Non-Gym-Goer Shaves Off 20 years and 40lbs, Gets Off Meds
Teresa Pillars was a type 2 diabetic.
She had knee pain, back pain, shoulder pain, and plantar fasciitis. A year of physical therapy did nothing to help her.
Every week she had a standing appointment with a chiropractor. Temporary relief, sure, but the pain would always return.
Teresa was in her late 50s, and unable to get up off the ground without the assistance of a chair or another person.
She was not living a life that she desired.
“I want my independence,” Teresa said. “I don’t want to have to rely on people or see my health getting worse.”
She was at a crossroads… watch as her health deteriorates – or take a stand.
Teresa chose action.
FINDING AN ANSWER
In March of 2021, Teresa found PowerStrength Training Systems.
“I saw the Facebook ad about PowerStrength and I knew that a traditional gym was not my thing,” Teresa recalled. “I know nothing about what I need to do to get myself better.”
PowerStrength has highly qualified coaches that understand how to help people of all fitness levels reach their desired goals.
PowerStrength has four convenient locations around Grand Rapids: Alpine, Jenison, Kentwood and Plainfield. Teresa went to the Jenison location and met with General Manager, Derek Ehnis, for a free 1-on-1 starting point session.
“We went through all of my goals that I wanted to achieve,” Teresa said. “My biggest thing was that I was getting weaker and I wasn’t able to do the things that I wanted to do in my life and I am getting closer to retirement so I want to be mobile, I want to have the ability to do the things that I want to do.”
“At the time, Teresa had similar goals to most clients that we serve: Increase strength, improve flexibility, weight loss, and posture correction,” Ehnis said. “She had a solid foundation of eating habits, so we built upon those and kept it simple and easy to follow. She had some pre-existing health conditions that would hopefully be improved with consistent strength training.”
PowerStrength designs programs for each individual, even if they have certain limitations.
“I said I don’t jump and I don’t run,” Teresa said, “so if we are going to do that then I’m gone.”
“I was not an athlete in high school or college or anything, I don’t know anything about it. I didn’t know what exercises I needed to do to strengthen my knee, hips, or shoulders. I don’t know anything about this, I need some professionals, and I have gone to the traditional gyms before and it is not my thing, there is a lot of competition it feels like, and that is the thing here too, there is no competition, you are in competition with yourself. So that’s what really drew me here was that it is not that traditional gym atmosphere and everybody is having a good time, but has goals that they want to meet and getting help to meet those goals.”
“Our personal training program focuses on safe and technically sound strength training and posture correction is already programmed in,” Ehnis said. “We plan on accommodating physical injury/limitations, while taking into account the person’s exercise history and goals. We met Teresa where she was at in the gym and slowly began to progress her movements each week.”
The personalized attention from all of the coaches was just what Teresa needed. They understood her situation and got her started on a plan to address her issues.
“I want to be able to to get the most out of my sessions. That is kind of what brought me here and I love the family atmosphere that’s here, but we talk about families and what they are doing, and just get to know each other and I’ve made a lot of friends since I’ve been here, and just really enjoyed the atmosphere, it is so positive, everything is so positive.”
The PowerStrength coaches have a wealth of knowledge – and they know what they do best and what they don’t. Being part of the PowerStrength network is invaluable. They referred Teresa to trusted professional partners in the area for additional help.
“Come to find out it has to do actually with my spine, it’s starting to do that curve in,” Teresa said about what was causing her pain in several areas. “Coming here, talking to some of the trainers, they recommended other doctors. I’m willing to do anything to feel better so I saw some of those doctors and that is how I found out what it is and it is pulling my shoulder out of alignment and my neck and my hips were moving to one side.”
RESULTS
Consistently showing up to PowerStrength at least 3 sessions per week, Teresa noticed gradual improvement. The exercises targeted her weak areas, strengthening her muscles and improving her flexibility. As she grew stronger, the pain in her knee, back, and shoulder began to diminish.
She no longer relied on weekly trips to physical therapy or the chiropractor.
“I lost quite a bit of weight when I came here, but my biggest goal was to have the ability to have increased movement and be more stable in what I’m doing,” Teresa said. “I can do those kinds of things, the biggest thing is I am stronger, I have more independence, I can do things that I couldn’t physically do before like carrying heavy things. For the most part I can do things much easier than what I could before.”
