Small Wins - Shrina B

From Just Existing to Living Again

When I caught COVID again in 2022, the experience was different. I developed long COVID, and the years that followed ranged from barely tolerable to outright debilitating.

Life Became About Getting Through the Day

I slept. I ate. I worked. I slept.

I slept all weekend—sometimes 12 to 14 hours a day. That was all the energy I had.

I struggled to breathe normally. My heart did strange things. I dealt with dizziness, low blood pressure and episodes where I felt like I might faint just walking a few steps.

Mostly, I existed.

I didn’t play with my dogs. I didn’t cuddle my cats. I barely showed up for my kids and husband. My gardens died—and I have always loved gardening.

Something Had to Change

By December 2025, pain had been added to everything else. My joints hurt, and I couldn’t even lift my small dog.

I had read that exercise might help, but all I could think was:

“Exercise? I would just fall over!”

I was afraid to go for a walk because I thought I could pass out on the street.

But the pain was the last straw.

I called Fitness Together and explained my situation to Jacob. I had an appointment the very next day.

Personal training felt like the safest place to start. Having someone there to coach me—and catch me if I fell over—was a comforting thought.

Little Changes Became Big Changes

It was hard.

There were sessions I couldn’t finish. There were times I felt faint.

But I kept going.

Slowly, I had fewer days when I needed to stay in bed. I started feeling stronger. My blood pressure and resting heart rate improved.

And the numbers showed it.

January 2026 → July 2026

Blood Pressure: 152/87 → 116/69
Resting Heart Rate: 83 → 68
Step Test Heart Rate: 153 → 125

But the biggest changes can’t be measured by numbers.

Getting Back to the Things I Love

I still have hard days and flare-ups, but they aren't nearly as bad.

I now sleep six to seven hours and wake up refreshed.

I play with my dogs. I cuddle my cats. I have a beautiful garden starting again.

I look forward to tomorrow.

And while I haven't lost weight yet, I'm much more muscular. I've lost inches. I can lift my small dog again—and I can even lift my 70-pound dog into the car.

My cognition is better, too. I don't search for words as much during meetings and conversations. I feel more like myself again.

I can't wait to see my doctor at my next annual check-up. I think she will be surprised.

But more than anything, I'm grateful for what getting stronger has allowed me to get back.

Training one-on-one has given me my life back. My husband has a spouse again and my daughters have their mother.

___________________

HOW LONG UNTIL I SEE RESULTS?

Like most things in life, the more YOU put into it, the more YOU will get out of it. Personal trainers will work with you on establishing both short and long-term goals, will put you on a path to help you meet them, and will work with you to adjust or set new goals along the way. To make sure we stay on track, we conduct regular Fitness Assessments (described above in “what are Fitness Assessments”). Clients who have followed their complete weekly plan typically see positive results, including remarkable improvements in strength, mobility, flexibility and endurance during this period.

HOW MANY TIMES A WEEK DOES THE TYPICAL CLIENT WORK OUT?

There are no “typical” clients – everyone’s program is unique to their goals, their time commitment, and their budget. Some clients train 2-4 times per week. We offer in-studio and live virtual training options for your training so that it’s easy to meet whenever and wherever.