Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) in my right leg. It was so painful I could hardly walk, further restricting my ability to exercise. My doctor prescribed Xarelto, an anti-coagulant, which halted further progress of the DVT. In Spring 2023, my doctor advised me to stop taking Xarelto. My condition has stabilized, but the DVT damage to my veins is permanent, although manageable. Then, in May 2021, I suffered a painful knee injury due to a bizarre accident (I fell out of my car while driving down my street!). My doctor diagnosed it as a form of arthritis caused by the impact of my knee hitting the pavement. For the next few weeks, I was on crutches and then progressed to a knee brace. At some point, I received a steroid injection into my knee cap. It seemed to miraculously “cure” the condition and I’ve been pain-free and mobile since. Exercise has definitely helped. At the Kettering Rec Complex, I spent the first several months doing cardio on the lower car elliptical trainer and occasionally lifting light weights. When I started working out with Larry, we progressed to a more challenging weightlifting program, with my doctor’s consent. Now I’m working with significantly heavier weights, although I need to be mindful of limitations posed by my physical health and age. Nevertheless, I’m always pushing myself to perform more exercises and lift heavier weights. Do you have any personal health and fitness goals? Currently, my fitness goal is to reduce body fat, although I realize the limitations of the BMI. For example, it doesn’t consider muscle weight and age. In June 2024, I am going on a six-day hike in Quebec. I want to achieve my weight and BMI goals by then. This Spring, I plan to do more cardio and hike the many trails in the region, such as Clifton Gorge and John Bryan Park. Why do you like training at the Kettering Rec Center with Larry? I’ve worked with many trainers in various gyms over the course of many years. Larry Fox is one of my favorite trainers. He is unfailingly friendly, helpful, knowledgeable, and respectful of my physical limitations and goals. Unlike some other trainers I’ve known, Larry listens to me and is willing to adjust my workout routine based on my physical condition at the time. Some trainers have a set “basic training” mindset that requires me to maintain a pre-determined program every time we meet. Also, Larry varies my routine every now and then and finds ways to adjust my program to fit my needs. Larry has also supported my goal to achieve a lower body weight. Since May 2022, when we first met, I’ve lost over 40 pounds. On the day after my birthday, when I treated myself to a “cheat day,” food-wise, I started a food diary, which Larry had previously recommended. I am diligent about maintaining it and have every expectation it will help me achieve my goals. Is there anything else you would like to add? Since I retired in 2021, my most important personal goal is to be in the best shape possible for my age. I started out modestly, but always knew I was heading in the right direction. Regular weight training is difficult, often resulting in (manageable) pain. Most importantly, I feel better about myself in every way. It helps so much to have a personal coach and cheerleader of sorts like Larry. He helps me maintain a cheerful outlook and perspective and retain a sense of humor while conducting my personal journey toward optimal physical health. FItNess MeMBer sPotlIght: ed YoUNg ed YoUNg
