10Mar

The Adventure of Tina Wilcox

March 10, 2020 Amanda Fontaine

Tina Wilcox is about to hike the entire Appalachian Trail!

This hike is an ambitious one. At 2,190 total miles, the Trail winds through 14 states along the east coast from Maine to Georgia. It has a total gain/loss in elevation of 464,500 ft. Every year, about 2,000 hikers attempt to tackle the Trail’s full length, but only about 1/4 off them complete it. Most hikers cover about 15 miles a day, taking six months to complete the entire trail.

Follow Tina’s progress at @tarheelhiker on her IG and Youtube.

What sparked your interest and made you want to take on this challenge?

Several years ago I stumbled onto a book about an Appalachian thru-hiker that really sparked my interest. I started reading several accounts of thru-hiking from all sorts of folks in books and online and that led me to watching youtube videos of thru-hikers. It all seemed so exciting and so physically and mentally challenging, that I started wondering if it would be something that I could actually do.

What are you scared about?

Most people think it would be “bears” or “snakes”or “being a female alone”, etc..but actually my two biggest fears are #1 not being able to stay warm (which just means I need the right equipment and mindset to prevent that) and #2 mice. I have a very inexplicable fear of mice attacking me and running over me in my sleep.

What are you most excited about?

So many things! I can’t wait to experience the sights and beauty that hiking thru the mountains will bring and I’m really looking forward to meeting fellow thru-hikers from all walks of life and experiences.

What is one guilty pleasure that you are bringing along with you?

Well I wasn’t going to admit this to anyone, but since you asked… Thru-hikers work hard to balance the weight of their loaded backpacks with items that are either essential for survival or needed for additional comfort. Literally I have counted and measured every gram and ounce in my pack because it all adds up. It had better be important if I’m going to carry it on my back for over 2000 miles. Having said that, my guilty pleasure is going to be an eyeliner pencil. As a female who has never left home without having makeup on, the thought of being bare-faced is a bit daunting to me. Not that ANYONE cares, but I do so its going with me. Silly, I know.

How did you train to prepare?

I work out at Empower five days a week and attempt to do everything the trainers throw at me. I’ve been going for years. It isn’t easy as anyone who goes to Empower knows, but the results are that I feel confident enough in my physical abilities to give this a go. I also try to get in at least one big day hike each weekend, and for several months I have been carrying my loaded backpack with me when I hike. Lastly, I have done a couple of overnight hikes with Nestor Paonessa (a very experienced backpacker) who has helped me gain experience in poor weather conditions and test out my gear.

Anything else you want to share?

Although I am nervous and anxious about leaving the comforts of home, I am excited about what is ahead of me and how it will challenge me in ways I’m sure I haven’t even considered yet. I have never thought of myself as an adventurous type and this trip is a huge stretch for me. I don’t know if I would have had the courage to move forward with my plans for this hike if my friends at Empower hadn’t been there encouraging and supporting me along the way. Thank you all so much!!!

Train With Us

We would love to have you join our fitness community. We offer a Free Initial Session to help you get started. Whatever you do we hope you make 2020 your healthiest year yet. Click here to gain access to that Free Initial Sessions. Come in and talk with one of our expert trainers. They will review your health history, your goals, and any orthopedic concerns. Together, you will create a plan that works specifically for you.

18Dec

Client Spotlight – Bill Boulding

December 18, 2019 Jessica Bottesch

This week we feature Bill Boulding. When he’s not off jet setting the world, he zooms into the studio and always works hard no matter how tired or what time zone feels like he’s in. He’s definitely an All-Star client and lots of fun to work with. Bill trains with Amanda Fontaine.

