Putting the “Personal” into Personal Training

Mark Mathis

    I became a member of the Mountain Island family in February 2007 following an annual physical exam by my physician. My physician strongly urged me to begin an exercise program as soon as possible. My cholesterol levels and blood pressure were out of whack. I was told at that time that I was a prime candidate for a stroke.  Shortly thereafter I began my search for a fitness family.

     My first contact was Suzzanna, who warmly greeted me at the door. Her enthusiasm and personality convinced me that MIF was the place for me. I had planned to shop around, but decided to sign a 1 year contract before leaving that day.

     Knowing my history of past exercise regiments, I started off with some moderate cardio exercises, i.e. the treadmill, stair stepper, and some resistance training thrown in the mix. Once the new facility was opened, I decided to attend Group Ride and Group Power.

     I learned the benefits of both being coached as well as the importance of technique. Unable to master technique in Group Power, I found myself gravitating towards machines. I was able to see some physical change, but not to the level that I knew was possible.

     I knew it was time to take it to the next level but was intimidated by the free weights. With some encouragement from Suzzanna to workout with her, I decided to give it a shot. She inquired as to my goal and tailored both an exercise regiment and a meal plan for me. After 2 weeks on the plan, I have seen results that I have not been able to reach in the past.

    I would like to thank Suzzanna not only for her expertise, but the personal interest she has taken in me as an individual. Suzzanna is a gifted trainer who is passionate about her calling and should be recognized for it.

    I would encourage anyone who is serious about reaching their physical fitness goals to reach out to Suzzanna. You will not be disappointed. The results will speak for themselves.

I’m Charissa McSwain, and I never thought I’d be able to join a gym. I was born with severe scoliosis that required me to wear a full back brace for 9 years, starting at age 4. I had my first spinal fusion when I was 6, followed by another at age 16. When I was 20, I had a third back operation to remove the steel rods that had been a part of my spinal fusion; the hope was that it would help alleviate my increasing back pain. 

When I was 33, I had twin girls after a very difficult pregnancy that forced me into Physical Therapy just so I could figure out how to walk somewhat normally again. The demands of a full time career and children, twins no less, made me acutely aware of how much my pain limited my life. I was only 36 but I felt like 86. Again, I sought help from doctors who for the first time in my life ordered an MRI and found that not only did I have severe scoliosis but also a split spinal cord that was attached to my sacrum. This problem was causing debilitating nerve pain. I was referred to a neurosurgeon who said that while there was a risk of paralysis with surgery, I was headed in that direction without it. 

Prayerfully, I went forward with the surgery knowing that the outcome was in God’s hands. After surgery, some of the nerve pain was gone, but recovery was tough. I tried massage therapy, which I continue to this day. Again, the demands of work and young children kept me wishing for a better quality of life. I pursued Physical Therapy over the years, and was given the typical PT back exercises with only moderate and temporary relief. 

As a person with a physical condition so severe that doctors caution you against many activities, believe me, joining a gym seems like a risky endeavor. Doctors suggested walking and swimming. Because I wore a brace throughout childhood, I’d never learned to swim and the surgeries I had been through limited the range of motion in my arms making it difficult and painful to swim. I hurt when I sat. I hurt more when I walked. To make matters worse, I found myself unable to stand up straight and I was starting to lean forward more. So not only did I feel older than I was, I looked it as well. 

My inactive lifestyle while mandated by my pain was rubbing off on my family, and I feared that I was not doing all I could do to keep my family healthy. I talked to a good friend of mine who suggested working with Suzanna at Mountain Island Fitness. Having a trainer who could teach me how to work out properly for my condition made me feel more comfortable and having a reputable gym so close to my home made it convenient. I felt like it was worth a try. 

My daughter and I went to the gym and met with Suzanna. On September 5, 2010, we finished our first group of 12 personal training partner sessions, and I am simply amazed! I stand up straighter. I walk straighter. I feel better. I am stronger. I go to the gym at least 3 times a week to meet with Suzanna who directs my workout. I primarily use the machines because they support my back, allowing me to do the exercises properly. When I get stronger, I may be able to move to other methods of strength training, but for now the machines work best for me. I could never have achieved the results I have without Suzanna’s direction, the huge range of equipment available at Mountain Island Fitness, and God who is the Source of it all. 

In the last 13 months, there have been two events that have had a significant impact on my life. 

The first event occurred on November 1, 2008.  I was taking some much needed vacation time from work and my husband Jeff (who had acquired motorcycle riding as a hobby) and I decided to take a quick ride up to Hickory to look at the motorcycle dealerships there.  It was a beautiful fall day, not a cloud in the sky.  We were on our way to our last stop, traveling at a slow speed down a service road when without warning, we were hit from the side by a car driven by a lady talking on her cell phone.  She only saw us just as she hit us, not allowing any time for either of us to correct our paths.

The last words I heard that afternoon were my husband yelling “no, no, no.”  The next words I remember were from a doctor in the emergency room leaning over me telling me my left leg was broken and my neck was broken.  Not until the next morning after the fog of surgery wore off did I come to realize the full extent of my injuries and how lucky Jeff and I were to be alive. 

