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Jane’s StoryMy name is Jane. I am 50 years old and am entering this contest to let others know how much having Sarah as mypersonal trainer has changed my life. I got a personal trainer for unusual reasons, which did not include weightloss. To appreciate and understand what having a personal trainer has done for me you must see where I came fromand how desperate I was for change.I had an early diagnosis of highly active Rheumatoid Arthritis at 20 years old, and have been on a barrage ofmeds, lowering my immune system for 30 years now. Even as this progressed, I became a Registered Nurse with 2children, and was highly active and fit.My life was shattered 4 years ago in a boating accident, when a storm came up and under the bow of the boat; ahuge wave threw me to the ceiling, smashing my head. For one year an undiagnosed head injury and twofractured vertebrae led to misdiagnoses, medication cocktails, 41 Doctors and appointments, shoulder and neckspasms causing chronic pain, dizziness, headaches, loss of balance, sleep disorder, chronic anxiety, inability towork, drive or motivate myself to even get up and get ready. I was unable to work in any capacity, could not walk upstairs normally and was emotionally, physically and mentally worn down and out. The additional drugs lowered myimmune system, and I developed pneumonia and was hospitalized one and half months almost dying, and almostcoming home with home oxygen. The scarring of my left lung left me with 39% lung capacity and put me straightonto a lung transplant list in Toronto. The spasms in my neck left me having three vials of Botox injected everythree months along with major pain medications.Two years ago my best friends bought me a membership to try to get me moving, as life consisted of the couch, icepacks and a lot of crying. When I hadn't even been to the gym in six months, I came in last July 2008 to put mymembership on hold, but after talking to Jamie and Steph that day, with their encouragement and knowledge andtrust I put in them, I left buying a training package of 36 sessions. I needed the hope they offered me.With Sarah my trainer, we started out building on the goal of strengthening my knees and included increasingbalance, co-ordination, core strength and shoulder strength. We meet two times a week and I go a third time bymyself. The natural progression with Sarah's specialized techniques, took me from going upstairs one step at a timeand ice packs, to never needing ice packs on my knees and using stairs properly and being pain free. She zoned inon areas specific to me and my needs. I felt stronger, more confident and I had somewhere that I had to be, that wasspecial just for me. I was out of the house on my own at the gym with my own trainer. I made huge gainsphysically, emotionally, mentally and signed up for more sessions. Sarah and I have bonded and feed off each other,as she feels happy also, for my achievements. My whole body feels wonderful and as an added bonus my body fat %has decreased from 29.3% at the start and most recently, is 23.9%. I am building lean muscle, have lost 5 1/2pounds, 2 ½ inches off my waist, and have lost 2 inches off my thighs. I also sleep better now. My Respirologisthas put a hold on the transplant list as my lung capacity has gone from 39% to 59%, which he attributes to mywork at the gym. People even say I look happier, because I am!! I have no flare-ups of Rheumatoid Arthritis andI just went to my Neurologist for Botox, and was able to have one less vial injected, by eliminating Botox in myshoulders as the spasms are gone in them. I just bought myself two sessions per week for one year known as 96sessions with Sarah. I love feeling this way! Sarah and I are a team, and I recommend everyone get a package oftraining to learn to use the equipment properly and to set and achieve your goals. My confidence is blossomingand I am truly changed and happy from this experience I am having!