It wasn't very long ago that I was trapped by my previous choices in a very unhappy 'place'. I just turned 38 years old. My hip, which was surgically secured (fused) in place after a high-school auto accident was causing my knee to become more and more damaged. I was fast approaching 280lbs and getting around was getting harder and harder. I didn't know what I was going to do...An operation to repair my knee was just around the corner if I couldn't reverse my course. My four young children were watching me be unhealthy because I used the excuse of my hip. My wife didn't nag me, but her fears grew just as my pants size did. She wondered, "Will Joe be at risk for more problems like heart disease, diabetes and stroke...all are in his family history." I didn't believe I could change.
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| My left hip - fused in place when I was 19 years old. |
This all started to change for the better the day I met Kam Parker, owner and head-trainer at
The Fire Personal Training Studio. Attending one of the
Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce opportunities to connect with other business owners, I heard Kam give a presentation about her business. I was struck by her confidence and knowledge. It was if she was talking directly to me! After catching up with Kam after the event, we talked about my situation. She agreed to take me on as a one-on-one personal training client. Her only requirement was that my level of commitment to see this journey through was going to have to be extremely high (not wasting her/my time). You can trust she pushed me hard enough that I wanted to give up, plenty. But that's not the reason I've successfully changed my health and fitness levels.
It's because I finally believed I could do it, then I didn't stop.
Once I started to push through and start forming better habits, my belief started to soar. Kam has that right mix of experience and drive that anyone at any fitness level or age can benefit from. Personal training and diet guidance got me to a new level, but Kam's understanding of the emotional changes I needed to conquer was the tipping point that
has helped me create lasting change. Now I like to share my story with anyone who wants to listen.
After intense personal training to correct the weakness in my left leg, I moved into the regular group personal training sessions at The Fire. Now when I stop in once a week, I'm in the advanced class. I was able to run a 1/2 marathon last year and continue to work toward new challenges. I train my wife at home and my kids are very happy with the more active and fit Dad I am now.
Until I believed it was possible, I was stuck. Not anymore. If you need help getting on your way to a more fit and health version of yourself, contact me, I'll share more details or you can contact
Kam at The Fire.