My left femur and tibia bones were broken.  The femur completely in two, which resulted in, a titanium rod being inserted in the bone and one screw in my hip and two in my knee to hold the rod in place while the leg healed. The tibia break lined up once the femur was set and it healed on its own. 

My neck injury was much more serious, I had broken the C2 and C3 vertebrae which is often times called “The Hangman’s Fracture.”  The usual results of this fracture are death, total paralysis, partial paralysis or in my case, a “halo.

A halo is a device that is held in place by four screws that have been screwed into your skull.  This is called rigid immobilization.  I could not turn my head; I had to turn my whole body.  I could only sleep on my back.  I could only shower from the waist down.  The halo brace around my body had a sheep skin lining that could not get wet.  I could not wash my hair (I had it all cut off).  And, the halo had to remain in place for three months (with monthly doctor visits to tighten the screws) followed by one month in a cervical collar.  My few days of vacation turned in to four months of leave.

Throughout the entire experience, I maintained a positive attitude.  I was so happy to be alive and being angry or upset would not change anything.  Four months can seem like a very long time and in other respects a very short time.

During my recuperation, my only physical activity was leg exercises to help my leg gain strength so I could walk on it.  I started with a walker, moved to crutches, then a cane, and then very slow, methodical unassisted steps.  When my halo came off at the end of January 2009, my neck muscles had totally atrophied.  I did not have any strength in my neck muscles, which is why I had to wear the cervical collar.  This allowed me to slowly gain some mobility in my neck. Imagine having a stiff neck that NEVER goes away.

I realized I needed to do something to get my body rehabilitated.  My husband and I were competitive dancers and we were always very physically active.  I knew I could not get back in to shape on my own because I could potentially injure myself further by not having the right guidance.  This resulted in the next event that had a significant impact on my life.

We were familiar with Mountain Island Fitness through a friend that had a membership, but I never really thought of myself as a “gym” person.  I understand now it is because I wasn’t at the right gym.  Jeff purchased a package of personal training sessions for me and came home and said, “Here you are, you are supposed to call some guy named Greg and work out when you can come in for your first session.”

The “some guy named Greg” turned out to be Greg Clifton and we made arrangements for my first session (my “fitness assessment”) to be on July 12, 2009.  Keeping in mind, this is just over eight months since the accident.  We started out talking about my goals and I told him I had some rehabilitation needs due to the accident.  I knew I had a lot of work to do, as I was still quite stiff and had constant residual pain.  I did tell Greg that I really hoped this would result in my having arms like Angela Bassett had in When Stella Got Her Groove Back.  Greg carefully explained we would do a combination of cardio, weight training and he suggested I take the Centergy class because with my current physical limitations, that class would be the kindest to my body.

So off we went for the assessment.  We started on the treadmill, no problem.  It was slow, but I could manage.  Then the elliptical, I made it four minutes.  Then we went on to several weight machines, push-ups, sit-ups, and then I passed out – literally.  My first visit to Mountain Island Fitness will be a memorable one for all.  But I have to honestly say, Greg and the entire staff was absolutely fabulous.  I’m sure Greg was wondering what the heck he had gotten himself into, or if I would ever come back.

But I did.  I came back for Centergy on Tuesdays and Thursdays and I arranged sessions with Greg two times a week to start.   Greg was ever so patient.  He knew when to push and when to back off.  He understood my limitations and developed a program that gradually added strength back to my total body.  He knew that if I overdid it at the start, the whole rehabilitation would be compromised and I would never follow through with my goals.

So now, four months later (the same amount of time I was in the halo and collar), I’d say I’m pretty much considered a regular at Mountain Island Fitness.  I still have aches and pains that may never go away, but I also have good aches and pains from having effective workout sessions.  And the extra bonus, my arms are looking good!

To achieve the progress I’ve made so far has taken the right staff always providing a positive attitude and words of encouragement, the right trainer who never gives up on you, the right group classes tailored to whatever your fitness level and the determination to not let someone steal your life through an unfortunate accident.  I am at the “right” gym.  -Mary Hill

What a journey…In January I made the decision to place myself on a diet and to join a health club.  My diet routine was a very strict, low fat regimen which was a dramatic change from my former eating habit which was primarily seafood (see food and you eat it).  My family has stood by me while I have grumbled eating a carrot stick or a stalk of celery.

From a workout perspective, following a significant due diligence effort, my wife, daughter and I decided on Mountain Island Fitness following a most impressive tour that we received.  Since then, I continue to be thoroughly impressed each time I enter MIF. The equipment is always fully functioning and I have never had to wait to utilize any of the machines.  The locker room is clean and secure and having the drink/smoothie bar available is most appreciated.

By far, the most noteworthy feature is the welcoming environment provided by Marc, Suzzanna and the whole staff when individuals enter MIF as well as when there are questions about a workout routine.  It took a lot of personal fortitude for me to want to exercise on a daily basis, but being welcomed by name each time I enter the facility and congratulated for reaching goals has made the idea of working out daily a lot more palatable.  The members, whether on the cardio equipment, pumping iron, or attending a aerobics class, are clearly very focused on the securing a potent workout.

As I approach my weight goal, I plan to get some direction from one of the very qualified trainers and will hopefully be as successful with weights as I have been with the elliptical machine.  Thanks to all for assisting me in this most challenging venture. - Alan Millhauser