Some 'Body' is Waiting for You

and Fitness Plus is where the introduction takes place!

For many people, the concept of exercise carries with it some very negative connotations. Hard work, sweat, pain, perhaps some injuries, maybe some embarrassment, and just general dread. Figuring out how to get past this is often more of the problem than the exercising itself. Our brains don’t readily discard negative experiences without some heavy duty persuasion!

This is where Paul Porter, owner of Fitness Plus in Middlefield, comes in!

Paul is a walking testimony of the fitness lifestyle he promotes. His life has been centered in and around an active lifestyle. “I grew up in Geauga county and graduated from Cardinal High School in 1987,” says Paul. “I played football, was a state champion wrestler, and ran track. I was awarded senior student-athlete (Johnny Smallwood award) in 1987. I attended Ashland University on a wrestling scholarship and graduated in 1993 with a B.A. in business administration. Having three children now, I like the country setting of Geauga County. It’s a great place to raise a family, and with hobbies like riding 4-wheelers, camping, and most all outdoor activities, it’s a great place to be.”

Paul radiates positivity inside and outside of his business. His Facebook page, from which all of these inspiring quotes come from, is filled with motivational posts that make you want to get up and ‘just do it!’ In fact, as I write this, I have just finished a series of arm exercises with my resistance bands because I had not done them yet today! I kid you not! His energy is pretty powerful!

“With help from family, The Gym Inc. opened in December of 1992, a few months before my graduation,” shares Paul. “We have made many changes and upgrades over the last 21 years. In January of 2012, I changed the name to Fitness Plus. I thought this name had wider appeal and conveyed our message of fitness better. I’m not just a gym, but a fitness center for all adults.”

Sometimes, just a little encouragement, a little pat on the back can make all the difference. Realism is also a big part. Let’s face it – as an adult in your 40s, 50s, or 60s, you’ve probably been entrenched in a particular lifestyle for years, and the thought of changing that now is a bit overwhelming at best. Have you succumbed to the lie that ‘old dogs can’t learn new tricks?’ Whether you’re talking about older people (or older animals!) it’s true that it often takes longer for them to learn new things. However, with patience and a motivated learner, everyone can indeed change and improve and experience a fuller more enjoyable life.

Motivation is often the key. If someone wants to learn something new, there’s usually nothing that will stand in their way. But if they don’t want to learn, then there might not be anything that can make them learn. What category are you in? Maybe you need to start reading some inspirational quotes posted on Paul’s Facebook to rev up that inner motivational engine!

“The most rewarding part of my job is watching people accomplish their goals. Whether its weight loss, improved health, or building strength, I have had hundreds of happy customers over the last 21 years. Most recently, I had a gentleman drop his high blood pressure 20 points in five weeks. His doctor told him to exercise. I started him on Activtrax, and now he’s smiling and hooked. Loves it.”

Real people, real stories, real success. That’s what you’ll encounter at Fitness Plus. It won’t be shoved on you. You’ll work anywhere from two to more days a week and see results in two to six weeks. The Activtrax is a big part of that. It is a custom designed software program that is like your own personal trainer. It records your progress and gives you new workouts, specifically designed just for you, each time you go to the gym. Always something new. Always something exciting. (More about the Activtrax coming soon from Gabe!)