His Profession: Dean of the Fuqua School of Business, Duke University
His favorite exercises: The last one in any workout!
How long he’s been working out at EMPOWER : I think I’m closing in on 9 years—I started when I became Dean. My family intervened—they told me I wasn’t allowed to do the job unless I became physically fit (still trying to get there!)
What he likes to do for FUN : 1) Be with Liz and our two kids; 2) Workout at EMPOWER; 3) Telling Amanda to be a Duke fan—her life would be so much better!
How EMPOWER has helped you create and experience the life you envision: It has allowed me to stay healthy when I have a job that leads to too little sleep, too little food sometimes, too much food other times, and too much time on airplanes. It has helped me keep up with Liz and our kids. It has made me more tolerant of UNC fans.

20Nov

Client Spotlight – Sharon Taylor

November 20, 2019 Blaine Warren

Words from Blaine – Sharon’s Trainer:

I have been working with Sharon for about 3-4 years now. During this time I have seen her face some very challenging and serious medical issues. However, when times got tough for her, she got tougher. Being a medical oncologist she was very aware of the hard road ahead of her to recovery. She worked very hard leading up to her surgery to be as strong as possible going into it. Afterward, she took it step by step and day by focussing on the process of rehab. I’m sure Sharon had some tough days during this time but I never heard her complain the slightest bit. She kept her sights set on recovery and stuck to the plan. It has been amazing to see her progress from surgery until now. I am honored to have played a small part in her regaining her strength, endurance, balance and function.

Sharon, you are truly an inspiration to me and I’m so happy to have you as a friend and client.

Words from Sharon:

I am an 18 year, two-time survivor of head and neck cancer, also a retired medical oncologist. I started coming to Empower 5 or 6 years ago because I wanted to be more fit, deter osteoporosis, and take better care of myself. Two years ago I learned I would need a series of surgeries to reconstruct my upper jaw and roof of mouth with a bone, vessels, and flesh from my right leg. The first surgery is huge and I asked Blaine Warren for help getting physically ready for it. By the time of surgery, Blaine had me climbing and descending 36 flights of stairs at a time and rising from a seated position on just one leg among other feats. The latter turned out to be a most useful skill. (I also used acupuncture, Pilates, nutritional advice, massage, prayer, and hypnosis to prepare for surgery.) Three months after the first surgery and after completing physical therapy, I was back at Empower walking, but unable to rise from the floor without assistance yet. Blaine worked with me again on improving my balance, strength, stamina, and endurance, and he even told me some jokes. Two years after the initial surgery, I won’t be running any marathons, but I’m healthy again. I remain grateful to Blaine and everyone at Empower for helping me recover in such a warm and supportive atmosphere.

16Oct

Client Spotlight – Dotty Reid

October 16, 2019 Jessica Bottesch

Dotty is an Empower great and she has the best smile around! Read a bit more about her Empower experience:

– Tell us a little about your profession.

I am a RN (who has been in nursing more than 50 years.), with a Master’s Degree in Health Care Administration. When I retired 4 years ago, I started my own business, and currently have a Consulting LLC that focuses on Clinical Education. I primarily give classes on the Aging Process including Dementia. I try to motivate and empower nursing staff to take care of themselves as well as their Clients by seeking and identifying the joy in what they do each and every day.

– What is your favorite exercise?

My favorite exercise is boxing, I enjoy this because it’s rhythmical, and releases a primal instinct that allows me to feel strong; in control and able to take good care of myself. You can release a lot of pent up emotions and smile at the same time!

– How long you’ve been working out at EMPOWER?

I have been working at EMPOWER for a bit more than 10 years!

– What you like to do for FUN?

I enjoy playing the piano, staying in touch with my grandchildren, reading and travelling with my significant other, Kenneth, to the beach and other vacation places.

– How has EMPOWER helped you create and experience the life you envision?

I believe I am like many people. I make many resolutions about a healthier life-style which includes my diet, exercise and weight. Like most people my resolve tends to fluctuate. I think that EMPOWER helps me to stay on track and not veer to far “off- course”. I complain about the challenges of the exercise but I am so glad that my trainer (Nestor) shows me “little to no mercy”. His personal Nothing Can Stop Me Attitude helps me achieve my goal. How could anyone complain in the light of his perseverance? So thank you to all the trainers at EMPOWER. I appreciate all of you taking my “sass” and giving me back your smiles and words of encouragement! You are a tight-knit, welcoming, community of true professionals.

