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Better at 60 than 40: What Strength Training Changed for this Couple
Neither Pete nor Gina Paulsen had ever trained in a gym.
Gina walked into PowerStrength five years ago and Pete joined her a year later. Now, both 60 years old, they say they feel better than they did two decades ago.
“For 60, we both feel better than we did when we were 40,” Gina said. “I mean, much better.”
HOW IT STARTED
The Paulsens moved to West Michigan about six years ago, following their grandkids. Not long after, they began training at PowerStrength.
“We knew they were getting great results, and it was geared toward people our age,” Gina said. “So it was pretty natural.”
Gina went first. Pete waited about a year, and he regrets it.
“I had some shoulder pain and knee pain, so I said, well, I’ll wait a little bit and heal up, which was quite a mistake,” Pete said. “I got a little better, but once I started working out, I got a lot better.”
NEVER A GYM PERSON
Both describe themselves as at-home exercisers before PowerStrength.
Gina did workout videos, including P90X. They got results, but the structure was missing.
“At home, if you’re not having a great day, you either don’t work out or you go lighter,” Gina said. “Here, they have you busy from the minute you walk in.”
Pete says the schedule itself was part of the draw.
“The discipline of coming in here is a big part of the attraction. It’s ‘schedule it, let’s go, and feel great’.”
STARTING FROM ZERO
The couple says it takes only a short time to find your comfort zone, and that the coaches made it easier.
“They make you feel so comfortable immediately,” Gina said. “Any instruction was right there with you.”
Their advice to new members comes from experience.
“We started exactly where you started. Everybody starts in the same place.”
THE NUMBERS
After five years, Gina’s results are measurable.
“I’m down 30 pounds,” she said. “My skeletal muscle mass has gone up, and I’m down 15% body fat. I went from about 34% to 19%.”
Pete’s numbers moved in the same direction, though he had less to lose.
Both say the numbers matter less than how they feel.
“The numbers are great, but most importantly, it’s how we feel, which is way better,” Pete said. “The ability to move so much better and not have to second-guess what we’re doing.”
WORKING THROUGH IT
Pete came in worried.
“I was afraid. I thought, bad knee, bad shoulder, what can I really do?” he said. “It turned out I could do a lot, and working out improved those dramatically.”
Things that once bothered him, including stairs and ladders, are no longer an issue.
“I had a hard time swinging a golf club for a while. That’s moved on, and I feel great about it.”
The couple says the coaches adjust when something flares up.
“They work around any injuries you have and strengthen everything around there,” Gina said.
THE GRANDKIDS
The change shows up in daily life, especially with the grandchildren.
“Chores and chasing the grandkids,” Pete said. “Running with them. Lift me up, spin me around, bounce me on the trampoline. It’s like, yeah, let’s go.”
A COMMUNITY, TOO
The Paulsens didn’t have children in school or pets when they moved, which made meeting people hard.
“It’s hard to meet people when you’re older,” Gina said.
PowerStrength changed that.
“The coaches are great, and our fellow members are great. They’re part of our friend group now.”
When they spent two weeks away for their daughter’s wedding, the longest stretch they’d gone, they said they were “aching to get back.”
STRENGTH, TWO DAYS AT A TIME
They train twice per week, sometimes three.
“It’s not like we’ve gone five workouts a week for four and five years,” Gina said. “But it’s been good.”
WHAT THEY TELL NEW MEMBERS
Their advice is simple.
“I don’t think there are any negatives. Don’t be too tough on yourself coming in. The coaches will work around whatever challenges you have.”
And: “Don’t compare yourself to anybody. Compare yourself to what you were when you started. Watch the weight go up, and the reps go up. That is super encouraging.”
Asked to finish the sentence “PowerStrength is…,” they didn’t need long.
“It’s an awesome, supportive community. It’s not just the strength training. It’s strength. It’s encouragement. It’s feeling young again. It’s getting your youth back.”
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 — 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 powerstrengthpro.com/adult/contact-adult to learn more and schedule your risk-free consultation.