Losing Weight and Gaining Confidence: How Emily Changed Her Life

When Emily Kitchen first walked through the doors of PowerStrength in January 2022, she didn’t expect the transformative journey she was about to embark on. 

Emily recalls her biggest challenge vividly: “I was terrified to come; I felt like everybody would be way more fit than I was, and I felt like I would be far behind.” 

Though she has tried other gyms and even completed a half marathon (mostly walking, she admitted), nothing felt like the right fit. It wasn’t until she joined PowerStrength that her fitness journey truly began to thrive.

FAMILY INFLUENCE

Emily’s decision to try PowerStrength was largely inspired by her family. After her son started training there, he encouraged her to give it a shot. 

“My son especially would say, ‘Mom, I think you need to go, Mom, you gotta go.’ So they got me here.” 

A WARM WELCOME

She immediately felt welcomed and supported when she walked in for her first day. 

“The people were so friendly,” Emily recalled. “I had members come up to me right away and introduce themselves. The atmosphere and the people are what kept me coming.”

Emily knew she had found a place that valued her commitment to improve and was not solely focused on her current level of fitness. 

“Everybody made me feel comfortable where I was at,” she remembered. “Everybody basically told me that this is a starting point, and we’re going to continue from here.” 

A WINNING TRANSFORMATION

The certified trainers helped Emily set realistic goals and continued to appropriately challenge her in the gym. Combining this with learning how to eat for her progress helped her to gradually build her confidence. 

The results were nothing short of incredible! Within her first year, Emily lost 56 pounds and has kept it off, a testament to her unwavering dedication. 

“I have definitely seen a difference in my strength,” Emily said. “I have more energy, I feel like I don’t get tired as fast, I can go up and down stairs without feeling winded now.” 

Her accomplishments go beyond numbers: she’s become stronger, more resilient, and gained a newfound confidence that positively impacts her everyday life.

“I was at a point when I started here, I had come off of having a couple of medical episodes, and I was honestly scared that I was going to die young and leave my kids young,” Emily stated candidly. “Coming here gave me the confidence that I could change and I could become healthier, and I could do what needed to be done, to at least feel like I was going to be around for my kids. I felt like I was doing my part to become a healthier person.”

THE POWERSTRENGTH COMMUNITY

The PowerStrength community is a strong one and it has fully wrapped its arms around Emily and keeps her coming back. 

“The people, I would say that’s the biggest (reason I come back). I have a lot of friends here now,” she said. “And honestly, the fear of gaining those 56 pounds back. When I’m not consistent at the gym, I feel that all areas start lacking.” 

THE PERFECT FIT

Her commitment to three weekly sessions has become her anchor, grounding her both in fitness and in life.

The expert trainers have been instrumental in her journey. The sessions are small, up to 6 people per coach, and allow for an individualized approach to training and help foster the coach-client relationship.

“They ask questions about you personally, and they really are invested in you as a person, which then translates more into your workouts,” Emily said of the coaches at PowerStrength. “The better they know you, the more they know where you need to be pushed.” 

The genuine interest in her well-being has helped her see her potential and has given her the tools to confidently live a healthy lifestyle. 

THRIVING EVERYDAY

Reflecting on what she’s achieved, Emily acknowledges that she couldn’t have imagined these results when she first started. 

“I had always been heavier, even from a teenager on up… I just thought that was my lot in life. I did not believe in myself and I didn’t believe it was possible.” 

PowerStrength, she says, gave her the confidence to take charge of her health and see that change was indeed possible.

When asked what advice she’d give to someone feeling hesitant to start their fitness journey, her response was heartfelt: “I would say that you can do it. You just need to take a leap of faith and walk in the door. The energy here is contagious, and the people here make you want to come back. And if we can do it, you can do it too.”

“All you have to do is walk in the door, PowerStrength takes care of the rest.” 

Emily is living proof of this.

READY TO TAKE CONTROL?

Men and Women in their 40s, 50s, and 60s who want to get stronger and have more energy can join the Personal Training Program at PowerStrength at any time. No previous workout experience is required as each program is customized to the fitness and ability level of each individual.

Multiple personal training sessions are offered in the early morning, mid-morning, late afternoon, and evening. Find your nearest PowerStrength location – Alpine, Kentwood, Holland, Jenison, and Plainfield.

Click HERE to learn more program details and schedule your risk-free consultation.