Client Spotlight: Andover MA Personal Training

"Anyone can go to the gym…but if you’re not getting results, what’s the point?"

- Tanya Pope

In Andover MA and looking for Personal Training? Let us help you just as we helped Tanya! 

Tanya Pope calls Austin, Texas home, but came to Andover Massachusetts due to her husband’s job. Tanya began working with Home Bodies last spring. Tanya says, “I decided to start with Home Bodies because I needed a program to follow and some accountability. My friend Christie had some sessions with Gina and really raved about her. Before Home Bodies I worked out 5 days per week at Gold’s Gym. I took spin class and aerobics. However, since I have moved four times in the past two years and had a fifth baby, I am starting over. This last baby really took a toll on my body. I had a hard recovery after her.

The flexibility of being able to do it [my workout] at home, if I have a sick kid at home or something else comes up, is key. I have five children so it seems like there is always something that comes up. I considered using the trainers at the gym, but the problem is I would have to be at the gym to follow the program. That’s not always possible with busy family life.”

When I started with Gina I hoped to achieve muscle tone and weight loss. I don’t want 'granny arms!' I wanted to get back into shape and feel good about myself. I was surprised at how much I could do at home. I always thought you had to be at the gym to get a good workout. Gina has made it very easy for me to fit exercise into my lifestyle. I have a fitness ball and a pair of adjustable weights, but I also utilize my staircase and my piano bench!

The nutrition advice has helped me out tremendously. Although I generally knew what was healthy, I didn’t know the best ratio of protein, carbs, and fat to eat. I didn’t know how to break it down into daily menus. Gina simplified the tracking methods for me so that it was easy to understand. She showed me tools to use online to help find nutrition facts, and encouraged me to log my diet. This showed me that I actually wasn’t eating enough at times to keep my metabolism up. At one point my weight loss was slowing down and Gina became concerned, because according to my diet and exercise I still should have been losing. Gina told me it didn’t make sense and I needed to go see a doctor. I had been suspecting this all along, but I really needed to hear from someone else. It would have been easier to just give up. Now I have made a few adjustments to my hormone levels and things are going well again. 

Gina has been a great source for supplement information as well. She recommended ‘natural whey,’ a flavor-less whey protein powder that I have added to all kinds of recipes, even to my kid’s food, which is good for them because it can be hard to get kids to eat enough protein! 

Having a trainer is totally worth the investment! It’s the little things I wasn’t sure of that really make the difference. Gina has given me little tips, such as doing the overhead shoulder press in front of the door to help me keep my arms back. Gina teaches little things like that I never would have known, that are so beneficial. I love having two different routines. See, I used to shy away from certain machines at the gym because they are not sure what to do or how to set it. Gina came to the gym with me and helped me with all that. Now I feel much more comfortable. 

At first I had an appointment with Gina every other week, but recently I have switched to weekly sessions. The extra accountability of the weekly visits is important to me because I am more inclined to stick to my program and keep it high on my priority list. I have seen a huge improvement in my thighs and my arms—I have much more definition than before. Also, I have to say that lifting a 27-lb. toddler can get tiring! I actually can lift her over my head to play with her now. That’s usually ‘daddy’s job,’ but she loves it when I do it too! I can lift her like that because I lift weights. 

Gina is a great cheerleader, pushing me to do a few more reps. She really listens to me, so that she designs my program according to what I need and where I want to go with all of this. I feel like she gives me the best program for me. She sat down and explained the nutrition to me when there were things I didn’t understand. Finally I don’t feel like I’m doing things for no reason. Having the explanations motivate me so that I feel I have a purpose, and the exercise is not in vain. I ask a ton of questions and Gina never disappoints with her explanations and help. She never pressures me, and I get the sense she really wants what is best for me, both for me as a person, and for her business, because her clients are a direct reflection of her business. 

I hope I can keep Gina as my trainer indefinitely! She is very flexible, meeting me at the house or the gym as I need it. Having her accessible to me here in Andover is amazing. She can work with me even if I have a toddler in the house at the same time. Gina is young, but she is so knowledgeable and organized! It’s very impressive. Her book is phenomenal. I have read the whole thing, but I refer back to it all the time when I have questions, and I read chapters while I do cardio at the gym. 

Besides looking better, I exercise because I want to live a long, healthy life - I have a lot of health issues in my family. My dad had a triple bypass surgery when he was 50. All of my relatives died of heart failure at fairly young age. I need to do everything that I can to protect my heart, for my family and myself!"

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