In 2010, Lori H. shattered her ankle. It was repaired with pins and plates, but her mobility understandably suffered. It was a difficult time for Lori. She tried working with a personal trainer later that same year, “but he didn’t understand or maybe didn’t care abut my struggles with my ankle,” she recalls. Anticipating that her life was irrevocably altered, she says she was truly defeated.

Then, in early March at the age of 51, Lori began training with Paul Fischer, an experienced and certified personal trainer here in Reno who specializes in senior fitness. Or as she describes it, “I started an incredible life-changing journey with Paul.”

“Instantly, I Knew I Had the Right Trainer”

Lori knew Paul as the owner of the private gym where she had previously worked out with another trainer. “I honestly should have started with him but thought because he was always so busy he wouldn’t be able to fit me in,” she shares. When she asked about his current availability, she was delighted that he was more than happy to train her. “Our first meeting was him trying to understand my challenges with my body and my goals,” she recalls, adding that the knew then and there she had the right trainer. “Having someone who is focused on you, correcting your form, encouraging you, and pushing you for that hour is incredibly empowering,” she says. “Overall, having someone who just cares about your physical and mental well-being is the best thing you can do for yourself.”

Lori’s journey with Paul has continued over the past 15 years. She’s the first to point out that exercising regularly can be overwhelming and easy to dismiss — she says it’s easy to convince yourself that you don’t need it.She took time off during the pandemic and didn’t get back to training regularly with Paul until 2023. “I realized I did need it. I did need that incredible rush of endorphins and I didn’t want to be that old person who couldn’t walk up and down the stairs,” she says.

Now, at almost 67, Lori says she still relies on Paul to help her get through whatever struggles she’s navigating physically and mentally. It grounds her and empowers her. “I’ve been able to do things I thought I’d never be able to do again,” she shares.“Pulling and pushing the sled, lifting far heavier than I thought I could, and understanding the dynamics of my body — all due to having Paul in my life.”

“Be Diligent When Looking for the Right Trainer”

Lori speaks from experience when she says that having the right trainer makes all the difference in the world, and that the older you are, the more you need someone who is extremely knowledgeable to guide you along your fitness journey. “Ask questions about how knowledgeable they are with training older people,” she advises.“Are their workouts generic, one-size-fits-all? Or are they tailored for the individual?”

For Lori, staying independent is hugely important: “being older, I want to be able to count on myself to lift things or move things that are heavy.”Thanks to Paul, she says she’s back to a fitness level that satisfies her.

She encourages other older adults to prioritize their fitness as well. “It’s never too late to start,” she says. “Find yourself a Paul Fischer. You’ll find that it makes you feel younger, too.”

Ready to start your fitness journey? Schedule a free consultation with Paul Fischer in Reno today.