Our Profile of the month for the month of June is our super inspiring Gael Amiguet. Gael joined Terrific Fitness 16 weeks ago and has come leaps and bounds in that short period. When Gael joined TF she walked in with a limp due to her serious knee injury. Her posture was in dire need of help as a result, which had a negative effect on her strength and quality of life. At 61 years old, Gael was almost defeated.
One of the best things we ever did at TF was ensure all staff are Rehab and Mobility qualified so that we can help people like Gael. Even through the classes, before Gael started Personal Training, her other coaches and I were able to start helping her strengthen her knee and improve her posture. Once starting PT we took all that to the next level. I will let Gael share that experience with you below. She is one incredible woman!
Gael faces a few different challenges in her personal life and health besides her knee. The fact that this beautiful lady pushes on despite everything is a credit to her strength of character and tenacity. She inspires me each and every day I train her and I absolutely adore her to bits!!! She doesn’t use her challenges as excuses; she just does it despite everything! It is for this reason, that Gael is achieving the kick ass results she is. Gael has lost 21cm from around her body already, improved her posture immensely, is strengthening her knee each and every day that little bit more, and is taking charge of her life. You can’t possibly ask any more of a client than that! She asks all the right questions, attends all the workshops to learn as much as she can and implements all of her learnings. She is the perfect student. She is a perfect example of, ‘It’s never too late to start!’ I am so so so proud of Gael! Her beautiful spirit warms my heart. Please now allow me to share her story her own words:
“My life before I started with Terrific Fitness was complete but very stressful. I have been following Terri on Facebook for 4 years now and did attend one of her workshops way back then.
I wanted to make a change in my life back then but never took that next step to go forward. I have had a knee injury for the last 6 years and struggled doing simple little things in life like walking up the stairs without a lot of pain, getting out of a chair and I had this limp all the time which wasn’t helping me at all. Every day was becoming a day of pain and frustration as I couldn’t do things anymore; just walking the dogs my favourite past time wasn’t enjoyable any more.
The grandkids would say ‘Here comes nanna slow and limping’, couldn’t keep up with them. I felt I was letting life slip by and needed to do something about it. They even mocked me down to the limp I had.
I went to the doctor about my knee and he said I needed a knee replacement but would like to put it off a few years as yet I was only 60 he told me to go and do some strengthening exercises and see if that helps.
The best decision of my life, and the hardest one was to contact Terri and go ahead to start group fitness classes. I booked in for 2 classes per week for the 12 week challenge. I wasn’t sure if I had made the right decision thinking at 61 years old I wasn’t going to keep up or fit in being a granny, and with an injury and no training or exercise for years. During this time I have had a few personal problems in my life and had lost all confidence in myself and was very unhappy and out of control with my drinking habits and eating habits which doesn’t help when you are taking insulin for diabetes.
I was always following Terri on Facebook and enjoyed her workshop all those years ago so the only person I had enough trust in to help me was Terri and believe me it is the best thing I have done for myself. How do you thank someone who has inspired you every day and even on my bad days I look for her guidance and inspiration; she is truly my diamond shining star.
Why I chose Terrific Fitness is it is not only for fitness. It teaches lessons that are far more important in lifestyle like eating habits and how to overcome life stress and I am becoming a better version of myself with the guidance of a great mentor and she truly has changed my life around.
By the 4th week of group training I was loving it. The people in my classes were so welcoming and made me feel comfortable going to training. I was starting to see a change in myself and wanted to take the next step and do personal training with Terri.
This has been the game changer for me. In the weeks to follow I did a lot of rehab work on my knee with Terri and I could see some much results in a few short weeks.
Today my greatest achievement is that I can bike ride with my grandchildren. When I was at training with Terri I mention to her the kids always go for a bike rides and I couldn’t ever go because of my knee; she said right lets change that. I got on the spin bike in the gym and slowing after a few weeks can now bike ride. You cannot imagine the look on their faces when they saw me with my bike ready to go for a ride, it was pure magic for me.
Each week we work on my knee to make it stronger and I am so thankful for this to be doing the things I love with little pain is just awesome.
The eating plan was hard for me as I used to skip meals and was never eating enough of the right foods. After attending a few of the workshops I have learned so much. The workshops are very helpful and full of awesome information for you to learn and keep learning along the way. I still have a long way to go but will get there.
I have been with Terrific Training for 16 weeks now and doing 2 classes per week plus personal training. As my knee improves I will continue with Terri to improve this and next round I might even do boot camp; well that is my aim and even some boxing. They are big goals I have set but I am sure with this team by my side I can do it.
Today I am feeling so much happier and stronger that I can do all this and learn to love myself and be myself and enjoy life healthy happy and fit and no pain.
I look forward to Mondays and Wednesday training sessions because for one it gets me off the couch and I love coming into the gym and being so welcomed with all the smiling faces around. It is a safe place for me to come to train but also to be able to share everyone’s success and build on my own. I do get inspired every week I am here and seeing every one challenge themselves to do the best they can.
If you are thinking of starting out with Terrific Fitness it will be the best decision of your life no matter how young or old you are you can do it.
The results you get back are amazing but the best thing is you make the most inspiring friendships. The coaches are not only your trainers they are your life coaches as well and if you have an injury like I did and wasn’t enjoying life please give it a go like I did; it will change your life.” – Gael Amiguet, Hurstbridge
