.png)
When did you start at Behemoth and how did you find us?
***Jeff's answers will be in blue***
March 2023. My sister-in-law had visited a few years ago and was insistent on us visiting for a consultation. When I informed her of closer gyms, she was insistent that I would be making a mistake and that I needed to at least stop by. After checking reviews online, I decided to go in for a visit. It's worth the drive!
***Roxanne's answers will be in red***
In March 2023, I was in touch with my younger sister about how distraught I was trying to just get up and out of my chair after all my health problems. She and her husband have been big into crossfit for years. They even built a proper crossfit gym in their barn. They saw the Barto brothers at competitions first and more recently on lifestyle videos. Yet, when she did a guest visit to Behemoth, she knew this gym was different, special and perhaps a place for me. She was clear that I couldn’t and didn’t want to do crossfit. Upon her suggestion and some internet research, I had a video conference with them and made an appointment for an in-person assessment. It was for a Monday. The previous Saturday morning, I woke upon suffering a GERD aspiration. By noon I could barely breathe and couldn’t walk to the car. I was put into ICU for sepsis and respiratory failure. Somehow, I contacted the gym and canceled it. At the time, I thought I might die and didn’t really care. Yet, by sheer will or by Devine Intervention, I rescheduled it for May 2023 and hobbled into Behemoth to meet my coach, Aryan.
Can you speak a bit more on your journey? What problems did you have before starting that you no longer believe you have?
For five years, my wife suffered from poor health, and I recently had been diagnosed and treated for stage 3 colon cancer. Being overweight, all of my life and having a son that would possibly need my care throughout his life, I had realized that I no longer had the luxury of time and procrastination. I decided I needed to make drastic changes for me, my wife, and my son. The situation I was in with my health was a huge motivator. I have been overweight all of my life and at 53 years-old, was now weighing almost 380 pounds. I knew I needed more than what my knowledge and discipline could provide, and I had to do something different. Most of us have heard the saying that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing but expecting different results. I knew the same old diet every Monday and “I will exercise tomorrow” was no longer adequate. I thought about how in my career I relied on the experts to get done what I did not know how to do. Why was I treating my health differently? Eight months later I've lost 90 lbs, have gained a tremendous amount of energy, my knees and ankles no longer ache, and I can now perform most activities that most people my age can perform. For the first time in my life, my health goals are no longer just to get in better shape, but to be in better shape and health than most men my age.
I no longer cared if I died or not. Now, I want to LIVE! I was 60 yo when I started at Behemoth. I still have a lot of physical problems that are now manageable. Before, though, I was in so much physical and mental anguish that living each day was just a task to be completed, an obligation to my living son and husband to stay alive. Five years ago, my oldest son and I found my younger son in his room unresponsive. He had passed away in the night from a silent heart disease (Long QT Interval). My son and I did CPR on him until EMS arrived. The whole experience that day added another dimension of PTSD to my psyche. I was then diagnosed with a genetic immune deficiency, meaning my body has never made sufficient antibodies to provide natural immunity and in declining rates as I aged. This disorder affected many of my body systems, especially my respiratory and gastrointestinal systems. I was recovering from an abdominal surgery as well and this trauma started a domino effect of years of declining health, deconditioning and mental anguish. Within this 5-year time frame, I suffered from multiple abdominal surgeries, septic shocks, lung diseases, liver failure of unknown origin, and multiple fractures in my face, shoulder, foot and collar bone and most from frequent falls. I endured many PT/OT sessions that were so limited due to insurance. I had deconditioned so much that I was dependent on my husband for most of my activities of daily living, including meals, bathing, dressing, transportation and toileting. I was using a cane, walker and sometimes a wheelchair. My knees were so painful. I knew I had to do something to be able to start doing anything physical where I could at least perform the basic functions of self-care and mobility. Otherwise, I would eventually die in my recliner. In October and November of 2022, I had both knees replaced. Recovery was long and difficult. Even though my knees were getting better, and I was subsequently recovering from respiratory failure. I just didn’t have the knowledge or skills to therapy myself. I didn’t know where to start and knew I needed help. In that same year my husband, my rock and caretaker, was diagnosed with and treated for colon cancer. As you can imagine, I was scared and weak, in mental pain, suffering from PTSD and depression. I just couldn’t see much hope of a future. I felt old and decrepit. It seemed like my life was doomed to failure after failure. Regardless, I kept my first appointment with Aryan on a whim and a prayer. All my life I had been able to self-motivate and self-direct fitness programs at gyms and alone with much success. Maybe a personal trainer could get me started? The person I met that day would prove to be no ordinary personal trainer! I feel like my old self before my son died, when I had purpose.
Who is your professional coach? Can you speak a bit on your experiences with them? What do you enjoy most about your relationship with them?
My professional coach is Aja. In my mind I had built a pre-fabricated story that working out had to equate to pain. Aja took the time to listen to me and I found I was sharing information that I didn't even know about myself. Aja is my health professor, teaching and instructing me to find what works and to take action. He allows me to experiment, to find out what does and does not work for me. If something does not work for me, we talk about it, change it, then move forward. I feel like I am gaining an education in my health that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.
The Behemoth team matched me with Aryan. It has proven to be perfect. Like I said, he is like no personal trainer I knew about. Above all else, he is so patient and knowledgeable. He has led me in baby steps from nearly no muscle or cardio fitness to where I am today in only 8 months. Believe me. I have become more motivated myself but only because he guided me. He monitors how I’m feeling and can judge my ability and adjust accordingly. He insists that I tell him about any discomfort I might have following his instruction. He has a way of figuring out how to change a movement, so I don’t injure myself and keep moving. He is very good a demonstrating an exercise and correcting my movement when it’s wrong. When I get it right, it’s such a cool feeling! He amazes me with his knowledge of exercise every day. He always greets me with a smile. He’s enthusiastic. It’s like he’s never in a bad mood! I get a lot of high fives and fist bumps. He seems to know when to push so I get better. Then, he cheers me on.
We pride ourselves on the education and mentorship we provide to our members to help them build self-sufficiency in their health and fitness routine, what has been the most valuable aspect of working with your coach?
I feel confident in not knowing the answers. I now know that as long as there is action and steps in the right direction,I will eventually achieve my goals. My mind always associated progress with my weight. I no longer worry about the scales as I have full confidence that as long as I stay with the journey, I will reach and maintain my goals. My health is no longer a destination but a way of life.
He has coached me from a place where I was probably 20 years older health wise to normal fitness for a 60yo. Along the way, I told him about things I wanted to achieve that I was struggling with in my life. He has always helped me do it. My first goal was to be able to get up off the floor without assistance. Time after time I’ve come to him asking for help with things like balance, better movement in my injured right shoulder, how to adapt to moving with my disabled right foot, how not to aggravate my lower back. He works my goals into the routine and helps me with at home exercise routines and advice.