Blog
She Had a Heart Attack at 53 — Now She’s Stronger Than She’s Been in Years
Lisa Campbell has one goal driving her every time she walks through the door at PowerStrength: staying around and staying strong enough to keep up.
She joined the Personal Training Program for adults in their 40s, 50s, and 60s at the end of January.
Just months later, she’s down 22 pounds, added muscle, and is doing things with her body she couldn’t do before — no help required.
Ask her what changed, and she points to more than the scale.
“Since then, I’ve lost 22 pounds, and I’ve added some muscle,” she said. “Odd results, things that aren’t on the scale” — that’s what stands out to her most.
WHY SHE STARTED
Lisa survived a heart attack four and a half years ago. She was walking her dog regularly, but she wasn’t doing anything to actually get stronger.
With three kids and the hope of grandkids someday, staying strong stopped being optional.
“I was going to be turning 58 at the time,” she said. “And I thought, if I don’t get in shape, I’m never going to be able to play with them or be out on the boat with them or do anything.”
A friend who trained at PowerStrength kept telling her to try it. When a free-month offer came around the holidays, Lisa finally did.
“I was like, this is amazing,” she said.
GETTING PAST THE FEAR
Walking in for the first time wasn’t easy.
“I was so nervous, and so scared,” expressed Lisa.
What helped was how small and welcoming the sessions were from day one.
“It was maybe myself and one other person the first couple times, and I was like, oh, I can do this,” she said. “Even if a few people showed up, it’s always no more than six people. That’s very comforting to me.”
WHAT WAS DIFFERENT HERE
For Lisa, the personalization is what keeps her coming back — and what she says she couldn’t go without now.
“I wouldn’t go to a gym without it anymore,” she said. “You’re really spoiled because you’re getting your form corrected. They care about you. They know what’s going on. They remember.”
That personalization matters even more given her health history.
Her coaches work around her heart condition, checking in on her and adjusting workouts to fit what her body can safely do that day.
“They’re on their feet changing stuff,” she said. “If there’s a schedule for the day and it doesn’t work with my shoulder, they’re like, let’s not do that, let’s do this instead.”
THE PROOF IS IN EVERYDAY LIFE
The changes haven’t just shown up in the gym — they’ve shown up in the small, ordinary moments of Lisa’s life.
“We have a boat and we have this little step thing just for mom to get onto it. Usually my husband has to hold my arm,” she said. “And yesterday I just climbed up the stairs and hopped in.”
The same week, she reached for something most people wouldn’t think twice about.
“I needed my crockpot from way up on top of our pantry, and usually I’m like, oh — and I just hopped up on the chair, grabbed it, hopped down,” she said. “I couldn’t have done that a few months ago.”
Carrying heavy laundry up and down the stairs. Not waiting for her husband to get home to help with something. These are the wins Lisa says matter most. “I like not feeling weak!” she said.
HER DOCTOR NOTICED TOO
The proof isn’t just physical for Lisa — it’s medical.
“They had to adjust some of my meds,” she said. “They were overcompensating, because by working out – my body was just functioning better.”
It’s a shift she credits directly to showing up and moving consistently, not just watching the scale.
“When you’re not just a slug, and you’re actually moving, your medicine doesn’t need to be quite as strong,” she said. “It’s been great.”
MORE THAN PHYSICAL
Beyond the physical changes, Lisa says PowerStrength gave her something she wasn’t expecting: a community.
“I’ve made a great group of friends here,” she said. “We socialize outside of here, we hang out together, we pray for each other — just all the things. It’s a place you don’t want to leave. It makes you want to be accountable and come back.”
LOOKING AHEAD
A year ago, Lisa expected the years ahead to mean slowing down. Now she sees it differently.
“A year ago I thought, oh, this is going to stink, I’m not going to be as mobile,” she said. “And now I feel like I’m just going to get more mobile. I’m going to extend the activity that I’m able to do. So it gets me very excited.”
With a husband a bit younger than her, staying active isn’t just about her — it’s about keeping pace with the people she loves.
“I cannot be just sitting around and not able to do stuff while my husband will be active,” she said. “This makes me feel like I might not quite be able to keep up, but pretty close — thanks to PowerStrength.”
ADVICE TO SOMEONE CONSIDERING IT
Lisa remembers exactly how nervous she was walking in for the first time. Her advice to anyone standing where she once stood is simple.
“Come in. Don’t be afraid. Come in,” she said. “Everyone is so welcoming. Katie is amazing with us. She’s welcoming and accommodating and kind, but strong. She knows how to push us hard and where our limits are, and when we can do just a little bit more. Even if we might think, I cannot do that — she’s like, oh yes you can, you got it.”
Asked to finish the sentence “PowerStrength is ___,” Lisa didn’t need to think long.
“The reason I feel good about myself,” she said.
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.