Client Success Story: Jess and Michael W.

“For a woman 45 and over, our natural bodies tend to lose muscle mass. I’m NOT letting that win. There is no ‘big and bulky’ at all.  It’s been literally the opposite.  I have trimmed down AND gotten more muscle tone.” Jess W.

We didn’t know it, but we were about to part ways for more than 14 months before starting an amazing journey of strength, resilience, improved tennis game, and amazingly toned arms.

It was March 4, 2020, and we had no idea what was coming.

Here at Bent On Better, we were having our monthly happy hour at the gym, and this month’s theme was the campfire. We had cute little artificial campfires that we sat around, had a heating pad for roasting marshmallows and made s’mores, drank beverages, and shared funny stories as the night went on.

Unexpectedly, a couple of doors that we had never met before.

“Hi, I’m Jess, and this is Michael. We are friends of Bev’s. We heard about your program and wanted to get some more information,” Jess said to me with her glowing smile.

“Oh awesome, come on in, tell me about yourselves,” I said in my cheerful voice, trying to mask my anxiety and slight intoxication; I was only two alcoholic beverages in and naturally a “lightweight” when it comes to drinking (which is one of the many reasons I now live an alcohol-free lifestyle).

We started discussing goals, and Jess said, “I’m looking to lose some weight and get fit for tennis. I’ve never lifted weights before and would prefer not to… I don’t want to get big and bulky.” Her husband, Michael, stood there, nodding along as she spoke.

“Sure, we can absolutely help there. We’re not a bodybuilding gym, and we don’t have big meatheads walking around, except for me. Ha ha,” I said, chuckling to make light of the situation.

We continued to talk about their goals, their experiences with fitness, and their lives as active parents. Michael is a family medicine doctor, and Jess is a part-time photographer/photographer assistant and nanny for a young family.

At the end of our conversation, they decided to give our program a shot for one month, with their first day on March 4, 2020.

Shortly after their trial, we started hearing all the news reports about the strange virus spreading worldwide. And soon came March 14 when the governor of Pennsylvania said we had to shut down for two weeks.

Only 1.5 weeks into their new program, Jess and Michael decided to part ways…

Time passed, and we overcame the hardships of the pandemic. Then, in early April 2021, Michael emailed me asking if they could return to finish their one month with us.

Of course, we were thrilled to hear from them and welcomed them back with open arms!

This time, we pivoted our program to specialize in a smaller group setting, going from 18-20 people to 12 people max and focusing more on healthy weight management, strength training, balance, mobility, and flexibility training.

Slowly into their return, we noticed how strong they were, and we began to encourage Michael and Jess to use heavier weights than they wanted to use.

Each time there was disagreement from either of them about using more challenging weights, I responded by saying, “If you use these weights and get big and bulky over the next weeks or few months, we will have a meeting and make sure that it stops immediately.” (Knowing the chances of that happening are slim to none).

Reluctantly, Jess and Michael agreed and continued to challenge each other in the gym.

A few months passed, and Jess continued challenging herself with heavier weights; Michael, too, and what happened next may shock you.

One day, about 6 months into their journey after they returned, Michael and Jess asked to talk a little more about their nutrition. They wanted to ensure they were doing the right things for their goals. So we met, we did their InBody composition tests, and what we found was very interesting…

Somehow, after months of lifting heavy weights (really challenging for each of them respectively), following a loosely designed nutrition protocol, and not worrying about their fears of gaining too much muscle… Jess and Michael saw the fruits of their labor.

Instead of seeing what they thought would happen (lots of huge muscles bulging from their bodies), they saw that they did not gain tons of muscle but rather had more definition. They lost multiple pounds of body fat. They were pleasantly surprised and excited to continue.

Now, Jess and Michael continue to show up three days a week every week and are currently in their 4th year as members here at Bent On Better and have never felt better!

Cheers to you two inspiring humans! We’re so proud of all you’ve overcome and all you continue to accomplish!