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  • 1. Pat, tell us a bit about yourself.

    Well I am 76 years old and I have been working for a family doctor for the last 25 years and I enjoy it. I have a family, a girl and a boy in their forties and a granddaughter. Unfortunately my husband is not well and can’t get out and about.

    2. Has fitness/sports always been a part of your life?

    Not to any huge extent but I played basketball and baseball in high school and I’ve always gone to a class, whether yoga or jazzercise. I like to keep active and I like feeling fit.

    3. You are currently training here at Primal Gym with Darrell Mancini of Mancini Strength and Conditioning.

    How long have you been doing personal training? Been with Darrel?

    Altogether I’ve been personal training for 4 or 5 years but I’ve been with Darrell for three years now and he’s by far the best I’ve ever had. I’ll stick with him. I’ve also been at Primal Gym for three years now.

    How often do you train?

    I train three times a week for an hour to hour and a half each

    Why personal training?

    At one point I had surgery and was basically home for a year recovering and I just felt I was dragging myself around. That’s why I started working out. I worked out at home at first but I knew I wasn’t doing things right. Darrel has been able to pick up on a lot of bad habits I had and you feel more comfortable knowing you are doing the right thing and not risking injury at this age. I also learned how important proper strength training was to older people’s fitness. And yes you are more likely to show up and do it when you have a trainer.

    4. Nutrition is also an important part of health and fitness. Do you follow
    Any particular guidelines around what you eat?

    I try to eat low fat, a lot of fibre and try not to eat too many sweets. Nothing too rigid.

    Do you take any supplements?

    I do take vitamins B, C and D as well as calcium/magnesium daily.
    I also take Biosteel Whey Protein most mornings in a shake. You can get that right at Primal Gym.

    Do you have a favourite meal after you train?

    I love those egg white and roasted pepper sandwiches they have at Leslieville
    Pumps. If I have time I always go down and grab one of those. Other than that I usually enjoy a latte.

    5. What advice would you give to someone who is older and looking to increase
    Their level of fitness?

    Well I found out that you are never too old, that’s for sure. You have to have a goal I think and want to work towards it. I remember the first time I started training my goal was to take the stairway two steps at a time. Now I can do that and much more. It just makes you feel more alive. Working for a doctor I see so many older sick people. I don’t want to end up like that, not yet anyway.

    What should they look for in a gym and trainer?

    First of all you want a trainer that knows what he or she is doing. They have to have a lot of knowledge and know how to impart it to you. And it should be someone you are compatible with.
    I don’t like the big gyms. I’ve been to several of them and you just feel like you are a little ant. I like Primal because its smaller, everybody knows you and everyone is friendly and encouraging. I like it better that way and I think most people would.

    6. What else is it about Primal Gym that works for you?

    You see people at all levels of fitness here. You see young and old, men and women, accomplished athletes and people just starting their fitness journey.

    7. You hold the Primal Gym gym record for the longest plank and the
    Women’s record for consecutive pushups? What is your next goal?

    You know I never thought I’d have that ‘title’ It never occurred to me but its nice to have it. One thing, I’d like to work on my balance. I’m still unsteady.
    Also maybe I’ll try pull-ups. I’ve just starting learning them and I think I’d like to excel at that.

    8. What difference has personal training made to your life?

    Well now seeing as how my husband can’t do much around the house, I take over all those chores and I want to be able to do them at my age without hurting myself. I just feel more awake and aware. I have more energy and I have a good feeling of wellbeing. I feel alive. I feel I can get up and go and do things.

    Many years ago when I was a teenager I used to do exercises with my mom in the living room with a fitness personality named Jack Lallane who had a show on television. It was he who made me stop and think about weights. He wanted women to do strength training. He said start by taking a can of soup in each hand and follow what he does.

    I would highly recommend strength training and personal training to everyone and especially to older adults.

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