With what seemed to be an impossible goal, Max came to Body + Soul Fitness with the dream of reversing symptoms from his inflammatory disease, and doing normal activities pain-free – like tying his shoes. Although Max came in tenaciously, he was also skeptical. His personal trainer Haley was confident in his resiliency and her ability to craft a personalized program to ultimately improve his life. His transformation is a testament to the power of expert guidance, tailored fitness programs and dedication.
About Max
Max had lived all over Europe before immigrating to Canada a decade ago. After starting his new chapter in Canada, he sought to make changes to his lifestyle, one of those being health and fitness. Growing up, he dreamed of playing sports and being super active, but this dream was challenged by a harsh reality – Max was born with Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS). This inflammatory disease caused widespread pain and a lack of mobility particularly in his joints. Before coming to Body + Soul Fitness, his condition was so debilitating that he even had trouble tie his shoelaces due to a lack of mobility and pain.
Max was told, by various physicians, that there is not a clear solution to AS. They suggested exercise might help but cautioned it could also increase his pain. Despite numerous attempts to workout throughout his life, Max rarely found relief from this condition. He says his real fitness journey started when he met his personal trainer, Haley, at Body + Soul Fitness.
The Challenge
Pain and reduced mobility were normal in Max’s day-to-day life, significantly impacting his quality of life due to his battle with AS. Acknowledging the need for professional guidance, he joined Body + Soul Fitness with a few specific goals in mind, the most crucial being to increase his mobility and reduce the pain associated with AS.
After understanding Max’s unique abilities and goals, we paired him with Haley, a personal trainer whose expertise seemed perfectly tailored to Max’s situation. Haley is a Registered Kinesiologist and specializes in corrective exercise training – a true match made in fitness heaven.
The first step in Haley’s training approach with Max was to perform a fitness and lifestyle assessment, and really get to know Max for Max. She needed to fully comprehend what his capabilities are, limitations, and what he hopes to change in his life.
“The assessment was THOROUGH,” explained Max. “So professional and so thorough. She asked me a lot of questions, and even more about my condition. She listened very carefully and took it upon herself to design a program that is really for me.”
The Program
After the assessment, Haley and Max were able to create SMART goals. Some of these goals included: increasing his muscle mass, increasing range of motion and decreasing pain.
Then, it was time to put the plan into action. Max’s first program was 5 weeks in length, training 3-4 times per week. After the 5-week period, Haley would perform a reassessment to understand where Max was at and adjust the program accordingly to keep advancing towards his goals.
Of course, Max’s journey didn’t come without challenges. Not only did he fear that training could exacerbate his condition, but Max also struggled to have patience with the slower pace of his progress. Living with a limiting physical condition means that his mind often wants to advance further and faster than his body can deliver.
Haley played an instrumental role in overcoming these challenges by encouraging Max, preventing him from quitting too soon, and most importantly, respecting his limitations. Her patience encouraged him.
“She’s very methodical, she’s thorough, she listens, she trusts when I say I’ve hit my limit,” Max explains. “She strikes the balance between pushing me beyond my comfort zone and trusting me when I say I’ve really hit my limit.”
The Results
Within the first two months of training, Max began noticing the ability to regain control of his body – mentioning it made him feel like a totally different person. His range of motion, particularly in his hips, improved, and he experienced less pain overall than he once did. As he continued training, the changes became even more pronounced. Max said the changes felt almost sudden: he could tie his shoes, pick things up off the ground without pain or instability, and endure long flights comfortably: “6-hour flight? No problem!”
Overall, Max noticed a drastic reduction in pain and a much wider range of mobility. These sudden improvements allude to Max’s unwavering dedication and hard work, combined with Haley’s careful and methodical approach.
But Max’s transformation extended beyond physical changes. He feels hopeful and empowered. Max mentioned that for years, doctors told him that his symptoms are random, and there might not be a mechanism to reduce his pain and immobility due to AS. Because of this, he felt hopeless about living a pain-free life. However, after just a few months of training, he began to have hope that he could live a pain-free life. He’s proud of how far he’s come and is very hopeful about overcoming more challenges in the future.
“I’m able to dream about things that normal people do,” says Max, “and maybe can actually do one day soon.” He can now aspire to do activities that once seemed impossible, like running or biking.
Conclusion
From enduring constant pain and limited mobility to regaining control over his body, Max’s story is nothing short of inspiring. With the combination of Haley’s expertise, a tailored fitness plan and Max’s resiliency, he was able to achieve what once seemed impossible. He did not let his doubts stand in his way of achieving his goals and improving his quality of life, and says “I felt awesome, I still feel awesome, I feel more and more awesome.”
This is just the beginning for Max, and with Haley by his side, the future looks incredibly promising. His story is a powerful reminder that even the most daunting obstacles can be overcome with perseverance and the right support.
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Sometimes, the hardest step to take is the first one. If this story has made you feel hopeful for your future, we would love to meet you. Book a complimentary consultation with one of our passionate personal trainers to get started.