18 January 2008
Success Story - Linda Britten
The following is from one of my most dedicated clients. Linda has been training with me for nearly 2 years now. She is a real inspiration and the reason I enjoy my job so much. Here is her story...
"I admit it – I have a phobia and hatred about exercise of any sort, type or description and have therefore never done any. It always seemed like a complete waste of time and effort when there were so many other exciting (and far less energetic) things I could spend my time doing. But, despite my exercise loathing, for many years, I have loved going off on adventurous holidays to exotic places which usually involve lengthy treks over rocky terrain, up and down mountains or through the thick undergrowth of jungles.
"Unfortunately, as the years progressed, my mind and spirit remained very willing and able to undertake more adventures, but my body started to object quite strongly. The ongoing joint and back problems I’d suffered from for a number of years became gradually worse and although the pain would improve if I followed the advice of the various specialists I visited and rested the affected joints, it would always return. I finally realised that these problems were now having a serious affect on my life. Not only was I no longer able to make the most of my active holidays, but I was having problems with my every day life, from driving to carrying shopping bags to walking up and down stairs. It just couldn’t continue – something drastic needed to be done.
"Finally, after seeing so many different specialists, I was diagnosed with hypermobility, which means that I suffer from over-elastic connective tissue, resulting in the mixture of joint and back problems I’d built up over the years. In the case of hypermobility, I was told that the best way to overcome this problem was not in fact to rest the affected areas as I had been doing, but to undertake careful exercise to build my muscle strength. Of course, this was clearly not good news for someone who has a phobia about exercise. But I had now reached the point where I was so fed up and worn down by the pain I was experiencing and the restrictions it was causing to my life, that I was willing to try anything – even exercise.
"My physiotherapist recommended that, given my lack of experience of exercise programmes and the very specific problems from which I was suffering, I should undertake a sustained programme of supervised exercise with a Personal Trainer to ensure I didn’t do myself more harm than good. In addition, given my very significant lack of enthusiasm for exercise, I knew that it was vital that I found a Trainer who had the ability to seriously motivate me and to keep me going when I felt I wasn’t improving as much or as fast as I wanted to. This person would also need to make me believe that over time, but with no significant disruption to my regular life and daily routine, I could achieve the level of mobility and fitness I wanted to transform my life.
"It certainly was a difficult, in fact those who know me well would have said almost impossible, task to find such a miracle worker. But luckily, I did, and the transformation is well and truly underway as you can read below."
"Where do I begin...
"I can quite honestly say that it has completely transformed my life on so many different levels and I cannot imagine ever stopping the exercise programme.
Work:
Personal:
"Can’t think of just one….
Knowledgeable, professional, experienced, supportive, motivational, patient …"
If you would like to become one of our success stories, contact Lyndon Littlefair at Equilibrium today and make this year your best yet.
Reason for Commencing Training:
"I admit it – I have a phobia and hatred about exercise of any sort, type or description and have therefore never done any. It always seemed like a complete waste of time and effort when there were so many other exciting (and far less energetic) things I could spend my time doing. But, despite my exercise loathing, for many years, I have loved going off on adventurous holidays to exotic places which usually involve lengthy treks over rocky terrain, up and down mountains or through the thick undergrowth of jungles.
"Unfortunately, as the years progressed, my mind and spirit remained very willing and able to undertake more adventures, but my body started to object quite strongly. The ongoing joint and back problems I’d suffered from for a number of years became gradually worse and although the pain would improve if I followed the advice of the various specialists I visited and rested the affected joints, it would always return. I finally realised that these problems were now having a serious affect on my life. Not only was I no longer able to make the most of my active holidays, but I was having problems with my every day life, from driving to carrying shopping bags to walking up and down stairs. It just couldn’t continue – something drastic needed to be done.
"Finally, after seeing so many different specialists, I was diagnosed with hypermobility, which means that I suffer from over-elastic connective tissue, resulting in the mixture of joint and back problems I’d built up over the years. In the case of hypermobility, I was told that the best way to overcome this problem was not in fact to rest the affected areas as I had been doing, but to undertake careful exercise to build my muscle strength. Of course, this was clearly not good news for someone who has a phobia about exercise. But I had now reached the point where I was so fed up and worn down by the pain I was experiencing and the restrictions it was causing to my life, that I was willing to try anything – even exercise.
"My physiotherapist recommended that, given my lack of experience of exercise programmes and the very specific problems from which I was suffering, I should undertake a sustained programme of supervised exercise with a Personal Trainer to ensure I didn’t do myself more harm than good. In addition, given my very significant lack of enthusiasm for exercise, I knew that it was vital that I found a Trainer who had the ability to seriously motivate me and to keep me going when I felt I wasn’t improving as much or as fast as I wanted to. This person would also need to make me believe that over time, but with no significant disruption to my regular life and daily routine, I could achieve the level of mobility and fitness I wanted to transform my life.
"It certainly was a difficult, in fact those who know me well would have said almost impossible, task to find such a miracle worker. But luckily, I did, and the transformation is well and truly underway as you can read below."
Benefits of Training:
"Where do I begin...
- Significantly increased mobility and flexibility in all joints
- A much better sense of balance
- Dramatically improved posture when both active and sitting
- Weight loss (great for the body, but not so good on the finances as I keep having to buy more clothes as I drop yet another dress size!)
- Increased stamina and energy levels
- Learning how exercise can help minimise the effect of my condition
- Massive improvement in my insomnia"
What difference has it made to your life?
"I can quite honestly say that it has completely transformed my life on so many different levels and I cannot imagine ever stopping the exercise programme.
Work:
- Improved posture when sitting at my desk resulting in a major reduction in back pain
- Better concentration over the working day.
- Major reduction in my levels of stress – apart from when I have to spend lots of time with my mother. And my daughter!!!
Personal:
- My first holiday after I started training was my most active holiday for years – and was commented on by my friends.
- I can walk to work again and can run for a bus without collapsing in a heap at the bus stop.
- I can go for country walks with family and friends again.
- I’ve lost weight without deliberately trying – enough for people to notice.
- I can drive fairly long distances now without getting neck pain – and know what exercises to do to counteract it if I do."
If I was to ask you one word that describes what I do, what would it be?
"Can’t think of just one….
Knowledgeable, professional, experienced, supportive, motivational, patient …"
If you would like to become one of our success stories, contact Lyndon Littlefair at Equilibrium today and make this year your best yet.
posted by Lyndon Littlefair at 12:25 pm
