My Personal Trainer

 

What will You Gain when You Lose?

In January I visited my cardiologist and was told that if I didn’t lose a significant amount of weight and find a workout that would strengthen my heart I likely would not live to see my daughter graduate high school. See I have a congenital heart defect that was only compounded by the gross amount of weight I had put on when I was struck by Fibromyalgia at 24 years old. I was actually retired from the military because of my fibromyalgia and its debilitating side effects. After that visit I made the decision that I was going to do whatever it took to get healthy – no matter how much it hurt, how long it took, or how hard I would have to fight.

That weekend I wobbled, yes wobbled with my leg brace and my cane, into the Richardson 24Hour Fitness club. I remember sitting down and telling the gentleman at the desk that I needed to lose weight and I wanted to work with a trainer who would be able to help me strengthen my body without making my military injuries worse or aggravating the Fibro and shed the pounds I needed for my heart to work properly. I had no idea what I was getting into.

Dustin White is not just a trainer to me. He has become an amazing mentor not only about fitness but about my diet as well. He has encouraged me and pushed me from day one to defeat the biggest enemy we all face in reaching our goals – myself. “I can’t” is not in Dustin’s allowable vocabulary. When I first walked into the gym I was miserable (hated my body), overweight (230lbs), and barely walking (reference the cane). Dustin has not only helped me to lose 30 lbs so far (I am still going) but helped me to regain my sense of independence (no more leg brace or cane) and has stood by me as I faced my fibromyalgia and told it too get lost (I am not cured – but I have taken back my life!) Many people with chronic illnesses know that one day you feel fine and the next you can’t do a thing – Dustin always found a way to work with my limitations when they came up. All I ever had to say was “my knee is being wobbly” and we would do exercises to make it stronger or “my migraines are making me nauseous” and we would still get in a good workout just maybe not as hard or heavy as normal. This guy was more understanding than some of my doctors had been and understood I didn’t want to be like this for the rest of my life! All I wanted was to lose the weight, lose the drugs, and be a healthy role model for my child.

I went back to my cardiologist at the end of June and got the best news I could have ever heard – I didn’t need heart medications anymore! The weight was coming off and my little heart did not have to work so hard and the EKGs even showed that it was significantly stronger than when I started with Dustin in February. I am off all the pain medications and steroids for the Fibromyalgia as well. From 10 prescription medications a day to just one – all because of a personal trainer who believed I could do it and helped me to accomplish my goal.

Now Dustin is more than a trainer and mentor – he is a friend. A friend that I know will make fun of me when I am being a Drama Queen, offer healthy alternatives to my hamburger cravings, and maybe won’t show up for my 5K runs, but will cheer for me none the less. Dustin changed my opinion of person trainers. He isn’t out to just make you look good (but he will); he will encourage you to be healthy and teach you how to do it. I am not going to sit here and say it’s been a walk in the park but these past 5 month working with Dustin have been a wonderful adventure and I look forward to our next workout. Next stop – Fitness Model!