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Playing With The Grandkids — and Relief From Rheumatoid Arthritis
Pat Smoes started training at PowerStrength 6 months ago. She was already walking several miles a day, but she’d never done any structured strength training in her life.
Now, months later, she’s getting on and off the floor with her five grandkids without a second thought, feeling stronger than she has in years, and dealing with a lot less rheumatoid arthritis pain than when she started. Ask her to sum up the experience, and she doesn’t hesitate.
“PowerStrength is probably the very best thing I’ve done for myself in a long time,” she said.
WHY SHE STARTED
The push came from a friend, not a fitness goal.
“I had a friend who was really an encouragement, because after going to PowerStrength for several months, she said she could get on and off the floor with her grandkids a lot easier,” Pat said. “So I thought, well, maybe I can get on and off the floor easier too.”
Around the same time, her family had brought home a new puppy.
“I’ve been moving a lot more — I walked several miles a day, but I wasn’t doing strength training,” she said.
Pat decided it was time to build some real strength.
A WELCOMING PLACE, RIGHT FROM THE START
Walking into a new gym for the first time isn’t always easy, and Pat admits she had some nerves.
“You walk in the door here — I think the day I came in, I just came in to chat,” she said.
She was met by staff who made the decision easy.
“It was a welcoming place. Very encouraging.”
That same guidance carried into the gym floor, where she was new to lifting weights and unsure of proper form.
“They acclimate you very well,” she said. “I still to this day will say sometimes, ‘Is this the right weight I should be using?’ And they’ll come up to me and say, ‘Bump it up next time.’ I wouldn’t necessarily know how to do that without their wisdom.”
TRAINING AROUND REAL HEALTH CHALLENGES
Pat has rheumatoid arthritis, and she expected her pain to increase as time went on.
“I thought my rheumatoid arthritis would get worse with my age,” she said. “But in all honesty, this past year it’s been a lot better. I’m not having the pain I used to have — I’ve got to believe it’s from the movement, so I’m thankful for that.”
THE COACHING DIFFERENCE
Pat had tried fitness classes before, but never with this level of attention to how she was actually moving.
“I used to go to a gym and take classes, and I even met with trainers there — but they just set you up with a program. They don’t watch how you’re doing things,” she said. “What I’ve appreciated about being here is that they’re watching, correcting my movement, so it’s the correct movement for what I’m supposed to be doing.”
THE PROOF IS IN EVERYDAY LIFE
For Pat, the clearest sign of progress is one of the simplest movements there is.
“I feel better. I can get on and off the floor easier. I just feel stronger,” she said.
Her family has noticed the change too.
“I’ve lost weight. They’re noticing my better strength, better movement,” she said.
KEEPING UP WITH FIVE GRANDKIDS
Pat has five grandchildren: two who live nearby, ages 9 and 7, and three up north, ages 5, 3, and 1.
“I’ve had my grandkids all week this week, and I’m exhausted, to be honest,” she said. “But it’s really been a lot of fun to be able to be with them and move around and join in on their fun.”
MORE THAN PHYSICAL
The benefits haven’t stopped at strength.
“Mentally, there are challenges — when I wake up in the morning, I don’t necessarily feel like coming. But I know how I feel when I’m done, and so that’s an encouragement,” she said.
Outside the gym, she’s noticed the difference in everday tasks like gardening and playing with her new puppy.
“It’s just given me more movement, more mobility, and a more comfortable feeling.”
A COMMUNITY THAT SHOWS UP FOR EACH OTHER
Pat trains in small group sessions, typically in the morning, and says the size makes a real difference.
“The class sizes are generally pretty small — maybe five or six people,” she said. “The trainers are watching what you’re doing, they’re encouraging you. And fellow members are very encouraging too — we’re watching out for each other, patting each other on the back. The classes I go to are full of people my age, so it’s an encouragement.”
LOOKING AHEAD
Asked how the past several months have changed the way she thinks about the future, Pat’s answer was straightforward.
“I think it’s going to be better than it would if I wasn’t moving. That just keeps me inspired to keep coming, because I don’t want to lose what I’ve gained,” she said. “If I can be aging into my 70s and still feeling like this, I’ll be really grateful. I have an older sister who’s had two knees replaced. I’m thankful I haven’t had any joint replacements — I can move well, and I just feel like continuing to come here is going to be the key for me.”
ADVICE TO SOMEONE CONSIDERING IT
For anyone in a similar spot, Pat doesn’t hesitate to recommend it.
“They should know that it’s a wonderful environment here. I’m beyond grateful for my trainers,” she said. “The trainers are watching, they’re encouraging you — they’re just wonderful to have there. Fellow members are very encouraging too, and it’s been nice.”
Asked to sum up what PowerStrength means to her, she put it simply: “It’s a lot of work and sweat, but I really feel like in the long run, my body is healthier because of it. And I’m really grateful.”
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.