Sue Brumm-Stumpf is a teacher in the Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District who came to CORE by being a participant in the American Heart Association’s Go Red Girlfriends Challenge. Through the Go Red program, Sue started attending small group personal training sessions and our Strength Fusion class in the studio this past February. “I don’t believe in coincidence, I believe things happen for a reason,” says Sue. “On the first day of our Go Red Challenge, I had to drive to the UW-Health clinic for our first wellness check. On my way there as I was driving onto the beltline, and I glanced over and saw the big CORE Athletic sign hanging on the fence. I had probably seen that sign twenty times before, but that morning it stuck with me. Later that morning at the wellness check is when I learned that CORE would be one of the Go Red sponsors…coincidence? I think not.” Her decision to work out at CORE ended up having lasting effects on all aspects of her life!

“Before I came to CORE I was overweight, felt run down and lethargic. Stressful home situations were taking over and I had no way to deal with them, and they were taking a toll on me physically. My shoulders hurt constantly along with my hips…it was difficult to sleep in any position because of the pain.” Sue knew that some physical exercise could help improve these situations but did not know exactly how to go about it.

“Over the past years I had been a member at an enormous local gym but would often go there and feel overwhelmed with no clue what to do, how long to do it or why I was doing it. I always felt like everyone was in much better shape than me, and that I didn’t belong there; that I was an imposter. I knew that I wanted better for myself but felt lost and had no idea how to make it happen.” Feeling lost in a big box gym is a very common occurrence and even led to Sue discontinuing her membership and most physical exercise. She knew this was not great for her health but did not know where else to turn. Luckily for CORE and Sue, she came across the AHA Go Red Challenge and starting working out at CORE immediately.

So what has changed in Sue’s life since that fateful February evening she first set foot in CORE… she can tell it best! “What hasn’t changed since?? I feel like a new person!  I recently looked at the photo we took with Kim on our first night at CORE and I don’t recognize the person I was in that photo. And it’s funny, at the time I thought I was doing okay. My mental health and physical health have made the most significant changes. I have lost 40 pounds, and am over half-way to my goal. My shoulders no longer ache, my hip feels wonderful and I feel strong. Exercising has helped me mentally deal with some things going on in my life. I can wake up feeling down and go to one of the classes at CORE and my whole mood changes. CORE has truly saved my life!”

Sue's first night at CORE with her Go Red teammates

The important thing to recognize here is that Sue was the one that did all the work. CORE was here to help guide her but she is the one that deserves all the credit for her incredible transformation!

When asked what made CORE different from other fitness facilities, Sue spoke more powerful words about our philosophy, “Working out at CORE is nothing like working out at a big gym where you one of a hundred people at the gym on any given day. At CORE each individual matters and they take the time to get to know your story and why you are in the place you are. The care that the coaches all took in our lives, discussions about what we were eating, what we could change, and sharing with us why we were working certain muscles and what the outcome of the exercises were, was an invaluable experience. I didn’t feel like an impostor at CORE, they accepted each of us where we were and went from there to help us be the best we could be.”

A healthier and happier Sue!

It has been an awesome and rewarding experience for all of our coaches to work with Sue over the last six months and we look forward to serving her for years to come!

Alex Gee, a pastor in his late 40’s, has been working out at CORE Athletic for the past nine months and has made some significant life changes during that time. Alex initially met Chris through a mutual friend and started doing some in-home personal training. This lasted for a few years on and off but his busy schedule never made it possible to get into the gym consistently. Then 2010 came and Alex’s workout routine took a hit, “Reoccurring shoulder injuries kept me out of the gym for nearly a year. My inability to do any significant lifting or upper body training discouraged me so I just stopped working out in the fall of 2010.”

The inactivity started a small amount of weight gain for Alex but lead to more significant health complications down the road. “My annual physical check-up last summer revealed that I have Type 2 Diabetes. I was devastated because my doctor had previously warned me that the combination of hypertension and diabetes could increase my likelihood for stroke fourfold! This shocking news pushed me right back into the CORE gym.” Alex knew he had to make a lifestyle change but also knew that he needed to fix his shoulder to be able to consistently workout.

“Andy and Kane taught me back and pectoral exercises that helped to strengthen my shoulders and keep me from putting undue stress on them while exercising. Within a few months I not only regained flexibility in my shoulder but I was able to do pushups and chest presses again…something I have not been able to do for several years. In fact, I can more pushups today than I could when I was a college athlete 30 years ago.”

With the correct exercises and proper coaching, Alex was back on his way to better health. Not only is his shoulder doing much better but Alex has made some significant health improvements! “I have lost (and kept off) a total of 35 lbs, which, has caused my blood sugar to return to such healthy levels that I am no longer on any medicines for diabetes!” Alex has worked hard for the last nine months and has truly bought in to the CORE philosophy of healthy lifestyles. He is a very valued member at CORE and we look forward to serving him for years to come!

Over the last couple weeks CORE members have been kicking butt in the gym! Here are some of the personal bests that our members have achieved:

Keep up the great work Kim, Deb, Kathy, Susan, Renee, Dr. Don and Jack!

Check out this video on Linda Norton, who began triathlons in her 40′s, and completed two Ironmans at ages 50 and 51.  But training always came with injury. This year, she decided she would be injury-free, and teamed up with Core Athletic in Madison to learn to train the right way.

Click here for video

Got injuries?  Contact CORE’s triathlete preparation specialist Ryan Reichwaldt.