Blog
Meeting People Where They Are: How Dave and Kristina Built Strength, Confidence, and Momentum
For many adults, the hardest part of starting a fitness routine isn’t the work itself—it’s walking through the door for the first time.
That hesitation is exactly where Dave and Kristina Fairchild found themselves in early 2025.
They hadn’t grown up lifting weights.
They hadn’t spent years in gyms.
Their experience with exercise was limited to occasional stints at the YMCA, some aerobic classes years ago, and a single attempt at CrossFit that didn’t stick.
And yet, since February 2025, Dave and Kristina have been training consistently at PowerStrength Kentwood—getting stronger, moving better, feeling healthier, and building habits they now see as non-negotiable.
Their story isn’t about extreme workouts or dramatic before-and-after photos.
It’s about what happens when the right environment meets people who are ready to take a first step.
TAKING THE LEAP—WITHOUT EXPERIENCE
The push to try PowerStrength didn’t come from social media or a fitness challenge.
It came from family.
Kristina’s sister and brother-in-law had started training at PowerStrength Holland in December 2024. They had tried countless fitness options before—but this was different.
“They tried a million different things, and this was the only thing they were really excited about,” Kristina said. “They were already seeing changes in just a month. And we went, ‘We haven’t really ever done anything. Let’s try it.’”
That decision came with nerves.
Kristina had never lifted weights—ever.
“I had never been in a gym,” she said. “Even in high school. I never lifted weights or used anything other than late 1990s step aerobic classes that I was terrible at. I have zero coordination, so I was really nervous about not knowing anything.”
Dave felt the same uncertainty—but from a different angle.
“Over the years, we tried the Y off and on, and we tried CrossFit once,” he said. “And it was like, you’re surrounded by 20-year-olds who don’t really know how to use all the equipment either. You look at it and think, ‘Is that what I should be doing? I don’t know.’”
What they wanted was clarity, coaching, and reassurance that they weren’t going to hurt themselves.
That’s exactly what they found.
A DIFFERENT FIRST IMPRESSION
From the start, the PowerStrength experience felt different.
Instead of being left alone to guess, Dave and Kristina were guided—every rep, every session.
“It was that individualized coaching and the small group,” Dave said. “You laugh at all the comments they make with little adjustments, and then you feel it and think, ‘Oh yeah—that feels better.’”
That attention to detail mattered more as time went on.
“I’m not hurting myself,” Kristina said. “That was the big thing. Even a month or two in, you start thinking, ‘Oh, I could really hurt myself.’ But now, eight months later, they’re still making those minor adjustments—and suddenly you realize your back feels good.”
For people who have avoided strength training because of fear—fear of injury, fear of embarrassment, fear of not knowing what they’re doing—this is the turning point.
You don’t have to know anything before you start.
That’s the job of PowerStrength’s certified coaches.
TRAINING FOR LIFE—NOT JUST THE GYM
Dave and Kristina didn’t come to PowerStrength to chase numbers in the weight room.
They came for something far more practical.
“We watched our parents not be able to do much with our kids growing up,” Dave said. “That’s not where we want to be. I want to be active. I want to enjoy life.”
After several months of structured, intentional training, that goal is already paying off.
“Walking up a flight and a half of stairs to my office used to be a big deal,” Kristina said. “Now it’s no big deal at all.”
“Even mowing the lawn isn’t nearly the work it used to be,” Dave added.
The changes show up everywhere—not just in workouts.
Moving kids into apartments. Carrying groceries. Long days on their feet.
“Basic tasks don’t take nearly the effort anymore,” Dave said. “We were going up and down stairs all day recently, and it was like, ‘Okay—this isn’t so bad.’”
FEELING BETTER—PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY
The physical changes have been noticeable—changes in body shape, strength, and stamina.
But both Dave and Kristina point to something just as important: how they feel.
“Tons better,” Kristina said. “We joke about going to play pickleball. We don’t really play pickleball—we chase the ball around the court and pick it up. But we can pick it up.”
Dave noticed it too.
“Aches and pains are much less,” he said. “I just feel better overall.”
That improvement extends beyond the gym.
Dave recently traveled for work and did something he had never done before—used the hotel gym.
“Once in 27 years with the company, I had used a hotel gym,” he said. “This time, I went twice. It helped de-stress. It helped me feel better.”
Kristina has seen even bigger benefits during a difficult season of life.
“I had a very stressful job and a lot of health issues,” she said. “The people here have been amazing—keeping my mental health in mind, tailoring workouts to how I’m feeling that day, encouraging me even when I could only make it once a week.”
She paused, then added:
“My mental health—from the people here alone—is so much better than it was before. I feel stronger mentally and physically.”
WHY IT WORKS FOR BEGINNERS
For Dave and Kristina, consistency came from comfort and support—not pressure.
“They were very supportive from the beginning,” Dave said. “Those first few sessions, even the warm-up was tough. You’re thinking, ‘What are we doing?’ But the coaches were encouraging. They explained where you should feel it, how to do it, and now it’s just… a warm-up.”
Kristina never felt judged or out of place.
“You don’t feel like other people are watching you, wondering why you’re there,” she said. “Everyone is asking questions and getting corrections too. It’s no big deal.”
Training together has helped as well.
“Yes, we’re both going. Yes, we’re doing this,” Dave said. “That support matters.”
FOR ANYONE STILL THINKING ABOUT STARTING
When asked what they tell others about PowerStrength, Dave didn’t hesitate.
“I love that it’s small group. I love that it’s older people. I love that you all know what you’re doing,” he said. “And I love the sign that says, ‘You did the hard part. You came in.’”
That message resonates because it’s true.
Starting is the hardest part.
Everything after that is guided, coached, and supported.
When asked to finish the sentence—PowerStrength is…
“Fantastic. Supportive. Encouraging,” Dave said.
“For me,” Kristina added, “it’s empowering—for my physical and mental health.”
For anyone who has been thinking about starting—but hasn’t pulled the trigger—Dave and Kristina’s story is proof:
You don’t need experience.
You don’t need to be in shape.
You just need to take the first step.
PowerStrength will meet you there.
READY TO MAKE YOUR NEXT 10 YEARS YOUR STRONGEST EVER?
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, Jenison, Plainfield, Holland, or Byron Center.
Click HERE to learn more program details and schedule your risk-free consultation.