18Sep

Client Spotlight – Wendy McColskey

September 18, 2019 Jessica Bottesch

This picture was taken in France (notice the red clay) in 2015. I was playing for the U.S. on the National Women’s 60s Tennis Team against other countries. We won!

It was a great experience. Training with Nestor at Empower definitely contributed to my fitness, quickness, and strength. It gave me an advantage especially compared to the other “senior” players that I compete against.

I’ve been playing competitive tennis since I was 10, so over 50 years! I really want to stay competitive nationally in my age group. My Empower work outs are fantastic. Other than working with Nestor of course, the variety of them, his willingness to focus on improving my strength and fitness for tennis, and his knowledge and sensitivity around not aggravating any old injuries makes it easier for me to focus on keeping playing fit.

I definitely trust the Empower staff to make me better but not push me too far. This is important to us “senior” athletic types. I can’t remember exactly when I started at Empower but it’s probably been over 6 years now! The longevity alone speaks for itself in terms of the great work Nestor and Empower staff do with clients of all ages and with varying goals!

18Sep

Member Monday – Laney McPhaul

September 18, 2017 Jessica Bottesch

Laney is a Sales Manager for a large IT firm. She manages employees who provide sales support to Fortune 500 companies in the NYC Metro area.

Her favorite exercises she says are:

“12 ounce curls” – Ha!

Really she likes squats and having fun on the slide board.

She’s been at Empower for about a year now and looks forward to many more.

For fun she spends time with friends and family, going to concerts, traveling, boating, and hanging out with her sweet dog!

08Jul

Member Monday – Ahmad Adi

July 8, 2017 Jessica Bottesch

MEMBER MONDAY: Each week we feature an exceptional client that exudes Living the Life They Envision. This week we feature Ahmad Adi.

His profession:

He’s a resident physician at Duke Hospitals – currently finishing his training to become a psychiatrist. He is also interested in public health issues surrounding mental health, particularly those that affect refugee/immigrant populations.

His favorite exercises:

Hmmm..that’s a difficult one to answer. He can say with confidence that his least favorite is burpees! He does enjoy boxing during his training sessions.

He’s been at Empower training with Chuck since early March 2017.

What he does for FUN:

He enjoys spending time with family and friends. He also enjoys leisure reading as well as audiobooks! He’s planning to restart his journey to have an independent skydiving license this summer!

Words from Ahmad:

“Empower has definitely helped me with regards to structuring and incorporating regular exercise into my life. One of the reasons I did not exercise regularly is because of my own anxieties and cluelessness about how to approach my exercise/the wealth of confusing information out there. Chuck has helped me tremendously with regards to structuring my sessions/providing some educational material in the meanwhile. He was also patient with me when I first started as I was a rookie who was not able to tolerate many of the sessions. Thanks to Empower, exercise is now a regular part of my life and I feel healthier and stronger than ever!”

03Jul

Member Monday – Madison Rootenberg

July 3, 2017 Jessica Bottesch

MEMBER MONDAY: Each week we feature an exceptional client that exudes Living the Life they Envision. This week we feature Madison Rootenberg.

Words from Madison:
“Hi my name is Madison and I run Everyday Magic with my best friend, an intentional lifestyle store in downtown Durham! My passion is animals, I am a rescue and animal advocate.

I’ve been working out at Empower for over a year now and my favorite exercises are boxing, TRX, and the ropes!

My trainer, Iman, has completely changed my life. She motivates me with love and compassion, has helped me believe in myself, and is SO patient which has in turn made me more patient with myself.

Exercising has become my self-care and I am so grateful for the motivation. This photo is of me and my fiancé, we’re 3 months away from the wedding!”

Yippee! Congrats Madison. Keep up the hard work and self-care.

