“This Has Given Me My Life Back”

At 67 years old, Lynn Barranger’s life had become an uphill struggle.

As is often the case when we reach our 60’s, she had developed a laundry list of physical health issues that were slowing her down, and making the most basic of movements a struggle.

Having had a hip replacement some years earlier, Lynn’s mobility was already compromised. But increasing aches and pains combined with worsening “hunched-over” posture started to challenge her ability to move, bend, twist, get up and down, and even made walking difficult.

“I was talking to the orthopedics, and they were saying due to my lower back issues, I’d need to either constantly get injections, or get a walker” says Lynn.

“So I got myself a cherry apple red walker so I could be a fast little granny.”

And everyone lived happily ever after? Unfortunately not.

While this new toy gave her security on two feet, it didn’t actually address any of the underlying issues. She still couldn’t move with ease. Level-changing activities like picking stuff off the ground, and treasure-hunting under the sofa (you never know what you’ll find down there) were pretty much off the cards.

Moreover, her dependence on a chunk of aluminum to move from A to B begun to play on her mental health:

“It was very depressing to feel that I had to use a walker. I was afraid this was going to be the way for the rest of my life. I did not relish being this much of an invalid, this early. ” admits Lynn

“This is ridiculous, I thought – I’m only 67!”

As the old proverb goes, however: the darkest hour is just before the dawn.

It was just as things had gotten really bleak, that she saw the light. But being the pragmatic sort, Lynn realized that divine intervention wasn’t going to get her out of this hole. So she switched off the light, and found ForeverStrong online instead.

The Comeback

A short 7 months training with ForeverStrong, and Lynn is already feeling her best in years:

“It has been awesome. I can walk without any pain, and as you can see, I’m upright. I can get up and down off the floor, which before was a chore.”

“ForeverStrong has given me my life back.”

Thanks to a combination of customized strength and endurance exercises, she’s once again able to engage in many of the activities that physical ailments took from her life. Notably traveling, yard work, and climbing up and down ladders with ease.

(Turns out Lynn does repairs on her rental properties, and isn’t rescuing babies from burning buildings, as we initially thought.)

“Life is super active, and I’m loving it!” she confesses.

And it’s not just her movement that has been rediscovered; there is a noticeable improvement in both body and mind.

While Lynn was busy strengthening her body, she accidentally lost 30lbs.

Err…whoops?

Though her main objective was to regain freedom of movement, improved body composition is a pretty typical side-effect of resistance-based training programs. This is a big reason why ForeverStrong prioritize strength-building with our clients (to an almost obsessive degree).

Of course, Lynn isn’t complaining:

“I’ll be honest – [Before ForeverStrong] I felt like a blob.“

Now, though?

“I get so many compliments. I’ll walk up to someone I haven’t seen in a while, and they’ll say ‘you’re so skinny!’ I started losing [fat] slowly, but then it just started melting off. I did a InBody scan and not only did I lose weight, but I gained skeletal muscle mass.”

With a sleeker, stronger, more mobile body, there inevitably comes a boost in confidence. Lynn admits that prior to joining ForeverStrong, she was fearful. Her instability when moving around had created a lot of doubt in the mind, and the idea of throwing about heavy iron inside a gym seemed a bit fanciful:

“I’d watch the gym adverts on TV and think ‘I can’t do that!'”

“To be honest was afraid I was going to be embarrassed – I was scared to go into the gym with the way I was.”

But after summoning the courage to give ForeverStrong a try, she was quickly won over:

“I’ve not had any embarrassing moments. I’ve been around people who can do more than me, but they’re all very encouraging. It’s very warm like a family.”

And despite being involved in group-based workouts, Lynn has been surprised by the amount of individualized attention she has received:

“This impressed me here – [the ForeverStrong coaches] worked with me and my limitations, and then built me up.”

In Lynn’s case, the generic do what I say workout-class approach wasn’t going to cut it (you know, 20 nameless people in formation, possibly with a nouveau Richard Simmons as the instructor).

ForeverStrong’s small, “semi-private” groups (6 people, as standard) enable our clients to enjoy a supportive class environment, while also reaping the benefits of personal-style training.

A past knee injury meant that in the beginning, Lynn required more customized exercises. Safety in mind, the ForeverStrong coaches worked carefully with both her and her chiropractor to ensure that she could progress without taking any unnecessary risks during sessions. Having this joint support has worked out well for Lynn (and her knee), and has provided her the confidence she needs when setting foot in the gym:

“Everyone was very cohesive, and we worked together. The instructors have been really good.”

Future Strong

Though she’s not quite thinking about qualifying for the Olympics (Is ladder-climbing a sport yet?) Lynn has come a long way in a short space of time.

“I’m extremely happy with the investment I made in myself. I don’t feel as old as I am” says Lynn. “[In the next 7 months] I see a much stronger Lynn.”

Her advice to others in a similar position?

“You are worth it. I want to tell people to pull yourself by by your bootstraps, slam them against the wall and tell them they are worth it. You will be better!”

Slamming people against the wall? Damn, now there’s some confidence!