Investing in Herself – Erin’s Remarkable Health Transformation

It is not uncommon for parents of athletes at PowerStrength to discover the Over 40 Personal  Training Group under the same roof.

Erin Weber started with her son Andrew, who trained at PowerStrength when he was playing hockey in high school, to be his “accountability partner.”

The funny thing is that he graduated from high school and moved on, but Erin still trains at PowerStrength.

“I’ve had amazing results,” Erin said. “It’s been awesome, I love it. I feel stronger, I feel healthier than I ever have.”

It has been more than 2 years since she started and she couldn’t be happier.

“I’m off medications, I’m stronger, I’m leaner,” Erin said. “It’s been one piece of a greater picture or strategy to get my weight down but my health has improved dramatically, so that makes me happy.”

CRUSHING HER GOALS

Every new client at PowerStrength sits down with a coach for a starting point session. This allows them to find out where the person is at, their fitness level (all are eligible and have found monumental success), and their goals.

Erin wanted to lose 25 pounds when she began in May of 2022. She has dropped almost 50.

“I’ve lost over 40 pounds, almost 50 pounds overall, my muscle mass has increased, yet I’m leaner and trimmer, I have better energy, I get better sleep because everything else is healthy,” Erin said. “My confidence and self-esteem are much improved overall, I feel better about myself so I carry myself better. Coming to work out is a mental health benefit too, it allows me to kind of disconnect from everything, to just focus on something different so I leave here with a clear mind and most of the time feeling great because I accomplished something pretty awesome.” 

EMPOWERED AND ENERGIZED

She deserves a lot of credit for her hard work and determination. Over 2 years of consistency has paid tremendous dividends and Erin is seeing that with every step.

“I think this is one of the few things I’ve done consistently for two years,” she said. “I come here and it’s great mental break, but it also makes me feel great physically. I feel confident, I’m wearing stuff with no sleeves, not covering up all day at work because my shoulders look nice. Or I’m wearing a two-piece swimsuit. I feel where I’m at today in my early 50s, I know I’m way healthier than I was even 20 years ago, way healthier. I feel better, I’m stronger, I might ache a little bit more but I can get through that and then thinking about where I was two years ago, 25 pounds and I’ve exceeded that, I feel like I’m in a really good place, a very good place.”

Erin isn’t the only one who notices a difference, those who spend the most time around her have seen a change in her too.

“Obviously, confidence, my confidence as a person and how I carry myself, I’m not a different person but they can see that come through much differently,” she said. “My clothes fit better, I feel better overall because I’m eating better because I need to eat better to maintain the strength and be able to come and do the workouts, so it’s all integrated. ‘You seem much happier’ is what I get a lot and I am, I feel like I’m in a really good place. I didn’t think I would be here two years ago. So if you asked me two years ago, where do you think it’ll be in two years? This is not what I could’ve imagined.”

GUIDED TO GREATNESS

Before coming to PowerStrength, Erin tried many other options to try and reach her fitness goals. She worked out at home, at a friend’s house, and used online programs, but nothing met her standards.

PowerStrength coaches work tirelessly to learn and become the best in their field. Erin was missing that knowledge and guidance in her fitness journey.

“I did some at home stuff but then I really knew I needed coaches to tell me what to do,” Erin said. “I need that coaching of ‘do this or increase your weight or you’re doing this you know work on it this way.’ So I needed the coaching and I thought well, why not? I’ll be his (Andrew) accountability partner to make sure he’s going and getting the right training for him and his sport and I thought, ‘great they have adult stuff.’ I like lifting weights. Now I can do it without having to find a gym of equipment from my garage and then have coaches who can help program and do stuff for me, which is great. I also appreciate the accommodations that they can make based on where every individual is at. So when we’re all back there in a group, we’re all doing the same type of exercises but they modify them based on where you’re at today. And if you have an injury or whatnot, they’ll make it work for you. So it’s not entirely like one approach for everybody. They really do have the ability to customize to where you’re at. So if I feel a tweak, I can make a change. I work with the coaches and I can say, ‘This doesn’t feel right.’ So I need that, I need someone to ‘yell’ at me and tell me what to do.”

It was different from what she was used to. She was surrounded by others who were just like her, working toward similar goals.

“Coming here I’m like ‘oh I get to lift weights,’ but not with all the insanity of the CrossFit of going and having to do burpees and box jumps and muscle-ups and stuff that I know that I might not functionally be there for but I also like that I’m in a group of like-minded individuals who are all about the same age. I’m not in a CrossFit gym with 22 year olds who are really ripped and really buff, it’s a little intimidating when you’re their mom’s age. So I like that. It becomes a nice community that we really support each other. Especially when it’s all women back there and we are doing some pretty awesome stuff, I get really excited,” Erin said.

A VALUABLE INVESTMENT

Erin is an instructional designer for a security company, her job can be stressful. PowerStrength sessions often serves as an outlet after a long day at the office.

“I can disconnect from all of that and I come out of here feeling really good, Erin said. “Because I can just not think about all the insanity that’s work. It’s a great way for me to disconnect. It’s not only the physical but I get that mental break. The value I get is immeasurable because it’s both physical and mental and I leave here exhausted in a good way. And I come back every Monday and Thursday. For 2 years I keep coming back, I need it and I miss it when I don’t come here.” 

Erin is enjoying life more now that she is healthier. With continued hard work, she will be in this “very good place” for many years. For her, it is impossible to put a price tag on that.

“The biggest thing I looked at initially was that this was an investment in my health,” Erin said. “When you break it down for how many ever sessions and get to what it costs per session, and I look at the value and the time commitment that PowerStrength puts into their coaches for the expertise, the support from the coaches for what I need as well as seeing what they do for everybody. They have the knowledge, that’s what I’m paying for that I don’t have.”

Everyone wants a return on what they pay for, Erin, like so many others, can see and feel the benefits of PowerStrength.

“I look at this as an investment in me, I could be spending it on other things that don’t work, or I could be doing something that does work and this works for me, it’s worth it in the long run when you spread it all out and look at the expense, aren’t you worth that? And I’m like yeah, I am. I am worth it. I need this. It’s an investment in me, I’m worth it.” 

READY TO TAKE CONTROL?

Men and Women over 40 who want to get stronger and have more energy can join the personal training programs 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, Jenison, Plainfield – and Holland COMING SOON!

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