As months passed, Teresa felt like a new woman. She no longer felt limited by her ailments. Instead, she felt stronger and more capable than she had in years.
“I compare myself with 20 years ago,” Teresa said. “I was about where I’m at right now, if not maybe a little bit fitter. That is a big accomplishment for me 20 years later to be able to get back to where I can do things I couldn’t do before in that 20 year period just kept getting worse and worse.”
TRANSFORMATION
The most remarkable transformation came with her diabetes. Through regular exercise, dietary changes, and accountability from her PowerStrength coaches, Teresa’s blood sugar levels began to stabilize.
She was able to reduce her medication until she no longer needed it – at all!
“I got rid of everything! I was a type 2 diabetic and I was insulin dependent and I am no longer on any medications for my type 2 diabetes,” Teresa said. “I am still insulin sensitive, but I don’t take any medications, I don’t take any diuretics, I don’t take any heartburn medication, everything I was able to work myself off of and it is a great thing!”
PowerStrength offers members a chance to participate in many short-term, themed challenges throughout the year. Teresa never misses one as they have been a major catalyst in her growth.
“I’m in the challenges here and a lot of that is geared around several different things, not just building muscle but your diet and habits that you have and those kinds of things. It is all things that we probably know but you tend not to do so it is really great that they have those challenges to keep us on track and get back to. I really need to do that.”
Her doctors were amazed by her progress, attributing it to her newfound commitment to fitness.
“Just the way I look to them,” Teresa recalled about seeing her doctors after training at PowerStrength. “I’ve seen these doctors for probably about 10 years and they ask me ‘what are you doing? I see you’ve lost 15 pounds, but what are you doing? The way you stand and move, we can see a huge difference.’ I told them that I came (to PowerStrength). They all want to know what I’m doing, because it is a huge change.”
Teresa has dropped 40 pounds in her time at PowerStrength. She will certainly take it, but it is the other benefits from her customized workouts that she appreciates the most.
“Any woman loves to lose weight,” she said laughing. “I lost a significant amount when I came and that was one of the things too, because of my diabetes I had to be on a very regimented diet in order to maintain that, but with the physical activity I was able to get off the medications for it. For me, the whole thing about gaining muscle, we measure the amount of muscle that I am gaining, gaining muscle and toning is way more important than losing weight.
EXPERIENCING THE REWARDS
Teresa works as a planner and buyer for a furniture manufacturer. PowerStrength has helped to make all aspects of her life more enjoyable.
“I tell everybody this is the best part of my day when I’m (at PowerStrength). I didn’t realize how much of a stress reliever it is because I didn’t work out consistently before. I would try to do some walking or some light activities, but getting here and having a program to work in, it has really helped my stress level especially with work and home life. That is the one thing that I have really noticed a lot and it also makes you kind of realize what your priorities are. It is tough to get here sometimes when you have somebody at work that needs this presentation tomorrow at 8am. OK, but I’ve got a session I’ve got to get to. It is tough sometimes to tell them sorry, but I gotta leave, this is my time, I got to go. I do make that commitment to make sure I get here and have a really good time.”
Teresa is not only dedicated to her own fitness journey, but also uplifting to those around her with her infectious positivity and encouragement.
“She was our highest attended member and one of the kindest human beings you’ll ever meet, which makes for a great training partner,” Ehnis said. “We are most proud of her consistency as she has made training 3 to 4 sessions per week a priority in her life.”
Now 60, Teresa’s new found zest for life has her rethinking how much longer she wants to work and what she may want to do in retirement.
“I feel so good,” she said.
“I’m 60, I’ll be 61 in few months and I had always planned on 62 I would want out (to retire), but now I feel so good. I keep telling them at work as long as I’m happy I will stay, but I have a lot of things that I want to do when I retire, a lot of volunteering and other things that I’m thinking about. But being (at PowerStrength) and changing my lifestyle and feeling the way that I do now, it has just really opened up more things for me.”
READY TO TAKE CONTROL?
Men and Women 40-and-over seeking a stronger, more energized lifestyle can join the personal training programs 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 small group and private sessions are offered in the early morning, mid-morning, late afternoon, and evening.
Click HERE to learn more program details and schedule your risk-free consultation.