27Jun

Member Monday: Dr. Gene Oddone

June 27, 2017 Jessica Bottesch

Each week we are featuring an exceptional client that exudes Living the Life they Envision. This week we feature Eugene Oddone, AKA (Iron Man- as referred to by his trainer Amanda Fontaine).

Profession: He’s a general internist. He takes care of patients and teaches Duke residents and students at the Durham VA, and has for the last 30 years. He also does research, mostly focused on different strategies to help patients take better care of themselves. Recently, they’ve been testing health coaching interventions to activate patients to enroll in prevention programs.

Favorite exercises: He LOVE’s the white board (slideboard). Amanda makes these really inventive circuits that include sliding, push ups, planks, and hamstring exercises. One of them reminds him of Mr. Miyagi from Karate Kid…”Wax On, Wax Off”.

He’s been part of the Empower Community for 9 years.

Fun: Cooking is his #1. He likes thinking about different flavors, and most importantly, colors that make dishes interesting. And with cooking, comes eating, and so then, running has to cancel all that out. Running is his meditation.

His words: “Empower has given me so much. When I first came to Empower in my late 40’s I had basically stopped running because of knee issues. Physical therapy wasn’t working and an orthopedist suggested a surgery that I didn’t want. Slowly Michael helped me build core strength and he turned me on to trail running. Within about 3 months I was running again, and running enough to get that high. For the last three years, Amanda has helped me build on that strength to the degree that I can run distances I never dreamed of when I was younger. I haven’t had knee pain for 9 years. Empower has also brought fun to my work-outs. We throw balls, balance on squishy things, pull ropes, push sleds, try to break things with sledge hammers, it’s really crazy fun. Lastly, Empower has given me inspiration.”

-Gene Oddone

Trainer’s comment: Gene is by far one of my toughest clients mentally and physically, and he inspires me in life. He and his wife Grace are two of the greatest people I know. He is an amazing Doctor, father, wife, friend, client and serves the community in many ways. I look up to him and I have him to thank for getting me into running and training the right way. Oh and did I mention he ran 100 mile race earlier this year.

– Amanda Fontaine

Gene with his amazingly supportive trainer Amanda after he finished the Umstead 100 Mile Trail Run!

16May

Motivation (What the heck is it?) -by Empower’s Very Own “Herc”

May 16, 2016 Jessica Bottesch

Greetings Fitness Seekers! Welcome to my guest blog for Empower! I am honored to be asked to share my fitness journey with you. I hope these words will inform you, inspire you, and help you move forward on your own fitness path. My inaugural topic: Motivation! (Because I have an educational background in psychology and teaching, I enjoy talking endlessly about things like motivation –you are officially forewarned). Motivation is the study of motives. A motive is any stimulus with three characteristics: it initiates behavior, it sustains behavior, and it is goal-driven. Once the goal is met, the motive is satisfied, at least for a while. Hunger is a great example. It gets up out of the chair, moves us around the environment until we find the kitchen and refrigerator, and keeps us searching in the refrigerator until we find something to eat. If there is nothing to eat, we will be restless and keep searching. Have you ever checked the refrigerator more than once, even though you know it contains nothing but leftovers with mold and a stale piece of bread? Maybe a piece of chocolate cake will magically appear? Remember that a motive is goal-driven. Motives can also be internal (hunger, thirst) or external (the words “chocolate cake”). And, an external stimulus (driving past The Parlour) can initiate a perceived internal stimulus (I am hungry), even when there is no physiological need for the internal stimulus. And, external stimuli have different values to each of us. What’s your favorite dessert? What’s your favorite weather scenario? Who’s your “perfect” man or woman? It is clear that motivation is a complex process, with internal and external influences, and impacted by cultural and individual preferences. Next time, we will talk about this topic as it applies to fitness. But, until then, I leave you with these questions – What’s your favorite exercise? What’s your lease favorite exercise? Why? Until next week, warriors!

-By Empower’s Guest Blogger and Loyal Client, Peter “Herc” Wooldridge