WS Chronicle

After a scare from a routine doctor’s visit, Betty Jones of Winston-Salem decided it was time to take back control of her health.

“I had a scare at the doctor, and shortly after my daughter gave me a gift certificate for a personal trainer,” she said.

Jones is one of many older Americans venturing to fitness clubs as a way to stay active and live more productive and prolonged lives. She has been working out with trainer Malcolm Marshall at Showtime Physique Personal Training Studio for two years and walks three times a week.

“I have lost 20 pounds, my glucose levels and everything have returned back to normal. All my physicals are great when I go to the doctor,” she said.
Marshall said Jones’ dedication and motivation are keys to her success.

“Betty comes in motivated and gives 100 percent and has made major improvements in her health and fitness levels,” he said.
As the owner of Showtime Physique Personal Training Studio, I also help older clients.

Deneille Atwood, a retired Winston-Salem Police Department captain, has always tried to live an active lifestyle, but she says the training with me at Showtime helps her stay consistent. She has been my client for six years.

“I have exercised on and off all my life, but it was not consistent because of all the shift work,” said Atwood. “I had some issues from carrying that (gun) belt around all those years, but now I can really tell the difference.”

The hope of success and the results shown by Jones and Atwood are what drove my wife, Kimberly, and me to open the personal training facility.
This is what it’s all about: watching our clients take control of their health and achieve their fitness goals. It is very rewarding, especially for our seniors, because they inspire and motivate all of our clients.

According to the American college of Sports Medicine, by the year 2030, the number of individuals in the United States age 65 and older will reach 70 million, and people 85 years and older will be the fastest growing population.

The good news is muscle mass can increase at any age in response to exercise. It is recommended that older people try strength training or weight-lifting to help build bones to keep them strong and resistant to fracture. Strength training also tones muscle, improves cardiovascular health and overall endurance. Every physical task requires muscle and some degree of range of motion in joints. Regular exercise can improve both of these qualities. Exercise not only provides physical benefits, but also promotes mental health.
Exercise increases the body’s level of endorphins, chemicals in the brain that reduce pain and induce a sense of well-being, thus exercise can help improve mood and energy levels and may even help relieve depression. Exercise may also help boost self-esteem by improving a person’s overall health and appearance.
All the ladies agreed they would strongly recommend anyone who is considering an exercise program to do so despite their age.

“Look at me, I’m 75 and people think when you get my age you cannot do certain things,” says Jones. “They think having a personal trainer is not for someone my age, but I enjoy and look forward to coming here and would recommend it to anyone.”

Maurice Crocker is the owner of Showtime Physique Personal Studio, 915 Brookstown Ave. Learn more at or www.showtimephysique.com.